Northeast Ohio Parent - September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019 • FREE!

BE READ

48-pag

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e pull-o

ut EDUCAT ION GUIDE Inside

TO SCHOOL

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR Strategies for Support

TEEN BREAKFASTS Health-Packed Meals

FALL BUCKET LIST 50 Seasonal Things to Do

September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com NortheastOhioParent.com | 1

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September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com

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September

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EDUCATION GUIDE

insiDE NortheastOhioParent.com

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Turn to page 18 to find our annual pullout guide that covers everything you need for back-to-school, including healthy breakfasts, a guide to beginning band, open houses and school profiles, and more.

DREAMS REALIZED

In recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we profile local kids who received wishes from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and talk to their families about dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

departments 06

EDITOR’S NOTE Safety outside the bus

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WORTH NOTING Scholastic News Kid Reporter, tips to avoid choking hazards, speech screening, plus Reading Room book recommendations.

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AGES & STAGES How your child’s personality can affect behavior.

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TEEN TECH

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PARENT AND ME EVENTS

Find storytimes and other area activities to do with your little ones.

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FAMILY CALENDAR

Find family-focused fun all month long with these area events, including Grandparents Day happenings and ongoing attractions.

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DAD MATTERS

To my daughter with red hair

Learn the language of Generation Z, including when you should be concerned by what you see.

ON THE COVER:

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Eliza, of Berea, was a 2018 Cover Kids winner. The teen helped us show off a healthy breakfast for our “No Chips for Breakfast” story in the Education Guide.

PHOTOS BY KIM STAHNKE PHOTOGRAPHY

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FALL INTO FUN

Celebrate the season with the ultimate fall bucket list! Plus, find festive events to attend with your family throughout the region on pg. 22.

More secret passwords.

When it comes to childhood, more is better. We’re 100% dedicated to helping you and your child make the most of every moment.

More childhood, please.

Learn more at akronchildrens.org/morechildhoodplease September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com

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PHOTO BY PRELUDE PHOTOGRAPHY

Editor's NOTE

Safety Outside the Bus

It’s something that’s always in the back of our minds as parents: safety. How can we keep our kids safe from everything we deem harmful? From when they are babies to the first time they get on the school bus (and beyond), we are reminding them what to do and what not to do.

With bus routes that have changed in the past two years for my kids — ones that require them to cross the street to board — there is something new to think about: people driving around the bus and hitting them.

In May, an 18-year-old woman hit two children in Willowick after going around the school bus stop. The children sustained minor injuries and were released from the hospital the same day. They were the lucky ones. There are similar news stories from around the U.S. — and in some cases, the kids didn’t survive. Three siblings from Rochester, Ind., 6-year-old twins Xzavier and Mason Ingle and their 9-year-old sister, Alivia Stahl, were boarding their school bus on a typical day in October when they were struck and killed as a woman tried to pass their stopped bus.

According to the National Safety Council, nearly two-thirds of school bus-related fatalities of school-age children occur outside of the school bus.

There are pending bills in the Ohio Legislature that address the problem, with suggestions such as “Allow school bus camera image to support failing to stop for bus” and “Enhance penalty for failing to stop for school bus.” However, no bill has passed or moved in the Ohio House or Senate.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides tips for parents and motorists, such as staying alert and slowing down in school zones, as children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic; and watching for the flashing red lights of the school buses and waiting until the red lights turn off, the extended bus arm is withdrawn and the bus starts moving to start driving again.

In addition, NHTSA advises kids who are waiting at the bus stop to stand three giant steps from the curb; to cross the street in front of the bus; wait for the bus driver to make eye contact with them before crossing; and if they drop something near the bus, to tell the bus driver right away before picking up the item.

While I can’t control the other drivers — or even the bus driver — regarding what they should or should not do, I can inform my kids to stay alert. I also can remind as many people as possible that, while it still feels and looks like summer outside, schools are in session — watch out for kids waiting at bus stops.

VOL. NO. 6 • ISSUE NO. 9

September 2019 Northeast Ohio Parent is a property of

PO Box 1088 Hudson, OH 44236 330-822-4011 NortheastOhioParent.com PUBLISHER - Brad Mitchell

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September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com

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Worth

NOTING

d i K t e Me r e t r o p Re

iley

a èle L. B

By Mich

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his Kid Reporter without a doubt is qualified to do his job. A self-starter who launched his writing career at the ripe old age of 4, he began by gifting each friend with an engaging and entertaining short story that would feature him or her as the star. Even his first grade teacher, Mrs. Karla Nalepa, told him he had the voice of an author. Fast forward seven years later, and 13-yearold Nolan Pastore, of Hartville, is now a seasoned Kid Reporter for Scholastic News Kids Press Corps.

Kid Reporters for the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps cover news for kids. They report on current events, breaking news, entertainment stories and sports events from their hometowns and on the national stage. Their stories appear online at the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website and in issues of Scholastic classroom magazines, which reach more than 25 million students in classrooms nationwide.

Nolan’s interviews include an astronaut, an American Idol winner and a best-selling author.

“I have a nose for news and a ton of unforgettable stories,” Nolan says. “One of my favorite stories is about Snowball, a dog in Cleveland, Ohio, who models and acts in TV commercials. I read about him on social media and pitched the story to the magazine.”

Nolan spent weeks preparing his application for this job. He had to interview someone who made a difference in his

8 | Family Living at Its Best

Nolan wrote a story, “The unlikely rise of ‘Snowball,” about a shih tzu chihuahua mix who is a professional dog actor and model and its owner, Jamie Kinton, of Cleveland.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE KINTON AND SCHOLASTIC NEWS KIDS PRESS CORPS (kpcnotebook.scholastic.com) community, submit a sample news article and write an essay on the reasons he would make a good reporter. He was facing stiff competition. Hundreds of 10to 14-year-olds from around the world submitted applications and only 45 were chosen. Nolan was the only Kid Reporter chosen from Ohio the past two years.

Suzanne McCabe, editor of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corp, says Nolan’s submissions showcased his curiosity and ability to go behind the scenes and report from a kid’s eye view.

“Nolan is unique in that he is a wonderful writer,” she says. “He does have a talent for writing. He also has a talent for public speaking. When he does his interviews, he is not shy; he has his questions ready and really understands what kids like.”

Scholastic News Kids Press Corps provided its young reporter with in-depth training. Nolan learned to introduce himself, present his business cards, record interviews, take notes, ask questions, secure quotes, write stories and meet deadlines.

Using this knowledge, Nolan honed his craft and began to see the power he had to tell his generation about stories that matter.

“It is incredible to write for a state like Ohio because in some states the subject matter is limited; but in Ohio, there is so much variety to write about,” he says. “I get to meet interesting people and write amazing articles on them.”

McCabe boasts that Nolan is a credit

to Ohio, saying “he is an absolute delight and so hardworking. He is going to get me something every month. One of the most popular stories that we have run is when Nolan wrote about visiting A Christmas Story House.”

Nolan has been reporting for Scholastic News Kids Press Corps for two years and has recently applied for another year.

Nolan’s mom, Mary Pastore, says they are extremely grateful for the opportunity Scholastic Magazine has provided for her child with this program.

“He has become such a mature writer,” she says. “He has become more confident.

His vocabulary has blossomed. He has taken off with his interviewing skills. All of these skills will follow him through life.”

If given the opportunity to write for the magazine a third year, Nolan hopes to secure an interview with the governor of Ohio. He also is excited about participating as a reporter during an election year because, as he says, it would provide him with an opportunity to meet some pretty interesting people.

Regardless of the outcome of his pending application, this young man who once asked Santa to simply bring him a pack of paper and a stapler is certain that writing will most definitely be in his career.

Nolan says whatever life road he takes, it will have something to do with uniquely telling a story.

READING ROOM Click, Clack, Surprise!

By Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Join everyone’s favorite farm characters as they plan a birthday party for Little Duck! The repetition and familiar concepts make this a perfect book for beginning readers.

— Recommended by Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, we247.org

Pumpkinheads

By Rainbow Rowell, illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1. But this year is different — Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch: their last shift together and their last good-bye.

— Recommended by Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, we247.org

Parent’s Book Nook Timeless Advice for Parents of Young Children: How to Understand Your Child’s Behavior and Respond Effectively in Almost Any Situation Children don’t come with an instruction manual, but this parenting book is about as close as you can get.

Written by a group of wise early-childhood development experts, it’s an easy-to-read behavioral guide to what’s going on in your young child’s mind in almost any situation — from public tantrums to noticing people with disabilities to preparing for the first day of preschool. Whether you read it cover to cover or reach for it when the going gets tough, it will help bring out that loving, nurturing, patient and resourceful parent that lives in all of us. The authors are early childhood experts with long-standing connections with Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development. They are Maria Kaiser, M. Ed; Kathy Smith Baker, M. Ed.; Georgianna (Gann) Roberts, M. Ed.; Ginny Steininger, M. Ed; and Coordinator Barbara Streeter, M.S. (Bank Street), LPCC. Collectively, they have decades of experience and have helped several thousand children lead happier lives.

