Sonoma Family Life April 2023

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Trees are leafing out and the land is an emerald green. It’s spring! And soon a certain bunny who fills baskets with goodies will arrive. Looking for Easter fun? Check out “Egg Hunts!” (page 31). If you want to dial down how much chocolate and Peeps your family eats, read “Better than Easter Sweets” (page 20) for non-candy items to put in your kids’ baskets. And if family and friends will be having Sunday brunch at your place, Momma Chef’s Brioche French Toast Casserole (“Baked French Toast,” page 8) is an easy, low-stress people-pleaser.

Besides everyone’s favorite bunny, spring also welcomes our annual Camp Fair. This year’s fair is on April 14, 3–7 p.m., at Coddingtown Mall in

Santa Rosa. In addition to the fair, there’ll be a talent show highlighting the gifts of local students. Presented by Julie Nation Academy, together with Sonoma Family Life, the show will start at 5:30 p.m. on Coddingtown’s Center Court stage. To get inspired before the big day, read “Summer Camp ABCs” (page 12) to find out what kinds of questions to ask the many camp representatives who will be at the fair. And, while you’re strolling from booth to booth, don’t forget to take part in the fun giveaways. If you can’t make it, check out the Virtual Camp Fair at sonomafamilylife.com

After the fair is over, another important spring event arrives—Earth Day. Turn to “Celebrate the Earth” (page 10) and the Calendar of Events (page 30) for details about local festivities. Have a joyful April!

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Natalie Dal Pra

Tanni Haas

Pam Moore

Karen Nochimowski

Sita-Marie Pillay

Pamela Roggeman

Agnes Wong

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Baked French Toast

Make an Easy Brunch Fave

By Momma Chef

Idedicate this recipe to parents everywhere. We’re all working overtime, and we deserve a day off. While this may be a pipe dream, we can still make things easier for ourselves in the kitchen. For instance, my kids love French toast, but standing in front of a skillet for 30 minutes making 15 pieces of French toast is not my idea of a good time. That’s why I love this recipe: Prep it in five minutes, let sit, pop it in the oven, and, viola, breakfast is served. My kids like to drizzle syrup on their individual pieces, rather than on the entire casserole. I say go for it. ❖

Karen Nochimowski is the author of 6-Minute Dinners (& More!), a newly released cookbook filled with more than 100 simple recipes with six or fewer ingredients, including nut-free and allergy-friendly options. Gloria Estefan, Alex Borstein, Katie Couric, Howie Mandel, Margaret Cho, Barbara Corcoran, and many others have written testimonials for it. Karen also started and runs Momma Chef’s Soup Kitchen and Momma Chef’s Little Free Pantries. Part of the proceeds from the cookbook will go towards feeding those facing food insecurity.

Brioche French Toast Casserole

Ingredients

• 14–16 oz. loaf brioche bread

• 1/3 cup melted butter

• 2 ½ cups whole milk

• 6 eggs

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 1 tbsp. vanilla

Instructions

1. Slice brioche bread into 1” slices and then cut those into 1” cubes.

2. Pour melted butter into a 9” x 13” baking dish and coat the dish well.

3. Layer bread into a greased baking dish.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla and pour evenly over the bread.

5. I like to let this sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or, if possible, overnight.

6. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F and bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5–10 minutes before serving.

Serves: 9

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Celebrate the Earth

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. Senator Gaylord Nelson created the day to force a national discussion of environmental concerns. And not long after, the Environmental Protection Agency came into being. More than three decades later, with climate change a global concern, eco-activists say Earth Day is more important than ever. Locally, the free Santa Rosa Earth Day Festival will be held on April 22, noon–4 p.m., at Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. The event will feature more than 50 exhibitors, live music and dance performances, workshops, and kids’ activities and crafts. Find out more at srcity.org/2139/Earth-Day-2023. Meanwhile, the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa will host an ecology-oriented Museum Monday for Little Ones on April 24, 10 a.m.–noon. Kids age 1–5 will finger-paint the Earth, plant a seed starter to grow at home, and make bird-finder binoculars. Before 11 a.m., admission is $10 for youth and free for up to two adult chaperones; after 11 a.m., regular admission applies ($5–$12; ages 3 and younger, free). Sign up at schulzmuseum. org/museum-mondays

Here Comes the Apple Blossom Parade

The Apple Blossom Festival takes months to plan, as anyone at the Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce will tell you. But all the hard work ensures the continuation of a popular decades-long tradition. Boasting a number of community organizations and floats, the parade is always a festival highlight. This year it will be on April 29 at 10 a.m. on Main Street in Sebastopol. There will also be live music on two stages in Sebastopol’s Ives Park on April 29 (noon–5:30 p.m.) and April 30 (noon–4:30 p.m.), as well as children’s activities. Tickets are $10–$15 (ages 11 and younger, free) and may be purchased at tinyurl.com/55b2kwhc or at the gate. For more information, go to appleblossomfest.com

This Rooster Loves Jazz

Jazz-loving Acoustic Rooster wants to win a talent show. So he forms a band with his friends: pianist Duck Ellington, crooner Bee Holiday, and a percussionist pig, Pepe Ernesto Cruz. Such is the beginning of Kwame Alexander’s children’s book Acoustic Rooster, upon which Alexander’s musical, Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume, is based. The Kennedy Center has commissioned a national tour of the show, and one of its next stops is the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa. Watch it on April 25 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $21 for adults and $16 for kids, and may be purchased at tinyurl.com/2s3d9akc

Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie

Apple Blossom Festival Parade

Camp Fair & Family Expo

Find a Camp for Your Kid

Parenting is so exhausting (the understatement of the year), choosing a summer camp can feel overwhelming. The Sonoma Family Life Camp Fair, which features representatives of myriad local camps in one place, aims to make the task easier. Strolling from booth to booth, parents can explore a variety of programs—everything from nature to language immersion to performing arts camps. The fair will be held on April 14, 3–7 p.m., at Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa. In addition to the fair, there will be a talent show. Hosted by Sonoma Family Life and Julie Nation Academy, the show will run 5:30–7 p.m. at the mall’s Center Court. Can’t make the fair? Check out the Virtual Camp Fair at familylifevirtualevents.com.

