A Family Bond Magazine - Yellowstone Under Canvas

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A Family Bond
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Magazine
Family Getaways
“Thanks, Mom!”
A Heartfelt Celebration
of Motherhood
FASHION
Making a Splash with
the Coolest Kids’
Beachwear Ever!
The Power
of Passion
Simple Ways
to Instill It in
Your Kids
How to Prepare
Your Children When
Grandma’s
Memory Fails
Water
Reflections
WWW.UANDMEMAG.COM
MAY-JUNE 2013 ISSUE 4
“Glamping” in the
Great Outdoors!
JUST FOR
MOMS
How to Take a
Guilt-Free (and
Relaxing!)
Time –Out
PLUS
Coolest
Mommy and
Daddy Gear
Turn Your
Kids into
Can-Do
Optimists!
Alternative
Approaches to
Childhood
Education
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CONTENTS
14
MAY/JUNE 2013
20
56
Features
14
Making Wishes Out of Weeds
20
How to Conquer the Bully Phase
24
The Power of Passion
Obstacles became opportunities the day I learned that “Your
attitude is your altitude. It determines how high you fly.”
It is time for parents to become proactive in dealing effectively
with the bullying epidemic that affects so many of our kids.
People who follow their interests are happier, plain and simple.
Here are proven ways to discover –and encourage– your children’s
interests and passions.
26 Types of Intelligence
According to a psychologist and professor of neuroscience from
Harvard University, there may be as many as nine different
and distinct “intelligence types.” And your child is a unique
combination of each!
32
What Families Need to Remember as Grandma's
Memory Fails
Learn how you can help your children and teens understand and
remain strong and connected as a family.
34
Alternative Approaches to
Childhood Education
As we learn more about the profound impact
of early childhood education, many parents
are torn when it comes to choosing the best
approach to educating their little ones.
On the Cover
50 Water Reflections
Photography: Marlyne Padilla
www.marlynealexander.com
Hair & Makeup: Fiorella Viloria
Fashion: Bloomingdale's (Aventura)
19555 Biscayne Blvd
Aventura, FL 33180
Special
56 Tribute to Motherhood
From baking and ironing to
CEO careers, mothers come in
all shapes and sizes.
CONTENTS
MAY/JUNE 2013
54
Regulars
9
12
Mommy Talk
After many years of heartache, and
almost losing hope, she is the proud
mom of two healthy, beautiful children.
60
Family Getaways
60
The Great Outdoors
Luxury Edition
Discover a new way to enjoy
an authentic camping
trip in nature without
sacrificing everyday
conveniences.
Daddy Tales
A brave dad reveals how breaking the
“poop barrier” opened the door to the
new role of fathers...
Craft
Green Corner
19
54
Tin Friends
Create fun robots out of recyclable
materials.
Well-Being
68
Exercising for Two: Working Out
While Expecting
Learn how a safe, healthy exercise routine
can be good for you and the baby.
Parents
70
Yes, Moms Can Take a Break
and Just Relax!
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or
work outside the home, building some
personal time into your regular routine
helps alleviate stress and improve your
overall feeling of wellness.
70
38
Growing Up Green:
Making Environmental
Awareness Fun
Resources
72
Books Are My Pals
74
Calendar of Events
Photography: Kendra Bentley
www.kendrajillphotography.com
Art Direction: Mauricio Mendoza
Fashion: The Red Apple
7283 SW 57th Ave, South
Miami, FL 33143
Models: Cathy & Company
www.cathycompany.com
Fashion
50 Life is a Wave
Plus
18
Cool Gear for Mommy
& Daddy
48
Summer Must Haves
Children's Fashion Guide
It’s summer at last!
And the little ones
are ready to make a
splash in the coolest
beach fashion ever...
FIRST WORDS
Summer Love
O
ne of my fondest memories as a child was jumping
on my mother’s bed Sunday mornings, cuddling up
in her arms and feeling as if I was the
only person in her world, or at least the
most important one, and knowing that
she was the one person that, without
a second of hesitation, would do anything for me. It is not until we become
a mother that we truly understand the
love of a parent.
In the launch of our new section,
“Daddy Tales”, enjoy Steve’s quirky
humor as he talks about all the intricacies faced by the modern dad. And in
“A Tribute to Motherhood”, read about
Virginia and Milane, two women from
different generations that, although
each has taken a different path in their
journey through motherhood, both
have found happiness in their roles as
mothers. All too often, though, parents’
juggling act in their attempt to find balance between the demands of everyday
living and the tremendous responsibility parenting itself carries, leaves them
tired and overwhelmed, making it more
difficult to handle the challenge. In
“Mommy Time” we bring you simple,
affordable, proven and effective ideas
on how to disconnect from it all, take
time for yourself, and recharge your
batteries. Experts say that it is in these
rare times of calmness and serenity
8
U&me Magazine
that we are able to reflect and truly appreciate the life we live, making you a
happier woman and ultimately a more
effective mother.
As an educator, and someone who
has worked with children from both
sides of the spectrum for over fifteen
years, ranging from the most intellectually challenged to those that will
keep you wondering whether you are
in a classroom of elementary school
aged students or Harvard Law Graduates, I have found that every single
one of them has a special gift to bring
to this world regardless of how they
score on standardized tests. In “Multiple Intelligences” Dr. Howard Gardner, a psychologist and professor of
neuroscience from Harvard University,
has discovered that there may be nine
different intelligence types that reflect
different ways of interacting with the
world. For children, however, it is far
too hard to recognize their gifts when
they are so often confronted with what
they should not, cannot, and better not
do, so it is up to the parent to help them
identify their gifts and, rather than focus on far too many limitations, allow
them to explore a world of possibilities.
In this issue’s family getaways, we
bring you, “The Great Outdoors” a
family camping adventure, but with a
bit of glam.
U&me is happy to announce that we
joined forces with fitness expert Kathleen Check, Erika Boom, founder and
president of Belly n Kicks, along with
Fit2Go meals, and have launched our
first annual mommy makeover where
we will provide our six lucky moms with
a six month mommy makeover lifestyle
program. Log on to our U&me Magazine
Facebook page and get inspired. Join
us as we take you through their journey
of transformation! As always, thank you
all for your love and support.
Until next time,
Gladys Valladares
Editor-In-Chief
LETTERS
Mommy Talk
After many years of heartache, and almost losing hope,
she is the proud mom of two healthy, beautiful children.
Blessed with
Motherhood
The challenge of being a parent for me
began the moment
I wanted to become
Sandra Vazquez
one. For some women becoming pregnant is a stroll in the
park, sort-of-speak; for others, like me,
it’s not that easy.
For many years I questioned whether I was meant to be a mother. My faith
was definitely tested, and when people
who didn’t know about my struggle
asked if I wanted kids, I just said "not
right now", in order to avoid the whole
conversation.
“I remember saying to
myself: ‘I'm done, and if
it's meant to be, it will be.’
Then I began to visualize
myself as a mom…”
I struggled many years with doctor
visits which never gave me concrete
results, which would have allowed me
to identify the source of the problem.
Even after years of several failed tries, I
kept hearing the same answer from different doctors: “There is nothing wrong
with you, this is very common."
After five years of seeing different
doctors, I decided to stop it all. I remember saying to myself: "I'm done
and if it's meant to be, it will be."
Although some people would view
this result as a positive one, it infuriated
me, because at the time I would have
preferred to hear that something was
actually wrong, so that I could at least
blame it on that.
I began to visualize myself as a mom,
which is something I had never done
before, and literally went about my
business in life. After several months, I
caught a terrible flu. After a week or so
the flu was gone, but other symptoms,
which I was all too familiar with, came
back. I knew the beginning symptoms
of being pregnant all too well, and instead of happiness, I felt sadness and
fear again. But I had made up my mind
to just let it be and, on December 28,
2007, I was finally blessed with a healthy
gorgeous baby boy. Four years later the
blessing repeated itself with a healthy
beautiful baby girl.
“There was a little voice
inside of me telling me to
remain positive…”
Although at times I felt it would never happen for me, there was a little voice
inside of me telling me to be patient and
remain positive. I thank my husband for
his support, my friends and family for
all the words of encouragement, and
my kids for giving me the biggest joy a
mother could ever have. And to everyone who can relate, have patience and
believe that one day this blessing can be
yours as well.
9
11 th Year Running
Summer Camp
by
Camp B: 7-11 yrs.
Camp A: 3-6 yrs.
EDITOR IN-CHIEF
GLADYS VALLADARES
SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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GISELLE BALIDO
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ANDRES DUARTE
ART DIRECTOR
MAURICIO MENDOZA
ASSISTANT DESIGNER
SANDRA MARTINEZ
WRITERS
CYNTHIA LECHAN GOODMAN
Steve Goodman
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Lorena Sanchez
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
DR. LESLIE BAUMANN
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Language Immersion Program
Camper/Teacher Ratio 3:1
Age Groups:
Camp A: 3-6 yrs.
Camp B: 7-11 yrs.
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Campers are grouped based on age
& linguistic competence
Each group of 6 campers is tutored by two qualified
language teachers from Step-by-Step Languages,
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Language Games
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Beautiful Spirits:
How a Dad and His Son Stay Strong
in the Face of Family Disease
On March 15th, horrible news
came to 10 year old Ahmad
Gallon. He was diagnosed
with a malignant tumor in his
brain stem (VIPD). At first devastated, his father, single dad
Michael, then found his courage and realized he needed to
be the dad he always had been
for Ahmad. "There have always
been obstacles I had to learn
and detour around, but with
the little I have, I always manage, I always made it work for
him, I put him first. I can't see
myself losing my only child. I
don't want to outlive my child."
