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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.

Vote! Moms Rock 2014!

Posted on by Angie

Thank you again to everyone for submitting your nominees. We received so many amazing stories it was very difficult to narrow it down to our final 10. It was even more difficult to narrow these stories down to just a few sentences each.

Meet our Moms Rock 2014 Nominees, then cast your vote! Voting will end on Thursday, September 18th at 10am. The nominees will be introduced and the winner announced that night at Cantina! Make sure you RSVP and join us for a Rockin’ Event brought to you by Monogram Maternity at St. Vincent’s Health System and Royal Cup Coffee.

 

Rachel Callahan – She’s a mom of 2 who homeschools her children while keeping Birmingham entertained with her blog: Grasping for Objectivity in My Subjective Life. Rachel recently turned her hobby of taking pictures of Birmingham sunsets and skylines into a business where 100% of the profits go to benefit the Wellhouse Ministries.

 

 

 

Tammy Straate – A mom and foster mom who’s been a licensed foster parent for more than 14 years, she’s fostered dozens of children and adopted more than 10 of the kids who have come through her home.

 

 

 

 

 

Ruwena Healy – Ruwena is a mom to twin boys, and she is also the CEO of Marketing 24/7, Inc., one of Birmingham’s top PR Firms. Additionally, she serves as interim Director of Marketing and PR for several companies including Vulcan Park and Museum. She serves as a Volunteer leader for her boys Scouts Group, and has set up Social Media for several causes including Cub Scout Pack 216 in Trussville along with pro bono PR work for the Scouts and the Alabama Orchid Society.

 

 

 

Shirley Jones – As a mom to 2 and grandmother to 3, Shirley keeps very busy. She recently worked with her church to organize funds to rebuild a pastor’s house that had been destroyed in an earthquake in Guatemala. Shirley and her husband even traveled to to Guatemala to oversee construction and dedicate the new home in person. In the spring of 2010, her granddaughter Kirsten was diagnosed with FSGS, a condition that causes scarring on the kidneys preventing proper filtering to occur. After being tested for a match, Shirley stepped up to the plate and donated one of her kidneys to her granddaughter. The surgery was a success and her 8 year old granddaughter lives on as a shining example of a mom’s love for her family.

Christy McLean- Mom to 2 boys, ages 4 and 1, Christy has achieved many career accomplishments while nurturing a marriage and starting a family with her husband of 10 years. He, nor their children, have ever felt anything less than the center of her world. Her ability to balance career, family, community, friendships and autonomy of self is admirable and worthy of recognition. To know her is to be in awe of her ability to shine in so many areas of her life without compromising one for the others.

 

 

Sarah Goode Blakely- A single mother to 2 girls, Sarah lost her husband to brain cancer 3 years ago, but she’s not allowed that tragedy to stop her from being the best mom she can be. She is loving, nurturing and thoughtful, and keeps her girls busy and involved in church activities ensuring that they receive a full life even without the presence of their father.  She puts everyone ahead of herself and teaches her girls to always be thoughtful of others. She asks for nothing in return and will do without so others will have what they need. She works as a substitute teacher and is also involved in PTO, cheerleading, band and sports.

 

 

 

Amber Kelley – Mom to 8 year old Daughter Scarlett. Amber gives her all to raise her daughter while her husband must often work out of town. She is involved as a team mom for all of her daughter’s extra-curricular activities and is also in charge of multiple community social websites that aim to inform and promote community involvement. She volunteers her time as part of the Service Guild, a volunteer group that benefits the Bell Center. Additionally, she and her daughter created an organization along with her daughter’s friends called Stand for Giving; a lemonade stand that donates profits to charity. She is a kindhearted woman who listens and is always there for anyone who needs her.

 

Autumn Wallace – Even while battling lupus, Autumn still manages to be an amazingly patient, kind and fiercely protective mom to her 2 children. She’s had to fight for her children from the day they were born, having delivered one of her children at 24 weeks and the other at 26 weeks due to preeclampsia progressed by her lupus. She never once thought her babies wouldn’t come home in her arms even when the doctors gave her daughter a less than 50% chance of survival. She knew with 100% certainty that she would bring them home, and she did. She is the mother of an autistic child who will never know life without love. All with a smile, she’s the first one to ask how she can help you. She was Mrs, Alabama 2013 and can still rock a swimsuit!

