Livingston Parent Journal

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2 • Livingston Parent Journal • (866) 806-1680 • www.LivingstonParentJournal.com

www.LivingstonParentJournal.com • (866) 806-1680 • Livingston Parent Journal • 3

In every issue...Things To Do in Livingston County .................................. 12-13

Off The Wall .............................................................................. 17

Ongoing Resources .............................................................. 18-19

Classifieds .................................................................................. 22

Features...

MISSION STATEMENT:The mission of Livingston Parent Journal is to shareworthwhile information with area parents by listing

family-oriented events, educational opportunities for parents,and by providing feature articles and tips on topics relevant

to raising children of all ages.

NOVEMBER 2012

PO Box 1162 • Fowlerville, MI 48836info@livingstonparentjournal.comwww.LivingstonParentJournal.com

LivingstonParentJournal.Wordpress.com

866.806.1680

© November 2012 All rights reserved.

The Livingston Parent Journal does not necessarily endorsethe views of the authors or the products of the advertisers.

Medical and health advice is not intended to replace the care of a physician.

Member of

— EDITOR/ PUBLISHER —

Rick & Terri McGarry

—WRITERS—Laura Bickel, MBA

Kim Menzel, LMSWBob Sornson, Ph.D.

Dave and Andrea Reiser

— GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT —

Jacqueline Hill

Why GrandmaForgets

8

Meaningful andMemorable

10Early

LearningSuccess

21

Parenting andPinocchio

15

An independent local publication.

Jacqueline’s Blog

6Kids andConflict

November Birthdays!

Families are complicated. For many of us, we are coming up on a time of year when we see family that wedon’t visit with that often, or in some cases, family that we manage to successfully avoid during the rest ofthe year. This is also a time when it is sometimes very painful to be separated from family if circumstancesdo not allow us to be together. It can also be a time when we sometimes really miss family members thathave passed away.

Once my nieces were involved in a dispute with each other about some friends at school. Their father toldthem, “Ask me where my friends from school are, and I will tell you that I have no idea. I haven’t seen anyof them in many years. But I can tell you where my brother and my sister are, because I still have to seethem on a regular basis.” In normal families, family relationships form the permanent backdrop againstwhich the chaos of our lives erupts.

Once at a funeral dinner someone asked me what it was like to have family upon which you can depend. Ilaughed loudly and inappropriately, and remarked, “How the heck would I know?” But of course I do know.Because family relationships usually endure long enough that you discover all the ways you can depend oneach other, as well as having a pretty good idea of each other’s weaknesses.

Our wish for you over Thanksgiving and Christmas this year is that you will enjoy your family in every pos-sible way while learning to gracefully come to terms with their inadequacies. We also hope that your wis-dom and example will guide your children as they develop the kinds of solid long term family relationshipsthat we all find so indispensable in difficult times.


From Our Family

We are always looking for more sponsors for the Birthday Club. Email [email protected] or call 866.806.1680 for details.

Kids! Join our Birthday Club and we’ll send you a special treat and let everyone know it’s your special day!

Send your child’s date of birth to [email protected]

Homemade Chocolate129 E. Grand River Fowlerville

517.223.1322

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517.548.1800

Kamdyn Wells

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Owen Yuan LeeColton CullersNicholas Wayne Porter

Madison Bella McKenzie Seigle

Brendan OsolindGillian SchultzErin Rose Brown

Jeremy BuchanStella Pantelas

Bella Rae HammackVasyli Freeman

Nicholas Gabriel Corbett. Kaitlyn Orr

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Holly HeckelKylee BrownCaleb DiMassa

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Garrett SchultzAdeline Schutz

Liliana BorsodiEmelia Edwards

Matthew GarzaZachary deBeauclair

10006 Highland Rd, Hartland810.632.6932

The Chaos of Our LivesVase Painting Kitby Family Games America• Four porcelain vases• Paint, brush, and stencil sheet.• Just paint and pop in the oven.• Tea sets and bowls also available.

*28.95 at fatbraintoys.com

We have 5 to give away. Email [email protected]


Dec. 8 & 9 at 2:00 p.m.

Jane Tasch Performing Arts

Theatre2130 E. M-36 Pinckney, Mi

$20Adult $18Child/Teen/Sr.

Reserved SeatingCASH OR CHECK ONLY

Sold at: Beverly Rae’s306 W. Main. Dwtn. Brighton

The Original Nutcracker in Livingston County. Featuring Local and Professional Dancers.

“Mom, tell her to stop looking at me!” “Get out of my room! I wish you weren’t my sister!” Wise Mom sits on one of my shoulders, patient and calm, with a keen eye for

each magic learning moment, and the wherewithal to take advantage of it. Frus-trated, Tired Mom sits on the other shoulder, desperately wanting to step in and stopthe bickering because even if we miss this teachable moment at least we won’t belate for school.

As a family therapist and mother to Julia and Bella,ages 15 and 12, I often feel frustrated and annoyedwhen my children argue. I am well-trained in what Ishould do, but sometimes I still don’t do it. Wise Mominsists that I need to turn the problem back to mydaughters so they can learn to settle conflicts them-selves and become responsible adults who can com-promise and negotiate effectively.

Our job as parents is to help our children throughthe process of identifying the problem, expressing their positionclearly, and problem solving to find a solution. Here are some quickand easy strategies to help coach your children toward a win-winresolution:

• Ask kids to focus on the problem, not the person. Stopblaming, and step back from the situation. Instead of “Bella, giveme back my doll!” ask the child to find the words to express whatthey want, “Bella, don’t touch my doll.” Focusing on the problemnot the person moves people from blame to solutions.

• Ask each child to put words to what he/she is feeling. Emphasize that wecan feel the feeling, but not act on it. Teach kids to name their feeling, express it,

and not act on it: “I feel X(mad) when you Y (ridemy bike without asking).”We’re coaching that it’sokay to be mad and to ex-press your feeling, but youcan’t hit or yell. So, whenJulia says, “Bella stopyelling at me just because I

made us late to leave the house.” Bella could stop and step back for a minute, andthen express her feeling calmly, “I’m mad that when we leave late I don’t get to seemy friends before school.” This shows that it’s okay to feel mad, but still stay incontrol and communicate about the feeling and the problem.

• Walk your child through a series of questions, encouraging them tocome up with answers in their own words. “What is the problem?” “How areyou feeling right now?” “Why do you think Bella is upset?” “How have the two ofyou tried to solve the problem?” “How did that work?” “Is there something else youcan try?”

• Help them to brainstorm many possible solutions until they can agreeon one, directing them back to the problem if they get sidetracked or frus-trated. When talking to preschoolers, naming options will model for them thatthere are many ways to solve a problem so it is win-win for everyone. “You could

each take a turn using the truck, you could put the truck away and no one woulduse it, or you could put away the trucks and go outside and play. Which sounds likea good idea?”

These same skills work with parent-child conflict. The goal of conflict resolutionis the same: stay cool and do not act from emotion, describe the problem not the

person, express the feeling calmly, actively listen toeach other, brainstorm solutions, decide on the reso-lution.

