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Style Mommy: Transitioning from Summer to Fall

Posted on by Angie

Before you start doing your back to school shopping for the kids, grab a few things for yourself!

These are a few items we love that will be great for the transition from summer to fall.

Image from Glamour.com

 

Don’t put away that Maxi Dress. It’s not just for summer! It’s comfortable, it’s easy and best of all, versatile! Layer a sweater or leather jacket (or both) to add warmth. Add a cozy scarf to complete the look or even try a fitted blazer. Add some suede or leather accessories and you’re done.  See how these celebs are making it work!

 

 

 

 

 

This roll-sleeve tunic is great for summer and fall, and is on sale at gap.com! The black print shorts are also a good transition piece, also at gap.com. Tights also make a great addition for transitioning shorts.

 

 

Now’s the time to start looking for a fun low boot. You can pair low boots with skirts and even shorts while you’re in that in between time. Opt for a color other than black, and steer away from the shapeless boot styles (example, Uggs). The reason is that they don’t define your legs.

 

 

 

 

 

What are some of your must haves for moving into to fall?

 

 

 

 

Parenting with a PhD: Resources

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume

Books to Use When Talking to Kids About Feelings and Stuff

This month, instead of a regular article, I’m highlighting some of the best children’s books I’ve found to start conversations about expressing feelings and handling problems. These are all books I’ve used in my practice and with my own kids. Be sure to check books out ahead of time to make sure they’re right for your child and that you’re prepared to address any questions your child may have. Here we go!

General:

How Full Is Your Bucket for Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer. This is probably my absolute favorite resource – I use it constantly in my practice and with my kids. This book provides a very concrete and memorable way to talk about emotional reserves – or how much mental and emotional energy you have left to deal with life. The book follows a boy named Felix who is encouraged by his grandfather to imagine that he has an imaginary bucket of water hanging over his head. When things are going badly, water drips out of his bucket. At one point, his water gets so low that he starts wishing the other kids at school would trip and fall. But, then some good things happen and big drops of water begin filling up his bucket. He finds that his bucket fills up more quickly when he helps others and, even better, they get drops in their buckets, too. Read this book with your child and then discuss her own imaginary bucket. Talk about how she feels when her water level is low and ways to fill the bucket back up like taking deep breaths, having quiet time, talking to a friend, or helping someone out. When you run out of patience and say something you don’t mean, you can explain that you didn’t have enough water in your bucket to handle the situation very well. Decide on something the two of you can do together to fill up both of your buckets.

The Feelings Book by Todd Park. This is a cute, simple book that describes a number of ways you can feel from “silly” to “lonely” to “brave.” My favorite is: “I feel like eating pizza for breakfast.” The illustrations are great – colorful and silly. Talk about times when you have felt these ways and encourage your child to do the same. Comment on how all of these feelings are O.K. but we have to be careful to express them the right ways. This is a particularly great book to read when your child is feeling moody and can’t explain why.

ABC Look at Me! By Roberta Intrater. This is a book that’s really great for younger kids, ages 2 to 5. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by an emotion – from Angry to Zany – and a picture of a baby making the accompanying facial expression. The littlest ones will like the pictures of babies and older ones can talk about what makes them feel Grumpy, Joyful, and Yucky. Encourage your child to make each facial expression as you read them.

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle and Sleepy Little Yoga by Rebecca Whitford and Martina Selway. These books are fun because they provide a number of different physical activities for your child to try to mimic different animals. Can you raise your shoulders like a buffalo? Curl up like a hedgehog? The movements provide a fun way for your child to relax his body when tense, upset, or angry. Read the book when things are calm and use reminders to try the animal moves when your child needs to relax.

Why Do My Feet Say Yes When My Head Says No? by Eileen Cooley. Full disclosure: this book was written by my college mentor; however, she doesn’t know I’m writing about it and I picked it because it’s a great and not for extra credit. Plus, it has won a Mom’s Choice Award so I’m not the only one who thinks it’s fantastic! This book works for a variety of ages because information is presented simply and clearly. It deals with making good choices, even when we’re conflicted, and this is a topic all children can relate to. The book touches on topics related to social skills, self-control, and fears. It’s particularly helpful for teaching your child how to think ahead about what she wants to do and consider the potential consequences. As you read, talk about times your child has wanted to make a particular choice and why that might or might not be the best option. Discuss what she ended up doing and anything that she wishes had gone differently.

