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Transcript of Athens Parent Magazine Spring 2013
A Resource for Families in Athens, Oconee County and the Surrounding Area
BuildingFamilies...BuildingBusinesses
...for over14 years!LOCALLYOWNED &OPERATED!
March/April 2013
PART 1
Healthy Babies& Healthy FamiliesReclaimingYour RestBoundaries & HealthyTeen RelationshipsAll AboutAllergies
free
annualhealthissue
2013summercamps
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Athens Parent, Inc.P. O. Box 1251, Athens, GA 30603P.O. Box 465,Watkinsville, GA 30677
Phone 706/254-7277Email: [email protected]
www.athensparent.com
WRITERSAND CONTRIBUTORSKaitlin Bevis, Jude Bijou, Liz Conroy, Malia Jacobson,
Jamie Lober, SueYoungerman
FOUNDER & PUBLISHERShannon H. Baker
PUBLICATION DESIGNA.W. Blalock
MANAGING EDITORBlair Rivkin
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTShannon H. Baker
DISTRIBUTIONAimee and Max Speas
www.athensparent.comChris Parsons, OnlineDezign.com
March/April 2013Vol. 15 No. 3
“Building Families...Building Businesses”
PUBLISHED BY
Athens Parent Magazine is publishedsix times a year. Reader correspondence and
editorial submission welcome.We reserve the rightto edit, reject or comment editorially on all materialcontributed. No portion of this magazine may bereproduced without express written consent of thepublisher. Athens Parent Magazine reserves the right
to refuse any advertising for any reason.The opinions expressed by contributors or writersdo not necessarily reflect the opinions of thismagazine. Distribution of this product does notconstitute an endorsement of the products
or services herein.
Locally Owned and Operatedfor Over 14Years!
www.athensparent.com 5
Photo by J.P. Bond of Bond Creative Group
Triplets Copeland, Maggie and Cash CowartSee their story on page 12
on the cover
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contents
www.athensparent.com 7
Show &TellParenting 101:11Ways to DealWithParenting AngerCalendarTeen Talk: BoundariesAre Part of HealthyRelationshipsHealth:All About AllergiesToddler Town: KeepingToddler Germs At Bay’TilWe Meet Again
814
1618
2022
30
DEPARTMENTS
Weekly updates at www.athensparent.com!
FEATURES
Like us on Facebook!Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine
10
12
Helping Sleepless SupermomsReclaim Their RestMarch of Dimes: Healthy Babies andHealthy Families
first words...
2013SummerCamps PART 124-29
22
For this issue, I planned to write abouthealth and what it means to me. Butwhat kept coming to mind was Grace,
probably because I have been following heron Facebook and have tears of joy when Iread about the love surrounding her and herfamily. Normally, one might say that health iseating well, exercising, getting enough rest,etc. However, I have been shown that healthis love! I want to share part of a letterGrace’s dad wrote to a 6-year-old girl whoseDaisyTroop visited the Shepherd Center inAtlanta. If you would like to join in support-ing Grace, follow her community page onFacebook:“Walnuts For Grace.”
- Shannon Howell Baker
Hi Lizzie,I remember when Grace was your age
and in first grade like you. At home, sheshared a room with her sister and slept inthe top bunk. She liked to take charge evenback then!Grace always loved school. Her teachers
said she was a sponge and soaks up every-thing. She loves math and numbers. She alsoLOVES to read.When she and her sisterMarina were about your age, I spent everynight for a long time reading them TheHobbit. I think that made her love readingand she never stopped.Now Grace is 17 and is getting ready to
go to college next year. She plays the flute inthe school band, plays piano, plays tennis andruns races. She is really involved with herfriends and fun things at school. She used tobe in plays with her sister.One of the best things about her is that
she is kind to everybody. And everybodyloves Grace – even the teachers! She wearstie-dye shirts to school every day.Grace is a girl who is true to herself,
knows what makes her happy, and does notcare what other kids think. I think if shewere to tell you one thing, it would bethat you should be you anddo what you love.That iswhat will make you happy.Grace is sick right now,
but the doctors at ShepherdCenter are taking great careof her and she will be bettersoon.We pray for her everyday and night, as are peopleall over the world.That hasbeen really special and isreally helping Grace.I hope that Grace and I get
to meet you someday.Yousound like you are a great girland a great Daisy!Sincerely,Mr. Byrne
Grace online>
8
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April showers bring May Flowers...so
take a rainy day and make your own
sunshine at Athens’ only paint-your-
own pottery studio. Clayfully
Created has just opened and is available for parties, drop-ins or
even to-go! Prices start at around $15 and up and include paint,
supplies, glazing & firing finished product.This family-friendly busi-
ness was started by locals Susanne Barfield and Melissa
Goranson. Help make their business a success and enjoy some
quality family time and NO artistic ability is required!.
Visit www.clayfullycreated for more information.
FamilyServe is about families working together to builda better community. At HandsOn Northeast Georgia,
we believe that community members of all ages are vitalto our community. For this reason, HandsOn NortheastGeorgia has created a program to bring families togetherin community service and learning.
Become a Service Centered Family:• Participate in a HandsOn NEGA sponsoredFamilyServe volunteer events• Sign up for our volunteer opportunities ages 5 and up• Spend quality time with your family working in the community• Establish a long-term service plan for your family with your favorite community organization
UPCOMINGVOLUNTEER EVENTS:•WeedWarriors: Memorial Park - March 16th & April 6th• Athens Twilight Volunteers Needed:April 26th & 27th• YOUthServe at the Food Bank of NEGA: Saturdays from 9am-12pm• Many more opportunities and information can be found athttp://handsonnortheastgeorgia.com/
&show Compiled by Shannon H. Bakertell
PaintYourOwn Pottery
give back!
get out!
Most of us probably don’t have a gardenshed like the one pictured but hopefully
this will inspire you to create a your veryown spring headquarters. Consider findingsome fun fabrics, bright gardening tools and acute pair of gloves. Scrap wood can be usedto make your own signs which could also beused for vegetable gardens. Maybe your spotwill be a corner of the garage, a nookon the back patio or a spotinside your home. Allowingyour brain and body sometime away from computersand phones while con-necting withnature throughdirt, plants, seedsand water will be acalming experiencefor you and yourchildren.
get organized!
springpottingarea
for teens, adultsand families
volunteeropportunities
8 Athens-Oconee Parent
Send your ideas & photos to P.O. Box 1251, Athens GA 30603 or e-mail [email protected]
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www.athensparent.com 9
“A healthyattitude is contagious
but don’t wait tocatch it from others.
Be a carrier!”Source Unknown
colossal cookies[with protein!]
book nook
Istarted using this product formy five-year-old’s baths, andthe patches of Eczema on theback of her legs are gone! California Baby®Therapeutic Relief Eczema Shampoo and Bodywashuses an organic blend of plant extracts which is a nicealternative to steroids.This product helps protect andrestore the natural skin barrier – it may cost a littlemore than your average body wash but may be a lotcheaper than the medical bills associated with treatingEczema. Perfect for grown-ups and teenagers alike insoothing irritated or acne prone skin.When bathing,keep water temperature on the cool side, as eczematends to flare up as the temperature rises.
The Creative Journal for Teens:Making Friends With Yourself by Lucia Capacchione
Creative Journaling uses BOTH images and words. It activatesboth sides of the brain: the verbal, linear, logical left brain and
the visual, emotional, spiritual non-verbal right brain.You mightbegin using your journal by drawing how you feel and after thedrawing is completed, write about what is in the picture.To helpyour teen get started on their own journal journey, give them ahead start with this book.One teen stated:“The exercises areeasy but can lead to somereally interesting insights. Ireally love how writing anddrawing are mixed, and look-ing back at my drawings isreally interesting.”
My daughter’s volleyball team is always looking for ways to pro-vide snacks that the girls enjoy during all-day tournaments while
helping them keep up the energy and endurance they need through-out the day.Tony Ferguson, one of the player’s parents, brought thesecookies one day and they were such a hit, we had him send us therecipe. Enjoy!
1 1/2 cups butter, softened1 1/2 cups granulated sugar1 1/2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs1 tsp vanilla2 cups peanut butter2 1/2 tsp. baking soda2 tbs. whey protein, chocolate flavored1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips6 cups quick cook oatmeal
Beat butter and sugars. Blend in eggs and vanilla.Addpeanut butter and whey protein. Mix well. Stir insoda, chips; gradually add the oatmeal. Form into ballsapproximately the size of a golf ball. Put on lightlygreased cookie sheet – or use parchment paper forbest results. Flatten cookie ball slightly. Bake at 350degrees for 12 minutes (very light brown).
Goodbye Eczema
bake it!
try this!
