Editor's Blog
Web 2012
02/14/13My Valentine's Day PinMy son made this little heart pin for me when he was 4 years old. He's now 25. He was so proud of it (as only a preschooler can be) when he gave it to me for Valentine's Day, wrapped in tissue paper, all those years ago. I've worn it every Valentine's Day since. As you can see, he painted the wooden heart base black. Why not red or pink? I don't know. He was always a cautious child, so maybe red seemed like too risky a choice in his 4-year-old mind. Some of the glitter has worn off, but amazingly, most still remains. Glitter in the hands of 4-year-olds can be risky in itself, but it looks very nice on my pin. The blue and orange stones were also an interesting color choice for a Valentine's Day pin, but my son never has gone along with the crowd.... |
|
01/02/13Food for Young Athletes -- And a No-Bake Recipe You'll LikeAs I was searching for something to do on my segment on KTUL Channel 8's "Good Morning Oklahoma" last week, I came across a recipe that sounded good, healthy and FAST. I'I'll I'll be honest, my mind was not on work, but on enjoying Christmas, shopping, hanging out with my kids and taking time off. But I tried these little gems and my two daughters and my husband loved them. I had to make an extra batch to put in my daughters' piles of stuff to take back with them to Austin and Conway. These are so easy, your kids can make them without help, depending on their ages. Very young children can measure, pour and roll them into balls. No cooking involved! I chose to use the no sugar, natural peanut butter and it worked fine. You could also experiment with... |
|
12/20/12Crafts Kids Can Make with Leftover Wrapping PaperBefore you throw out all that Christmas wrapping paper, let me give you a few ideas for crafts that your kids can make. It's a win/win. You can feel good about reusing "trash" and your kids will have something creative to do to keep them busy -- like making the cool beads for the bracelet at the left. BEADS To make beads, start with whatever paper you would like to use. Besides wrapping paper, you can use magazine pages, or any paper you have on hand. It's interesting to see what design will come out on the beads, depending on the images or designs on the paper you use. Cut the paper into long triangles as pictured. Next, you will roll the big end around a toothpick. Hold it in place as you run a glue stick down the paper, all the way to the end of the... |
|
12/18/12Teachers Packin' Heat. Seriously?Two Oklahoma State Legislators want to introduce a bill that would allow teachers and other public school personnel to have guns in their classrooms. Is this really Oklahoma's answer to the tragedy in Newtown? Is this our State's call to action? Surely we can do better for our children. Will having more easily accessible guns prevent another mass shooting by a mentally ill person? Don't we, as parents, make sure that our children aren't going over to play at a house with accessible guns? I know I wouldn't allow my children to go to a friend's house if that house had unsecured guns. And, with 40 percent of American households having guns, it's a good idea to ask. Why in the world would we want our children to go to school every day knowing that there... |
|
12/17/12Talking to Your KidsI'm sure you've seen and heard about many ways to talk to your children about the tragedy in Newtown. Here is a list of tips from Save the Children, www.savechildren.org. Save the Children Opens Safe Space for Newtown Children, Offers 10 Tips to Help All Children Cope WESTPORT, Conn. (Dec. 15, 2012) — Save the Children has opened a Child Friendly Space in a Newtown, Conn. middle school to give local children a safe place to play and express themselves while their parents seek counseling and support in connection to the horrific tragedy in their community. Save the Children is extremely saddened by the events in Newtown, only 20 miles from its Westport, Conn. headquarters, and is ready to help local authorities and partners as needed. For... |
|
12/14/12PleaseI wish that this day were a nightmare, and I would wake up. Or that we could just start the day over with no guns. Please. |
|
12/11/12Is Your College Student Taking Drugs?When my son was a freshman in college (years ago -- he's 25 now), he called me during finals week at about this time of year. He was going to a selective, competitive school and he told me that he had taken some ADHD medication to study for an exam. He said that the kids were passing it out to everyone in the dorm where he was studying. Hmmm. That's one of those times as a parent that you take a deep breath. Or maybe it's just that it takes your breath away how stupid smart young people can be. I don't know. Either way, I was speechless. As I tried to think of what to say and how to say it, my son said something like, "It was great. I could really focus and stay up all night and read everything I needed..." So, I wondered why he had shared this with... |
|
12/04/12What Would You Do?If you could know in advance that your infant was going to be afflicted with a serious disease such as diabetes, breast cancer, alzheimer's or ALS later in life, would you want to know? In the past two days, I've seen and heard two different programs on genetics and what doctors can tell us about our health. Right now, infants are screened at birth for harmful or even potentially fatal disorders that can be cured or improved with early diagnosis (remember that PKU test?) Now most states screen for over 30 disorders, all with a single drop of blood. But would you want an entire genetic make-up on your infant? One program that I watched on television interviewed adults with diseases, or who had the potential to develop life-threatening diseases. All of the adults in the... |