Talking About Anger:

Sometimes I’m Bombaloo – by Rachel Vail. Katie Honors is a “really good kid” who says she smiles a lot “because usually I’m happy.” But, sometimes things don’t go well and Katie becomes BOMBALOO! When she’s Bombaloo, she shows her teeth and makes fierce noises, she uses her feet and her fists instead of her words. This kid gets MAD! Fortunately, with a little quiet time and a bit of silly distraction, she is soon Katie Honors again and all is well. Chances are, this story will feel quite familiar if you have a little Bombaloo at home!

Llama Llama Mad at Mama – by Anna Dewdney. If you’re familiar with the Llama, Llama series, you’ll know how much fun these stories are. This one also deals with the dreaded Saturday shopping trip and how overwhelming it can be. Llama Llama gets so frustrated with all the people, sounds, smells and lines, he completely loses it, throwing things out of the basket and making a huge mess. Luckily, Mama Llama has a lot of patience (way more than I do) and she responds to the tantrum firmly but kindly. After Llama Llama calms down, he and his mother clean up together and make a plan to get the rest of the shopping done. This story is a good jumping off point for talking about situations that are overwhelming or frustrating. It also serves as a good reminder that it’s o.k. to be angry at people, even when we love them very much. Besides, I know I could learn a thing or two from Mama Llama about patience. For a similar story that’s holiday-focused, check out Llama, Llama, Holiday Drama.

Talking About Worry:

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney – You’ve probably read this but just in case you haven’t, it’s a great one for dealing with bedtime drama. Llama Llama starts to get worried when left in his room at night. He calls for Mama but she takes a while to get there and, once again, he has a come apart. Mama Llama runs up in a panic and, upon seeing that all is fine, she reminds Llama Llama that he’s safe and that his Mama is near. Use this book if your child has nighttime fears and needs a lot check-ins at night. After reading, come up with a list of reassuring statements like, “I am safe in my room” or “My family is nearby.” Choose no more than 4 or 5 of them to write on an index card or poster and hang it in your child’s room so it’s close at bedtime. For extra fun, consider using glow-in-the-dark ink or paint to make the list so your child can read it when the lights are off!

Here are a few other books to consider: Do Unto Otters (for teaching consideration and manners), Llama Llama Misses Mama (Llama feels shy and misses his Mama on his first day of school), Llama, Llama, Learns to Share (I guess you can tell I like this series, huh?), and All Kinds of Families (for talking about families that may or may not be typical).

Do you have suggestions for books you’ve read with your kids that have helped with some kind of problem? Please share them!

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 (www.graysonmentalhealth.com). 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 five-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 14th – July 22nd

Posted on by Angie

Have you been enjoying the free summer programming at your local library? We have and sadly it’s starting to wind down with only about 2 weeks left at most of your libraries.. Make sure to check local calendars as many Libraries have big Reading Program Finale’s planned!

We’ve got Kids Zumba, Safari Greg and movie choices for Mom and Dad this week with Harry Potter at the Alabama Theatre and the Dark Night at the McWane Science Center.

Don’t forget about the Water park and splash pad if you’re looking for something to keep you cool this week!

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

Sunday July 15th:

Ice Cream Sundae Sunday – Homewood Library
Hey Summer Readers! Join us as we celebrate National Ice Cream Week with a special ice cream sundae.
2:30pm

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
Your child’s favorite movie characters are back at Lowe’s this weekend! Bring your child to Lowe’s and they can master building and Kung Fu with this weekend’s project; Kung Fu Panda Spinning Attack!
10:00am – Follow this link for participating stores and to register.