Go to a Goth Musical

Who names their kid Wednesday? Gomez and Morticia Addams, that’s who. The famous Goth-comedy couple of the 1960s TV show the Addams Family is also the subject of the 2009 Addams Family musical, which Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) theater students will stage at SRJC in Santa Rosa. See the macabre fam—including Uncle Fester, Pugsley, and Wednesday—come to life on weekends April 21–May 7. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 21–22, 27–29, and May 4–6, and at 2 p.m. on April 23, 29–30, and May 6–7. Tickets are $20–$25 except for the April 27 Family Bargain Night, for which tickets are $12. Purchase tickets via tinyurl.com/3yeuww5m

Speak and Beat the Rhythm

Renowned

Nigerian percussionist Onye Onyemaechi has traveled the United States and Europe performing his original multicultural blend of tribal rhythms and hypnotic trance-dance music. And soon he will be showcasing his talents in Sebastopol at Freedom of New Beginnings: A Feast of Poetry and Music. The evening will feature Sonoma County poet laureates reading verse while Onyemaechi, with his seven-piece band Onye and the Messengers, lay down African beats. The show will be held on April 8 at 4:30 p.m. at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center in Sebastopol. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for students of all ages; kids ages 10 and younger get in for free. Purchase tickets at seb.org/poetry-event

Addams Family Musical

Onye and the Messengers

Summer Camp ABCs

How to Choose a Camp Your Kids Will Love

By Kimberly Blaker

Whether you’re looking for enrichment for your child, a way to keep your kids occupied and supervised while you work, or you need a short reprieve from parenting, there’s sure to be a summer camp that’s the right fit for your child and family.

• opportunities for creative expression

• breaks from being plugged-in

• daily exercise

• self-esteem

• teamwork

• community

• learning retention

Summer

Camp Benefits

Many kids thrill at the idea of going away to summer camp. Still, for some kids, particularly those who are shy, introverted, or homebodies, the thought of going away for a night, let alone a week or more, can cause considerable anxiety. When kids are adamantly opposed to camp, forcing it on them may not be in their best interest.

But for kids who are eager—or at least willing to give it a shot without much fuss—summer camp offers opportunities kids may not have elsewhere. Summer camp fosters:

• independence

• development of new and lasting friendships

• development of new skills

• discovery of new interests and hobbies

Start the Search Before you begin looking into summer camps, create a list of the criteria you’re looking for. Here are some things you’ll want to consider.

• What is your budget for summer camp?

• What is the purpose of sending your child to summer camp?

Keep your children’s choices in mind to ensure they get the most out of summer camp.

• Do you want a resident (overnight) or a day camp?

• Are you looking for a short-term (week or two) or summer-long program?

• Do you want a camp that’s very structured or one that provides your children with lots of freedom and choices?

• What are your children’s passions, such as a particular sport, hobby, or other interest?

Once you’ve narrowed down some criteria, you can begin your search. An excellent place to start is Sonoma Family Life ’s Camp Fair, which will be held on April 14, 3–7 p.m., at Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa. You can also

do an online search at Sonoma Family Life ’s virtual camp fair at sonomafamilylife.com or visit summercamps.com, where you can search by zip code or category.

what excites them. Be sure to let your children know upfront that you still need to thoroughly investigate the camp(s) before making a final decision. But keep your children’s choices in mind to ensure they get the most out of camp.

The American Camp Association (ACA), which accredits summer camps, is also an excellent resource: acacamps.org.

Next Steps Once you’ve selected a few summer camps that meet your primary criteria and fit your children’s interests, share the choices with your children to see

Once you and your children have narrowed the list to a manageable selection, you’ll want to investigate the camps further. There are several things you’ll want to consider:

What are the staff’s qualifications? Teens often staff camps; they make excellent mentors and lively program guides. However, the programs themselves should be developed by professionals and have professional oversight to ensure

camp offers opportunities kids may not have elsewhere.

kids are getting the most from their camp experience.

How does the camp ensure children’s safety? Find out what kind of safety training the camp provides its staffers. Also is there always someone on hand who knows CPR? What are the camp’s procedures in the event your children become ill or have an accident or emergency?

What is the schedule? Ask for a day-to-day itinerary, so you and your children know what to anticipate.

What are the rules? Are your children allowed to call you? If it’s a summer-long residential camp, can parents come and visit? Can kids bring along a cell phone or electronics? Also, how much money can they bring and how is it managed?

Don’t sweat it. Keep in mind, although there are many great camps, no camp is likely to offer everything precisely the way you want it. Choose the one that best fits your children and satisfies your most important criteria. Remember, your children still have many more summers ahead of them—and plenty of opportunities for exciting camp experiences. ❖

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com

Summer camp offers opportunities kids may not have elsewhere.

Your Y at: Sonoma County Family YMCA

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What’s That Bug?

Nature Apps Identify Flora and Fauna

EarthTalk® is from the editors of E: The Environmental Magazine.

Dear EarthTalk: What are some of the best apps out there for helping identify plants and/or wildlife?

J. Moser, Summertown, SC

Not surprisingly in this day and age, you don’t need a PhD to identify plants and animals out in the natural world. All you need is a smartphone and an app.

One of the best known and most downloaded of this new breed of ID apps is iNaturalist (inaturalist.org), a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic. You can use it to take a photo of a plant or animal and get a list of possible species based on your location. And if that doesn’t work, you can escalate to a community

of expert naturalists via the app to help identify more obscure species.

If footprints are all you have to identify wildlife passing through your area, check out the iTrack Wildlife app (naturetracking.com/ itrack-wildlife). To use it, simply input a few basic descriptors (size of the track, number and shape of toes, claws visible or not, etc.) and then get back a list of likely matches. The app is also searchable offline if you’re beyond cell range.

Bird enthusiasts will appreciate Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID (merlin.allaboutbirds.org).

You can upload a photo and/or enter information about the bird you saw, such as its size, location, and colors observed, and the app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to give you back a list of possible species.

Meanwhile, the BirdNet app (birdnet.cornell.edu), also from Cornell’s ornithologists, utilizes recordings of birdsong to tell you which avian species are nearby. When you launch BirdNet, it records the noise in your surroundings and can zero in on a specific chirp or call to identify which bird is making it. So far, the app has cataloged more than 1,000 of the most common bird species in North America and Europe.

Want to identify that creepy crawly making its way across the path?

Picture Insect uses AI to match the insect you have photographed against its database of insect photos contributed by some three million users to make a match and let you know just what you’re dealing with. Likewise, the company behind Picture Insect (Glority, glority.com) also offers Picture Fish, Picture Bird, Picture Mushroom, Picture Animal, and Picture This (for plants), all of which use AI to help ID different types of living things from your photos.

LeafSnap’s developers report that the app can recognize 90 percent of all known flora species on the planet.

Meanwhile, the LeafSnap app (leafsnap.app), developed by the Smithsonian Institution, Columbia University, and the University of Maryland, uses visual recognition technology to identify thousands of plants, flowers, fruits, and trees from user-submitted photos of leaves. LeafSnap’s developers report that the app can recognize 90 percent of all known flora species on the planet. You can download the app to your phone and make use of it even without an Internet connection.