VIsit hannaperkins.org for more information.

CDC: Number of Kids Swallowing Objects has Nearly Doubled Little children love to explore — and sometimes their curiosity leads to swallowing objects they shouldn’t.

According to a recent study in “Pediatrics” from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of kids age 6 and younger who accidentally swallow foreign objects has doubled in the past two decades.

“What they found was that about 800,000 kids — so almost a million kids — came in for foreign body ingestion,” says Dr. Eva Kubiczek-Love of Cleveland Clinic Children’s, who did not take part in the study. “And the rate of ingestion was going up, particularly for coins and batteries.”

Love says coins are dangerous because they are so common, therefore it could be easy to look at them and not think that they can be deadly to a child.

However, she adds coins can not only easily lodge in the airway, but also in the eating tube.

Ingesting a coin can lead to impaction, which is what happens when the coin is not passed through the stool, and then has to be surgically removed.

The study also showed the number of button battery ingestions has risen by more than 90 percent.

Love says button battery ingestion is especially dangerous because the batteries can make holes in the eating tube and in the intestines, leading to tissue damage and even death.

She says parents need to be aware of what objects in their home contain button batteries, and always keep them out of a child’s reach.

“The number one recommendation made in the study was to make sure that you use some sort of child-proofing device,” Love says. “If you have a button battery, in a car key or another device, make sure that it’s really tightly screwed in. It doesn’t mean that you should still leave it out — but make sure there is as little access as possible.”

She says parents should always have the number for poison control in a cell phone (800-222-1222) so that it’s handy at all times.

If you suspect your child has swallowed a foreign object, always call poison control right away, in addition to calling the child’s doctor or 9-1-1.

Complete results of the study can be found in Pediatrics.

— Submitted by Cleveland Clinic News Service. my.clevelandclinic.org

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Worth

NOTING Easterseals Offers

Free Speech Screenings For Children

Easterseals Northern Ohio is offering free speech-language screenings during September and October. The screening is designed to provide a quick assessment of a child’s speech-language abilities and to help determine if a comprehensive evaluation is necessary.

“Parents should be attentive to their children’s ability to express themselves from birth,” said Susan Powers, Easterseals vice president of Children’s Services.

“Just as we know at what age a baby should roll over or sit up, we have documented communication milestones.”

Easterseals speech pathologists provide a wide variety of speech and language services to help children with

communication delays or disorders and work with families to help children experience success. It also offers services for children ages birth through school-age to promote early identification, diagnosis and treatment of communication issues.

Easterseals speech-language pathologists are experienced in pediatrics, licensed by the state of Ohio, and certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Call 1-888-325-8532, ext. 101 to schedule a free speech-language screening or to learn about the Easterseals speech therapy program. Visit easterseals.com/ noh for more information.

SPEECH MILESTONES INCLUDE: ◌ By age 3 months, smiling when spoken to. ◌ By age 6 months, babbling in speech-like sounds. ◌ By age 1 year, saying simple words, like “bye-bye.” ◌ By age 2 years, putting two words together to make simple sentences, like “More cookie.” ◌ By age 3 years, having a word for almost everything. ◌ By age 4 years, using detailed sentences, like “I have two red balloons at home.” ◌ By age 5 years, saying almost all sounds correctly and using the same grammar as the rest of the family. ◌ By school age, following instructions and paying attention in class.

ONLINE IN SEPTEMBER NORTHEASTOHIOPARENT.COM

If you love our monthly magazine, be sure to visit our website for even more great content you won’t find anywhere else!

FALL FUN

Soak up all the season has to offer by checking out a few of the many area pumpkin patches, apple orchards, corn mazes and hayrides.

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SEASONAL RECIPES

Northeast Ohio Parent blogger Karen Nochimowski, of Momma Chef, shares a few recipes featuring the flavors and seasonal produce of fall — you can even get the kids in the kitchen to help!

BOOKS FOR KIDS

Looking for some great new reads for your children? In addition to our monthly Reading Room section in the magazine, we compile an ongoing list of recommended books.

To check it out, go to bit.ly/RRbooks.

- SPONSORED CONTENT -

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Ages &

STAGES

Personality Affects

BEHAVIOR

By Bonnie Jean Feldkamp

P

ersonality traits like talkativeness and adaptability are hardwired.

This is according to the study titled “On the Contextual Independence of Personality,” conducted at the University of California at Riverside. Christopher Nave, the study’s author, wrote, “personality resides within people, it is manifest through behavior in diverse ways across the varied settings of life.”

Parents recognize these hardwired tendencies because they are reflected in their child’s behavior — and teaching children appropriate behavior is about knowing their personalities.

Kimberly Bell, Ph.D., is the clinical director of the Hadden Clinic for Children & Families at The Hanna Perkins Center.

She says the key is “really about meeting a child where they are and moving them forward in bearable bits.”

For example, a child who is by nature an introvert or “slower to warm up” is a child who would not respond well to someone pushing her into social situations, or demanding that she look you in the eye. Just like an extroverted or more social child would not fare well to be expected to play on his own all day. Parents should guide each child to a balanced middle ground through small steps — “bearable bits.”

Many discipline strategies focus on the strong-willed child — the child who acts out — but parents also need to have their antennae up for the quiet child who seems to cope well on her own. A strongwilled child may act out in an obvious way, but the quiet child may suffer in silence while acting in. If the parents’ personality doesn’t mirror their child’s, then he may feel easily overlooked or disregarded. This can exacerbate a child’s anxiety.

12 | Family Living at Its Best

“Knowing your children and learning what works for them is important,” says Bell, who adds that since it’s an ongoing learning process, start by “taking a step back to appreciate the uniqueness of your child, rather than assuming they are going to be like you.”

Many parents struggle if they feel they are different from their child. They don’t know how to invest in those differences.

“Most of the time, when we push too hard or force kids to do something, it’s because we are afraid we are failing,” Bell says.

Parents need to take a deep breath and understand that their child is separate from them. They are their own person.

“If you focus on the natural strengths of your child and celebrate those, then the child will have self motivation, self agency, and a sense of mastery rather than a feeling of ‘I’m trying to be something for my parents,’” Bell explains.

When it comes to behavior issues, parents must take a child’s personality into account when they are looking for an effective discipline strategy. There are many behavior modification books on the market, but Bell cautions, “None take into account that a child’s personality has to mesh with the book’s approach in order for it to work.”

Personality style impacts how your child will respond to you as a parent and understanding your child’s unique personality traits will help you adjust your parenting approach to meet their needs and help them succeed.

- SPONSORED CONTENT -

COOLSCULPTING Anne Keller, LME at Apex Skin Westlake

“CoolScultping is a non-invasive, non-surgical permanent fat reduction treatment. When done by an expert, it is a very customized procedure.

A complimentary assessment is required to develop a treatment plan that will be the most successful for each patient.”

BOTOX/NEUROTOXINS Felicity Allen, LME at Apex Skin Solon

“Each wrinkle is kind of like a tiny scar from muscles being overworked and overused in the same way over and over again. The only way to stop that process is to relax the muscles.

In other words, it’s basically a muscle relaxer for your wrinkles. It’s a great way to instantly slow down the aging process.”

FILLERS

6

Things to Help you Look and Feel More Vibrant

Apex aestheticians share how to best help your skin through these treatments and lifestyle choices.

Dana Baker, LPN at Apex Skin Medina

“I absolutely love cheek fillers to mimic a mini face lift. By returning volume to the cheeks you will not only notice a more supple cheek, but also the nasolabial folds will soften as the skin is lifted, making both the upper and lower face look rejuvenated!”

MICRONEEDLING Chelsey Urankar, LME at Apex Skin Mayfield Heights

“Microneedling helps improve most textural concerns such as acne scarring, scars, pore size, fine lines and wrinkles, stretch marks, and hyperpigmentation. We also infuse a Growth Factor Serum or PRP during the treatment for maximum antiaging benefits and cellular renewal.”

LIFESTYLE

SKIN CARE AND MAKEUP

Dianne Goodbar, LME at Apex Skin Hudson

Betsy Goodrum, LME at Apex Skin Concord

“Your skin will have a healthier and more glowing appearance when your body is functioning optimally. You can make a difference from the inside out by eating whole foods packed with antioxidants, getting 7-8 hours of sleep, drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly.”

