Parenting with a PhD: Helping Your Child Deal with “Mean Girls” (& Boys)

Posted on Monday, September 23, 2013 by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Now that we’re fully into the school year, the shine is wearing off and true colors are showing through. Your child may have come home with tales of a classmate who is belittling or blows hot and cold, depending on her mood. Although it’s tempting to write this off as kids being kids, sometimes the problem grows to astronomical proportions. If your child has been the victim of or a witness to bullying, or is exhibiting some bullying behavior him/herself, consider some of these resources to help everyone cope.
For parents who want to find ways to prevent or stop bullying:

Queen Bees and Wannabees: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World by Rosalind Wiseman – This book was the inspiration for the movie “Mean Girls” and is a seminal work in understanding relational aggression (or why sticks and stones have nothing on words when it comes to bullying).

Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-proof Girls in the Early Grades by Michelle Anthony – Learn to recognize early bullying behavior and steer your child towards more rewarding friendships.

The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School. How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle by Barbara Coloroso – This book includes ways to identify if your child is bullying others, gives advice on how bystanders can safely help when they witness bullying, and provides ideas for helping victims.

For middleschoolers and older, here are a few resources:

A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by Angela Martini – This book from the American Girl series covers everything friend-related, especially the darker side. Girls will love the real-life situations and advice, and the format is very user-friendly and fun.

Stand Up for Yourself and Your Friends: Dealing with Bullies and Bossiness and Finding a Better Way by Angela Martini – This book is very similar in format to A Smart Girl’s Guide and gives additional practical advice.

The “Mean Girls” movie – If you let your daughter see it, consider watching together and spending some time discussing. Make sure she gets the ultimate message that bullying is harmful in any form – even if the so-called “mean girl” is the target.

If your child is still in elementary school, consider:

Fancy Nancy and the Mean Girl by Jane O’Connor – Everyone’s favorite sesquepedalian (look it up – it’s a fun word) deals with an unkind classmate with her usual flair.

Tease Monster: A Book about Teasing vs. Bullying by Julia Cook – This is a good one for both boys and girls. It covers the misunderstandings that often lead to problems getting along with others. It’s great for kids who have trouble telling the difference between friendly teasing and more harmful behavior.

Stop Bullying Bobby: Helping Children Cope with Teasing and Bullying by Dana Smith-Mansell – This story for 4-8 year olds shows how a concerned bystander along with her teacher helped a classmate who was being bullied.

Dealing with your own “Mean Girl?” Check out Mean Girls at Work: How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal by Kathi Elster and Mean Girls, Meaner Women: Understanding Why Women Backstab, Betray, and Trash-Talk Each Other by Dr. Joan Rosenberg.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

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 six-year-old and newborn daughters and three-year-old son.

Birmingham Events Calendar: September 22nd – September 29th

Posted on Sunday, September 22, 2013 by Angie

Hello Cooler Weather! Looks like it’s going to be a great week to get outside and enjoy the cooler temps. But don’t over do it, this weekend in Birmingham is PACKED with so many fun things to do, you won’t be able to fit it all in.

Vulcan AfterTunes is back, Museum Day Live will allow you free access to participating museums, Harvest Fest at the Museum of Art, Whistle Stop festival, and Trucks by the Tracks… And that doesn’t even scratch the surface.

So sit down and work out a plan so that you make the most of what our city has to offer this week!

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

Sunday September 22nd

Leeds Fall Festival – Leeds Historic Downtown
You’ll find fun for the whole family at the Leeds Fall Festival and John Henry Celebration. The event will feature local food vendors, a juried art show and sale, live musical entertainment, special activities for children and a car show. The festival will celebrate the life of John Henry, steel drivin’ man and local legend, with three outdoor performances of “Listen to that Cold Steel Ring.”
Noon to 5 pm
Admission and parking are free. www.leedsfolkfestival.org.