Another app beloved to help identify plants and trees is PlantSnap (plantsnap.com), which uses machine learning technology and AI to determine the species of the plant, flower, or shrub pic you have just snapped. The Colorado-based start-up behind this app has collected upwards of 475 million plant images in its database, which it has leveraged to identify more than 650,000 plants for users around the world. ❖

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy

Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at emagazine.com . To donate, visit earthtalk.org Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org

The BirdNet app utilizes recordings of birdsong to tell you which avian species are nearby.

Good Deeds

15 Ways Kids Can Serve Their Communities

By Tanni Haas

April is National Volunteer Month, a great occasion to teach your kids the value of caring for their community, especially for those members who can’t care very well for themselves. Here are 15 practical suggestions for what they can do.

1. Visit sick kids at the hospital. This is a wonderful gesture to make during school breaks, when convalescing children may be most aware that everyone else is having fun.

2. Donate clothing and food to a homeless shelter. This will teach your kids the value of giving to those much less fortunate than themselves.

3. Help senior citizens learn to use technology. Many older folks need help with tech basics—how to search the Internet, send emails, and navigate their smartphones—so that they can better communicate with family and friends.

4. Help coach a sports team with younger kids. This can be any sport they are good at or just like playing.

5. Assist senior citizens with daily tasks. Kids can offer to get groceries or run errands around town.

6. Ask the library or school if they need tutors. Sometimes kids can explain things to their peers in a way that makes more sense than what an adult can cook up. Older children can help younger ones with reading, writing, and basic math.

7. Volunteer for a clean-up day at a park. Go to parks.

sonomacounty.ca.gov/play/calendar or coastal.ca.gov/publiced/cleanups. html for local opportunities.

8. Help out at charity shops. These shops rely on volunteers and can always use another helping hand.

9. Visit the residents at a nursing home or assisted living facility. Many residents get fewer visits from family and friends than most people realize.

Many older folks need help with tech basics.

10. Organize a back-to-school supplies drive. At the end of the summer, ask the community to donate to kids whose families have fallen on hard times.

11. Help care for animals at an animal shelter. There’s nothing like giving a little love to an abandoned dog or cat.

12. Organize a community get-together. Community centers are great places to host movie screenings, dances, or group activities that encourage collaboration and bonding.

13. Donate books. Local schools may need used textbooks and test-prep manuals.

14. Walk dogs. Neighbors who are injured, sick, or otherwise unable to exercise their pets will be grateful for the assistance.

15. Bring green thumbs to a community garden. Plant flowers and vegetables, weed, water, or just help with upkeep and maintenance.

Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.

Better than Easter Sweets

10 Non-Candy Bunny Basket Treats

By Natalie Dal Pra

Every time we turn a corner, there’s another holiday where sugar is everywhere. It’s gotten to the point where we have to avoid the holiday section of Target so our kids don’t go into a frenzy over all the sweets. With Easter almost here, the bunny might be scrambling to come up with creative basket gifts that won’t cause treat overload. Here are some of my favorites.

Books Go with an Easter theme, or be totally random and stock their shelves with a few classics.

Rainy Day Accessories Even if your child has a pair of rain boots already, they’re most likely covered in mud and could probably use an upgrade. An upside down umbrella also serves as a cute and functional

Nothing says spring like a fresh box of sidewalk chalk or a jump rope.

“basket,” and helps prepare kids for soggy spring weather.

Sleepwear After you pack up the winter PJs, bunny pajamas or

a new set of slippers are welcome additions to the bedtime routine.

Garden Tools Have them help plant this spring. Include some gloves, a shovel, and seeds to get your kids in the mood for the outdoor season.

Jenga, Children’s Pictionary, and travel

Scrabble are great for bringing along on spring break trips.

Outdoor Toys Nothing says spring like a fresh box of sidewalk chalk or a jump rope. Now is the time to purge your garage of old, broken toys and welcome the warm weather with new outdoor goodies.

Craft Supplies New Play-Doh, clay, markers, or a set of crayon “eggs” will spark spring creativity.

Summer Sandals Chances are, everyone has outgrown last year’s footwear. Get ready for warmth with a fresh pair of kicks.

Games Everyone loves a good family game night. Jenga, Children’s Pictionary, and travel Scrabble are great for bringing along on spring break trips, too.

Movies Grab a few movies for those rainy spring afternoons.

Indoor Toys Your indoor playroom might need some love, too, especially if you’ve recently donated old toys. Matchbox cars, dolls, Legos, Etch A Sketch; the possibilities for easy, affordable trinkets are endless. ❖

Natalie Dal Pra is a freelance writer.

Unseen Child Abuse

Pay Attention to Subtle Signs

By Sita-Marie Pillay

We think that we can spot child abuse. We search for bruises on the skin of the kid in the back of the class. We wonder about the child who resists going to the restroom. But can we spot emotional and mental abuse? How about the child who doesn’t show any signs of flinching or anger, the child who smiles and laughs and goes through life putting others first and being self-reliant? Do we stop and wonder what experiences might have matured that child so young?

The law in California defines child abuse as emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. In this article, however, I am less concerned with the legal definitions of abuse and more with spotting subtleties that convince us that a child needs help.

As a psychologist working in community mental healthcare, I have seen child abuse present in

many ways. The visible signs of physical abuse—bruises and scars— can be easy to recognize. The signs of neglect are subtler: for instance, being unkempt or chronically unwell, not going to school or the doctor. Sexual abuse leaves marks in areas that clothing typically covers so that the emotional symptoms may be the most evident.

Emotional abuse can be the most difficult to spot of all, as repeated insults, manipulation, isolation, brainwashing, and withholding of love and support all too often leave no visible signs.

Many of us in helping and childcare professions are trained to look for physical signs of abuse, but we also know there are invisible scars. How do any of us who care for children spot those signs of abuse? Regularly checking in with children regarding their feelings of safety, invisibility, and hurt can be immensely helpful. Instead of dismissing how they’re feeling, ask “What’s going on for you right now?“

It may seem daunting to ask a 16-year-old, let alone a two-year-old, this question. But children often express surprising insight, and they can give valuable information when asked. So query, “Where does it hurt? Who made the ouch?” Listen to what they say when they point to their heart versus their arm; notice if their ears get hot.

Just being curious can be powerful for you and the victim.

In most cases, the abuser is someone a child knows.

In most cases, the abuser is someone a child knows. This is terrifying and makes it seem that there is little you can do, but there are ways that you can help. Just being curious can be powerful for you and the victim. In some cases, it could be the difference between life and death.