“First, I am a big believer in a medical-grade skin care routine and recommend you visit us for a free consultation to customize the best regimen for you. When it comes to applying makeup, keep in mind that less makeup gives a more youthful look. Start with moisturizer, which is key to a soft, dewy look, then add sunscreen because 80-90 percent of aging is sun-related.”

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t Dreams ealized A childhood cancer diagnosis can impact and exhaust families mentally and physically. We highlight two local families, their fights against cancer, and Make-A-Wish trips that provided relief.

SHAMARI (ON LEFT) DURING HER TRIP. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE BRAZILE FAMILY

14 | Family Living at Its Best

By Janet Cho

F

ewer things are more frightening than hearing that your child has cancer. For two Northeast Ohio families whose children fought and survived cancer, the devastating diagnoses brought them together and showed them how resilient their children are. Both girls are now cancer-free and agreed to share their stories.

Shamari’s StoryI

which grants life-changing wishes to critically ill children. The Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana chapter of MakeA-Wish (oki.wish.org) is the nation’s largest, and says it has granted wishes to nearly 10,000 Ohio children since 1983. Another 300 children are waiting for wishes.

When a Make-A-Wish representative visited her, “She asked where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do there,” Shamari says. She asked for a trip to Turks and Caicos Islands, a chain of coral islands southeast of the Bahamas. “I said I wanted to swim with dolphins, because dolphins are domesticated there.” She also wanted to swim with stingrays.

“Shamari is a very determined little girl,” her mother says. “When she gets something in her head, she is determined to go through with it.”

When told her wish would be granted, “It just brought such a smile to her face, because she had endured so much through the past year,” says Shari Brazile, who works in human resources at Cuyahoga Community College.

Now 14, Shamari finished her treatment on Dec. 11, 2018. At the end of June 2019, she had her six-month scan, and everything was fine. She has to go back every three months to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back. She and her mother left for Turks and Caicos on Aug. 10 and returned six days later, about a week before she started the 10th grade.

“I was really excited to have a Make-A-Wish, because there was something good coming out of all I went through,” Shamari says.

t

For Shamari Brazile, it began as an ache in her right pelvic bone.

The Cleveland Heights teenager had just finished a growth spurt, sprouting 4½ inches in a year. When her doctor couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her pelvic bone, she underwent a few X-rays and MRIs and got a biopsy.

On March 6, 2018, Shamari got her answer. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a childhood bone cancer that can strike between the ages of 10 and 20. She was sent to see an oncologist at University Hospitals.

Her treatment required three kinds of chemotherapy for about 12 weeks. In June 2018, she had surgery to remove the tumor, followed by 18 weeks of post-surgery treatment.

The treatment made her constantly nauseous.

Her mother, Shari, says, “As a parent, you just feel so helpless, because you can’t make it better. To see your child go through such intense nausea” was excruciating. Not only could Shamari not leave the hospital, she was tethered to an IV pole.

While hospitalized, a social worker nominated her for Make-A-Wish,

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MOLLY (ON LEFT) ENJOYS HER TRIP WITH HER FAMILY. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE KEANE FAMILY

Molly’s StoryI

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Molly Keane looks more like a typical sixth grader than a cancer survivor.

But when the 11-year-old Bay Village girl was 7, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer was attacking the white blood cells throughout her body, preventing them from fighting off infections.

“I remember her telling me that her foot hurt one Friday,” her mother, Kate Keane, says. Molly’s parents didn’t think much of it at first, “but by Sunday night, she wasn’t able to sleep because she was in such intense pain.”

Molly went to the doctor’s office, and X-rays showed she had no broken bones.

After their family doctor took some blood tests, they were told, “We need to go to the emergency room in downtown Cleveland to see a more specialized doctor.”

“We were at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital with amazing nurses and amazing doctors who helped us with what we needed to do,” Keane says. “We were very fortunate that we were at the right hospital.”

“We went through about three years

of chemotherapy,” with medicines injected directly into her body and pills every night and day. “She knew everything we knew as it was going on, maybe more.

She was fighting the cancer, but she had a reaction to the medications she was taking.”

In February 2016, her liver shut down in reaction to one of her drugs. Another time, a scan showed a small clot in her brain. Molly was in the ICU for months dealing with that, followed by four months of treatments at home.

“She was only able to go to school a little bit, because if someone had the flu, we had to take her out so she wouldn’t get sick.” Molly couldn’t go to birthday parties because her immune system was so fragile.

Instead, she kept up with her classes from her hospital bed. “Our school system was amazing. She used an iPad to Facetime with her teachers, and she had tutors for three or four years.”

So when Make-A-Wish asked her what she most wished to do, Molly was enchanted. “Whatever you want to do, whatever your heart desires,” the MakeA-Wish representative told her.

“What if we built a waterfall with a pool in our backyard?” Molly asked excitedly.

When she finally decided on a trip to Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, her parents decided to wait until her

treatment was finished so she would have the strength and stamina for the trip. During her recovery, “as Molly was getting stronger and healthier, it was really great to have that to look forward to,” Keane says.

“When waiting in the hospital every single week, I always knew I had something to look forward to, and I think I had a better attitude because I was always looking forward to my wish,” Molly adds.

Finally, in February 2019, the whole family — including her father, James, and sister, Kellie, 13 — flew to Aulani Disney Resort for five days. “We were treated like royalty,” Keane says. “A super limo picked us up from the airport, and our airfare was covered by people who had donated their airline miles. We got to go on board early and meet the pilot. At the hotel, they upgraded us to a two-bedroom suite on the top floor.

It was to a tee perfect in terms of every aspect.

“She went snorkeling at the beach, we went to an amazing luau, and all four of us went surfing for the first time.” And whatever Molly wanted to do, Kellie, got to do, too.

When asked to name her favorite part of the trip, Molly says, “Everything about it! Being treated special and being able to learn to surf in Hawaii!”

- CONTINUED ON PAGE 17-

September 2019 2019 -- NortheastOhioParent.com NortheastOhioParent.com September

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Ways to Support Families Coping with Cancer:

1. Feed them: Consider doubling the size of your dinner and sharing the extra with the other family. Order them food from or send them gift cards to their favorite local restaurant. Consider organizing a meal service like mealtrain.com, where different families can sign up to bring them food.

2. Ask the family for specific ideas on ways to help, such as giving them rides to and from the hospital, buying them groceries, house-sitting, watching their pets, watering their garden, cleaning their house, or doing their laundry. Families coping with illness can often feel overwhelmed by day-to-day chores.

3. Take up donations from friends, neighbors and coworkers, whether via a social media account or through a local bank, and let the family decide how best to use those funds.

4. Offer to take over communicating to non-family members with regular updates to a password-protected blog, so the family can focus energies on their ailing child.

5. Donate to or participate in childhood cancer-focused charities such as Make-A-Wish, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana chapter (oki.wish.org), VeloSano (velosano.org), which supports cancer research at the Cleveland Clinic, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation (stbaldricks.org), or Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (alexslemonade.org).

16 | Family Living at Its Best

- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 -

“She had a sense of pride in being able to take her family on vacation,” Keane says. “It was definitely the most exciting family vacation we’ve ever been on.

“She goes in every other month to check with a doctor, but she’s doing fantastic. She’s on the swim team and sailing team,” she adds.

Last year, Molly was named Girl of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for Cleveland and Akron (mwoy.org/northern-ohio/mwoy-cleve landakron).

“When Molly started the treatment, she was not what you would describe as a ‘tough kid,’” her father says in the video. “But she sure is now.”

Looking for things to do with your family?

Visit NortheastOhioParent.com for a calendar of events!

September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com

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Tech

TALK

The Text of Generation

q Z

T

he very first text message was sent 26 years ago.

Today, almost 26 billion text messages flow across the networks every single day. iPhones and popular apps such as Facebook Messenger use an updated format called Rich Communication Services. Messages sent on those platforms don’t count as actual text messages. When we add in the counts for those services, the total number of messages per day jumps to 171 billion. These short, quick messages have become the preferred method of communication for many adults, but even more so for our children.

Generation Z thrives on a constant stream of communication through their mobile device.

Subsequently, they have developed their own slang words made up of acronyms and phrases to describe their interactions with the world.

Slang is not a new concept, though.

Every generation has developed its own unique style of conversation.

The most important aspect to keep in mind is that the crazy words and acronyms your kids are using were not created as a way to keep adults out of the loop. It is about this generation finding their identity.

Modern slang can be a bit more confusing than that of previous groups. Parents almost need to be bilingual to understand it. It is impossible to capture all the jargon in use in a single column. I’ve created a list of the more popular terms and sorted them based on their level of concern for a parent.

18 | Family Living at Its Best

Learn your kids’ online language, including warning signs that require attention

By Mike Daugherty

BE HAPPY The terms listed here are friendly or comical. There is nothing to be worried about if you see these show up in a text message, online comment, or virtual conversation.