 

Heather Brock – Heather has been battling Lyme disease for 3 years. She’s a middle school teacher and has two children of her own who she has continued to dedicate herself to while fighting a disease that has no cure. Despite her debilitating symptoms, she continues to be one of the most valued teachers in the Vestavia School System. Her spirit and determination is amazing. She not only rocks her children’s world but the lives of so many she touches as a teacher.

 

Lauren Waites – Mom of 2 boys. Matthew, A first grader, and Beaux, a 2 year old who was born with Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect. Although Beaux spent a lot of time in the hospital, Lauren continues to go above and beyond. She started a Facebook page dedicated to Beaux’s Adventures and has done an excellent job educating others about heart defects and Down Syndrome.


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Birmingham Events Calendar: September 7th – September 14th

Posted on by Angie

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

Here’s what’s happening around Birmingham this week. One of our favorite events of the year.. Trucks by the Tracks. Food Trucks at Railroad Park.. What’s not to love about that? Catch a “Zoo to you Storytime” at Irondale Library and Oktoberfest kicks off Thursday at Das Haus! Have a great week everyone!

Sunday September 7th:

Vulcan’s UnderPants – Railroad Park
A series of comedic improv games in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” – You give us suggestions, and we turn them into hilarious comedy right before your eyes.  Don’t miss the troupe Birmingham Magazine called Birmingham’s Best On-the-Spot Theatre!  Our family-friendly performances in the park are FREE and open to the public.
6pm

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Monday September 8th:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Public Library
Join Mrs. Eve for a morning of stories, songs, and crafts as she kicks off a new season of Tot Time fun! 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 9th:

Family Storytime: Zoo to You – Irondale Public Library
School has begun and that means a return of Family Storytime! We hope you will join us for our first Family Storytime of the school year on Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00 pm. We will have an animal story followed by a visit from animals from the Birmingham Zoo.
6pm – 7pm

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 Corduroy by Don Freeman and a reading of select letters from The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Beige, Black, Pink and White need our help! Meet at the event and show these underutilized Crayons support by using only these colors in fun and creative ways. 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

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Wednesday September 10th:

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 11th:

38th Original Birmingham Oktoberfest – Das Haus: German Club
Oktoberfest is the celebration of the coming of October, the Harvest Season. This event is traditionally held in September. Festivities will be held at DAS HAUS, the FDSK Club House. The FDSK is a non-profit organization run by volunteers since 1965. Back by popular demand, Europa and Wolfgang Moritz in the outdoor Beer Garden, will provide live musical entertainment. We will be serving traditional German cuisine prepared by experienced German cooks. Come and sample our wide selection of draft and bottled European Plenty of seating is available in our indoor beer hall and outdoor beer garden. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes and join the crowd on either of our two dance floors for the Chicken Dance! Enjoy the family friendly atmosphere. The FDSK team is looking forward to seeing you there.
Lunch 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM; dinner 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
www.dashausbham.com
$10.00 cover includes one coffee or tea

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 12th:

38th Original Birmingham Oktoberfest – Das Haus: German Club
Oktoberfest is the celebration of the coming of October, the Harvest Season. This event is traditionally held in September. Festivities will be held at DAS HAUS, the FDSK Club House. The FDSK is a non-profit organization run by volunteers since 1965. Back by popular demand, Europa and Wolfgang Moritz in the outdoor Beer Garden, will provide live musical entertainment. We will be serving traditional German cuisine prepared by experienced German cooks. Come and sample our wide selection of draft and bottled European Plenty of seating is available in our indoor beer hall and outdoor beer garden. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes and join the crowd on either of our two dance floors for the Chicken Dance! Enjoy the family friendly atmosphere. The FDSK team is looking forward to seeing you there.
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; 5:00 PM Keg Tap-Opening Ceremony
Live Music – 6:00 PM – Midnight Europa & Wolfgang Moritz in the Beer Garden
www.dashausbham.com
$10.00 cover includes one coffee or tea