Because childhood abuse is not uncommon, you may know abuse survivors. And these survivors may say things like, “Well I got through that. It was normal, and I’m fine.” I want you to ask yourself, are they fine? Or could they have been spared a lifetime of emotional and physical consequences if, during their youth, one of their teachers or caregivers had intervened?

Psychologists like myself are trained to look for signs of abuse, and we are legally bound to report it to Child Protective Services. However, the tremendous power to recognize and prevent child abuse really

health clinician may not have a chance to notice. You see whether or not a child is really smiling with their eyes or just with their lips. You see if there are changes in how they’re walking and talking, or if tantrums seem more intense. If you report what you see, even if only to a friend or a therapist like me, you can make a difference in a child’s life.

lies with the millions of parents, caregivers, and teachers that daily interact with children. You live with them, you work with them, and you see the micro changes in behavior and body language that a mental

Sita-Marie Pillay, PsyD, obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the CSPP at Alliant International University. She works as a post-doctoral fellow with the Community Mental Health Hub and Legacy programs at the Hanna Center in Sonoma. Find out more about the Hanna Center at hannacenter.org

Regularly checking in with

regarding their feelings of safety, invisibility, and hurt can be immensely helpful.

Beat Exam Jitters

6 Ways to Help Students Cope with Test Anxiety

By Pamela Roggeman

Test anxiety is a real problem, affecting 25–40 percent of US students. While test anxiety is common, it’s important to make sure it’s not debilitating. Here are six ways parents and educators can help ease test anxiety in students.

1. Emphasize preparation. Preparation can look different for individuals, but there are a few tips everyone can benefit from:

• Create an organized study plan. Develop a weekly or monthly testing schedule.

• Practice relaxation techniques. Help students learn how to use meditation, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness, or yoga to calm themselves.

• Get enough rest. Encourage students to go to bed early and take breaks while studying.

• Eat healthy meals. A balanced diet helps reduce stress levels and

improve alertness and readiness for testing.

• Seek more resources. These include everything from testing strategies to test-taking skills.

2. Try to understand their fears. Test anxiety can be rooted in a number of underlying fears, such as:

• the fear of failure or not being good enough;

• past trauma related to school or test-taking;

• depression or other mental health issues;

• performance anxiety and social comparison.

Try to understand your student’s anxiety. Ask questions about past testing experiences, what triggers their stress, and how they feel when testing. For example:

• Tell me about a time when you didn’t do well on a test. How did you feel? What happened?

• What are your biggest concerns about testing?

Positive thinking can also help reduce stress levels.

3. Reframe their perspective. To help students maintain a better perspective on testing, explain that testing is only one part of the learning journey. Remind them to take a step back and focus on the bigger picture. The testing process has many moving parts, and it’s essential to help students see that testing is not the only way to measure their intelligence or abilities. Depending on their age, encourage them to explore other opportunities, such as:

• extracurricular activities;

• mentorship programs;

• internships. These experiences can give students a wider perspective on how intelligence and competency are assessed as well as provide them with alternative paths to success. Likewise, a broader perspective can help build self-confidence and resilience, which can, in turn, help reduce anxiety.

4. Share effective test-taking strategies. Examples of effective test-taking strategies include:

• Planning ahead. Students must learn how to allocate time, understand the test format, and preview testing material to anticipate which questions may be asked.

• Reading directions. It’s important to carefully read instructions to ensure comprehension before beginning any testing activity.

• Staying focused. Remaining organized and on task during testing can help a student avoid wasting time or needing to double-check answers.

• Eliminating distractions. To stay focused, students must turn off electronics, put away testing materials, and block out other test-takers.

5. Emphasize positive thinking. Encouraging positive thinking is one of the best ways to help students manage testing anxiety. Positive thinking can be a powerful tool for believing in one’s ability to succeed and perform well on testing days. Positive thinking can also help reduce stress levels, preventing testing anxiety from spiraling out of control. Positive thinking takes practice. Help your students develop concrete examples of positive self-talk they can use on testing days, such as, “I am capable and confident,” or, “I can do this!” Have students write these

night’s sleep before a testing day is one of the best ways to reduce stress and maximize performance. Sleep helps restore energy levels, dispel mental fog, and improve memory.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children ages 6–12 get 9–12 hours of sleep and youth ages 13–18 get 8–10 hours. Here are some ways to optimize sleep before testing:

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every night.

• Avoid bright screens (TV or phone) for at least one hour before bed.

Invisible Disabilities

The Lives of Parents of Kids with ASD

By Pam Moore

While some disabilities demand recognition via a wheelchair, hearing aid, or portable oxygen tank, others—invisible disabilities—are more subtle. I talked to parents of kids with invisible disabilities to find out what they wish more people understood about their experiences.

Sensory processing issues are NOT discipline issues. A child with sensory processing disorder could have 20/20 vision and perfect hearing, but when he is in a crowded mall, his brain is not able to manage all of the auditory and visual information he’s receiving through his eyes and ears. While each kid reacts differently to overstimulation, some will scream or become physically aggressive. What may look like

defiance is just a kid doing his best to manage a stressful environment.

Jaime has a five-year-old son with high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She says, “discipline will not prevent him from being overwhelmed by his environment.”

Says Lainie Gutterman, the mom of a seven-year-old boy with ASD, when he is having a meltdown, “Staring, pointing, and offering your two cents is not helping the situation and will

most likely cause my son or myself to feel worse and [his] behaviors to escalate.”

A little compassion goes a long way. Virtually every parent I talked to described the pain of receiving judgment instead of compassion. Sarah Cottrell, whose son has hemophilia, is tired of challenging people’s assumptions about his

diagnosis. She says, “He doesn’t have AIDS and hemophilia isn’t caused by incest. Enough with the wild theories because we need compassion and empathy for the unseen pain issues.”

Most parents I talked to, particularly those of kids with sensory processing disorders, described organizing their days around their kids’ strict routines. Every parent understands how easily the best-laid plans for meals, naps, and bedtimes can implode. What many parents don’t understand is how much higher the stakes are when your special-needs child depends on predictability for a sense of safety. Says Lisa Rosen, who says she must wake up 90 minutes before her kids in order to prepare for the non-stop mental and physical energy her son requires, “When adults look at my child, they see a happy kid... But I know that if one thing is off in our routine, I’m dealing with Hiroshima.” Her son Ezra, age three, has sensory processing disorder and is speech delayed.

What may look like defiance is just a kid doing his best to manage a stressful environment.

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. It is not helpful to insist nothing’s wrong because a kid looks so “normal” or has a high IQ. What may be intended as a compliment may come as a slap in the face to a struggling parent.