|
11/27/12The "Crews Missile": Dad's Email to His Adult ChildrenMost of us at some point wonder what monstrous harm we've done to our children. We ruminate over the mistakes we've made as parents. Did we let our son cry too long? Did we rescue too often? Is my daughter going to be damaged for life because I took her lunch to her in 3rd grade when she forgot it? Now she'll never learn to accept consequences and learn from her mistakes! Whoa. My shoulders are already starting to sag from the weight of all that parental guilt. In comes a British father, Nick Crews, whose email to his three adult children has evidently catapulted him into something of a cult hero. It was written in Feb., but his daughter released it recently. If you haven't read his email, here it is: “Dear All Three,” “With last... |
|
11/20/12The First Thanksgiving (without kids)So, for the first time ever, my husband and I will be kid-less for Thanksgiving. It feels kind of strange. And, if I weren't so busy with my December deadline, I'd have time to feel really sad about it. Connor only has one day (Thanksgiving) off work, so he'll be in Dallas. Anna can't afford to come home, so she'll be having what she calls a "friendsgiving" with her pals in Austin, and Mary is going to be at her boyfriend's house. So we'll be celebrating with my mom and my sister, which isn't such a bad deal considering my mom is a fabulous cook -- and Thanksgiving is all about food. I can't let this go, however, without a little whining. I remember walking over to the Lights On at Utica Square on Thanksgiving evening the day after I... |
|
11/15/12Tulsa Voted #1 Unhealthiest City! Wha...?SELF Magazine (Dec. 2012) has ranked Tulsa, OK as the #1 UNHEALTHIEST overall city for women. I was going to write about today being National Clean Your Refrigerator Day, but now I'll I'm going to say about that is -- better clean the fattening, processed, nasty stuff out of your refrigerator and get healthy! Our city was described this way: "Tulsa, OK. Poor habits, high disease risk and life expectancy is falling." Yes, you read that right -- life expectancy in Tulsa for women is falling (their emphasis). The other cities were, in order, Jackson, MS; Detroit, MI; Louisville, KY; St. Louis, MO; Little Rock, AR; Memphis, TN; Birmingham, AL; Las Vegas, NV; and Oklahoma City, OK. The healthiest city is San Jose, CA. Being in a community of runners and people who... Posted at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
|
11/08/12My Many MistakesI make thousands of mistakes. Not just in my daily life -- like the time I put a nail through my hand or like last night when I was washing a pan and the milk I was heating for hot chocolate boiled over onto the range that I had just cleaned. Multi-tasking, being preoccupied and constantly being in a hurry (not a good combination) are probably at the root of my "accidents." I've run into a tree branch and a sign while running (still have the scar above my eye from that tree), and I've fallen down numerous times while running at Turkey Mountain. And I'm not going to even get in to the emotional damage I've probably done to my perfect children as a result of bad parenting. And then there are the hundreds of thousands of editing mistakes I've made in... Posted at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
|
11/01/12Here's What's Really ScaryThere are a couple of things that have been weighing on my mind. Since I don't have to rush around to find last minute Halloween costumes for my kids, I have more time to worry about things like the public school grades that were recently released by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Our State Superintendent of Schools Janet Barresi deserves an "F" on this one. https://sdeweb01.sde.ok.gov/Transparency/ReportCards/ I've been watching this unfold, as I'm sure many of you have. First, the State Board of Education decided not to release the grades because over 300 school superintendents around the state, including Dr. Ballard in Tulsa, objected to the calculation method. As Dr. Ballard said in a letter to parents, "It is flawed, and I... |
|
10/25/12Bill Cosby's Message to Parents: Come on, PeopleYesterday, Bill Cosby was in town speaking to the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry (TMM) at the Jazz Hall of Fame. His speech was billed as "Fatherhood...Mobilizing for Change." Dr. Cosby was entertaining and funny -- but his message was serious. It began and ended with one phrase aimed at parents: "The Revolution is in the Home." Many of us are familiar with Cosby's admonition to Black people, especially Black fathers, to step up and take individual responsibility for their children. His critics say that his comments are overly simplistic, laying out the problems without offering real solutions. Cosby doesn't buy that argument. He believes that people can make a decision to get drugs out of their neighborhoods, to get kids into school, to encourage... Posted at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
|