• 4eae — For ever and ever • IKR — I know right?

• IYKWIM — If you know what I mean • NMU — Not much, you?

• On fleek — On point or to do something very well • RAK — Random act of kindness • Slay — Doing really well or “killing it” • Truss — I agree • Woke — Highly aware of social issues • YAS — Enthusiastic version of yes BE INFORMED The words and phrases listed below are something that all parents should know.

They are not necessarily bad; however, some of these deal with dating which could be concerning depending on the age of your child.

• Basic — Typically used as a criticism, this refers to a person who only likes things that are popular or trendy.

• Benching — This means someone is being put on the sideline while a person explores their other romantic options.

• Curve — Curving means to shut down or reject a person’s expression of interest in you.

• Deeplike — When someone

goes on a social network and like/favorites posts from several weeks or months back. The notifications of those likes and favorites let the original poster know that someone has been looking through their photos, etc.

• Ghost — When all communication with a friend, or more likely, a love interest suddenly stops (as if the person was now a ghost). This is usually because the other party doesn’t want to take things to the next level and would prefer to stop talking rather than directly state the disinterest.

• Haunt — When a person who ghosted you begins to reappear in your life.

• IANAL — I am not a lawyer • Thirsty—being desperate for something. This can often refer to someone wanting sex.

• PTB — Please text back • QQ — To cry or crying BE AWARE This last set of slang should be considered red flags. These words refer to sex, drugs, and other activities that are potentially problematic for young adults.

• 53X — Sex. The 5 looks like an S, the 3 like an E. • 9 / P911 / P999 / CD9 / MOS — All of these are used to let the person they are messaging know that a parent or adult is near. It serves as a warning to not say anything inappropriate.

• ASL — Age, sex, location.

This is often used when someone is new to a conversation or chat room.

Other users will ask “ASL?” as a way to better understand the context of who is chatting. This information can easily be used by predators to coerce, convince, or threaten a child. Teens and young adults should know that sharing your age, sex, and location online is recipe for disaster.

• CU46 — See you for sex • F2F / FTF — Face to face. This infers that two people need to meet up to see each other.

• GNOC / NIFOC — Get naked on camera or naked in front of camera.

• RL / MIRL / LMIRL — This refers to in real life or meeting up in real life.

• IWSN — I want sex now • KPC — Keep parents clueless • Turnt — Looking to get drunk or high • Wavey — To be drunk or high • WYRN — What’s your real name? We’ve looked at oversharing information online in the past. Here’s another example of where an innocent conversation can turn toward trouble.

See ASL. ADVICE Tread lightly when it comes to teenage slang.

In the event you see a concerning message, talk with your child about it before overreacting. The words described in this column can give you insight into your teen’s life as well as the context to help you have a conversation about what you saw or read. Talk with your child, assess the situation, and determine your next steps once you have had time to process everything.

As I mentioned, this is just a small collection of the larger vocabulary used by members of Generation Z. Parents who want to learn more can Google search “slang parents should know 2019” to find similar lists online. UrbanDictionary.com is an excellent resource if you need to look up a specific word or phrase.

Be warned that Urban Dictionary contains quite a bit of NSFW (not safe for work) content, so be careful when and where you choose to look something up.

Mike Daugherty is a husband, father and a certified educational technology leader. He is the director of technology for the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School district. His blog, More Than A Tech, offers advice and ideas for parenting in a digital world.

Family

LIFE

Parent and Me STORYTIMES & ACTIVITIES MONDAYS

Messy Mondays. Children ages 3-8 years with a caregiver enjoy stories, songs and a fun, creative and messy activity. 7-8 p.m. 9/911/18. Maple Heights Branch Library, 5225 Library Lane, 216-475-5000, cuyahogalibrary.org Fall Baby & Me. For babies and toddlers and their caregivers. 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. Through 10/21. Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, 440-333-7610, rrpl.org Toddler Storytime. Rhymes, songs, movement, fingerplays and books for 2- to 3-year-olds and their caregivers. 11 a.m. 10/7-11/4. Brunswick Library, 3649 Center Road, 330-273-4150, mcdl.info Toddler Tales & Playtime. Join caregivers and children ages 3 and younger for stories, rhymes and fingerplays followed by open playtime. 10-11 a.m. 9/9-10/21. Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville, 440-352-3383, morleylibrary.org

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS

Stroller Strides. A functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow comprised of strength training, cardio and core restoration, all while entertaining little ones. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Beachwood City Park West, Beachwood, beachwood.fit4mom.com

Twinkle Tots. Enjoy a light show set to lively music and learn what we can see up in the sky. 11:30 a.m. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, 440-8712900, lensc.org

MONDAYSTHURSDAYS

Just Baby N’ Me. For you and your birth to 24-month-old baby. Enjoy books, songs and fingerplays while meeting other parents. 9:30 a.m.

Through 10/30. Madison Branch Library, 13229 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-228-7428, lakewoodpubliclibrary.org

Baby Bonanza. Bring your babies (not yet walking) and blankets in for books, bopping and bouncing at this lap-sit program. 10-10:30 a.m. Through 11/27. Lee Road Branch Library, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Hts., heightslibrary.org Tiddlywinks. An interactive storytime filled with stories, songs and rhymes just right for little listeners.

Birth-36 months. 10 a.m. Through 11/12. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., 440-255-8811, mentorpl.org

Tales Alive. A fun storytime for children ages 2-5. 10:15-11 a.m. 9/1-10/31.

Cuyahoga Falls Library, 2015 Third St., 330-928-2117, cuyahogafallslibrary.org

Garrettsville Storytime. A great opportunity for children to interact with other children and adults while fostering a love of reading and showcasing great books for little listeners. 11:30 a.m. Through 12/24.

Garrettsville Branch Library, 10482 South St., portagelibrary.org

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

Lapsit. Families with children age 2 and younger, come enjoy bounces, songs, rhymes and a book, with a big finish of bubbles. 10:45 a.m. Kirtland Public Library, 9267 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, 440-256-7323, kirtland.lib.oh.us Storytime in the Treehouse. Enjoy storytime in the treehouse at the Hershey Children’s Garden. 11 a.m.

Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org Thrillin’ Threes Storytime. Stories, music, fingerplays and activities for 3-year-olds and their caregivers.

10:15-10:45 a.m. 9/10-10/8. North Ridgeville Branch Library, 37500 Bainbridge Road, 440-327-8326, lorainpubliclibrary.org

Mid-Week Mommy Mix & Mingle.

Once you drop your school-aged children off at school, bring your babies and preschoolers to the museum to enjoy some awesome playtime while you meet other moms. First Wednesday of each month. 10 a.m.-noon. Akron Children’s Museum, 216 S. Main St., akronkids.org Let’s Sing and Dance. Sing and move to the music with Miss Nancy.

Ages 2-6. 9:30-10 a.m. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, 440-871-2600, westlakelibrary.org

WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS

and a craft that encourage development of early literacy skills in young children. 10:30 a.m. Reed Memorial Library, 167 E. Main St., Ravenna, 330-296-2827, reedlibrary.org

THURSDAYS

Stories and Play. Enjoy stories, movement and songs for young children. Stay and play afterward with toys and a chance for parents to chat. 10-11:30 a.m. Through 11/21.

Goodyear Branch Library, 60 Goodyear Blvd., Akron, 330-784-7522, akronlibrary.org Pre-K Storytime. Join Miss Sue for stories, music, crafts and dancing.

11:30 a.m.-noon. 9/26-11/21. Newbury Station Branch Library, 14775 Auburn Road, Newbury, divi.geaugalibrary.net Fall Baby N’ Me. Caregivers and their children ages birth to 18 months. Rhymes, songs, fingerplays and books. 9/5-11/21. Chagrin Falls Branch Library, 100 E. Orange St., 440-247-3556, cuyahogalibrary.org

SATURDAYS

Family Story Time. Children of all ages, with a favorite adult, are invited to join for songs, stories, fingerplays and more. 10:30 a.m.

Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., 330-673-4414, kentfreelibrary.org Silly Saturdays. Stories, songs and so much more geared toward ages 2-6, but all ages are welcome. 10:30 a.m. 9/21-11/16. Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Road, 330-688-3295, smfpl.org

Preschool Storytime. Stories, songs, flannel board stories, fingerplays

September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com

| 19

F LL Bucket List

By Denise Koeth

FamilyLiving Livingat atIts ItsBest Best 20 20 || Family

SCHOOL’S BACK IN SESSION, THE DAYS ARE GETTING COOLER, AND POPS OF COLOR WILL SOON LEAF OUT EVERYWHERE. THAT’S RIGHT —

it’ s fall in Northeast Ohio.