Bart’s Art Cart, Artistic Flags – Birmingham Museum of Art
Come by in July to show your patriotism by creating an artistic flag!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm

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Monday July 16th:

Sleeping Bag Stories – Alabaster Library
Bring your sleeping bag and cozy up to some stories, songs and activities at the Albert L. Scott Public Library in Alabaster.  Contact library for more details.
3:30pm

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Tuesday July 17th:

Kid Zumba – Homewood Public Library
Get your groove on as we welcome ZumbAtomic instructor Christina Rodriguez. Ages 4-12 yrs are welcome.
10:30am

Safari Greg: Things that Go Bump in the Night – Hoover Public Library
Our favorite Nashville-based animal “dude” has a new show! Get ready for fun and lots of surprises in The Library Theatre.
10:30 am, 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

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Wednesday July 18th:

Safari Greg: Things that Go Bump in the Night – Hoover Public Library
Our favorite Nashville-based animal “dude” has a new show! Get ready for fun and lots of surprises in The Library Theatre.
10:30 am, 1:30 pm

Summer Reading Finale, Dora Party and Face Painting – Bessemer Public Library
Join us in celebrating a successful Summer Reading full of dreaming big! There will be food, music, dancing, and more! Grand Reading prizes will be given out at the event.
11am – 1pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Corduroy Goes to the Beach. Find out what Corduroy and his friends do when they go the beach. We will make something fun and we will have something delicious from the Cafe.
11am

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

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Thursday July 19th:

Leapfrog Tag Hands on Fun – Barnes and Noble Summit
Children ages 4 and up and their parents are invited for the LeapFrog Tag Geography Relay. This fun event will teach children teamwork and map skills while they learn the geography of the U.S.
1pm

Night Kid Zumba – Homewood Public Library
Come get your groove on with Zumbatonic instructor Christina Rodriguez.
Ages 4-12yrs
6pm

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

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Friday July 20th:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – Alabama Theatre
As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.

We’re showing all of the Harry Potter movies this summer! Enjoy Butter Beer and Bertie Botts Beans from the concession stand.
Doors open at 6, come dressed up and enter the costume contest for some fun prizes! Movie starts at 7pm
Tickets will be $8 at the door. Passes to all 8 movies will be available for $40 at the door.

Dinner Drinks and a Dark Night – McWane Science Center
Experience Gotham City as you’ve never seen it before. See The Dark Knight Rises in McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater and party in downtown Birmingham opening weekend at Dinner, Drinks & A Dark Knight. Party on the McWane Science Center plaza with movie characters from Kingdom Comics and enjoy great food, drinks, music and more. Tickets include dinner, a drink ticket, entertainment and a movie ticket. You must be 21 and over to attend this event.
PARTY: 8pm – 10pm, MOVIE: 10pm
Cost: $25 ($20 for members)

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Saturday July 21st:

Dinner Drinks and a Dark Night – McWane Science Center
Experience Gotham City as you’ve never seen it before. See The Dark Knight Rises in McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater and party in downtown Birmingham opening weekend at Dinner, Drinks & A Dark Knight. Party on the McWane Science Center plaza with movie characters from Kingdom Comics and enjoy great food, drinks, music and more. Tickets include dinner, a drink ticket, entertainment and a movie ticket. You must be 21 and over to attend this event.
PARTY: 8pm – 10pm, MOVIE: 10pm
Cost: $25 ($20 for members)

Member Day 2012
As a way of saying thanks to current members and supporters of arts and culture in the Birmingham region, area organizations have planned a special members-only day of free admission and family-friendly activities. One valid membership card and/or postcard invitation admits 2 adults and up to 4 children into absolutely any and every participating venue all day long. Plus enjoy special Member Day activities and performances throughout the day.

With 18 wonderfully varied groups of performers, museums and historical landmarks participating in Member Day, it’s one of the best ways to experience the incredible talents and unforgettable experiences offered by our region’s arts and cultural organizations—all in one day!

Alabama Ballet • Alabama Sports Hall of Fame • Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum • Birmingham Children’s Theatre • Birmingham Botanical Garden • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute • Birmingham History Center • Birmingham Museum of Art • Birmingham Public Library • Birmingham Zoo • Cultural Alliance/Birmingham365.org • Embellishments Handbell Ensemble • McWane Science Center • Red Mountain Theatre Company • Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Central Alabama • Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival • Southern Museum of Flight • Vulcan Park And Museum

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart the Art Bat selects one book each month about art that he thinks 4-7 year-olds will enjoy. The storytellers are often our favorite teacher volunteers from local schools. Bart has selected The Curious Garden by Peter Brown for July.
11am

Float your Boat – Turkey Creek Preserve
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve will host its third annual Float Your Boat. This fun-filled, family event features balsam wood boat races on a newly-designed race course, food, entertainment, and prizes. Proceeds from the races benefit the Preserve. TCNP is located in Pinson, Alabama and offers breathtaking natural beauty with spectacular falls, easy and moderate hiking trails, fishing, and swimming. Visit www.bsc.edu/sec to reserve your boats or become a Float Your Boat sponsor and for more information about Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.