10/23/12Halloween TreatsBefore we get to the treats, I have a confession to make. I completely ignored the Unprocessed October Challenge this weekend. I went to Dallas to visit my son and to Austin to visit one of my daughters, so I wasn't picky about my food intake while I was gone. Tex-Mex, bring it on! Home Slice Pizza -- yes! (actually, I had a salad at Home Slice in Austin, so that was okay). Salt Lick BBQ -- yes, please! The picture to the right is what I ate at Salt Lick. Maybe it was unprocessed. I don't know...It was good. Let's leave the weekend of eating behind and move on to Halloween. I have some fun food that you can make for your kids or with your kids. These ideas would be great if you're having a Halloween party, or just want to make a fun dinner before going out... Posted at 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
|
 |
10/16/12Unprocessed: Week Three -- Granola!My Unprocessed October Challenge is going pretty well. If you want to read about the challenge, go here: www.eatingrules.com. I found a great recipe for granola in Bon Apetit a couple of years ago, and I've been making it ever since. Usually, I make a batch of it on the weekend and we eat it for breakfast through the week. It's also good for a snack, maybe with yogurt and fruit. When any of my kids are home, I double the recipe. I made this with Andrew on KTUL Channel 8's "Good Morning Oklahoma" this week. It's super easy and fits the unprocessed challenge because it doesn't have any strange ingredients or too much sugar. Here's the recipe: EVERYDAY GRANOLA Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet (the kind that has sides) with... |
10/09/12October Unprocessed Week 2I am now into Week II of my October Unprocessed Challenge. For some background on this, go to www.eatingrules.com/october-unprocessed-2012. This is Andrew Wilder's website where I found out about the Challenge. Starting out on this, I really felt that I was a conscientious label-reader. I'm not obsessive about things, mind you, but I do like to eat food that isn't loaded with chemicals and sugars. Since I buy the groceries and I'm the cook in our house, my husband has to depend on me, too. This is a guy whose mother used to have "tea parties" for him after school with Fritos, cream cheese and Coke. My husband was the third of four boys, so that could've had something to do with it. Anyway, don't worry. I don't think my husband or my... |
|
10/08/12"Won't Back Down" -- Seriously?You've probably heard about "Won't Back Down," the film where the mom and the disillusioned teacher take on a failing school and turn it around. And who's the villian in this film? The teachers' union, of course. I haven't seen the movie. I've read enough about it that I know I won't go see it, especially since it comes from Walden Media, the same company -- backed by the Koch Brothers -- who put out the other anti-public school propaganda film "Waiting for Superman." I did see that one. Here's a good review of "Won't Back Down": http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wont-back-down-review-20120928,0,2053199.story. I just spent the weekend with a close friend who has been a teacher for 33... |
|
 |
10/02/12Unprocessed: Week OneMy October Unprocessed Challenge started yesterday. Well, actually Sunday night. If you missed my blog about it last week, go to www.eatingrules.com to find out about the challenge, what it entails and perhaps sign up yourself! My husband and I were out of town at our youngest daughter's Parents' Weekend at Hendrix College, so I didn't do my usual Saturday grocery shopping until Sunday evening. My habit over the years has been to decide what I'm going to cook every night for dinner for a week, make a list and go to the store. I HATE having to think about what we're going to eat every night (this was especially the case when all three of the kids were home) and I HATE having to stop at the grocery store during the week. So, grocery shopping once a week works best... |
10/01/12Spare the Rod ---- Please!Before I had children (many, many, many years ago), I had a discussion with a co-worker about spanking children as a form of discipline. He had two very young children and was an advocate of spanking. I couldn't imagine spanking my future child. You know how it is before you have children -- it's so easy to have opinions and give advice to parents when you don't have children of your own, right? I respected this guy, and I'm pretty sure he was a good dad. I asked him why he spanked his kids, and he said, "It's a good way to get their attention sometimes." OK, so aren't there other ways to get their attention? He said, for example, if his 3-year-old went out into the street, he would give her a couple of swats to let her know that she's not... |
|
09/27/12Are You Processed or Unprocessed?I was googling around last week and found Andrew Wilder's website Eating Rules. In 2009 Andrew decided to issue a challenge to himself and his friends to eat no processed foods for a month. The challenge became October Unprocessed. Andrew decided to invite people to take the October Unprocessed pledge every year. I like the idea of eating less processed foods. I read a prediction recently that by 2030, two-thirds of Oklahomans would be overweight or obese. That means there must be a lot of parents out there feeding their kids a really unhealthy diet. Maybe by making an effort to eat less processed foods, we can develop better eating habits. If you want to read more about Andrew, go here http://www.eatingrules.com/about/ You can find out how it all started, get tips, recipes and... |
|