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10 Athens-Oconee Parent
Helping Sleepless SupermomsReclaim Their Rest
WhenAnnie Krusznisgave birth six yearsago, she expected to
sacrifice some sleep in the earlymonths of parenthood. Sherejoiced the first time her sonWill slept through the night,thinking her sleep woes wereover. She didn’t know that shewould endure three more yearsof insomnia while he slept peace-fully in his crib.Parenting an active toddler
by day and struggling withinsomnia at night “was almost aform of torture,” Krusznisrecalls. “I began to lose sight ofeverything. I got frustrated easi-ly, I couldn’t focus. I developedsymptoms of depression.”Her story is far from unique.
According to the National SleepFoundation, 67 percent of
women have frequent sleepproblems. Nearly half of womenreport tiredness that interfereswith daily life, leaving them tootired for exercise, healthy eating,friends, or sex.When it comes to sleep,
women have a natural disadvan-tage compared to men.Theyexperience higher rates ofinsomnia and nighttime pain, butactually need more sleep—around 20 minutes more pernight, according to sleep expertJim Horne, author of Sleepfaring:A Journey Through The Science OfSleep (Oxford University Press).When women become moms,
sleep deprivation becomes a wayof life.Ten percent of moms con-fess that they’re still not getting afull night’s sleep, even as kidsapproach the preschool years.
WHY MOMS NEEDTHEIR SLEEPWith the dishes, laundry, bills,
email, Facebook, and CSI allclamoring for our attention, whohas time for a full night’s sleep?Women in their prime caregivingyears, ages 30 through 60, reportgetting only 6 hours and 41 min-utes of sleep per weeknightwhile moms who work full-timereport spending under 6 hoursin bed during the week.But a busy schedule doesn’t
diminish our need for sleep, saysSridar Chalaka, M.D., director ofthe North Puget Sound Centerfor Sleep Disorders.When werepeatedly shortchange our sleepneeds, our bodies pay the price.Moms with sleep troubles
experience higher rates of post-partum depression along with ahost of other health and moodproblems, from irritability andpoor concentration to insulinresistance and weight gain.Those who spend their days
shuttling kids around townshould take note; sleep depriva-tion and driving can be a danger-ous combination. Over one-quar-ter of women admit to drivingwhile drowsy.The NationalHighway Traffic Safety Admin-istration attributes 100,000auto accidents each year todrowsy driving.
SHEDDINGTHESLEEP STIGMAMoms are keenly aware of the
importance of sleep.After all, weenforce kids’ bedtimes and makesure everyone else gets enoughshut-eye. So why do we find it sodifficult to get the rest we need?In addition to our own biolo-
gy, we’re battling powerful socialforces that tell us that we needto stay up later, finish one lastemail, or fold one more load oflaundry before we turn in.People who barely sleep—recently dubbed the “sleeplesselite” by the Wall Street Journal—are seen as dedicated and driven.Ironically, says Dr. Chalaka,
women who forgo sleep to
wring more productivity fromtheir day are actually preventingthemselves from working at theirpeak.“We acclimate to sleepdeprivation, so we may neverrealize that we’d be much morecreative, calmer, more productiveand less stressed if we’d only getmore rest,” he says.
RECLAIMING RESTThe good news: the key to
improving our physical and mentalhealth, our parenting, and our livesis simple, easy, enjoyable, and free.We just need more sleep.Moms who look after their
kids’ sleep needs should take careto look after their own, saysRobert Aronson, M.D. medicaldirector of Cardinal SleepDisorder Centers of America. Herecommends a predictable wind-down ritual at bedtime, avoidingstrong light in the evening, andgoing to bed and waking up at thesame time each day.Moms who experience sleep
troubles that disrupt their dailylives for more than a monthshould seek professional help, saysWilliam Kohler, M.D., medicaldirector of the Florida SleepInstitute.Those like Krusznis whostruggle with insomnia for monthsor years may be experiencing psy-cho-physiological insomnia.This“learned” insomnia takes holdwhen night waking becomes ahabit, and can persist for yearswithout treatment, he says.
SWEETER DREAMSToday, Krusznis sleeps through
the night, and calls her insomniaordeal a strange twist of fate.“Igot frustrated with my son fornot sleeping. And then I couldn’ttake my own advice,” she says.If insomnia ever returns, she’ll
get help sooner, she says.“I’llnever go through that again.” �
Malia Jacobson is a nationally publishedsleep expert and freelance writer. Herlatest book is Sleep Tight, EveryNight: Helping Toddlers andPreschoolers SleepWellWithoutTears,Tricks, or Tirades.
Sleep Help for Moms� Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.Avoid varying your sleep schedule, even on weekends.� Exercise 4-5 hours before bedtime; avoid exercising lateat night.� Sleep in a dark, quiet, comfortable room.The ideal bed-room temperature is 60-68 degrees Fahrenheit.� Avoid caffeine or other stimulants after 2pm.� Enjoy a short afternoon power-nap, but avoid sleepingfor longer than 45 minutes, or you’ll disrupt nighttime rest.� Check your medications: antidepressants, thyroid hor-mones, beta blockers, diuretics, and some decongestantscan harm sleep.� Alcohol at bedtime can lead to poor-quality sleep, sodon’t overdo it.� Relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback and aro-matherapy have all been shown to improve sleep.� See a doctor is insomnia disrupts your daily life formore than a month.
By Malia Jacobson
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12 Athens-Oconee Parent
Todd and Dana Cowart knowabout the ups and downs ofpremature birth. Their expe-rience of having healthy 5-year-old triplets born at only
29 weeks has inspired them to sharetheir story to help others by becomingthe 2013 Athens Area March for BabiesAmbassador Family. According to Dana,“We realize that the hard work andrelentless research of the March ofDimes is why our journey with prema-ture triplets has a happy ending.” Thelife-saving measures given to Dana whileshe was pregnant and to the triplets assoon as they were born would not havebeen possible without the research pro-vided by the March of Dimes.This year marks the 75th anniversary
of the March of Dimes and its ongoingwork to improve the health of babies bypreventing birth defects, premature birthand infant mortality. From it’s founding byPresident Franklin Delano Roosevelt in1938 to fight and treat the cripplingeffects of polio, monies raised by volun-teers helped fund the Salk and Sabin poliovaccines which are still given today.Thirteen Nobel Prizes® have beenawarded to March of Dimes researchersfor providing some of the most importantmedical breakthroughs and treatmentsimpacting the lives of millions of babiesborn each year.This critical mission to save and enrich
the lives of babies has been made possi-ble by the tireless efforts of countlessvolunteers, and the money raised by indi-
vidual and corporate donors. Each year,the March of Dimes hosts its largestfundraiser, the March for Babies run/walkcampaign.This special anniversary yearpartners and teams across Clarke,Oconee, Madison and Olgethorpe coun-ties will host fundraisers to benefit theAthens Area March for Babies campaign.One key fundraising event for the
Athens Area March for Babies is the“Rock the Garden” hosted by the com-munity volunteers of the Athens MODAdvisory Board, chaired by Mike Pilcherof Athens Regional Medical Center.Research and equipment funded by
the March of Dimes through the Marchfor Babies campaign have made a vastimpact on our community, and helpedsaved the lives of Todd and Dana
ParentsTodd and Dana Cowart with Copeland, Maggie and Cash. Photos courtesy of the Cowart family.Family photo courtesy of Dylan Blue Photography
Healthy Babies& HealthyFamilies
2013 ATHENS AREA MARCH FOR BABIES AMBASSADOR FAMILY
By SueYoungerman
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www.athensparent.com 13
Cowart's beloved triplets. Dana's preg-nancy had been fairly uneventful. Dana'sfamily took very good care of her, andshe had followed the doctor's instruc-tions to the letter. Shopping on a hotOctober afternoon with her mother,Dana started feeling very ill and calledher doctor. On his advice they wentstraight to the hospital where physicianswere able to stop her labor using mag-nesium as well as a round of steroids.Dana described it as “feeling like theworst flu ever, but I was so relieved thatI could still hopefully carry the tripletsto our target of 34 to 36 weeks.” Thetreatment did hold back her labor for afew more critically important days, butsevere nausea and a high fever made herdoctors realize that the triplets had tomake their debut at only 29 weeks.Dana knew that she and her babies