Admission is free. Cost to reserve boats is as follows: 1 boat – $5; 6 Boats – $25; 12 boats – $50. Pre-race reservation of boats is recommended.

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 4pm

Bart’s Art Cart, Artistic Flags – Birmingham Museum of Art
Come by in July to show your patriotism by creating an artistic flag!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Re-open again for the season! Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine!
7am – Noon

Yard Sale and Market –
Yard Sale, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Baked Goods, Local Arts and Fun Children’s Activities. For more information please contact the Norwood Resource Center at 205.322.7361.
Norwood Community @ 15th Avenue and 32nd Street North on Norwood Community Blvd.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

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
Join us for Storytime as we read An Awesome Book. Find out about all the different things people dream about and why it’s fun to dream. There will be a craft and we will have something tasty from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday July 22nd:

Bart’s Art Cart, Artistic Flags – Birmingham Museum of Art
Come by in July to show your patriotism by creating an artistic flag!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm

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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: Born to Be Wild, & Flying Monsters.

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Dora and Diego, Let’s Explore Exhibit
Get ready for adventure with Dora and Diego at McWane Science Center in the new exhibit Dora & Diego—Let’s Explore! The exhibit features beloved characters Dora and Diego from Nickelodeon’s hit preschool series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, along with their friends Boots, Map, Backpack, Isa, Tico, and of course Swiper, now in their own exhibit for children to explore as they learn and play along.

This new, interactive traveling exhibit, was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Nickelodeon, and presented by the WellPoint Foundation.

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.

America's Next Top Mom: Preppin' With Pope

Posted on by Angie

By Amanda E.H. Pritchard

Preparing placenta smoothies, serving sympathy pregnancy poppas and assisting stay-at-home mommies in bringin’ their sexy back is all in a day’s work for Rosie Pope.

As she says on the intro to her Bravo reality show Pregnant in Heels, “In the high class world of modern mothers-to-be, demands go far beyond late night food cravings. That’s where I come in. I’m maternity concierge, catering to my clients every need, no matter how quirky or impossible and while I don’t baby them. I always remember they’re pregnant in heels.”

A while back Rosie visited the Ham as the new Brookwood Medical Center prepared to open its doors for its latest deliveries.  If you’re thinking this is old news…think again my friends in the Mommywood, it was great info for this newbie.

Like Chaka Chan I went in thinking…”Tell Me Something Good.” Swaddling, diapering and entertaining questions from a crowd of first timers, a pregnant Pope addressed our anxieties and even brought out her pretend bambinos for a little hands-on experience.

Now 10 weeks into being a mom I cannot imagine a better job!

Cooing, cuddling and crying are just a myriad of maneuvers Alex Gray and I go through on a daily basis.  My marvelous husband Pete and I can’t believe we created something so magnificent! Seeing AGP smile, recognize our voices and feel comfort in our arms makes the song covered by Sara Evans’ “I Could Not Ask For More,” come to mind.

Whether handling explosive dooties while on diaper duty or shielding myself from a tee-tee geyser with my Wonder Woman like cuffs, everyday is about making our son the best boy he can be.

While Rosie has her hands full with two boys and her newborn baby girl as well as the millionaire mommas on the upper eastside, my cup runneth over as I add to the mix (in my perfectly pressed outfits, every hair in place and my shiny pearls…yeah right!) being a full-time newspaper reporter, loving wife and learning on the job mommy.

Like Tess McGill, this Working Girl is loving every minute of my newfound place in the world. I’ve achieved the greatest promotion…America’s Next Top Mom.

About Amanda:

Often referred to as the “pop culture encyclopedia,” this beaming proud, new Birmingham Momma has been writing for the past 10 years. Featured in national, regional and local publications, Amanda just landed the greatest gig of all.. becoming a mom! Looking forward to sharing her whit, zest for life and love of all things pop culture as she delves into all the shenanigans of motherhood, she looks forward to sharing her stories on the trials and tribulations of becoming America’s Next Top Mom.