Make the most of this festive season by

creating your family’s very own fall bucket list.

Below, we suggest some favorite activities to get you started: 1 Visit the farmers market one last time

26 Create a fall scavenger hunt for the kids

3 Take a fall foliage drive

28 Make one last warm weather trip to the playground

2 Go to a pumpkin patch 4 Navigate a corn maze 5 Take a hike

6 Attend an area fall festival 7 Try campfire cooking 8 Go on a bike ride

9 Take in the sights by train

10 Enjoy a hayride at a local farm

11 Go apple picking at an orchard

12 Visit a seasonal ice cream shop before it closes 13 Attend a nature center or parks program 14 Go to a local high school football game 15 Collect colorful fall leaves 16 Drink freshly-made cider

17 Bake an apple or pumpkin pie

18 Make homemade applesauce

19 Stock up on your favorite pumpkin spice treat 20 Jump in the leaves

21 Serve butternut squash soup for dinner

22 Create your family’s Halloween costumes

23 Simmer a pot of chili on the stove all afternoon 24 Decorate your home with autumnal touches 25 Roast pumpkin seeds

27 Take a haunted/historical tour 29 Have a picnic in the park

30 Play flag football in the backyard 31 Make pinecone bird feeders

32 Enjoy caramel or candy apples

33 Set up a pumpkin bowling game in the yard 34 Make a fall-themed craft

35 Make a list of what you’re thankful for

36 Borrow fall-themed books from the library 37 Build a scarecrow 38 Bob for apples

39 Make popcorn balls 40 Visit a local zoo

41 Go bird-watching

42 Take the kids to a hay maze

43 Make the first batch of hot chocolate 44 Go stargazing

45 Have an apple tasting party with several varieties 46 Tell stories around the fire pit

47 Go to a haunted house attraction 48 Visit a Lake Erie beach

49 Stock up on seasonal blooms at a garden center 50 Camp out in the backyard

September2019 2019--NortheastOhioParent.com NortheastOhioParent.com September

21 || 21

save the date ONGOING

9/1-11/30

Fall Hiking Spree. Get out and explore; complete at least eight designated hikes to earn hiking staff (first year hikers) and shield. summitmetroparks.org Trekking Through Autumn. Get out and explore your Medina County parks through this self-guided hiking program. First-year hikers earn a backpack; veteran hikers earn a pin. medinacountyparks.com

9/14-10/6

Fall Fun. Celebrate the onset of fall with an old-fashioned hay wagon ride and large six-acre corn maze. 12-3:30.

Equestrian Center, 13630 Diagonal Road, LaGrange, metroparks.cc

9/14-10/31

Fall Festival at Nickajack Farms.

Discovery Barn, farm animals, Rascal Round Up, tire dragons, obstacle course, hay maze and much more. Nickajack Farms, 2955 Manchester Ave., Canal Fulton, 330-323-9714, nickajackfarms.com

9/15-10/28

Fun Fest. Play in the hay stacks and corn crib, climb the tree house in the woods, slide down the 50-foot double slide, wander through the corn maze, and take a wonderful nature hike through the ravines and hills of Geauga County. Patterson Farms, 8765 Mulberry Road, Chesterland, 440-729-9809, pattersonfarm.com

9/28-10/29

Pumpkin Pandemonium. Bring the family to go on a scavenger hunt, get lost in the Harvest Maze and take a relaxing hayride touring around the farm. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Road, Peninsula, heritagefarms.com

DAY-BY-DAY

8/30-9/2

Cleveland Oktoberfest. The Cleveland Oktoberfest is a holiday family tradition, attracting fun-lovers and offering an exciting menu of entertainment to delight young and old alike. Cuyahoga

County Fairgrounds, 19201 E. Bagley Road, Middleburg Hts., clevelandoktoberfest.com

9/7-8

Princess & Pirates Weekend. Your little pirate or princess can ride through the orchards on the cow and pig trains, enjoy a hayride, sail down America’s longest slide, trek through a seven-acre corn maze and much more. Mapleside Farms, 294 Pearl Road, Brunswick, 330-225-5577, mapleside.com

9/10

Crocker Kids Bounti-Fall Harvest Celebration. Final event of the fiveevent summer series. Invite your friends and come for fall-themed crafts and games, enter to win prizes, plus enjoy snacks, glitter tattoos, balloon art and much more. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Crocker Park, 189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, northeastohioparent.com

9/13-14

Crocker Park Wine Festival. Featuring over 150 wines from local, national and international producers, select craft beers and spirits, music, exhibitors and delectable food. 4-10 p.m. Friday; 2-10 p.m. Saturday. Crocker Park, 189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com

9/15

Case Barlow Fall Harvest Festival.

Family-friendly activities include a rope maze, wagon train rides, crafts and demonstrations, hayrides and pony rides, candle dipping, and making butter. Noon-5 p.m. 1931 Barlow Road, Hudson, destinationhudson.com

9/20-21

Firefish Festival. Arts experience will dazzle with music, dance, fire and art in unexpected places culminating in the spectacular burning of the fish. 4-11 p.m.

Broadway Avenue between Erie and 5th streets in Lorain, firefishfestival.com

9/20-22

Elyria Apple Festival. Three days of family fun, food, entertainment, corn hole, Princess Pageant, pie contests, children’s activities, car show, food and crafts. Ely Square, Broad Street & Middle Avenue, Elyria, elyriaapplefestival.com

22 | Family Living at Its Best

FALL FUN EVENTS

9/21

Lehman’s Fall Festival. Toss, taste and sauce apples, plus enjoy free face painting, games and live music. 10 a.m.-3

p.m. 4779 Kidron Road, Dalton, lehmans.com

9/22

Ramseyer Farms’ Fall Festival. Music, food stands, and over 45 fun fall activities create the perfect atmosphere for a memorable day with family and friends.

1-6 p.m. Ramseyer Farms, 4000 Ramseyer Lane, Wooster, ramseyerfarms.com

9/21-22

Apple Butter & Cider Festival. Get a taste of apple cider, sample a variety of apples and help grind apples and press cider. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, 440-256-2122, lakemetroparks.com

9/21, 9/28 & 10/5

Bauman Orchards Fall Festival. Live music, pony rides, hay maze, petting zoo, wagon rides and more. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 161 Rittman Ave., Rittman, baumanorchards.com

9/28

Fall Arts & Crafts Festival. Showcasing dozens of local vendors, handmade goods, foods and crafts. Enjoy live music, food truck fare, inflatables and seasonal activities. Hartville Marketplace & Flea Market, 1289 Edison St. NW, Hartville, hartvillemarketplace.com

9/28-29

Hot Air Balloon Lift Off. Half a dozen balloons will take to the skies against the backdrop of the fall harvest activities.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m.

Sunday. Maize Valley Winery & Craft Brewery, 6193 Edison St., Hartville, 330-877-8344, maizevalley.com

G N I UPCFAOL LM EVENTS TRO PARKS

LORAIN COUNTY ME

ORN MAZE HAY WAGONian&CeCnte r Carlisle Equestr Grange 13630 Diagonal Rd., La Sept. 14 - Oct 6 Saturdays & Sundays, m Noon - 3:30p ity $2 per person per activ

NCAKE BREAKFAST FRIENDS PACe nter Carlisle Visitor Grange 12882 Diagonal Rd., La - 1pm Sunday, Sept. 29 | 9am $4 | Under 3: FREE Adults: $7 | 3-10 yrs:

N FAIR HALLOWEECe nter

Carlisle Visitor Grange 12882 Diagonal Rd., La t. 11 - 26 Fridays & Saturdays, Oc 4:30 - 10pm r 3: FREE $3 per person | Unde

L o ra i nCo u n ty Met r oPa r ks . co m September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com

| 23

FALL FUN EVENTS 9/28-29

Barberton Mum Festival. Beautiful chrysanthemums create a million blooms at Lake Anna Park. Family entertainment, arts and crafts, fabulous foods, sand sculpting and music. 10 a.m.-

6 p.m. Lake Anna Park, cityofbarberton.com

Horsepower Weekend. Horses and tractors have been used throughout the years in the harvest. Help plow the field with draft horses and watch other

201 9

September 21 & 28 and October 5

8am to 5pm U-Pick Apples or Already Bagged Apples

Live Music 12 - 3pm Free Hay Maze and Petting Zoo • Pony Rides 10-2 • Hot Dogs $1 Apple Cider 50¢ • Homemade Caramel Apples • Homemade Cider Donuts • Kettle Corn (Made while you watch) • Wagon Rides ($1 per person) • $5 All Day Activity Stamp for kids 12 & Under (Bouncy House Inc.)