Samantha Taylor’s 13-year-old has high functioning autism, generalized anxiety disorder, and an eating disorder, while her ten-year-old has dysgraphia and anxiety. Although Taylor is open with her friends and family about her kids’ diagnoses, because they appear “normal,” she says people are often shocked when her kids says something inappropriate or react in a way that is out of proportion to the situation. Says Taylor, “While it might look to everyone in

together, I worry about my boys every single day.” In search of a supportive community, Taylor ended up creating a thriving Facebook group for moms of kids with special needs. They’re advocates. Parents of kids with invisible disabilities must advocate for their kids in a system that does not always have their best interests at heart.

One mom, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the challenge of having a 12-year-old son who has ADHD and a learning disability. She described his teachers’ low expectations, recalling an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting where a teacher was clearly impressed with her son’s “C,” “and how great that was ‘for a kid on an

IEP.’” To compensate for his teachers’ low expectations, she says she always reminds her son “[he] is smart and his IQ reflects that. There is no reason he shouldn’t be able to get an ‘A’… if he is provided with the right services.” She also described teachers’ lack of understanding of her son’s ADHD, which she feels causes them to set unreasonably high expectations of him in other areas, such as his ability to get organized or follow a schedule. Parenting is hard enough without adding other people’s assumptions to the equation. Parents of kids with invisible disabilities just want the world to know, it’s only okay to assume one thing: They and their kids are doing the best they can. ❖ Learn more about Pam Moore’s work at pam-moore.com

In Praise of Therapy

How the Talking Cure Helps Your Brain

By Agnes Wong

As a physician-educator who has worked in healthcare for more than 30 years, I have served numerous patients and worked with many healthcare professionals, caregivers, and physicians-in-training. As a chaplain, I have talked to many inmates, palliative care patients, and other chaplains. As I serve in these capacities, I have witnessed the many joys and sufferings of our human existence. I have also been humbled to see the strength, courage, and resilience that humans demonstrate despite the trials and tribulations of life. I have pondered deeply on what it takes to transform the obstacles to compassion into opportunities for our growth and development, as well as the additional ingredients that are essential for leading a compassionate, flourishing life.

Psychological Well-Being

As we become more aware, more attuned, and more reflective, we may discover many uncharted territories that pose difficulties. Counseling (or coaching, psychotherapy) can bring about additional clarity, openness, and deep healing. By talking to a trained professional, we can express thoughts and feelings that could not be shared with our loved ones or friends. Talking to a professional also allows our two [brain] hemispheres to process and integrate difficult experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Neuroscience has shown that the right side of

our brain processes emotions and autobiographical memories and often causes us stress through ruminating mental activities. By putting our experience into words and the details of a memory in order, the left side of the brain helps us to make sense of our feelings and recollections. In this way, we can respond to setbacks in a healthy way.1 Talking to a professional is also a co-creative process. It offers us new perspectives on our habitual thinking style, so that we can find a novel creative approach to handle life situations and relationships through a combination of reframing, decentring, and repatterning.

For some of us who may have been exposed to sufferings at a very young

Talking to a professional also allows our two [brain] hemispheres to process and integrate difficult experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

age, psychological wounds could leave a strong imprint in our physical, mental, emotional, and psychosocial being. In this situation, mindfulness practices, compassion training, and cultivation of inner compassion may not be sufficient to unblock our deep, unconscious psychological defenses against raw, painful wounds. In this regard, psychotherapy can help point out and unravel the defenses that we have erected so that they gradually lose their hold on us. It also guards us against “spiritual bypass”; that is, using spiritual ideas and practices to evade or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological trauma, and unfinished developmental tasks.2

Psychotherapy also helps us develop authentic self-expression as mature

adults. Therapy that incorporates the need for “secure attachment”— safety, compassion, nonjudgment, and mirroring—and that nurtures authenticity can help us rediscover our basic goodness. It helps us identify our

Notes

1. DJ Siegel and TP Bryson, The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind (Delacorte Press, 2011).

2. D. Flics, “What Meditation Can’t Cure” in: Melvin McLeod, Tynette Deveaux, ed. Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly (Shambhala Publications, 2017): 65–71. Reprinted, with permission, from the Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer: Reflections of a Physician-Chaplain by Dr. Agnes M. F. Wong (Oxford University Press, 2021).

unique talents and develop a genuine expression of our innate capacities as self-actualized mature adults so that we can transcend self-focused needs and increase compassionate actions. ❖

Agnes M. F. Wong, MD, PhD, FRCSC, is a professor of ophthalmology, neurology, and psychology at the University of Toronto, and an active staff ophthalmologist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In addition to her clinical and academic work, she is also a trained chaplain whose work combines mindfulness, compassion, reflective practices, and system thinking. Learn more about her work at agneswongmd.com. To find a local therapist, go to recamft.org

April Calendar of Events

For the Love of Ukes

Most orchestras are made up of predictable instruments: strings, brass, percussion, and woodwinds, among others. But in 1985, the United Kingdom birthed an orchestra with only one kind of instrument, and not a symphony regular at that: the ukulele. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has been making music ever since, performing humorous renditions of everything from Tchaikovsky to Nirvana to spaghetti western soundtracks. The group will perform on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Green Music Center in Rohnert Park. Tickets are $25–$85 and may be purchased at gmc.sonoma.edu/ukuleleorchestra

Tuesday 4

Early Release Enrichment. Provides farm, nature & art-based experiences for elementary school-aged children who have half-days on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Flexible fee: $10–$45. 12:30–4:30 p.m. Veronda-Falletti Ranch. 175 W. Sierra Ave., Cotati. Registration required: sandyloam.org/ enrichmentprograms.

FREE Breastfeeding Café. Receive free professional breastfeeding support from lactation specialists & consultants. 11 a.m.–noon. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. tinyurl.com/5n7ukh4n.

FREE Tween Computer Lounge. Young people use computers & game consoles to play Roblox, Nintendo Switch & X-Box games. 2:45–5 p.m. Cloverdale Regional Library. 401 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. tinyurl. com/2s3mn7u4.

FREE Raizes Frame Painting Workshop for Teens. Oaxacan artist Irma Rodriguez will teach participants how to make a stylized picture frame implementing special techniques

that are used in making alebrijes. All materials provided. For grades 7–12. 4:30–6:30 p.m. Northwest Santa Rosa Library. 150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl.com/3n5nfc9w.