09/21/12Is It October Yet?I don't know about you, but I'm excited about October. Yeah, September is okay, but it's still a little hot, especially after the grueling summer we've had. But I'm always working ahead, so it may be that I've subconsciously skipped the rest of September without giving it a fair chance. We sent our October issue to the printer yesterday, so I hope you pick one up when it comes out next week. There's lots of good stuff in this issue, but more on that later. First, this weekend. So much is happening! There's the Hound Dog Blues Festival at Chandler Park (kids 6 & under are free), and some proceeds go to animal rescue groups. My labradoodle is an adopted dog, so I have a special place in my heart for those groups that help pets find homes. The... |
|
09/14/12Very Scary Day or The Down Side to Kids Leaving HomeI'm not having a very good Friday. No, it's not the weather. I actually love rainy days, and we really need it. Today is just one of those days that I worry about my kids being far away. If you're not there yet, imagine how it felt the first time you left your infant with a babysitter. Or left your child on the first day of kindergarten? Or the first day of middle school? It's a helpless feeling, right? The child who lives closest to me is a junior at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Not THAT far, but still not a quick drive. She called yesterday and sounded terrible. In fact, when she heard my voice, she started crying. I wish you could give hugs over the phone. She called me earlier in the week to say she had a cold. Not unusual. Kids get together and pass... |
|
09/10/12How Much Is Enough? Kids and Serving SizesWe all keep hearing that too many children are overweight or obese. We know that we need to provide them with foods that are healthy. But exactly what are those foods and how much should our kids be eating? In this fast food, all-you-can eat and more world, I don't remember really knowing what an appropriate serving size was for my children when they were young. I do remember worrying about whether or not they were eating enough. One of my friends used to chase her son around with his barely touched egg salad sandwich, begging him to finish it. I never got to that point, but I shared her concerns about food. Tomorrow (Tues.) on KTUL News Channel 8's Good Morning Oklahoma, I'm going to show some appropriate serving sizes for kids ages 4 to 8. I actually gathered up the... |
|
09/07/12Downtown Tulsa -- Not Just for AdultsIf you've been living under a rock and haven't heard about Guthrie Green in the Brady District of downtown Tulsa, then here's a quick review. Guthrie Green is a new park located at 111 E. Brady in Tulsa's Brady Arts District. The Kaiser Family Foundation will hold an opening ceremony TODAY (Fri., Sept. 7) at 3 p.m. -- so hurry on over there if you want to hear the opening remarks. If you're like me and can't get away right now, no worries. There will be plenty going on all weekend for the entire family. Here's the website: http://guthriegreen.com for more info. First, the park is really attractive. It has an outdoor theater, fountains and a restaurant, Lucky's on the Green. And the fun doesn't end with one weekend. Performances are planned... |
|
08/23/12Trash TalkYou may not think trash is very interesting. To be honest, I don't either. However, I have watched with some interest the brouhaha over Tulsa's trash service switch. We don't have our new containers at home yet, but we got them at the office yesterday. It was kind of amusing to watch the truck hauling the huge trailer piled high with trash containers try to navigate a turn off of a side street onto Denver. I was pretty sure it might topple over, but it didn't. Once the containers were unloaded, I pulled off the booklet that was attached to the container's handle and read the trash rules. I like the photo illustrations. As a person who never reads instructions, it always helps me to have pictures. (You should see me put together IKEA furniture!) OK, so, as... |
|
08/14/12Kids Going Off to College? or Who's That Guy?The other day, a friend who's last child is going off to college this week asked me how I liked being an "empty nester." I've been asked that question before and inherent in it is the real question: Am I going to make it? First, I don't have any answers for you. Every mom handles it in her own way. For example, my perspective may be entirely different from a single parent. What I can tell you is that if you're sad and lonely, it will get better. And if you have a husband, you might be wondering "Who's that guy?" This summer was my first childless summer, which is to say, that when your child goes off to college, he or she will typically return several times. So, buck up. If you're lonely, that clean, empty bedroom will be messy... |
|
08/10/12Cool for SchoolWhile I don't have school-age kids to shop for, I still like to see what's out there -- the new and hot items for back-to-school. Of course, smartphone technology is constantly evolving, so I found one that might be of interest to parents. Other trends include "green" items that are healthy for both kids and the environment, and great-looking footwear that can withstand the wear and tear that kids give them. The Kajeet smartphone is a smart phone for parents who are considering getting their child a full-access phone. With Kajeet http://www.kajeet.com, young people can have a phone with all the smartphone capabilities they want, and parents can have the control they desire. Kajeet is a prepaid Sprint-based mobile virtual network operater that was created... |
|