It’s easier to stay cool and calm if you first pauseand take a moment to breathe. Listen to the story youmight be telling yourself. It is likely that your own in-ternal dialogue is fueling your emotions and prevent-ing you from seeing possible solutions. During a recentsituation with my 15-year-old, this was the story I toldmyself, “Julia always starts a fight with me when she’sworried about something else. I’m so tired of telling

her over and over that she can’t do that. She never listens to me.”This internal dialogue poured gas on my emotional fire, and defi-nitely prevented me from active listening and effective problemsolving. My story was fueled by all-or-nothing words (always, never,every), which left me feeling angry and hopeless about resolvingthe problem. Until I took a breath and stepped out of the situation,I couldn’t separate my feelings from the issue.

Eventually, I was able to tell my daughter “Julia, I feel really frus-trated and hurt when you yell at me when you’re tired and stressed. I’ll talk to youwhen you’re calm.” My goal was to help her see that her actions affect other peo-ple, and to show that there are other ways to deal with stress.

After brainstorming, she agreed to practice asking herself what she is thinkingwhen she feels overwhelmed (am I tired, hungry, worried, frustrated, scared?). Be-cause we were able to come back to talking and hearing each other, I was able tofind the teachable moment in the “big” feelings and we talked about how self-aware-ness helps prevent “overwhelm and explode.” I also agreed to give her space whenshe asked for it calmly.

It’s never too early to begin managing conflict appropriately, and it’s never toolate to start. Children benefit from watching people deal with big feelings and set-tle problems. Parents can serve as coaches to teach kids how to work through theprocess with each other. When parents use the same skills to interact with our kids,we are more effective at conveying the message we want our kids to hear, we aremodeling the behavior we want them to adopt, and we can come to a resolution.

Staying on topic, listening without blaming or attacking, and brainstorming so-lutions will lead to less frustrated parents and more skillful, successful kids.

Kim Menzel, LMSW has been a licensed therapist for 20 years, practicing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy withadults, adolescents, couples, and families. Kim is a native of Brighton, mom of two teenage daughters, and owner ofMenzel Mediation and Counseling Center, as well as a member of LIPA, serving Livingston County families with al-ternatives to conflict resolution in family law matters.

Read Kim’s article “Conflict Avoidance Equals Intimacy Avoidance” at livingstonparentjournal.com.

Managing Conflict The Unavoidable Visitor in Parenting

“It’s never too early to begin managing conflict appropriately,

and it’s never too late to start.”

“Our job as parents is to help our children through

the process of identifying the problem,expressing their position clearly, andproblem solving to find a solution.”


Can You Find Your Child in this Checklist?Rita, age 11, used to be confident...ready to take on theworld. But after starting middle school, she seems like a

different person: hesitant and unsure of herself.

Ryanʼs mom, Becky, worries because Ryan is so easilywounded. Things said to him by the other kids at school

hurt his feelings so easily. Ryanʼs hyper-sensitivity is a con-stant source of stress for Becky.

The peace of the household is frequently disturbed.Everything is a battle: getting ready for school; dinner-

time; homework; even things that used to be enjoyable fam-ily activities are now potential battles. Screaming matchesoccur on a regular basis.

Paula is so concerned about being popular. Her par-ents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, worry that this will make her

an easy target for negative peer pressure.

Tyler, age 4, does great when he gets it right the firsttime when learning something new. When he doesnʼt

get it on the first try, though, he becomes totally frustratedand says, “Iʼll never be able to do it!”

Mr. and Mrs. Hall are frustrated at the level of disre-spect demonstrated by their children. The kids never

used to talk like this before! The Halls think, “If I had talkedlike that when I was a kid — I would have gotten clobbered!”

Suzanne is constantly down on herself, often saying,“Iʼm not as pretty as Elizabeth,” or “Iʼll never be popular

like Marta.”

Scott used to be a nice, kind child. Lately, though, hehas become increasingly aggressive. His parents, Vern

and Becky, are concerned...and theyʼve already had twocalls from the school about Scottʼs bullying of younger chil-dren.

The teachers say that Charlie canʼt focus in school, andmight need to be medicated. Nicole and Bryan, his par-

ents, hate that idea. They feel that Charlie just needs tolearn listening and focus skills. They are frustrated...howcan they build the skills Charlie really needs?

If youʼve “found” your child on the checklist (and mostpeople do!)...read on... You Just Might Find the Big

BREAKTHROUGH Youʼve Been Seeking for Your Child!”

Dear Fellow Parents,You are probably thinking, “come on ...how can punchingand kicking improve my child’s self confidence, focus andself control?” Well, I’m here to tell you, in many more waysthan you can begin to imagine.

I am Sam Larioza, a resident ofFowlerville and father of two wonderfulteenagers. I’ve spent much of my lifeteaching and mentoring young people.I’ve worked with thousands of kids (justlike yours!) over the last 25 years.So back to the question, “How cankarate do all this?!”Look at it this way. Your child’s first andbiggest challenge comes not from “fight-

ing for his rights on the street,” or “beating up the neighbor-hood bully.” It comes, instead, from battling more sinisterforces. Your child’s own fears and self doubts!“I’m not as smart as John.”“I’m just not good at math.”“I wish I was as (strong, pretty, popular) as Sally.”“Why does Jim keep picking on me?”Well here is the secret:

Karate is less about your child learning to fight others, andmore about fighting ... himself. His innermost fears and selfdoubts. Conquer them, and your child unleashes withinhimself a powerful, unstoppable force. A force that giveshim the strength to kick down the doors of his own selfdoubts, a force that opens your child to the exalting powerof values and the ability to reach his full potential.

To find out more go to our website www.ohanakarate.comor just call me at (517) 586-1001.

Yours for Rock Solid Kids,

Sam LariozaSam Larioza

“P.S. – Beginner classes starting this monthP.P.S.- Free official karate uniform to the first 25 callers.



Elaine Pereira wrote the book about her mother’s battle with Alheimer’s disease to help other peoplecope with the challenges we face when someone we love suffers from dementia.

When your mother was suffering from Alzheimer’s, what caught you most by surprise?Living two hours away from my mom, I didn't experience the day-to-day issues. She demonstrated aremarkable ability to mask her dementia with misleading information and evasive responses.

When she told me she still drove to church every Sunday, I believed her. I did not suspect that shedidn't always know what day of the week it actually was, sometimes got lost going there or coming home, and sometimes forgot to go. It wasn't until I actually saw driedchocolate residue sloughing off her sweater and coffee stains on her blouse and pants that I realized she wasn't capable of doing her laundry any more, regardless ofwhat she said. Then one day I actually saw her bank account statement and I became aware she had written nine checks for her car insurance!

The information I gleaned from asking Mom a “Yes or No” question was completely unreliable. When I asked for more specific information and listened carefully, Ibecame aware that her answers rambled, provided little substantive information and indicated dementia.

How did your children react to your mother’s illness?Because dementia comes on gradually, unlike a sudden illness or death, they had time to adapt and prepare. Still it is extremely difficult to watch your once brilliant,

talented, articulate mother or grandmother, ramble, not be able to retrieveyour name, and finally writhe in anguish as her dementia took a strongerhold, crushing her persona to dust.

As far as relating to me during that time, my girls were unconditionallysupportive.

What was the most helpful thing you learned while your motherwas ill?What a genuine privilege and honor it was for me to be able to give backto the woman who gave so much and so selflessly to me.