Bravely, amazingly, Ahmad still sounds like a typical
10-year old. "I like history, and I love video games." What
would he like to do in the near future? "Go to the White
Water Rapids Theme Park."
Despite daily radiation treatments, Michael fights off
despair and depression to keep life for Ahmad worry
free to "focus on life just being a kid," and prays he will
be able to get to that water park.
It's not easy to make do and provide extras for the
naturally protective Michael. "I'm skeptical of food, try
to buy organic, but it is expensive. I have to be stricter,
but I still have to let him be a kid, take him to Menchies,
let him run and scoot even though his vision and balance
are off, and he falls."
There's constant work to do, requiring ultimate patience. Ahmad's right side is affected. He throws his usual finger foods or sandwich in frustration trying to hold
them, balance them. Michael encourages him to "keep
on working that hand". Asked how he handles his son’s
disease, he responds "I don’t use the word ‘disease’, I call
it a condition, because conditions can change, I want to
extend his life as long as possible", Michael explains.
And so, inspired and strengthened by his love for his
son, Michael continues to work to ensure that Ahmad
has the chance he deserves to a long and healthy life.
If you would like to help change Ahmad and Michael's
condition or offer any assistance, please contact
Dr. Kristine Burns, Principal, Atala Montessori.
[email protected] Or call 786-738-1210.
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Daddy Tales
Because I think that it was breaking
the poop barrier that opened the door
for all of those other things. I knew personally that if I could change my kid in
the middle of the night with the most disgusting rivulets of you know what running down her legs… I could face anything parenting had to throw at me!
Dear dads, or dads to be,
So you are becoming, or just became, a
Dad. Congratulations! And welcome to
the toughest job you will ever love! But
before you join the team, you need to
know that being a dad has changed quite
a bit from the way it was when I was
A brave dad
a kid. I know you think you know
what I am talking about –that modreveals how
ern Dads are more “sensitive”, “enbreaking the
gaged,” “in touch with their feminine side”, yada, yada, yada, and
“poop barrier”
that makes them better fathers.
opened the door
to the new role of
fathers…
That may all be true. But it’s
not the biggest change. However, change is the operative word
here, fellows. POOP! There, I said
it: poop, ka-ka, doo-doo, or the S
word. Whatever you call it, get used to it, because today’s dads do what mine and yours never did –we change diapers!
Dads cook today, they help kids with their
homework, they clean house and contribute to
their kids’ lives in so many ways that they did
not a generation ago. So why am I so hung up
on poop?
12
U&me Magazine
Once dads embraced the idea
of their kid’s poop, in all its glory,
they were able to accept that being
a Dad sometimes means that you
have to get your hands dirty. And
you know what? We are OK with
that, whether it’s changing a loaded diaper at 13 months, or easing a
broken heart at 13 years.
Go to any airport today, or any public place,
and you will not only see “Family Restrooms”
and fathers taking their daughters into them,
but go into any Men’s Room and you will find
a fold-down diaper table, right there next to the
urinals. Now that is what I call “changing times!”
Your fellow dad,
Steve
Letters to Mom
13
Making Wishes
Out of Weeds
Obstacles became opportunities the day I
learned that “Your attitude is your altitude.
It determines how high you fly.”
By Tatiana Bengochea
P
erhaps one of the most touching
lessons I’ve learned in a while
came from the most random of
places: a “Chicken Soup for the
Soul” book I found at the bottom of a
dusty box.
I flipped through it and got caught
up in the short story of four-year-old
Kristina and her mom, Kathi. I felt
Kathi’s pain as she described a drive
that could have happened on any day,
in any place, to any one of us. The two
were running late yet again, invisibly
bound by the local speed limits, and detained by every red light possible –it’s
easy to understand her frustration.
Their van was held back at a stoplight and by their side there was a poorly-tended field of dandelions. Not the
bright and yellow kind, but the white
fluffy ones. Kathi said “Oh, Kristina, that
poor yard… look at all those weeds,” to
which she replied “Oh, Mommy, look at
all those wishes!”
As parents, we naturally want the
best for our children. We want them to
be healthy. We want them to develop
14
U&me Magazine
friendships and experience love. We
want them to be grateful and proud,
humble and successful, kind and strong.
We want our kids to develop a load
of traits in the hope that one day they
might have a chance at a happy life.
And so, we ask a load of questions
in our mission to make our children the
best that they can be. Is my son smart
enough? Is my daughter a little selfish?
Are my children independent enough?
Are they too independent? But how often do we ask: is my child a pessimist?
Resilient children have been
shown to have future plans
that are realistic, positive
and achievable.
Research has shown that optimists
tend to have better physical health,
greater success at school, work and
sports, and more satisfying relationships. They also have better mental
health, reporting less depression and
anxiety, and live longer than pessimists.
So really, if positivity has a root in
most of the personal successes we wish
for our children, why not start there?
More importantly, how do you teach a
child to think positively? According to
Dr. Leslie Walker, Chief of Adolescent
Medicine at Seattle Children's Hospital,
it starts with you!
“If opportunity doesn't knock,
build a door.”
- Milton Berle
The first step is to determine what
changes you need to make as a parent to make sure that you’re setting an example of positivity for your
child. "Patterning after their parents is
how kids figure out how to live," says
Dr. Walker. "If parents are optimistic about what's going in their lives,
you can expect the kids to follow."
Once you can set a standard for yourself and implement those changes, not
only will you be instantly influencing
your kids’ disposition, you may even enjoy some of the benefits yourself!
AS WE GROW
15
“Don't let your failures define
you, let them teach you. ”
- Barack Obama
When your child comes to you with
a complaint or a problem, you can walk
them through the steps to find a “silver
lining”. Making a habit of defining the
good as well as the bad in every situation allows them to maintain a realistic
view while hanging on to some hope.
As Dr. Walker tells her own daughter,
"The world is a terrible place. Yes, there
are some bad things. But you should always be looking out for the wonderful
things. They happen every day."
It’s important to really listen to what
your kids are telling you. "Kids have
strong feelings but often have no words
to express it," says Dr. Walker. "They
will say, 'I hate math' but what they are
16
U&me Magazine
really saying is 'How can I learn to do
math better?'" It's the parent's job to
get to the bottom of what they are trying to say.
“Whether you think you
can, or that you can’t, you’re
usually right.”- Henry Ford
Once you get to the bottom of what
they are communicating, don’t dismiss
it. A simple “Don’t worry, everything
will be OK” to a problem can inspire a
child to look for the “silver lining”.
“Optimism is the faith that
leads to achievement.”
- Helen Keller
Optimists set clear goals that they
look forward to fulfilling. Resilient children have been shown to have future
plans that are realistic, positive and
achievable. They tend to be oriented
towards achievement, and have educational aspirations. Practicing positive thinking with your children can set
them on the right path toward a successful and fulfilled lifestyle. After all,
in the words of Virgil, “They can, because they think they can.”
RESOURCES FOR YOUR FAMILY
These books can help you instill a sense of
optimism in your children as they grow.
§§
“The Resilient Child: Seven Essential Lessons Parents Must Teach Their Children”, by
George S. Everly Jr., PhD.
§§
“Raising Resilient Children: Fostering
Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child”,
by Robert Brooks Ph.D. and Sam Goldstein
§§
“The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program
to Safeguard Children Against Depression
and Build Lifelong Resilience”, by Martin E.
P. Seligman
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makeover giveaway, courtesy
of Color Me Wall.
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Baby Carrier
18
U&me Magazine
Diaper Dude
Shoulder Diaper
Bag Carrier
CRAFT
Tin Friends
Create fun robots out of
recyclable materials.
You will need:
§§
Tin can
§§
Electrical tape (optional)
§§
Hardware, and various
recyclables such as bottle caps,
bolts, knobs, etc
§§
Hot-glue gun
§§
Can opener
1
2
Select all the materials
needed. Open a tin can with a
can opener to prevent sharp
edges. If sharp edges occur,
use electrical tape and line the
inside of the can’s rim.
3
Use items such as bolts,
washers, knobs, brackets,
hinges, bottle caps or any other
such item that you may have
around the house for the facial
features, the arms and feet.
Empty the can, wash it
well, and dry it.
4
Hot-glue the body, and facial features to the can. TIP: Start with
the feet to balance the robot.
19
AS WE GROW
How to Conquer
The Bully Phase
It is time for parents to become proactive in
dealing effectively with the bullying epidemic that
affects so many of our kids.
By Andres Duarte
K
ids are still learning how to interact and express themselves
in healthy ways. However, with
still so much for them to learn,
sometimes their thoughts, ideas, and insecurities can manifest themselves into
unhealthy actions and aggressive behavioral tendencies, which can lead to
what is known as bullying.
For much too long now, these tendencies have gone unchecked and it has
resulted in an increase in the bullying
culture amongst kids and young adults.
Just how serious has this problem become? A recent study conducted by
naaas.org concluded that 77% of students report having been victims of bullying, with 14% of those who were bullied claiming they experienced severe
reactions to the abuse.