were in the hands of the finest caretakersavailable. She andTodd were surprised tosee an entire team of NICU nurses foreach baby, along with three state of the artGiraffe Omnibed Incubators provided byfunding from the March of Dimes.“Copeland was the first to be born, and shewas extremely quiet,Todd and I tried toprepare for the worst, but the tears werestreaming down both of our faces. Maggiefollowed quickly behind and was screaminglike a banshee, followed by a crying, but qui-eter, Cash.” Each baby was whisked intothe capable arms of a team of highly trainedNeonatal specialists, and each was given thelifesaving medication Surfactant, which pro-motes healthy lung growth.“It was a long and sometimes terrifying
roller coaster ride after that, but thenurses and doctors of the AthensRegional Medical Center NeonatalIntensive Care Unit always made us feelthat they cared about our babies just asmuch as if they were their own.” Fiveyears later, these healthy, happy and veryactive triplets are a testament to the life-saving work of the March of Dimes andthe dedicated people of Athens RegionalMedical Center's Neonatal Intensive CareUnit (ARMC NICU).“On a day-to-day basis, I see first hand
what the March of Dimes has done andthe impact that they have had on thepatients we serve,” says Dena Ollis,ARMC's Neonatal Intensive Care UnitDirector. “Through their research wehave been able to make improvements inthe prematurity rate overall and havebeen able to implement steroid and sur-factant use for premature babies. We seebetter outcomes and an increased qualityof life for these babies.” Also thanks tothe March of Dimes funding, the ARMCNICU utilizes specialized medical mobileintensive care units called Angel II trans-ports. These transport vehicles can stabi-lize and treat these medically fragileinfants on the way to the hospital whichgreatly enhances healthy outcomes. DenaOllis knows that “we would not have theresources to help these babies withoutthe advocacy, research and funding of theMarch of Dimes.”According to Athens Neurological
Associates Pediatric Neurologist Dr. E.Brannon Morris III, “Premature birthremains a significant risk factor for devel-
oping cerebral palsy, a chronic neurologi-cal condition that, when severe, necessi-tates lifelong medical intervention. Marchof Dimes has been a national leader infostering good health habits during preg-nancy that have no doubt contributed tothe lower preterm birth rates we haveseen recently.” Dr. Morris and his practicebelieve in the work of the March ofDimes so strongly that they are one ofthe premier sponsors of the upcoming“Rock the Garden” fundraising event.Held at the lush State Botanical
Garden of Georgia,“Rock the Garden” isa night of dinner and music provided byrenowned artist Randall Bramblett, andspecial guestWilliam Tonks. The eventwill take place Thursday, March 28 at6:00pm, and will feature dinner providedby some of Athens finest restaurants aswell as a silent auction featuring golfpackages, resort stays, cases of wine, air-line tickets and other fine items. RandallBramblett states that “we are delighted tobe playing in such an intimate and beauti-ful setting for an organization whosework literally touches every baby born inthis country.”Tickets for “Rock the Garden” can be
purchased at Modathens.org, and are $40per person, or $75 per couple ticketprice includes a catered dinner providedby a great selection of Athens' restaurantsand beverages provided through a gener-ous donation by Leon Farmer & Co.To become part of the solution and
form a team for healthy babies or tolearn more about this year's Athens AreaMarch for Babies please visit www.marchforbabies.org or contact Kristine Groft [email protected] preregistration for the Athens
Area March for Babies 5k Run/Walk canbe made at active.com.Walkers are free.The 5k run/walk qualifies for the Run &See Georgia Grand Prix.The event will beheld at UGA’s Stegeman Coliseum onApril 20th with a 9am start time. �
Sue Youngerman is a public relations specialistwith Bond Creative, a mom of two children and
is excited to help the March of Dimes con-tinue their research to promote healthy
moms and babies.OurCoverKids
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14 Athens-Oconee Parent
By Jude Bijou101parenting Set up a healthy emotional space
1Let go of self-judgment: It’s natural tofeel intense anger, frustration and help-lessness as a parent.Accept that you’re
going to be exhausted and sometimes lose it.Remind yourself that you’re doing your best.
2Look for anger’s body cues: Step out ofyour head and into your body. Becomeaware of how the emotion is making
itself known, for example, ears getting hot,surging in chest, rage moving up spine, sweat-ing and feeling like you’re about explode.
3Take a page from your kids’ book: Kidsare good role models for expressingemotions.They scream, cry, stomp
around and otherwise go ballistic, then after afew minutes are smiling and happy again.Youcan do this, too, but in a safe place where youwon’t frighten the kids.
4Find two minutes to let it all out:Excuse yourself to the bedroom, ifyour kids are old enough, and pound
the mattress with your fist, or scream andgrowl into a pillow. Do it hard, with aban-don. If you need to cry, allow the tears toflow. If the kids are too little to be leftalone, push against a wall as hard as you
can, letting your arms and legs tremble withthe effort. Make angry, scowling noises atthe wall.While pushing or stomping, makesounds or stick to, “I just feel so angry. Ineed to get this energy out.”
5Interrupt destructive thinking patterns:When you find yourself thinking abouthow your kids or the situation “should”
be, learn to re-route those thoughts.Acceptreality and focus on an indisputable truth. Forexample,“Suzie is the way she is, not the wayI want her to be,” or “This feeling is tempo-rary.” Repeat your statement in your mindover and over, and throughout the day.
6Communicate with “I” statements andspecifics: Instead of, “You kids are dri-ving me crazy,” say, “I would like for
you to pick up your toys before we have asnack. It makes me happy when our play-room is neat, and we can find all the piecesto our games.”
7Deal with the present: Don’t make glob-al generalizations such as,“You’re a badboy.” Don’t drag in words like “always”
and “never.” Stay specific and talk about theissue at hand.“I didn’t like it when you hit
to Deal WithParenting
Anger
11Healthy
Ways
You’re all alone dealing with a
houseful of kids who, when
they’re not playing nicely
together, may be crying, whin-
ing, fighting or running
around creating havoc and chaos.You can
feel the anger, frustration and resentment
rising in you—you’re ready to blow a gas-
ket! It’s normal to feel resentment and feel
as if you’re going crazy.You just want to sit
down and cry, or run outside and scream.
Guess what? That’s not a bad option, but
there’s a way to do it that won’t freak out
your kids.The truth is, holding down your
anger only intensifies it, and it will end up
coming out in a way you’ll regret.There’s a
healthy way to release anger that won’t dam-
age your kids OR leave you feeling like a ter-
rible person.
Here are some strategies that help parents
deal with frustration and anger around kids.
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www.athensparent.com 15
for the entire family.
your sister. Look at how hard she’s crying.Use your words if something bothers you.”
8Focus on the positive:When your kidsinfuriate you, don’t focus on the smallstuff that bothers you. Remember to tell
your children what you love, admire, valueand notice about them when you’re NOTfeeling angry.
9Be a good example for your family:Model healthy coping strategies foryour family by creating a safe place for
releasing anger.At an emotionally neutraltime, explain to kids that expressing emo-tions is healthy, and you’ve created a safeplace where anyone can go and get theiranger out. Set aside a corner of the base-ment with a punching bag and a mattress,and show them how to pound pillows andinvite them to do the same.
10Take care of yourself: Good emo-tional health in a family starts withyou. Find what nourishes you and
do it, even it if it’s just for a few seconds hereand there. Sip a mug of hot tea or walk out-side to feel the sunshine. Or even let the kidsspend the afternoon on a play date so youcan have quiet time. Be good to yourself.
11Find someone for support: Perhapsit’s a best friend who also has kids,or it’s your spouse.Ask for help
and call in the support team when you feellike you’re going to lose it with the kids.
The results?You set up a healthy emo-tional space for the entire family.You’ll takecare of your own need to feel centered andto have a sense of wellbeing. Releasing theemotional energy and focusing on acceptancedissipates anger and restores balance.You’llfeel more calm, clear and loving—and you’llteach your kids to do the same for them-selves. You’ll calmly accept what is or say/dowhat you need to in order to keep love, joyand peace flowing in your household. �
Jude Bijou, MA, MFT, is a respected psychotherapist,professional educator and workshop leader. Her theoryof Attitude Reconstruction evolved over the course ofmore than 30 years working with clients as a licensedmarriage and family therapist, and it is the subject ofher award-winning book, Attitude Reconstruction: ABlueprint for Building a Better Life. Learn more athttp://www.attitudereconstruction.com.