Event of The Week: Super Slimy Saturday at McWane!

Posted on by Angie

Get your Slime On, Birmingham!

It’s bigger, better and slimier than ever! It’s Slippery, Slimy Saturday at the McWane Science Center, with lots of ooey gooey fun as educators conduct slimy experiments and show you how to make your own creations. On the plaza, you can enjoy even messier experiments this year and an oobleck pool.

SLIME ALERT: If you dare try the slimy activities outside on the plaza, guests will not be permitted inside the museum after being slimed if they are not cleaned off properly. A change of clothes and a towel are recommended. T-shirts and towels are available for purchase if needed.

Saturday, July 14th

TIME: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
COST: Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Pinspired: Salsa Roll-ups

Posted on by Angie

Pinterest strikes again! This is a weight watchers recipe that we tried and it was pretty good. The kids actually gobbled them up! It’s a quick and easy snack to make and take to your next playdate!

  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 3 Tbsp. Your favorite Salsa
  • 1/2 cup Mexican Style Cheese
  • 1/4 tsp. chili powder
  • 4 (6 inch) flour tortillas

Mix it up, spread it on the tortilla and roll it up!

Follow us on Pinterest for more Pinspired ideas!

The Mommy "One-Upping Syndrome"

Posted on by Angie

I read this on blogher and had to share. I think we have all heard a conversation that goes something like this. If you haven’t heard it, you’ve seen it played out on Facebook. I’m sure there are tons of reasons as to why some women feel the need to do this. I don’t know those reasons but I do know that this kind of conversation won’t help your children.

Mom 1: We’re trying to keep Felix engaged this summer. It’s so hard since he’s in the gifted program.

Mom 2: I know what you mean! Even though we chose not to do the gifted program since it just seems like such a waste of their time when they’re this young – we’re still struggling with finding more things for Eugenie to learn about. She’s read everything the library has on organic farming, space exploration and algebra.

Mom 3: Oooh…we’re very into organic farming this summer. We found a delightful farm just 60 miles from here where you can go and harvest you own food and pay for it by the pound. It’s such a great deal. The kids and I spent 4 hours picking blueberries and I paid 30 dollars. It was only 90 degrees, but we took water and it was wonderful! I took pictures. Do you follow me on Instagram?

Have you witnessed moms one-upping one another? How do you deal? Walk away?

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 8th – July 15th

Posted on by Angie

Sunset Namaste, Super Slimey Saturday and more Harry Potter at the Alabama Theatre this week! On Friday you can dress like a cow and get free food from Chick Fil A, so hit the dress up box and see what you can find!

We hope you are having a great summer so far and are finding fun and unique ways to keep the kiddos entertained!

Don’t forget the Free and Discounted Movies still going on each week at local theaters and parks.

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

Sunday July 8th:

Kidzpalooza – Splash Adventure Waterpark
Join us for a Meet & Greet with DORA THE EXPLORER & DIEGO, Inflatable Slides, and More!
Adult General Admission Ticket: $25.99 (42″ and above)
Junior General Admission Ticket: $19.99 (anyone under 42″).
Children 3 and under are FREE
Senior General Admission Ticket: $19.99

11:30am -8pm

Bart’s Art Cart, Artistic Flags – Birmingham Museum of Art
Come by in July to show your patriotism by creating an artistic flag!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm

Sunset Namaste – Railroad Park
Join the Birmingham yoga community for a moving yoga meditation at Railroad Park! Experience 108 Moon Salutations led by area yoga teachers, kids moon dance circles and activities, $5 henna tattoos, free samples, giveaways, and more!
6pm – 8pm

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Monday July 9th:

Mark Seymour: Drums from around the World – Vestavia Hills Library
Children and parents alike will love local drummer Mark Seymour! His “Drums From Around the World” includes an exciting and entertaining adventure through percussion instruments.

