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Sound Off: Sometimes A Snack Isn’t Just A Snack

Amy L. Hatch — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:41:48 +0000

A bunch of bananas? Or a political manifesto? Credit: Morguefile

By Amy L. Hatch

I’m getting to be an old hand at the “classroom snack” game.

Every month for the past, oh, five years, I’ve been purchasing cheese goldfish crackers in bulk and sending them to school with one or both of my kids. And–brace yourselves–sometimes I send juice, too.

I know! Right? Juice! What a terrible mom I am, terrible parent, for allowing her kid to drink completely undiluted JUICE!

Because as we all know, classroom snacks are not just snacks. Oh, NO. Classroom snacks are political statements.

Juice/no juice. Gluten-free/loaded with carbs. Stuffed with GMOs/totally-organic-and-grown-within-50-miles-and-hand-tended-by-farmers-who-wear-only-homespun-garments.

What you send to that classroom for your child and his or her classmates to consume in between reading lessons and play-dough sessions tells the other moms and dads who you are and (UGH) what your “parenting philosophy” is.

Now, don’t think I’m taking the holier-than-thou stance. I’m not going to tell you that I haven’t been the parent casting a judgmental eye every now and then. Pop Tarts? Doritos? Yeah, I’ve judged those snacks.

“What kind of parent sends (fill-in-the-blank) for snack?!”

And then I slink down the All Carbs aisle at Meijer and grab 30 packs of “fruit snacks” packed with high fructose corn syrup. Hey, my back yard is a corporate-owned corn field, so high fructose corn syrup is, technically, a local food. Right?

Judge not lest ye be judged, Judgy McJudgerson.

Of course we all want what’s best for our kids, especially when it comes to what they consume. With one out of every three American kids suffering from obesity, the food they eat is no small concern. But what about the parents who can’t afford to provide free-range goat cheese and organic sliced red peppers for 30 4-year-olds? I’ve bought 30 bananas before. It ain’t cheap, folks.

And just when does this snack train end, anyways? I don’t think I ever had a snack in school, unless you count the warm carton of milk we had with a graham cracker just before my afternoon kindergarten class was dismissed for the day.

Nowadays, kids have snack time up until high school, it seems. And why do kids need water bottles on their desks? I’ve seen that in some classrooms, too. So they can stay “hydrated.”

I had a water bottle, too — it was also known as “the water fountain.”

If only we were as concerned with the way our schools are being run as we are with the whole-grain ratio in the peanut-free oatmeal granola bars Johnny’s mom dropped off for the second-graders.

I recently received a memo outlining a potential change in the snack policy at the school my children attend, and I had to shake my head when I read all the bullet points that made up the rationale for the change. It read a little bit like a strategy document for the CIA justifying covert actions.

It stressed me out. So I had an inorganic snack, and yelled at some kids to get off my lawn.

From There to Here: Rule Breakers

Amy L. Hatch — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:46:45 +0000

By Amy L. Hatch

Newsflash: Parenthood is hard.

Some days I feel like Cinderella, being ordered around by two small, bossy step-siblings who firmly believe my only job is to clean up after them and serve their every need.

Credit: masatoshi_, Flickr

Mom, Mom, MOM!

But I keep at it, because I just know someday a tiny mouse is going to come and — poof! — conjure me a luxury sedan in which I will be whisked to their college graduation ceremonies at Harvard.

Or something like that. What I’m trying to say is that this gig is a whole lot of drudgery with these insanely bright flashes of pure joy that make all the hard work completely worthwhile.

I know, too, that for my children there will come a time when hard work and drudgery will enter their own lives. To some extent, it already has. Hard math problems and spelling tests for the girl, and a long day learning to sit and follow directions for the boy.

They work hard at growing up, and it’s easy to forget that. Being a person is tough and they do their best.

That’s why I don’t feel bad when we break the rules — together.

This week when we finally got a visible snowfall that stuck to the streets and the grass, I woke up early with my son. He was so excited to see the white flakes outside his window while we had a snuggle.

His sister was equally thrilled. Coming from the snow belt (Google “blizzard of ’77″ sometime) I’m always bemused by the dustings we seem to get here, so it cracks me up to watch my kids behave as though we’re suddenly living on the tundra.