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calendar Some events, dates and times are subject to change.Please call individual event organizers to confirm schedules.Compiled by Chris Parsons
��Georgia Museum of ArtGallery Games
Kids ages 7 to 11 are invited to join us forthis special interactive gallery tour. Learnabout works in the museum through activi-ties designed just for kids. 4:15-5:00pm, 90Carlton Street,Athens
��Bargainza: Junior League’sAnnualThrift Sale
Preview Night-Friday, March 22nd from6:30pm-8:30pm, tickets $5
Sale Day-Saturday, March 23rd from8:30am-12pm, tickets $3
Event will be held at Athens Arena, 280Commerce Blvd,Athens, 706-549-8688,www.juniorleagueofathens.org
��Family Day of GeorgiaMuseum of Art: Portraits
Bold and BrightAfter visiting the exhibition “William H.Johnson:An American Modern,” join us inthe Mary and Michael Erlanger classroomto create oil pastel portraits inspired by theartist’s bold and bright style. 10am-noon,Georgia Museum of Art
��Minute toWin ItGame Night
Test your skills with our Minute toWin ItChallenge!We will be playing against theclock as we see who has the balance,patience and coordination to win! Prizesand snacks! Ages: 11-18 ONLY, 6:00-8:00pm,Oconee County Library
��Oconee Co. Parks &Recreation Spring Break
Day Camps (also April 1-5)All day camps are offered to OconeeCounty students on select days whenschool is not in session. Camp is open from7:30am-6pm. Snacks are provided but stu-dents must bring a sack lunch.The day isfilled with activities and games to keep theparticipants engaged. Contact Jessica Tillerfor information on registering. $30/day perparticipant, 706-769-3966, www.ocprd.com
��Easter Egg Hunt16th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at
OconeeVeterans Park. Fun family eventwith activities and games for the kids.Takeyour child’s picture with the Easter Bunnyand hunt for eggs.Activities start at 11 a.m.and Hunt at 1 p.m. Concessions will beavailable. Please bring one can food itemper child. Email: [email protected]
16 Athens-Oconee Parent
March 2013
��To Kill A MockingbirdHarper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird
adapted Christopher Sergel Seney Stovall at201 N.Milledge Avenue (behind theVarsity);school shows February 27-March 8 at 10am,Public Shows March 1-9 at 7pm;Advancetickets at www.athensmusic.net, 706-340-9181, [email protected], orwww.roseofathens.org. $16/adults, $12/stu-dents 13 and older, and $8/12 and under.
��KindermarketConsignment & Home
Furnishings SaleYMCA Hawthorne Ave.,Athens1pmThurs., March 7,Volunteer preview sale3pmThurs., March 7, Seller preview sale5pmThurs., March 7, Expectant Mothers6pm-9pmThurs., March 7, Publicsale ($4 Admission)
9am-6pm Fri., March 8, Publicsale, free admission
8am-noon Sat., March 9(most items 1/2 price)
��March MadnessSpring Break Mini Camp
Participate in recreational activities, arts &crafts, cooking, games, music and more.Registration required.Ages 6-12, 9am-1pm,$16-$20, Lay Park, 706-613-3596
Good Dirt Spring BreakClay CampEach day is a different class. Registerfor any of the days. Kids will makeclay creations, have a picnic lunchand play games. 9am-3pm, Good DirtClay Studio, 510 North Thomas Street,Downtown Athens, $55/day. Call GoodDirt Clay Studio to register, 706-355-3161.
��Spring Break Art BreakCome explore our art studios
and use your creativity to design, build,paint, sculpt or draw your own artworkafter meeting a guest artist.Ages: 6-12.Session I:Tuesday, 3/12; Session II:Thursday, 3/14. 9am-3pm, $42-$63 (plus$15 materials fee), Lyndon House ArtsCenter, 706-613-3623.
��Spring Break Mini-Campat SCNC
Each day we will explore nature, makecrafts and have a snack.Ages: 4-12, 9:30am-12:30pm, $24-$36, Sandy Creek NatureCenter, 706-613-3615
��Touch aTruckFREE hands-on event for children
to see, touch and explore their favorite bigtrucks, heavy equipment and large vehicles.Dump trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, andthe like will be a part of the event. Eachvehicle will be staffed with a trained opera-tor. Lots of fun family activities will beoffered. Come out to Heritage Park onSaturday, March 16 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.www.ocprd.com
��St. Patrick’s Day SnakeCelebration
St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.Therefore we’ll discuss all things snake thisafternoon! Come learn facts about snakespecies, bust a few myths, and encountersome live snakes, too. Don’t forget to weargreen! 2-4pm, free, Bear Hollow Zoo, 706-613-3616
��Movie Night: MothmanProphecies
We will be watching The MothmanProphecies to celebrate ExtraterrestrialDay! “A reporter is drawn to a smallWestVirginia town to investigate a series ofstrange events, including psychic visions andthe appearance of bizarre entities.” (RatedPG-13),Ages: 11-18 ONLY, 6-8pm, OconeeCounty Library
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available for purchase the day of the event.Everyone is invited! 10am-1pm, AthensAcademy Spartan Center
Pet CPR & First Aid CourseThe Athens Area Humane Society is happyto have Christine Carter, certified PetTech Instructor, offer Pet First Aid andCPR courses! You only need to attend oneof the course dates to compete your cer-tification. www.AthensHumaneSociety.org,space is limited, $50 and a large portion ofthat is donated to AAHS, 10am-2pm,Athens Area Humane Society, 1781 MarsHill Rd.,Watkinsville
��Child Abuse PreventionWalkA family friendly walk or run of
varying distances for awareness of childabuse and the importance of prevention.This event is sponsored by Prevent ChildAbuse Athens and April is child abuse pre-vention month. Sandy Creek NatureCenter, 2pm. http://www.pcaathens.org/
��Pitch, Hit & RunContest - FREE
The Oconee County Parks and RecreationDepartment, in conjunction with MajorLeague Baseball and Pepsi Cola, will behosting this competition on Saturday,April20 at the Bogart Sports Complex from10:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.The competition isopen to all boys and girls ages 7-14 (Age asof July 17, 2012).Winners from each group(7/8, 9/10, 11/12, & 13/14) will have theopportunity to progress to a sectional,regional, and national competition. No pre-registration is necessary.A waiver must besigned on site for participation. For moreinformation, please call 706-769-3965.
��AthensTerrapinTwilight Criterium
Fun weekend event including bike racing,skating, music and special events just forkids.Twilight Kids Zone offers face painting,music, fitness displays and activities, rides,moon walks from 10am-4pm on 4/27 plusBigWheel Race at 11am; Kids Criterium 9and under at 11:30am, 10 and older at noonon 4/27 in Downtown Athens
��Washington FarmsStrawberry Festival
3rd Annual Strawberry Festival packed fullof farm fresh, family fun! The strawberryfields will be open for picking, farm animalsfor petting, handmade arts & crafts and aStrawberry Cook Off! Festival admission is$8/person for ages 2 and up. U-Pick straw-berries are additional. 9am-6pm,WashingtonFarms, 5671 Hog Mountain Road,Watkinsville, www.WashingtonFarms.net,706-769-0627
April 2013
��Oconee Co. Parks &Recreation Spring Break
Day CampsAll day camps are offered to OconeeCounty students on select days whenschool is not in session. Camp is open from7:30am-6pm. Snacks are provided but stu-dents must bring a sack lunch.The day isfilled with activities and games to keep theparticipants engaged. $30/day, per partici-pant, 706-769-3966, www.ocprd.com
��Family Program “FroggieSpring Fling”
Join us for an evening of amphibian hunting.We’ll learn about the amphibians we canfind here, and then search the nature centerproperty for newts, salamanders and frogs.For Families (children 4 years and older), 7-9pm, $7-$10, Sandy Creek Nature Center,706-613-3615
��“Live Art” PerformancesJoin Athens Creative Theatre for
this fastpaced, highly entertaining andunique musical revue featuring Broadwaysongs old and new, funny and sweet! Friday& Saturday 7pm; Sunday 2pm.$15/adults; $12/students/seniors/children,Quinn Hall at Memorial Park, 706-613-3628
��Athens AcademyFestival Day
Join us for a fun-filled and exciting FestivalDay on the Athens Academy campus. Kidsof all ages will enjoy the dunking booth,climbing wall, bounce house, face painting,and much more.Tickets and wristbands are
ONLINECALENDAR AT
WWW.ATHENSPARENT.COM� UPDATEDWEEKLY, ouronline calendar has links to schooland community calendars and movielistings, as well as monthly events likestorytimes, mother’s group meetingsand kids’ craft clinics.
