FUN FALL PARTY IDEAS

Transcription

October
2010
GRIEF AND
RECOVERY
BREAST
CANCER
DETECTION
What is your
best option?
FUN
FALL
PARTY
IDEAS
after the loss
of a baby
help for your
STRESSED
OUT
preschooler
give your
son the
TOOLS
to be a
BETTER
man
Quality Care Resource
and Referral Services, Inc.
Before and After Care Subsidy Assistance • Parent Referrals
Child Care Subsidy Assistance • Strengthening Families
Technical Assistance on Early Care Issues • Professional
Development for Child Care Providers • Parent Education
Family Child Care Registration
Corporate Phone Number
856.462.6800
856.462.6801(fax)
www.qcrrinc.org
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Suite A
Rio Grande, NJ 08242
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
415 West Landis Ave.
Suite 202
Vineland, NJ 08360
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
6 North Broad Street
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Woodbury, NJ 08096
SALEM COUNTY
5 Route 45
Suite 100
Mannington, NJ 08079
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2 | October 2010
KKatherine
ATHERINE
Pérez-Rivera,
Ph.D.
PÉREZ-RIVERA
,
NJ Licensed Psychologist #4352
PH.D.
NJ Licensed Psychologist #4352
(856) 383-0585
(856) 383-0585
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Table of
Contents
pg. 20-22
Breast
Cancer
Awareness
Month
mom 2 mom
8 Stressed Out Preschoolers
10 Feed Them and They Will Come
11 Tools to Help Your Son Become a
Better Man
12 Fun Fall Party Ideas
moms R women 2
14 Violence in the Home: Local Program
Gives Hope and Support
16 After the Loss of a Baby: The Five
Stages of Grief
know 2 grow
24 Local Event Raises Money for Special
Needs Program
26 Defying Down Syndrome
27 Mom, Nobody Likes Me!
features
20 My Mommy Wears a Wig
21 Advances in Breast Cancer Detection
22 Each Day is a Small Success
Dear Readers,
really had a hard time
this month deciding
what to write about.
Usually the kids give me
plenty to choose from, but
it’s been a pretty good
month. There is one topic
though that’s been on my
mind for a while and I
guess now is a good time to bring it up.
Why are moms so critical of other
moms? We all know how hard it is. We all
know how great it is. But for some reason,
some moms feel as if it’s their job to tell other
moms the “right” way to do things. I own a
parenting magazine, but I don’t feel that makes
me an expert nor does it give me the right to
tell all my friends how they should raise their
kids!
I have a couple of friends that are overbearing with their parenting “advice.” They are
very quick to tell me what they think I’m doing
wrong and what I’d better do to correct it.
Why do they feel that this is ok? Every parent
has the right to discipline, teach, and even love
their child the way they want. Of course, we all
have our opinions on the best and worst way
of doing these things, but that doesn’t mean
we should shove it in someone else’s face.
And, as much as we might not want to believe
it, there is more than one “right” way of raising children.
Now not all moms are this way, but way
too many are hypercritical of other moms;
instead of offering support, they make them
feel bad about themselves as moms. Why?
Why do we moms have to defend our choices to other moms?
I
OCTOBER
publisher’s note
nana’s 2 sense
life sentences
just born
pop’s culture
green mama
book review
things 2 do
resource guide
www.southjerseymom.com
Kayden and Camille’s Early Fall Picnic Outing
I wanted to breast feed but wasn’t able
to. But whenever the topic of breastfeeding
comes up, I find I have to defend myself as to
why I didn’t. Bottom line is that it’s my choice!
Same with working moms versus stay-athome moms. Many moms I speak with find
they have to defend the fact that they work,
whether it’s by choice or necessity. Every family is different and we shouldn’t judge others’
choices.
I try to distance myself from friends who
judge me and who are overbearing. Unfortunately, friendships can be lost over childrearing differences, rather than becoming closer.
Moms need support from their fellow moms.
Let’s work harder to judge less and be a friend
more.✲
Your Friend and Fellow MOM,
Giveaways!
H Marmaduke DVD
H Casper’s Scare School DVD
also in this issue
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publisher’s note
October 2010
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October 2010 | 3
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October
MOM 2010
Publisher/Editor:
Adrienne Richardson
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It’s All Gravy
he grandkids are
growing too fast.
Kayden is too
heavy, actually, too tall,
for me to pick up and
carry and cuddle anymore. Camille is still
cuddling size, but has
now developed a little personality and only
wants to be held when she needs it; kind of like
my cat. Both children are developing their little personalities. I should say BIG personalities.
Short of doing their own laundry and
cooking for themselves, they are very independent. They now decide who they want to
play with and what they want to play. They
even decide what the rules are. When I tried
to correct Kayden about a matching game
(because he would not give me my turn) he
said, “How ‘bout you don’t play anymore?” To
this, I nonchalantly replied, “Oh, ok, I wanted to
do the dishes anyway.” I left the room, started
the dishes and, a few minutes later, Kayden
offers, “Nana, you can play now if you want.”
This was after he turned all the cards over to
see where the matching ones were. I guess
he’s just a normal 4 year old boy. He likes to
win.
The following Sunday, at church, I felt like
the pot that got put on the back burner; you
know, the gravy pot that you have to keep
warm for just the right amount of time. The
children came running toward me from their
Sunday school room but when I bent down to
catch them in my arms, they ran right past me.
Kayden headed toward a group of boys his age
and Camille jumped into her mom’s arms like
I was a stranger. I should have noticed, when
T
nana’s 2 sense
South Jersey
they were not exclaiming, “Nana” as
they were running toward me, that
something was different.
So there is Nana bent down
with empty, open arms and a “They
don’t love me anymore” look on my
face. What happened? Next to mom
and dad, I used to be their favorite
person. Now they have their own friends.They
are two and four and they have their own
“click.” Their mom reassures me by telling me
that they ask about Nana all the time. “When
is Nana coming over? Can you ask Nana to
bring some blueberries? When can we go to
Nana’s and stay the night?”
Even though my feelings are a little hurt,
watching them grow still brings great joy. I
marvel at their imagination and budding new
talents. I can only imagine who they will be
when they grow up. Kayden is very clever and
detail oriented. He is the thinker. Camille has a
kind, helpful heart. If she sees a little one crying, she goes to their side and comforts them.
It’s just that I got so used to them
exclaiming, “Nana!” when I enter the room. I
felt like a celebrity. Well gravy is not so bad. It
is the extra little something that makes the
meal more comforting. I’m ok with being the
gravy. I’ll still be warm when they need me.✲
—Nana
Jean
Nana Jean is a South Jersey grandmother with two
daughters and six grandchildren. Enjoy her stories about
her 38+ years as a mom and 20 years as a grandmother
as she shares her experiences and lessons learned with
lots of laughs and tears along the way.
South Jersey MOM is published monthly
and distributed throughout the region.
The publication is available free of
charge at select locations. Subscriptions
$29.99 per year.
TM
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole
or in part is not permitted without the
authorization of the publisher.
South Jersey MOM
P.O. Box 2413
Vineland, NJ 08362-2413
TM
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Fax: 856.405.6794
[
On the COVER
“Cutest Kid in Town” Contest Winner: Sophia, age 4,
is from Collingswood and loves animals, especially horses.
She would like to be a Rockstar Farmer when she grows
up. She just got her “big girl bed” (full size) and loves
sleeping with lots of stuffed animals and her horse pillow
pet. She speaks English, Spanish and is learning French.
Photo by Lisa Ward Photography.
]
October 2010 | 5
life sentences
Road Trips and Hailstorm Memories
y sister has time off, an
empty nest and a broken car.
I have a car, a week off from
autistic caregiver duties and a willing
preteen daughter who is excited to
visit her cousins in Michigan. What’s
that spell? Road Trip!!!
I have long dreamed of just getting in the
car and driving to Michigan to visit my brother and his family. But when my kids were small,
it seemed an awfully long time to be strapped
in the car with them. You can steer the car or
you can swat at some aggressor in the back
seat, but you cannot do both.Three miscreants
against one warden seemed like a dumb way
to die.
But this year, the numbers have
changed. My sister will ride shotgun and my
daughter, an excellent back-seat driver, will
operate the mobile navigation thingy.
This will not be the first long car trip to
the great Midwest. I went to college in West
Lafayette, Indiana, and usually caught a ride
home for breaks. Those were not rides with
friends. It was a turbo-trip in a well-used vehi-
M
cle. The best of those trips were 11 hours in a
tortuous pose among duffel bags and pillowcases of dirty laundry. There was one stop for
gas, during which you could go to the restroom or make a phone call, but you could not
do both or you would be hitchhiking home
from Altoona.
I have one perfect memory of a road trip
from college days. My parents and two
younger brothers drove out for orientation
weekend and we were shocked at the flatness
of the landscape. I was a moody teenager with
bad nutritional habits. I got grouchy when my
blood sugar was low. Once I got fed, my father
observed at a diner, I sweetened right up. It
was late June, and the green cornfields
stretched as far as the eye could see.
On our way home, we saw a storm coming toward us from a long way off. When it hit,
it was torrential with hailstones like golf balls.
We had to find a hotel and settle in. It was an
early reprieve from driving in the car. My
brothers and I raced down hallways like maniacs just to move our legs, played pool and pinball in the game room and had dinner in the
dining room instead of
stopping at a rest stop.
After we ate, Mom
took the kids back to the
By Fran LoBiondo
room. My father took me
down to the hotel bar
and bought me my first (legal) drink. It was my
18th birthday, and I felt not like the middle
child that I was, but a grown woman sitting
quietly alone with my father, talking over my
course of study at a Big Ten university.
He never got to come out to a parents
weekend or a football game. He died after
Christmas during my sophomore year. But we
shared that moment. I have that memory.
My hope is to enjoy our trip to Michigan
and make one such moment for my daughter.
If we are parted before we are ready, I
hope she will have a hailstorm memory of her
own.✲
Fran LoBiondo of Vineland has children in grade school, high
school and college. A Purdue University graduate with a
degree in Journalism, she has written about parenting, food
and fun for 25 yrs.
