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Preventing Summer Slide Project: Bake a Cake

Posted on by Angie

Summer Slide can easily be prevented. Keep your kids’ brains sharp with fun, engaging activities.

Project: Bake a Cake
We all know HOW to bake a cake, but we tend to overlook all of the teachable moments. Summer is the time to stop rushing through the steps and really look at what we’re doing. Buy a cheap cake mix and let the learning begin!

Tips:
– Let the kids do the measuring, talk about fractions.  Pause for a moment and use water to show them that it takes 4  1/4 cups to fill 1 cup. Talk about parts of whole. For older kids, you can challenge them to use different combinations of cups. i.e. instead of using the 1/2 cup they can figure out that they can use the 1/4 cup twice.

– States of matter- all kids should understand that matter is “stuff” and that it exists in different states. Talk about the change that takes place when the cake bakes, going from a liquid to a solid.

– Oil and water don’t mix- Ignore the instructions and put the oil and water in the bowl first. Let your child stir it and watch what happens. Explain that they have different densities.

Even reluctant learners will enjoy and engage in this activity.  You could even pair it up with a good book– Froggy Bakes a Cake is one that came to my mind.  Reading a book is a great way to pass the 40 minutes it will take for the cake to bake!  The end result is happy kids, full tummies, and active brains.

What projects are you dong this summer to beat Summer Slide?

10 Tips for a Healthy Summer Vacation

Posted on by Angie

Whether you’re about to hit the road or fly the friendly skies for your summer vacation, there are a few tips you need to keep in mind to keep everyone healthy while you travel. Some you may know, some might surprise you..

1. Watch What You Eat.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers these healthy eating suggestions while you are on vacation:

  • Sample small amounts of high–calorie foods. You do not have to avoid these foods entirely; just reduce the amount that you eat to a few bites.
  • Share large portions. Many restaurants serve very large portions, so do not hesitate to split orders.
  • Space meals throughout the day. It can be easy to “graze” while on vacation. Try to set meal times and stick to them.

2. Drink Plenty of Water.

  • Children become dehydrated more easily than adults, so pay extra attention to children.
  • Drink bottled water, especially if you are in a foreign country where tap water may not be safe to drink.
  • If the tap water is not safe to drink in the area you are visiting, do not use it to make juice, to rinse fresh fruits and vegetables or to brush your teeth.

3. Wash Your Hands Often.

  • Carry antibacterial hand wipes or alcohol–based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol for situations in which hot water and soap are not available.

4. Get Adequate Sleep.

  • When you sleep well, you wake up feeling refreshed, alert and ready to enjoy the day.
  • Do your best to stay on a regular sleep schedule. Being awake and alert can help you get the most enjoyment out of your trip.

5. Pack a First–aid Kit. Include the following items:

  • Bandages, sterile gauze pads, instant cold packs, a thermometer, scissors, tweezers, a needle, moistened towelettes, blister pads, assorted sizes of safety pins and latex gloves.
  • Antiseptics, over–the–counter pain relievers, anti–diarrhea medication, antacid, a tube of hydrocortisone cream for itchy skin reactions, allergy relief, cold and cough medicine, motion sickness medication.
  • Syrup of Ipecac (used to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center), a laxative, petroleum jelly or other lubricant and a cleansing agent/soap.

6. Protect Yourself from Insect Bites.

  • Be sure to use insect repellent that contains DEET (30 to 50 percent) or picaridin (up to 15 percent) whenever you are outdoors in areas where disease–carrying insects are active.

7. Protect Yourself from the Sun.

  • The sun’s peak hours are from 10 AM and 4 PM.
  • Liberally apply a broad–spectrum, water–resistant sunscreen of at least SPF 15 thirty minutes before going outdoors. Sunscreen should then be re–applied every two hours or after physical activity.
  • Loose–fitting, tightly–woven fabric offer the best protection from UV rays. Sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays offer the best eye protection.