Recommended for children ages preschool to Grade 3. This program will be held at the Vestavian Room at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center so please park there! Shuttle service will be available after the program to take you to and from the library.
6:30pm

Kids Flix – Adamsville Library
Join us for a movie and popcorn at the Community Center. This weeks film tells the story of the changing life of a businessman after he inherits six penguins!
3pm – 5pm

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Tuesday July 10th:

The Puppet Guy – Hoover Public Library
Atlanta-based puppeteer Lee Bryan presents The Giant, the Beanstalk & Jack
FEE-FI-FO-FUN!  Jack outwits the Giant, gets the gold and saves the farm in this one-man mini-musical puppet show in The Library Theatre.
10:30am, 1:30pm and 6:30pm

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

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Wednesday July 11th:

The Puppet Guy – Hoover Public Library
Atlanta-based puppeteer Lee Bryan presents The Giant, the Beanstalk & Jack
FEE-FI-FO-FUN!  Jack outwits the Giant, gets the gold and saves the farm in this one-man mini-musical puppet show in The Library Theatre.
10:30am, 1:30pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read It’s a Tiger. See what happens when a boy tries to get away from a tiger in the jungle. We will make a craft and have a yummy treat from the Cafe.
11am

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

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Thursday July 12th:

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

Mr Jeremy’s Summer Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Summer storytime for children under four.
10:30am

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Friday July 13th:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix– Alabama Theatre
With their warning about Lord Voldemort’s return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

We’re showing all of the Harry Potter movies this summer! Enjoy Butter Beer and Bertie Botts Beans from the concession stand.
Doors open at 6, come dressed up and enter the costume contest for some fun prizes! Movie starts at 7pm
Tickets will be $8 at the door. Passes to all 8 movies will be available for $40 at the door.

Water and Melon – Homewood Public Library
Come dress for a wet sticky day of fun. We’ll provide the melons and you bring your seed spitting skills.
10:30am

Cow Appreciation Day – Chick Fil A
For one day only, black and white spots, cow bells and furry ears will be appropriate attire at Chick-fil-A restaurants all across the nation. In celebration of July 13, Cow Appreciation Day (an unofficial yet nationally recognized holiday), Chick-fil-A will award a FREE Meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) to any customer who comes to one of our 1,600+ restaurants fully dressed as a cow.

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Saturday July 14th:

Slippery Slimey Saturday – McWane Science Center
Bigger, better and slimier than ever! Join us for a Slippery, Slimy Saturday with lots of ooey gooey fun as educators conduct slimy experiments and show you how to make your own creations. On the plaza, you can enjoy even messier experiments this year and an oobleck pool.

SLIME ALERT: If you dare try the slimy activities outside on the plaza, guests will not be permitted inside the museum after being slimed if they are not cleaned off properly. A change of clothes and a towel are recommended. T-shirts and towels are available for purchase if needed.
Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Chill Out! Water Games – Ruffner Mountain
As summer heats up, let’s cool down! We will play water games and make snow cones! Perfect for elementary age children.
2pm

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
Your child’s favorite movie characters are back at Lowe’s this weekend! Bring your child to Lowe’s and they can master building and Kung Fu with this weekend’s project; Kung Fu Panda Spinning Attack!
10:00am – Follow this link for participating stores and to register.

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 4pm

Bart’s Art Cart, Artistic Flags – Birmingham Museum of Art
Come by in July to show your patriotism by creating an artistic flag!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Re-open again for the season! Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine!
7am – Noon

Yard Sale and Market –
Yard Sale, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Baked Goods, Local Arts and Fun Children’s Activities. For more information please contact the Norwood Resource Center at 205.322.7361.
Norwood Community @ 15th Avenue and 32nd Street North on Norwood Community Blvd.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

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
Join us for Storytime as we read There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell. Find out what happens when the old lady eats a lot of things at the beach and what she ends up making. There will be a craft, and we will have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday July 15th:

Ice Cream Sundae Sunday – Homewood Library
Hey Summer Readers! Join us as we celebrate National Ice Cream Week with a special ice cream sundae.
2:30pm

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
Your child’s favorite movie characters are back at Lowe’s this weekend! Bring your child to Lowe’s and they can master building and Kung Fu with this weekend’s project; Kung Fu Panda Spinning Attack!
10:00am – Follow this link for participating stores and to register.

Bart’s Art Cart, Artistic Flags – Birmingham Museum of Art
Come by in July to show your patriotism by creating an artistic flag!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm

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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: Born to Be Wild, & Flying Monsters.