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October 2010 | 7
mom 2 mom
Stressed Out Preschoolers
Why They Feel Overwhelmed & How to Help
By Michele Ranard, M.Ed.
They aimed to see whether intervention for preschoolers at risk
for antisocial behavior could alter the kids’ biological response to a
stressful social situation (playing with a group of unfamiliar peers). After
the intervention, cortisol levels of preschoolers who were taught coping
skills were found to be lower than for those without instruction.
Brotman says, “The results provide further evidence that early intervention can have a profound effect on children.”
Stress at Home
Preschoolers are affected by the stress of family members. A new study
published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that
almost 15 percent of preschoolers have atypically high levels of depression and anxiety. This five-year exploration of Sylvana M. Cote and fellow
international researchers in Canada and France found that children with
atypical levels were more likely to have mothers with a history of
depression.
“We found that lifetime maternal depression was the second most
important predictor of atypically high depressive and anxiety problems
during preschool years,” says Cote. Researchers stress preventive interventions are needed to see a long-term impact on the well being of kids
at risk.
A
s a mother and former preschool teacher, I understand stress.
Every parent does. But it can be a real issue for kids too. It turns
out the hormone our bodies release to deal with stressors—
cortisol—is one way to measure and explore stress in children.
Adults cope with stress by learning to calm themselves and 3 to 6year-olds need to learn coping too. Understanding some of the underlying structures of stress may help us better guide them.
Cortisol Levels at Home and Away
Why does cortisol matter? Cortisol controls our responses to stress
and aids in digestion, the immune system and energy usage. When we
face challenges, cortisol levels spike and provide us with energy. Cortisol
can suppress immunity when stress is chronic, so we need stable levels
to remain healthy.
Dr. Sarah Watamura of the Child Health and Development Lab
looked at cortisol and stress in toddlers and preschoolers. She found
that young kids were aware of stress within the family even if parents
tried to hide it. Paying attention to a preschooler’s stress signals (crying
after separation, exhaustion after day care, trouble sleeping, frequent illness) and reacting with support helps.
What stresses them out? Watamura discovered that even more
than separation anxiety, it was their interaction with peers. Levels of cortisol often increased as they attempted to play with lots of other kids.
“At home, preschool-age children typically show a decreasing pattern of cortisol production across the day,” Watamura says. “At child
care, many children show a rising pattern,” probably since they are more
challenged there.
Nurturance at Home
Laura Miller Brotman and researchers at the NYU School of Medicine
found in studies of parenting and children’s stress response that, in fact,
there is a cause-effect relationship.
8 | October 2010
TIPS TO HELP STRESSED OUT
PRESCHOOLERS COPE
• Assure your child. If the stressor for your child is at home,
Watamura says to talk to your child about how you will be able
to figure it out and offer assurance that there is no need for
worry.
• Assess the connection. If your stressed child goes to day care
or preschool, investigate to make sure your child’s teacher is
bonding with him or her. Science shows that cortisol levels are
more stable when there is a secure attachment.
• Ask around. Watamura suggests asking your care provider,
“Does my child play well when she wants to play? How does
he/she do when I leave? When are the roughest times of day?”
• Choices. Give your child appropriate ones, e.g., let the child
pick a friend for a play date.
• Offer a heads up. To prevent a meltdown, make sure he or she
knows what to expect—your child will be better able to adjust
to circumstances that may trigger stress.
• Forget about creating CONSTANT nirvana. Watamura
reminds that, “Like adults, kids don’t always have to be ‘happy’ so
you should not automatically try to ‘fix’ things.”
Michele Ranard is a professional counselor/tutor. Ranard is passionate about helping
children and their parents cope better with life’s chaos. Ranard has a funny blog @
micheleranard.blogspot.com.
Does your little kid have to have
things “just right”?
Does he have to keep doing
something over and over again?
Does she have thoughts that
constantly bother her?
The Child and Adolescent OCD, Tic, Trich and Anxiety
Group (COTTAGe) is looking for kids ages 5-8 with OCD
to participate in a research study at the University of
Pennsylvania. Those eligible receive a full assessment
of symptoms and 12 weeks of behavioral therapy at
no cost.
Call Aubrey Edson at 215-746-3327
if interested or if you’re not sure if your child has OCD
Child and Adolescent OCD, Tic, Trich and Anxiety Group
(The COTTAGe) University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine
Director: Martin E. Franklin, Ph.D.
www.med.upenn.edu/cottage
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October 2010 | 9
feed them and
they will come
Encouraging Your Child and Their
Friends to Hang Out at Your House
By Jennifer Gregory
hen Teresa Bondora’s daughter was 12, Bondora began inviting
her daughter’s friends over, providing food for them and
encouraging the kids to make themselves at home. Before long,
her house began to be the place where her daughter and her friends regularly hung out and the tweens began calling Bondora their “Other
Mother.”
One of the main benefits of having your child and their friends at
your house is that you know where your child is and what he or she is
doing. You know that an adult is home and you can make sure the kids
are safe. You also have the opportunity to get to know your child’s
friends. “ When your kids feel like you accept their friends, you are really accepting and validating their identity,” says Becky Haron, mother of
four children.
With a little bit of planning and effort, you can make your house the
place where the kids want to hang out.
W
Provide a Hangout Space
Try to provide the kids with a specific and separate space to hang out in
your house. A basement or bonus room is ideal because they are often
separate from the main living areas, but still in close proximity to
grownups.You can turn a spare bedroom, den or even the garage into the
hangout room.
If you do not have a space inside your house, consider making a
warm weather hangout outdoors. When Jill Nussinow’s son was 11, she
set up a large tent in their backyard for her son and his friends to hang
out. She ran electricity to the tent from the house so the boys could
watch movies and play video games in the tent. Her son and his friends
enjoyed having a place that was their own and Nussinow liked having her
son in the backyard.
Decorate for Fun
After you decide on the space, make the room an inviting area. Put furniture in the room that you don’t mind getting dirty or spilled on. If possible, get a second-hand refrigerator, or at least a small dorm-sized fridge,
to put in the space for drinks and snacks.
Think about how your children and their friends like to spend time,
and provide some entertainment options, such as a TV or video game
system. Pool tables, air hockey and ping-pong are favorites. You do not
need to have the latest video gaming system or a huge flat screen TV.
Be sure to provide a trashcan!
and boxed macaroni and cheese for when the kids are over during dinnertime. When Silvana Clark’s daughters had their friends over, she liked
to make pretzel dough in the bread machine and let the kids make their
own pretzels. Buy large tubs of refrigerator cookie dough at warehouse
clubs so you can quickly make some fresh “homemade” cookies for the
kids.
Listen and Make Them Feel Welcome
When your child’s friends show up at your door, make them feel welcome at your house. Greet them by name, ask about their day and compliment them. “The best way to have kids want to come to your house
instead of elsewhere, is try to genuinely like them,” says Faith Deeter,
marriage and family therapist.
When the kids talk to you, be sure to listen to them without passing judgment. “Be a good listener. It’s amazing how much kids want another adult to use as a sounding board,” says Carol Casey. Next time they
come over, ask a question about something they told you in the past so
they know you were listening and that you are interested in what they
have to say.
“If you are pleasant, positive and brief, the kids will likely be quite
comfortable with you being there,” says Deeter. After a little while, head
to a different part of the house to give the kids some space.
While it’s important to create a welcome environment so kids want
to come over, it’s also important to have ground rules about alcohol,
drugs and smoking. Encourage them and let them know they can trust
you if they come to you about another kid not respecting your house
rules. “If you ask for their help, you may find they will likely be willing to
be responsible along with you in having your home be safe,” says
Deeter.✲
Jennifer Gregory is a freelance writer and mom of two kids. She hopes that when her kids
are older that they will want to hang out at her house.
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Feed Them
One of the best ways to get your kids to bring their friends over is to
provide food. Bringing food to the hang out space is also a non-obtrusive
way to keep tabs on the gathering without the kids feeling like you are
checking up on them.
Stock up on juice and sodas when they go on sale. Be sure to have
plenty of chips, crackers and cookies on hand. Keep some frozen pizzas
10 | October 2010
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Tools to Help Your Son
Become a Better Man...
and Live a Better Life
Inspire the young men in your life to
look past the negative influences and
reach for the best in themselves.
Kanye West, Chris Brown, Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Bernie Madoff, John Edwards, Governor Mark Sanford. The
list of men behaving badly in public is endless. No one has felt its impact more than parents of young men.
“E
very day I hear from parents who are sick
and tired of the negative messages about
manhood that are aimed at their sons,”
relates Kelly Johnson, mother of five sons and
the editor of A Better Man: True American
Heroes Speak to Young Men on Love, Power, Pride
and What It Really Means to Be a Man. “The
good news, however,” Johnson continues, “is
that parents can make things better.”
It takes patience, persistence, optimism and
a little bit of savvy about boys and how they
operate—traits Johnson believes most parents
have, or can easily acquire with a little help.
Give him a hero complex. Ask any little
boy what he wants to be when he grows up,
and the answers will surely be similar: a fireman, a police officer, an army man—a hero.
Sadly, somewhere along the way, boys let go of
those dreams and begin to define success
through power, glory and material wealth. If
you’re lucky, that hero lives under the same
roof or down the street. “One of the greatest
gifts a parent can give his or her son is to
actively provide him with examples of real life
heroes,” says Johnson.
Teach him the language of character.
Knowing something is “wrong” or “right” is
very different from being able to articulate
why. If we take the time to describe someone’s
actions as selfless or decent rather than simply “the right thing to do,” we give young men
a deeper understanding of a situation and its
implications. He won’t simply be asking himself, “Gee, what is the right thing?” Instead, he
will be formulating his decision using words
like honor, faithfulness, courage and trustworthiness.
Show him that being a better man starts
now. It’s easy for boys to believe they have all
the time in the world to chase their dreams
and become all they can be. “We have to
explain to our boys that being a role model
doesn’t start when you are an adult,” asserts
Johnson, “it starts today—people who do the
right thing in the large and difficult moments
are acting out of habit and out of conviction.