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The teenage girl’sboyfriend was a yearolder, handsome, andstrong-willed. Shewanted to please
him and gave up her viewpointsto let him be in charge. If she didexpress an opinion, he might say(even in front of other people):“You don’t know what you’retalking about.”She was embarrassed when-
ever he did that, but still wantedhim to like her. It took years forher to realize that somethingwas wrong and to finally leavethe relationship.Today,Athens resident Nancy
Hunter, M.A., CSW, LLP (retired),looks back on those teenageyears with the knowledge of anexperienced psychologist. Sherealizes she didn’t know how toset boundaries with other peo-ple, especially with her olderboyfriend.“Setting boundariesmeans knowing who you are andwhat’s important to you and let-ting others know, too. It meansnot giving up your own opinionsjust to please others.”As an adult, Hunter knows
the warning signs of those whodo not respect other people’sboundaries.Working with theAtlanta police taught her tonotice those clues right away,especially in dangerous situa-tions. “Pushy people take you bysurprise,” she says.“If someone istalking you around in circles andtrying to get you to do some-thing quickly—be alert! Take adeep breath and step back. Don’tfeel pushed into responding tosomeone else’s demands.”Setting boundaries also
includes using technology care-
fully. Often, people who are goodat manipulating others want aninstant response.“Teens can getinto difficult situations byresponding too quickly online orby cell phone,” Hunter says.“Remember that you are respon-sible for yourself. But others maytry to make you feel like you areresponsible for their happinessand make you feel guilty if youdon’t give into their demands.”Hunter recalls how her
boyfriend would say: “If youreally loved me, you would dothis for me.” In fact, such state-ments are clear warning signals.“If someone really loves you,he’ll listen to what you have tosay and not try to make yougive into him,” she says.Also, Hunter learned later
that her good friends dislikedher boyfriend, but wouldn’tspeak up about him. Her parentsdidn’t like him either and said so.“That should have been a clue,but I was young and getting outof the nest and wasn’t listening.”Hunter realizes now that sheneeded to talk with an older,trustworthy individual—some-one who could have helped herunderstand that she was in anabusive relationship.That kind ofhonest discussion is what sherecommends to others:“Describe your intuitive feelings.Often our intuition warns uswhen something isn’t right.Unfortunately, in our society,women are often taught to denythose instincts.”In her informative book,
“Dating and Sex: Defining andSetting Boundaries,” JudithPeacock describes unhealthy dat-ing relationships and notes:“One
in every three high school stu-dents is or has been in an abu-sive relationship. Extreme jeal-ousy is the leading cause of dat-ing violence.” She emphasizesthe importance of ending suchrelationships immediately.She writes,“A relationship
with a mean, possessive or con-trolling person is unhealthy.Thesepeople often get angry when theydon’t get their way.They may putdown their partner in front ofother people or in private.Theymay want to know their partner’severy move.”Leslie Dooley, a guidance
counselor at North OconeeHigh School, agrees that suchrelationships are unhealthy, con-fusing and should end. She says,“But teens are trying to fit in andexperience intense peer pressure
to do so.They don’t know whothey are yet, and most don’t havemuch experience with relation-ships. It makes it hard for themto set boundaries with others.”She also knows that some
teens may not fully understandwhat’s wrong. Dooley recallsteen girls describing how theirboyfriends would distancethem from other friends—amajor warning flag! She urgesteens in any relationship to askthis critical question: Is there apower differential?“An unhealthy relationship is
characterized by one partnerholding the other partner to adifferent standard,” Dooleyexplains.“For example, the boycan go out with his friendswhenever he wants, but not thegirl. But the girl may have low
teen talk By Liz Conroy
BoundariesAre Part of HealthyRelationships
Nobody has all the answers, but
Society often overlooks the fact that teens do experi-ence abusive relationships.Therefore,TEAR’s mission is
to focus on teen dating violence, aiming to decrease thenumber of violent dating relationships by educating teensbefore the problem occurs.Awareness is the key.TEAR spreads awareness to educate the community
about what a violent relationship is, how to look out for anabusive relationship, how to escape an unhealthy relation-ship and more.TEAR is inspired to help victims gain enoughcourage to leave dangerous relationships when they areready, and educates friends and family members to play asupporting role for the victim during this time.The mostimportant aspect of leaving an abusive relationship is thevictim’s support system, so TEAR helps to educate societyas a whole so that everyone can take a role in preventingabuse. - www.teensagainstabuse.org
TEAR Teens ExperiencingAbusive Relationships
Prevention through education
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it helps to have a supportive sounding board.
self esteem and feel lucky to have someoneinterested in her. She may put up with a lotjust to hold onto that boyfriend.” In otherinstances, the girl may be controlling herboyfriend’s every move.Dooley teaches teens that setting personal
boundaries means establishing yourself toothers: “This is who I am.These are thethings that are okay for me, and these are thethings that are not okay for me.” Then peopleknow how to interact with you and willrespect you, she adds.Unfortunately, possessive or controlling
people may be angry with anyone who sets aboundary that they don’t like.“You don’t haveto be rude,” she advises.“But do remain firmso you don’t get manipulated into doing whatthe other person wants.”Negative reactions are difficult for young
people to handle though, and many don’tknow how to respond. Dooley suggests step-ping back and asking:“Why is this person soupset?Why is my decision, which affects me,causing such intense anger in someone else?Shouldn’t this person be respecting my view-point?Why is this person attempting to makeme feel guilty?”Dooley also recommends that teens talk to
a trustworthy adult when they find themselvesin difficult relationships. Often, teens feel that ifthey go to see a counselor then somethingmust be wrong with them: “Sometimes, just bytalking with someone else, we begin to under-stand the problem better. Nobody has all theanswers, but it helps to have a supportivesounding board.” �
Liz Conroy is a freelance writer based in Athens andvalues healthy relationships.
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20 Athens-Oconee Parent
By Jamie Loberhealth
Athens is a great place tolive–unless you haveallergies.The National
Institute of Health defines aller-gies as an immune response orreaction to substances that arenot usually harmful. For peoplewith allergies, the immuneresponse is overly sensitive andchemicals like histamines arereleased.“In Georgia, allergiesseem to be year-round in kidsand adults because we alwayshave something blooming,” saidDr.Alice Edwards, family physi-cian at Athens Internal MedicineAssociates, part of St. Mary’sMedical Group. Some familiescan relate to the hallmark symp-toms of coughing and sneezingwhile others cannot. It is just amatter of how your body reactsto allergens in the air.“Somepeople are sensitive to pollens,mold, dust or pets and somepeople are not,” said Edwards.There is also a genetic compo-nent to allergies, so if both par-ents have allergies the child ismore likely to develop the con-dition, too.If your child is struggling, do
him a favor and take him to see
the pediatrician instead of play-ing doctor at home.“You shouldtalk to your doctor before doingpreventative medications tomake sure that your doctor isaware of the allergies and tomake sure that there is not any-thing else going on becausethere are things that can mimicallergies,” said Edwards.Whilethe regular coughing and runnynose are not dangerous, they cancause sinus infections, which areawful and lead to antibiotics.“Know that generally kids underthe age of 2 do not have aller-gies,” said Edwards.If you think your toddler has
allergies, try to rule out mischie-vous behavior first. “They willshove a bead or something uptheir nose or they have a littleinfection, nasal polyp or anatomi-cal abnormalities that can causeproblems,” said Edwards.Sometimes a cold may imitateallergies.“Generally if you arerunning a fever greater than100.5, it is some sort of infec-tion,” said Edwards.You canexpect the doctor to do a thor-ough exam to get to the bottomof things.“We will do a head,
AllergiesAll About
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eyes, ears, nose and throatexamination, listen to the heartand lungs and there are somesigns that can point to allergiesor infection,” said Edwards.While some medications like
Zyrtec® or Benadryl® arerumored to provide relief, theyjust cover over the symptoms.“To get better from allergies, youhave to not be exposed to whatyou are allergic to,” saidEdwards.The newest thing tonote is that you are not sup-posed to give cough and coldmedicine in children under theage of 4 because it has not beenshown to work.There are anti-histamines available over-the-counter and by prescription andcorticosteroids or anti-inflamma-tory medications that may beindicated by your doctor. Somepeople use decongestants tohelp deal with a stuffy nose butyou should not use it for morethan several days or it will causea rebound effect and make thecongestion worse. If you havehigh blood pressure or cardiacissues, decongestants are con-traindicated.Dust allergies are the easiest
to beat.“You can get rid of carpetand put in hardwood floors andclean out the air conditioning andheating system and use hypoaller-genic mattress and pillow covers,”said Edwards. Staying away fromfeather pillows can also be helpfulas well as washing bedding inwarm water weekly.“You maywant to have a home inspectorlook at your house every fiveyears to make sure there is notmold or mildew building up inthe crawlspace and you shouldclear out the air ducts every fourto five years as well,” saidEdwards. Try to keep indoorhumidity below fifty percent andjust keep the environment clean,which means not exposing yourchild to tobacco smoke before orafter birth.Allergy shots are reserved for
severe cases, such as kids whohave allergies and get sinus infec-tions every month or have signif-icant flares of asthma and miss
school.“They are usually two tothree times a week for severalyears, so it is a big commitmentand costly but effective,” saidEdwards.The idea is that eachdose is slightly larger than thelast and over time you build upimmunity, though it does notwork for everyone.Know that all allergies are not
environmental.“Food allergies arefairly common,with the traditionalones being lactose intolerance,peanuts, strawberries and gluten.“If you eat something with nuts init and break out in a rash, or ifyou have diarrhea or stomach painon a regular basis or do not seemto gain weight as well as otherkids, those would be suggestionsthat you have a food allergy,” saidEdwards. According to theAmericanAcademy of Allergy,Asthma & Immunology, breastmilk is the least likely to trigger anallergic reaction and it strengthensan infant’s immune system, somoms should attempt to breast-feed exclusively for the first fourto six months.After, single ingredi-ent foods should be introducedone at a time to give the child achance to identify foods that hegets along with as well as thosethat might cause a reaction.Be sure to seek guidance if
your family is struggling withallergies and do not take unnec-essary actions. If your child iswheezing, do not get rid of yourbeloved cat when it might bedust mites that are the problem.You can work with an allergistto create a treatment plan tomanage or even eliminate theburdensome symptoms altogeth-er. The good news is that mostallergies improve as kids getolder.The key is to equip your-self with knowledge, get yourdoctor’s consent for your actionplan and be ready to fight back.“We are definitely going to behit with allergies this year,” saidEdwards. �
Jamie Lober, author of Pink Power(http://www.getpinkpower.com), is dedi-cated to providing information onwomen’s and pediatric health topics.