Wednesday 5

Big Thinkers Class. For ages 7 & older. Staff members use experiments & art projects to illustrate scientific concepts. Free with admission ($16; free for members & infants 11 months & younger). Discounts available for qualifying guests. Wednesdays. 2:30–3:30 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/2p8wvctz

FREE Homework Help. Kids in grades K–12 receive help with all subjects on a drop-in basis.

Wednesdays. 2:30–4:30 p.m. Northwest Santa Rosa Library. 150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa. Other libraries will host this event. See tinyurl.com/4da6ux28 for branches/ times.

FREE Volunteer with Petaluma Bounty Farm. Wednesdays: 9

a.m.–noon & 2–5 p.m. Saturdays: 9 a.m.–noon. Petaluma Bounty Community Farm. 55 Shasta Ave., Petaluma. Register: calendly. com/bountyfarm. More info: petalumabounty.org.

Community Passover Seder. Gourmet Passover dinner, the original hand-made Shmurah Matzah & 4 cups of kosher wine. Kids: $40. Adults: $60. No one turned away for lack of funds. 7:30 p.m. Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma. 205 Keller St. #101, Petaluma. RSVP: tinyurl. com/2whjw7he

FREE After-School Hang Out. Kids in grades 6–12 drop by to study, play games, or just chill with peers. Laptops & board games available. Wednesdays. 2–4 p.m. Windsor Library. 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Windsor. tinyurl.com/5n6uckuy.

FREE Anime Drawing Workshop. Author & artist Oliver Chin will show students how to draw in the Japanese comics and animation (manga & anime) style. All materials provided. Grades 7–12. 3–5 p.m. Healdsburg

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Regional Library. 139 Piper St., Healdsburg. Registration encouraged: tinyurl.com/4su9zd4v

Thursday 6

Chop’s Rainbow Group. Activities & discussions for LGBTQIA+ Chop’s Club members. Held first & third Thursdays of the month. 4:30–5:30 p.m. Chop’s Teen Club. 509 Adams St., Santa Rosa. facebook.com/ chopsteenclub. Info on membership: 707-284-2467.

Always…Patsy Cline. Musical play looks at Cline’s life through the lens of an adoring real-life fan. $28–$58. Thursdays–Saturdays: 7:30 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays: 2 p.m. 6th Street Playhouse. 52 W. 6th St., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/2p9azhde.

Friday 7

Sensory Swim at the YMCA. For kids with sensory, motor, or other developmental needs. Membership not required. $10 for a family swim pass (2 adults & any minors in the same household). Fridays: 2:20–4 p.m. Sundays: 9–10:30 a.m. YMCA. 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa. scfymca.org

James Houlahan Folk Show. Original, live folk music. $12. 8:15 p.m. The Lost Church. Ross Street (between Mendocino Ave. & B St.), Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/7r5m3j3k.

Saturday 8

Easter Weekend. Trivia vineyard walks, tastings of new releases, cheese & treats for adults, jellybeans & juice for the young ones. Plus learn about Swedish Easter traditions, including Easter witches. Adults: $35. Kids: free. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. West Wines. 1000 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg. Reservations recommended: westwines.com.

Hunt for Eggs!

April 8

Cloverdale Clovderale Lions Club Egg Hunt. Kids separated into different age groups. 9 a.m. Jefferson School.

Forestville Future Farmers of America Egg Hunt. 11 a.m.–noon. Laguna (El Molino) High School. tinyurl.com/4c59keze

Glen Ellen Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Bring basket or sack to collect eggs. Prizes. 10 a.m. Dunbar School. tinyurl.com/bdh8w4n5

Petaluma Easter Egg-Stravaganza. Three separate egg-hunt areas for different age groups. 10 a.m. Petaluma Valley Baptist Church. tinyurl.com/2d7jejt3

Rohnert Park Easter in the Park. Egg hunt, games, puppets, photo booth, and bounce houses. Free. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Heartwood Church. Reserve spot at tinyurl.com/2yb5h2e6.

Sonoma Annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt. Walking toddlers to age 11. 10–11 a.m. The Plaza. tinyurl.com/d3u6rcaf

Windsor Kiwanis Club of Windsor’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Bring basket. For ages 10 and younger. Children with disabilities are encouraged to attend. 10 a.m. Free. No pets allowed. Windsor High School Field. tinyurl.com/4evszafr.

April 8 & 9

Fulton Easter at Spring Hills. Egg hunts and jump houses following the 5 p.m. service on April 8 and the 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. services on April 9. Free pancake breakfast all morning on April 9. Spring Hills Church. springhills.org/easter

The Freedom of New Beginnings: A Feast of Poetry & Music. Featuring Onye & the Messengers plus Sonoma County Poet Laureates. $15; students, $5. 4:30 p.m. Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. tinyurl.com/nhzrcprv.

Sewing Creations. Geared for ages 4 & older. Sewing machines, embellishments & materials provided. Specialist will be on hand to support families. Free with museum admission ($16; free for 11 months & younger). Discounts available for qualifying guests. 1–3 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/cdwmd68s.

Second Saturday Cartoonists: Lawrence Lindell. Meet, watch & talk to co-founder of the family-run,

small press Laneha House & creator of several graphic comics including From Truth With Truth & Couldn’t Afford Therapy, So I Made This. Free with museum admission ($5–$12; free for ages 3 & younger). 1–3 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org/lawrence-lindell.

FREE Soaring Minds Art Club/ Club

De Mentes Brillantes Para Ninos. Analy High School students go to the Sebastopol Library to assist kids ages 4–8 with arts & crafts activities./ Los estudiantes de Analy High School van a la biblioteca de Sebastopol para ayudar a los niños de 4 a 8 años con actividades de arte y manualidades. 12:30–1:30p.m. Sebastopol Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. tinyurl.com/2p9a23s2.

Science Saturdays: Craft a Habitat. Kids ages 6–12 use natural items from the environment to craft examples of different animal habitats. $10–$12. Parking: $7. Two sessions: 11 a.m.–noon & 1–2 p.m. Spring Lake Regional Park Environmental Discovery Center. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa. Register 11 a.m. session: tinyurl.com/2zm85m2j. Register 1 p.m. session: tinyurl.com/awkcbryn.

Dancing through the Decades: Sonoma County’s Only Adult Prom. The Interpretations will play live music from different decades. Dancing, libations, desserts, silent auction & raffle. $60. 7–10 p.m. Luther Burbank Center. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/ yckm8tke.

FIVE AMAZING SCHOOLS

La Tercera Elementary School

Featuring a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

Loma Vista Immersion Academy Charter School

Featuring the internationally acclaimed Dual Immersion Language Model

Miwok Valley Elementary Charter School

Featuring a focus on Health and Wellness

Old Adobe Elementary Charter School

Featuring a focus on Arts and Ecology

Sonoma Mountain Elementary Charter School

Featuring a focus on Arts and Music

Wontanara West African Dance Class. With Maria Soumah & live drum ensemble. $20–$25 offering. Saturdays. 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Sebastopol Community Cultural Center Annex. 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. tinyurl.com/4b2umyrx.

