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52 New Things, 2014. Week 38

Posted on by Angie

Our new things for this week.

 

 

Angie –
I’m a sucker for packaging and saw these nutritional supplement drinks at the check out at Target. With promises of making me sleep and chill out, packaged in cute little bottles, I couldn’t resist. While the flavors were ok,  I don’t think it did much to help me chill out or sleep. I’ll skip these on my next Target run.

 

 

 

 

Kristen-
My new thing is the Tropical Sno place off 11th Ave South, near UAB. Huge fan of the sandy area, complete with colorful sand and beach toys. The kid’s size snow cone is generous and cheap and they have a million awesome flavors. A little beach in Birmingham. Love it!

Giveaway! Marvel Universe Live!

Posted on by Angie

A mind-blowing live-action arena experience, featuring the greatest Marvel Super Heroes and Villains.

Marvel fans, assemble! Marvel Universe LIVE! is taking the live entertainment experience to a whole new level, with a mind-blowing show unlike anything you’ve seen before. Watch your favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man, The Avengers – Iron Man, Hulk, and more, and threatening villains come to life in an action-packed arena extravaganza, coming to cities around North America. You’ll definitely feel the energy with cutting-edge special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, motorcycles and more. It’s being hailed as the most technically advanced live show ever. Join Marvel fans of all ages for this once-in-a-lifetime, monumental performance. The fate of the universe depends on it!

BirminghamMommy.com has 2, Family 4 packs of tickets to giveaway for opening night, Thursday October 2nd at 7pm.

Leave a comment here letting us know your favorite Marvel Superhero. 2 Winners will be drawn at random on Sunday, September 28th at 6pm.

Good Luck!

 

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: September 21st – September 28th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Thank you again to everyone that helped make Moms Rock 2014 a HUGE success. We had a great night, celebrated some amazing women and can’t wait to do it again next year!

Lots of fun stuff happening around Birmingham this week, libraries are a hot spot and we are looking forward to the weekend and the Whistle Stop Festival and Vulcan Aftertunes. If you missed the Middle Eastern Food Festival this past weekend, make sure to check out the Greek Food Festival going on later this week!

 

Monday September 22nd:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Public Library
Join Mrs. Eve as she presents her favorite fabulous fall stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver. 24-hour advance registration required.
9:30a and 11:30a

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Tuesday September 23rd:

PJ Palooza Storytime – Avondale Library
Wear your pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal for a night of PJ stories, songs, and fun! 24-hour advance registration required. Please note that peanut butter will be served.
6:30pm

All Ages Storytime – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

Family Tours, Serve it Up– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Serve It Up! What do you use to eat? Explore the Museum for all items. Hester Bateman created fancy silver items for people to use in the 1700s. Her artworks are some of many in the Museum that are used for food. How are other objects in the Museum the same, or different? Explore different cultures with a Museum educator. Come back to Bart’s ArtVenture to create something fancy for your table at home.
10:30

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Featured titles are Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble by Judy Schachner and a reading of select letters from The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Help Green show the Yellow and Orange Crayons all the great things they can be to help resolve their dispute over which is the true color of the sun. Customers will be invited to create a letter, make a list, draw or color a picture and place it in the Support the Crayons! Message Box.
11am

Elf on the Shelf Birthday Party – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for The Elf on the Shelf: A Birthday Tradition. Storytime, activities and treats. Be a special guest if you have a September birthday, but we’ll celebrate for all other months of the year, too!
4pm

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Wednesday September 24th:

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

All Ages Storytime – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

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Thursday September 25th:

42nd Annual Greek Festival – Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral
It’s one of Birmingham’s most highly anticipated events and a true cultural experience, the festival is an act of love of Birmingham’s Greek community. Besides delicious Greek cuisine, you’ll enjoy live Greek music. Greek dancing by the youth, and a warm, spirited atmosphere that embraces everyone as family. As thousands of returning patrons can attest, you will leave a devoted fan.
10:30am – 10pm

Storytime Live – Hoover Public Library
Stories, songs, poetry, puppetry and more for ages 3 and up. Groups must register.
10:30am

PJ storytime – Hoover Public Library
Wear your pajamas to this storytime! Kids of all ages can enjoy stories, finger plays, songs, and a bedtime snack.
6:30pm

Bookmania: Star Wars Jedi Academy – Emmet O’Neal Library
4th-6th graders, read Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown, then bring your friends to the library to enjoy pizza, games, and a chat about the book. Space is limited, so make sure to register.
6pm

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Storytime for the youngest patrons and friends.
9:30am and 10:30am

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Friday September 26th:

42nd Annual Greek Festival – Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral
It’s one of Birmingham’s most highly anticipated events and a true cultural experience, the festival is an act of love of Birmingham’s Greek community. Besides delicious Greek cuisine, you’ll enjoy live Greek music. Greek dancing by the youth, and a warm, spirited atmosphere that embraces everyone as family. As thousands of returning patrons can attest, you will leave a devoted fan.
10:30am – 10pm

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Saturday September 27th:

Whistle Stop Festival – Historic Downtown Irondale
The Whistle Stop Festival annually brings a wide variety of food, crafts, music and other activities to Irondale’s Historic District.The Irondale Chamber of Commerce is located in the center of the festival.
9am – 5pm

42nd Annual Greek Festival – Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral
It’s one of Birmingham’s most highly anticipated events and a true cultural experience, the festival is an act of love of Birmingham’s Greek community. Besides delicious Greek cuisine, you’ll enjoy live Greek music. Greek dancing by the youth, and a warm, spirited atmosphere that embraces everyone as family. As thousands of returning patrons can attest, you will leave a devoted fan.
10:30am – 10pm

Fiesta Birmingham – Linn Park
Diverse Hispanic dance and music performances. A family village that includes a FunZone, reading and storytelling tent, and family building together tent. Face painting, balloon artist, children’s performances and inflatables and much much more!
Noon – 8pm
Tickets are $5, you can purchase here

Museum day Live!
In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket… for free.