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Monday September 23rd:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday September 24th:

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

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Wednesday September 25th:

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
All Ages
10:30am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Have you ever wanted to catch a star? Join us as we find out what happens when one little boy decides to catch one of his very own.
11am

Crocodile Creek Circus Tower Puzzle – Barnes and Noble Summit
Kids ages 3 to 7 will have fun at this group activity as they build a beautiful, four-foot-high Circus Tower puzzle. They’ll practice counting animals and naming them too! Space is limited. Ask any bookseller how to sign up.
11:30am

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Thursday September 26th:

Cloth Diapering 101 – Gardendale Library
If you are considering cloth diapering come join us to learn about how to get started. If you’re already cloth diapering we’d love for you to join us so you can share your tips, tricks, and favorite brands. Bring examples of what you’ve used. We’re a casual mommy (and mommy to be!) group that meets each 4th Thursday of the month from 10-11. Children of all ages are welcome and we set up a snack station and play area in our meeting room so kids can play while we chat. We hope to see you here!

Brookwood Live! – Colonial Brookwood Village
Great bands and great fun! This weeks band is De’Ja Blue Band of Birmingham.
5pm – 9pm

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Friday September 27th:

Minecraft – Hoover Public Library
Challenge your friends in our first ever tournament. Minecraft themed games and food will keep you occupied while avoiding the Creeper. Registration going on now. Grades 4 – 8.
4pm

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Saturday September 28th:

Keep It Simple Silly Program – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Join us for this monthly mini program. This month we will be making sand candles!
$2/ $3 (non-member)
1 pm – 1:45 pm (Sat)

Museum Day Live! – Participating Birmingham Museums
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

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! Button Blankets
11am

Family Day, Harvest Fest– Birmingham Museum of Art
Celebrate the harvest season with Native American dancers and music, artist demonstrations, snacks, and art activities!

Try your hand at finger weaving with artist Monica Newman Moore.
Sample Native American foods with Rosa Hall.
Explore symbols with shell carver Dan Townsend.
Dance and make some noise!
Explore more in our new Native American galleries!

10AM-3:30PM // Art activities, snacks, and surprises
10AM-3PM // Artist demonstrations
10:30AM and 12:30PM // Storytelling

Earth Fare Block Party – Earth Fare
Join Earth Fare for samples, demos, kids activities, and fun for the whole family!
12 pm – 4 pm

Whistle Stop Cafe – Irondale Cafe
The 22nd Annual Irondale Whistle Stop Festival will be held on Saturday, September 28th. 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

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.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Have you ever wanted to catch a star? Join us as we find out what happens when one little boy decides to catch one of his very own.
11am

LEGO Master Build Academy Robot
Kids ages 8 and up will learn sideways building and alternate uses while creating a robot from Lego Master Building Academy. Space is limited to 25 participants, so sign up early! Ask any bookseller for details.
11:30am

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Sunday September 29th:

Vulcan AfterTunes – Vulcan Park
Birmingham’s unique musical event returns to Red Mountain this fall for its 9th season! Enjoy cool tunes, fresh brews, and sweet views on Sunday afternoons with Birmingham’s hip iron man, Vulcan. Chill out in Birmingham’s backyard and end your week with friends and family (of all ages) while listening to some of the area’s best music.
Concerts will take place at 3 p.m. on select Sundays
Gates open at 1 p.m. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and general admission. Lawn chairs and blankets strongly encouraged. Food, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. No pets or outside alcohol allowed. All shows rain or shine. For additional concert details and up-to-date artist information, log onto www.visitvulcan.com.
General Admission – $15 (Includes concert, admission to Vulcan Center Museum and Observation Tower and tax)
Children 12 & under are FREE!
Vulcan Members – $7.50
VIP Ticket Packages are available for $75

Truck By the Tracks – Railroad Park
Trucks by the Tracks is back, this year with more food trucks and even more fun! Make plans to join the Railroad Park Foundation Junior Board on for live music, entertainment, food trucks, and beverages. Admission is free!