The Disturbing Facts
Online studies reveal that over 3.2
million children fall victim to bullying
behavior each year. Aside from physical
bullying, kids are often subject to other
equally debilitating forms of harassment, such as verbal abuse (i.e. name
calling, incessant teasing and insults)
and indirect abuse (social exclusion, intimidation, malicious gossip). The significance that bullying can have on children has proven to be substantial.
Parents, teachers and
school administrators must
work together to combat
this growing problem on a
daily basis.
As a result of constant victimization,
kids are often left feeling inadequate,
insignificant, and powerless. In recent
years, a series of bullying-related suicides in the US and across the globe
have drawn attention to the connection
between bullying and suicide. Statistics
tell us that suicide is the third leading
cause of death among young people,
resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year,
according to the CDC. For every suicide
among young people, there are at least
100 suicide attempts.
These numbers are as alarming as
they are terrifying. But however uncomfortable it may be to discuss, these
realities should illustrate just how bad
this epidemic has become, and we can
no longer stand by idly and turn a blind
eye to the severity of bullying.
How to Cope with Bullying
If you believe your child might be
the victim of bullying behavior, you
MUST get involved. Do not attempt to
pass the blame, but rather communicate openly with teachers and school
advisors to come up with an effective
course of action. Despite bullying prevention programs being enacted in 49
States, statistics illustrate the problem
is only growing nationwide. Preventing
bullying goes beyond a single school
program or awareness seminar. To truly succeed in this ongoing battle, par21
ents, teachers, and school administrators must work together to combat this
growing problem on a daily basis.
Online studies reveal that
over 3.2 million children fall
victim to bullying behavior
each year.
Dr. Joel Haber, a clinical psychologist
and author of the book Bullyproof Your
Child for Life, is among the leading experts concerning bullying and bully prevention. He suggests that parents not try
to simply take over and solve the problem for their children, even though they
may want to. Instead, he recommends
parents tell their children that you will
work on a plan together that won’t make
the bullying situation worse.
It is unfair to expect children to understand concepts that are still beyond
their comprehension. Telling a kid that
everything will be different when they
grow up and belittling their experience
is not the way to get through to them.
For a kid, their priorities and understanding of the world are directly correlated to the world they see around them.
You never want your child to think that
you cannot understand their problems;
you want them to know that you can relate and that their problems are just as
important as anyone else’s.
Keep Your Kids Feeling Safe
and Loved
Be sure that your home is an environment that inspires confidence within your children. As long as they always
have a place to return to where they
can feel safe and know they are accepted and loved, they will feel comfortable
being themselves and not succumb to
the occasional harsh realities that befall
everyone.
As experts continue to explore ways
to minimize the prominence of bullying
among young people, it is becoming
more evident that there is no one-sizefits-all solution. Each situation must be
dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and it
is up to parents to be active participants
in their children’s lives.
Having a home filled with positive
energy, love, and support is the strongest way to ensure your child will grow
up with self-confidence, a healthy demeanor, and positive attitude towards
life and others.
SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Here are some telltale signs that your child
might be a victim of bullying:
§§
Change in eating habits / lack of appetite
§§
Disinterest in social activities with friends
§§
Missing and/or damaged items (i.e. backpack, notebooks, lunch box, etc.)
§§
Lack of general enthusiasm
§§
Low self-esteem
AS WE GROW
The Power of
Passion
People who follow their interests are happier,
plain and simple. Here are proven ways to
discover –and encourage– your children’s
interests and passions.
By Steve Goodman
“Would’ve, Should’ve, Could’ve.”
I
f I want one thing for my child,
I think it is that she grows up and
looks back at her life with no regrets. We all know the parents that
say “if only I had done ‘so and so’ when
I was younger, how different my life
would be.” There are two problems
with parents like that. First, they tend
to try to recapture their youth, or live
vicariously, through their own kids. So
they insist on giving them the piano
lessons they wanted as a kid but their
parents couldn’t afford, or sign them
up for little league even if their son or
daughter hates baseball. Second, and
more importantly, they could be blinded to their child’s own passions.
As parents, we are responsible for
recognizing the things our kids are
passionate about. We need to embrace
those and encourage them if we want
to see our kids grow up to be happy,
healthy and well-adjusted adults.
“Everyone has gifts! It is important
for a parent to identify and nurture the
24
U&me Magazine
gifts within each child to discover their
passion,” so says Susan Rakes, Assistant Director of The Art and Culture
Center of Hollywood. “These gifts are
what make a child unique and special.
It is also important for parents to recognize that a child can have multiple
passions or that sometimes passions
change over time. As parents, it is our
job to fully support what a child shows
an interest in and wishes to explore.”
“Parents should pay attention
to experiences that excite
their children, subjects that
make them exceptionally
inquisitive, and things they
request to do multiple times.
Encourage their enthusiasm!”
As you might imagine, passion is
closely related to happiness. Children
and adults who have been allowed to
pursue their passion just lead happier
lives, even if they do so at great per-
sonal sacrifice. According to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author
of the best-selling book Flow, there is
“a direct link between the pursuit of a
passionate interest and personal happiness.” He studied adult artists who
were determined to pursue their art,
despite tough personal circumstances
or financial difficulties. He found that
each one experienced a total absorption
in the activity of painting, sculpting, or
whatever it was they were doing. He
called this single-mindedness, "flow,"
and he equates it with happiness. But
what is truly interesting about Mihaly’s
research, is that he says that his “flow”
–that intense passion– is the same thing
any child shows when they are “learning to walk, talk, and make sense of the
world through rich imaginative play.”
So, in other words, children are naturally passionate about everything they
do, and we, as parents, need to help
them to never lose that.
Turning It On
If your child has an obvious passion, you
can see the value in having him or her
AS WE GROW
pursue it. But what if they seem not to
have any? “The best way for a parent to
realize a child's passion is to observe and
listen,” says Rakes. “Parents should pay
attention to experiences that excite their
children, subjects that make them exceptionally inquisitive, and things they
request to do multiple times. Encourage
their enthusiasm! Ask questions, such
as, ‘What about doing that makes you
happy?’ or ‘What else would you like to
find out about this?’ These questions can
help a parent hone in on what it is specifically about the experience the child
especially enjoys and why.”
It is important for a parent to
identify and nurture the gifts
within each child to discover
his or her passion.
How many times have you heard
your kid say, “I’m bored,” despite being surrounded by a roomful of games,
books and toys? It may not be boredom
so much as his or her recognition that
they are lacking passion. That spark
that was in them as a toddler needs to
be reignited.
Fortunately, there are specific
questions that can help a
parent discover what a child
loves, and why.
“Some children are interested in
multiple things and find it difficult to
identify one thing they are truly passionate about,” says Rakes. “In this
situation, encourage the child to participate in a variety of experiences until they find the one or two things that
make them truly happy.”
And just because, as is often the case,
they turn to TV or video games to fill
the void, don’t panic. There are ways
to make that positive as well. “If a child
does not get excited about multiple experiences being offered, and only wants
to spend a large amount of time playing
video games or watching television, encourage that interest by diving deeper
into the experience. Visit a television
studio to get a behind the scenes tour of
how a show is made, or explore video
game animation or computer programming necessary to design a game. The
further exploration of this interest might
just discover a hidden passion!”
Passionate Parenting
For better or worse, your child takes after you. A child who lacks passion may
have parents who lack or have given up
on their own. It is never too late to reignite your own spark, to find your own
flow. If you reconnect with your passion,
you will encourage it in your kids, and
maybe even find something you can be
passionate about together!
25
Think That There’s Only One Kind of
Intelligence?
Think Again!
According to a psychologist and professor of
neuroscience from Harvard University, there may be as
many as nine different and distinct “intelligence types.”
And your child is a unique combination of each!
By Steve Goodman
M
y daughter attends what
I consider to be a very
open-minded and progressive school. Still, they do
something that, as a parent, has always
disturbed me a bit. They separate kids
into an “intellectually gifted” class. Unfortunately, my daughter is not one
who made that cut, although some of
her friends from earlier grades had. To
boost her damaged self-esteem, as I am
sure many other parents do in similar
situations, my wife and I explained to
her that “Everyone has gifts. Yours are
just in different areas, like with your
writing (yes, she takes after daddy!) and
your artwork.”
One child may excel in
linguistic intelligence
while another may be a
Mathematical wiz. Do you
know your children’s
strong points?
26
U&me Magazine
As it turns out, these were not just
words to soothe her bruised ego. In
fact, according to Dr. Howard Gardner,
a psychologist and professor of neuroscience from Harvard University, there
may be as many as nine different and
distinct “intelligence types.”
Dr. Gardner developed his theory of
Multiple Intelligences (MI) in 1983. According to MI, as opposed to the traditional view, human beings actually possess nine different kinds of intelligence
that reflect different ways of interacting
with the world. What I find particularly
interesting about this theory is that Dr.
Gardner says that instead of having
one type of intelligence, we all possess each of the nine he has identified,
but in different combinations. No two
people have the exact same combination. It is like our DNA or fingerprints.
This would explain a lot to parents like
me, who have often said in frustration,
“I know my kid is really smart, she just
doesn’t seem to do well on those standardized tests.”
Gardner's Nine Multiple
Intelligences:
1
2
3
4
Linguistic Intelligence: This refers
to your ability to use language to
express what's on your mind and to
understand other people. Writers,
actors, lawyers, anyone for whom
using language is important, have
great linguistic intelligence.