I also was very impressed with the staff at the facility where she stayed.They interacted with her daily, patiently redirected her refusals to dress,nodded their heads in non-confrontational agreement when she rantedabout something, bathed her and cleaned up after her, always respect-fully.

What were some of the most supportive things other people didfor you?My friends listened to me, endlessly sometimes, and asked with genuineinterest about me and my mom.

My husband stepped up for my mom in a big way when I was overseasin Germany. She wandered from the facility one night, fell and was foundseveral hours later by a paper delivery person. Mom was badly bruisedand hospitalized for a few days, and when she was discharged she hadto be relocated to a more secure wing. My husband packed and movedall of her stuff and arranged for movers to handle the big furniture items.He did this without complaint and without my help so that I could stayand enjoy my grandkids and family.

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How should parents explain dementia to their children?I would explain dementia by saying that someone is having difficulty remember-ing things and that they might even say or do something odd or strange, but not tobe alarmed. When I was about 8 years old, my mother prepared me for my grand-father's impending visit by warning me that grandpa might “refer to the past.” Sheassured me that he was okay but having a lot of difficulty remembering things andnot to be alarmed by anything odd. It was very helpful and I still remember herpreparing me for what could have been a disturbing experience.

With teens I think you can be more specifics about what dementia is and how isaffects someone's memory or personality. Even a young adult witnessing unchar-acteristic hostile behaviors in someone who is usually kind and patient can be verydisconcerting. Address the issue before the visit by saying something like this: “De-mentia impairs grandpa's personality and his ability to remember things. He mightask you the same question over and over; just answer him again patiently. He mighteven seem irritable, grumpy or short tempered because of the disease and have dif-ficulty controlling his attitude.”

How can I help my child connect with older relatives who have dementia?Even dementia patients like certain things and events, especially from the past.For example, homemade cookies might be a common denominator that helps theyoung child connect with their older relative. Sometimes pictures of familiar peo-ple, music or crafts, can allow a child to interact with a compromised adult in ameaningful way and in a pleasant atmosphere.

I also recommend simple but honest explanations to a child before their visit/in-teraction about what to expect, what this person might look or act like. Explain thefacility they are living in if it is different from their home.

Encourage them ahead of time to remember what they liked about this person inthe past. For example: “Aunt Shirley used to wink at me and it was funny.” Youmight suggest in response, “Aunt Shirley might not remember winking at you andshe might not wink at you now, but maybe you can try to see what happens if youwink at her, or draw a picture of her winking at you”.

My friend’s parent suffers from dementia. How can I help my friend?

1. My very first suggestion is to validate what your friend is goingthrough if you haven't already. I recall more than a few friendssaying something heartfelt and helpful things like: “I'm so sorryto hear about your mom. I remember her yummy homemade pie.How can I help?”

2. Offer physical assistance, such as help with transportation toappointments, or running errands for them to the pharmacy, gro-cery, or post office; especially if you're going anyway. Offer to sitwith their parent so they can have a break.

3. Home safety is sometimes one of the biggest issues for some-one with dementia. Their judgment, logic or planning skills areoften impaired, putting them at risk for falls, leaving the stove on,and especially wandering. If your friend's parent is living aloneor is left alone for part of the day, then your friend should be en-couraged to contact The Alzheimer's Association for their expert-ise and management recommendations.

4. Offer to accompany your friend if they are looking for an as-sisted living or an Alzheimer's care facility. A second pair of eyes,ears and nose can be very helpful. Your friend also needs moralsupport throughout this process. Even knowing my mother's un-equivocal wishes, I still was humbled by the weight of makinglife-changing decisions on her behalf without being able to dis-cuss them with her in a meaningful way.

What is the biggest misunderstanding people have about Alzheimer’s?From my perspective, it is forgetting that the drooling, rambling, disheveled, and/orhostile person that you see with Alzheimer's used to teach high school calculus(like my mom ), earned an advanced degree, was the best bakery chef in the state,or took care of six kids and an ill parent themselves. The demented person once hadintegrity, modesty, values, and opinions. If they act aggressive or hostile, it’s notreally them, it’s the disease. It is very hard to witness someone's mind being slowlychipped and chiseled away one brain cell at a time, but my mom and all the oth-ers, deserve to have someone there for them.

Elaine Pereira’s candid story of her mother’s struggle highlights the sad andalso the comical side of dealing with Alzheimer’s.


Instead of breaking the bank to shower your kids with material things this holi-day season, how about giving them the gift of at least one meaningful experi-ence instead? Time spent together, not a new video game system or wardrobe,will truly stick with them and shape their character.

Choose an event to attend together. Get a schedule of local holiday-themedconcerts, plays, parades, shows, and other events, and choose a few togetherto attend as a family. Your kids will enjoy counting down to these outings, andyou'll have an even better time attending them. Plus, everyone will rememberthe live performance of White Christmas or the holiday-themed magic showmuch longer than they will a bevy of action figures under the tree. The calendarof events always includes some that are inexpensive or even free. You don’thave to spend a mint to make memories over the holidays.

There really is no place like home for the holidays. Making special holidaymemories doesn't always have to mean going somewhere. In fact, some ofyour most treasured experiences can be created inside the four walls of yourhouse, and they don't have to cost a lot of money or cause a lot of stress to beperfect! Take a regular weeknight dinner and turn it into a magical holidaymeal by dimming the lights, lighting candles on the table, and playing soft holi-day music in the background. Serve sparkling juice or cider in special glassesand pull out the fancy china for once. It's a special night you and your familywon't soon forget!

Set your family up for success. On even the best of days, kids will be kids,and their propensity for energy, misbehavior, and hijinks grows exponentiallywhen they're excited. Whenever your family is preparing for any sort of eventthis season, don't assume that the usual rules are at the forefront of youngminds. Go over your expectations and potential consequences beforehand sothat you don't spend the whole time scolding and correcting. And as a parent,take the time to remind yourself that children are often overstimulated, overex-cited, and saturated with sugar this time of year. If you don't think your broodcan handle sitting still for a one hour concert, then make the choice not to go.You'll save yourself a lot of stress, anger, and disappointment in the long run.

Make meaningful conversation. Conversation is the foundation upon whichany memorable event is built. So to make the most of outings and experiencesthis holiday season, have a few meaningful topics up your sleeve to engageyour family. Otherwise, you'll find yourself griping about chore lists, homework,and soccer schedules during your special outing, instead of the things you re-ally wanted to share. For example, as you drive around your neighborhoodlooking at Christmas lights, you may want to ask your kids about their favoriteChristmas memories. Or, before attending a church service or local event, sitdown and talk about what Christmas truly means to each member of your fam-ily. You may be surprised at the answers, and it will make each event and activ-ity that much more meaningful.

Make something out of nothing. A meaningful experience doesn't have tocost a massive amount of money, and it doesn't have to be a once-in-a-lifetime

event. In fact, yourfamily can make rou-tine holiday tasksinto beloved tradi-tions. For example,get everyone to-gether to wrap giftsfor friends and fam-ily, and share hotchocolate and cook-ies while you're curl-ing ribbon andcutting paper. Or leteveryone climb intospecial holiday paja-mas, then pile in thecar and look at all ofthe beautiful holidaylights in your town.