  • Only an official Museum Day Live! ticket is eligible for free entry. Official tickets can be found here on the Museum Day Live! Website.
  • One ticket per household, for two people.
  • A ticket will gain entry to only one of the participating museums, excluding parking and special events and exhibits.
  • If museum reaches capacity, museum has the right to limit the number of guests until space becomes available.

Participating Museums in Birmingham and surrounding areas are

Costume Character Visit, Biscuit the Dog – Barnes and Noble
Join us for Storytime, treats and crafts with Biscuit!
11am

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!

Grind your own shell to create a bead – just like some Native American cultures do! They used shells and glass beads as money to buy things they need. What would you buy?
11am – 1pm

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
This month, Bart has selected Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Jingle Dancer.
11am

Ride the Calera Shelby RR Train – Heart of Dixie RR Museum
RIDE THE TRAIN! The golden age of railroads and the rich heritage of the people who built and operated them come together at the Heart of Dixie, the official railroad museum for the state of Alabama. Visitors will see railroad artifacts and memorabilia in restored depots. Locomotives, railcars, railroad equipment and railroad signals are displayed in a large railroad yard — a living monument to railroad history.

Refreshments, souvenirs and collectibles are available in the Visitor’s Center gift shop. A shaded picnic pavilion offers the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors. Groups welcome!
Adults ages 12 and up – 12.84
Child ages 2 through 11 – $9.17
Family Four Pack, Two adults & Two children – save $5
Caboose – $22.94
Locomotive – $32.11
11am and 2pm

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

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Sunday September 28th:

Vulcan AfterTunes – Vulcan Park and Museum
Vulcan Park and Museum will kick off its 10th year of Vulcan AfterTunes featuring The Revivalists, Dumpstaphunk and Milo Greene.
Now in its 10th year, Vulcan AfterTunes has become a highly anticipated event for music lovers and a unique cultural outing for families to enjoy in a one-of-a-kind city setting! This fall, enjoy cool tunes, fresh brews and sweet views on Sunday afternoons with your favorite cast iron statue, Vulcan. Chill out in Birmingham’s backyard and end your week with some of the area’s best music while witnessing spectacular views of Birmingham’s city skyline. This three-part series features local and national singer/songwriter acts often heard on Birmingham Mountain Radio.
Adults-$15, Children 5-12- $8, Members- $8, Children 4 and under-Free
3pm – 6pm

Cahaba River Fry Down – Trussville Springs
Join the Cahaba River Fry-Down for fun, friends and a good ole’ fashioned fish fry!

Learn more about the relationship between water quality and the health of humans and aquatic life while socializing, eating, playing family-friendly games, visiting the beer garden, and competing in the Fry-Down.

Last year nearly 1,000 people joined us on the river for this day of fun and water-smart learning activities. Our Fry-Down competition was a great success, with 11 hotly-competing teams and an esteemed panel of judges. Partner organizations offered their knowledge about drinking water, low impact development, wildlife conservation, and ways to enjoy the Cahaba.
$20 per person
Noon – 4pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Birmingham Area Fall Festivals and Happenings – Fall 2014

Posted on by Angie

Fall is in the air.. Can you feel it? There’s no better way to get in the mood for this season than to check out a few pumpkin patches or fall festivals.

Check out this list of what’s happening in and around the Birmingham Area!

Pumpkin Patches:

Old Baker Farm – Harpersville – September 27th – October 31st. Just off Hwy 280.
Open weekdays 3pm – dark
Saturdays 9am – dark
Sundays 1pm – dark
ADMISSION COST:
$10 per person (children under 2 free)
Admission includes pumpkin and all events except food, arts and crafts, and horseback rides.
Visit Site for more information.

  • Western Cowboy Day – Saturday October 11th, 9am until Dark and Sunday, October 12, 1pm until Dark
    Shootouts, Western Music, Hay Wagon Rides, Hay Mountain, Pumpkin Patch, & More!
    Kids, come dressed in your western attire! Cost: $10 per person; kids under 2 free (Payment types accepted: Cash or Check only) Admission Fee includes pumpkin and all events except food, arts and crafts, horseback rides
  • Cotton Pickin’ Celebration – Saturday October 25th 9am – 5pm and Sunday October 26th 9am – 5pm.
    Cost: $10 per person; kids under 2 free (Payment types accepted: Cash or Check only) Admission Fee includes pumpkin and all events except food, arts and crafts, horseback rides

Great Pumpkin Patch – Hayden – 65 North to the Hayden Corner Exit. September 25th – November 2nd
Open Monday – Thursday 8am – 4pm,
Friday and Saturday 8am – 6pm,
Sunday 1pm – 6pm.
Admission to the Pumpkin Patch is free, pay for each activity.