161 Rittman Avenue, Rittman, OH 44270

(330) 925-6861 www.baumanorchards.com

24 | Family Living at Its Best

harvest activities. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Lake

Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com

9/29

Grape Harvest Festival. Experience an open-air market showcasing local makers, bakers, brewers and growers, along with live music and great food. 11

a.m.-4 p.m. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330-497-1000, gervasivineyard.com

Fall Fest. Celebrate autumn with a hayride through the nursery, hot air balloon launch, Jungle Terry animal show, pumpkins, games and food. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bremec Garden Center, 12265 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, bremec.com

10/4

Fall Family Night & Hayride.

Gather everyone and enjoy hands-on fall activities for the kids, planetarium programs, live wildlife encounters and hayrides for all ages. 6-9 p.m. Lake Erie

Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, 440-871-2900, lensc.org

10/4-6

Norton Cider Festival. A family event with something for all ages including apple decorating, magical train, inflatables and fireworks. Friday 5-9

p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday noon-6 p.m. Columbia Woods Park, 4060 Columbia Woods Drive, nortonciderfestival.com

SEPTEMBER CAlenDAR Find more events at NortheastOhioParent.com

Ourcks Pi to The sky n u d: the gro ion innovat and art

Pick your DAY

MONDAYS

Lego Free Play. Come and build together. For grades K-6. 3-5 p.m.

Bertram Woods Branch Library, 20600 Fayette Road, Shaker Hts., shakerlibrary.org Little Engineers Group of Oberlin.

Kids 5 years and older test your brickmaster skills. 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Oberlin Public Library, 65 S. Main St., 440-775-4790,oberlinpl.lib.oh.us

TUESDAYS

After School Zen Zone. A place to share music, do homework, or play games. 3-4 p.m. Tallmadge Branch Library, 90 Community Road, 330-633-4345, akronlibrary.org

8/31-9/2

Cleveland National Air Show.

Burke Lakefront Airport, Downtown Cleveland between East Ninth and East 55th streets, clevelandairshow.com

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS

Club Create! Join Club Create with Lake Erie Ink to make comics, poetry, science fiction, playwriting, mysteries and more. 3:30-5 p.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch Library, 1962 Stokes Blvd., Cleveland, cpl.org

WEDNESDAYS

Preschool STEAM Stations. Explore various activities that will build your child’s early literacy skills.

10:30-11 a.m. Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville, 440-3523383, morleylibrary.org Homeschool Geo Group. Teen homeschoolers will research and learn about cultures from around the world in peer groups and present their discoveries to others. 1:303 p.m. 9/11 & 9/25. Coventry Village

9/14-15

Chalk Festival. Children and adults join professional artists in using the walkways around the Fine Arts Garden as a colorful canvas. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org Branch Library, 1925 Coventry Road, Cleveland Hts., 216-321-3400, heightslibrary.org

FRIDAYS

Family Friendly Night. On the last Friday of every month, COSI offers extended hours and reduced price admission to families so you can visit, learn, and play late. 5 p.m.

Center of Science and Industry, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, cosi.org

SATURDAYS

Picking up STEAM. Explore new ideas through science experiments & playful activities, and see new things and challenge yourself to be more curious about the world. Second Saturday of the month. 2-3 p.m. Mentor-on-theLake Branch Library, 5642 Andrews Road, 440-257-2512, mentorpl.org

9/27-29

IngenuityFest. Showcases creativity and innovation across sectors. It is a unique space to find something for everyone.

5401 Hamilton Ave., Cleveland, ingenuitycleveland.com

Ongoing

9/14-10/6

Himalayan Dreams. A young Sherpa boy, living in the Himalayan mountains, dreams of climbing the tallest mountain in the world with his hero. Talespinner Children’s Theatre, 5209 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, talespinnerchildrenstheatre.org

9/12-29

The Who’s Tommy. A deaf, dumb and blind boy’s journey from pain to triumph is a sensory-defying rock and roll experience. Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron, 330-836-2626, weathervaneplayhouse.com

September 2019 - NortheastOhioParent.com

| 25

September

Day - By - day

8/29-9/2

The Great Geauga County Fair.

Over 13,000 exhibits, more than 2,000 animals, rides, music, fantastic food, exciting games and more.

Geauga County Fairgrounds, 14373 N. Cheshire St., Burton, geaugafair.com

9/2

Totally Kosher Rib Burn Off. An afternoon of fun, games, music and fabulous food, a video game truck, face painting, balloon twisting and much more for the entire family.

Noon-4 p.m. Gross Schechter Day School, 27601 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike, grossschechter.org

9/5

Dungeons and Dragons for Teens.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to play Dungeons & Dragons, now’s your chance. 3:30-5 p.m.

Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake, alpl.org

9/5-16

Cleveland Jewish FilmFest.

Featuring a tremendous lineup of international films and special events for all ages. Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood, 216-831-0700, mandeljcc.org

9/7

Heart & Home Marketplace.

Gather together and shop local makers, where you will find all things made with love in Ohio. Plus, enjoy live local music and yard games. Noon-6 p.m. Pinecrest, Park Avenue, Orange Village, discoverpinecrest.com Big Splash Dog Swim. Fun contests, concession stands, adoptable dogs and dog-related vendors. Noon-4 p.m. Avon Lake Municipal Pool, 32850 Electric Blvd., loveastraydog.com Tales for a Dog. Readers in kindergarten and older can share a story with a certified therapy dog. 9:3010:30 a.m. Wickliffe Public Library, 1713 Lincoln Road, 440-944-6010, wickliffepl.org Skunkfest. A friendly gathering for skunk lovers and skunk owners.

Skunk contests include costume, talent, skunk run and best detective. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. South Central Park, 7565 Avon Belden Road, North Ridgeville, skunkhaven.net

9/8

Bug Day! Enjoy an afternoon of buggy excitement and learn all about those smallest of creatures who live right in our own backyards. Noon-4 p.m. Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland Chardon Road, Willoughby, 440256-1404, lakemetroparks.com

26 | Family Living at Its Best

CALENDAR

Molto Bella Auto Show. A wide array of Ferraris, Bugattis, and other high value cars are included in the more than 400 exotic cars displayed on the Great Meadow.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org

9/10

Homeschoolers Outdoor Education: Fuzzy Caterpillars. Learn many fun facts about these crawling critters. Ages 7 to 12. 10-11:30 a.m. or 1-2:30 p.m. The Lodge at Allardale, 141 Remsen Road, Medina, medinacountyparks.com Creative Concoctions for Preschoolers. Create mysterious mixtures and make marvelous messes in this fun, hands‑on discovery program. Ages 3-6. 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m., The Lodge at Allardale, 141 Remsen Road, Medina, medinacountyparks.com

9/11

Gamers: Family Edition. Adults and families are invited to bring their own tabletop game or borrow one of ours for an evening of fun.

6-7:30 p.m. North Canton Public Library, 185 N. Main St., 330-4994712, ncantonlibrary.com

9/13

Medieval Astronomers. Learn about this fascinating chapter in human history and view the nightsky with park telescopes. 7-8:30 p.m. Observatory Park, 10610 Clay St., Montville, geaugaparkdistrict.org

9/14

Storytelling Workshop. Take a page right out of the Dread and Delight: Fairy Tales in an Anxious World exhibition during this storytelling workshop designed for anyone with a desire to tell a tale.

1-2 p.m. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org Family Fun Day Rally & Car Show.

Food, fun, games, face painting, balloon twisting, inflatables, door prizes and more. Noon-3 p.m. Ohio Station Outlets, 9911 Avon Lake Road, Burbank, ohiostationoutlets.com Rocky River Fall Arts Festival.

Entertainment, food trucks, kids activities and 54 participating artists. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Old Detroit Area, Rocky River, rrcity.com Baby, Tot & Bigger Show. An informative and exciting celebration for new and growing families, including pregnancy, newborns, toddlers and kids. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Summit Mall, 3265 W. Market St., Fairlawn, simon.com/mall/summit-mall Outdoor Movie Night. Pack some popcorn and candy, bring a blanket or your favorite chair and enjoy a relaxing evening under the summer night sky. 8-10 p.m. Tuscarawas Shelter. 2620 Harrington Road, Akron, summitmetroparks.org

9/14-15

Village Peddler Festival. Enjoy this American arts and crafts festival in a beautiful pastoral setting for the whole family. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, villagepeddlerfestival.com

9/15

WoofStock. People and their pups can raise funds for the homeless animals of Rescue Village. Dog-friendly fun, dozens of vendors and food trucks, cool canine contests, and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 3841 Chagrin River Road, Chagrin Falls, rescuevillage.org

9/16

Family Fun Night. A family of beavers live in the wetland. Hear about the strange adaptations of this mammal, make a craft and take a short hike to see their lodge. 6:30-7:30 p.m. CanalWay Center, 4524 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts., clevelandmetroparks.com

9/17

Pollinator Workshop. Learn how to identify common pollinators, how to select plants to attract and support pollinator communities, and how to make your landscape pollinator-friendly. 6-7:30 p.m. Dix Park, 7318 State Route 44, Ravenna

9/18

Teen Volunteer Night. Learn all the ways you can volunteer for service hours or just for fun. Amherst Public Library, 221 Spring St., 440-988-4230, amherst.lib.oh.us iNaturalist Workshop. Learn how to use the iNaturalist app on your phone to assist Portage Park District staff in documenting and discovering plant and animal species at park properties.