Trucks include Slice Pizza & Brew, Shindigs, Spoonfed Grill, Cantina, Melt, Nola Ice, Jim n’ Nick’s, Hank’s Famous Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, Dreamcakes, Repicci’s Italian Ice, Avalanche, Birmingham Fashion Truck, Steel City Pops, Urban Wings, Off the Hook, and Biscuit Love
11am – 5pm

Cahaba River Frydown – Trussville Springs
The best amateur catfish fryers in Alabama will square off for the 4th Annual Cahaba River Society Fry-Down, a competitive catfish cooking contest and riverfront festival to celebrate the beauty and significance of the Cahaba River. A fundraiser for the Cahaba River Society. At Trussville Springs, along the banks of the Cahaba in Trussville, Ala.

The Fry-Down is like a BBQ or chili cook-off, but with catfish and hushpuppies. Local teams of enthusiastic chefs will prepare catfish and fixings for a panel of celebrity judges. Fest-goers can sample their efforts and learn about the diversity of the Cahaba River and its role as a source of drinking water and recreation for Alabama.
Noon – 4:00pm

The Dish on Downton Abbey – Barnes and Noble Summit
While you are waiting for Downton Abbey, come join us! BYOTC (Bring Your Own Tea Cup) and enjoy Harney Tea and our famous cranberry orange scones. 10 am in our Cafe!
10am

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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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Yummy Eats: "Better than sex" cake

Posted on Friday, September 20, 2013 by Angie

We don’t know if the title is completely accurate, but with a name like that… you have to try it to find out!

Cake–
1 (18 1/4 ounce) boxes yellow cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 (20 ounce) cans crushed pineapple
1 1/3 cups sugar

Pudding–
1 (3 1/2 ounce) boxes French vanilla instant pudding
2 cups cold whole milk
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup flaked sweetened toasted coconut

Directions–
1 Preheat oven to 350.
2 Prepare yellow cake mix as directed using a greased 13x9x2-inch pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
3 While cake is baking, combine the pineapple and 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
4 Remove cake from oven and using a fork, pierce holes into cake.
5 Pour pineapple mixture over hot cake and set aside.
6 Prepare pudding according to package directions.
7 Spread pudding over cake and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
8 Whip heavy cream and remaining 1/3 cup sugar until stiff. (Or just use premade whipped cream)
9 Cover top of cake with whipped cream and sprinkle toasted coconut on top.

Helping your child deal with anger

Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2013 by Angie

Being angry is hard business- I always tell my little man that it may feel like a storm inside you, but you have to push the storm clouds out with a few deep breaths. This usually works, but now that he’s getting older and his feelings are growing, we need a few better strategies.

Here are four coping strategies from kidshealth.com:

Take a break from the situation. If you’re in an argument with someone, go to another part of your house. Your room or the backyard are good choices. Just say, “I want to be alone for a while so I can calm down.

Put yourself in a timeout. If you’re feeling angry and think you need a timeout to calm down, don’t wait for a parent to tell you — go ahead and take a timeout for yourself. Let your family know that when you’re taking a timeout, they need to respect your space and leave you alone to calm yourself down. For kids old enough to do it for themselves, a timeout isn’t a punishment: It’s a cool-down. While you’re sitting in your timeout chair, try this cool-down exercise: Put your hands under the seat of the chair and pull up while you count to 5. Then stretch your arms over your head. Take a nice deep breath and let it out. One kid who tried these steps said he used this time to think about the consequences — like getting in trouble if he let his temper go wild.

Get the anger out. We don’t want you punching walls (or even punching pillows), but why not do a bunch of jumping jacks or dance around your room to your favorite music? Turn it up a little. If you go outside, run around or do cartwheels across the lawn. You also could pick up your pen and write it all down. What made you so upset? Keep writing until you’ve covered everything. If you don’t like writing, just draw a picture that helps you express your feelings. Use strong colors and strong lines to show your strong feelings. You also can try the “Be a Volcano” exercise.