Pumpkin Patch at Shadow Lake

Inflatables ($4)
Hay Ride ($2)
Train Ride ($2)
Petting Zoo ($2)
Face Painting ($2)
Pick Your Pumpkin (priced by size)
Story Time & Games ($2) (Thursdays & Fridays) Games & Balloon Animals ($2) (Saturdays & Sundays) Concessions & Baked Goods (weekends only)

Picnic areas and restrooms are available. (No smoking or pets please.)
October 16th – 19th
October 23rd – 26th

Thursdays: 9am – 2pm
Fridays: 9am – 2pm
Saturdays: 10am – 5pm
Sundays: 1pm – 5pm

Bennett Farms – Heflin –   I-20 toward Atlanta, exit 199.  In October – Open Thursday and Friday, 2pm – 5pm,  Saturday 9am – 5pm and Sunday 1pm – 5pm. Live Music on Saturdays

Pumpkin Patch Express – Heart of Dixie Railroad Musuem– Open Every Saturday and Sunday in October. The entire family will enjoy an autumn ride aboard the Pumpkin Patch Express. Join in the fun as we visit the pumpkin patch for a hayride, jumpstation, cornstalk maze, coloring, and fun tattoos. Snacks, soft drinks, and good ol’ fashioned boiled peanuts available for purchase. Pick your favorite pumpkin from the patch for an additional charge.

The Pumpkin Patch event will take approximately 90 minutes.

**Tuscaloosa Barnyard
Pumpkin Patch, Fridays and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. Sundays, 1pm – 4pm. Bring your lunch & friends! 248-0773 (Pony ride, boat ride, animal feeding, hands on petting area, pumpkin patch, hayride, playground, etc ONLY $15 per person)

Local Libraries:

Emmet O’Neal Public Library

  • A Night Dark and Grimm: October 17th, 6pm
    Enchanted Games, photo booth, face painting, fantasy forest, crafts and snacks, and more! Sing a long movie with Frozen characters.
    6pm
  • Trick or Treat Around the Library – October 31st, 9am -5pm

Homewood Public Library

  • Trick or Treat through the Library, wear your costume!
    10am – 5pm Friday, October 31st

Hoover Public Library

  • Kidz Kitchen with Hello Kitty
    Make Halloween inspired treats that are adorable and delicious. Free event for all ages.
    October 5th – 10:30am
  • Pumpkin Painting Workshop
    Bring your own pumpkin! We’ll supply the paint and fun. All ages
    October 7th – 6:30pm
  • The Wizarding World of the Hoover Library
    Calling all wizards! Don your costume, grab your wand and head to the Hoover Public Library as we celebrate our favorite time of year. Visit Ollivander’s shop in Diagon Alley, make a sleeping potion with Maleficent, sing-a-long with Elsa and much, much more!
    October 17th – 7pm
  • Hallo-Tween Video Game Spectacular
    Dress up as your favorite game hero and play away! Registration begins Oct. 3. Grades 4-6
    October 24th, 4pm
  • Spooktakular Shirts and More
    Bring your own t-shirt to create some unique ghoulish-wear. Registration begins Oct. 7. Grades 1-3
    October 28th, 4:30pm
  • Trick or Treat
    Trick or treat throughout the library on Halloween!
    October 31st, 9am

Pelham Public Library

  • Halloween Carnival
    Little Princesses, superheros, goblins and mummies, dust off your costumes and join us at the library for fun carnival games and snacks.
    October 18th, 2pm – 3:30pm

Festivals and Miscellaneous Happenings:

Oak Mountain Big Fall Festival
Thrill Rides; Kiddie Rides; Fun for the entire family! This Oak Mountain Big Fall Festival, not to be confused with the Oak Mountain State Fair, will feature live music on the midway each night, as well as the Fearless Flores Family Thrill Show. Another new attraction we will have for the kiddies will be the Barnyard Cackle Review.
Discount tickets can be purchased at your local Walgreens for $5.
October 1st – October 4th

Boo at the Zoo
Wear your favorite costume for the 22nd annual Boo at the Zoo. Make your way through safe candy villages and game zones, organized by local non-profits and child-centered businesses.  The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
Admission: $8 (tax included)

Some attractions require ride tickets. Ride tickets are $3.50, or you can purchase an unlimited attraction wristband for only $12. Wristbands do not include Children’s Pony Rides. Children’s Pony Rides are $5.50. Riders must weigh less than 80 lbs.

October 3-5, 10-12, 19, 26, 29th, 30th and November 1st (5-9pm)
October 17th -18th, 19, 24 & 25 and 31st  (5-10pm)

Town of Mt Laurel
Harvest Festival –Farmers Market & Craft Fair, complete with Hayrides, MoonWalks, Cotton Candy, Music and much, much more!
Saturday, October 11th. 10am – 3pm

JCA Annual Heritage Festival – Jefferson Christian Academy
Families can enjoy a variety of entertainment such as carnival rides, huge inflatables, live music, arts and crafts vendors, informational booths, several food choices, great values in the silent auction, pony rides, games and more!
October 18th
10am – 3pm

Liberty Park Pumpkin Patch – Alston Meadows
This is an annual festival and fundraiser in the beautiful Liberty Park area. We invite people from all over to come have family fun with games, food, and candy all to benefit theVestavia Hills Civitan Club. Local businesses will set up booths and provide games and giveaways. This event is designated as a Halloween Safe Zone by the Vestavia Hills Police Department.
October 19th
1pm – 4pm

Dawson Baptist Church
Bring your family to Dawson’s Family Fall Festival! Games, rides, carnival foods, and candy!
October 24th, 6pm – 9pm

Alabama Wildlife Center Presents – Owl O’ Ween
Live Bird of Prey Shows
Candy, Games, Crafts, and cookie decorating..
October 25th, 11am – 2pm

Tannehill –
The Tannehill Halloween Festival, a non-scary fun-filled holiday event focused on the campgrounds, annually attracts over 6,000 visitors, most of them children. Begun in 1992, the October 31 event features park-sponsored programs during the afternoon and traditional Halloween candy “trick or treat” stops at more than 200 campsites during the evening. Park events include a moon walk, clowns, face painting, pony rides and sand art. A special tradition is the festival’s annual Halloween Festival T-shirt. Campground site decorations and lights are extensive, creative and surreal.
October 25th

Desoto State Park –
Spookapalooza! Storytelling, Treats, Fun, & Games!