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Dora and Diego, Let’s Explore Exhibit
Get ready for adventure with Dora and Diego at McWane Science Center in the new exhibit Dora & Diego—Let’s Explore! The exhibit features beloved characters Dora and Diego from Nickelodeon’s hit preschool series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, along with their friends Boots, Map, Backpack, Isa, Tico, and of course Swiper, now in their own exhibit for children to explore as they learn and play along.

This new, interactive traveling exhibit, was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Nickelodeon, and presented by the WellPoint Foundation.

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.

Summer Reading by BirminghamMommy.com

Posted on by Angie

Here at BirminghamMommy.com we love to read. When summertime rolls around we seem to increase the pace at which we are checking out books and loading up our Nooks. We’ve come across some great reads and thought we would share them with you.

 

Angie:

What I’m reading right now:

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. I think I came across this book from a friends Facebook Feed. I wasn’t really sure what it was about but she raved about it so I requested it from the library and have had a hard time putting it down since I checked it out.

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life—the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.

 

Just Finished:

The Poison Study Series by Maria Snyder (3 book series: Poison Study, Magic Study and Fire Study) I have recommended these books to everyone I know. I absolutely LOVED this series and devoured the first book in 1 day. The first is the best of the series as the writing declines a bit with each book, but by then I was so hooked on the story I couldn’t get enough. I even read the short stories that go along with the series on the Authors website. If you like the Graceling series, you will love this.

Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die—but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman’s noose.

But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia’s food taster—chosen to ensure that the Commander’s food is not poisoned—has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed—me—must be offered the position.

*Note, there is a spin off on some of these characters in The Glass Series.

Next up on my To Read List:

Heading out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick. Stumbled upon this while perusing GoodReads, and think it sounds great. Can’t wait to get my hands on it!

“Let me tell you something, son. 
When you’re young, and you head out to wonderful, everything is fresh and bright as a brand-new penny, 
but before you get to wonderful you’re going to have to pass through all right. And when you get to all right, stop and take a good, long look, because that may be as far as you’re ever going to go.”

It is the summer of 1948 when a handsome, charismatic stranger, Charlie Beale, recently back from the war in Europe, shows up in the town of Brownsburg, a sleepy village of a few hundred people, nestled in the Valley of Virginia. All he has with him are two suitcases: one contains his few possessions, including a fine set of butcher knives; the other is full of money. A lot of money.

Finding work at the local butcher shop, Charlie befriends the owner and his family, including the owner’s son, Sam, who he is soon treating as though he were his own flesh and blood. And it is through the shop that Charlie gradually meets all the townsfolk, including Boaty Glass, Brownsburg’s wealthiest citizen, and most significantly, Boaty’s beautiful teenage bride, Sylvan.

This last encounter sets in motion the events that give Goolrick’s powerful tale the stark, emotional impact that thrilled fans of his previous novel, A Reliable Wife. Charlie’s attraction to Sylvan Glass turns first to lust and then to a need to possess her, a need so basic it becomes an all-consuming passion that threatens to destroy everything and everyone in its path. 

Told through the eyes of Sam, now an old man looking back on the events that changed his world forever, Heading Out to Wonderful is a suspenseful masterpiece, a haunting, heart-stopping novel of obsession and love gone terribly wrong in a place where once upon a time such things could happen.

Trish:

What I’m reading right now:

Still working on book 2 of Game of Thrones. It’s so good but is draining.

Just Finished:

Bringing Up Bebe- a parenting book about French moms. It was right up my alley. It was parenting combined with anthropological observation of the French culture. Their take on everything from eating to structure was intriguing.

When American journalist Pamela Druckerman has a baby in Paris, she doesn’t aspire to become a “French parent.” French parenting isn’t a known thing, like French fashion or French cheese. Even French parents themselves insist they aren’t doing anything special.

Yet, the French children Druckerman knows sleep through the night at two or three months old while those of her American friends take a year or more. French kids eat well-rounded meals that are more likely to include braised leeks than chicken nuggets. And while her American friends spend their visits resolving spats between their kids, her French friends sip coffee while the kids play.