But it was cold and windy, and the snow was blowing past the windows nearly sideways. I checked the news, half-hoping that school would be called off so all of us could hang out at home.

Alas, school was open.

So instead of fruit, toast and cereal, we had hot chocolate, whipped cream and marshmallows for breakfast.

With a side of chocolate-chip cookies.

It was great. And I know the kids will remember it. Just like they will remember the times we ate dessert before dinner, skipped school for a mani-pedi or stayed in our pajamas until noon, casting spells and watching ‘Harry Potter’ on repeat.

Life is so filled with rules and regulations and structure, and of course that is how it should be. I crave order and predictability as much as the next mom. But then there are those days when it’s snowing and you have to go to school anyway.

Those days are tailor-made for breaking the rules.

What about you? How do you break the rules?

Best-Kept Secret: Saturday Art School

Amy L. Hatch — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:05:27 +0000

A papier-mâché Saturday Art School project.

By Amy L. Hatch

When my husband and I decided to relocate to Urbana so that he could pursue an advanced degree, one of the aspects of living in a college town that most appealed to me was the opportunity to take advantage of the arts and culture offerings of a big university.

The University of Illinois did not disappoint, and one of the most exciting opportunities we’ve run across is the Saturday Art School Program.

Established at the UIUC School of Art And Design in 1964, the program offers art-enrichment class for kids ages 4-18. Taught by students and overseen by their professors, Saturday Art School meets (of course) 0n Saturday mornings for nine weeks during the fall and spring semesters, and on summer weekdays for about two weeks.

Each session culminates with a gallery show at the Krannert Art Museum and the Link Gallery, featuring works of art from each student. We’ve been to two gallery shows and I can safely say that you’ll be astonished at the high quality of the works displayed.

Our daughter loves the program (we’re awaiting our third session) and she’s brought home number of really beautiful projects. Of course we’re biased, but the point is that the level of instruction goes well beyond coloring in the lines.

And the best part is that for the kids, it’s all fun. Never once has Emmie indicated that her time spent there has been an hour filled with dry lectures and instruction. It’s all about creativity and freedom.

The spring 2012 session begins on Feb. 11 and registration materials are available online. Classes will be two hours this semester instead of one and the fee is $79. To register, you’ll also need to submit proof of your child’s age, so keep that birth certificate handy.

And hurry–these sessions fill up fast, which is one reason Saturday Art School is one of the best-kept secrets in town!

Do you have a best-kept secret you’re dying to share? Tell us about it!

Top Five: Places To Go Sledding

From The Editors — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:57:14 +0000

When it comes to winter, we know there are plenty of extremes. Not only when it comes to weather, but when it comes to how we feel about the weather.

Let’s face it — there are people who love snow, and people who hate snow.

But love it or hate it, you can’t deny the appeal of bundling up and heading out for some good, old-fashioned cold-weather fun — sledding. Kids big and small will love the thrill of careening down a hill on a piece of plastic, holding on for dear life.

Channel your inner daredevil. Credit: Tony The Misfit, Flickr

Just try to make it down the hill without smiling…we double-dog dare you. And when you’re done, you can go home and have cookies and hot chocolate. What’s not to love?

To those who say Champaign-Urbana is just too flat for this classic winter pastime, we say pshaw! We first made this list in 2010 (see the comments below), and we’re adding to it now. Call it ….. Top Five Places To Go Sledding, plus a bonus.

Homer Lake Forest Preserve: Rumor has it that snow makes this 828-acre preserve near Homer into a sledding wonderland, and it even has some historical significance. So after you take the kids sledding, tell them how Abraham Lincoln traveled on what was once a horse trail — and is now a county highway at the north end of the preserve — when he served on the 8th Judicial Circuit.

Crystal Lake Park: C’mon, how can you resist a sledding area called “Cannonball Hill?” That’s what you’ll find in Urbana’s Crystal Lake Park. Sounds to us like you’re going to need your helmet.

Orchard Downs: More commonly known as the spot where University of Illinois students with families can find a place to live on campus, Orchard Downs is also a swell spot for sledding, as this YouTube video attests. Looks like fun!