Join the staff & volunteers of DeSoto State Park for a weekend of fun events guaranteed to run shivers up and down your spine! Trick or treating, games, storytelling, games & more are in store during this popular annual event. Grab your favorite costume, bring the family, & come stay with us! All events are free to the public & great for all ages!
Date: October 24th-26th, 2014
DeSoto State Park in Fort Payne, Alabama

McWane Science Center and Alabama Theatre Present:
A Very Carrie Prom

Get into your best prom attire and head to downtown Birmingham for a night of food, fun and buckets of blood as McWane Science Center and the Alabama Theatre present “A Very Carrie Prom.” The festivities begin at 7 pm with a screening of “Carrie” at the Alabama Theatre, followed immediately by a Senior Prom inside McWane’s Events Center with music, food, drinks and a special prom costume contest.

FOR TICKETS: VISIT WWW.ALABAMATHEATER.COM, advance reservations required, must be 18 and over.

October 28th
MOVIE SCREENING: 7 PM — PROM: 8:30 PM
COST: $20 includes admission to ‘Carrie’ and the Very Carrie Prom, plus one drink ticket

Homewood Parks and Recreation –
Homewod Patriot Park
Fall Festival – A variety of games, goodies, a concession stand, inflatables and a costume contest.
Saturday, November 1st. Time TBA
Unlimited Attraction Wristband $5.00 per individual

If you have a festival or fall event you would like added to our list, email us at: contact@birminghammommy.com subject line, Fall Festival

52 New Things, 2014. Week 37

Posted on by Angie

What we did that was new!

Angie-
I must admit that I had been super busy getting everything together for Moms Rock that I couldn’t think of anything that I did that was new. So in a panic to not miss a week of “New Things” I did something I will never, ever do again. Oil Pulling.

2 of my friends were discussing this the other night and I swore it off right then on the spot. They discussed the health benefits of it and how it’s supposed to whiten your teeth.. I love white teeth, but Hello… Crest White Strips! So as I realized it was time to post our new things and I didn’t have one, I went to the kitchen and shoved a teaspoon of coconut oil in my mouth. It was in there all of 2 seconds before I gagged and almost puked. For those of you not familiar with Oil Pulling.. Read this article. If you decide to make it your new thing.. I would love to hear your results.

Kristen-
My new thing this week is a snack box for work from “graze.” They take your dietary preferences and restrictions and create a custom snack box for you, delivered weekly and right to your office. The snacks were yummy – I may have already eaten some when I took the pictures!

 

Keep your body fit during pregnancy for better results post pregnancy

Posted on by Angie

By: Erin Holtz

There are so many women who lose control of their eating and exercising during pregnancy which makes it so much harder to lose the weight post pregnancy. The number one excuse I hear women say during pregnancy is that they will let themselves go for now and just try and lose the weight after they deliver their baby. This doesn’t always happen and then they end up carrying the weight plus more the rest of their life. Your fetus while in the womb needs good nutrition and exercise since they are developing into the human being that they will be when they arrive. The more you watch your weight now the easier it will be to lose it afterward.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when exercising and eating healthy during pregnancy to help you jump back quicker
to your pre-pregnancy body.

1.. Curve your cravings by making smart, healthy choices
2. Exercise daily to maintain cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone
3. Protect your abdominals to avoid diastis recti

1. Learning to curve your cravings:

Lets face it doctors want you to gain 25-35 lbs for a healthy pregnancy but this doesn’t mean you are eating for two people. Most of that weight will be extra fluid, placenta, and the fetus and only requires a few extra calories during your second and third trimester. Remember whatever you eat, your baby eats so you are developing their body composition with everything you put into your mouth. Yes you are craving certain food items that your body might need during your first and second trimester but that is no excuse not to try and choose healthy food options. For me I would crave pizza but instead of ordering a pizza I would make my own homemade whole grain veggie pizza at home so I could still get all my nutrients for the day. You should try and stick with eating your fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Some helpful tips..

~Eat a small meal or snack as well as a drink a glass of water as soon as you get out of bed
~Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day to keep your blood sugar level regulated.
~Eat protein at every meal to help sustain your appetite.
~Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.
~Learn to choose healthier options of foods your are craving.

2. Exercise daily to maintain a healthy weight gain:

Some days it will be easier than others to exercise but trust me you will feel better after your do something active. During your first trimester it will be hard to fight the fatigue, nausea, and just feeling to exhausted to get out of bed but getting on your feet and doing something every day will help in the long run. Remember exercise increases your blood flow to your placenta that helps in fetus growth and development and also helps with swelling and blood circulation. It also helps with headaches, stress, depression, pelvic pain, back pain, constipation, and muscle cramping. So why not get off the couch and get moving!

If you did not exercise prior to pregnancy then you should start slowly by walking or riding the stationary bike but if you were previously working out then maintain your workout.