Logical/Mathematical Intelligence:
Is your ability to understand principles of cause and effect, and work
with symbols the way a scientist or
mathematician does.
Musical Rhythmic Intelligence: Is
your ability to think musically; to be
able to hear patterns and rhythms
and manipulate and create them.
Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence: Is
your ability to use your whole body
or parts of your body to problemsolve. People with a great deal of
AS WE GROW
27
I like the sound of that. And if my
daughter can grow to do those things,
then she will surely be “gifted,” and a gift
to the world, despite her FCAT scores!
Brain Boosting Activities
for Your Kids
Even those who say we are born with a
traditional single intelligence, or “IQ” that
is fixed at birth, agree you can improve
your child’s intellectual and academic
performance. Here are a few resources
that show how.
Websites
Brainy Kids - www.brainy-child.com
A website dedicated to improving brain
development in children from newborn to
age six. It offers product reviews, information and resources, including a live “Ask the
Expert” chat.
Fun Brain – www.funbrain.com
This colorful site allows you to search
games by grade or just browse by subject.
this intelligence do well as athletes,
or in the performing arts, particularly dancing or acting.
5
6
7
28
Spatial Intelligence: Is your ability
to represent the spatial world internally in your mind, to navigate
and relate to the world around you.
People with a great deal of spatial
intelligence make not only great pilots and sailors, but also sculptors,
and scientists.
Naturalist Intelligence: Is your ability to relate to other living things and
understand the natural world. Geologists, biologists, botanists, and
even chefs, possess a good deal of
this intelligence.
Intrapersonal Intelligence: Is your
ability to know and understand
yourself -who you are, what you can
do, and what your limitations are.
People high in this kind of intelligence can do almost anything, because they are very aware of what
they can and cannot do.
U&me Magazine
8
9
Kaboose – http://education.kaboose.
com/tutoring/brain-index.html
The tutoring section of this Web site offers
educational games for kids, as well as word
puzzles, language builders, online stories,
online musical games and mazes.
Interpersonal Intelligence: Is your
ability to understand others. Teachers, clinicians, salespersons and
politicians, or anyone who deals
with other people, benefit from a
high degree of this intelligence.
Existential Intelligence: Is your capacity to ponder and grasp questions about life, death, and ultimate
realities. People who are drawn to
philosophy or religious pursuits are
high in this type of intelligence.
What is Intelligence?
§§
For Gardner, rather than simply being a measure of cognitive ability, intelligence is:
§§
The ability to create an effective product or offer a service that is valued in a
culture.
§§
A set of skills that make it possible for
a person to solve problems in life.
§§
The potential for finding or creating
solutions for problems, which involves
gathering new knowledge.
Math.com – www.math.com/students/
puzzles/puzzleapps.html
This site claims to be “A world of math
online,” and it is!
Discovery Education – http://school.
discoveryeducation.com/brainboosters/
Brain Boosters are broken down by category: lateral thinking, logic, reasoning,
spatial awareness, number and math play,
categorization and word and letter play.
Books
Seven Times Smarter: 50 Activities,
Games, and Projects to Develop the Seven
Intelligences of Your Child, Laurel Schmidt
(Author) – Available on Amazon
Your Child's Growing Mind: Brain Development and Learning from Birth to
Adolescence
Jane Healy (Author) -- Available on Amazon
Help Your Preschooler Build a Better
Brain: Early Learning Activities for 2-6
Year Old Children, John Bowman (Author)
-- Available on Amazon
Brain Fitness: A Recipe for Feeding Your
Child's Dreams and Unlocking Their Maximum Brain Power, Simon Evans (Author)
-- Available on Amazon
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AS WE GROW
What Families Need to Remember as
Grandma’s Memory Fails
Learn how you can help your children and teens understand and
remain strong and connected as a family.
By Margaret Kessler
M
ore than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth leading cause of death in the
U.S., and the only natural cause of
death that is actually on the rise here.
But as much as any illness, dementia
takes an enormous physical and emotional toll on families as they tend to
their stricken loved one. It can be especially upsetting for children to watch
their beloved grandparents or greatgrandparents lose themselves to the
ravages of this insidious disease.
“My kids knew something was
wrong with their grandma early on,”
said Laurette Siegel, whose motherin-law suffers from Alzheimer’s. “She
was a fabulous cook and one of the first
signs of trouble was when her food
started tasting odd.”
Siegel’s Mother-in-law was leaving
out some ingredients while adding too
much of others. “When my kids didn’t
want to have dinner with my in-laws
anymore, I knew it was time to sit down
32
U&me Magazine
and talk with them about what was
happening to their grandmother.”
Getting kids to open up
about their feelings might
be as simple as starting a
conversation with an openended question, like “What
changes have you noticed in
grandpa?”
Because Siegel’s two boys are in
their teens, they understand their
grandmother’s illness better than
younger kids might. But whatever the
age of children dealing with this situation, the Mayo Clinic advises parents
to respond to their kids’ questions with
“simple, honest answers.” For example, the Mayo Clinic’s suggestion for
describing the disease, adapting for
age-appropriateness, goes something
like this: “Just as children get colds and
tummy aches, older adults sometimes
get an illness that causes them to act
differently and to forget things. They
might look the same on the outside,
but their brains are changing on the
inside.”
If the loved one with Alzheimer's no
longer recognizes your child, explain
that “The disease makes it hard for
grandpa to remember things, but you
are still an important part of his life and
he will always love you.”
“Since older memories stay with dementia patients better than memories
of recent events, I encouraged my kids
to talk with their grandmother about
her life growing up,” said Roberta Byrum, whose mother died in November
about six years after being diagnosed
with cognitive impairment.
“Even though my mom had lost the
ability to have a conversation about everyday things like what she did in arts
and crafts yesterday, my kids were still
able to have very pleasant conversations with her. They genuinely enjoyed
learning about how different life was
before computers and cell phones became ubiquitous.”
“If you'll be caring for the
person who has Alzheimer's
in your home,” according to
the Mayo Clinic, “prepare
your child for the changes in
routine. Explain to your child
that your loved one will have
good days and bad days.
Reassure your child that he or
she is loved
—no matter what.”
Byrum noted that her daughter especially enjoyed hearing about how her
grandmother met and fell in love with
her grandfather. “Right up to the end,
my mom’s face would light up whenever she talked about my dad.”
Getting kids to open up about their
feelings might be as simple as starting a conversation with an open-ended
question, like “What changes have you
noticed in grandpa?”
Young children may be concerned
that they can catch Alzheimer’s like the
flu. In this case, reassure your child
that the disease isn't contagious. “If
you'll be caring for the person who has
Alzheimer's in your home,” according
to the Mayo Clinic, “prepare your child
for the changes in routine. Explain to
your child that your loved one will have
good days and bad days. Reassure your
child that he or she is loved —no matter what.”
Another tip from the Mayo Clinic to
help children continue interacting with
dementia-stricken family members is
to involve them in familiar activities.
“Even young children can stay connected with a loved one who has Alzheimer's by paging through photo albums, listening to music or doing other
simple activities together.”
By becoming informed, and with
patience, compassion and love, families
can deal successfully with the ravages
of this disease.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
There are dozens of books available to
help children better understand Alzheimer’s disease. Marjorie Ingall, who reviews
children’s books for The New York Times,
recommends “The Memory Box,” written
by Mary Bahr and illustrated by David
Cunningham and “Still My Grandma,” by
Veronique Van Den Abeele, with illustrations by Claude K. Duboi. For teens she
recommends Gordon Korman’s “Pop,” as
well as Jordan Sonnenblick’s “Curveball:
The Year I Lost My Grip.”
33
Alternative Approaches to
Childhood
Education
What's Best for Your Family?
As we learn more about the profound impact of early childhood
education, many parents are torn when it comes to choosing
the best approach to educating their little ones. Here are some
of the most popular early childhood movements that caregivers
are considering.
By Manoela Suarez
A
ll of the following philosophies take a child-centered
approach to education. Still, it
is important to keep in mind
that a parent should thoroughly examine and understand their child's individual needs when deciding which kind
of schooling is the best for their family.
veloping focus and concentration. With
the guidance of a Montessori teacher,
children are invited to engage in activities that incorporate specially designed
hands-on materials displayed on reachable shelves. The teacher guides them
and entices them to learn by establishing parameters for work and behavior.
Montessori is an educational method
that was developed by physician Maria
Montessori in 1897 in Rome, Italy. The
program of study focuses on reading,
language, math, cultural diversity, science and sensory awareness. Its emphasis is on individuality while at the same
time encouraging social interaction.
But after evaluating all the
options, one question remains:
Does it matter where your
children receive their early
childhood readiness? The
answer might surprise you…
This approach to teaching fosters
the overall development of the child in
terms of intellect, spiritual, emotional
and physical capability, while paving
the road to independence. The method
respects children as individuals, and in
return they learn to develop their skills
based on their own interests while de34
U&me Magazine
The materials are designed to teach
a specific skill or concepts, and they become increasingly complex as the student builds on their knowledge. The environment is clean, inviting, clutter free,
and thoughtfully prearranged to allow
the freedom of choice. Children work
on small tables or on mats rolled out on
the floor, which signifies their personal
working space. They are free to roam
and move about the room and choose the
specific activity they would like to learn.