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Saturday September 13th:

38th Original Birmingham Oktoberfest – Das Haus: German Club
Oktoberfest is the celebration of the coming of October, the Harvest Season. This event is traditionally held in September. Festivities will be held at DAS HAUS, the FDSK Club House. The FDSK is a non-profit organization run by volunteers since 1965. Back by popular demand, Europa and Wolfgang Moritz in the outdoor Beer Garden, will provide live musical entertainment. We will be serving traditional German cuisine prepared by experienced German cooks. Come and sample our wide selection of draft and bottled European Plenty of seating is available in our indoor beer hall and outdoor beer garden. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes and join the crowd on either of our two dance floors for the Chicken Dance! Enjoy the family friendly atmosphere. The FDSK team is looking forward to seeing you there.
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; 3:00 PM Beer Tasting; 4:00 PM Dachshund Parade
6:00 PM – Midnight Europa & Wolfgang Moritz in the Beer Garden
www.dashausbham.com
$10.00 cover includes one coffee or tea

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

 

Storytime Barnes and Noble – Summit
Where the Wild Things Are Storytime. We’re celebrating 50 years of Maurice Sendak’s beloved classic.
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 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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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 35

Posted on by Angie

 

What’s new this week? Find out then share with us what you did that was new!

 

Angie-
I was introduced to Decorated Brownie Bites from Publix. I’m a huge fan of their brownies bites anyway but they had to go and kick it up a notch by decorating them with the most delicious whipped icing and chocolate drizzle and nuts. Oh Yes, I may have eaten 6 in one sitting. They’re bite sized after all.

 

Kristen-
My new thing was a Girls Night out at Masterpiece Education in Vestavia. It was a BYOB painting class and we had a blast. Check it out for awesome kid and adult parties and camps.

 

Shirley –
My new thing was making Anna and Elsa dresses from thrift store bridesmaid dresses. Once and done!

 

 

Mistake-Free Discipline?

Posted on by Angie

We’re the parents, we’re supposed to know everything, right? I don’t know about you but raising and disciplining 3 children daily is a tough road to navigate without making mistakes. Which is probably why I make so many.

It seems like every day, at some point I cringe at the way I handle a situation with my kids. Whether I’m too negative, expect too much or intervene in their squabble simply because I’m tired of listening to it, I mess up. A lot. Everyday.

Here are some ideas to think about, if you need to right the discipline ship in your home.

Expecting too much? Young Children haven’t yet developed impulse control or the social etiquette to handle themselves in the candy aisle at the grocery store, or public places in general. Take a breathe and remind yourself, they aren’t trying to push you over the edge, they really just don’t know any better. Gently remind them and give them an example of the appropriate way to ask for or handle the specific situation.

Time Out Not Working? If you’re using time out as a way to calm your child down and it’s having the opposite effect, try sitting with your child to get them to calm down. Once they are calm explain to them why their behavior was not ok. Many children will see a time out as a form of rejection, which will only cause them to act out more. Always remember, it’s ok to put yourself in time out, too.

Not Following Through? How many times have you had to count to get your child to respond? This is a toughy in our house, and we’ll catch ourselves doing it only to realize that we shouldn’t have to count. We said do it, so they should hop to it. Same thing with giving multiple chances. Once you make a rule, you stick to it and follow through. Anything less will give your child the impression that negotiation is ok or that their cooperation is optional. Remember to be respectful and clear with your directives and praise and thank them when they follow through.