Some things to avoid during your workouts to keep you and your baby safe from harm…

1st Trimester:

-Avoid hot conditions
-Avoid contact sports or exercises that might cause you to fall.
-Gradually increase exercises that are new to your workout routine.
-Exercise when you feel up to it and don’t push yourself to hard.

2nd Trimester:

-Monitor your heart rate. If you can’t hold a conversation you might be pushing it too hard.
-Avoid crunches, sit-ups, and other abdominal exercises that will cause further damage.
-Avoid lying directly on your back.

3rd Trimester:

-Listen to your body. If it is uncomfortable or causes contractions then stop and try something different.
-Swimming, walking, and rowing are great, safe cardio exercises.
– Avoid lifting too much weight or straining.

3. Protect your abdominals

Not many women realize that doing abdominal exercises during early pregnancy or lifting something too heavy can lead to a life long consequence of diastasis recti. I know this is a foreign term but let me tell you a little bit about it. Diastasis is the splitting of your connective tissue between your right and left abdominal muscle wall. This tissue stretches during pregnancy to allow your fetus to grow but is normally closes nicely after pregnancy and after the relaxin hormone is depleted. I have seen a few women with this condition and most of the time you will work hard after pregnancy to close this gap back together but most of the time it is a permanent condition with corrective surgery being your only option.

To prevent diastasis from occurring during your pregnancy and to have a quicker recovery of your abdominal minuscules here are some things to avoid.

~Exercises that require flexing of the spine including crunches, bicycles, sit-ups, and oblique twists.
~Abdominal exercises on a physio ball
~Any exercises that require heavy lifting or involve twisting at your abdominals/core.

Overall if you maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise during pregnancy then you and your baby should have a much easier recovery after labor and delivery. This will help you bounce back to your normal self and be able to be a fit mom!

 

Erin Holtz, ATC, ACE-CPT
Erin Holtz is a personal trainer as well as an Athletic Trainer with a degree from The University of Alabama. She holds personal training certification from American Council on Exercise as well as an instructor certification to teach CPR, First Aid, and AED for the infant, child, and adult. After moving to Birmingham, AL following graduation she started working full-time as an athletic trainer and part-time as a personal trainer where she began to realize her passion was not only in the athletic field, but also for helping the general public achieve their life and fitness goals. She now works one-on-one with her clients helping them focus on cardiovascular endurance, plyometrics, core development, rehabilitation, pre- and pos-termt pregnancy, strength, and weight loss. Erin recently joined the HomeFit team and is eager to help you achieve your goals in the comfort of your own home. For more information on Erin and the rest of the HomeFit team, visit www.homefitconsulting.com or call 205-675-7412.

Parenting with a PhD: When Kids and Teachers Don't Get Along

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

We parents want for our kids an educational career populated entirely by teachers who are equal parts kind and firm. And, there’s no doubt that this balance is exactly what most teachers strive to achieve. Even those who fall short of the ideal want to be there with your child every day and work to get better  and better at their job every year (well, they’re not in it for the paycheck). Of course, some teachers are  just burned out and that attitude comes across in class – especially if your kid happens to require extra
effort of some kind. However, teachers who don’t want to teach are the exception, not the rule. Most of the time kids dislike their teachers, or think their teachers dislike them, because the child-teacher personality match isn’t great. For example: the teacher prizes neatness and your kid is creative but kinda sloppy; the teacher prefers kids who are leaders and bursting with inquisitiveness and your child tends to keep quiet and observe; the teacher is serious, your kid is silly, etc. etc. etc. The good news is there are ways to improve on a bad child-teacher match if you can keep a positive, constructive attitude and help your kid to do the same. Here are some suggestions:

1. Relax. Remember that it’s not the end of the world if your child doesn’t get along with someone. Having a teacher she’s not crazy about won’t derail her entire educational experience and might actually be good practice for adulthood. After all, she’s sure to have a boss, co-worker, or in-law with whom she doesn’t see eye-to-eye at some point in the future. Starting now to learn that she doesn’t have to like everybody and that everybody doesn’t have to like her may save her from lifetime of being overly nice and concerned about what others think at her own expense. Not all personality mismatches need to be addressed. Consider if the issue is bad enough that it’s affecting your child’s grades or self-esteem. If not, stratagize with your kid about ways to get along better. “Oh, Ms. Smith gets upset with you when you interrupt her? How about you stop doing that, then.” Teachers like students who work hard, which is something you wanted your kid to be doing anyway. Teachers like good manners and compliments and I’m sure you’re more than happy to provide your child with a chance to practice these things at home. Make it clear to your child that there are TWO personalities at play here and that her attitude, behavior, effort, etc. may be contributing to the problem. She can’t force the teacher to like her but she can learn to adapt to the teacher’s style. Fake it until you make it, kid. If the problem goes beyond minor frustration, you’ll probably need to step in.

2. Communicate! If your child has special issues or circumstances that the teacher needs to know about like a handwriting disorder (also called “dysgraphia”) or crippling social anxiety, make sure you tell her that. Don’t assume that the teacher has been able to see your child’s records – it doesn’t always happen. Even if it did, the teacher has to keep up with a lot of information and
can’t keep track of every detail for every student. But, here’s the thing, you should probably talk with the teacher as soon as you see that there’s a problem with how your child is feeling in his classroom regardless of whether he has anything “diagnosable” or not. Communicating with the teacher will help to clear up any misunderstanding she and your kid may have had early on but will also provide you with information about how your child is behaving in the classroom. Remember that much gets lost in translation between your child’s ears and mouth so what he’s telling you about what goes on in the classroom may not be entirely accurate. Don’t rely on notes or emails for this conversation – at least not initially. Request a face-to-face conference IN ADVANCE (don’t try to “catch” the teacher before, after, or during school – this kind of issue deserves a more thoughtful approach and the teacher can’t be expected to throw something like this together on the fly). Express your concerns as calmly as possible focusing on facts
(“Ryan feels like you are angry with him”) versus accusations (“Why are you always yelling at my son?!”). Be careful not to say something that could burn a permanent bridge between your child and the teacher. Make it clear that you want to work together to come up with a solution for how your child can feel more comfortable and how the teacher can get the best behavior and academic performance from him. Gaining the teacher’s investment in solving whatever problems your child is having in class will be your best bet for a successful year.