The Emilio Reggio educational philosophy was created post World-War II
by a group of committed members made
up of parents and educators in the town
of Emilio Reggio, Italy. It was a movement intent on creating a respectful
and community-centered culture. It allows children the power to decide what
they want to learn and ways to express
themselves. Students learn through researched based projects where art and
the implementation of the scientific
method are used to expand their knowledge and understanding of concepts
and skills. This philosophy allows children to learn and develop skills through
movement and sensory processing. And
unlike the other methods of education,
this one is specifically designed for early
childhood edification.
AS WE GROW
35
Home school is another approach
some parents consider as they struggle
with the ideas, or lack of, found in traditional and private early childhood settings. Fear of negative social influences,
as well as other perceived dangers, are
also driving many parents to consider
home schooling their children.
There is no one-style fits all method in
home schooling. Different options can
be researched and implemented by a
parent or a tutor that takes on the role of
the instructor. This option is also childcentered and can be tailored towards
the interest and needs of the individual.
Research has proved that students that
are home schooled test much better on
standardized test than those that took
the traditional approach.
The Waldorf philosophy was developed by Austrian philosopher Rudolf
Steiner, and the first school was introduced in 1919. The curriculum is designed to respond to three developmental stages: birth to 7 years of age; 7 to 14
years of age and 14 to 18 years of age.
36
U&me Magazine
Like Montessori, the Waldorf method
respects students as individuals, and as
spiritual and creative beings that learn
through active play. It promotes creativity and imagination through lots of exposure to the arts, literature, myths and
music.
The Waldorf method believes the delayed exposure to core academic subjects, excluding the arts, allows students
to develop a love of learning rather than
be turned off by it. Students do not begin reading until the age of 8 and computers and other forms of technology
are discouraged before the age of 9. Student art works adorn the entire walls of
the schools.
After evaluating all the
options, one question remains:
Does it matter where your
children receive their early
childhood readiness? The
answer could surprise you...
But after evaluating all the options,
one question remains: Does it matter
where your children receive their early
childhood readiness? Not really. Research indicates that children do well
because of their parents’ ongoing support in providing them with the resources that they need to succeed. Attuned
parents understand the importance of
reading daily to their children and providing rich experiences from which they
can build their cognitive abilities. As a
teacher, I see students that have been
exposed to different types of early childhood programs. Their ability to come
in and read at a second grade level has
little to do with the type of philosophy
they have been exposed to; rather, it is
the parents’ on-going influence that allows them to excel. Such students usually are well traveled and exposed to
rich experiences that help develop their
critical thinking abilities; they are provided a nurturing home environment
and receive appropriate health care and
well-balanced diets.
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U&me Magazine
FASHION
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U&me Magazine
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U&me Magazine
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U&me Magazine
FASHION
47
SUMMER
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Lacoste
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U&me Magazine
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Dive In!
Splish, splash! Summer’s
here… It’s time for a
conversation about the
importance of teaching your
kids to swim.
By Tatiana Bengochea
T
hose of us who are lucky
enough to live in a tropical paradise enjoy the benefits of being
surrounded by water. We all
look forward to the days where we can
don our bathing suits and sun hats and
spend lazy days on the beach. Not many
have oceans, lakes and pools for backyards, and we intend to take full advantage of it!
Very often, however, we overlook the
danger of raising our little ones in our
watery playground. Born 2 Swim, a local swimming school, tells it like it is:
§§
Drowning is the 2nd leading cause
of accidental death in the U.S. among
children ages 14 and under, and the
leading cause of accidental death of
children ages 5 and under.
§§
Drowning is the #1 cause of death for
children ages 1-4 in Florida.
§§
75% of victims are 12 to 25 months.
§§
65% drown in the family pool.
§§
33% drown in a neighbor’s or relative’s pool.
§§
For every child that drowns, 4 are
hospitalized for near-drowning.
§§
77% were missing for less than 5
minutes.
When you take a hard look at the
statistics affecting children who don’t
know how to swim, the importance of
teaching our tots suddenly climbs up
the priority list.
But not to worry! Teaching your children to swim is relatively easy and you
can start before they can even walk.
Born 2 swim starts taking “Rolly Pollys”
at 6 months old.
Consider parent-child courses until
you’re comfortable enough instructing your baby on your own. In fact,
the sooner, the better –while under the
watchful eye of professionals, of course.
“It gives babies a head start in learning
basic swimming skills, improves gross
motor coordination and balance.”
"While no course can 'drown-proof'
a child, a progressive learn-to-swim
program can provide your child with
skills that will last a lifetime," says Connie Harvey, national health-and-safety
expert for the American Red Cross.
When you’re ready to get your child
acclimated to the water on your own,
visit http://ww.uswim.com and follow their age-appropriate recommendations. They even have easy-to-follow
lesson plans to guide you!
So what are you waiting for? Now
that the weather is warm, put on your
swim trunks, lather the SPF and jump in!
Always consider parent-child courses
until you’re comfortable enough
instructing your baby on your own.
49
Water
Reflections
Mother and daughter
weave timeless
memories of natural
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U&me Magazine
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U&me Magazine
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53
Growing Up Green:
Making Environmental Awareness Fun
With all due respect to Kermit the Frog, it is easy
being green! Here are some fun and simple ways to
teach your kids to love and protect Mother Earth.
By Steve Goodman
C
hildren are closer to nature than
adults. I know this every time
I see the mud and grass stains
on my kid’s clothes! But just
because running barefoot through a
field of daisies is all in a day’s work for
your little ones, it doesn’t mean raising
“green” kids comes naturally.
The first thing you have to do is lead
by example. You know your children are
easily influenced by your actions and
habits. Practicing a green lifestyle and
instilling green values on a regular basis
will give your kids a greater appreciation for “living green”.
Of course, that starts with embracing
the Three R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
But beyond that, here are few specific
ways to make environmental awareness
easy and fun for the whole family.
Catch and Release – One of the
best lessons you can teach kids early on
is respect for all living creatures, even
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U&me Magazine
bugs and worms! Grab a net and go out
and catch some critters: grasshoppers,
beetles, lizards… whatever. Put them
in a jar just long enough to learn a little
about them and then set them free. This
teaches kids one of the most important
and basic environmental lessons – do no
harm, and leave everything the way you
found it.
The first thing you have
to do is lead by example.
You know your children are
easily influenced by your
actions and habits.
Reuse Refuse – Kids love to do arts
and crafts. Collecting materials like Popsicle sticks, bottle caps, plastic bottles,
empty paper rolls, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts and other packaging material, is fun in and of itself. It also provides your kids with an unlimited supply
of material to unleash their creativity.
You can find many such activities by age
and grade level at www.education.com/
activity/recycled-crafts/
The Green Patrol – My daughter
loves this one. Appoint your kid the
family’s “environmental cop.” Give
yours the responsibility of making sure
you switch off the lights when you
leave a room, or to remind you to shut
off the water while brushing your teeth.
Make up a list of “violations” they get
to enforce. They can even issue you a
ticket, and you may have to pay a “fine”
(extra allowance or a treat) for each infraction. They'll be less likely to waste
energy themselves.
These are only some examples. You
can probably think of many more that
fit your family and lifestyle. The point
is, we can teach our kids from an early
age how to take better care of the planet, and hopefully leave it in better shape
than they found it for their own kids!
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56
U&me Magazine
Tribute to
Motherhood
From baking and ironing to CEO
careers, mothers come in all
shapes and sizes.
By Lorena Sanchez
W
hen we think about motherhood in the 1960s, we
think about family values, Sunday cook- outs on
the beach, and the fear of ruining mom’s beehive. Motherhood in the 21st century brings
forth thoughts of innovation and self-fulfillment. Fortunately,
motherhood is so much more than these stereotypes — so
much more than baking sugar cookies and warm apple pies.
The role of a mother has shifted in the past 50 years and
every generation of motherhood has overcome different challenges and reaped different benefits. Today’s modern moms
continue their juggling act in finding harmony between their
self-fulfillment and their caretaker roles.
Virginia Delgado and Milane Huguet are two women from
different generations who exemplify the dynamic changes
the role of motherhood has undertaken throughout the years.
Both Virginia and Milane have overcome challenges and found
happiness in their roles as mothers, although each has taken a
different path to fulfilling her happiness.
The sharp aroma of Cuban coffee floats through the air of
Virginia Delgado’s cozy home. The 64-year-old mother of five
is making coffee for her family, a small task she has been doing
for more than 40 years. Virginia began rearing her children
in the 1960's, a time when a woman was considered the meticulous homemaker, nurturing wife, caring mother, and the
person to beat at the annual pie-baking contest.
their backs, and a warm bed to lay their
head on every night,” Virginia says.
“Our society has just become more
consumer-oriented, wanting more and
more each passing day.”
tionally behaviorally disturbed students
at a Georgia elementary school, and just
recently, while being a full-time mother
and educator, she received her master’s
degree in education.
The Delgado’s recreational activities
consisted of quality time with the family.
On weekdays, Milane starts her
mornings at 5:30, drops off her
18-month-old son at the caretaker’s
home, and makes her way to her school
where she works until 4:00 p.m. She
then proceeds to pick up her son and
be- gins a completely different job: the
role of mom. When she gets home, she
bathes her son, tidies up around the
house, opens the takeout she picked up
earlier, and then it’s time for bed until
the cycle begins again.