6:30-7:30 p.m. Russell House, 2241 Ravenna Road, Kent, co.portage.oh.us

9/20

Homeschool Days: Family Learning Fair. Homeschoolers and their families begin the start of the school year with fun activities and information from Geauga Park District and other local organizations. 1:30-3:30 p.m.

The West Woods. 9465 Kinsman Road, Novelty, geaugaparkdistrict.org

9/21

9/27

Baby, Tot & Bigger Show. An informative and exciting celebration for new and growing families, including pregnancy, newborns, toddlers and kids. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Belden Village Mall, 4230 Belden Village St. NW, Canton, shoppingbeldenvillagemall.com

9/28

Literacy Fair. Celebrate all things READING. Kids can have fun at a variety of activities and crafts to encourage their love of reading.

Ages birth-5 years. 11 a.m.-noon.

Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, 440-543-5611, divi.geaugalibrary.net

Open House & Clean Water Fest.

A celebration of community and all things water as the doors of the Southerly treatment plant and laboratory facilities are opened for a day of education and entertainment. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, 4747 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts., neorsd.org Nature Art for Teens. Do you have a creative spirit? Teens ages 13-17 are invited to join an interpretive artist for lessons in nature-inspired art. 12:30-2:30 p.m. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron, 330-865-8065, summitmetroparks.org

Tuscany on Tusc. An Italian street fair under the lights right outside Magical Theatre Company. Enjoy an Italian food truck, live Italian music, wine, beer and more. 5:30-9 p.m.

Magical Theatre Company, 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton, 330848-3708, magicaltheatre.org

Family Fitness Day. Kids receive a free kids class with purchase of an adult class or day pass. 9-11:30 a.m., Amherst HealthPlex, 47160 Hollstein Drive, Amherst, 440-984-3470, metroparks.cc Chorus for a Cause Concert. Travel down memory lane and celebrate 10 years of singing for the community. 4 p.m. Community Christian Church, 210 N. Main St., N. Canton, achorusforacause.org St. Jude Walk/Run. Help raise awareness for childhood cancer in Cleveland. 8 a.m. Edgewater Park, 6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, Cleveland, fundraising.stjude.org

9/29

Taste in Little Italy. Enjoy a fall afternoon in historic Little Italy for Cleveland’s premier food and beverage event. 1-4 p.m. Singer Steel Building, 2100 Random Road, Cleveland, tasteoflittleitalycleveland.com

9/30

Mistaken Monsters. Many aquatic species we know and love today were once believed to be sea monsters. Come take a closer look at some of these intriguing animals.

7-8:30 p.m. Solon Library, 34125 Portz Pkwy., Solon, 440-248-8777, cuyahogalibrary.org

save the date

10/5

Masterchef Junior Live! Featuring head-to-head cooking competitions with past MasterChef Junior all-stars and fan favorites, Q&A sessions, and an overall immersive audience experience. Fun for all ages. 7 p.m. State Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Tales Around the Emerald Necklace. Featuring a variety of stories from around the world as told by talented storytellers. Children, bring your parents and grandparents to join in the magic. 1-2 p.m.

CanalWay Center, 4524 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts., 216-206-1000, clevelandmetroparks.com

9/21-22

Mother Goose. A brand new show.

This interactive performance will tickle your kids as they learn classic rhymes and songs from Mother Goose herself. 2 p.m. Magical Theatre Company, 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton, 330848-3708, magicaltheatre.org Ravenna Balloon A-Fair. Parade, balloon launches, entertainment, fireworks, rides, crafts, and tractor and car show. 9 a.m.-dusk.

Sunbeau Valley Farm, 3229 State Route 59, Ravenna, ravennaballoonafair.com

9/22

Kids Fun Run. Non-competitive one-mile fun run for children ages 12 and younger that is intended to teach them that exercise can be rewarding and fun. 6:30 p.m. Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron, lock3live.com

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9/4

Senior Safari. Guests age 62 or better receive free admission and can participate in special activities. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo

9/6-8

Grandparents Day Weekend.

Free admission for grandma or grandpa with the purchase of an adult or child admission. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com

9/6-7

Grandparents Day Cards.

Celebrate your grandparents by creating a sweet card for them. Columbia Branch Library, 13824 W. River Road, N. Columbia Station, 440-236-8751, lorainpubliclibrary.org

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9/7

Grandparents Day Hike and Play. Play family-friendly games on a short exploration hike and create a family tree craft to take home. 11 a.m-noon. North Chagrin Reservation, 3037 SOM Center Road, Willoughby Hills, clevelandmetroparks.com Grandparents Festival. Celebrate everything that grandparents and grand-friends do for their families. Live music, crafts, health and family resources, genealogy, and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Parma Branch Library, 6996 Powers Blvd., cuyahogalibrary.org

9/8

Grandparents Day Family Fishing. Park staff and volunteer fisherman will be available to assist you and your family. 1-4 p.m. Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Wadsworth, 330-722-9364, medinacountyparks.com

Grandparents Day at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center.

A special morning devoted to grandparents and their grandchildren. Meet some of the animal ambassadors, see a show in the Planetarium, and make a craft together. 10-11:30 a.m.

28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, 440-871-2900, lensc.org

9/10

Grandparents Class. Many grandparents today are asked to assist in the care of their grandchildren more so than they were in the past. This class will cover the basics of diapering, bathing, the benefits of breastfeeding and safe sleep.

7-8 p.m. Summa Health, 1077 Gorge Blvd., Room B2-201, Akron, summahealth.org

9/14

Grandchildren & Grandparents Canvas Painting. Grab Grandma or Grandpa and create a special piece of art designed just for the two of you. 11 a.m.noon. Brook Park Branch Library, 6155 Engle Road, 216-267-5250, cuyahogalibrary.org Grandparent’s Day Storytime.

All ages are welcome to attend this storytime focusing on grandparents. 10:30 a.m. Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway St., 330-725-0588, mcdl.info

9/17

The Grandparent Connection: Back in Time. Fall is a great time to engage with your grandkids.

10-11 a.m. Children’s Schoolhouse Nature Park, 9045 Baldwin Road, Kirtland Hills, lakemetroparks.com

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ONGOING AKRON ART MUSEUM

THROUGH 9/22 Dread & Delight: Fairy Tales in an Anxious World. Brings together the work of contemporary artists who use classical fairy tales to address the complexities of our lives today. 1 S. High St., 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org

AKRON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

ONGOING SmART Saturdays. Exploratory art experiences and creative opportunities for all ages. 1-2 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month.

Art Studio Sundays. Artwork make & take with a different project each week. Every Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 216 S. Main St., akronkids.org

AKRON FOSSILS & SCIENCE CENTER

ONGOING Creation Education Museum.

Dedicated to comparing and contrasting scientific models like intelligent design and evolution on the origin of the universe, and catastrophism and uniformitarianism models on the geologic record. 2080 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Copley, 330-665-3466, akronfossils.com

AKRON ZOO

ONGOING Get up close to 700 animals 361 days a year. Explore Komodo Kingdom, Grizzly Ridge, Penguin Point, and much more. All-new Pride of Africa now open. 500 Edgewood Ave., 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org

BEECH CREEK BOTANICAL GARDEN & NATURE PRESERVE

THROUGH 9/15 Interact with nature in a fun and unique way as you explore the summer exhibits including the Butterfly House, Caterpillar Nursery, and Amazing Garden Plant Science Center. Explore two dozen hands-on activity stations related to nature and environmental science. 11929 Beech St. NE, Alliance, beechcreekgardens.org

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CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO

ONGOING Meet animals from around the world and create unforgettable memories. Tour the zoo and the RainForest for an afternoon or the entire day. 3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500, futureforwildlife.org

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF CLEVELAND

ONGOING Wonder Lab, Adventure City, Making Miniatures, Arts & Parts, The Meadow, Playlist and Theater. Visitors with autism spectrum disorder and developmental, sensory and learning differences will find support throughout the museum. 3813 Euclid Ave., cmcleveland.org

CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER

ONGOING Cleveland Starts Here. A place for Northeast Ohioans to locate their own stories and place themselves in the rich story of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, and for school children to experience firsthand the history of Cleveland and the region.