8. When Traveling Internationally.

  • See your doctor or specialist six weeks prior to your trip. Most vaccines take time to become effective and require more than one dose in a series.
  • Take a list of U.S. embassies and consulates with you in case of an emergency and find the hospital or medical care facility that is located closest to your destination. Remember, when you leave the United States, you are subject to the laws of the country that you are visiting.
  • Carry a written copy of your medical history and check with your health insurance provider to see if you are covered for medical care and medical evacuation while on vacation.

9. Be Aware of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs).

  • RWIs can be found in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, hot tubs, decorative fountains and in the ocean; and can be spread by swallowing, breathing or coming into contact with contaminated water.
  • Take your children on bathroom breaks often. Change diapers in a bathroom and not near the pool or shoreline. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the water.
  • Avoid swimming in the ocean for at least 24 hours after a heavy rain. Storm–water runoff from the streets and drainage areas may wash pollution into the water.

10. Traveling With a Health Condition.

  • Keep your medications in their original prescription bottles and keep all medications with you in your carry–on luggage. Pack copies of all of your prescriptions, including the generic name of each medication.
  • If you are carrying a controlled substance and/or injectable medication, be sure to have a note–on letterhead–from the prescribing physician indicating that you are allowed to have them in your possession.
  • You should also leave a copy of your prescriptions at home with a friend or relative.

Article courtesy of Life Extension Research Institute (LERI), a division of EHE International

 

The Alabama Theatre Presents: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Posted on by Angie

As you may have heard, the Alabama Theatre kicked off their Harry Potter Summer Series last week. Every Friday night over the next 7 weeks, they will be showing each movie in the series.

It makes for a great family night as there’s a little something for everyone. Not to mention the experience of just watching a movie at the Historic Alabama. Make plans now to come out this Friday and see the 2nd movie, The Chamber of Secrets.

Harry ignores warnings not to return to Hogwarts, only to find the school plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and a strange voice haunting him.

Adults can enjoy Butter Beer (with or without alcohol) and they will have Bertie Botts Beans at the concession stand. Your kids will think you’re so cool for buying them vomit flavored jelly beans!

Doors open at 6:00pm, come dressed up and enter the costume contest for some fun prizes! Also make sure to stop by the Alabama Theatre Junior Board table in the lobby. They will have photo ops available with the sorting hat, and some fun stand ups. Miscellaneous movie posters will also be for sale before and after the show, to help raise money for the new Theatre parking lot.

Movie starts at 7pm. Tickets will be $8 at the door. Passes to all 8 movies will be available for $40 at the door.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Mamarazzi: Gisele Expecting

Posted on by Angie

Super fit and extremely beautiful Gisele Bundchen is pregnant with her 2nd child. It was tough to decide if it was just a peanut M&M causing her bump or if she was actually pregnant. Looks like her and QB husband Tom Brady (also Super Fit and Extremely Beautiful) will be adding to their family. Man! What a gene pool.

Photo Source: Hollywood Life

Parenting with a PhD: When Kids Get Sad

Posted on by Angie

We all know kids get sad. At my house, it happens 20 times a day in response to all kinds of injustices: not getting to push the elevator button, having to turn off the TV, rain when we’re headed to the pool. And, yes, even spilled milk. For most of our kids, the sad moods pass like fast-moving cloud cover and that usually sunny mood is soon restored. However, some of our kids are sad a lot. Most of the time, even. In those cases, we might call it “depression.” No one likes to think that depression can happen in kids, especially in young kids, but it can and does. There have been suicide attempts in children as young as six, some of which have been successful. Fortunately, this is an extremely rare event but a very, very scary reality. Here are warning signs to look for and some ideas for helping your child cope with sadness, be it occasional or chronic.

Depression in Kids: When a child is depressed, her parents, coaches, or teachers might notice any of the following:
Mood changes: Irritability or anger, sadness, increased worry or anxiety, becoming upset over trivial matters
Behavioral changes: Crying more than usual, no longer enjoying activities he once liked, making negative statements about himself (e.g., “I’m stupid,” “I can’t do anything right,” “No one wants to be my friend”), social withdrawal or disinterest, becoming more clingy or demanding than usual
Physical changes: Greater or poorer appetite, sleeping too much or not enough, weight gain or loss, decreased energy level
Cognitive changes: Thinking and/or talking about death, sudden decrease in ability to concentrate