“On weekends we would go to the
beach, the park, or have family reunions at home where we would play
board games and cook meals,” Virginia
says. “We never went to the mall, unless
we needed something. To us, the mall
wasn’t a place where quality time was
spent; it was just a site to spend money.”
“Values, morals, principles
... those are all things taught
at home. I was able to be
my children’s educator. I was
able to wipe every tear and
photograph every smile.”
– Virginia Delgado
“We had a very traditional household. My responsibility was to do laundry, iron the clothes, clean the house
and make sure dinner was on the table
by six every night,” Virginia says.
Although the modern woman may
view Virginia’s job as oppressive and
constrictive, Virginia says it’s the responsibility and obligation she took
upon herself when she decided to have
children.
“I have absolutely no regrets. I loved
being there for my kids, being able to
watch them grow up everyday with me
being present and active in their lives.”
Virginia and her family lived off her
husband’s salary from his job at a bed
mattress factory, where he worked 12
hours a day to make ends meet.
“We never lacked anything. There
was always food on the table, clothes on
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U&me Magazine
Virginia feels that she and her children
reaped the fruits of her labor as a homemaker. She would not change a thing.
“Values, morals, principles ... those
are all things taught at home. I was able
to be my children’s educator. I was able
to wipe every tear and photograph every smile. I loved every minute of it and
wouldn’t change it for the world.”
To this day, Virginia is the classic
homemaker. Although her sons and
daughters are all adults, they still get
together every weekend for a homecooked meal by chef mom.
“I am always a mother, first and foremost, it doesn’t end, even if they are all
grown-up,” she says.
Much has changed since those
days. Societal pressures, Virginia and
her family lived off her husband’s salary from inflation, divorce rates, and
single motherhood have all changed
the outlook on being a homemaker. Being a stay- at-home mom these days is
something generally reserved for the
wealthy because most households can’t
manage their finances with a single income. Besides that, nowadays, women
place a strong focus on career and monetary success in order to achieve selffulfillment.
Milane Huguet, a 25-year-old resident of Atlanta is a mother, wife, and
teacher, among the many other hats she
wears. She is the lead teacher for emo-
“It’s really stressful, always being on
the go,” Milane says. “Sometimes I don’t
feel like I have a minute to myself because I am constantly doing one thing
or another.” Milane, like many of today’s
moms, says she doesn’t have time to do
so many of the small things in life.
“I would love to have time to bake,
have family picnics, or simply take an
afternoon walk,” Milane says. “The reality is that I don’t have time for any of it.”
Having a double-income household
is helpful in maintaining the lifestyle of
a modern mom. She is able to afford
a beautiful suburban home on a culde-sac, pamper her son with the latest
styles, and drive the car of her dreams.
“I feel like all the hard work balances out for the quality of life I choose to
have. I have been able to fulfill my lifelong professional goals as well as childhood dreams of having a wonderful
family and everything it entails.”
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter when you reared your children or
how your job is perceived by societal
standards. Women don’t need to work
a corporate job to feel empowered — a
sense of purpose is what matters the
most, whether that purpose is achieved
through being a homemaker or a CEO
that is up to you. So to mothers everywhere, from every walk of life, from the
past to the present, we toast to you and
celebrate you.
FEATURE
59
The Great
Outdoors
(Luxury Edition)
Discover a new way to enjoy
an authentic camping trip
in nature without sacrificing
everyday conveniences.
By Andres Duarte
As we explore the world around us
through our family adventures while
on vacation, we often look to the bright
lights and big attractions of amusement parks and big cities. While such
trips can be fun and exciting, parents
should also consider the benefits of a
vacation that not only entertains the
kids, but also strengthens the bonds
within the family.
And before we go on, here's a
thought for those who think that unless
you are really roughing it, you are not
really camping out. If your family members are turned off by the real hardships of the great outdoors ("What! No
showers?!"), it is unlikely they'll want
to go camping in the future. So it is in
everyone's best interest to make it as
"user-friendly" as possible...
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U&me Magazine
In this edition of U&me, we consider
a new kind of vacation experience -one
that takes us away from the beaten path
and instead features natural adventures
without sacrificing modern convenience.
ing about camping with class; combining the luxury and comfort that should
accompany any good vacation, with the
beauty and tranquility of our own natural planet.
Believe it or not, there are
places where you can bask
in the glory and wonder of
nature while still being able to
take a warm shower and sleep
in a comfortable bed.
Your family vacations should bring
you closer together, and a camping adventure provides the perfect platform to
set modern distractions aside and reconnect with one another. Believe it or not,
there are places where you can bask in
the glory and wonder of nature while
still being able to take a warm shower
and sleep in a comfortable bed.
“What such adventure,” you ask?
We are talking about camping! That’s
right: the fresh air, cool breeze, glowing
stars, and warm embrace of Mother Nature. However, this is not your ordinary
type of camping adventure. We are talk-
Let’s take a look at the premiere luxury camping destinations in America
and discover how a good old-fashioned
camping trip can be much more than
you ever would have imagined!
Big Sur
Getwaway
California
In our last edition of U&me, we highlighted the beauty of
the Pacific Coast Highway and lauded the Big Sur for its
lush natural splendor. Now, we return to the Big Sur once
again, one of the most magnificent natural habitats that exemplifies the state of California.
Big Sur Getaway is located along the edge of the celebrated Andrew Molera State Park in the heart of Big Sur.
Featuring breathtaking mountain views, Big Sur Getaway
offers luxurious camping trailers located in the embrace
of nature, but still near enough civilization where you can
find restaurants and modern conveniences. A perfect adventure for a new family looking to spend quality time, Big
Sur Getaway provides the ideal “glamping” experience.
For more info visit: www.bigsurgetaway.com
63
Normandy
Farm
Massachusetts
If you are looking for more of a resort experience, but still want to
enjoy the tranquility of the wilderness, you might look to the area of
New England. Snuggly nestled between the city of Boston and Cape
Cod, Normandy Farms offers a camping experience in several forms.
Comfortable cabins can fit the entire family and provide all the
amenities to ensure your vacation time is relaxing and rejuvenating.
However, this resort just happens to boast a backdrop of rich natural wilderness and serene scenery. For a more authentic adventure,
Normandy Farms offers an RV experience as well as yurts, which
can be best described as structured tents. Full of bike trails, fishing
ponds and recreational facilities of every kind (tennis courts, basketball courts, gym, etc.), Normandy Farms is a perfect destination for
families looking to disconnect while staying comfortable.
For more info visit: www.normandyfarms.com
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U&me Magazine
Yellowstone
Under Canvas
Montana
In our last edition of U&me, we highlighted the beauty of
the Pacific Coast Highway and lauded the Big Sur for its
lush natural splendor. Now, we return to the Big Sur once
again, one of the most magnificent natural habitats that exemplifies the state of California.
Big Sur Getaway is located along the edge of the celebrated Andrew Molera State Park in the heart of Big Sur.
Featuring breathtaking mountain views, Big Sur Getaway
offers luxurious camping trailers located in the embrace
of nature, but still near enough civilization where you can
find restaurants and modern conveniences. A perfect adventure for a new family looking to spend quality time, Big
Sur Getaway provides the ideal “glamping” experience.
For more info visit: www.mtundercanvas.com
65
Your family vacations should
bring you closer together, and a
camping adventure provides the
perfect platform to set modern
distractions aside and reconnect
with one another.
Consider Camping With Your Family
Now you realize ‘camping’ does not have to be synonymous with ‘roughing it.’
Your family can enjoy a genuine adventure and have the
authentic camping experience while still allowing for a
comfortable and relaxing trip. Yes, you can truly have it
all, and now you know where to find these unique destinations. Luxury camping is an idea that has been long
overdue, but is now the growing trend.
We encourage our readers to explore the places we have
highlighted and find out why we at U&me believe that
parents should consider a camping trip for their next
family vacation.
Around the Clock
RECIPES Pancake Pizza
From our friends at
Super Healthy Kids
Eggs
Ingredients
Ingredients
1 recipe for a pancake mix or
homemade pancakes
1 red bell pepper
1 cup of raspberries.
Cooking spray
4 eggs
1 cup of shredded coconut
Directions
Directions
Slice bell peppers through the middle.
Make one big pancake – as big as would fit in a
griddle.
Place sliced pepper on a hot skillet.
Crack an egg into the center.
Place one cup of raspberries in a saucepan, crush
When egg whites are no longer runny, flip
them with the back of a wooden spoon, and stir
until they are broken down into a chunky sauce. and cook on the other side.
1 medium green bell pepper
3 Min. Apple Pie
1/4 cup cilantro
1 stalk green onions
Ingredients
6 roll hamburger buns, whole wheat
Graham crackers
2 avocado, NS as to Florida or California
avocados, raw, all commercial varieties
Light cream cheese
Directions
2 apples
Place 2½ cups of the beans in a large bowl
and mash with a potato masher or a fork until
mostly smooth.
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon brown sugar
In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, 1 tablespoon of the oil, cumin, and salt. Stir to blend.
Directions
Black Bean Burger
Add the egg mixture, bread crumbs, the
remaining 1½ cup beans, bell pepper, cilantro
and green onions to the bowl with the mashed
beans. Stir together until evenly combined.
Ingredients
Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions, about
½ cup each. Lightly pack into 1-inch thick
patties. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large
skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
Carefully lay half of the patties in the skillet and
cook until well browned on both sides, about
8-10 minutes total.