Learn to shift. You’ll have to work hard to do this. This is where you get that puppy under control. The idea is to shift from a really angry mood to a more in-control mood. After you get some of the angry feelings out, you have to start thinking about other things. Sometimes, when people are angry, they’re not really thinking clearly. They’re just mad, mad, mad. Only angry thoughts are flying around their brains. A person might even say mean things to himself or herself, like “I’m such an idiot. I lost my temper again!” But you can replace those thoughts with better ones. For instance, you can say, “I lost my temper, but I’m going to get myself under control now.” Instead of thinking of the person or situation you’re angry with, think of something else. Think of something that will put you in a better mood.

Giveaway: Zoe's Gift Card

Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 by Angie

Do you love Zoe’s as much as we do? Yes? I know, I know, stupid question.

Whether it’s the famous chicken salad, the rollups, the braised white beans, hummus and pitas, or the chocolate cake that makes you a fan, you’re going to want to enter for a chance to win this $25 Gift Card we have up for grabs. Perfect if you’re planning to lunch on the patio with your friends and enjoy the fall-like weather.

To enter:

Leave a comment on this post letting us know your favorite dish.
Head over to the Zoe’s Facebook page and give them a like (come back here and let us know that you did.)
Share this post on your Facebook Page (come back here a let us that you did.)

Giveaway will end on Friday, September 20th at noon. Winner will be notified by email and on our our FB page.

Fall Cleaning, It's a Thing.

Posted on Monday, September 16, 2013 by Angie

I’m convinced that fall cleaning is just as much a “thing” as spring cleaning. I don’t know if it’s the crispness in the air or the desire to swap out the closets and get those jeans and boots ready that does it, but every time that first “Fall Like” snap hits, it sends me into a cleaning frenzy.

Did you know you can clean most of your house with plain old super-cheap white vinegar? It cleans windows, vinyl, tile floors, wood floors, counters… the list goes on and on. Here’s an easy recipe that is cheap and green too!

Using orange, lemon, and/or mint leaves will make it smell wonderful and fresh.

NATURAL AND SAFE CLEANER

1/2 c. fresh lemon peel
1/2 c. orange rind
1 c. fresh mint leaves
2 c. white vinegar

Combine peels and mint leaves. Steep in white vinegar for two weeks, or until vinegar has leached the color and fragrance out of the botanicals. Strain the vinegar. To use as a cleaner, always dilute with water. There’s no rigid rule on how much… usually about 1 gallon of water to 1/4 cup vinegar, or less depending on how strong it smells.

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Birmingham Events Calendar: September 15th – September 22nd

Posted on Sunday, September 15, 2013 by Angie

We hope you’re enjoying this weather as much as we were. It really makes us long for the cooler weather, sweaters and cute boots!

The libraries continue to be a great source of fun each week, with storytimes, movies and sing a longs. There will even be a Balloon Bonanza at Hoover Public Library!

Next weekend check out Red Panda Day at the Birmingham Zoo, Barts Art Cart at the Birmingham Museum of Art or the St George Middle Eastern Food Fair.

Have a great week!

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

Sunday September 15th

Fiesta de La Independencia – Splash Adventure
Enjoy all of the rides, slides and attractions the park has to offer. Admission is only $50 per car load (up to 6 people). Purchase tickets at the park on the day of the event. This festival is a collaboration between Splash Adventure Waterpark & Hola Latino.
Admission is only $50 per car load (up to 6 people). Purchase tickets at the park on the day of the event.
11:30am – 6pm

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Monday September 16th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Join us for hot popcorn and a cool movie.
3:30pm

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday September 17th:

Balloon Bonanza – Hoover Public Library
Bring your whole family for a round of stories accompanied by the magic of balloon art. All ages.
6:30pm

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

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Wednesday September 18th:

After School Sing A Long – Emmet O’ Neal Library
AFTER-SCHOOL SPECIAL: SING-ALONG WITH JIM AYCOCK
Bring your best singing voice and get ready to croon -and laugh- with guitarist Jim Aycock. Ages 3 and up. No registration required.
3:30pm

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
All Ages
10:30am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
George is a good monkey, but he’s always curious. Come find out what mess George lands himself into today.
11am

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Thursday September 19th:

Preschool Party, Llama Drama – Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Come meet the Llama from the popular picture book series by Anna Dewdney and watch the story “Llama, Llama, Mad At Mama” acted out, then decorate your own pair of red pajamas! Ages 5 and under. Please call to register or visit the website to sign up
10:30am

Talk Like a Pirate Day – Homewood Public Library
We shall sing and talk and party like PIRATES!
No registration required. Costumes optional. Doors open at 6:15.

St George Middle Eastern Food Fair – St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church
It’s that time of year again to enjoy fantastic Middle Eastern Food and genuine hospitality at the Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival.

The parish community combines its talents to prepare foods including kibbee, filafel sandwiches, meat and spinach pies, rolled grape leaves and much more. St. George’s “almost a mile long” sweets table boasts favorite homemade confections such as baklawa and Zalabieh, a flavorful fried doughnut.

Cultural booths with vendors such as Nabeels Imported Foods and Seraphim’s bookstore will feature Byzantine arts and literature, handcrafted olive wood from the Holy Land and exotic ingredients and spices used in Middle Eastern cooking.

Visitors will be entertained by Amin and the Sultans Band from New York and the parish’s own folk dancers on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tours of the beautiful Byzantine Church will be conducted during hours of operation.
10:30am – 9pm

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Friday September 20th:

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Saturday September 21st:

International Red Panda Day – Birmingham Zoo
Join the Zoo in celebrating International Red Panda Day! On May 30, 2013, the Zoo proudly welcomed the United States’ first set of red panda cubs for the year 2013. With an estimated population of fewer than 10,000 adult red pandas left in the world due to a loss of habitat, this birth marked a significant conservation milestone in saving this vulnerable species. Throughout Red Panda Day, guests can raise awareness for red pandas by participating in the Red Panda Games, where they will become a red panda ranger and learn how these unique animals survive in the wild. Don’t miss a chance to see the red panda cubs on a video monitor in the Predator Building, and be sure to explore the Zoo to spot other animals that share the red panda’s habitat.

Kids are also encouraged to bring their colored red pandas with them to Red Panda Day, where they will be displayed in the Predator Building. To download a coloring sheet, please click here.

International Red Panda Day Schedule of Activities:
12-3pm: Face painting
1:30-2:30pm: Keeper chat
1-2pm: Red panda fruit enrichment activity
3pm: Raffle for a chance to win a red panda plush and red panda cub framed picture

Skippyjon Jones Festival – Hoover Public Library
Join Skippyjon and friends for a fiesta full of stories, crafts and food. All ages.
10:30am

Animal Adaptions – Oak Mountain
In order for animals to survive, they must adapt to the conditions around them. As many are preparing for winter, learn what some of them do. We will meet at the entrance to the Petting Farm.
10am

Leeds Fall Festival – Leeds Historic Downtown
You’ll find fun for the whole family at the Leeds Fall Festival and John Henry Celebration. The event will feature local food vendors, a juried art show and sale, live musical entertainment, special activities for children and a car show. The festival will celebrate the life of John Henry, steel drivin’ man and local legend, with three outdoor performances of “Listen to that Cold Steel Ring.”
9 am to 9 pm
Admission and parking are free. www.leedsfolkfestival.org.

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month that he thinks kids will enjoy.

This month, Bart has chosen I’m in Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor.
11am

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.

Storytime Barnes and Noble Summit
Celebrate the joy of reading with Curious George. Curiosity Day features Storytime, activities and treats.
11am

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Sunday September 22nd:

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

Birmingham Zoo:

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

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:

Railroad Park:

Southern Museum of Flight:

How to make your child a good reader

Posted on Friday, September 13, 2013 by Angie

Our teachers constantly preach that we should be reading to our children every night for 20 minutes. While it might seem random, there are actually some great benefits to that magical number.