Red Flags that almost always indicate a serious problem are:
Talking about suicide
Wishing to be dead
Giving away prized possessions
Threatening to or trying to harm himself

Why Do Kids Get Depressed? One of the most frustrating aspects to depression in children is that it’s not always possible to figure out why it’s happening. Many parents report that they ask and ask but their child simply won’t say what’s bothering her. In most cases, there isn’t some hidden, underlying cause that your child is keeping secret. Instead, she feels as clueless about it as you do. This is a good time to take stock of how things have been going over the past few months. Has your child experienced recent losses? Consider what might seem like relatively minor changes like having a friend “break up with” her or promoting to a new grade, as well as major things like moving, death, and divorce. Has someone in the family been having medical problems that your child could be worried about? Has school become more difficult? Is someone teasing or bullying him? Is she sitting out most of the game at baseball? Keep in mind that small setbacks often feel huge to children and can affect them in ways we don’t anticipate. If you identify problematic areas, talk about them with your child and see what kind of reaction you get. Do the best you can to reassure your child about how things are being handled and the great things she has to look forward to along with the changes.

Helping Your Child Cope: A crucial thing parents should know is that depression doesn’t usually look like depression in children. Instead, kids tend to act angry and irritable when what they really are is sad. When our kids act this way, they often get in trouble because of their “attitude” and difficulty obeying rules. Unfortunately, from the child’s perspective, this may feel like being punished for having feelings – something we should always try to avoid. If it seems that your child is regularly irritable, start conversations with him about how he’s feeling. Instead of sending him to time out for snapping at you, try something like, “I notice that your face looks mad and that your voice sounded irritated when you answered me. I think you might be feeling angry about something.” See where the conversation leads. In some instances, there will have been a specific trigger that led to the angry response. Through open discussion, you may find that your child is actually feeling sad or hurt, perhaps over something that someone did. Once you’ve identified the feeling, you can affirm it but ask for a different behavior in the future. “I’m really proud of you for telling me that you felt didn’t care about you because I forgot to wash your soccer uniform and it’s o.k. to feel that way. But, it’s not all right for you to snap at me. Next time, please tell me when I’ve hurt your feelings and let’s talk it out.” In this way, you’re setting an appropriate limit for your child’s behavior (that is: speaking to you in a calm voice) but you’re not punishing him for feeling sad or upset. You’ve also opened the door to more communication about feelings.

One thing that’s hard for children who are sad is noticing the positive. Research has found that individuals with depression tend to be very realistic, and sometimes pessimistic, versus optimistic and hopeful. This is true of children as well. It’s not true that “looking on the bright side” will magically get rid of sadness or depression but it can help your child manage things better. Consider some of the following ideas:

At dinner, everyone pick their favorite part of the day and tell about it. It’s also fine to let people talk about the worst part of their day, provided that others can listen, be supportive, and offer help when needed.

Make a point to notice positive things when you are with your child. Keep your tendencies to focus on the negatives, worse cases, and mistakes in check. I know as well as anyone that it’s fun to be snarky sometimes but this isn’t a great way to talk in front of your kids.

Keep a running list of positive, funny, or enjoyable things you and your child have noticed. Or, write things down and put them in a jar for anyone in the family to refer to when he or she is feeling down. I dare you to think about that YouTube video of the sneezing baby panda without smiling just a little.

Teach your child to use Positive Self-Talk. Think of the kinds of things you might tell your child when she’s discouraged and teach her to use those statements on her own. For example, if she is frustrated in reading, teach her to say to herself, “I can get through this,” “I don’t have to get it perfect,” or “I can take one word at a time.” Resilient kids are their own cheerleaders and this is an important skill for any child to learn in order to overcome obstacles and frustrations. Create a game where you write various problems on flashcards and have your child come up with appropriate positive self-talk statements. Then, write down your child’s five favorite statements and keep them somewhere handy like the fridge, her backpack, or a bulletin board. Use those statements when your child is frustrated and encourage her to use them as well.