Chop the apples into tiny pieces
and place them in a bowl. Then
sprinkle sugar and cinnamon
over the apples. Microwave the
apples for 1 minute. Take them
out and stir. Put them back in for
1 more minute. Then scoop out
the chopped/cooked apples onto a
graham cracker with cream cheese
spread on top. Finally, add a tiny
bit of caramel and chocolate, but
that is totally optional!
3/4 cup bread crumbs, dry, grated, plain
4 tablespoon Olive Oil
4 cup black beans (mature seeds) cooked
with salt
2 medium egg
1 tsp. whole cumin
1/2 tsp. Salt
Mash the avocados, and spread on buns. Top
with the bean burger.
For more recipes log on to www.superhealthykids.com
67
WELL-BEING
Exercising for Two:
Working Out
While Expecting
Learn how a safe, healthy exercise routine
can be good for you and the baby.
By Cynthia Goodman
"Hey, let's move!" Claudia was sure her
fetus was egging her on to exercise, but
she felt nauseous, tired, had swollen ankles, and worried about safety. Claudia,
listen to your fetus because nowadays
professionals recommend that exercise
benefits you physically, emotionally and
mentally during and after pregnancy.
“Women feel better and have
better circulation, shorter
pushing times, shorter delivery
times, faster recovery..."
The recent Clinical Practice Guidelines encourage women of all pre-pregnancy exercise levels with no health
problems and low risk uncomplicated
pregnancies, to do moderate intensity
level exercise during pregnancy for
30 minutes or more on most, if not all,
days of the week.
Even regular gym goers or athletes
are given the go-ahead to continue
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U&me Magazine
pre-pregnancy activities through the
1st trimester -and then take it down a
notch or two. But since every body type
and activity level and type is unique,
whatever fitness routine you decide, it
is essential to do it in consultation with
your OBGYN.
Dr. Nigel Spier, OBGYN in south
Florida for 20 years, supports the new
attitudes. "Studies looking at marathon
runners while monitoring fetal heart
rhythms and responses are very reassuring of fetal recovery. There are no
hard limits in exercise. Women feel better and have better circulation, shorter
pushing times, shorter delivery times,
faster recovery." His recommendations
for pregnant women:
§§
Be prepared at all times with hydration and nutrition, or to stop and rest.
§§
Snacks are important before and after
exercising.
lax, weaker, and prone to muscle injury
or hernia. Supplement crunches with a
side position.
§§
After 20 weeks, avoid lying flat on the
back, use a tilted position or limit flat
back positions to 10 minutes.
§§
After normal delivery, exercise can be
resumed, but iron tends to be low, so
limits are reached faster. With C-section, it is prudent to wait 6 weeks for an
exercise program. Walking, of course,
is fine.
Other OBGYN's would agree and
expand a list of dos and don’ts in your
exercise program:
§§
A warm up and cool down with each
exercise session should include range
of motion exercises for the major joints
and static stretching for muscle groups.
§§
Watch for overheating.
§§
Your heart rate is higher during pregnancy, so give yourself extra time to
return to normal resting rate.
§§
Avoid exercise that may involve
abdominal straining. Muscles are more
§§
Stop exercising and/or contact your
doctor if you have dizziness, preterm
Keep yourself motivated and involved
in a routine prenatal exercise class. Instructors have specific training for your
special needs, comfort and techniques.
Here are a few established centers that
have worthwhile prenatal programs:
Belly-n-Kicks
258 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 300-6628
http://www.belly-n-kicks.com
This individualized exercise and full
body program for pre and post-natal
women was established in 2005 by
athlete, mom, ACE certified trainer and
Yale University Certified in Pre and Post
Natal Instruction Erika Boom. The program focuses on training for strength,
isometrics, stretch and core work,
healthy lifestyle, and staying in shape.
Prenatal Plus-Yoga, Inc.
401 Miracle Mile
Miami, FL
305-498-6722
PPY Debra Geymayr, who directs this
program, has been teaching for over 20
years with a specialty in Prenatal Yoga.
Her class provides a safe and gentle
program to attend throughout a pregnancy using yoga poses, breathing, and
relaxation techniques.
Prana Yoga
labor, vaginal bleeding or leaking,
cramping or contractions, chest pain,
or extra shortness of breath.
bouncing, over-flexing or overextending knee joints.
§§
Avoid contact and impact sports and
activities where you can risk falling.
Prenatal exercise programs are
ideal because they cater to a pregnant
woman's individual needs. One such
program in Miami, Belly-n-Kicks, was
founded and directed by Erika Boom,
a certified pre/postnatal fitness trainer
and mother of twins. Boom explains:
"With
our activity plan focusing on
strength training and prenatal isometrics, your body will adapt as gravity
and balance changes take place. Women carry to full term, even those carrying multiples, which is not common. If
you stick to a good exercise program,
after birth you may need work on your
core but not much on your weight gain,
so you'll have time to focus on what
matters."
§§
Swimming and water aerobics are
ideal. Water resistance tones and
strengthens muscles, and can help to
rid of extra fluids.
§§
Yoga with deep breathing can relax
and help with centering and balance,
toning and muscle strengthening.
§§
Do not push through pain or exhaustion.
§§
Take breaks when you need to sip
water, stretch, empty your bladder.
§§
Focus on breathing, not endurance.
You should be able to carry on a conversation. Movements that can make
you strain and hold your breath should
be avoided.
§§
With more relaxed muscles and joints
during pregnancy, you can be more at
risk for muscle tears, so avoid jumping,
So the next time you feel that kicking, he or she is probably telling you
to get moving! It's good advice for the
both of you.
247 Malaga Avenue
Coral Gables, FL
305-567-9812
[email protected]
Nancy Alberts, the Pre-natal Certified
instructor, is also a mom. She uses
pranayama, visualization and asana in a
nurturing program that helps expectant moms develop calm and serenity
to physically and emotionally meet the
challenges of delivery, with the ability
to appreciate the time as sacred and
special.
Fit4Mom
Bayfront Park or Coral Gate Park
[email protected]
954-562-8144
One of the country's well known programs for moms offers a pre and post
natal fitness program, not only indoors
but outdoors for lucky Floridians. Their
goal is to guide all stages of motherhood for optimal health and well-being
through power walking, body toning,
strength and flexibility exercises in a full
body workout. Certified fitness professionals also offer playgroups, mom's
clubs and support groups.
69
Yes, Moms Can Take a Break and
Just Relax!
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or work
outside the home, building some personal time
into your regular routine helps alleviate stress and
improve your overall feeling of wellness.
By Margaret Kessler
Y
ou’ve heard it over and over:
taking time for yourself makes
you a better mom and a happier
woman. According to Rachelle
Disbennett-Lee, a personal life coach in
Aurora, Colorado, mommy time makes
us "stronger, more relaxed and calmer."
Disbennett-Lee notes that "When we
are stressed, overwhelmed and tired, we
become irritable, and it's more difficult
to handle the challenges of being with
children." She also points out that mommy time helps our children learn independence and socialization, all while we
demonstrate –especially to our daughters, who are likely to become mothers in
the future– that taking care of ourselves
is important
Since the ‘there’s no time to relax’ approach actually makes us less productive, and every mom has to be a master
at maintaining everyone’s schedules,
make it a priority to put that skill to use
by budgeting time for you to recharge
your batteries.
“I know I deserve an hour of mommy
time per week,” said Marieanne Barnes,
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U&me Magazine
whose two elementary school-aged boys
and full-time teaching job keep her exceedingly busy. “But sometimes that’s
just impossible, so I aim for at least an
hour each month.”
Here are some simple, affordable,
proven-effective mommy time ideas.
Each takes less than an hour but is
guaranteed to yield lasting results in
improving your emotional and physical
health.
§§
Take a bath. Better yet, make it a
bubble bath. Even better, light a few
scented candles and turn out the lights,
then lie back and let the tension flow
out of you.
§§
Retreat to your room, hang a “no
kids allowed” sign on the door, grab a
grown up libation like a hot cup of tea
or a glass of wine. Then curl up with a
good book. Don’t know what to read?
Check out goodreads.com. Like Pandora, once it knows what you like to
read, it makes custom-tailored book
recommendations for you.
§§
Take a nap… but not a long one.
Research indicates that the ideal nap
length is 10 to 20 minutes. Longer naps
can cause grogginess and make it harder to fall asleep at night. According to
“Psychology Today”, early afternoon
naps work best for most people. If you
don’t fall asleep, don’t worry: a study by
British researchers found that just lying down with the intention of napping
was enough to cause a drop in blood
pressure.
§§
Take a walk, run or bike ride while listening to your favorite music (NO KidzBop on this constitutional, please).
§§
Get a mani-pedi. It’s a small indulgence with a big payoff. “No matter
how I’m dressed,” said Nora Cuesta,
“When my nails look good I feel like a
lady.”
§§
Hit the beach or pool for an invigorating swim and a few minutes of restful lounging – grown-up style, without
having to be on lifeguard duty.
§§
Plant a flower or vegetable garden
and rediscover your inner child –playing in dirt is fun!
§§
Meditate. Even a few minutes every
day of solitary quiet time can make a
huge difference in your energy level
and feeling of overall well-being.
PARENTS
71
BOOKS ARE MY PALS
Babies and Toddlers
Love You Forever
By Robert N. Munsch and Sheila
McGraw
A young woman
holds her newborn
son and looks
at him lovingly.