08/02/12Go Boho With Dorm DecoratingLet's face it. Dorm rooms are pretty sterile and unattractive. I should know -- I've been through moving in and out of them with three kids at four different schools. You don't want to take too much stuff because you'll just have to haul it home at some point. You don't want to spend a lot of money because you'll be lucky if what you bought lasts more than one year. Don't plan on nailing anything into the walls. That usually doesn't go over well with the college or university and, many times, the walls are concrete. So, keeping those things in mind, there actually are a few creative things you can do that are both inexpensive and attractive. Let's assume your daughter wants to go a little boho chic with her room. That's a fun look because... |
|
08/01/12My Colonoscopy and More!As a woman and as the mom of two young women, I, for one, will be the first to say thank you to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I'm all about preventive health, and I believe we should all take responsibility for doing whatever we can to be healthy. I eat a healthy diet and I've made sure that my family does as well. My husband has high cholesteral, even though he's a runner and, since marrying me, eats a balanced, heart-healthy diet. His father had a couple of heart attacks at an early age, and later had by-pass surgery. Having seen that, we both have been careful about what we eat and we have both been runners for 30 years. We try to get our screenings and check-ups to stay healthly. But I'll be honest. If I had had to pay for part or all of my colonoscopy, I... |
|
07/30/12More Sh** You Can Do When Your Kids Leave HomeYou can treat your dog like a toddler! One thing that I never had much time for with three kids and a husband at home was spending time with my dog. We had a Bassett Hound named Frisbee, and, unfortunately for him, Frisbee was last on my list. When Frisbee died at age 14, I really missed seeing his happy hound face greeting me. We used to sit together on the patio chairs in the backyard and survey our domain. I missed that. My daughter Mary decided we needed another dog, so she found Lucy, our chocolate labradoodle on the Animal Rescue Foundation website. We adopted Lucy when she was three months old. Partly out of guilt for not spending more quality time with Frisbee, I think I've gone overboard with Lucy. She's completely spoiled. She won't even go outside by... |
|
07/26/12Beat the Heat This WeekendOne of our ad reps who has two young boys came in looking frazzled one afternoon. She said, "We've been making paper airplanes for three hours! Three hours. Our house is covered with paper airplanes." If you can't have an inside day every day, there are other ways to stay cool -- most of them involving water. Whiteside Park is on one of my running routes, and I've enjoyed seeing all the kids getting wet at the new water park as I run by. Whiteside is on 41st between Harvard and Yale. The water park is a little oasis of water splashing from brightly colored fixtures. I've been tempted to jump in myself. Whiteside also has one of the Park system's junior pools, so it's a great place to cool off if you have little kids -- and it's free! I love... |
|
07/23/12Sh** You Can Do When Your Kids Leave HomeOne of the things my husband and I have been doing since our kids left home is visiting them. So, this is one of the amusing things you can enjoy doing when your kids go off to college somewhere, or start jobs in other states. Most of the time, you will be welcome by your children because you can buy them meals. That's assuming that you're not still supporting them, and they appreciate a nicer dining experience than the dollar menu at a drive-through. Here are some tips to help you with future visits: STAY IN A HOTEL: We just got back from visiting our daughter and her roommates in Conway, Arkansas. She goes to Hendrix College there and decided to stay through the summer. When visiting college students, it's always good to remember that a college living experience is... Posted at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
|
07/18/12Hello, Austin!In case anyone noticed, I didn't blog last week. Well, you probably didn't notice, but I'm back. I missed a day of work to go with my middle daughter down to Austin to start a job with Americorps. That simple statement holds a **#&-load of worries for me and my husband. Yes, of course we're proud of her, but what about the traffic? Driving in Austin is not fun. Those overcrowded streets, busy highways....I-35. Yikes! And living with roommates that I don't know. Hell, she doesn't even know them. The Internet is wonderful for those kinds of things. She found three other Americorps young people to live with, and they've already found a house. I've found that it's best to not ask too many questions or look too closely. I trust my daughter --... |
|
07/02/12"To Rome with Love" Not Worth a Date NightI was prepared to like Woody Allen's latest film "To Rome with Love," which opens this week. I liked "Midnight in Paris," and I thought this one might have the same summer-escapist feel to it. All I can say is that I did want to escape. I wanted to escape the theater. It's rated R, so don't think about taking your kids to it. Not because there's anything shocking that they might see, but they would definitely be bored out of their minds. I will say that I liked the cast; although, I've never cared much for Jesse Eisenberg. It's just a personal thing. He was especially annoying in this film. Besides Eisenberg, the ensemble cast is pretty fabulous: Penelope Cruz, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page, Woody Allen (of course), Alec Baldwin, Roberto... |
|