Becoming a good man takes practice and
[time]. It’s hard work, and it demands courage,
persistence, sacrifice and [self-control].”
That does not mean stay silent; just take
a moment and refrain from engaging in a litany
of criticism. Instead, try using words that invite
more response and show your willingness to
allow for a difference of opinion without surrendering your own standards. For example:
“It’s hard for me to hear you say that.” “Why
do you think that is the case?” or “In my experience, the opposite is true.”
It’s okay to tell your son why you disagree
with him, but if he senses you are judging or
scolding, he will clam up or tell you what you
“want” to hear. The point is to keep the conversation going. As long as your son is willing
to talk to you, you are making a difference.✲
Start a conversation. Talking to your son
about things like courage and respect is critical because it shows him these things are
important to you—and, at the end of the day,
parents who are engaged with their kids are
still their most important role models.
It can be tempting to ask direct quesKelly H. Johnson is an attorney, writer and the
tions, but if you ask your son how he feels
mother/stepmother of five sons and one daughter. Ms.
about courage or bullying or respecting
Johnson has written for both local and national parenting
women, you are likely to get an eye roll, a sigh
magazines, and her work appears in the compilations The
or a pat answer. If you really want to know
Imperfect Mom—Candid Confessions of Mothers Living in
what he is thinking, try a tactical approach.
the Real World (Doubleday), It’s a Girl—Women Writers
on Raising Daughters (Seal Press), and the forthcoming
Boys tend to open up more when their
Love Wins (SmileyBooks). A Better Man: True American
bodies are in motion. Whether it’s shooting
Heroes Speak to Young Men on Love, Power, Pride and
hoops, shuffling cards or raking leaves, your
What It Really Means to Be a Man is available at
son is far more likely to tell you how he is feelbookstores nationwide. For more information, please visit
ing and what he is thinking if he is engaged in
www.abettermanbook.com.
physical activity.
It’s okay to let your son know you want
to talk with him
about something in
particular. But consider using a little
u Therapy by an experienced professional that is
deflection by putting
designed specifically for your child
the focus on someu Quicker results with parent involvement
one else. “And if you
u I make learning fun so kids love to come
ever want to have
Call me for an appointment
a second conversaPEARL SPEECH ASSOCIATES
tion,” Johnson adds,
“bite your tongue.
Sharon K. Pearl, M.A., C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Even if your son
Licensed Speech Language Pathologist
18 Barclay Pavilion East, Cherry Hill, NJ
says something that
(Located in the Barclay Farms Center on Route 70)
shocks you.”
DOES YOUR CHILD STRUGGLE WITH SPEECH?
856.429.1505
October 2010 | 11
By Kate Hogan
Fun Fall Party Ideas
h, autumn. The crisp, cool air and bright
blue skies just seem to shout, “THROW
A PARTY!” And why not? The weather
is still nice and, with the kids back in school,
you have the opportunity to run an errand or
two by yourself. So, here for you, is a list of fall
party ideas.
A
Halloween—Ok, the obvious, but kids love
Halloween… the dressing up, the candy, the
trick or treating. So go ahead, break out the
spider webs and the skeletons (the fake ones),
but gauge your scary factor on your party
guests’ ages.
For the wee ones, err on the cutesy side
and start with a craft. Jack-o-lanterns are
always fun – use paint, glue or stickers to decorate.
For older kids, try a homemade haunted
house.With your guests blindfolded, lead them
through a series of stations where they have
to rely on their sense of touch. For example,
peeled grapes can seem like a bowl full of eyeballs and the combination of jello and gummy
worms turns into squishy maggots.
Kids of all ages love face painting.
Consider hiring a professional like Bon Bon’s
Parties to come to your house and make the
party extra special.
12 | October 2010
Fall Harvest—A great theme for a party, no
matter what the age of your child. Host a
party on location. South Jersey has a plethora
of pick-your-own farms that are happy to help
you celebrate. Some offer full-blown parties
with nothing for you to worry about. Others
simply offer their crops for you and your
friends to gather and teach your child the
wonder of fresh fruits and vegetables. Go to
www.pickyourown.org for a list of local venues. Other great indoor party places include
Canlan Ice Sports, Cherry Hill Health &
Racquet and Sports and More.
Want to host your party at home? The
autumn sky is the limit. Don’t just decorate
pumpkins. Decorate apples, gourds, potatoes,
zucchinis and squash. Another great craft is
fruit prints. Simply cut your chosen produce in
half, cover the cut side with any color paint
and press onto sheets of paper. If your party is
in the latter part of autumn, use some of those
fallen leaves for prints.
Games—If your crowd is into games, there
are plenty of ways to utilize the autumn
theme. Split your party guests into two teams
and race to see which team can build a scarecrow first. With two sets of old clothes (button down shirt, jeans, hat and boots), teams
can either dress another teammate as the
scarecrow or, with a few bales of hay, have the
teams stuff their own. Afterward, use that hay
for a “needle in the haystack” treasure hunt.
Not real needles! Hide candy or small trinkets
and give each guest a chance to find some
party favors.
Fall means Football, another great party
theme. Have your guests arrive wearing their
team colors. The main entertainment of the
day will be a football game of some sort, be it
the host’s favorite team on television or your
guests playing in the yard. Throw in some
“drills” as games to keep everyone involved.
Find an inflatable field goal and have a kicking
or passing contest. For a relay race, set up six
to eight hula hoops in pairs next to each other
to simulate a tire running drill.
When it comes time to feed those hungry party guests, pretend they are sitting in the
bleachers and serve them hotdogs, soft pretzels, popcorn and cotton candy. End the game
with a football party cake boasting a field of
green frosting with those little plastic football
men running around.
Whatever you choose for your fall party
theme, enlist a friend to take pictures. Chances
are, you are going to be too busy to catch
every memorable detail. Have fun!✲
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October 2010 | 13
moms R women 2
pproximately 3.3 million children witness
domestic violence in their homes each
year. According to The Coalition Against
Domestic Violence, an equally alarming statistic
finds that children in homes where violence
occurs are physically abused or neglected at a
rate 1,500 percent higher than the national average. With over 71,000 incidents of domestic
abuse reported in New Jersey each year, thousands of children are witnessing this crime.
Domestic violence affects every member of
the family, including the children. Family violence
creates a home where children live in constant
fear, which often has a lasting negative impact.
The trauma they experience can show up in emotional,
behavioral, social and physical disturbances that affect
their development and can continue into adulthood.
Sadly, this epidemic is a vicious cycle; a child’s exposure
to the father abusing the mother is the strongest risk
factor for transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
Center for Family Services, a non-profit organization in South Jersey, runs programs dedicated to stopping this cycle and provides abused spouses and their
children the chance to rebuild relationships and heal
from past trauma. One such place of healing is The
Sanctuary, located in Glassboro.
“The Sanctuary is a remarkable place where we
allow victims to feel safe from the environment they’re
presently living [in],” says Richard Stagliano, Center For
Family Services CEO/President. “Places like the
Sanctuary become important to the community, as we
work to ensure the safety of children when they cannot
protect themselves.”
Another program run by Center for Family
Services is PALS (Peace: A Learned Solution), a domestic
violence program for children ages 3-12. PALS is uniquely designed to offer therapeutic services to children who
reside in homes where domestic violence is present.The
program uses talk, play, art, music, dance and movement
therapies to assist in the families’ healing.
Barbara Maronski, Program Director of PALS, feels
the therapy they provide will help families and children
reconnect. “These skills help the child create emotional
distance from the trauma and also help to repair the
parent/child relationship, which is frequently damaged
when domestic violence is present in the home,” says
Maronski.
PALS, sponsored by Camden County Women’s
Center, offers a seven-month therapeutic program to
learn peaceful solutions to conflict, as well as weekly
group sessions, individual and family therapy sessions
and case management services. All services are free and
confidential and available to residents in Camden
County.
A
For more information on Center for Family
Services and the programs they offer, please visit
www.centerffs.org.✲
Mary Beth Woodward serves as the Communications Coordinator for
Center For Family Services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Mass Communications and Public Relations from Bloomsburg
University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining CFS, Woodward served as an
AmeriCorps VISTA in Providence, Rhode Island.
14 | October 2010
Violence in
the Home:
Local Program Gives
Hope and Support
By Mary Beth Woodward
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence can be anything that
makes a person feel threatened, scared
or unsafe. It can be defined as a pattern
of behavior in any relationship that is
used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
Domestic Violence can include:
• Physical assault
• Sexual assault
• Intimidation
• Isolation
• Verbal abuse or harassment, including
disrespectful or demeaning comments
• Threats against you or another
family member
• Creating disturbances at your place
of work
• Economic control
• Harassing telephone calls
• Spying on you
• Child abuse
• Destruction of property or pets
No one should be a victim of domestic
violence. If someone is abusing you or
someone you know, you do not have to
accept it. If you need a safe place to go
or want to talk to someone about your
options, call 1-866-295-SERV (7378). The
hotline is answered by a live person, 24
hours a day, 365 days a year.
Get Involved! To learn more about how
you can help victims of domestic violence or sexual assault in South Jersey,
visit www.centerffs.org.
Home Care for Children
with Special Needs
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October 2010 | 15
After the Loss
of a Baby:
The Five Stages
of Grief
(according to a local anonymous mom)
he loss of a baby is one of the most devastating experiences a woman can go
through. Whether the loss was through
miscarriage or stillbirth, recovery is long and
painful. Here are the stages you will most likely experience. Knowing what to expect sometimes helps you prepare for what’s to come. Be
sure to reach out to a local support group or
professional therapist if you, or someone you
know, has lost a baby.
T
Stage 1: Denial
Most of the time, miscarriages happen suddenly, with little or no warning. At first, you may
not realize what has really happened. You may
think, “I’m okay,” or you may be embarrassed
and not want to make a big deal out of it.
Miscarriages are often very painful, both for the
mind and for the body, and you may find yourself relieved that, momentarily, the pain is gone.
