On Center Street
05/09/13Taking the Family to Texas Ranch LifeLooking for a unique twist on family fun? An opportunity to explore a totally different way of life while being pampered with hospitality amidst stunning surroundings? Then plan to become a warmly welcomed guest at the rustic yet elegant Texas Ranch Life and immerse yourself in a ranch family’s lifestyle. You can unleash the cowboy or cowgirl in you on the 1800 acres of open range. Yee-haw! This place is not a contrived representation of a working ranch or some cheese-y dude ranch a la Billy Crystal’s 1990’s film “City Slickers.” This hot spot is the real deal—-a fully operating ranch with live cowboys, Texas longhorns, burly bison, quarter horses, grazing goats, wild gobbling turkeys and organic vegetables growing in the gardens. ... |
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05/09/13Coping with Type 1 Diabetes – It’s All in the PlanMelanie Conant, diabetes care coordinator at Indian Health Care Resource Center, knows first-hand how the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes affects a family. Her son, Josh Conant, was diagnosed at the age of 6. “Our family life changed dramatically,” Melanie said. “Everything was focused on his blood sugar. What did the meter say?” Josh remembers thinking he would have to give up eating his cherished corndogs and playing soccer, but he learned to make the adjustments in his care need for both. “When another kid would walk me to the nurse,” Josh said, “they would sometimes see me get stabbed with a shot. They didn’t understand. Di-a-bet-es. Kids thought I was going to die. They thought I was contagious.” Fortunately,... |
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05/09/13Tulsa Stroller Moms Get Git and Make Friends“It takes a village to raise a child,” the saying goes. But the saying could be applied to the raising of new mothers as well. New motherhood can often be the loneliest, most challenging time. Aside from the rigors of being on call 24 hours a day for a little life, moms also have to go about the business of life as usual. On top of that, baby weight can be hard to shed, with limited time and limited motivation. Renine Stansloski, a coach for Fleet Feet’s Stroller Moms program, says the goal of this training group is “fitness and socialization” for new moms. According to Lori Drelling, owner of Fleet Feet, about 20 moms recently concluded the seven-week program after running or walking their “goal event.” The moms who join want to get... |
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05/09/13Hip Mom: The Hip Mom’s Staycation JournalSo, it’s May. Suddenly the prospect of many long, languid days with your kiddies is looming. And Denise from your spin class told you she has just booked a Disney cruise. Julie, your daughter’s BFRN (that is Best Friend Right Now)’s mom, is going to that Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. Your dear friend Carrie is taking her crew to Cabo. Samantha is heading to Legoland. Monica is going to Coronado Island. Darn Emily is going to some all-inclusive Bacchanalian revel in St. Lucia. Cheryl is visiting her extended family in London. Wretched Judy is going to New ZEALAND, for freak’s sake. You? Ah, you’re like me? You don’t have the budget or the time to do anything super sexy this summer? Well, guess what? A Tulsa staycation... |
05/09/13Attention Problems or Hearing Problems?Undetected hearing loss is frequently confused by parents with possible Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The mistake is understandable because children with hearing loss can seem inattentive or unfocused. Children with untreated hearing loss frequently struggle in school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, in 2008, about one in seven (14.9%) children between the ages of 6-19 years had some level of hearing loss. A 2010 article in The International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology reported that 11.3 percent of children in a general school setting had mild hearing loss. These reports reflect the large number of children with hearing loss in one ear (unilateral hearing loss) and children with mild hearing loss in both ears (mild bilateral... |
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05/09/135 ways to get your kids to eat – and enjoy – their vegetablesWhat is it about a green vegetable that can send a kid into hysterics? I mean, it’s just a little stalk of broccoli. And peas! Peas are so cute, so innocent – so hated by kids. Not all kids, of course. Some kids would actually choose carrot sticks over chips. The parents of these kids hear it a lot: “Oh wow, I wish my kid would eat like that.” When my kids started table foods, they loved vegetables. I felt pretty smug telling people how they ate vegetables without complaint. Wiser moms warned me the day might come when the kids would stop being so compliant. And it did. Without warning, one of my girls went on a “plain food” kick. No sauces. No color. No vegetables. Her favorite foods comprised a short list: Cheerios, rice, pasta, bananas.... |
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05/09/13Tulsa Children’s Museum Opens this MonthTulsa’s “Museum without Walls” will soon have some, along with doors, floors and a roof. The Tulsa Children’s Museum is moving into a renovated facility in Owen Park, the city’s first and oldest park, located near Tulsa Country Club, just north of I-244. Saturday May 25 through Monday May 27, the museum is celebrating the grand opening of its Discovery Lab with a weekend of activities, including a free concert with Grammy nominated musician Justin Roberts. Right in time for the long days of summer, The Discovery Lab promises hours of fun, learning and play in the heart of the city. The idea for a children’s museum in Tulsa was the inspiration of a group of parents and professionals back in 2007. Since that time, Tulsa Children’s Museum... |
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05/09/13Mama Drama: 5 Ways to Handle Mommy CliquesCurled into circles, some bouncing toddlers on their hips, mothers dot the school parking lot at pick-up time, laughing and talking together. I wave hello to a mom I met at a meet-and-greet the week before. She looks past me and continues with her conversation. I wonder, “Does she recognize me? Maybe not. We’ve only met once. Or maybe she didn’t see me.” Feeling awkward and vaguely rejected, I retreat to a spot near the school entrance and wait for my son to emerge. Those feelings are not unusual. One local transplant, who prefers that her name not be used for fear that she will be further ostracized, wrote in an email, “I feel like I have a tattoo across my forehead that reads I’M NOT FROM HERE. I don’t look much different, and I... |
05/09/13Super Easy Cake Balls to Make for Mother’s DayCome on, you know you love them. Those little sugary spheres of deliciousness are just the right size for a treat. I found this recipe in a recent edition of Bon Appetit. It was actually in one of the advertisements, but I tried it – and it was super easy. I wanted to share it in case someone out there wanted to make it for Mom for Mothers Day – it’s this Sunday! Even a non-cook could make these in a snap. And, if you have a kid or two to help, even better. There’s no cooking involved – just dumping, stirring and rolling. I even made a recipe without the banana and added a little extra milk. It worked fine. Here’s the recipe, with credit to Jell-O. Banana Cake Balls INGREDIENTS ½ cup cold milk 1 pkg. (3.4 oz.).... |
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05/05/13Tulsa Neighborhood Parks, Pools and Community Centers for EveryoneI live near a Tulsa Parks Community Center, which I use once a week. On the night I go, the parking lot is full. Adults and children are coming and going from dance classes, basketball and Tai Kwon Do. The soccer fields are full of kids. I run or walk my dog on the trail around the park nearly every day. During the summer, the junior pool is full of kids. When my children were younger, they used the community center, park and pool all the time. This community center with all its attractions is within walking distance of my house. As a Tulsa citizen, I’m concerned about the families who live in neighborhoods without community centers and pools. I just read a recent Canadian study (done by researchers in collaboration with The Applied Research Group for Kids) that shows... |
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