Give thanks. This is a time to be grateful and to count blessings. Wheneveryour family visits a friend or attends a special event, make sure to point out toyour children how fortunate they are to have such individuals and opportunitiesin their lives, and occasionally mention that not every child around the world isso privileged.

Give back. If your family is counting its blessings, the natural next step is toreach out to those whose holiday seasons might not be filled with much cheer.Consider donating to a charity instead of giving so many gifts, volunteering ata soup kitchen, or caroling at a nursing home. This is the perfect time of year toteach children that it truly is better to give than to receive, and it can actuallyfeel really good, too. These experiences will instill values in your children andbroaden their perspective on holiday privileges.

Live in the moment. It's easy to get caught up in the hoopla of the holidays,and not living in the moment is a downright joy robber. If you're constantly set-ting your sights on the next holiday party or dance recital on your calendar,you won't be fully enjoying the activity you're currently doing. Reveling in thenow and accepting the (minor) flaws that might come along allows you to trulyexperience the benefits of living in the present. Those moments with family andfriends will be that much sweeter.

David Reiser is a senior vice president-wealth management at MorganStanley SmithBarney. He enjoys fine dining, Broadway theatre, and bodysurfing with his four sons at the beach in Amagansett, New York. Andrea Reiser is a graduate of Boston University College of Communication. Her interests include cooking, live music,fine dining, interior decorating, nonfiction reading, digital photography, blogging, musical theater, and the BostonRed Sox.They are coauthors of Wealthbuilding: Investment Strategies for Retirement and Estate Planning (Wiley, 2002), andLetters From Home: A Wake-up Call for Success & Wealth (Wiley, 2010) ReiserMedia.com

Look for Dave and Andrea’s article “A Meaningful Little Christmas” at LivingstonParentJournal.com

Gifting Your Children with Meaningful Experiences


List your event for free at LivingstonParentJournal.com

Thursday 1 Family Tae Kwon Do Tuesdays andThursdays through 11/29 Kil’s Tae KwonDo 6:30-7:30 or 7:30-8:30 $52517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org

Friday 2 Mom to Mom Sale Brighton Montessori9am-2pm 810.229.8660 [email protected]

Sat & sun 3 & 4 Climbing Tower and Zip Line Tallestoutdoor climbing tower in Michigan. 500-foot Zip Line over a pond. Paid reserva-tions required. Howell Nature Center $15517.546.0249 howellnaturecenter.org

Saturday 3 Turkey Napkin Holder Hands-on work-shops for children ages 5-12. Free work-shop apron, commemorative pin andcertificate of achievement. Home Depot9am-Noon 517.548.3742

White Steeple Stage presentsold country and blue grass per-formers Bill Bynum & Co. atCommunity CongregationalUnited Church of Christ in Gre-gory 7:30pm $10

Bird Hike Bring your binocu-lars and a field guide to observeand record dates, locations, andtrends from year to year. Hud-son Mills Metropark 8am $3734.426.8211metroparks.com

Honor Flight Michigan This film honorsthe legacy of Michigan’s World War II He-roes and Honor Flight Michigan who pro-vided their trip of a lifetime. Question andanswer session with local veterans will fol-low. Cromaine Library 10am FREE810.632.5200 cromaine.org

How to Get Unlost How to find your wayout of a sticky situation with or without acompass but bring a compass if you haveone. For ages 10 and older. Kensington1pm $3 800-47-PARKSmetroparks.com

Sunday 4 Kayaking for Cranes Join the CrossroadsGroup of the Sierra Club to watch theSandhill Cranes on Bennett Lake up closefrom kayaks. Bring PFDs and a bag of dryclothes. Deerfield Hills Nature Area 2pmFREE [email protected]

Shelter Building Discover the basics ofbuilding a good shelter for unexpectedovernight stays in the wilderness. For ages10 and older. Kensington 1pm $3 800-47-PARKS metroparks.com

The Livingston Lamplighters Barber-shop Chorus ‘Sentimental Journey- OurWay’ Hartland Ed Community Center4pm $10. Visit the website for details. livingstonlamplighters.org

Turkey Shoot Bring your own shotgun,ammunition will be supplied. LivingstonCounty Wildlife and Conservation Club.Doors open at noon, shooting starts at1pm. 810.231.1811

Monday 5 Intro To Karate forKids Mondays andWednesdays throughNovember 28 OhanaKarate 4:30-5:00pm$150 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org

Fri-Sun 9-11 My Son Pinocchio Geppetto jour-neys beyond his village toy shop todiscover what makes an ideal child,and what it means to truly be a par-ent. Presented by the CommunityTheatre of Howell. Howell Fresh-man Campus Fri & Sat 7:30pm Sat& Sun 2pm $16 517.545.1290cththeatre.org

Bone Chiller A comedic mysterythriller presented by Hartland HighSchool Thespian Troupe #4213 Fri& Sat 7:30pm Sun 2:30pm $13 hartlanddramaclub.weebly.com

Friday 9 Flick n’ Float Float on an innertube while watching a movie. Chil-dren under 48” or younger than 3must have an adult in the water.Children under 14 must have anadult in the building. Howell Pool 7:00-8:30 pm $4 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org

Bully Buster Verbal and non-physicaltechniques will be covered along withphysical protection skills. Ages 6-14Ohana Karate 6:00-7:30pm $90517.546.0693 x0 howellrecreation.org

Open Mic Live musicians, poets, actors,artists, comedians, singers, and dancers.Bennett Recreation Center 6:30pm $2 (nocharge for performers) 517.546.0693 x0

howellrecreation.org

What's Your Story? A family musical ex-ploration of building community through

civility and compassion pre-sented by Music DoingGood. Howell Opera House7:00-9:10pm $25517.540.0065 HowellOperaHouse.com

Sat & Sun 10 & 11 Bye Bye Birdie Presentedby the Pinckney Players.Jane Tasch Theatre Sat7:30pm Sun 2pm $14 pinckneyplayers.com

Saturday 10 Mom to Mom Sale Slighty used infant,toddler, and children’s clothing, toys. Nostrollers please. Brighton Montessori10am-2pm $1 9am admission, $2810.229.8660

Babysitting Skills and Fun covers eti-quette, entertainment and includes shar-ing real experiences. Teens and tweensgrades 5 and up. Cromaine Library 1-3pmFREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Native American Pottery Learn theways of the Eastern Woodland Indiansand make your own pot to take home withyou. For ages 6 and older. Kensington 1pm$5 800-47-PARKS metroparks.com

Day of Hope Services for those in need.Free haircuts, basic medical evaluations,children's safety fingerprinting, tire pres-sure and fluid check and childcare duringthe event. Lunch will be provided for allvisitors and the first 150 visitors/familieswill receive a free box of groceries (one perhousehold). Community Bible Church9am-3pm 810.227.2255

Mom to Mom Sale 75 sellers of gentlyused baby & kids clothing, toys, baby fur-niture & equipment and maternity [email protected]

Sunday 11 Critter Holiday Make edible treats forbirds and squirrels. The program includesan optional walk to leave the treats in thewoods, or families can take their treatshome. Harris Nature Center 3pm $7/fam-ily 517.349.3866 [email protected]

November

{ Things To Do In Livingston County {

12 • Livingston Parent Journal • (866) 806-1680 8Car Entry Fee � Reservations Required - please call ahead

Veterans Day Ceremony Speakers andsalute by the Marine Corps. LivingstonCounty Courthouse 11am.