This is not the case for everyone; each person
deals with pain and loss in different ways.
Stage 2: Anger
The second stage of grief is anger. You may find
yourself having major mood swings and getting
angry at everyone around you for no apparent
reason. This is normal! You might find yourself
getting angry at your husband/boyfriend, your
friends, your family, your doctor or even God.
You may ask yourself, “Why me?” You may
be angry because of insensitive remarks. Most
people do not understand what it feels like to
go through a miscarriage and they will try
to be helpful by saying things they believe
will make you feel better but, in reality, they
hurt you.
They may say, “It’s for the best,” or “there
was probably something wrong with it, anyway,” or even, “it’s better this way because you
weren’t really prepared for a child.” It’s okay for
you to be angry, because you lost a baby that
no one can replace. If anyone tells you that you
don’t have a right to be angry, they are wrong!
The important thing is not to blame yourself.
Stage 3: Bargaining
This stage is really a tough one. Bargaining
16 | October 2010
occurs when you try to rationalize your loss,
or even try to replace that empty hole with
something else. For some, this stage can last for
years.You may think that you immediately want
to start trying to conceive another child.
Thoughts such as, “This time, things will be different” may cross your mind.
Stage 4: Depression
In this stage, you may cry a lot and remain in a
very sad state. It’s important for you to have
“alone time” during this stage. This won’t be
hard, because you will probably not want to be
around people much. Don’t shut out the world,
though; being around people is important, even
if they do not understand. Do things for yourself; go shopping, take a hot bath with salts or
sweet smelling oils, go find a favorite tree and
sit down beside it and read a good book.
Stage 5: Acceptance
This is the final stage in your very difficult journey…when you finally accept that what you
have lost is gone, but not forgotten. This stage
does have its moments of regression into past
stages, however. There may be days when you
are doing just fine and then see something or
hear something that triggers your sadness and
you slip back into depression. This is normal. As
time goes by, this will happen less often and
eventually you will start to heal.✲
Have
Support Groups for
Pregnancy and Infant Loss
UNITE, Inc
1st and 3rd Monday of the month
at 7 p.m.
Virtua at Voorhees, Barry
D. Brown Education Center
Call Ann Coyle at 1-888-Virtua-3
The Compassionate Friends
2nd Wednesday of the month
at 7:30 p.m.
Somers Point, Atlantic County
Call Gail at (609) 653-8451
BASIS (Handi*Vangelism Ministries
International)
2nd Friday of the month at 7 p.m.
Williamstown, Gloucester County
Call (856) 629-4535
HOPING (Helping Other Parents
in Normal Grief)
Meetings are held quarterly
Underwood Memorial Hospital
Woodbury, NJ
Call (856) 845-0100 ext. 2063
South Jersey MOM delivered to your home!
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$29.99/year you will receive:
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Connections
Counseling, LLC
“Renewing
Relationships,
Rebuilding Lives,
Restoring Hope”
Counseling Services Offered for:
COUPLES
• Drifting relationships
• Wounded relationships due
to affairs, pornography &
sexual behavior problems
• Grieving couples due to the
loss of a child/infertility
• Relationships in conflict &
communication breakdown
• Couples struggling with
work-life balance
CHILDREN, TEENS & ADULTS
• Coping with the stress of divorce,
single parenting, blended families
& other unexpected life transitions
• Struggling with depression, anxiety
& disordered eating
• Burdened by grief & loss
• Overwhelmed by school problems
& bullying
• Haunted by emotional, physical
& sexual abuse
All of our services offer a Faith-based option
Call us today to begin reclaiming life for you and your loved ones!
856.845.4447
Connections Counseling, LLC • Woodbury, NJ • www.connectionsnj.com
Day, evening and weekend appointments
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October 2010 | 17
just born
Looking for the latest gadgets, toys, books or
family related products? Look no further! Each month,
we highlight the latest and greatest just for you. Take a look
at these “just born” products and add them to your list of
must haves!
1
Edible Gifts Plus
Give your ghosts and goblins something extra special for Halloween with adorable
and delicious treats. From Ghost cookies, Rice Krispy Treats and much, much more.
These treats would be great for Halloween parties, trick-or-treating or just for
having around for your family, friends and co-workers to enjoy. They can also be
sent as gifts to anyone. Edible Gifts Plus also offers a line of Pink Ribbon items.
Prices vary, www.ediblegiftsplus.com
2
Bright Starts Pretty in Pink
You don’t have to spend a lot to support a cause for breast cancer awareness. Bright
Starts developed this collection of toys and gear in which a portion of every sale
goes straight to breast cancer research. These toys provide baby with tons of fun.
$3.99 and up, www.brightstarts.com
3
Bugaboo Bag
More than a diaper bag, the Bugaboo Bag displays a modern look that goes from
play date to dinner. The clean lines look at home on the shoulders of either moms
or dads. Each bag comes with a changing mat and insulated, removable food and
drink containers. The Bugaboo Bag has clever storage pockets for credit cards, keys
and cell phone. The adjustable shoulder strap keeps you comfy. $129.95 and up,
www.bugaboostrollers.com
4
KIDZ BOP Halloween Party
The spooky dance mix includes classic favorites and top hits such as Thriller, The
Addams Family, Monster Mash and Disturbia among many others. There is even a
special “Spooky Sounds” track that can provide the perfect background whether
you’re pumpkin carving or throwing a house party. $11.98, available where
CDs are sold.
5
Smart Cover
Smart Cover’s waterproof formula hides sun spots, age spots, veins, bruising,
freckles and even tattoos. Everything you need to conceal major to minor skin
imperfections on the face and body. Dermatologist-tested: non-comedogenic,
allergy tested, fragrance-free, not tested on animals. $5 of every Hollywood MakeUp Artist kit will be donated to breastcancer.org. $29.75, www.smartcover.com
6
But He’ll Change: End the Thinking That Keeps You in an Abusive
Relationship
A survivor of domestic violence, Joanna V. Hunter helps women face the excuses
they tell themselves that keep them in abusive relationships. Using expert advice
complemented by her story and the stories of dozens of other women who have
survived and turned away from domestic violence, Hunter teaches women to
identify the lies they’ve accepted, and stick up for their own needs and plans for
their safety. $14.95, available where books are sold.
7
Rock ‘N Learn DVDs
This program is designed to enable parents to be as involved as they choose with
their kids. Easy to use and follow, each program is crafted especially to allow for
self-instruction. Completely kid-friendly. Subjects covered include reading and
writing, math, science, test preparation, other languages, social studies and
phonics. $19.99 and up, www.rocknlearn.com
8
Nickelodeon Favorites: Happy Halloween
Trick or treat? This DVD has all of your favorite friends as they discover candy, costumes and haunted happenings. Dora the Explorer, Go Diego, Go, Wonder Pets, Yo
Gabba Gabba, Blues Clues and Ni Hao, Kai-lan all together on one DVD. Features
over 2 hours of educational entertainment for preschoolers, as well as episodes
never before released on DVD. $16.99, available where DVDs are sold.
9
Posh Tots Pixie Princess Tutu Costume (as seen on this month’s
cover model!)
A great designer piece that will serve as an everlasting heirloom! This refined fairy
costume is whimsy and full of fun. Includes pixie cut multi-colored tutu in shades
of lavender, pale pink and mint green. This exquisite tutu is handcrafted from over
70 yards of premium tulle. In addition to tutu, costume also features fanciful
crown, wand and wings. Leotard not included. Recommended ages 2-6 yrs.
$90, www.poshtots.com
4
9
7
3
6
2
1
5
8
18 | October 2010
C
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Jersey Ghouls
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pop’s culture
The American Academy of
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Pediatric Dentists recommends
m
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establishing a “Dental Home”
u
o
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for your child by their
o
J
e
1st Birthday
om
o Batman, Witchie-Poo,
Cleopatra and a pink poodle walk into my living
room… no, this isn’t the beginning of a bad joke; it’s Halloween!
Well it was LAST year, anyway.
Halloween is a big deal at
our house: spooky decorations,
scary movies, cool costumes
By Brian Fountain
and, of course, delicious treats.
After all, the Caped Crusader
has to keep up his trick-or-treating strength! This year is sure to be
another banner Halloween at the Fountain house. The only question is
whether the characters in my living room on the 31st will be cute, scary
or superhuman.
As I write this, Lori and the kids are leafing through store circulars
featuring all types of fun costumes.The kids ooh and ah as the pages are
turned, each pointing excitedly at the latest trends in ghoulery. Our
copy of Halloween Hits is playing in the background and it’s KILLER!
(Bad pun intended.)
“My favorite part of Halloween is picking pumpkins at the farm,”
Jack declares, then throws in his usual Cars-related non-sequitur: “And
Lightning McQueen.” Molly’s answer is more typical, as she admits to
liking the treats the best. “I think my favorite is chocolate.” This makes
us smile, as we remember how, not so long ago, Molly pronounced it
“chotlick.”
As for Sadie, our youngest, every day is Halloween. Today, for
instance, she has crammed her feet into some pink kitten rain boots
and sports a jaunty kitchen towel on her head. And this 2-year-old has
countless tricks up her sleeve, which, unfortunately, are not solely
reserved for Halloween.
For costumes, this year, we tentatively agreed to have a family
theme. Over the years, we have had some interesting characters grace
our home: Tinker Bell, a cowboy, a Dalmation, Snow White, Superman
and more than a few monkeys. But it’s a challenge to come up with a
group of similar costumes, while still letting all five personalities shine
through. We are in for some creative and lively wrangling this
Halloween. Everyone has his or her own idea to throw into the mix. “I
like Spiderman the best,” Jack exclaims, though he’s never dressed as
the web slinger. “I can’t climb the walls though.” (That’s funny, Jack,
because you’ve driven me to do it a few times!)