06/27/12ZipLock Bag Ice Cream, Watermelon Salsa, George Washington and Big Time RushYou really need to take your family to see the George Washington exhibit at Gilcrease Museum RIGHT NOW! Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon opened on June 24 and will be in Tulsa until Sept. 23. Here's the thing. We all grew up learning about George Washington. Every school kid knows who George Washington is, but unless you're just a G. Washington expert, I promise you'll learn something. And if you don't learn something about our country's founding father, then at least you'll be entertained. The short films in the different exhibit rooms were done by the History Channel. Who knew they did anything other than the World Wars and Hitler? There are many artifacts, including a copy of Martha Washington's wedding dress and her... |
|
06/21/12Start the Weekend EarlyOK, yes, I've watched all the Thunder games. I don't have any fingernails left. Do you think the thunder this morning was a good omen? Maybe the Sports Gods are saying that OKC Thunder might actually pull out a win tonight. We can hope... If you're not a Thunder fan (gasp!), there are still plenty of things to keep you and your family occupied, beginning tonight. First, Hank The Cowdog and Monkey Business opens today at the Tulsa PAC. It's a fun musical for the whole family. I got to see one of the songs performed as a SummerStage preview, and it was lots of fun. The audience was singing along! Shows are June 21, 23-24 at 3 p.m.; June 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Liddy Doenges Theatre, 110 E. 2nd. For tickets, call 918.596.7111 or www.MyTicketOffice.com. I wish... |
|
06/13/12Family Friendly Summer Fun and Homemade Fruit Roll-UpsNothing's better than a movie in the summer. Whether you're enjoying a family flick outside, cooling off in a dark theater or taking a van-load of kids to the drive-in, there are lots of ways to enjoy films in the Tulsa area this summer. Beginning in Broken Arrow Thursday night, families can take in a free film outdoors at BA's Central Park beginning at 9 p.m. Showing this week is Kung Fu Panda 2. For on-going, almost free entertainment, you can go to Cinemark Movies 8 on Memorial every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. for a kid-friendly film. Shows start at 10 a.m. and they're only $1. Next week's film is Rio, followed by Kung Fu Panda 2, Despicable Me, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 and more. The last movie will show August 8. For the complete list, go to... |
|
06/11/12The End of Instruction Test DisasterHow do you feel about your kids taking End of Instruction (EOI) tests to get a high school diploma? Most of you who are reading this probably don't need to worry. Your kids will do just fine. Unless they have a disability. Or test anxiety. Or maybe don't feel well on the day of the test. Or maybe they just don't do well on standardized tests. Then you get into the emotional issues that plague high school students. Supporters of the EOI tests say that these high stakes tests make a high school diploma "more meaningful." I'm not sure how a taking tests in four subject areas one time makes a diploma mean something more than actually going to class, doing the work and making passing grades. What it says is that the Legislature doesn't trust educators to... |
|
06/07/12Tulsa Tough & More StuffI have so much to tell you. Just thinking about everything going on starting TONIGHT makes my keyboarding fingers sore. On my Time for TulsaKids segment on Good Day Tulsa this morning, I couldn't decide what to talk about. The thing is, summer in Tulsa has begun, so all the (mostly free), family-friendly activities have begun. So, on top of the usual great stuff like Gilcrease's kids' programming every Thurs. and Fri. we have events and activities that are unique to summer. Before we get started on the STUFF, did you see that Tulsa is in the top 10 cities for Spoiled Children? What's that about? According to Bundle.com, Tulsa parents rank number 5 in the amount of money they spend on their kids. The cities, in order, are: New York; Brooklyn, NY; Miami, FL;... |
|
 |
06/05/12Endings and BeginningsForgive me if I've used that title before. It seems to be the story of my life lately. I guess the reality is that Endings and Beginnings could be the story of anyone's life because life is about change. I just got back from my middle child's graduation from Knox College. It was lovely. It was absolutely Gilmore Girls-esque. If you ever watched the Gilmore Girls, you know what that means. Small, personal, somewhat quirky and meaningful. Knox College is a small liberal arts college in the small railroad town of Galesburg, IL, which is surrounded by endless acres of cornfields. This is beginning to sound like either a fairy tale or a story that unfolds like one of those Russian Dolls. I promise I won't unfold too far -- just a little background info. Galesburg is... |
05/30/12Tennis Sign-Ups, the Circus and More Family-Friendly Activities this WeekendThe kids have already been out of school for a couple of weeks and it's not even June yet. Well, if you've got the time, I've got the ideas for the weekend. I just found out about a couple of these things yesterday, so they're not yet in our online calendar. Speaking of which, be sure to check the online calendar because we add new events and activities as we get them throughout the month. Also, watch me on GOOD DAY TULSA on KTUL Channel 8 every Thursday morning where I give you a run-down of things to do for the weekend. So, here we go... First, I want to let you know that the Tulsa Parks Youth Tennis League is signing up kids right now! My kids participated in this and loved it. It's for kids ages 6 through 18 who want to learn to play tennis, or who already... |