Tuesday 13 Sanchin Ryu Karate for Families Phys-ical techniques, drills, and exercises. Tues-days through January 15 Ages 5 & upBarnard Community Center 7-8pm$104/family 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org

Wednesday 14

A young Nature Discovery student enjoys donning alive tiara composed of all three species of Michigangarter snakes. Photography by Dr. Roy Schwarz

Michigan Snakes Alive Jim McGrathfrom Nature Discovery will bring severallive snakes for you to handle, and discusstheir specific identification, behavior andhabitat requirements. Brighton Library7pm FREE [email protected]

Thur-Sun 15-18 My Son Pinocchio see November 9-11Thur 7:30pm

Thursday 15 Sanchin Ryu Karate for Families Phys-ical techniques, drills, and exercises.Thursdays through January 17 Ages 5 &up Barnard Community Center 7-8pm$104/family 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.

Fri-Sun 16-18 Bye Bye Birdie see November 10 & 11Fri & Sat 7:30pm Sun 2pm

Fri & Sat 16 & 17 Make a Gingerbread House A family ac-tivity. Kit and all supplies provided. Onekit per family. Cromaine Library Fri12:30pm &4:00pm Sat 9:00am, 11:00am& 1:30pm $5/family 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Friday 16 Native American Dance Nokomis fromOkemos shares dances of the Great Lakes.Audience participation encouraged. OldHartland High School 2pm FREE810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Winter Window Painting Come dressedfor the mess, materials supplied. 4th gradeand up. Hartland Crossroads LibraryFREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Saturday 17 White Steeple Stage presents countryand blue grass performers Company ofStrangers Community CongregationalUnited Church of Christ in Gregory7:30pm $10

Animal Tracks on T-Shirts Bring a T-shirt or sweatshirt and track it up, whilelearning about the animals that left thetracks behind. For ages 6 and older. Kens-ington 1pm $4 800-47-PARKSmetroparks.com

Turkey Stroll Two miles of walking andstrolling. Howell City Park 10am. FREE517.546.0693 x0 howellrecreation.org

Brighton’s Holiday Glow Holiday music,dance performances from local compa-nies, hay rides, train rides, a nativity pet-ting farm, a station to write letters toSanta, tasty holiday treat. Santa and Mrs.Claus magically light the trees to orches-trated synchronized music. brightoncoc.org

North’s Sleigh Lowe’s Build and GrowClinic Saturday 10am FREE 517.548.3475lowesbuildandgrow.com

Sunday 18 Black and Blue A special screening of thefilm, "Black and Blue: The Story of GeraldFord, Willis Ward, And the 1934 Michi-gan-Georgia Tech Football Game" will befollowed by a discussion with Brian Krugerand Buddy Moorehouse. Brighton Library2-4pm FREE 810.229.6571 x227 Brightonlibrary.info

Deer Survival Strategies Between cars,hunters and natural predators, deer have atough time of it. Discover special adapta-tions that deer possess for survival. Forages 6 and older. Kensington 2pm $3 800-47-PARKS metroparks.com

Winter Duck Migration Watch water-fowl as they stop on Kent Lake. Binocu-lars, bird books, warm clothing and raingear are recommended. Kensington 1pm734.954.0429 [email protected]

Fri-Sun 23-25 Fantasy of Art Start your holiday shop-ping with fine art and holiday items. TheOpera House Fri 3-10pm Sat 6pm-Mid-night Sun 11am-4pm 517.294.7562

Friday 23 Legos Alive Bring your 2-gallon-sized zip-lock bags of any kind of Lego buildingblocks. Lego Robotronix in limited quan-tity will be supplied to add to your cre-ation. Ages 5-12. Cromaine Library 11amFREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Fantasy of Lights Dozens of illuminatedfloats, marching bands, 50 other entries,and Santa Claus. Downtown Howell 7pmhowell.org/45.html

Sat & Sun 24 & 25 Child of the Promise is a musical thatbrings to life the complete story of the birthof Jesus Christ beginning with theprophecy of the Old Testament. BrightonCenter for the Performing Arts Sat 7pmSun 4pm $15 childofthepromiseliv.org

Saturday 24 Chickadee Chow-Down In winter, a va-riety of song birds will actually take sun-flower seeds from your hands. Bird seedprovided. Kensington 1pm $3 800-47-PARKS metroparks.com

Sunday 25 Reptiles in the Lobby Meet some of thecritters that make Kensington their home.Kensington 2-4pm 800-47-PARKSmetroparks.com

Thursday 29 Bring your own tools and tech Tearthings apart. Put them back together. Buildsimple robots. Cromaine Library 6:30pmFREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Friday 30 Holiday in the Park Opening Festivi-ties The half-mile rustic drive will be linedwith a hundred decorated trees. SantaClaus, sky lanterns, hot chocolate andcookies. The trees will remain on displayuntil Christmas. Howell City Park 6-8pm$5/car 517.546.0693 x0 howellrecreation.org

November 30 – December 2 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is anEncore Youth Theater production aboutstruggling to put on a pageant while facedwith casting the Herdman kids, probablythe most inventively awful kids in history.Hartland Music Hall Fri & Sat 7:30pm,Sun 2 & 6pm $6 248.231.0184

December 1 Holiday Ornaments Children ages 7 andup will learn to paint 2 ornaments. Chil-dren under 7 may attend with an adult.10:30am-Noon $45 517.546.0693 x0

howellrecreation.org

Christmas in the Ville Parade, 1-mileand 5K races, reindeer, carriage rides, andhot air balloons. Downtown Fowlerville.

8Car Entry Fee � Reservations Required - please call ahead (866) 806-1680 • Livingston Parent Journal • 13

{ Things To Do In Livingston County {

December

More event information at livingstonparentjournal.com

The Budweiser Clydesdales will bein the Fantasy of Lights Parade.



My son, Austin has been aperformer in movies, plays andcommercials since he was six,has been a Screen Actor’sGuild member for two years,and has been modeling sinceage three. In the movie WhipIt, when Ellen Page expressesfrustration about her motherforcing her personal agendaon Bliss, and Kristen Wiig re-sponds “You’re lucky that you even have a mom who cares,” that’s Austin inthe back seat giggling. I think it is really cool when he gets to work on a pro-duction that has a valuable life lesson, and he gets to be in the scene that pres-ents that lesson.

Disney’s “My Son Pinocchio,” which is being presented this month by theCommunity Theatre of Howell, has valuable life les-sons for children and parents, along with lots ofhumor, entertainment, great songs, emotion and atalented cast of characters. Austin plays Pinocchioand his father Brian plays Geppetto. This retelling ofthe classic tale shows us that you must be carefulwhat you wish for, and “just because it’s magicdoesn’t mean it’s easy”. As Geppetto journeys be-yond his village toyshop to discover what makes anideal child and what it means to truly be a parent,the production explores important themes like indi-viduality, self-esteem and the relationship betweenparents and children.