Sunday 9

Easter Bunny at Coppola. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Francis Ford Coppola Winery. 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville. tinyurl.com/2r9a7z9j

Wednesday 12

FREE Pokemon Trading Card Game Event. Ages 10–17. 2–2:45 p.m. Cloverdale Regional Library. 401 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. Register: tinyurl.com/mrv3hs9d

FREE Stay & Play Café. Kids ages 0–5 explore toys, puzzles & blocks. Story & snack for kids. Coffee & tea for adults. Bring reusable mug. 10:30 a.m.–noon. Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library. 6250 Lynne Condé Way, Rohnert Park. tinyurl. com/2p8jfh4e

Friday 14

FREE Sonoma Family Life Camp Fair. Learn about the programs of myriad local camps. 3–7 p.m. Coddingtown Mall. Santa Rosa. sonomafamilylife.com.

FREE Julie Nation Talent Show. Local kids showcase their gifts at the Sonoma Family Life Camp Fair. 5:30–7 p.m. Coddingtown Mall (Center Court). Santa Rosa. sonomafamilylife.com.

Opera in Concert: Mozart’s Magic Flute. Santa Rosa Symphony & Santa Rosa High School Art Quest student performers. 7:30 p.m. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. srsymphony.org/EventDetail/239

Saturday 15

LAKE COUNTY PASSION PLAY

OUTDOOR CHRISTIAN PLAY

FREE Laguna Stewards at Meadowlark Field. Help care for & restore critical wildlife habitat. Tools & training provided. Heavy rain cancels. 9 a.m.–noon. Meadowlark Field. 6303 Hwy. 12, Sebastopol. Register: tinyurl. com/bdctdftx. SATURDAY

Christian Play for People of all Faiths

Please join us in the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord, Jesus Christ, here in beautiful Lake County, California.

• Free of charge; donations are gratefully accepted.

• Bring your own chair.

• No smoking, food, drink, or pets on grounds.

• Water available.

• Facilities for the handicapped. 707-263-0349

Common Ground Moms Meet-Up. For moms of disabled or special needs children. Snacks, crafting & hanging out. Use pressed flowers, glue & glass jars to make vases or candle holders. 6–8 p.m. Mary’s Pizza Shack. 3084 Marlow Rd., Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl.com/mrfjzdat

Public Star Party. Talks on astronomical topics. Telescopes are open for viewing. $5–$15; 5 & younger, free. Parking: $10. 8–11 p.m. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Robert Ferguson Observatory. 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood. rfo.org.

Healdsburg Chorus: How Can I Keep from Singing? $20. Apr. 15: 7 p.m. Apr. 16: 3 p.m. Raven

Performing Arts Theater. 115 North St., Healdsburg.

Sunday 16

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán— Mexicano Desde La Raíz. $59–$250. 8 p.m. Luther Burbank Center. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/bdhj5axd.

Plant Walk: Fire Followers. Learn about flowers that only appear after fire events. $10–$12. Parking: $7. 2 sessions: 9:30–11:30 a.m. & 1–3 p.m. Hood Mountain Regional Park & Preserve. 1450 N. Pythian Rd., Santa Rosa. Sign up for 9:30 a.m.: tinyurl. com/4ddhnrwv. Sign up for 1 p.m.: tinyurl.com/urcthr4j

Santa Rosa Symphony Family Series: Becoming Mozart. 3

music. Kids: $10. Adults: $20. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park. srsymphony.org/ EventDetail/248

Tuesday 18

FREE Teen Crafternoon: No-Sew Cup Cozies. All materials provided. Grades 7–12. 4 p.m. Rohnert Park Regional Library. 6250 Lynne Condé Way, Rohnert Park. Register: tinyurl. com/46uxezy2. Will be held at other branches: tinyurl.com/mjk9mm7p

Wednesday 19

Queer Art Club. Safe & inclusive space for queer teens. Demo from a professional artist. Includes materials needed to make the project. Suggested donation: $5–$25. 6–8 p.m. Sonoma Community Center. 276 E. Napa St., onoma. sonomacommunitycenter. org/queer-art-club.

Meditative Sound Bath. Relax to Phoenix Song’s music as they sing & play didgeridoo, esraj, native flute, drums & hand pans. 6–7 p.m. Rincon Valley Library. 6959 Montecito Blvd., tinyurl.com/2fasu3j9. Also at other branches: tinyurl.

Becoming Mozart

Sunday, April 16, 2023

3 pm at Weill Hall, Green Music Center 2 pm Complimentary Instrument Petting Zoo

Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Elizabeth Prior, Artistic Partner

Jeff Coté, actor

for best seats

Child $10 Adults $20

Thursday 20

The Ukelele Orchestra of Great An original musical ensemble featuring only ukuleles of various sizes & registers, accompanied by just the natural voices of the performers. $25–$85. 7:30 p.m. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/ ukuleleorchestra.

Friday 21

Addams Family Musical. April 21–22 & 27–29: 7:30 p.m. April 23,

Family Series sponsored by The Alan and Susan Seidenfeld Charitable Trust and Victor and Karen Trione.

While the orchestra performs his quintessential works learn of Mozart’s journey to becoming a classical music icon, from his humble b eg innings, t hrough h is s tru gg les a nd t riump h s.

Photo by Susan and Neil Silverman Photography

29, 30: 2 p.m. Santa Rosa Junior College. Burbank Auditorium. 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. tinyurl. com/4x36b6kt

Gem Faire. Gem, jewelry & bead show. Weekend pass: $7. Ages 11 & younger: free. Parking: $10. April 21: noon–6 p.m. April 22: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. April 23: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. gemfaire.com.

Saturday 22

FREE Earth Day Festival. 50+ exhibitors, live performing arts, kids’ activities & crafts, beer & wine garden. Noon–4 p.m. Courthouse Square. Downtown Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/ extxd5ax

Sunday 23

A Spring Redwood Experience. Mix of hiking, scientific learning, sensory activities & mindful meditation. Event: $10. Parking: $10. 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Jack London State Park (meet in ranch parking lot). 2400 London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen. tinyurl. com/34ywch69

Monday 24

Museum Mondays for Little Ones: Happy Earth Day! Finger-paint the Earth, plant a seed starter to grow at home & make bird-finder binoculars. For ages 1–5 & their caregivers. $10 per child/free for up to two adults per child before 11 a.m. (Regular museum admission applies thereafter: $5–$12 or free for ages 3 & younger.) 10 a.m.–noon. Charles M. Schulz Museum.