3. Follow up. After the big sit-down, initiate regular (but not constant) communication with the teacher, via email or notes if possible. Make a plan for checking in with the teacher after a specified time period. Ask for additional conferences if the problem doesn’t get better or if new issues arise. Wait to go above the teacher’s head until you’re positive you aren’t making any progress. Better still, explain to the teacher that things don’t seem to be improving and that you’d like a combined meeting with her and the school counselor or vice principal so that a new plan can be made. If it appears that you’re going behind her back, you may make the situation even more awkward.

4. Volunteer! Being present in the classroom will not only enable you to get to know the teacher and her style better but will also show your commitment to making the year the best it can be. In addition, you may have an opportunity to observe the interaction between your child and the teacher and gain some understanding about the problems that have arisen. Also, having you in the room periodically will feel supportive to your child and may give her the confidence to approach the teacher about things that are bothering her.

5. Debrief. Check in regularly with your child about how things are going in school. If you hear something about the teacher’s behavior that upsets you, try to keep your reactions in check. Otherwise, he might decide to stop telling you things that happen for fear that you’ll get angry or yell at the teacher. Keep in mind that kids don’t always tell the whole story, sometimes purposely, sometimes not. What you’re hearing is only one side. If you feel it’s warranted, consider presenting alternative explanations for what happened that day just to get your child thinking more broadly. If he believes the teacher was upset with him for getting a bad grade, suggest other reasons the teacher might have seemed unhappy (e.g., her dog ran away, she has a headache, etc.). It’s not necessary to contact the teacher for her side to every story – save those check-ins for the bigger issues. Resist the urge to try and fix all problems – real or imagined – your child is having with the teacher. Sometimes it’s better to just be a good sounding board and let your child handle his own battles.

6. Listen. Be open to the fact that there might be something going on with your child that is interfering with her learning but that isn’t the fault of the teacher. If your kid’s teacher suggests that there are attentional or learning problems, for example, hear those concerns and try not to make excuses. Consider whether what the teacher is saying needs to be looked at further. Have your daughter’s coaches or Sunday School teachers said anything similar in the past? Have you ever suspected there might be a problem? Work with the teacher on a plan for assessing the issue and be as accepting as you can of the feedback. If some kind of intervention is needed, do your best to get on board, even though you’d rather there not be a problem.

As hard as it is to believe, there may be people out there who don’t just love your kids to bits (I KNOW, RIGHT?!) but try your best not to take it personally. Most importantly, try to help your child not take it personally. If your kid knows that you and other family members and close friends are in his corner, it won’t matter if someone else out there fails to see how amazing he is. Yes, he still has to go to school every day and, yes, he has to find some way to get along with his teacher through May. But, the situation he’s in is temporary and getting through it is great practice for the rest of his life (I mean, just in case he ever runs into another person who doesn’t like him – impossible as that is to fathom). Of course, if all else fails – there are always bribes (I’m talking the baked variety)!

Birmingham Events Calendar: September 14th – September 21st

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Slightly cooler temps means no excuses for not getting outside and enjoying some of our local parks! Lots of storytimes at the  libraries and don’t forget!! Our 4th annual Moms Rock Event is happening THIS Thursday Night! Get a sitter or recruit the husband to keep the kiddos and make plans to join us for a Moms Night Out! If you haven’t already cast your vote for one of our Rockin’ Moms, head over there and read their stories!! They’re nothing short of amazing!

Sunday September 14th:

Trucks by the Tracks – Railroad Park
Trucks by the Tracks is back! Make plans to join the Railroad Park Foundation Junior Board on Sunday, September 14th for live music, entertainment, food trucks, and beverages. Admission is free!

Trucks include Off The Hook Food Truck and Catering, Steel City Pops, MELT Birmingham, Shindigs Catering, Slice Birmingham, Dreamcakes, 80 Pops, Birmingham Fashion Truck, Repicci’s Trio Italian Ice and Gelato and more! (Over 20 food trucks and carts)

Great music you love from: Barefoot Moses, The Glass Jars, AmacioFavor and @The All-Star Stranglers

Note: no coolers will be allowed inside Railroad Park for this event. Please help Railroad Park keep our ABC license and help us generate funding for the Park by purchasing beverages from our licensed vendor on-site!
FREE to attend
Food will be available for purchase
11am – 5pm

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Monday September 15th:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Public Library
Get ready to dance, march, and sing your way through the alphabet! Join Mrs. Eve as she presents stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver. 24-hour advance registration required.
9:30a and 11:30a

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Tuesday September 16th:

All Ages Storytime – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

Mr P’s Just Art – Hoover Public Library
Create your own one of a kind masterpiece with Mr. P. All ages are welcome.
6:30pm