Whether we are The Incredibles, the motley gang from the Wizard
of Oz, or the familiar cadre of Dracula-Frankenstein-Mummy types we
are going to do it together. We will circle the neighborhood, laugh and
jump out of our collective skin at someone’s clever and terrifying decorations. We will pick up treat bags that sag and rip from the weight of
their sweet burden, admire others’ costumes, feel (and be) silly and
bring home our loot to share a few too many pieces of candy. We will
have pictures in our camera and in our mind’s eyes of one more perfectly imperfect Halloween that has come and gone too soon.
Well, it’s time to carve this year’s pumpkin and the kids are excited to “pull out the guts.” Gosh, I hope they are referring to the pumpkin.✲
Brian Fountain lives in Winslow Township with his wife and their three young children. He
is an Atlantic City restaurant manager and writes about the joys and struggles of raising a
family from a father’s perspective.
October 2010 | 19
My Mommy Wears a Wig
An inspiring story of breast cancer survival
By Renee Taylor Negin
my Link always knew she was at risk for breast cancer. Her grandmother died from it at 50; her mother died at 33. She knew that
family history was a strong indicator that she too might one day
receive that diagnosis. She
shared her concerns with her
OB/GYN when she was
young, and her doctor set her
up with yearly mammograms.
Each time she had a mammogram, she heard the same
thing: “You are young and have
no children, so your breasts
are really dense.” Translation:
the mammogram shows no sign
of cancer, but there’s no guarantee.
In 2001, Amy gave birth to
her daughter. In 2003, her mammogram showed something, but she was
breastfeeding so the doctor was not concerned. In 2004, she had her son.
Two years later, Amy’s mammogram again showed no cause for concern.
But two months after that mammogram, she felt a lump in her breast and
something under her arm. Amy had previously been to a genetics counselor and was told she had the genes that indicate a higher percentage of
getting breast and ovarian cancer. On September 21, 2006, after being
diagnosed with breast cancer, Amy had a double mastectomy. Amy felt
relieved, as she had always assumed she was going to have breast cancer,
and she no longer had to wait for its arrival. She told her doctor, “Take
‘em off!” Even though the cancer was only in her right breast, she opted
to have both removed—as well as her ovaries—to eliminate the possibility of a future diagnosis. Even with the double mastectomy, Amy did still
go through chemo and radiation to clear out any traces of cancer that
might remain.
Throughout this ordeal, Amy kept her health information very private, sharing it only with her close relatives and her best friend. She says,
“I didn’t want to hear comments about how I looked or how I was feeling. I didn’t want to make everyone else uncomfortable…. I didn’t want
my kids to hear it.” Her children knew she was sick, but she did not want
them to see and hear people’s reactions and worry.
Amy says her husband was like a rock throughout the process. He
remained positive and supportive. So much so, says Amy, that she wished
he would have a moment where he broke down and cried. He did not
show fear, but rather faced it head-on. As a business owner, though, he was
torn between maintaining and growing his business and being with her
during treatment. He was the breadwinner for the family and his business
depended on him being there. Initially, Amy’s daughter would often accompany her to her chemo treatments, sitting on her mom’s lap and snuggling.
As her treatments continued, however, Amy actually looked forward to
chemo because it provided her with quiet time—time she used to watch
“grown up” TV, catch up on reading magazines, or filling in her calendar.
Because she was going through chemo, Amy knew she would lose
her hair. She didn’t want her kids to be fearful when they saw this, so she
explained to them what was going to happen. Once her hair did start to
A
20 | October 2010
fall out, she had a “hair shaving party.” Her husband, children, dog and one
friend gathered together as Amy’s remaining hair was shorn. Because it
was near Halloween, Amy bought a purple wig to wear that night.
She bought and wore a regular wig, too, which resembled her
natural hair. Jokes Amy, “I started wondering how terrible my hair
must have looked before, because I got so many compliments on my
wig!” She says that one woman even insisted that Amy share the
name of her hairdresser because the woman wanted her hair to
look as good as Amy’s. Amy didn’t reveal that she was wearing a
wig, but told the woman her hairdresser was a close friend who
no longer worked at a salon.
To explain her hair loss to her children, and to other children whose parents might be losing their hair, Amy wrote a children’s book called, My Mommy Wears a Wig (available at authorhouse.com, bn.com and amazon.com). The book is a lighthearted
approach to losing one’s hair. This is just one of many ways Amy
has chosen to share her story and spread the word. She is also a
Cancer Education and Early Detection educator because she
knows that education and awareness are the keys to early detection
and survival. She advises women to have their yearly mammograms, to ask
questions, and to face the possibility of cancer head on.✲
Advances in Breast Cancer Detection
Comparing Mammograms, Ultrasound and Tomosynthesis
By Jeanne Stark
very year brings advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer,” says
Sherrill Little, MD and board-certified
radiologist at Booth Radiology. “A new and
exciting advancement on the horizon is
tomosynthesis.” Currently, tomosynthesis is
available for research purposes only, but it
shows promise in overcoming some of the
limitations of mammograms.
Mammograms continue to be the mainstay for early detection of breast cancer, says
Little. She continues to suggest that women
follow the American Cancer Society recommendation and begin mammograms by age 40
and get an exam every year after that.
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast.
The breast is compressed between two plates
to flatten the breast and spread the breast tissue. Two views are taken of each breast, one
showing from the top to the bottom, and one
from side to side. While the compression only
lasts for a moment, it can be stressful. The
level of radiation used in a mammogram is
E
Unlike images generated from an MRI, which
look like a flat circle. According to Little,
“Tomosynthesis gives the breast more dimension so it’s easier to see abnormalities in dense
breast tissue, and the process itself makes the
breast exams more comfortable.”
While tomosynthesis is not yet available
to the general public and has not been FDA
approved, Little is encouraged to see the
future advancements in breast cancer detection. “In the meantime,” says Dr. Little, “women
need to be diligent about their breast health.”
Conducting monthly self breast exams and
getting an annual mammogram rank top on
her list of ways that women can take care of
their health.✲
very low and does not increase the risk of
breast cancer.
Ultrasound of the breast is another
important tool for diagnosing breast cancer.
Ultrasound uses a high-frequency sound wave
rather than radiation. Ultrasound is used as a
diagnostic test if an abnormality is found in a
mammogram or by physical exam. Ultrasound
can be the best way to determine whether a
lump is solid or fluid filled.
Tomosynthesis is similar to a mammogram in that it’s an x-ray of the breast. The
compression of the breast is similar to that of
a mammogram, but only a slight amount of
pressure is applied. Once the breast is held in
a stable position, eleven x-ray pictures are
taken of each breast from many angles creating an arc around the breast. It takes only 7
seconds to capture these images, which are
then digitally sent to a computer where they
are assembled to create a 3-D image of the
breast. “Reviewing a breast image from a
tomogram is like looking at a ball,” says Little.
$
Dr. Little is a board-certified radiologist who is fellowship
trained in mammography. She has lectured widely on the
importance of screening mammography in preventing
breast cancer. Dr. Little and her husband Patrick are busy
raising their three daughters, a nine-year-old and seven
year old twins. They enjoy snow skiing and biking.
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October 2010 | 21
Each Day is a Small Success
An inspiring story of breast cancer survival
By Angela DeGroot
hortly after the death of her father, Nina Staiman was diagnosed
with breast cancer. Then, after hearing she was cancer-free, Staiman
found out her mother had metastatic breast cancer. Still, no matter
how many times Staiman gets knocked down,
she gets back up smiling.
Because of her family history,
Staiman has had annual mammograms
since her early 30s. In 2006, after the
results of her mammogram were normal, Staiman put thoughts of breast
cancer on the back burner but, three
months later, Staiman discovered a
lump in her breast. She called her
OB/GYN and scheduled a check-up.
The weekend before her appointment,
the family went snow tubing and
Staiman remembers standing in the
cold, checking under what felt like 50
layers of clothing, hoping the lump had
miraculously disappeared. It had not.
The OB/GYN sent Staiman for an ultrasound and, based on
those results, she was referred to a breast surgeon for an in-office biopsy. The diagnosis of breast cancer was confirmed. Fortunately, after more
tests, lymph node involvement was ruled out. Staiman chose the aggressive treatment option of a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy because she could not face living with the uncertainty of having a
breast cancer recurrence.
Staiman prepared for her surgery by poring over textbooks like a
medical student. “Knowing the facts gave me a sense of control,” she says.
Two months after she was diagnosed, Staiman underwent a nine-hour
bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Then, just when she was feeling her strong self again, she started chemotherapy, which made her feel
ill and exhausted. She kept reminding herself that anything making her
this sick had to be working.
Staiman and her husband told their children, ages 6 and 8, about her
cancer after her surgery but before the chemotherapy. “I needed to be
careful about using the word ‘cancer’ because their pop pop died of
esophageal cancer. I wanted to be upfront but age appropriate with
them.”
Staiman consulted literature she found through the American
Cancer Society but mostly followed her instincts. “I didn’t want my illness
to be a cancer of whispered voices.” She told them her cancer was one
that doctors could fix with a medicine so strong her hair would fall out.
“They [really] didn’t have much of a reaction.” Staiman was concerned
about the effect her illness might have on her children, but realized
her battle could also have a positive effect on them. “They might decide to follow careers in cancer research or treatment. That would be
wonderful.”
During her treatment, Staiman’s husband kept things at home as
routine as possible. He took care of things she was not able to, all while
keeping her grounded and helping her to see the bigger picture when she
could not. “He kept our everyday going.”
“It wasn’t so much the cancer, but everything else I had to deal with.
My life was all about doctors’ appointments and chemo treatments.”
S
22 | October 2010
Staiman did her best to see the humor in her situation. Reading about
other people’s experiences also gave her strength. She realized getting
through each day was a small success and, even though it felt like it was
never going to end, it did.
Staiman received support and encouragement
from her family, friends and neighbors. However,
the women she met at the cancer center
were the greatest help of all. “They were
going through it too and provided kinship with
their immediate understanding of what I was
feeling.”
Did cancer change Staiman? “Absolutely.
I truly see each day as a gift and I try to pass
this on to my children. I am still the same
mother, wife and friend, but now I push away
the non-essential and the negative.”