Softly she sings
to him "I'll love
you forever, I'll
like you for always, As long as I'm
living, my baby you'll be" This is
the story of how that little boy goes
through the stages of childhood
and becomes a man..
Press Here
By Herve Tullet
Each page of this
surprising book
instructs the reader
to press the dots,
shake the pages, tilt
the book, and who knows what will
happen next! Children and adults
alike will giggle with delight as the
dots multiply, change direction, and
grow in size, in this unique picture
book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide
read-aloud fun for all ages.
My Dad Loves Me!
By Marianne
Richmond
Now children can
relive fun times
with their Dad
every day. Children
enjoy playing with Dad, swimming and napping with Dad - this
charming book depicts all of these
beloved activities being done by
cuddly animals!
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U&me Magazine
Picture Books
I Want My Hat Back
By Jon Klassen
The Little Engine that Could
By Watty Piper
Wonder
The bear's
hat is gone,
and he wants
it back.
Patiently and
politely, he
asks the animals he comes
across, one by one, whether
they have seen it. Each
animal says no, some more
elaborately than others. But
just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and
asks a simple question that
sparks the bear's memory
and renews his search with a
vengeance.
"I think I can!
I think I can!"
This wellloved classic
tale of the
Little Blue
Engine who isn't afraid to
try has and will continue to
inspire and entertain generations of children. Although
he is not very big, the Little
Blue Engine agrees to try to
pull a stranded train full of
toys over the mountain.
August
Pullman
was born
with a facial
deformity
that, up until
now, has prevented him
from going to a mainstream
school. Starting 5th grade at
Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated
as an ordinary kid—but his
new classmates can’t get past
Auggie’s extraordinary face.
WONDER, now a #1 New
York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins
from Auggie’s point of view,
but soon switches to include
his classmates, his sister,
her boyfriend, and others.
These perspectives converge
in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy,
compassion, and
acceptance.
Early Readers
Otis & the
Puppy
By Loren
Long
Otis and his
farm friends
love to play hide-and-seek.
Otis especially loves to be
"It," finding his friends as
they hide. Yet when the newest addition to the farm—a
bounding puppy who can't
sit still and has a habit of licking faces—tries to hide, he
finds his attention wandering
and is soon lost in the forest.
Night falls and Otis, knowing his new friend is afraid
of the dark, sets out to find
him. There's just one problem: Otis is also afraid of the
dark. His friend is alone and
in need, though, so Otis takes
a deep breath, counts to ten,
and sets off on a different
game of hide-and-seek.
By R.J. Palacio
Steam Train, Dream Train
By Sherri Duskey Rinker
The team
behind the
#1 New
York Times
bestseller
Goodnight,
Goodnight, Construction Site
returns with another fabulous book for bedtime! The
dream train pulls into the station, and one by one the train
cars are loaded: polar bears
pack the reefer car with ice
cream, elephants fill the tanker cars with paints, tortoises
stock the auto rack with race
cars, bouncy kangaroos stuff
the hopper car with balls.
Sweet and silly dreams are
guaranteed for any budding
train enthusiasts!
Pete the Cat & His Four
Groovy Buttons
By Eric Litwin,
illustrated by
James Dean
Pete the Cat
is wearing his
favorite shirt
the one with the four totally
groovy buttons. But when
one falls off, does Pete cry?
Goodness, no! He just keeps
on singing his song—after all,
what could be groovier than
three groovy buttons? Count
down with Pete in this rocking
new story from the creators
of the bestselling Pete the Cat
books.
Youth & Teens
Stickman Odyssey
by Christopher Ford
Cinder
By Marissa Meyer
Zozimos'
journey to
the kingdom
of Sticatha
has been
anything
but smooth. He's survived
enslavement, battled golems
and a ravenous Cyclops, and
generally served as plaything
to gods and goddesses looking for a good laugh. All for
the sake of reclaiming the
Sticathan royal throne stolen
from him by an evil witch,
a.k.a. his stepmother.
Humans and
androids
crowd the
raucous
streets of
New Beijing.
A deadly plague ravages the
population. From space, a
ruthless lunar people watch,
waiting to make their move.
No one knows that Earth’s
fate hinges on one girl. . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic,
is a cyborg. She’s a secondclass citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her
stepsister’s illness. But when
her life becomes intertwined
with the handsome Prince
Kai’s, she suddenly finds
herself at the center of an
intergalactic struggle, and a
forbidden attraction. Caught
between duty and freedom,
loyalty and betrayal, she
must uncover secrets about
her past in order to protect
her world’s future.
Parents
The Little Big Book for Moms
By Lena Tabori
The perfect
book for
every mom
who doesn't
want her
little ones to
miss out on the classic tale of
the Princess and the Pea but
is also infused with the power of Maya Angelou's Life
Doesn't Frighten Me; who
laughs aloud over Ogden
Nash and adores Charlotte's
Web. For the mom who
wants to be reminded of the
words to Rub-a-Dub-Dub, to
play I'm a Little Teapot and
Itsy, Bitsy, Spider, to learn
how to make water music
and who wants to make
recipes that are especially
yummy like Frozen Chocolate
Bananas. In other words this
is a book for moms who want
to be great moms and who
want to bring great things to
their little ones.
Strong Fathers, Strong
Daughters: 10 Secrets
Every Father
Should Know
By Meg
Meeker M.D.
In today’s
increasingly
complicated world, it’s often
difficult for parents to connect with their daughters–
and especially so for fathers.
In this unique and invaluable
guide, Dr. Meg Meeker, a
pediatrician with more than
twenty years’ experience
counseling girls, reveals that
a young woman’s relationship with her father is far
more important than we’ve
ever realized.
The One & Only Ivan
Feature Book
By Katherine Applegate,
Illustrated
by Patricia
Castelao
Ivan is an
easygoing gorilla.
Living at the Exit 8 Big Top
Mall and Video Arcade,
he has grown accustomed
to humans watching him
through the glass walls of
his domain. He rarely misses
his life in the jungle. In fact,
he hardly ever thinks about
it at all. Instead, Ivan thinks
about TV shows he’s seen
and about his friends Stella,
an elderly elephant, and Bob,
a stray dog. But mostly Ivan
thinks about art and how to
capture the taste of a mango
or the sound of leaves with
color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby
elephant taken from her
family, and she makes Ivan
see their home—and his
own art—through new eyes.
When Ruby arrives, change
comes with her, and it’s up to
Ivan to make it a change for
the better.
Oliver and his BOOM Bike
By Erika Boom, Illustrated
by Noah Scheiner
In our family we are passionate
about everything cycling. We love
the feeling you get from it, the
places you go, the people you meet
and the memories you create. We
think it's important that parents
pass along the fun and healthy
habit of riding a bike to our kids.
Oliver and his BOOM Bike is the
story about this. We hope you all
enjoy reading this book as a family,
and get inspired to get out there
and be active!
The 10 Greatest Gifts I Give
My Children: Parenting from
the Heart
By Steven W.
Vannoy
An inspirational guide
offers a
program to put the joy back
into parenting and create
a harmonious family atmosphere with self-esteem,
compassion, balance, humor,
communication, integrity,
responsibility, conscious
choice, and full expression of
emotions.
73
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MAY-JUNE
MAY 11-12
MAY 18
Mexico's most famous theater company returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center stage with
Sleeping Beauty Dreams. Written by awardwinning playwright, Amaranta Leyva, Sleeping Beauty Dreams reimagines the famous
princess as an overprotected daughter looking
for a way to break free of her castle walls in
order to search for true love... and her true self.
Come and join the fun at The Children's Exchange with the Disney Princesses! Event
will feature story time and songs with Belle
and Snow White, princess lessons, dancing
and refreshments! A portion of all sales that
day will go to Champman Partnereship for
the homeless.
Marionetas de la Esquina:
Slepping Beauty Dreams
Story Time with Belle
and Snow White
Belle: 11 :00AM Snow White: 12:00 PM
The Children's Exchange
1415 Sunset Dr.
Miami, Florida 33143
May 11th: 11 AM, 2 PM, 5PM May 12th: 2 PM
The Adrienne Arsht Center
1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132
JUNE 8
JUN 15
Baby Loves Disco
Scooby Doo Live!
Musical Mysteries
Baby Loves Disco returns to Miami June
8th at 1pm, featuring DJs, MCs, dancers, music, crafts, food, unlimited drink
boxes, cash bar for the mamas & papas,
and of course lots of dancing! Tickets
are $20 per walking human or 4 for $60.
Come boogie down with the kiddos!
1:00 PM
LTM Contemporary Gallery
55 NW 36th St. Miami, FL 33125
JUNE 14
SPRINGS RIVER FESTIVAL
Come and see One Direction as they
make a stop at the magic city during their
world tour.
7:30 PM
Miami Airlines Arena
601 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33132
74
U&me Magazine
In this exciting new show, SCOOBY-DOO and
the Mystery Inc. Gang have been called upon
to help solve an epic mystery. A trouble-making
ghost is haunting a local theatre and SHAGGY,
FRED, DAPHNE, VELMA and SCOOBY-DOO
are on their way in the MYSTERY MACHINE to
help solve it!
11:00 AM
Broward Center for Performing Arts
201 SW Fifth Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312
786.683.6958
kendrajillphotography.com
[email protected]