Family Tours, Serve it Up– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Serve It Up! What do you use to eat? Explore the Museum for all items. Hester Bateman created fancy silver items for people to use in the 1700s. Her artworks are some of many in the Museum that are used for food. How are other objects in the Museum the same, or different? Explore different cultures with a Museum educator. Come back to Bart’s ArtVenture to create something fancy for your table at home.
10:30

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Featured titles are Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney and a reading of Peach’s letter from The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Peach needs our help! Without a wrapper, Peach doesn’t want to come out of the box to color. Show support by creating a new wardrobe to help Peach feel confident. Customers will be invited to create a letter, make a list, draw a picture and place it in the Support the Crayons! Message Box.
11am

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Wednesday September 17th:

Afterschool Special, Be-at Your best – Emmet O’Neal Library
Mark Seymour brings his inspirational music show to remind us to be-at our best.
3:30pm

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

All Ages Storytime – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

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Thursday September 18th:

4th Annual Moms Rock!! – Cantina, Pepperplace
Come Celebrate at the Ultimate Moms Night Out. Presented by Monogram Maternity at St. Vincent’s Health System and Royal Cup Coffee. We’ll have swag, prizes, food, live music and of course some rockin’ cocktails.

Get a sitter and get your girlfriends together for a night honoring you, a Rockin’ Mom!

The event is free to attend and we’ll have swag bags available for the first 100 guests to arrive.
6:30pm – 8:30pm

Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival – St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church
This year, Saint George will celebrate its 33rd annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. Food will be served all day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm. Downtown delivery will be available for lunch on Thursday and Friday with a $75 minimum order.

A drive through service will operate until 7:00 pm. Most major credit cards accepted.

Informative church tours will be conducted during festival hours of operation. Nightly entertainment includes Amin and the Sultans Band from New York and folk dancing performed by the church’s own youth.

Various vendors and booths will feature hand crafted olive wood from the Holy Land, Byzantine icons and literature, glass jewelry made from the church’s original stained glass, and St. George’s Middle Eastern food cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes”.
10:30am

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Storytime for the youngest patrons and friends.
9:30am and 10:30am

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Friday September 19th:

Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival – St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church
This year, Saint George will celebrate its 33rd annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. Food will be served all day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm. Downtown delivery will be available for lunch on Thursday and Friday with a $75 minimum order.

A drive through service will operate until 7:00 pm. Most major credit cards accepted.

Informative church tours will be conducted during festival hours of operation. Nightly entertainment includes Amin and the Sultans Band from New York and folk dancing performed by the church’s own youth.

Various vendors and booths will feature hand crafted olive wood from the Holy Land, Byzantine icons and literature, glass jewelry made from the church’s original stained glass, and St. George’s Middle Eastern food cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes”.
10:30am

 

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Saturday September 20th:

International Red Panda Day – Birmingham Zoo
Participate in red panda fact games to test your knowledge, enter the coloring contest (download and print coloring sheet here) for a chance to win a behind-the-scenes tour, create your own red panda mask and learn how these unique animals survive in the wild by becoming a “red panda ranger.” Be a part of this important cause and help the Zoo raise awareness for red pandas.  The red panda is a part of the Species Survival Plan ® Program, a cooperative breeding and conservation program between the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Birmingham Zoo. Fun for the entire family, don’t miss out on this day full of activities!

Before the event:

  • Coloring sheet available online here

Day of the Event:

  • 12pm-3pm: Face painting in front of the Predator Building
  • 12pm-3pm: Create Red Panda mask in front of Ocelot exhibit
  • 12pm-3pm:  Red Panda fact games
  • 1pm:  Red Panda enrichment with Keeper Chat
  • 2pm:  Red Panda training with Keeper Chat

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!

Grind your own shell to create a bead – just like some Native American cultures do! They used shells and glass beads as money to buy things they need. What would you buy?
11am – 1pm

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
This month, Bart has selected Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Jingle Dancer.
11am

Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival – St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church
This year, Saint George will celebrate its 33rd annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. Food will be served all day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm. Downtown delivery will be available for lunch on Thursday and Friday with a $75 minimum order.

A drive through service will operate until 7:00 pm. Most major credit cards accepted.

Informative church tours will be conducted during festival hours of operation. Nightly entertainment includes Amin and the Sultans Band from New York and folk dancing performed by the church’s own youth.

Various vendors and booths will feature hand crafted olive wood from the Holy Land, Byzantine icons and literature, glass jewelry made from the church’s original stained glass, and St. George’s Middle Eastern food cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes”.
10:30am

Storytime Barnes and Noble – Summit
Curious George’s Curiosity Day. Let’s celebrate our favorite mischievous monkey with stories, activities and giveaways.
11:00 am.

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

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Sunday September 21st:

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

52 New Things, 2014. Week 36

Posted on by Angie

New things, new things!

Angie-
I’m a girl who loves her stretchy pants/yoga pants/running shorts/leggings anything that scream comfort. I have a love/hate relationship with jeans and with fall approaching I know it’s time to throw on the jeans with a cute sweater and boots and be done. But i have to tell you, I think I would rather shop for a 2 piece swimsuit than a pair of jeans…. Until this week when I stumbled on Chip and Pepper jeggings. I used to roll my eyes at that word for many reasons but these ones are awesome. They look just like regular jeans but are so super stretchy and comfy it makes me giddy! So ready for the cooler weather so I can flaunt my new find!

Kristen-
My New thing is getting cool Disney Magic Bands in the mail for our trip in a couple of weeks (shhh… don’t tell the kids!) Fun, Functional, and a great souvenir!

What did you do that was new?