Her advice to women recently diagnosed
with breast cancer is to “ask lots of questions
and bring someone with you to your consults
because you need two sets of ears for all that
information. Accept all the help offered and ask for the
help you need, knowing that one day you will help them back.”✲
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I
t’s the little things in life that count. It’s the little “green”
things you do that protect the environment. What are you
consciously doing on a daily basis? Ten questions to ponder:
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1. Did your dinner come from a farm or a box?
2. Did your water come from the tap or a plastic bottle?
3. Did you use plastic or reusable bags (or none at all)
at the store?
4. Did you unplug/turn off lights/appliances not in use?
5. Did you walk, bike or drive your car?
6. Did you recycle the recyclables or put everything in the trash?
7. Did you throw out food waste or compost it?
8. Did your children play video games or play outside?
9. Did you use cloth or paper napkins?
10. Did you pack lunches in reusable containers or in
plastic baggies?
These 10 questions are really simple to answer. If you are not living
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October 2010 | 23
know 2 grow
Local Event Raises Money
for Special Needs Program
Famous baked goods help bring it all together
By Adrienne Richardson
H
as your child ever noticed another child
or adult in a wheelchair or someone
who had a disability of some sort? What
did they say when they noticed their differences? More importantly, what did you say?
Many parents don’t know what to say
when their child points out someone who is
“different.” Most moms and dads say things
like, “Don’t stare” or “It’s not nice to point” or
something else along those lines. But is that
the right thing to say?
“Parents should encourage their children
to make eye contact with someone in a wheelchair or with a disability, and then smile and
say, ‘hi’,” says Sue Ambrose, mother of three
from Moorestown. Ambrose has a child with
cerebral palsy. “Looking away or not talking to
the person makes them feel ignored.”
It’s important to have discussions with
your child about how to treat and interact
with children who have a disability. Explain to
them that they want to feel cared about and
noticed. Most times, special needs children and
adults welcome the opportunity to talk about
their disability and teach others.
The Special Education Advocacy Council
of Moorestown (SpEAC) is on a mission to do
just that. Their goal is “to positively impact the
education of all students with an emphasis on
those with special needs representing students and parents of students needing or
receiving education services.”
Anthony Ambrose (left) with Little Buddy at Carlo’s
Bake Shop
24 | October 2010
On October 8, 2010,
SpEAC is holding a “fun-raiser” called Cafe on Main featuring baked goods from
Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken (as seen on TLC).
The event is sold out, but
you can still order their
famous crumb cakes at
www.moorestownspeac.com
and pick them up that
night between 7 and 9 p.m.
at Moorestown Community
House, 16 East Main St in
Moorestown. All proceeds
benefit SpEAC.
Mauro Castano is Buddy
Valastro’s right-hand man at
Maddalena, Little Buddy and Mauro Castano as seen on TLC
Carlo’s Bake Shop, as well as
his brother-in-law. They are
ever she saw me and this made me feel good
both happy to support this great event. “We’ve
to know that I made her feel good,” says Little
taught our children to never make fun of other
Buddy.
children,” says Maddalena Castano, Mauro’s
When Sue’s son Anthony visited the bakwife and the second oldest Valastro sister.
ery, Little Buddy was curious about the braces
“But being a good example is the best thing a
on Anthony’s legs. Sue told Little Buddy that
parent can do.”
Anthony had cerebral palsy and explained to
The family at Carlo’s Bake Shop is a tight
him what that means. “Little Buddy’s kindness
family where discussions about myriad topics
and ability to look past Anthony’s disability was
come up at the dinner table… topics such as
touching. He realized he needed to take
the homeless man who hangs out near the
Anthony around the bakery with caution and
bakery and the blind man they know who
make sure he didn’t get hurt, but he still
loves collecting baseball cards. But making
gave him the red carpet treatment instead of
more of an impact are the actions their childismissing him,” Sue says.
dren see them take. “Every winter, my dad
“I was tormented by a classmate when I
gives a coat to the homeless man,” says Little
was in the 7th and 8th grade,” says Mauro. My
Buddy. “And I watch my dad and Uncle Buddy
family had just come to America from Italy and
give him money.” Mauro believes, “Being a
I spoke very little English.” Mauro worked hard
good example is not about the conversation
to learn English, as this was very important to
you have, it’s the example you show them.”
their father and to living in America. “She conUnfortunately, bullying and picking on
stantly made fun of me and got her boyfriend
others has become all too common today.
to pick on me. It was hard being different.”
Children can be mean and nasty to those who
Parents really are the most important
are different and someone needs to stand up
role models for their children. Parents who
for them. Mauro’s son, 11-year-old Little Buddy
show kindness and compassion for those with
agrees. “I had a girl in my class at school who
special needs will help develop those same
has Down Syndrome. No one else would talk
characteristics in their children. “My dad
to her. People told me to avoid her but I didalways said ‘tell me who your parents are and
n’t want to. I said hi to her one day and we
I’ll tell you who your kids are,” Mauro says.✲
became friends. She would get excited whenVisit our website and sign up for our e-newsletter
Does Your Child Need Help?
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October 2010 | 25
Defying Down Syndrome
By Kate Hogan
few months ago, Lisa O’Donnell of Moorestown was scrolling
through the pictures on her 6-year-old son Daniel’s digital camera. When she got to the picture of him sitting in a canoe in the
middle of a lake, she was shocked and thrilled at the same time. Daniel
was born with Down Syndrome and it was not so long ago that doctors
misjudged the level of accomplishments he would achieve in his life.
“Daniel is a remarkable young boy who has brought great joy to
our family and friends,” says O’Donnell. “Many wonderful people and
organizations we have encountered over the past six years have made it
possible for Daniel to participate fully in life. We knew [our] son would
be born with Down Syndrome and it’s stunning how many people and
doctors deliver that news as if [a] tragedy. Fortunately, for us, there have
been many people along the way [who] have helped us understand that
people with Down Syndrome are more like their peers than they are
different. Daniel [has] been our greatest teacher and he is a blessing to
his father and [me] as well as to his older brother and sister.”
The O’Donnells try to keep Daniel “in the game” at all times,
meaning play dates, sports, travel, restaurants and all the things that 6year-old boys enjoy. “Sometimes, we have to modify or adapt a situation,
provide an advocate, do more preparation than the average family, but
mostly we just try to love each other, have fun and live our lives.”
For the past three summers, Daniel has attended the JCC Camp in
Medford through a program called Open Hearts/Open Doors, which
provides him with a one-on-one advocate so he can attend a typical
camp. The philosophy of inclusion has been very powerful and empowering, not only for Daniel but for the whole O’Donnell family. “We have
been very blessed to be surrounded by friends, therapists and doctors
who consistently guide us to see the things [Daniel] CAN do.”
When O’Donnell and her husband Jay come up against challenges,
they try to find creative ways to accommodate them. For instance,
Daniel struggles with articulated speech. So the O’Donnell’s did some
research and discovered a software program that works with the iTouch
and iPad and has a series of cue cards of sorts. Daniel is able to scroll
through the choices to find the right picture, word or phrase he is trying to communicate and he can show it to the person with whom he is
talking.
Another way O’Donnell circumvents Daniel’s speech problem is
with a digital camera. O’Donnell stuck it in Daniel’s back pack so his
counselor could take pictures of activities he did at camp that day. Later,
the family can scroll through the pictures and ask specific questions
about his day’s events.
“Just like any other mom and child, we are always trying to balance
staying in our comfort zone and stretching to have growth through new
experiences.We get frightened by the unknown sometimes and worried
about how Daniel’s challenges impact or translate in a mainstream environment. [I] try to take his lead as much as possible and not [assume]
failure. If a situation is too overwhelming for Dan, I tell myself, ‘we’ll just
try again later.’”
A
26 | October 2010
Daniel with his cousin, Emily
If O’Donnell can offer one piece of advice to other parents, it’s to
“fight as hard as you can against the limits people try to put on you and
your family. People still tell me what they think Daniel can and cannot
do without really knowing him or his capabilities. I feel like Jay and
I need to constantly reflect upon what is right for him and try to ignore
the naysayers whenever possible.”✲
Is your child the
CUTEST KID
IN TOWN?
Every month, South Jersey MOM
will feature a local child on the cover!
If you think you have the cutest kid in town, send a
4x6 photo and a $15 entry fee (per household) to P.O. Box 2413,
Vineland, NJ 08362-2413.
If your child(ren) is/are selected, we will arrange a FREE
professional photo shoot and they could be on our next cover for all
your friends and family to see! Sorry, photos cannot be returned.
Parent Name: __________________________________________________________
Town:________________________ Phone: __________________________________
Child’s Name & DOB: ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________
Finding Support
and Friends with
Mom, Nobody Likes Me!
KIIDS
Supportively Stepping Aside (Instead of Stepping In)
By Michele Ranard, M.Ed.
By Shannon L. Sadler
For a mother of a Down Syndrome child, finding support from mothers in similar situations
can be beneficial for both parent and child.
Knowledge and Information about Individuals with
Down Syndrome (KIIDS) was founded almost
nine years ago when a few mothers of Down
Syndrome children started arranging regular
play dates.
After sharing stories and experiences,
they decided to form a support group to help
educate women about Down Syndrome. The
purpose of KIIDS is not just to share information, but also to create an atmosphere of commonality for the children and moms.
The organization’s website gives mothers
access to a “Lending Library,” which allows
them to borrow the latest publications, books
and DVDs about Down Syndrome.
During the year, the organization offers a
wide range of play dates and outings. Past outings include a class at MacKenzie & Allebach’s
Gold Medal Family Karate and a viewing of
Alice in Wonderland at the Camden County
Community College MainStage Center for the
Arts.
“Since the organization receives funding
from the state, in general, the events are free
to the children and their immediate families,”
says Nancy Iannone, Moms Outreach
Coordinator for KIIDS and author of Diagnosis
to Delivery: A Pregnant Mother’s Guide to Down
Syndrome.