Be ready to fight back.
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Let’s face it:Toddlers are gross.They stick their hands in theirmouths and wipe their little slob-bery wet hands all over every sur-face of the home they can reach.
They can reach a lot when they put theirminds to it. Snot drips down their itty bittynoses, uninhibited by tissues, and yes, theyare still learning to wash their hands. Coldand flu season is made just a bit more dis-gusting by these little angels.
But cleaning up after them presents itsown concerns. Cleaning solutions have chemi-cals and can be deadly if ingested. Not tomention that they’re bad for the environ-ment. But what else can you use?We’ve allbeen there.You look up and realize that toyyour toddler is chewing on has just been lib-erally doused in some brand of high-chemicaldisinfecting cleaner in a valiant effort to stopgerms in their tracks.You find yourself horri-fied, wondering what catastrophic carcino-
genic chemical you have just allowed to beintroduced to your child’s body.That was me before I discovered the
power of steam. I’ve been using the Shark®Steam Mop on my floors for quite some timenow, and I have been amazed at the results.My floor is clean and disinfected, and I don’thave to buy an expensive bottle of floorcleaner every other month while worryingabout what my daughter is getting on her lit-tle bare feet as she toddles after me beggingfor a turn to mop.After using the steam mop with so much
success, I wondered if there was somethingsimilar I could use for my countertops and allher grimy toys. A quick check online and 30dollars later, I found an electric steam cleanerthat has attachments, allowing me to clean mir-rors, windows and a dozen other things Ihaven’t yet tried.All I do is hold the nozzleclose to my counters, press the button andhigh-pressured, super-hot steam is released,sanitizing and cleaning the counter in aninstant. I follow up by wiping with a clean wash-cloth. It’s the perfect way to clean without leav-ing behind chemical residue. Sticky residue andquestionable crusty matter breaks apart underthe powerful spray. It works well on every-thing… including rubber duckies.Despite all the wonders of steam, there are
still some things that require good old-fash-ioned soap and water. Like your toddler’s
22 Athens-Oconee Parent
By Kaitlin Bevistowntoddler
Keeping
ToddlerGerms
At Bay
Some things require good old- f
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hands.To combat the spread of germs, encour-age your child to wash their hands thoroughlyand often. Make it fun. Crayola makes a varietyof colorful soaps.You can purchase pre-foamingsoaps, liquid soap or bar soaps in a plethora offun characters and shapes. Most soap contain-ers can be refilled.Whatever soap you use,make sure your child can access it easily andcan use it without trouble.Make sure your toddler can reach the
sink and turn on the water so they can washtheir hands independently.Teach them thedifference between the hot and cold knobs.Invest in a stepstool, and remember, checkyour hot water temperature to preventscalding.Teach them to sing a song whilethey scrub their hands to make sure theyspend at least 20 seconds scrubbing withsoap. “The ABCs” is long enough, or havethem sing “Happy Birthday” twice.Teachthem to rinse well, and make sure they havea fun towel in reach. Investing in hand sani-tizer for those dubious times between hand-washing is never a bad idea either.For any other objects that require soap
and water, allow your child the opportunityto help you clean. My daughter scrubs, driesand puts away her own special dishes.Colorful plastic cups, plates and utensils keepme from worrying about broken glass, and itmakes her meal times fun. A scrub brushfilled with soap with a big, easy to press but-ton to dispense it, a towel and yet anotherstepstool gives my child a little independencein the kitchen.Hand-washing and cleaning is enough to
stop most bugs in their tracks, but toddlersare resourceful creatures. Eventually—anddespite your very best efforts—they will getsick. Keep tissues, or if you prefer, boogiewipes on hand, and remember to keep yourlittle one hydrated. Do not administer anymedicine without the blessing of a pediatri-cian. Saline spray can help keep your toddler’snasal passages clear and pain free.A simpletea made of hot water (not too hot!) a table-spoon of sugar, honey and lemon juice willsoothe your little one’s throat while keepingthem hydrated. Naps, stories, cartoons andsome cuddle time will get your toddler backon his or her feet and spreading germs againin no time. �
Kaitlin Bevis is a happily married mom who spendsevery moment of her free time writing. Her youngadult fiction novel, Persephone, was released in July.She has published several other short stories, andblogs for truuconfessions.com. Find out more atwww.kaitlinbevis.com.
- fashioned soap and water.
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Active Climbing706-354-0038Active Climbing offers weekly sessions begin-ning June 10 through August 9. Hours &Pricing: 9 am to 2 pm, $175 per week/$45per day. Children will pack a lunch and wewill provide a healthy snack. Kids gets to
climb and play all day! [email protected] forinformation on signing up today!www.activeclimbing.com
Alice DePass Studioof Dance706-769-1177• MY CHANCETODANCE CAMPFor ages 2.5-3.5, June 3rd - 5th(Monday-Wednesday) from 9:30-11:00 am, $65 (includes snack andall craft materials). Calling all tinydancers! Join us for this specialintroduction to ballet, which includesdance instruction, movement games,dress-up, crafts, and lots of fun!• CINDERELLA’S DANCE &
ACTING CAMPFor ages 3.5-6, June 10th- 12th (Monday-
Wednesday) from 9:30-11:00 am, $65(includes snack and all craft materials) Comejoin us as we explore the classic fairytale ofCinderella through dance, pantomime, dress-up, crafts, and storytelling!• RAPUNZEL’S DANCE & ACTING CAMP2 Dates to Choose From! Session I (for ages3-5): June 17th-19th (Monday-Wednesday)from 9:30-11:00am. Session II (for ages 3.5-6):July 15th-17th (Monday-Wednesday) from9:30-11:00 am, $65/session (includes snackand all craft materials). Rapunzel invites all ofher princess friends to come join us for bal-let, pantomime, dress-up, story time, princesscrafts, and lots of fun!• TINKERBELL’S BALLET CAMP2 Dates to Choose From!, For ages 3-5,Session I: June 24th - 26th (Monday-Wednesday) from 9:30-11:00 am, Session II:July 22nd-24th (Monday-Wednesday) from
9:30-11:00 am, $65/session (includes snack andall craft materials).Tinkerbell invites all of herfairy friends to join her for ballet class, dress-up, story time, and fun fairy crafts!• ARIEL’S DANCE & ACTING CAMPFor ages 4-6, July 8th - 10th (Monday-Wednesday) from 9:30-11:00 am, $65(includes snack and all craft materials). Callingall little mermaids! Join us for ballet class,pantomime, dress-up, story time, and fun"under the sea" crafts!• OUT OF THE BOX!For Boys and Girls, Rising 2nd – 5thgraders, July 15th – 18th (Monday-Thursday)from 9:00 am -12 noon, $130 (includes allsnacks and supplies). If you love to buildwith Legos and blocks, then you want acamp that’s out of the box! Make music,dance and create, too. In red, black, green,white, yellow, and blue! So, if you’re a kidwho thinks out of the box, Join us at a campthat really rocks!www.depassstudioofdance.com
Athens-Clarke CountyLeisure Services• ART CAMPS706-613-3623Ages: 4-6 and 7-11, Registration: BeginsSaturday,April 20, 9:00 a.m. - noon for ACCresidents; Non-residents may register begin-ningWednesday,April 24 at Lyndon HouseArts Center• ATHENS CREATIVE THEATRE CAMPS706-613-3628,Ages: 8-12, Registration beginsSaturday,April 27 9:00 a.m. – noon for ACCresidents at Memorial Park. Registration fornon-residents beginsWednesday, May 1,phone or drop by the Morton Theatre officesduring work hours.• EAST ATHENS SUMMER DAY CAMP706-613-3593Ages: 6-12 (camper must have been 6 bySept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 on May27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 13 from8:30 a.m. – noon for ACC residents at EastAthens Community Center. Registration for
Here is an overview of someof the fabulous camps that ourarea has to offer. Please contactindividual camps as informationcan change.Updates can be found atwww.athensparent.com.