“My Son Pinocchio – Geppetto’s Musical Tale” isalso full of unexpected laughs and adventures.Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, knownfor scores like Wicked, God-spell and Children of

Eden, adds a charming andcompelling score of originalsongs to the beloved classicslike“When You Wish Upon aStar” and “I’ve Got NoStrings.”

Being a parent of a youngprofessional actor is challeng-ing. It’s not always easy to sup-port their interests while makingsure their life is well rounded.Sometimes people forget that Austin is not that different from other kids just be-cause he is a professional performer. I have learned sometimes to keep someof his accomplishments to myself. Pinnochio reminds me to make sure Austinknows that I am proud of him, not for what he does but for who he is.

Laura Bickel, MBAPrior to becoming a performer's mom, Laura was an investment advisor in Tennessee and loved it. She gave up hercareer to be a stay-at-home mom. Laura is an active volunteer, especially in the theatrical world.

More information about My Son Pinocchio at LivingstonParentJournal.com

Everything I Needed to Knowabout Parenting I learned from

PinocchioAustin with Drew Barrymore

Ellen Page, Kristen Wiig, and

Austin.

Pinocchio is showing at the Howell Fresh-man Campus November 9, 10, 15, 16, 17at 7:30 and November 10, 11, 17, and 18at 2:00. cththeatre.org 517-545-1290.


Saturday, November 10th

Miller Intergenerational Center 850 Spencer Rd. Brighton, MI 4811610am-3pm $1 entry Raffle PrizesKids Craft CornerConcessions*Juried show with over 55 exhibitors**Call 810-299-4130 for more details

5 th Annual Arts &Crafts Show

Kevin KammeraadSaturday, 1.12.13, 2PM

The Verve PipeKids show!Saturday, 1.26.13, 2PM

ScribbleMonster Saturday, 2.23.13, 2PM

Madcap Puppets The Cinderella Files Saturday, 3.9.13, 2PM

BrightonPerforming Arts. com 810-299-4130, ext. 0

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Mom to Mom SaleNovember 10 9am-2pm


Laura Cronenwett Webber "Uh,Mama- I need to take my pants off be-cause my knees and legs need to getsome fresh air!" #FourYearOldBoyWis-dom

Nicole Beauregard Smith I cannot findthe off switch for the 'seek and destroy'on my children!

Jessica Kroft DeBoard Watchedmy 8 year old nephews footballgame today and they were downone point with 2 minutes left on theclock and the team scored a touch-down and held off Hartland after aturnover at their end zone to win! Itwas the most exciting football gameI've ever watched! I didn't really un-derstand what was happening be-cause I've only maybe watched 5games ever but it was a real nailbiter! Go Lakeland Broncos!

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Nanette Edwards My boysare at the last Tiger homegame! We did not tell Eliuntil he was going out thedoor for school!

Jessica Cardoni Andrew isreading a library book toBelle. She has to pee so shesays "Ok dad, pause it."

Jennya Hammack For those of you that keep up withThe Chronicles of Vaeh’s Sleepless Life, on the wayhome tonight she was nodding off until she realized shewas nodding off. So to keep herself awake, she held hereye open with one hand and poked her eyeball with theother hand. No joke.

Lori Burkart Having difficulty gettingyour child to nap? Just give them acopy of the LPJ! ;)

Shepherd of the Lakes

Lutheran School Ourstudents give our school

a lot of credit! Thismorning a kinder-

gartener's grandma re-minded her that it wasFriday which meanspizza at lunch and a

weekend following theschool day. The kinder-

gartener responded,"You mean we get aweekend EVERY Fri-

day?! I LOVE thisschool!"

Leah Greanya wrote on Nanette Edwards's timeline.HELP! Gracee and I are at Walmart and she locked my keys, phone etc in theJeep. So - I don't have any phone numbers! Please come up...

Brian Edwards Elijah asked metonight what my favorite part ofGod's creation was. I answeredMiguel Cabrera. I was right.

Breastfeeding Multiples Mother Baby Group is a

free drop-in group for mothers of twins or more. Support

staff available. 3rd Wed, 1-3pm. Sponsored by The Breast-

feeding Center of Ann Arbor 734.975.6534. bfcaa.com

The Breastfeeding Café is a free drop-in group for

breastfeeding mothers and their babies, hosted by

lactation consultant Barbara Robertson. Fridays

10-11:30am The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

734.975.6534. bfcaa.com

Saint Joseph Mercy Breastfeeding Clinic is designed

to support breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Appoint-

ments with lactation consultants available. 734.712.6357

Breastfeeding Club is a free, drop-in group facilitated

by a board-certified Lactation Consultant to answer

questions and empower moms to reach their breast-

feeding goals. For pregnant and breastfeeding moms

and babies (as well as older siblings). 2nd Mon, 1-3pm

(no meetings July or December). Ellen Thompson

Women’s Health Center 734.712.6357

Breastfeeding Class ~ Learn breastfeeding techniques

that work. Partners are encouraged to attend.

800.231.2211. Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes

Working & Breastfeeding Mother Baby Group is a

free drop-in group for mothers who have returned to

work and are continuing to breastfeed. 2nd Sat, 1-3pm.

The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor 734.663.1523

La Leche League is a support group for breastfeeding

mothers. 1st Thur, 10am-Noon. Center for the

Childbearing Year. 734.663.1523. center4cby.com

Dawn Farm Education Series is a free annual work-

shop series providing helpful, hopeful, practical infor-

mation about chemical dependency, recovery, family

concerns and related issues. Programs are presented

on the last 2 or 3 Tuesdays, September through June.

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education. 734.485.8725.

dawnfarm.org or [email protected].

Free Eye Exams ~Dr. Muir of Vision Source is offering free

eye exams for children up to 36 months with little or no vision

insurance. 517.545.2020 Provided through InfantSEE. Contact

the American Optometric Association. aoa.org

Livingston County Catholic Charities

provides outpatient mental health & substance abuse

counseling for children, teens, adults & families.

Insurances accepted & sliding-fee scale. 517.545.5944

Livingston County Dept of Public Health

offers immunizations, TB skin tests, assistance to gain

access to medical care, hearing and vision screening,

HIV tests, Children Special Health Care Services, Nurses

Welcome Newborns (newborn home visits) and WIC.

517.546.9850 or visit lchd.org

Livingston Family Center provides outpatient therapy

services to youth and families with runaway services,

supervised visits, support and substance abuse prevention.

Many programs are free. 810.231.9591.

livingstonfamilycenter.org

Understanding Food Allergies is a seasonal workshop

that explores the different types of allergies and testing.

Topics include the use of digestive enzymes, elimination

diets, restoring the immune system, and using supple-

ments to heal the digestive tract. 810.299.4130

Teens Using Drugs: What to Know and What to Do is for parents and

other family members, teens, and people who work

with teens. Free literature about alcohol/other drugs

and teens is provided. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital

Education Center 7:30-9:00pm Oct.-June except Dec.

734.973.7892 teensusingdrugs.org

Great Parents, Great Start Playgroups are parent-

child playgroups that focus on developmental needs

of infants and toddlers. 517.540.6829 robinsschutz@

livingstonesa.org

Livingston Area Parents of Multiples provides

parents/guardians of multiple birth children with

encouragement, resources and information. 3rd Thur.