Motherhood itself is a whole different experience in France. There’s no role model, as there is in America, for the harried new mom with no life of her own. French mothers assume that even good parents aren’t at the constant service of their children and that there’s no need to feel guilty about this. They have an easy, calm authority with their kids that Druckerman can only envy.

Of course, French parenting wouldn’t be worth talking about if it produced robotic, joyless children. In fact, French kids are just as boisterous, curious, and creative as Americans. They’re just far better behaved and more in command of themselves. While some American toddlers are getting Mandarin tutors and preliteracy training, French kids are- by design-toddling around and discovering the world at their own pace.

With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman-a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal-sets out to learn the secrets to raising a society of good little sleepers, gourmet eaters, and reasonably relaxed parents. She discovers that French parents are extremely strict about some things and strikingly permissive about others. And she realizes that to be a different kind of parent, you don’t just need a different parenting philosophy. You need a very different view of what a child actually is.

While finding her own firm non, Druckerman discovers that children-including her own-are capable of feats she’d never imagined.

Next Up:

Poison Study because Angie has raved about it! I also have another French parenting book on hold- “French Kids Eat Everything.”

Other notable recommendations:

50 Shades of Grey – Of course. What summer reading list would be complete without this. It’s not good writing and it’s complete smut but sometimes it’s just what we need.

Divergent/Insurgent – If you liked Hunger Games you will most likely enjoy this series.

Gone Girl – We have several friends reading this right now – putting it on our list of “To reads”

The Night Circus – We’re split on this one, several of our friends really liked it, several did not.

So, what say you BirminghamMommy readers.. What should we be adding to our Summer Reading list? We want some recommendations from you!

 

 

Empowering Your Children

Posted on by Angie

If you ask your child what they could do to improve the country, what would they say?

Middle-school students at Allison Academy in North Miami Beach were asked that question and they focused on what they understood – bullying, violence and racism.

Those problems are all rooted in the same issues, says Rachel Albert, author of “Quest to Telos,” (www.QuestToTelos.com), a young adult novel where fantasy meets reality and even world peace is possible.

“They stem from a lack of personal integrity and absence of social responsibility,” she says.

“Children who choose to put those values into practice are actively working toward peace. But they can only put into practice what they’ve learned; instilling those values may seem simple, but many parents miss the mark and actually model the opposite.”

Throwing money at social problems like racism or violence doesn’t resolve them, Albert says. But children can.

“The energy from kids’ excitement can make a real difference and we need their energy focused right here at home,” says the mother of four. “They see problems; it’s up to us to give them the tools to address them.”

The following tips can help parents teach their children personal integrity and social responsibility, giving them the keys to world peace.

• Never lie in front of your kids. It may seem obvious, but many parents lie in front of their children or encourage them to lie; misstating a child’s age to save money on movie tickets or allowing them to take credit for school projects completed by the parent.  These seemingly inconsequential lies suggest it’s OK, even good, to distort the truth. This causes long-term damage a million times more costly than whatever was gained in the short term.

• Give your kids a reason why. Author Mark Twain once said that the two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why.  If you fail to tell your kids why we are here, you have missed the opportunity to
figure out what motivates them and gets them excited. This is the most important key to getting kids’ cooperation and empowering them to help the world.

• Don’t criticize your children. Criticism is toxic, so why do almost all parents criticize their kids?  When we focus on what they aren’t, they believe they can’t. This creates angry children who express their pain by bullying others.  It’s better to tell them how you feel rather than what you think of them, e.g., “I feel frustrated that you didn’t listen to me,” or “Can you say that in a more loving way?”

• Don’t speak badly about other people. This is probably one of the hardest things to do, considering we’re a generation that pays for gossip.  Speaking badly about others teaches kids to look for what they view as the negative in others and take joy in sharing it.

• Model charity. Actions speak louder than any words. When you teach kindness to children, they tend to feel empathy and have more successful lives, a crucial step toward achieving world peace.

Kids are hungry to form an identity and make their mark on the world. What tools are you using to empower your children?

About Rachel Albert

Rachel Albert is a certified court reporter and business owner. “Quest to Telos” is her debut novel; it’s being used by a private school to develop an inspirational, critical-thinking curriculum for middle-school students ready by the summer. Albert is currently working on a sequel. She is a staunch advocate of boosting teen literacy while inspiring kids to make a difference starting with their own hearts.

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