Iannone’s 5 year old daughter, Gabby, was
diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth. As
one of the coordinators of KIIDS, Iannone is in
charge of spreading the word to new mothers
of Down Syndrome children to inform them of
their events.
“It’s difficult to find mothers with Down
Syndrome children because of confidentially
laws, such as HIPPA,” says Iannone. She sends
information to local gynecologists, so they can
inform mothers about their services.
KIIDS is also affiliated with Bringing Up
Down Syndrome of South Jersey (BUDS), which
offers programs for a broader range of ages
and sometimes hosts joint events,
such as the Buddy Walk. www.bringingupdownsyndrome. org.
For more information and to register for events, visit
www.kiids.info. Nancy Iannone’s book, Diagnosis to
Delivery: A Pregnant Mother’s Guide to Down Syndrome,
is available online at www.downsyndromepregnancy.org.
E
ight-year-old Sophie’s brown eyes fill
with tears when she is asked about her
day after school. “Alexis made fun of my
haircut in front of Kevin!”
It’s tough enough as a parent to hear
about our kids suffering a social setback
when they are little. But it’s even trickier to
know how to respond to setbacks once they
reach about third grade. Sometimes, we are
tempted to step in and fix things for them
but, after a certain age (unless it’s chronic bullying), it can be unwise to interfere. So how
do we offer support without becoming overly involved?
Supportive Strategies
Clinical psychologists Natalie Madorsky
Elman and Eileen Kennedy-Moore offer tips
for parents honoring the “whole-child” in
their book, The Unwritten Rules of Friendship.
Elman and Kennedy-Moore maintain that
children with specific social problems also
have corresponding strengths, which may be
cultivated. “The Shy child,” for example, “can
become a good listener and a loyal friend.”
The following strategies are woven throughout their book.
• Give them lots of socializing practice.
Make sure your child has opportunities to
simply play with others—not just structured
activities and lessons. To learn how to get
along well with others, they need practice.
The psychologists recommend short play
dates focusing on an activity (bowling, going
out for ice cream) for those children who are
struggling socially.
• Get the scoop from teachers. It can be
helpful to obtain the opinion of your child’s
teacher who may be able to shed light on the
teasing or exclusion. The teacher may be able
to connect the dots and provide information
about your child’s behavior around other
kids. Perhaps your child is a non-stop talker at
home, but her teacher’s feedback indicates
she is tight-lipped at school. It helps to have
such objectivity.
• Convey hope. Being left off the birthday
party guest list or ridiculed can feel like the
end of the world to a child. Remember that
most teasing incidents are isolated situations.
Help kids gain perspective by expressing your
confidence that things will work out. When
your child is upset because “everyone hates
me” it’s important to listen and feel his or her
pain, but to offer hope and focus on future
success.
Do Not “Interview for Pain”
School consultant and psychologist Michael
Thompson suggests in his book, Best Friends,
Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of
Children, that when speaking with your child
about their day, you avoid questions that
“interview them for pain.” “Was anyone mean
to you today?” is the wrong sort of inquiry,
since it will cause children to search their
memories for something negative to report.
Keep the focus on how they may successfully
handle the situation. Thompson suggests asking the following questions to explore their
ability to cope after a social setback.
fi What do you think you will do if this
happens again?
fi How do other kids handle teasing by
so-and-so? Can you do the same?
fi Have you ever played with so-and-so
before? Did a friend comfort you after
you were teased?
Focus on What Friendship Means
It’s tough to relax and step aside when we
see our kids hurting.The desire to pick up the
phone immediately and contact the parents
associated with a conflict can be strong. But
it’s important to help your child stay focused
on the big picture: kindness, respect and true
friendship.
In her book, When Friendship Hurts, Dr.
Jan Yager discusses the role of empathy in
friendship. She says, “the feeling of empathy
for a friend…stems from a deep-rooted
emotion toward that friend, but it also
reflects a basic ability to listen to others and
truly care about what they are going
through.”
By modeling empathy for our children,
we are teaching a meaningful lesson in love
that they may then pay forward in their social
lives and friendships.✲
Michele Ranard is a professional counselor/tutor
who understands the desire to “fix” things for our
kids. Ranard is a freelancer with a funny blog
@micheleranard.blogspot.com.
October 2010 | 27
book review
Tale Spin Stories
Read-to-Me Book Reviews
By Kathryn Ross, a.k.a. “Miss Kathy”
O
ctober looms before us with the promise of crisp, brown
leaves to crunch under our feet, costumed toddlers crying, “Trick
or Treat” and scary flying things
that go squeak! Bats! The kind
with wings – and the kind that
make you want to stand and sing,
“Take me out to the ballgame! Take
me out to the crowd! Buy me some
peanuts and Cracker Jack; I don’t
care if I never get back!”
What? Baseball? But, isn’t
that a spring thing? Actually, it’s a
pretty long year, baseball season.
And it wraps up another year of its beloved history every October
during the much-anticipated World Series.
Enter the baseball bat… and bats that play baseball. In the fanciful world of author/illustrator Brian Lies, his bats can do just about
anything. First, we met them when they enjoyed a summertime
adventure in Bats at the Beach, which was so much fun it made the
New York Times Bestseller List! Then, Lies took his bats on another
night flight to one of his own favorite haunts – the local library – in
Bats at the Library. Now, just released, he turns the world of baseball
upside down with Bats at the Ballgame, which has been selected for
the Autumn 2010 Kids’ Indie Next List by independent booksellers.
Born and raised in South Jersey, Lies’ childhood memories of
boyhood and baseball are evident as his bats take a sentimental journey to the local baseball stadium, filling the stands with fluttering
wings of excitement as they watch their all-stars compete. Clever
puns and word play rival the game play with such stadium staples as
“beenuts and Cricket Jack” within the context of rhyming text, capturing nostalgic images of our American pastime. Night-shading and
lush tones provide the foundation for pages and pages of full-spread
acrylic paintings depicting playful bats looking very much like human
baseball heroes and fans of old, glowing in the warmth of evening
lights.
28 | October 2010
!!
THEME: Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
BOOK: Bats at the Ballgame
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Lies
EAN: 9780547249704
Follow-up Activity: Here’s a terrific read-aloud for our youngest
sports fans and budding ballplayers. Dad, make this a personal favorite
– and do not forget to end it all by using the teachable moment to
share your own childhood memories of going “out to the ballgame.”
And, Mom – do not miss this opportunity to pair this book with a
non-fiction library selection about the bat itself – a fascinating creature to study. Adopt some bats of your own by putting up a “bat box”
in your backyard – available at home and garden stores – and take
the kids outside for some bat watching in the autumn evenings.✲
Kathryn Ross is a professional storyteller celebrating the love of learning and literacy
with children of all ages. She hosts Tale Spin Stories every Tuesday for preschoolers at the
Cumberland Mall in Vineland. To learn more about Miss Kathy programs from Pageant
Wagon Productions, visit www.pwpstorytellers.com.
For a complete list of events, log onto
To submit your event, send an email to [email protected].
Entries are due six weeks prior to the event and are filled on a first come first serve basis. Space is limited.
ATLANTIC COUNTY
for the entire family. Main Street,
Marlton. (856) 985-9792
South Jersey Pumpkin
Show Festival
October 9 – 10 from 10a to 6p
Two day festival that celebrates the
fall harvest of pumpkins. Pumpkin
weigh off, over 100 craftsmen, professional home expo, pumpkin dessert
contest, music, food rides, decorated
baby stroller parade, Little Miss
Pumpkin show and pumpkin pie by
the slice. 4-H Fairground Rte. 50, S.
Egg Harbor. (856) 765-0118 or
[email protected]
Family Services 5th Annual 5K Run
October 23 at 9 a.m.
All pre-registered participants will
receive long sleeved shirts and goodie bags. Registration $20 for adults,
$15 for youth 14 yrs & under.
Proceeds benefit the Family Service
Food Pantry and their veteran’s
programs. The Charles Yates Ctr,
79 Chestnut St, Lumberton.
(609) 267-5928 or www.fam-serv.org.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure:
Value Her Health
Hamilton Mall and Macy’s are sponsoring the Susan G. Komen for the
Cure Value Her Health 5K and 1 mile
Family Fun Walk. Registration at
9:15a. Go to the Hamilton Mall
Customer Service or Macy’s 3rd Floor
Human Resources Office to pre-register. 4403 Black Horse Pike, Mays
Landing. (609) 646-8326 or
www.shophamilton.com
Heads & Tails Fundraiser
October 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Salon Rouge in Cherry Hill will have
outstanding specials including: $40
hair cuts for women, $18 hair cuts for
men, $40 single color processes and
$20 color glazes. Camden County
Animal Shelter will have dogs from
the shelter, as will event sponsors:
Rita’s Water Ice, Genuine European
Portraits offering pet portraits, and
author Judy Kristen. 15% of proceeds
benefit CCAS. (856) 424-3611
HARVEST CRAFT FESTIVAL
October 23 & 24
Crafters and artists under tents for a
fall festival. Perfect start to holiday
shopping. Easy parking in an urban
setting. Atlantic City Outlets, Atlantic
City. (609) 425-4717 or lorraine@artwalkshows. com
CASA, Night of Reggae
October 15 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
A night of Reggae and fun with Mystic
Bowie. Guests enjoy 4 hrs of entertainment, 2 hrs of hors d’euvres,
unlimited beer and wine all night,
dessert, coffee, tea, soda and water,
opportunities to bid on auction
items, & much more. Valleybrook
Country Club, 200 Golfview Dr,
Blackwood. (856) 858-4488 or
www.casaofcamdencounty.org
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Scary Story Workshop
October 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.
What is so scary about dark
and stormy nights, creaking floorboards in old, dust houses, and things
that go bump in the night? Join New
Jersey Writers Society’s A. Craig
Newman and find the answers. Revel
in the art and craft of writing scary
stories. Mt Laurel Library, 100 Walt
Whitman Ave, Mt Laurel. (856) 2347319 x314
Olde Marlton Fall Festival
October 2 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Join over 100 crafters and vendors
displaying their handmade items.