Get Help: When sadness is a most-of-the-time kind of thing for your child, it’s time to seek professional help. Your child’s pediatrician can give you a referral for a psychologist or counselor who is experienced in helping children with depression. The therapist will likely want to spend some time with both you and your child in order to get a good sense of what’s going on. He or she may give homework (seriously!) to both you and your child to help address the symptoms when they’re occurring and to improve positive coping. Depending on the situation, the therapist will likely want to meet weekly or every other week. In some cases, the therapist may suggest that you also meet with a child psychiatrist who can prescribe medication to address your child’s symptoms. Of course, medication is not warranted in all cases and many children do great with therapy alone. Ask questions and stay involved. You may not be able to “fix” your child’s depression but you do know him well and are his best advocate.

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: June 17th – June 24th

Posted on by Angie

Happy Father’s Day to all of our Birmingham Dad’s! We hope you are enjoying some family fun time, don’t forget, Dad’s get in free for Big Reptile Day at the Zoo!

Atlantic Coast Theatre supplying lots of fun at a couple of the local libraries. If you have an iCarly fan in your house, take the kids out to Splash Adventure Waterpark for a chance to meet him!

The Alabama Theatre will host the 2nd Harry Potter film, Chamber of Secrets, a great night out for families.

Don’t forget about the summer movies happening all over town! They’re a great way to beat the summer heat!

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

Sunday June 17th:

Happy Father’s Day BirminghamDaddy’s

Big Reptile Day – Birmingham Zoo
Get up-close and personal with some humongous reptiles! Every year, the Zoo takes a day to measure and weigh the largest snakes in our collection – the Aldabra tortoise, reticulated pythons and much more. Bring your camera for a special photo opportunity!

In honor of Father’s Day, dads get in free with the purchase of a child admission.
9am – 7pm

Fiesta de la Aventura – Splash Adventure Waterpark
Annual Hispanic Festival in conjunction with HOLA Latino. Exhibitors will be set up in Celebration Street.
Special offer for this event: $50 per carload (limit 6 people)

Normal Park Entrance Fees:
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 – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
1pm

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Monday June 18th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
A movie for all ages! Popcorn and juice for kids who come to watch.
3pm

Angry Birds – Hoover Public Library
Your favorite game morphs into a life-size battle against greedy pigs. Let the demolition begin! Grades 2-6. Call 444-7821 to register
6:30pm

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Tuesday June 19th:

Atlantic Coast Theatre, City Mouse and Country Mouse – Hoover Public Library
An updated musical version of Aesop’s fable 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 June 20th:

Atlantic Coast Theatre, City Mouse and Country Mouse – Hoover Public Library
An updated musical version of Aesop’s fable in The Library Theatre
10:30 am, 1:30 pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Pass It On. Find out what happens when a cow gets stuck in a fence and how the message changes when the animals tell each other. There will be a fun activity and a 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 June 21st:

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

Childhood Stories with the Atlantic Coast Theatre – Vestavia Hills Civic Center & Wald Park
Always a favorite, this traveling theater troupe will keep you in stitches as they act out favorite childhood stories.

The program is specially designed for preschool children through Grade 3.

This program will be held at the Vestavia Hills Rec Gym. Park at the Vestavia Hills Rec Gym and a shuttle service will be available after to take you to the library. Don’t miss a moment of the fun!
3pm

Free Family Night – WC Patton Park
The event will include family-friendly activities, movies, games and food. Participants should bring their own lawn chairs.
5:30pm

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Friday June 22nd:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Alabama Theatre
Harry ignores warnings not to return to Hogwarts, only to find the school plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and a strange voice haunting him.

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.

Zoo Members Night at the Birmingham Barons
Members get in free (with membership card) to the Barons home game! The Zoo will be there with animal demonstrations. Click here for this season’s Barons schedule.
7:05pm

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Saturday June 23rd:

Gumbo Gala – Sloss Furnaces
40 cook-off teams will cook and serve gumbo and compete for awards at this fun-filled, seventh annual event
$10 per person; Children 12 and under admitted FREE
11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Meet “Gibby” (Noah Munck) from Nickelodeon’s iCarly – Splash Adventure Water Park
Noah Munck is an American actor. His roles included Gibby in iCarly and Bobby Sinclair, the junior lawn-mowing entrepreneur in the TruGreen commercials.
Meet and Greet – 1pm – 4pm

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

Super Saturday Fireworks – Birmingham Barons
Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular presented by Red Diamond, MINI of Birmingham.
6:30pm

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
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 Zorro Gets an Outfit. We will find out what happens when Zorro the dog gets dressed up by his owner. There will be a fun activity and a special treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday June 24th:

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
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.