Talking to Kids about 9-11

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Many of our young kids are blissfully unaware of the significance of today and will probably remain that way for a while. After all, it’s been 13 years since the September 11th attacks. That means that current high school seniors were barely in kindergarten on 9-11-01 and probably have little memory for the events. But some of you will be asked at pick-up today, “Did you know some bad guys flew planes into two tall buildings?!?” Most likely, this was not part of the day’s lesson plan but told to your kid by a very “helpful” classmate (you know, the one who announced that Santa is your parents?). Should this happen to you, try to stay calm – you can’t shield her from this kind of thing forever and it’s best that she get facts from you instead of all manner of crazy info from that kid. Here are some tips for talking about September 11th, ready to or not:
Get the facts first. Visit websites like this one  or  this one for information about the attacks so that you can give your child accurate information.

For kids under age 7, you may not want to bring up this event unless they mention it first. Young kids usually aren’t ready to process something like this (but really, are any of us ready to process something like this?) and the conversation may lead more to fearfulness versus knowledge or understanding. However, if someone else tells your child about 9-11, it’s time to have a conversation.

Once you decide to talk about September 11th, the first step is to find out what your child already knows (“What have you heard about the attacks?”) and clear up any misconceptions as best you can. For example, if your child seems fearful of all Muslims, explain that the attacks were carried out by only a small group of people but that the vast majority of Muslim individuals were devastated and outraged by what happened. Explain that Muslim classmates and their families had nothing to do with the attacks and that your child has no reason to fear them or be angry with them. Next, give a factual but brief summary of what happened, “Before you were born, some very angry men came to the U.S. from another country and took control of four airplanes. They flew the planes into several buildings, including the very tall Twin Towers in New York.” Older children will want to know if people were hurt and you can answer truthfully but avoid giving a death toll, describing gruesome injuries, or talking about people jumping from windows. Kids don’t need to see graphic pictures or video from the events. Preteens and teens may be ready to see video of the plane hitting the South Tower but use your judgment about whether they can handle it.

Keep your emotions in check. Absolutely let your kids know how you felt when you heard about the attacks – angry, sad, scared – and how you feel now when you think about 9-11. Just be mindful of the intensity with which you express these emotions. Your kids don’t need to know that you didn’t leave your house for three days or vowed never to fly again after the attacks. It won’t help them to hear that you wished the hijackers were still alive so you could murder them yourself. Yes – those feelings were valid and you weren’t alone in feeling them. But, they’re too strongly expressed for kids to understand and may cause them undue anxiety. If you’re not sure you can talk about 9-11 to your kids without becoming extremely upset, hold off for now or ask another adult to help you with the conversation. It’s important that children be able to hear the facts of 9-11 in as safe a space as possible. They will probably have questions and you’ll need to be able to invite those questions and field them as best you can, which is very difficult when you’re too upset.

Speaking of questions, the hardest one you will likely get is: “Why?” Why did a bunch of men from a another country come all the way over here to steal planes and fly them into buildings? Why did they kill all those people? Why would someone do something like that? You can spend all day trying to give historical and cultural context for these attacks but the truth is, there is no good answer. There is no way for our brains to make sense of this horrific loss of human life. It’s O.K. to tell your child that you cannot understand it either. Just be sure that you focus on the fact that this kind of thing is very, very rare and happened a long time ago and somewhere far away (this is assuming you live in/near Birmingham). You don’t have to have the answer to everything as long as you can find ways to assure your child that he is safe.

A great way to help your child feel more secure is suggested by our old friend Fred Rogers (that’s “Mr. Rogers” to you). In a 1986 newspaper column, he said that his parents reassured him when he saw scary events on the news so he didn’t feel afraid. His mother told him, “Always look for the helpers. There’s always someone who is trying to help.” When he did, he came to see that “the world is full of doctors and nurses, police and firemen, volunteers, neighbors and friends who are ready to jump in to help when things go wrong.” That pretty much sums up what happened after 9-11 (and so many other tragic events). Search books and the internet for stories about survivors and heroes. Read and learn with your child about the people who helped immediately after the 9-11 attacks and in the days, months, and years of aftermath. Screen the stories first so you can find some that aren’t overly graphic or too detailed for your child, depending on his age and maturity level. Ask why a person would risk his or her own life to help others. Talk about ways that people have helped your child in scary or difficult situations. Ask your child what he could do in an emergency that would be helpful (e.g., tell an adult, call 9-1-1) and what he should not do (e.g., go into a building that’s on fire). Discuss how he can help in small ways every day (e.g., opening doors for others, picking up trash, etc.). By doing this, you’re giving your child a sense of control over frustrating or upsetting situations and reminding him that, although horrible things may happen, there is much good in this world. There are people who run toward instead of away from danger. There are always people around him who will help him – even if he doesn’t know them yet.

  • If your child seems interested in knowing more, here are some resources to look at together.
    http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/understanding-september-11
  • September 12th: We Knew Everything Would Be All Right by students at Masterson Elementary School in Kennet, Missouri – ages 4 and up
  • Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman – ages 4 and up
  • The Little Chapel that Stood by A.B. Curtiss – ages 4-8
  • I Survived the Attacks of September the 11th by Lauren Tarshis – ages 7-10
  • September 11th: Then and Now by Peter Benoit – ages 7 and up

If those options seem a little too detailed, consider The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (by Mordicai Gerstein), a lovely tribute to Philippe Petit who once walked a tightrope between the World Trade towers. The last sentence notes that the towers exist now “only in memory” but the overall message is fun and hopeful.

 

About Kristen:

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

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