Rides and live animals (ponies and
petting zoo), music, extra large court
with local food vendors. Great day
CAMDEN COUNTY
Blackwood Pumpkin Festival
Enjoy a day filled with fun sponsored
by Mainstage Center for the Arts and
Beneficial Bank. Festival offers
hayrides, moonbounce, pumpkin
carving contest, face painting, a costume contest, food, games, music,
over 200 vendors and 4 stages for
entertainment. Blackwood Rotary
Library, 15 S. Black Horse Pike,
Blackwood. (856) 227-3091
3rd Annual Stratford Fall Festival
A wonderful family event with rides,
games, vendors, crafters, car show
and live music. There will also be a
5k run benefitting Michael’s Way.
Rain date October 3. Yelin School,
Yale Ave, Stratford. $15. www.shopstratfordnj.com
CAPE MAY COUNTY
Boo at the Zoo
Wear your costume and enjoy the fun
and games and a live Creepy
Creature show. Crafts, candy and
more. Costume contest registration at
10a. Fun for the whole family. (609)
465-6832 or www.capemayzoo.org
Rea’s Harvest Country Fair
Offering a unique setting on a
working farm that was once one of
the largest farms in Cape May county.
County fair atmosphere with pony
rides, family hayrides, contests and
games for kids and adults. Unique
food vendors, antiques, art and
crafts and high quality flea market
dealers. Rain date October 18.
Located at Rea’s Farm, Bayshore &
Stevens Streets, West Cape May.
(609) 884-4522.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
The Harvest Awaits
Non-scary costumes encouraged,
food, chili cook off for the adults, lots
of activities for children including
games and tons of candy. A non-perishable item for the food pantry is
appreciated in lieu of admission
price. Calvary Chapel of Vineland, 930
N Main Rd, Vineland. (856) 696-9409.
2010 Fall Fashion Show and Fair
SJ Healthcare Foundations’s Annual
Fashion Show features shopping at
various vendors and a fantastic runway fashion show. Proceeds benefit
SJ Healthcare and affiliates to bring
quality patient care and keep pace
with medical advancements and
technology. Centerton Coutry
Club, Pittgrove. (856) 641-8290 or
[email protected].
The Robin Hood Project hosting
annual RUN/Walk fundraiser
October 2 at 9 a.m.
The Robin Hood Project, Inc. will hold
its annual Run/Walk. Funds raised
directly help the project continue its
things 2 do
October Calendar
mission of helping local
needy families by providing
basic needs, such as furniture
and clothes, for their home and
family. Our Lady of Pompeii
Church, Dante Ave, Vineland.
[email protected]
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
7th Annual Italian Heritage Festival
All day family fun includes Italian
food, face painting, crafts and more.
Dr. Neff’s Incredible Puppet
Com-pany will perform at 1 and 3pm.
RiverWinds Community Center, West
Deptford. (856) 494-3281
Painting a Fall Flower Pot
Paint clay flower pots with acrylic
paints and make an artificial fall
arrangement out of artificial mums
to take home. Logan Township
Branch Library, 498 Beckett Rd,
Logan Twp. Must register by 10:30a.
(856) 241-0202
SALEM COUNTY
5K Race for Autism
5K Run/Walk to benefit the Salem
County Center for Autism. Many
activities, booths and vendors will
be set up in Plaza parking lot to
enjoy after the run, including a free
safety awareness seminar and free
introductory karate class! Registration
forms for racers and vendors on
website. Cranberry Plaza-River’s
Edge Karate, 233 S. Broadway,
Pennsville. (856) 678-2003 or
www.riversedgekarate.com
The Giant Pumpkin Carve
October 16–17
Giant pumpkins will again be turned
into works of art when amateur and
professional artists compete in the
14th Annual Giant Pumpkin Carve.
Pumpkin exhibits, along with children’s and family activities will be
held both days. Proceeds from the
gate helps Meals on Wheels of Salem
County, Inc. provide hot meals to
elderly homebound throughout the
year. Salem County Fairgrounds, Rt 40,
Pilesgrove. (856) 935-3663
October 2010 | 29
resource guide
CLASSES
LEARN TO SEW!
Build self-confidence, new skills & new friends while learning
a valuable skill! Small day and evening classes available
ages 5 and up, (hand sewing), age 8 to adult (machine
classes) & mother-daughter classes; machines available.
(856) 358 8553. [email protected], www.LorisStitching
Studio.com. Trained sewing educator.
FOR THE HOME
GIVE THE GIFT OF ORGANIZATION THIS HOLIDAY!
Do you know someone who can’t get the toys, laundry and
other kid stuff under control? Let BB’s Clutter Solutions reduce stress,
create order and help find a place for everything...for good. Gift
Certificates available now. Contact Barbara Berman at (856) 912-0077
or www.bb-clutter-solutions.com today!
CUSTOMIZE YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Lori’s Stitching Studio can help you prepare for a stress-free holiday.
Enjoy in-home consultation and fabric selection for beautiful custom
window treatments, slipcovers, bedding, and light upholstery projects.
Call now for an appointment. (856) 358-8553. [email protected],
www.LorisStitchingStudio.com. WCAA Member
GIFT IDEAS
GREAT PERSONALIZED GIFTS FOR ALL AGES
At JUST FOR LITTLE PEOPLE (and others, too!) we specialize in new
baby gifts both hand-painted or embroidered. Beautifully wrapped
and available for pick-up at our new Gibbsboro location, or
we can ship it for you. Call (856) 627-8901 or check out
www.justforlittlepeople.com.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
ARE YOU READY TO TURN OVER A NEW LEAF?
Want to improve your eating habits, increase your energy and understand your food cravings? Turning Leaf Nutrition and Wellness will
develop a personalized program that will radically improve your
health and happiness. One conversation can change your life.
(856) 912-3709, www.turningleaf-wellness.com.
SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS WITH ENZYME THERAPY!
Our dietary supplements (100% non-drug related) help with
bedwetting, CHIGGERS, colic, constipation, gerd and preventing the
need for ear tubes. Call today to learn how enzyme therapy can
change your life, naturally. Linda Keeper RN, CNC, Enzyme Therapist,
(609) 476-2496.
MENTAL HEALTH
DEFIANT? OPPOSITIONAL? RESTLESS? INATTENTIVE?
DEPRESSED? ANXIOUS?
Struggling with your child’s behavior? Then the time to call Dr.
Katherine Perez-Rivera is NOW! A licensed psychologist specializing
in clinical pediatrics, she offers individual, group, marital and family
therapy, behavior modification services, play therapy and more.
Call today! (856) 383-0585.
PARTIES
ABRAKADOODLE ARTY PARTIES! Celebrate CREATIVITY!
Abrakadoodle CUSTOMIZED Arty Parties are perfect for BIRTHDAYS,
HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, SCHOOL OR SCOUT EVENTS. All
artwork FRAMED – the best PARTY GIFT ever! Hosted at your location;
we provide ARTFULLY FUN teacher, materials & frames. Visit
www.abrakadoodle.com/nj01 or call (856) 914-0521.
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
NEED HELP GUIDING YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNEY?
At The Schlinic, happy childhoods are our specialty. Kids come for
awesome motor equipment, fun sensory experiences and developmental play. Parents come for answers, professionals who listen,
assessments and research-supported intervention. Learn more at
www.schlinic.com or call Dr. Jodi at (856) 692-9292.
PARSONS CENTER
FOR THE ARTS
SUMMER CLASSES IN:
BODY CARE • ESSENTIAL OILS
MACROBIOTICS • HOMEOPATHICS
ALLERGY & SPECIAL DIETS
LARGE SELECTION OF FROZEN
& REFRIGERATED ITEMS
Laurel Hill Plaza (across from Shoprite)
Blackwood-Clementon & Laurel Roads
Gloucester Township - Lindenwold
2001 College Drive - Clementon
784.1021
NEW
Mommy and Me music class.
Fridays 1:00-1:45. 6months - 4 years.
Open 7 Days
20% OFF
Your Total Purchase
Natural Health • 784-1021
With this coupon. Excludes sale items and produce.
Not valid on other offers.
30 | October 2010
Acting, Music, Painting, Drawing, Pottery.
July-August. All Ages Welcome.
856-904-1971
100 W. Maple Avenue
Merchantville, NJ
www.parsonsart.net
Is Your Child This Happy
At Back-to-School Time?
Does your child enjoy the social aspects of school? Does he form
meaningful friendships and participate in extra-curricular activities?
Does she participate in clubs, go to proms, join in talent shows?
Children at our Private Special Education Schools do!
When children feel cherished, well cared for and respected, they learn
to share those traits with other students. School becomes a welcoming
place where students feel at home and are able to enjoy a social life of
their own. With individualized attention, on-site therapies and vocational
training, our schools deliver unparalleled services for students with special
needs. New Jersey Department of Education certified special education
teachers, licensed therapists and counselors provide expert, advanced
instruction and support … along with plenty of smiles.
These unique services are provided at NO COST for families. Find out if
private special education is the right fit for your child.
Our staff can help answer your questions.
To find out more about what programs
may be right for your child, call us at
1-800-697-8555
—or visit our website at
www.privatespecialedsnj.com
Join the Private Special
Education Students Who Are!
Brookfield Schools
Garfield Park Academy
Larc School
HollyDELL, Inc.
Kingsway Learning Center
St. John of God Community Services
Copyright © 2010 The Coalition of Southern New Jersey Private Special Education Schools
Private special education is an option for many children, and provided at no cost to families.
Finding the appropriate educational option for your child can sometimes be a complicated process. We have access to education and legal experts
who can help you navigate through the process. For more information or for help in understanding your rights, call us at 1-800-697-8555.
October 2010 | 31
Booth Radiology Doctors...
focused on providing
exceptional Women’s Imaging.
Sherrill Little, MD
(left),
Nikki Ariaratnam,MD
(right)
Mammograms on your schedule.
856-848-4998 • www.BoothRadiology.com
Stratford
• Washington Township • West Deptford • Woodbury

FUN FALL PARTY IDEAS

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