Happy Planning ...and Happy Camping!
2013SummerCamps
For complete descriptionsof camps listed, visitwww.athensparent.com.
PART 1
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non-residents beginsWednesday,April 17 atEast Athens Community Center• LAY PARK SUMMER DAY CAMP706-613-3596Ages: 6-12 (camper must have been 6 bySept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 on May27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 13 from8:30 a.m. – noon for ACC residents at LayPark. Registration for non-residents beginsWednesday,April 17 at Lay Park.• MEMORIAL PARK DAY CAMP706-613-3580Ages: 6-12 (camper must have been 6 bySept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 on May27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 6 from8:30 a.m. – noon for ACC residents atMemorial Park. Registration for non-residentsbeginsWednesday,April 10 at Memorial Park.• PARKVIEW SUMMER DAY CAMP:URBAN ADVENTURES706-613-3603Ages: 6-12 (camper must have been 6 bySept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 on May27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday April 13 from9:00 a.m. -noon for ACC residents; registra-tion for non-residents beginsWednesday,April 17. Registration takes place at theRocksprings Community Center at 291Henderson Ext.
• ROCKSPRINGS SUMMER DAY CAMP:CRAZY 8’S706-613-3603Ages: 6-12 (camper must have been 6 bySept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 on May27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday April 13 from9:00 a.m.-noon for ACC residents; registra-tion for Non-residents beginsWednesday,April 17, 2013.• SANDY CREEK DAY CAMP706-613-3615Ages: 6-12 (camper must have been 6 bySept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 on May27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 13 from9:00 a.m. – noon at Sandy Creek NatureCenter, registration for non-residents beginsWednesday,April 17 at Sandy Creek NatureCenter.• ZOO CAMP AT BEAR HOLLOW706-613-3616Ages: 6-9, 10-12 (camper must have been 6by Sept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 onMay 27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 6 from8:30 a.m. – Noon for ACC residents atMemorial Park. Registration for non-residentsbeginsWednesday,April 10 at Memorial Park• CAMP-A-LOOZA GYMNASTICSDAY CAMPS706-613-3589
Ages: 6-12 (camper must have been 6 bySept. 1, 2012, and not older than 12 on May27, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday, March 23 from8:30 – 11:30 a.m. for ACC residents at BishopPark and continues Monday and Tuesday,March 25-26, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for ACCresidents. Registration for everyone beginsWednesday, March 27 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. atBishop Park. Parent's Meeting: Monday, May20, 5:30 p.m. at Bishop Park• KIDVENTURES GYMNASTICSMINI-CAMPS706-613-3589Ages: 3-5 (Must be 3 by April 1, 2013),Registration: Begins Saturday, March 23 from8:30 – 11:30 a.m. for ACC residents at BishopPark and continues Monday and Tuesday,March 25-26, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for ACCresidents. Registration for everyone beginsWednesday, March 27 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. atBishop Park. Parent's Meeting: Monday, May20, 4:30 p.m. at Bishop Park• SPORTS CAMP706-613-3589Ages: 6-12 (camper must be 6 by June 1,2013), Registration: Begins Saturday,April 6from 9:00 a.m. – noon for ACC residents at
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Bishop Park.Registration fornon-residentsbeginsWednesday,April 10 at BishopPark• SKATE CAMP706-613-3589Ages: 6-12 (camper must be 6 by June 1,2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 6 from9:00 a.m. – noon for ACC residents at BishopPark. Registration for non-residents beginsWednesday,April 10 at Bishop Park
• SPORTSTIME CAMP706-613-3589Ages: 4-5 (camper must be 4 by June 1, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 6 from9:00 a.m. – noon for ACC residents at BishopPark. Registration for non-residents beginsWednesday,April 10 at Bishop Park• TRIATHLON CAMP706- 613-3589Ages: 8-12 (camper must be 8 by July 1, 2013)Registration: Begins Saturday,April 6 from9:00 a.m. – noon for ACC residents at BishopPark. Registration for non-residents beginsWednesday,April 10 at Bishop Park• SANDY CREEK TEEN CAMP706-613-3615Ages: 13-15Registration: Begins Saturday,April 13 from9:00 a.m. – noon at Sandy Creek NatureCenter. Registration for non-residents beginsWednesday,April 17 at Sandy Creek NatureCenter.• TEENS IN ACTION706-613-3620Ages: 13-15Registration: Begins Saturday,April 27 from9:00 a.m. – noon for ACC residents atLyndon House Arts Center; Registration fornon-residents beginsWednesday, May 1 atLyndon House Arts Center.www.athensclarkecounty.com/camps
Athens Academy SummerCamps & Summer Programs706-549-9225Athens Academy offers athletic, academic andtechnology programs for rising 1st thru 12thgrades as well as a Summer Day Camp for ages4 years to rising 5th graders. Our camps areavailable to all students in our community.Camps run weekly beginning in June. Email:[email protected] or [email protected] Ages: 4 years - 12th gradeswww.athensacademy.org
Athens Little PlayhouseFor ages 4 and up. Improvisation scenes, the-atre games, creative problem solving andmore.This week long theatre study will con-clude with a performance for families andfriends. Sessions available May 27-31, June 17-21, June 24-28, July 8-12, Monday-Thursday,8:30am-5pm; Friday, 8:30-noon; Friday noontime performance for family and friends. $150for one session ($135 for each additionalchild); Single day rate - $60www.athenslittleplayhouse.net
Camp Dixie678-701-3052Camp Dixie, a unique summer camp for boysand girls 6 to 15, in the beautiful Blue RidgeMountains of northeast Georgia.We limitenrollment to just 70 campers, making a sup-
2013SummerCamps
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portive, family-like environment. For 98 yearswe have been giving children unforgettablesummers full of swimming, canoeing, crafts,drama, archery, outdoor skills, sports, rifleryand loads of fun!www.campdixie.org
Chick Music706-546-8742Summer Music Camps! Ages 5 & up. 3 DayCamps $75. 5 Day Camps $150. BeginningGuitar, Beginning Percussion, Improvisationand Rock Jam Camps. [email protected] for more info.www.chickmusic.net
Clayfully Created706-395-5002Clay Camp is eachWednesday from 10:00 am– 1:00 pm during the months of June & July.Camp cost of $50 per day and includes allclay supplies, paint, firing finished product &pizza lunch. Register on the website.www.clayfullycreated.com
Good Dirt706-355-3161• PRESCHOOL CAMPS for ages 4-6, 9 am -12 noon, $125, May 20th - Aug. 9th.• YOUTH CAMPS for ages 7-10, 9 am - 1 pm,$155, May 20th - Aug. 9th• TEEN CAMPS for ages 11-18, 9 am - 1 pm,$165-190, May 20th - Aug. 9th.Camps offer a variety of options eachweek. Some examples are Handbuilding,Wheel Throwing, Asian Pottery, GlassFusing, and Tiles.View the variety of campsand register online.www.gooddirt.net
Girls's House706-410-5785Girl's House is a fun and fulfilling Christiancamp that lead girls to a closer relationshipwith God while learning life skills. Half Day8am-1pm. Cost $75/ week. Full Day 8am-4pm. Cost $100/week.• CAMP 1: 5/20-5/31 Grade 3-5, full day.
• CAMP 2: 6/3-6/14, Grade 3-5.• CAMP 3: 6/17-6/28, Grade 6-8, full day.• CAMP 4: 7/1-7/12, Grade 6-8.• CAMP 5: 7/15-7/26, Grade 9-12.Register Now! Before March 20th $40,After $60www.GirlsHouse.org
Hogwarts Schoolat the Pyramid706-546-7914Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athenshosts a week of magic and adventure inspiredby the Harry Potter series! Campers ages 6-12 begin with a visit to Diagon Alley for theirwizardry supplies, attend classes inHerbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Spells,Potions, and Transiguration and learn to playQuidditch. June 3-7, 10am-3pm. $125-175.Registration begins April 1. Look for our web-site in the May Issue.