Why Dads are Better than Moms (Sometimes)

Posted on by Angie

Moms always get the kudos, but Dads are pretty amazing too! Here are a few ways that Dads rock this whole parenting gig:

1. They don’t care if clothes match. We’ve all seen our child head out looking homeless or in their pajamas while under daddy’s watch. We may cringe, but it’s a good thing. It builds character and it’s a nice reminder that what they’re wearing doesn’t matter at all. That mismatched outfit is PERFECT for playground time.

2. They wrestle. With sound effects. Dads roughhouse and kids love it. Reading a book with mommy and teddy bear is nice, but having teddy bear turn into a tickle monster and attack your belly with monster sounds is divine.

3. They are guilt-free. Mommy guilt doesn’t exist for dads. They don’t care if Mary’s mom only feeds her toddler homemade organic foods. Dads keep their focus on the simple things.

4. They are vulgar. Burping, farting, chewing with your mouth open… all things that kids learn from dad. At heart, most dads are still 8 year old boys inside. A good fart is all they need to fall into a fit of laughter. Guess who appreciates that? Your child.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

Naptime Confessions: Vacation is work?

Posted on by Angie

It never fails- taking a vacation means pre-work/post-work and let’s not get started about the work ON vacation

 

Giveaway: Family 4 Pack McWane Science

Posted on by Angie

Because we love the new Dora and Diego Exhibit so much, we want to share it with you! We’ve got a family 4 pack of tickets to the McWane Center so you can check it out, along with all of the other fun stuff going on this summer.

Here’s how you enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post letting us know how much you love McWane: 1 per person

2. Head over to the McWane Facebook Page and thank them for the tickets: 1 per person

That’s it! Super Easy!

Giveaway will end Thursday, June 14th at midnight and the winner will be announced Friday via email and on our Facebook page.

 

Love Like Kids, Act Like Adults

Posted on by Angie

Barack and Michelle do it. Brad and Angelina do it. John and Yoko did it. How?

As the divorce rate hovers near an estimated 50 percent in the United States, many blame career stress as a major cause of separations. But somehow some couples grow stronger, especially when they work together.

Jamillah Lamb, co-author along with her husband, David, of “Perfect Combination: Seven Key Ingredients to Happily Living & Loving Together” Share some tips and live by their guiding rule, “Love like kids, act like adults.”

“That means to love freely and completely, without a fortress around your heart, and behave responsibly,” David says.
A crucial ingredient for any successful marriage is friendship, the Lambs say.

• Enjoy life: Some couples won’t go to theme parks until they have children. But letting one’s inner child out to play with their partner’s inner child strengthens a relationship’s bond.

• Forgive the small stuff: No one is always right, and no one wants to be around someone who always needs to be right.

• Appreciate individuality: Everyone needs to have their own identity, including those in a long-term relationship and couples who work together.

• Do not misdirect anger: In psychology, it’s called transference; dumping your bad day on someone else. It is poison for any relationship.

• Remember your love: Couples may fight, but guard what you say. There’s no need for ugliness even when you disagree.
Couples need to remember relationships take work, but they can also be a blast of fun, David says.

“Love is worth the sacrifice,” they agree. “Today, with stories of celebrity couples walking away after only days of marriage and even more people living as though sacrifice is nearly a curse word, we say: ‘It’s worth the sacrifice.’

Love is, in part, the acknowledgement and deep appreciation for another human being, Jamillah says. “Couples should never take each other for granted,” she advises. “In love, as in business, everyone wants to be appreciated. The simplest gesture can go a long way to help your significant other feel like they are making a significant contribution to your life, your family, or your business.”

Protecting the relationship with your spouse can be extremely difficult once you add children to your family. What guiding rules do you and your spouse live by?

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