7pm, Saint Joseph’s Church in Howell. 734.377.6816

[email protected]. Moms and Tots of Brighton ~Playgroups and playdates,

field trips and outings, special interest groups, evenings out for

moms and family events. 734.891.4386 [email protected]

Moms In Touch meets one hour a week to pray for students

& their schools. 517.545.9920 [email protected]

Moms Social Group provides a fun outlet for Moms

of school age children to connect with other Moms.

www.meetup.com/Moms-Social-Group-MSG

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Brigh-

ton, 2nd & 4th Tues. 810.227.9411. Our Savior Lutheran

Church, Hartland 248.887.4300. Fine Arts Academy,

Whitmore Lake 734.646.1429 Interested in starting a

group? Contact: [email protected]

Munchkin Moms Playgroup provides playtime in the gym,

playdates at members’ homes, fun in the parks & field trips.

517.294.7040 [email protected]. hotshepherd.org

Parent-to-Parent Support is a free, informal drop-in

group for moms, dads, partners, and babies. Toddlers

welcome. Every Wednesday, 10-11:30am, Center for the

Childbearing Year, 722 Brooks St., Ann Arbor.

734-663-1523. www.center4cby.com.

Bradley Natural Childbirth Classes ~ Relaxation, nutri-

tion, pregnancy exercises, labor stages, pain reduction,

breastfeeding, coaching, newborn care, and benefits/draw-

backs of typical procedures. 12 weeks. Brighton area. $275.

810.227.0513

Boot Camp for New Dads is a three-hour workshop

for first-time fathers (who may bring their baby).

Taught by Boot Camp veterans under the direction of

a trained coach, this program enables new fathers to

step up to the challenge of being a dad and feel more

confident bringing the new baby home. 800.231.2211

Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes Center for the Childbearing Year offers the following

classes for expectant parents: Childbirth Preparation– Everything You Need to Know; Childbirth Preparation Condensed Series–Focus on Labor & Birth; a one-day Holistic Birth Preparation Retreat; Caring for Your Newborn; and Breastfeeding Basics; as well as compre-

hensive multi-media Online Childbirth Preparation

programs for busy couples. Large modern lending

library. 734.663.1523. center4cby.com

Childbirth Education Classes prepare you and your

labor support coach for labor and delivery. Informa-

tion regarding natural childbirth techniques, relaxation

exercises, medical intervention and cesarean births is

included. Classes are offered at Ann Arbor, Brighton,

Livonia and Chelsea hospitals. 800.231.2211. Register

online: stjoeshealth.org/classes.

Childbirth Prep & Refresher CoursesLearn relaxation techniques, breathing patterns, pain

management, coaching skills for labor and birth,

Cesarean childbirth, breast-feeding, and newborn

care. 810.231.2820

Dad’s Baby Care Boot Camp ~ It is time to lose your

dread of the diaper and conquer your fear of the cry.

2nd and 4th Tues of every other month. 810.494.5433

Dad’s Team is for expectant dads and dads of toddlers.

Meet with male mentors every other week and progress

through a parenting and life skills curriculum. Earn

“baby bucks” to purchase food, formula, clothing,

diapers, equipment and virtually anything an infant

needs. 810.494.5433

Doulas Care Program is a volunteer program that

matches low-income mothers-to-be with a doula that

provides physical, emotional and educational support.

3 prenatal home visits, attendance at your birth, and 3

post-partum home visits at no charge. 734.332.8070.

doulascare.org

Earn While You Learn~Basic needs & parenting sup-

port for parents of infants. Meet with a mentor every

other week and progress through a parenting and life

skills curriculum. Earn “baby bucks” to purchase food,

formula, clothing, diapers, equipment and virtually

anything an infant needs. 810.494.5433 Family Birth Center Tour is now available on-line at

stjoeshealth.org. To tour the Family Birth Center in person call

800.231.2211 or register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes. Family Birth Center Sibling Class + Tour is a new class

for 3-7 year olds who are preparing to become big brothers

and big sisters, and their mother is delivering at St Joseph

Mercy Hospital-Ann Arbor. 800.231.2211 Register online:

stjoeshealth.org/classes

Family and Friends CPR~Infant and child CPR classes

are available at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System.

800.231.2211 Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes Free Pregnancy Testing, Nurse Consultation, & Ultrasound ~After a nurse assessment, a client may be offered

a free ultrasound. Pregnancy Help Clinic 810.494.5433

TheResource CenterYour spot for ongoing parental assets, clubs, and classes.

The

LPJBreastfeeding

Health

Mom Groups

Pregnancy/Childbirth

18 Livingston Parent Journal

Infant Care is a class about normal newborn care, both in

the hospital and at home, including demonstrations on how

to bathe and diaper your baby and discussion of infant safety.

800.231.2211. Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes

Livingston Postpartum Support Group provides a place to talk about your birth or early parent-

ing experiences. Babies and older siblings welcome. 1st

Wed. 10am First United Methodist Church in Brighton

517.214.7272. [email protected] Meet the Doctor & Nurse Practitioner ~ For parents ex-

pecting their first child or looking for a pediatrician. 2nd Tues at

IHA Livingston Pediatrics 5:30-6:30 pm 810.494.6820

Michigan Doula Connection is a nonprofit organiza-

tion offering free birth and postpartum doula care for

low-income families. MichiganDoulaConnection.org

Mommy and Me is a free drop-in meeting for new mom

and her baby. Informal discussion with other new mothers,

sharing ideas, and learning more about caring for yourself

and your newborn.1st Wed 10-11:30am except Jan. & Jul.

Ellen Thompson Women’s Health Center. Pet Preparation before Baby Arrives ~ This

class will educate dog and cat owners about common

behavior problems that occur and strategies to prevent these

issues. 800.231.2211 Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes Postpartum Depression Support Group 1st & 3rd

Tues 10:30am-Noon Catholic Social Services, Ann

Arbor. Free for women and their partners, children, or

family 734.302.0033. ppd-annarbor.org Prenatal Yoga is a time for mom and unborn child

to stretch and strengthen the spine, release and relax

into the pelvic floor, and learn breathing techniques for

more comfort. Bring a mat or rent one. 810.299.4130

Prenatal or Postnatal Yoga ~ Expectant mothers learn-

stretching and strengthening poses, along with helpful

breathing exercises. 6-8 weeks following delivery you can

bring your baby with you as you regain strength, flexibil-

ity and energy as well as finding balance and restoration.

800.231.2211. Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes Prenatal/Post-partum Aqua Aerobics is specifically

designed for expectant and post-partum women to

provide support for physiological and anatomical changes

during and after pregnancy. A permission slip from your

obstetrician is required to attend. Tues & Thurs 6:30-

7:30pm 517.540.8355. howellschools.com/aquatics

Survival Skills for New Moms is a prenatal class for

women expecting their first baby. You will learn practical

information on surviving those first few weeks at home

with baby, caring for yourself, juggling visitors, and manag-

ing fatigue. 800.231.2211. Register online:

stjoeshealth.org/classes

Ashley’s Friends is a group for children and youth

5-18 years of age who have experienced the death of a

loved one, and the adults who care for them. This free

group meets at the Kennedy Center in Howell on

Monday evenings. 517.546.4440

Creating Lasting Family Connections provides sup-

port and education for parents raising teenagers. Focus

on substance abuse prevention. Free. Classes in Jan.,

Apr., & Jul. 7 weeks. Call to register 517.548.1350

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Support Group for parents of children with FASD. First Thurs. of each

month. Free. St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital

Cafeteria Conference Room 810.599.9399

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Livingston

County is offering a free support group for parents and other

primary caregivers who have a child or adolescent who has

been diagnosed with a mental illness. 2nd Thurs. 7-9 pm. First

United Methodist Church, Brighton 517.546.7449

Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group of

parents of children with disabilities who share their

knowledge & resources with other parents and help them

to find their way through the special education “maze”. 2nd

Mon. 9:30am-Noon. LESA Bldg.