Morrissey Park: If you’ve got a newer sledder this is the place to go. A great “bunny” hill for the 5-and-under crowd. This park can be seen from Windsor Road, but the hill can be accessed off Harrington Drive in Champaign.

Centennial Park: Perhaps the granddaddy of all Chambana sled hills, this Champaign locale is located just west of Prairie Farm and south of the playground.

Colbert Park Sled Hill: Head to Savoy for this is a relatively new addition to the local sledding scene; go south on Neil Street (Route 45) and then east on Church Street.

What’s your favorite spot to sled?

Birthday Bash Giveaway: Illini Outfit From Bella Bambini

From The Editors — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:34 +0000

All this week we’ll be celebrating our birthday by giving away a fantastic prize from one of our chambanamoms.com sponsors each day. Don’t forget to buy tickets for our Birthday Bash, and many thanks to sponsor Christie Clinic for helping us throw this party. Click here for all the information about the party and to buy your tickets online today!

Today we’re giving away a special outfit for the little girl in your life from chambanamoms sponsor Bella Bambini: An Illini tutu, shirt and matching bow! This terrific prize is valued at $100!

We love Bella Bambini for lots of reasons–first of all, owner Jennifer Newell was our very first advertiser! Her shop has so many beautiful clothes, shoes accessories and gifts for children that it’s hard for us to stay away. Plus, Jennifer is a mom just like us, working hard to make her dreams come true and running her own business.

All you need to do to win this adorable prize is leave us a comment telling us why you love to shop local in Champaign-Urbana. Comments will close at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1.

A winner will be chosen at random and will be notified on Dec. 5.

Ready, set…comment!

Safe Kids A Boost for Local Parents, Children

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:00:43 +0000

By Laura Weisskopf Bleill

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been defeated and/or frustrated by a installing a car seat.

You’re not alone.

We all want our kids to be safe, and that is especially true in the car. But even in the age of LATCH, tethers and crash safety testing, installing car seats ranks up there with getting our annual gynie exam on our list of not-so-favorite things.

Do car seats make you want to scream, too? Safe Kids can help families in Champaign County. Photo by eyeliam on Flickr

But parents, do not despair. There is help locally at Safe Kids Champaign County (SKCC), a program that offers free car seat checks as well as supplying subsidized car seats for qualifying families. Safe Kids’ certified technicians inspect car seats to make sure they’re installed properly and give parents car seat safety tips as part of an effort to help Champaign County children thrive.

This week SKCC is celebrating National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week, which culminates in National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 24. Safe Kids Champaign County will be performing free seat checks from 9 a.m. to noon outside the Champaign Urbana Public Health Department at 201 W. Kenyon Road (south of the Interstate 74-Neil Street interchange); no appointment is necessary.

The theme of the 2012 CPS week is, “Don’t Leap Too Soon.” Safe Kids Champaign County is promoting the updated American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for child passenger safety.

“Here are four quick reference steps for parents,” said Reagen Bradbury, the coordinator of Safe Kids Champaign County. “IDOT and Safe Kids Champaign County would like to see all parents and care givers to take each step to the limit.”

Step 1: Babies face the back until age 2 or until reaching the maximum height and weight requirements per the car seats manufacturer.
Step 2: Big Kids (age 2+) face the front in seats with a harness until they reach the maximum height and weight requirements per the car seats manufacturer.
Step 3: Bigger kids (at least 3 years old and 40 lbs) use booster seats until at least age 8. Some children will need to ride in boosters well past their 8^th birthday.
Step 4: Everyone buckles up on every ride!

If you can’t make it this week, SKCC provides free car seat checks by appointment every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kenyon Road location; during the winter season, SKCC moves the inspection station to Arrow Ambulance to provide services in a heated building.

Call the Buckle-Up line at 217-353-4932 to schedule an appointment; be prepared to wait three to six weeks for a time slot. The appointments can take up to 45 minutes — children do not have to be present, but it is better if they are.

Safe Kids also gives out car seats to eligible families (as determined by income guidelines), requiring a $20 co-pay (the rest of the cost is covered by donations and grants).