|
05/25/12Three Day Weekend Alert!It's a three-day weekend, so what can you do with the family? Don't forget that it's Memorial Day, so honor those loved ones who have gone before, and also those individuals who have served in the U.S. Military. Teaching your kids about our national holidays and why we have these three-day weekends is important. If you want to get out and about, the hot weather might send you to the Tulsa Parks water playgrounds and splash pads. Word has it that they are open this week or will be open by Memorial Day, if they're not open before. Here is the link to find out where they are: http://www.cityoftulsa.org/culture--recreation/tulsa-parks/sports---youth,-adult,-and-aquatics-/aquatics.aspx At this link, you can also find out which pools will be open and how to sign... |
|
 |
05/22/12Your Child Doesn't Have an AP Class? Thank a LegislatorThis is a difficult blog to write. Like many other parents, I feel that I've been kicked in the stomach by the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Fallin. By not providing funds for public schools and voting an income tax cut on top of that, I fear that the children in this state may never crawl out of the hole they just dug for public education. What is most frightening is that many Oklahoma Legislators feel that it is not the job of the "government" to fund public education, so they really don't care if public schools fail. I believe this is un-American. Education in the United States is the great equalizer. Education is the way that people climb out of poverty and get ahead in this nation. Education is the key that unlocks the door to the American Dream. Our... Posted at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
05/09/12Weekend Fun in Tulsa & a Mother's Day Brunch RecipeThe weekend is fast approaching. Happy Mothers Day in advance to all you moms reading this blog. As you plan the rest of your week and the weekend, I have some fun ideas for you. It's National Public Gardens Day, and Tulsa is beautiful this time of year. If you want a fun way to get outside to enjoy one of the most gorgeous areas (in my humble opinion) in Tulsa, you can go on a Garden Scavenger Hunt at Woodward Park on either Friday or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Just go to the Tulsa Garden Center or to the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens on the South side of Woodward Park and get your scavenger hunt cards. It's free and fun. Woodward Park is such a great place to roam with your kids. It's a little different from the "playground equipment" type park but the... |
|
05/07/12Mad Mom March: Rally for Education Funding at the Capitol on May 9Fortunately, the Oklahoma Legislature seems to have backed off ever so slightly on eliminating income taxes completely. Do we really want to be dead bottom out of 50 states in everything -- schools, mental health, help for abused and neglected children, fire and police, bridges, roads --- seriously EVERYTHING that our collective taxes pay for? Do our Legislators not understand the function of government? Let's just talk about our schools. What I love is that parents are finally seeing that school funding is important. A few blocks from my office, over at Eugene Fields Elementary School, budget cuts in education mean that they'll have a 5th grade class over there with 58 kids. Maybe one of our Legislators would like to go teach that class for a few weeks. I was having... |
|
 |
05/02/12Cinco de Mayo Family Fun in TulsaOur May issue is out, but before I move on to June, I want to let you know about some cool stuff to do in Tulsa this weekend. Saturday is Cinco de Mayo, and there are some special events that you can enjoy with the family. I used to love these opportunities to take my kids to enjoy the sounds, sights and especially the FOOD of other cultures. All I had to do was show up with the kids and soak up the ambiance. So, let's go out there and celebrate our Mexican heritage this weekend. If you want a brief definition of Cinco de Mayo, here's one that I took off of Wikipedia: Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla,[1][2][3][4]... |
04/23/12Parents Grow Grassroots Group to Save SchoolsOnce Carnegie Elementary School mom Emily Dunaway realized that her kindergartener would have almost 40 classmates, Emily got busy. She knew that a large class size would have a negative impact on her daughter's education, not just from the perspective of a parent, but also as a professional with knowledge of the needs of young children. Emily holds graduate degrees in Human Development and Family Science; she has experience as a preschool and a special needs teacher; she serves as adjunct faculty at Oklahoma State University in the College of Human Sciences, and as a Certified Child and Parenting Specialist for Sooner Start. While the Carnegie PTA parents banded together to pay the salary of one teacher, this was just one crisis, temporarily averted at one elementary school... |
|
04/20/12Family Fun in Tulsa This WeekendI'm a little late in posting this week -- deadlines. Our May issue goes to the printer today, so look for it next week. We have some great articles and information for you. You can find out about all the cool family and kid stuff going on at Mayfest this year. And the Zarrow Center for Art and Education is opening next month. If you have an artistic teenager, you'll definitely want to find out about their summer programs. Also, TulsaKids and Book Smart Tulsa are teaming up to bring you an entertaining event at Blue Moon Bakery Cafe on Mon., May 14 from 7-9 p.m. We're hosting Katie Workman, author of "The Mom 100 Cookbook." Read our interview with her and get all the info. on her visit to Tulsa. AND, the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus will be in Tulsa... |