Reading is like food for your brain. Your brain actually develops as you feed it with the experience of reading. It improves listening skills and academic success. For every year that a person spends reading (either independently or being read aloud to), his/her lifetime earning potential goes up considerably. For a time investment of approximately 87 hours a year (20 minutes a day for 5 days a week), you can increase your child’s ability to support him or herself in the future considerably.

A student who reads 20 minutes per day will read 1,800,000 words by the end of the sixth grade, compared with a student who reads one minute per day, who will read only 8,000 words. The student who reads one minute per day will only read .004% of what the 20 minute reader will read. That’s a huge difference!

Here are some tips on getting your child into the habit of reading and making it less of a chore.

1. Make reading part of your routine. For most, that means at bedtime. Children who are read to out loud make significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words.

2. Encourage them to read everywhere. This includes menus, road signs, and movie posters.

3. Make sure they have plenty of varied reading material available to them. Also, make sure they bring it with them to doctor’s appointments or anything where waiting is involved.

4. Be a library groupie. Learn about programs going on, story times, and other fun things. Kids love having the ability to pick out books to take home. We have a basket where all library books stay. This helps prevent lost books.

5. Be savvy about your materials. Don’t limit it to books. Use books, computer programs, books-on-tape, and other materials. Games allow kids to work on reading skills while playing.

National Car Seat Safety Week.

Posted on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 by Angie

By the time you have your 2nd or 3rd kid you probably think installing a carseat is a piece of cake (or maybe not, some of those seats can be a bear to move.) But with car crashes being the leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old, car seat installation is something we should never take for granted. It’s best to have your seats checked periodically. Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters, and seat belts.

3 out of 4 carseats are not installed correctly. Many factors play into getting that seat just right, the type of car seat, type of vehicle, and method of installation. Before you install your car seat, take some time to read both the car seat instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. This is where you’ll find helpful information on the availability and location of certain safety equipment. The back seat is always the safest place to install a car seat, and your vehicle’s owner manual will give you the information you need to determine which rear seating position is best for proper installation.

Here is a list of upcoming events in Alabama where trained technicians will teach you everything you need to know to make sure your car seat is used and installed correctly.

To find a place near you to get hands on help, visit a child passenger safety technician or attend a car seat check event visit this site and type in your State and Zip code.

For more information on Carseat Safety, visit the NHTSA website.

Pinspired: Keeping Apples Fresh for Snacking or Packed Lunches

Posted on Monday, September 9, 2013 by Angie

My kids love apples, but aren’t to the point where they will just pick one up and eat it. It has to be sliced so they can avoid the skin, which ironically has the most vitamins in it. I usually buy those pre-sliced bags to pack in their lunch or have on hand for snacking, but I started wondering why those didn’t brown. What chemicals were they using? So I did some research and found a few other methods to do it yourself, saving money and preserving the healthy benefits of the apples. My kids love knowing that I soaked an apple is Sprite- all of a sudden it’s a dessert!

The Yummy Life had these tips on how to keep apple and pear slices from browning.

1. Soak them in a bowl of cold salt water for 3-5 minutes. Not too much salt, or it effects the taste of the fruit. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt per 1 quart (4 cups) of water.

2. Soak them in a bowl of cold lemon water for 3-5 minutes. This is better than squeezing the lemon juice directly on the fruit, unless you don’t mind the fruit tasting really lemony. Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per 1 cup of water.

3. Soak them in a bowl of Sprite, 7-Up, or a similar lemon-lime, carbonated soda for 3-5 minutes. I don’t know if there’s really citrus in these sodas, and I don’t know why this works; but it does.

4. Sprinkle them with Fruit Fresh. This is a citric acid powder that most stores have with their canning supplies.