“From July 2010 to June 2011 we distributed almost 600 child safety seats to low-income families in our community,” said Bradbury. “We inspected/checked 679 child safety seats and over 1600 people were educated on Child Passenger Safety.”

SKCC participated in the Salt and Light school supply distribution in August, educating families and children. It distributed 127 booster seats in one day to low-income preschool- and school-age children in our community.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that close to three out of four parents do not properly use child restraints. According to the CDC, motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. In 2008, about four children ages 14 or younger were killed in motor vehicle crashes every day, and many more were injured. Proper use of car seats and booster seats plays a big part in keeping such tragedies to a minimum.

Have you used the Safe Kids program?

City Museum in St. Louis Worth The Trip

Amy L. Hatch — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:05:24 +0000

The ball pits were a big hit with our kids. Credit: Amy L. Hatch

By Amy L. Hatch

Before we moved to Urbana in 2006, my forays into the western part of the United States were limited to one visit each to San Francisco, Colorado and New Mexico.

I never expected — or even considered — a visit to St. Louis, but when we decided to take the kids there for Labor Day weekend I was pretty excited. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a completely new big city, and here was my chance! I’ve heard so many good things about the Gateway to the West that I knew we would have an awesome time.

St. Louis did not disappoint. The famous arch came into view just after we crossed the Mighty Mississippi (and I discovered I could still spell it when my husband asked me to) and we were all wowed.

The next day we visited the City Museum, which if you haven’t been, is an absolutely unbelievable collection of reclaimed urban buildings and recycled materials morphed into a magical playground for kids and grown-ups. Founded by artist Bob Cassilly and opened to the public in 2007, the 600,000-square-foot facility is housed in what was once a shoe factory and warehouse. Since its opening, the museum has expanded to include four floors of insanely good fun. It even houses an aquarium!

Admission to the City Museum isn’t cheap (kids under 3 years old are free, everyone else is $12 and entrance the roof and aquarium are $5 and $6, respectively), but believe me when I say you will be there all day long. I highly recommend purchasing admission to the roof, which includes a ferris wheel that offers gorgeous views of the city, a reclaimed school bus cantilevered off the roof (with doors that open, behind a cage, to a dizzying drop), climbing structures created out of reclaimed materials and so much more.

Inside there is a circus performance every hour, a miniature train kids can ride, a special area for toddlers — and the age limit is strictly enforced – and our daughter even caught an hour-long class on making rag dolls. There’s also a huge area where kids and their grown-ups can create art projects, stocked with every imaginable paint, pen, chalk and paper you could ever want.

Got a climber? That kid will love the City Museum. There are warrens of tunnels, strange meandering climbing structures made out of metal and wood and even a turtle pond smack in the middle of the museum. Be careful, though — a mom in our party followed her daughter into one of the caves and found herself in a pretty tight squeeze.

One thing you absolutely need to know before visiting this museum is that you must be willing to let your child explore. If you’re not, stick to the Magic House, St. Louis’ children’s museum. There is too much temptation to run, jump, slide and scale large structures to keep your child contained and if that makes you nervous you will have an unpleasant visit, indeed.

The food options at the City Museum are limited and expensive. We didn’t know that beforehand, but we would probably have brought our own food for a picnic. While admission can seem steep for a larger family, the good news is that you can come and go all day as long as you keep your wristbands on. We saw several families with coolers eating lunch nearby. Even if you do decide to eat there, be warned — the fare isn’t terribly kid friendly, nor is it what I would call healthy.

We got to there early on a Saturday and it was beginning to get crowded, but by the time we left at almost 4 p.m. it was mobbed. Consider going on a weekday, or at least be prepared for an awful lot of people milling around. If you can avoid it, definitely leave the stroller at home.

We spent almost a whole day at City Museum and we barely scratched the surface. I can’t wait to go back and explore it again!

From There To Here: Tales Of A PTA Drop-Out

Amy L. Hatch — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:28:19 +0000

The author won't be spending time at the annual bake sale any time soon. Credit: SYA Extreme, Flickr

by Amy L. Hatch

When you work from home (and even sometimes when you don’t) people assume you have oodles of spare time.