Institute forWild IntelligenceEmail [email protected]: Orange Twin Conservation Land, 5miles from downtown Athens•WILD PLAY! DAY CAMPKids become at home in nature throughgames, storytelling, wandering adventures andancient survival skills.Ages: 6-12Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.Dates: 4 Sessions: 5/28-5/31 & 6/3-6/7;6/17-6/21 & 6/24-6/28 (10 total days)Fees: $175 for 1 week, $300 for 2 weeks in arow ($150 per week)• INSTITUTE FORWILD INTELLIGENCE:TEEN ADVENTURE CAMP (OVERNIGHT)Self-Sufficiency. Belonging.Teens become moreself-aware and confident through ancient sur-vival skills and outdoor adventure.Ages: 12-15Dates and Fee: 7/5-7/7 - $175www.wildintelligence.org
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JacksonEco Farm706-202-5901Farm Camp isdesigned for chil-dren ages 5-12. Campfocuses on the love of nature and earth-friendly farming practices.Tuesday/Thursdaysessions will be held 6/4 and 6/6 and 6/11and 6/13, 8:30-12:30. Cost $95.00/week. Fullweek sessions will be held 6/17-21 and 7/8-12, 8:30-3:00. Cost 225.00/week. Siblings20% discount.www.jacksonecofarm.org
Kids 'R' Kids SuperSummer Camp706-546-9400Rising K - 12 years. May 21st through August6th. Registration begins April 1st. It's alwaysan exciting summer at Kids 'R' Kids!Weeklythemes and fun field trips, onsite water areatoo. Kids join friends, make new friends, makememories and have fun! Accredited, regulatedprogram with experienced and professionalKRK staff.www.krk23ga.com
New Moon SummerAdventure Camp706-310-0013Come explore the great outdoors as wetravel to many different state parks andnature areas.Activities include hiking, swim-ming, boating, ropes course and much more.$150/wk includes all activity and travelexpenses, ages 6-12, hours 8:30-5:30. Campswill run the weeks of June 10-14 and 17-21and July 8-12 and 15-19.www.newmoonlearning.vpweb.com
NikeTennis Camp at theUniversity of Georgia1-800-645-3226The Nike Tennis Camp at UGA offersOvernight (ages 12-17), Extended Day(9:00am-8:30pm), and Day (9:00am-4:00pm)
camp options. JeffWallace 2013 Sessions(GIRLS ONLY): 6/2-6, 6/9-13, 7/7-11. ManuelDiaz 2013 Sessions (BOYS ONLY): 6/16-20,6/23-27, 7/14-18, 7/21-25 (+TournamentTraining)www.USSportsCamps.com/tennis
Oconee Parks and RecreationDepartmentOPRD offers summer day camp, teenextreme camp and multiple summer sportscamps to choose from. Please visit the web-site for more information. Registration beginsApril 15, 2013.www.ocprd.com
Oconee Cultural ArtsFoundation (OCAF) SummerArt Camp706-769-4565Designed for children with a keen interest inart and a desire to learn more. Session con-sists of one week in clay and one week in thepainting & drawing. Camp is held each dayfrom 9 AM to 12 PM Monday through Fridayat the School Street Facilities inWatkinsville.• SESSION I: 6/3 thru 6/14,Week One: Clay,Week Two: Painting & Drawing• SESSION II: 6/17 thru 6/28,Week One: Clay,Week Two: Painting & Drawing• SESSION III: 7/8 thru 7/19,Week One: Clay,Week Two: Painting & Drawing
2013SummerCamps
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Please support our advertisers!
ACC Leisure Services 26
Alice DePass Studio of Dance 27
Athena Medical Clinic 23
Athens Academy 24
Athens Dentistry for Children 15
Athens Family Vision/Dr. Springer 20
Athens Regional Med. Ctr. 2, 17, 32
Bond Creative Group 19
Clarke County School District 23
Clayfully Creative 23
Core Blend 5
Dental Staff School 6
DRee & Co. 21
Dwayne Allen Photographic Design 21
Georgia Aquatic Center 20
Good Dirt 27
Kids R Kids 24
Learning Express 6
Linder & Linder Family Dentistry 19
Lizzy StemkeVolleyball Camps 24
March of Dimes 31
Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation 25
Oconee Parks & Recreation 28
Pampered Chef 19
Performance, Pediatrics & Sports Med. 5
Prince Avenue Christian School 29
Pump It Up 11
Reign Streiter/Upchurch Realty 3
Sleep Medicine Associates 15
St. Mary’s Health Care System 4
Steve Holeman’s Soccer Camp 27
Winshape Camps 26
Campers Exhibit: July 19 - July 27Reception: July 19 - 12 PM - 2PMFull 2Week Session: $230(includes t-shirt & light snack)www.ocaf.com
Peace Camp706-546-7914Unitarian Universalist Fellowshipof Athens hosts this opportunityfor children ages 6-12 tobecome Peacemakers throughcooperative games and projects,outdoor exploration, labyrinthwalking, mandalas, meditation,yoga, Dances of Universal Peace,journaling, and conflict resolutionstrategies. Storytelling, music, art,and water play further the FUN!June 24-28, 10am-3pm. $125-175, includes healthy lunch.Registration begins April 1.http://uuathensga.org/explore/peace_camp.html
Pump It Up706-613-5675Pump It Up will again offer theiractivity camp multiple weeksthroughout the summer from11:00 to 3:00, Monday throughFriday.They will provide lunchand have different themed activi-ties led by local teachers. Ofcourse, there will be lots of timefor jumping too.The price is$150 for the week and siblingdiscounts are available.Reservations preferred.www.pumpitupparty.com
Prince AvenueChristian School678-753-3000SUMMER AT PRINCESports and Fine Arts Camps forKids at Prince Avenue ChristianSchool. Baseball, Basketball,Cheerleading, Football, Softball,Twirling,Volleyball,Art, Pottery,Musical Theatre, Improvisation,and Beginning Guitar. Cost anddates vary by camp.www.princeave.org
UGA Soccer Camps706-425-3143• GEORGIA DAY CAMPDates: June 4th-8th, Boys andGirls, ages 7-13, $225 per player• LIL’ KICKERS CAMPDates: June 4th-7th. Boys andGirls, ages 4-6. $100 per playerFor more information, please callor email [email protected]
UGA Lizzy StemkeVolleyball Camps706-542-4788• JUNIOR BULLDOG CAMP,June 10-11, $200• ONE DAY SERVE & PASSCLINIC, June 15, $90• ONE DAY ATTACKERCLINIC, June 16, $90• SETTER ACADEMY, July 7-8,$300 resident/$220 Commuter• ALL SKILLS CAMP, July 9-11,$350 resident/$270 Commuter• TEAM CAMP, July 12-14, $350“Red” Package - includes lodgingand meals; $200 “Black” Package- team arranges own accommo-dations and meals; $100“Bulldog” Package - July 14thonly, instruction overview andtournament playwww.lizzystemkevolleyballcamps.com
WinShape Camps forCommunitiesDates: June 17-21Times: 7:45am-5pm (Mon-Thur),7:45am-12:45pm (Fri)WinShape Camps forCommunities is a day camp thatprovides a professionally trainedstaff to execute a fun and mean-ingful camp for completed K–6thgraders.Whether your kids likesoccer or science, there issomething for everyone.Thecamp combines sports, recre-ation, arts, Bible study, and wor-ship into one unforgettableweek. Camp held at PrinceAvenue Baptist Campus.Fee: $189www.winshapecamps.org
Deadline for 2013Summer Camps Part 2 isApril 1, 2013. Submit atwww.athensparent.com.
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’til we meet again
30 Athens-Oconee Parent
Kids love to see their picture, and you’ll love the keepsake!Email your photos to [email protected].>
Oconee County Parks and RecreationDepartment is proud to announce the
3on3 Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament winners.Thank you to all who participated in
this great fundraiser!
5th - 6th Grade Boys Team – Brooks Blizzard, Rahul Daus,Luke Dickens, Carter Huckaby and Dan Taylor
(tournament organizer)
7th - 8th Grade Girls Team – Keller Barks,EmmaWeynand, CamrynWilliams
7th - 8th Grade Boys Team – Jack Chambers,Jacob Hudson, Matthew Quint, CalWhyte and Dan Taylor
9th - 12th Grade Boys Team – Cameron Adkins,Branden Lutes, Clay Huckaby, Joseph Reisigl and Dan Taylor
Getting ready tohead to the Daddy-Daughter ValentineDance held atNorth OconeeHigh School.
Annika and her dad before the OconeeElementary School Daddy-Daughter dance.
Girl Scout Troop 12059, madeup of Brownie Scouts (1st-3rdgraders), recently visited theFamily Birth Center at St.Mary’s Hospital as part of aproject comparing and con-trasting healthcare for momsand babies in the U.S. andPeru.The girls learned aboutthe importance of prenatalcare, how hospitals contributeto safe and healthy births, andthe role of good nutrition formom and baby.
Kinsley and her Poppy at North OconeeHigh School for the Daddy-Daughter
Valentine Dance.
The HilsmanMiddle School
MATHCOUNTSteam was
named regionalchampions!
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