2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl. com/shstwsm5

Tuesday 25

Clover Sonoma Family Fun Series: Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard

Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume. An adventure adapted from two children’s books by Kwame Alexander. $16–$21. Lap passes for ages 2 & younger available for $5 day of the show at ticket office. 6:30 p.m. Arrive 1 hour early for art-themed projects. Luther Burbank Center. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. tinyurl. com/2s3d9akc.

Wednesday 26

FREE E Street Studios Media Maker Meetup. Connect with videographers, photographers,

When you have a child with a disability, medical complexity, or any sort of unique need, it can be hard to navigate alone. Join our local Sonoma County Facebook group and subscribe to our emails. Stay connected and learn about the resources Common Ground SocietyTM has to offer.

podcasters, designers & sound artists who are making media or are curious about making media. Registration not required. For ages 13 & older. 6–7 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library. 211 E St., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/muz4k4de.

Saturday 29

FREE I Am Latinx. Special interactive story reading with local children’s author Maria Alondra Jasso. Grades K–3. 11 a.m.–noon. Northwest Santa Rosa Library. 150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa. tinyurl. com/4kvpudkj.

Cultivating Queer & Trans Community. LGBTQ2IA+ people to come together & explore the natural world while building relationships of support. Parking: $7. 1–3 p.m. Tolay

Lake Regional Park. 5869 Cannon Ln., Petaluma. tinyurl.com/mt99ph9b.

Little Parkies: Totally Tolay. Exploratory walks in the park, hands-on learning, nature-based activities & unique crafts to take home. For ages 3–7. $10–$12 for family (4 people max). 9:30–11:30 a.m. Tolay Lake Regional Park. 5869 Cannon Ln., Petaluma. Registration required: tinyurl.com/2nmf3uwx

Apple Blossom Festival. Parade: April 29, 10 a.m. Live music on April 29, noon–5:30 p.m. & April 30, noon–4:30 p.m. $10–$15; ages 11 & younger, free. Parade on Main St., Sebastopol. Music at Ives Park: 7400 Willow St, Sebastopol. appleblossomfest.com

Preschool 2023-24

Registration Begins March 14

Children's Circle 2.5-3.5 years 9:15-12:15pm M/W 9:15-12:15pm T/Th

Kinderclub 3-5 years 9:00-12:30pm M/W/F or T/Th

Montessori in Motion 3-5 years 9:00-12:00pm MW and or T/Th

For more information and to register, go to www townofwindsor com/preschool or call 707-838-5945

Healthy Kids Day. Games, crafts, jump house, face painting, healthy snacks, family swim & DJ photo booth. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Sonoma County Family YMCA. 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa. scfymca.org/ healthy-kids-day.

Sunday 30

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: The Brahms Effect. $35–$95. 3 p.m. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. tinyurl.com/3x2crdwp

The Minivan Trash Oracle

Yes, Old Tootsie Rolls Can Predict the Future

By Shannon Carpenter

Greetings my fellow parental spiritual travelers. I can tell right now that your aura is full of laundry apprehension. What does your future bring? Behold the trash your kids have left in the back of your minivan. There, you will find your answers.

Once we open the door, I can see that the Cheez-It is waning, and the juice box is in retrograde. All is not lost. Let us continue our trash reading and decipher its meaning.

The half-melted Skittle clings to the floor with the iron grip of destiny. This means that your toddler has a lot of fight in him this day. There will be many difficulties transferring him from the car to his nap. But as the crusty toddler sock clings to the seatbelt, so does your own patience.

You may not succeed in the transfer, but you can watch your TikToks from the front seat for an hour and be happy.

That is just the beginning of your day. We must consult the Tootsie Roll birth chart. Old and smushed, the Tootsie Roll has come out from under the seat. Life has many surprises left for you.

Your purpose is clear as you gaze at your completely wrecked minivan. Note that your child’s greasy handprints on the windows are in an eclipse season. Ah, a lifetime of unexplained worry is in your future. Will they grow up independent? Can they face the trauma of you taking 30 seconds to go to the bathroom? It is unclear, but I foresee little fists of fury beating on locked bathroom doors.

Knock, knock, knock. Your fate must be answered. But it does not have to be so bleak. A carwash will appear on the road you travel.

Muddy footprints on the back of the driver’s seat let us know that the carwash will be old-fashioned and require hard currency. No fancy debit cards for you, for the well of your bank is dry. But the vacuum is also defective and always runs longer than it should. Rejoice! And when that vacuum nozzle gets stuck on the wet wipe of doom and chokes like it needs the Heimlich, it will survive.

Patience, fellow traveler into the mystics of parenting and anxiety pills. Buddha your way to your happy place, a place where everyone throws their trash in the spare grocery bags you keep in the rear passenger seat pocket. In your happy place, you never think about how much braces are going to cost.

Back to the reality of your future and your unclean minivan. It’s not only the refuse that allows us to read your future. The smell also has a tale to tell.

We are transported through a portal of time and space to ancient Babylon and the hanging gardens of dirty diapers. Their presence still lingers to this day in your minivan. The mildew of wet towels you forgot about long ago mixes with the essence of diaper, and the past becomes the present—becomes your future.

Embrace that future for it is all of ours, and in our solidarity, we can find a pressure washer that will get those old French fries out of the gears of your automatic door. ❖

Shannon Carpenter is the author of The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad Manual (Penguin, 2021).

Our program for elementary school-aged children provides farm, nature, and art-based experiences during local schools’ early-release hours. Engaging activities and projects are introduced continuously, following themes that are inspired by the children’s and teacher’s interests. Homework support and a snack are provided.

Tues. & Wed. 12:30pm-4:30pm

175 West Sierra, Cotati 707-664-5347

sandyloam.org/enrichmentprograms

JULIE NATION ACADEMY & FAMILY LIFE MAGAZINE

PRESENT THE FIRST ANNUAL

FREECOMMUNITY-WIDE

FRIDAY APRIL 14

CENTER COURT, CODDINGTOWN • 5:30-7PM

SONOMA FAMILY LIFE CAMP FAIR

Camp Fair & Family Expo

ACTING, SINGING, DANCING, MODELING, MAGIC, MUSIC & MUCH MORE. THE TALENT SHOW IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS 5 & UP TO SHOWCASE THEIR ARTISTRY IN FRONT OF THEIR PEERS, FAMILY & COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME, FULL OF ENTERTAINMENT, FUN & PRIZES GALORE!

REGISTER HERE