I mean, how hard can it be, right? No commute! Roll out of bed and hit the ground running! You don’t even need to brush your teeth for that conference call! You can get laundry done while you type up that proposal!

In fact, it’s nothing like that. Just this week I discovered that if I work inside my house, my attention span is akin to that of a kitten dumbstruck by a shiny object. There are just too many distractions to get any one thing done. I’m torn in 100 different directions — dirty dishes, client proposal, sticky floors, strategy document … blah blah blah.

My point is, there is not a spare moment to be had when you are a working parent whether you sit in a nice, tidy office with a door or you’re in a makeshift workspace in your dining room.

So when the requests for school volunteers come rolling in, the guilt bubbles up to the surface. You know, that guilt about how you can’t do it all? Even though you really want to bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and be the PTA president?

I’m sure no one in my kids’ PTO is looking at me askance but it’s well-known that I don’t “work outside the home.” So when I turn down requests to attend meetings or stuff envelopes or make Play Doh, I feel like a total slacker. They’re not saying it, but I am.

I’m a PTA drop-out.

I just can’t. Even if I did have a spare hour or two, I’m gonna be honest: I’d use that hour to get a pedicure. I’m sure that sounds totally selfish but the fact of the matter is that I rarely get even 15 minutes to sit and contemplate … well, anything. I know, cry me a river, right? You have the same problem but you’re able to find the time to bring plate of homemade cookies for the Teacher Appreciation Lunch!

Here’s the thing. I love my kids and I love my kids’ school. They’ve had a great experience there and the teachers deserve praise and support. But something has to give and volunteering in the classroom is that thing.

I’m definitely uneasy about it, and I have been for a long time. My daughter began her educational journey at a cooperative nursery school and I was the only parent who paid a higher fee so I didn’t have to work in the classroom. Leaving her there when all the other mommies took turns doing crafts and leading “Wheels On The Bus” gave me that slink-out-of-the-room feeling.

Granted, I was rebuilding my career after a long hiatus. But even if I hadn’t been, I’m not sure I would have done it differently. My guilt is maybe less about the not-doing and maybe a little more about the I-don’t-want-to-do-it.

Either way, I know my kids have the support of a great school community. And I even raised my hand and said I’d help with the annual Halloween gathering this year.

I may even bring a veggie tray for Teacher Appreciation Day — but I won’t stay to eat it.

Do you volunteer at your kids’ school? Why or why not?

Amy L. Hatch is a co-founder and editor of chambanamoms.com, and her toenails are a mess. You can reach her at amy@chambanamoms.com.

Top Five: Resources For Talking to Kids About 9/11

From The Editors — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:12:23 +0000

Credit: laverrue, Flickr

As we come within days of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the media has been filled with recollections, stories and replays of that terrible day when so many lives were lost.

Kids don’t live in a vacuum, and they can and do absorb what we parents may see as background noise: A mention on the radio talking about the tragedy, a clip on the nightly news of the Twin Towers falling or even a Facebook status they read over our shoulders. Explaining what happened that day and why we’re talking about it a decade later can be a daunting task.

However, there are some excellent resources available for those who want to talk about September 11 with their kids. Here, we offer our top five guides for this difficult discussion.

1. PBS Parents offers an age-by-age guide for talking to your children about news events. While the advice isn’t specific to September 11, it does references how to explain and comfort your kids when and if they are exposed to current events that upset or scare them.

2. Nick News and veteran reporter Linda Ellerbee paired up to create a special episode of the children’s current-events program, “Nick News: What Happened on September 11.” The carefully crafted special has already aired, but you can watch the full episode with your child here.

3. The Huffington Post offers a guide written by parenting expert and therapist Susan Stiffelman, which addresses specific questions your child may have, as well as advice on limiting their exposure to the media coverage of this anniversary. Having a script for answering questions like, “Mom, what’s a terrorist” can help a parent who is struggling to put such an adult concept into words a child can grasp — without being frightened.

4. Richard Rende is an associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, and he suggests talking to your kids before they are exposed to media coverage of September 11. Rende, who also blogs for Parents, offers great tips about being direct and upfront with your kids about this event.