Letting Them Work It Out: I’m not a very patient person. I struggle with this more than anything and listening to my kids bicker and fight non stop will de-rail my patience train in a heart beat. I’ve been trying very hard to help them become a little more independent in dealing with each other and with daily mishaps that come with being a young child. Whether they’re fighting over the My Little Ponies, or knocking over a cup of water in the kitchen, I’m doing all I can to let them fix it. Being kid-like is part of, well, being kids. Trying to police every tiny thing they do can be exhausting. Step back, watch a minute and ask yourself; Big deal, or little deal? If it’s a tipped over sippy, little deal. Let them get handle it and work it our themselves.  If they’re chasing their sibling (or you) around the kitchen with a steak knife, it’s time to intervene.

What’s your biggest Discipline Mistake?


 

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: August 31st – September 7th

Posted on by Angie

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

We hope you all had a great Labor Day Weekend, Grillin’ and Chillin’ – We got some great nominations in for Moms Rock 2014 and we can’t wait to announce them all to you later this week!

If you’re for a few things to keep you busy, here’s what’s happening around town! Have a great week!

Sunday August 31st:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Pensacola Blue Wahoos
3:00pm

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Monday September 1st:

Happy Labor Day!

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos
12:30pm

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Tuesday September 2nd:

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
How does a very small girl hide a very big lion? I can tell you it’s not an easy task. What would you do?
11am

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Wednesday September 3rd:

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 4th:

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 5th:

ArtWalk – Downtown Loft District
Artwalk is an arts festival that transforms Birmingham’s loft neighborhood into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 100 visual artists, live musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. The event is free to the public and in the last three years has become a much anticipated fall event drawing visitors from all over to downtown Birmingham. For the past two years, more than 10,000 people walked the streets of downtown during the two-day event.
5pm – 10pm

Helena First Friday – Old Towne Helena
Helena First Friday is a free, family-friendly event held in the historic district of Old Town Helena, Al on the first Friday of almost every month. The unique shops in Old Town stay open late, area food trucks, vendors, and musicians set up booths along the streets. Dixie Vintage Auto Club, Alabama’s oldest auto club, displays up to 25 classic cars along the street.
5:30pm

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Saturday September 6th:

ArtWalk – Downtown Loft District
Artwalk is an arts festival that transforms Birmingham’s loft neighborhood into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 100 visual artists, live musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. The event is free to the public and in the last three years has become a much anticipated fall event drawing visitors from all over to downtown Birmingham. For the past two years, more than 10,000 people walked the streets of downtown during the two-day event.
Noon – 6pm

Woody’s Roundup – Hoover Public Library
Join Woody and Jessie on an old-fashioned western adventure.  All ages
10:30am

Storytime Barnes and Noble – Summit
Join us for Grandparents Day Storytime, featuring the titles How to Babysit a Grandma and How to Babysit a Grandpa. Reading and activities for grandparents and kids.
11:00 am.

Hands on Learning Fun – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come to Fit Made Fun Camp. You don’t want to miss this!
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 7th:

Vulcan’s UnderPants – Railroad Park
A series of comedic improv games in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” – You give us suggestions, and we turn them into hilarious comedy right before your eyes.  Don’t miss the troupe Birmingham Magazine called Birmingham’s Best On-the-Spot Theatre!  Our family-friendly performances in the park are FREE and open to the public.
6pm

—————————————————————————————

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 34

Posted on by Angie

What we did new this week!

Angie –
My new thing this week was to loosen up my parenting reigns and allow the 8 year old to ride the neighborhood with a friend who came calling. I was out checking the mail when a little boy with a spiked helmet rode up and asked me if I new “Elizabeth.” When I informed him that I did indeed know her, he asked if she could come out and ride bikes and explained to me that he lived just around the corner.. she came out and I asked if she wanted to ride and she did. So, I watched as she rode to the end of our street, crossed over and hopped on the sidewalk and rode out of sight. Then I loaded the twins on their bikes and followed a great distance behind. Everyone was fine in the end, my nerves were shot but she did it. I did it. We may not do it again anytime soon but we did survive.

Kristen –
Champagne table Grapes are my new thing for the week. They are tiny adorableness and so, so delicious. Best part is, I don’t have to quarter them for the baby!

Shirley-
My new thing is Alabama’s first win if the season. Roll Tide.

What did you do that was new?

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