10825 East Blvd., 216-721-5722, wrhs.org

THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART

THROUGH 9/22 Cai Guo-Qiang: Cuyahoga River Lightning. Features three monumental gunpowder works

by Chinese artist Cai GuoQiang (born 1957), known for his explosion events, gunpowder-ignited paintings and installations, all using environmentally-friendly materials.

11150 East Blvd., clevelandart.org

THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

THROUGH 10/28 Fossil Hunters: The Search for our Past. Visitors will be virtually transported to the Afar desert of Ethiopia, where they will see how teams of fossil hunters search for clues to our evolutionary puzzle. They will learn where fossils are found, and how they are detected and extracted from the surface. 1 Wade Oval Drive, cmnh.org

Attractions

GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER

ONGOING Vroom! A Car Adventure.

From a Tot Garage area for the youngest tinkerers to an exhibit that demonstrates how self-driving cars are able to see using a LIDAR sensor, Vroom! is sure to get every guest’s curiosity racing. 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, 216-694-2000, greatscience.com

GREATER CLEVELAND AQUARIUM

ONGOING Aquarist for a Day, Stingray Art Experience, Zzzs in the Seas Overnights. 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, 216-862-8803, greaterclevelandaquarium.com

HOLDEN ARBORETUM

THROUGH 9/15 Woodland Express Garden Railroad Exhibit. Step into a magical garden railroad featuring G-scale trains, vibrant plantings and handcrafted architectural elements. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 9550 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenarb.org

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

ONGOING Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols, Bessie Coleman, Harriet Quimby, Katharine Wright, the WASP, Jackie Cochran and more. Burke Lakefront Airport, 1501 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland, 216-623-1111, iwasm.org

LAKE ERIE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER

ONGOING Schuele Planetarium: Twinkle Tots, Stellar Stars, Family Adventures in Space, Sky Tonight and Full Dome Show. 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, 440-8712900, lensc.org

MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE

9/25-3/1/2020 Leonard Bernstein: The Power Of Music. The first large-scale museum exhibition to illustrate Leonard Bernstein’s life, Jewish identity, and social activism.

2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, 216-593-0575, maltzmuseum.org

MCKINLEY MUSEUM

ONGOING Stark County Food: From Early Farming to Modern Meals.

This exhibition will explore food history in Stark County, from the earliest orchards and farms to today’s culinary tourism scene.

800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton, 330-455-7043, mckinleymuseum.org

NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES

9/5-1/6/20 “Fragments” by Paula Zinsmeister. Artist Paula Zinsmeister uses a variety of printmaking and mixed media techniques to portray the beauty of natural plants and grasses. In some instances, paper was made by hand or dyed using plants.

2600 S. Park Blvd., 216-231-5935, shakerlakes.org

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME

ONGOING The Garage: It’s Your Turn to Play. Pick up an instrument, crank up the volume and make your own music in the museum. Designed to evoke the birthplace of rock bands for decades, The Garage is where it’s your turn to play. 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland, rockhall.com

THE SHAKER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ONGOING First Saturday. Visit the Shaker Historical Museum the first Saturday of the month. Discover exhibits of Shaker life, the development of Shaker Heights, art and architecture. Shaker Historical Museum, 16740 S. Park Blvd., shakerhistory.org

STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS

ONGOING Lasting Impressions. Celebrating Gertrude Seiberling’s passion for painting, which she rediscovered at age 64, and passionately pursued for the next 16 years. Her paintings will be on display in the Manor House. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330-836-5533, stanhywet.org

Northeast Ohio Parent

MARKETPLACE

TO PLACE YOUR AD HERE Contact

Samantha Olp

330-636-6127 or Sam@northeastohioparent.com

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Back to School Means Vacation Planning, Too!

By Tricia Scott, owner of Visit Mickey Vacations

A

s parents, we know that summer vacation can be all-consuming.

It’s go to work, find child care, get the kids to camp, sports, etc.

— go-go-go! Now that it’s September, it’s time to get “back to school” and “back to normal.”

It’s also time to think about what you are going to do again when the kids have their school breaks. It might seem crazy since we just got them back to school, but this is the perfect time to plan for the upcoming holiday break, spring break and even what you will do for the summer of 2020!

As a travel agent, we are seeing more and more the trend of “book early for your best rate” coming from our vendors. Certainly that always has been the rule for cruising. Sure, there also are last-minute deals, but those are to fill the less desirable or more expensive rooms. For getting the accommodations you want at the right budget, your best bet is to book early!

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HERE IS WHAT’S ON THE LANDSCAPE FOR DISNEY TRAVEL THROUGH SUMMER OF 2020: Walt Disney World has brought so many new things in 2019 and things are going to keep growing as we approach the park’s 50th anniversary celebration. If you haven’t been to Disney World in Florida in a few years, you’ve already missed a number of big changes and new lands: Pandora — the World of Avatar; Toy Story Land; and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which just opened Aug. 29.

But don’t wait, now more than ever is the time to enjoy Walt Disney World and its resorts. Staying in a Disney Resort and enjoying all the theming, transportation, ease of travel and other perks is the way to go.

Disney Cruise Line can be booked all the way through 2020.This is the perfect time to think about a special seasonal sailing with Disney Cruise.

They have fall sailings out of New York City, which is not a bad drive from the

Cleveland area. Fall sailing includes the fun theming of “Halloween on the High Seas,” which includes costume parties, contests, spooky story time and adorable décor, on top of all the regular Disney Cruise Line offerings.

The other special cruise is the “Very Merrytime Sailing” for the holiday season. Late November and through December, enjoy the décor of the holidays: decorated trees, garland, and don’t forget the life-sized gingerbread house in the grand lobby. When the actual holidays fall, Disney makes it extra special, offering families a way to celebrate their faith. During the weeks of Christmas and Hanukkah, they bring aboard a pastor, priest and rabbi for faith services. And don’t forget Santa; he drops in to get the kiddos’ wish lists.

These are just two examples you can do with Disney Travel. Look up my other articles or reach out for more help with your Disney needs.

Go to visitmickey.com/quote-neoparent

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Dad

By Jason Lea

Jason Lea has a son, daughter, and a full-time job at the Mentor Public Library. He also blogs for Northeast Ohio Parent in his nonexistent free time. You can find this East-sider on Twitter at @jasonmarklea or read his blog at northeastohioparent. com/bloggers

MATTERS

To my Daughter who has Red Hair Daughter, you are 2 years old now and people have started to comment on your hair.

It is the color of orange sherbet — strawberry blonde, in the parlance — but most people will call it “red.”

Red hair is novel to a lot of people. You may not appreciate the novelty because your mama, grandma, aunt, and half of your cousins have hair that is some shade of red. They range from auburn to campfire orange, but to the world you are all “red.”

And some people will fixate on your hair. They will want to touch it. (You do not have to let them.) They also may give you unclever nicknames like Copper Top, Burning Bush and, yes, Red. You may receive a MacArthur Fellowship, discover cold fusion, or earn a Nobel Peace Prize.

However, to these people, your primary feature will always be your hair color.

Mark the men who do this.

(And, yes, it will overwhelmingly be men.) They are, at the very least, unclever.

PHOTO BY JASON LEA

At worst, they have fetishized your hair. And when they place too much importance on one of your attributes — in this case, your hair — they are ignoring everything else.

Now, not all of these men will be brutes and bullies. In fact, some of them will be very polite. They will compliment your hair and ask to touch it. (You DO NOT have to let them.) They may offer poetic phrases and compare your hair to sunsets or cherry blossoms.

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But the flatterers and troglodytes have one thing in common: They have taken all you are and summed it up in the word “red.”

And, to be clear, you are more than a hair color. You are more than your eyes, ears, and the assemblage of your body parts.

You’re more than your thoughts, feelings, and what you see when you close your eyelids.

You’re a universe.

Don’t let anyone sell that short.

But here’s the catch: Everyone else is a universe, too.

So never try to define people by a single feature. They are more than their large nose, loud voice, taste in music, tint of their skin, political opinions, religion, or any kind of orientation.

To look at someone else and define them by a single feature is, at the very least, as obnoxious as when guys call you Red (and sometimes much, much worse.)

Don’t do it. It limits them and yourself.

So, in closing, you have red hair. It’s lovely. I hope you are proud of it — in part because it is a gift from your mama and Grandma Debbie.

But you are more than you hair pigment, more than any label people can put on you. And if anyone tries to make you feel like you are less than that, like you’re just a hair color, then you have my permission to whomp them.

And, afterward, you can tell them that you ginger-snapped.

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