5. The American Psychological Association sat down with Robin Gurwitch, a program coordinator at the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, for a QA about how kids respond to trauma and how adults can help them cope. Gurwitch points out that kids may experience increased anxiety during this time.

Are your children curious or concerned about September 11? What tips do you have for talking about it with them?

From There to Here: Fright Night

Amy L. Hatch — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 05:00:23 +0000

Our little daredevil. Credit: Amy L. Hatch

by Amy L. Hatch

I had one of those heart-stopping moments last night.

It was just after the dinner dishes were finished up and we’d all scattered to our own corners of the house. My husband and the kids were upstairs and I was where I usually am, leaning on the counter cruising around the Interwebz, checking in on Facebook and noodling around in a way I don’t get to when I’m working online.

All of a sudden, I heard a series of sickening crashes and thumps, the kind that make you stop breathing for a second. Before the sound of my son wailing reached my ears I flew across the kitchen and up the stairs, feet barely skimming the ground.

I never knew my body was capable of such speed.

I ran into Henry’s bedroom and my eyes took in drawers up-ended on the floor, clothing and a CD player and lamps dangling at a strange angle from what looked like the now-lopsided surface of his dresser.

His very heavy, real-wood dresser.

Henry was sitting in a cubby that hides behind a little door, a slide-out hideaway for diapers and wipes when we used it as a changing table.

Now, it held the screaming body of my child.

Before I could process what had happened I reached over the spilled-out pajamas and T-shirts and plucked him from the scary mess.

He was screaming; I was calm. I shushed him as my husband came running into the room. He stood there for a split-second, mouth agape, and took in me, the mess and our tearful baby boy.

Quickly we assessed that there was no blood (thank God, no blood!) except for a small trickle from one of his lips. He had a quickly rising, ugly-looking welt on his left temple, but there was no gash.

He was shaking…and screaming, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” over and over again.

It was heartbreaking. He was afraid he was going to be in trouble.

Instead we hugged him and his big sister crept into his room and calmly read to him from a Scooby Doo chapter book she procured at the library that afternoon while her father and I cleaned up the mess.

When the furniture was standing upright again, we looked at each other with wide eyes. Henry cuddled with his blankets and his sister, a residual sob erupting from him every couple of minutes. Finally, I sat next him on his brand-new twin bed and asked him what happened.

“Henry, did you climb in your cubby?” I asked him gently. “Did you stand in there?”

“I’m sorry, Mama!” He started to cry again. I shushed him and promised him that I wasn’t mad, only scared.

“Henry, what were you trying to do?”

“I wanted to get my thermometer!”

Ah, the thermometer. Or, translated, the monitor transmitter. We still have a baby monitor set up in his room and he has this idea that it works as a two-way radio. I explained to him that he could never do that again.

“Do you understand, Babyman?” I asked. He nodded, and I gathered him up for a precautionary trip to urgent care for a concussion check. If you’ve ever seen a kid with a concussion (and I have), you get pretty touchy about making sure there’s no reason to worry.

Henry got a clean bill of health while charming everyone at the clinic, both in the exam room and the waiting room. On the way home, we got milkshakes.

Everyone is fine. Everyone but me.

I’ve been very lucky with my children and their health. Emmie had a nasty concussion two years ago after a fall one December night, and she broke her wrist on the monkey bars at school last year. But, knock wood, there have been very few occasions on which I genuinely feared for their health and safety.

After I put my babies to bed — with an extra-long snuggle with my little boy — I replayed the incident in my head over and over. Only this movie had a different outcome, a much scarier one.

It is so easy to get lulled into a sense of security when you are a parent. Kids fall, they get scrapes and they bump their heads. We kiss the boo-boo, slap on a Band Aid and tell them to shake it off.

Then there are times like last night, when you see your 3-year-old sitting beneath a jumble of heavy wood and you are vividly reminded of how fragile we are — both them and you.

Amy L. Hatch is a co-founder and editor of chambanamoms.com, and she sprouted another batch of gray hair this week. She can be reached at amy@chambanamoms.com.