|
04/16/12Your Child's School is Dying -- Help Save It!I received a letter from a 20-year veteran Tulsa Public Schools teacher and a mom. I wanted to write a blog about the dire straits that our public schools are in, but this letter says it all. Fortunately for my family, my children are now out of public schools and out of Oklahoma. Sadly, I wouldn't encourage them to come back here to live because they would be returning to a state where the legislature and state policy makers are at odds with educators, parents and school administrators. While State Superintendent of Schools Janet Barresi says that she wants our students to be college and career ready, all I've seen from our state lawmakers are cuts, more cuts and more unfunded mandates -- all with her joyful support. I'm glad that my children had the opportunity to take... Posted at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
|
04/10/12Activities for Families in Tulsa: Events, Baseball, Museums, Markets and More!I know. It's only Tuesday, but there's so much going on that I'm starting the weekend early. You might want to take a look at everything you can do, so you can at least hit the high points. First, I want to start with a little reminder about an event at the end of the month. Sign up for the YWCA's RACE AGAINST RACISM at www.ywcatulsa.org/pages/race_against_racism/ or go to TulsaKids home page and link through. The race starts in the Blue Dome District by John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park and ONEOK Stadium on April 28. Last year's race was really fun, so I hope everyone will come out and support it. There's a 1-mile fun run and a 5K. OK, now on to this week. If you have a high school student, you might want to visit the Great Plains Assoication College... |
|
03/29/12Breastfeeding? Moms Say It's Too Much TroubleBreast-feeding isn't easy. At least for me it wasn't the natural love-fest between mom and baby that I naively expected it to be. And, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal, I'm not the only one who found it difficult. A Scottish study(http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000504) that interviewed 36 mothers said that the recommendation to breast-feed babies for 6 months was "unhelpful" and unrealistic for their families. Breast-feeding recommendations exist because scientific research supports that breast-feeding is the healthiest option for mother and baby. When I think back on my own experience with my first child, I can still feel the pain, frustration and humiliation of trying to get it right. It was physically painful at the... Posted at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2 |
|
03/26/12Growing Things"To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson While I was looking for something to keep myself busy this weekend while I waited impatiently for the new season of "Mad Men," I decided to plant a raised garden. (Can you believe the way they were throwing Joan's baby around when she visited the office?) Anway, back to the garden. I got some scraps of lumber and borrowed an electric screwdriver. After a couple of visits to the hardware store to get those metal things that hold corners together, I managed to cobble together a pretty... |
|
03/13/12Husbands Doing Chores and Babysitting: It's Real SimpleLast week I was reading a magazine and watching the ABC Evening News with David Muir when something caught my attention -- a teaser for a story about how men would do more chores at home if women "let" them. Well, that pretty much set my hair on fire, so I sat up, put down my Atlantic Monthly and turned up the TV. Evidently, REAL SIMPLE Magazine had done a survey of (I assume) its readers and found that women don't have enough time for themselves because they do too much of the housework. In fact, 49% of the women said they don't have enough free time. Fifty-two percent say they have less than 90 minures and 23% have less than 45 minutes and 4% say that they don't have ANY free time. And, of the women surveyed, women are twice as likely to trust their kids... |
|
 |
03/09/12Family Activities in Tulsa this WeekendIt's Friday and I have lots of ideas for activities this weekend for you and your family. The big Home and Garden Show at the QuikTrip Building (21& Yale) started last night and continues through this weekend. I don't know about you, but my landscaping is looking pretty dreary right now. And I have about a million projects that I would love to do at my house, both inside and outside. Unfortunately they take two things I don't have -- Time and Money. What I can do, though, is get some advice and ideas from the experts at the Home and Garden Show. It's start, right? If you go, take the kids along. Kids under 12 get in free and there are some kid-friendly exhibits and activities that will keep them busy and happy. The Master Gardeners have a giant earthworm... |
Betty Casey started editing TulsaKids when her youngest child was 3 years old. That daughter is now a freshman in college. Her son is 24 and her middle daughter is 21. TulsaKids and her children literally grew up together (and she lived to tell about it)! Betty's blog ranges from commenting on current parenting issues and upcoming articles to personal reflections about being the mom of three children, who are now wonderful young adults.