517.540.6804. scne.lesa.k12.mi.us

Parents of Hope is a new grief support group for

parents who have lost children of any age. 7pm 1st & 3rd

Tues. Cornerstone Church 810.494.4013

The Family Support Network (FSN) of Michigan

offers emotional support for families of children with

special health needs. Practical suggestions for day-to-day

living, parent support groups, one-on-one support and

training programs for parents. 800.359.3722

LACASA provides 24-hour emergency support and on-

call response for victims of child abuse, domestic violence

and sexual assault. They offer critical resources, shelter,

counseling and legal advocacy for individuals and families

impacted by abuse and senseless violence. Ongoing sup-

port groups held weekly. 866.522.2725. lacasa1.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters~Does your child need an adult mentor?

Ages 5-16 can get one-to-one emotional support. 517.546.1140

Family Story Time ~ Stories, songs and crafts for all ages.

Pinckney Library. Tues 11am Wed 1pm FREE 734.878.3888

Families and Providers for the Success of Children

offers support for parents and child care providers meet-

ing the social-emotional needs of children aged 3-5,

particularly those at risk for expulsion. Lending library,

articles and newsletters, phone support. 517.548.9112

Free Children’s Clothing ~ Toys, fresh baked bread,

household goods, appliances, adult clothing. Tues 3pm

Brighton Church of Christ 810.229.7051

Howell Teen Center is a place that is teen friendly and

teen driven where teens gather with friends, interact with

adults, gain recognition, and make choices. about what

they will do and how they will do it, all in a place that is

teen friendly and teen driven. Video games, movies, study

area, live bands, play ping pong or pool. 517.546.0693

Nurturing Parenting Classes ~ award-winning, national-

ly recognized program for parents of young children new-

born to 11 years. For parents and their children. 10-week

sessions beginning in January and April. 517.548.1350

Parent/Tot Play & Make Music Classes help chil-

dren ages 10 months - 4 years develop learning skills

through music and motor activities and use coopera-

tion and social skills to make new friends. Brighton’s

largest indoor playground. Miller Intergenerational

Center 810.299.4130 brightoncommunityed.com

Fathers Only Parenting Class is an 8-week learning ex-

perience for fathers, stepfathers, and other male caregiv-

ers that starts in January and September. 517.548.1350

Special Needs

Miscellaneous

Pregnancy/Childbirth cont.

Livingston Parent Journal 19

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“Be home before the streetlights come on,” was the phrase we often heard aswe raced out of the house in our Detroit neighborhood. We rode bikes, climbedtrees, organized our own ball games at Pitcher Field, and usually made it homeby dusk. We played like wild dogs, solved our own conflicts, and came hometired.

Our family did not have money to spend on going out to dinner, so we workedtogether to prepare the meal, then sat together and talked, and then cleaned up.Social skills and language skills were developed during this time.

Play occurred mostly outdoors, regardless of the weather. We built hockeyrinks in the backyard, and practiced balancing on the fence. We cut lawns witha push mower and worked in the garden under Grandma’s careful supervision.There were no DVDs or Playstations to distract us from the business of motorskill development.

Modern parents and educators can no longer assume that experiences whichsupport brain growth and development are part of typical family life. Today ittakes effort for parents to limit video entertainment time and engage kids in con-versations that develop language. Today it takes a determined parent to find ac-tivities to get kids moving. Today it takes a wise parent to establish familyroutines like eating together as a family and helping with chores that develop val-ues and social skills. The culture in which we live makes it easy to drift awayfrom activities and routines that optimize brain growth and the development ofimportant skills which are the foundation of early learning success.

Parents are sometimes not aware of how important it is for children to experi-ence early learning success. Without the language, motor, and social skills nec-essary for success at school, children begin quickly to fall behind, since teacherspresent content and learning skills at an astonishing pace. Children who struggleto keep up begin to question their ability to ever be good at reading or math.

Lack of language skills and vocabulary limits the ability of children to developreading and writing skills. Lack of balance and bilateral motor skills affects thedevelopment of listening and self-regula-tion. Lack of visual-motor skills affects achild’s ability to draw and print. Lack ofbasic behavior and social skills limits achild’s ability to make friends and developcircles of support.

Across America a quiet tragedy is occur-ring. More children are coming to schoolnot prepared to be successful. More chil-dren are coming to school with significantgaps or delays in development. And stan-dard school practices are not sufficientlyhelping these children get them back on thesuccess track.

By the beginning of fourth grade it is im-portant for students to have achieved asolid foundation of early learning skills.Proficiency at this age is an alarmingly ac-curate predictor of learning successthroughout school and life. And yet, ac-cording to the National Assessment of Edu-cational Progress, 67% of Americanchildren are scoring below proficient read-ing levels at the beginning of 4th grade. Ofthese, 34% read at the basic level and 33%read below the basic level.

The news is even worse for economicallydisadvantaged children. 83% of childrenfrom low-income families have reading skills below the proficient level. Thesechildren have a far greater chance of dropping out of school. They are consigned

to live without the learning skills that open the doors to opportunity and success.They are likely to be disengaged learners and low wage earners.

There has never been a time in our history in which it is more important tohelp our children become skilled learners.In the information age our kids will be ex-pected to develop new skills and gather in-formation throughout their lives to keep upwith the demands of the workplace.

The thoughtful parent understands theimportance of these early childhood years,during which the basic trajectory of learn-ing is set for life. The determined parentcarefully ensures that basic skills are de-veloped in the home and preschool, andthen works with local schools to improveinstructional practices for all children. Thewise parent understands that the economicand social future of our country dependson our ability to help our children becomejoyful and successful learners for life.

Bob Sornson, Ph.D. was a classroom teacher and school ad-ministrator for over 30 years, and is the founder of the EarlyLearning Foundation. He is the author of Fanatically Form-ative During the Crucial K-3 Years, The Juice Box Bully, andmany other books on parenting and early learning success.Contact Bob at [email protected].

Read an excerpt from Bob’s book FanaticallyFormative at LivingstonParentJournal.com


A Quiet Tragedy Help your child experiencelearning success:

• Take time for conversation, during play, at the dinner table, and in the car.Your child's speaking, listening and vocabulary skills are the foundation ofreadiness for reading.

• Encourage your child to exercise, play and move. Help your child developthe balance, body awareness, and bilateral motor skills which help youngbrains organize and develop.

• Encourage your child to spend many hours coloring, drawing and buildingwith blocks and Legos, using hands and eyes for sustained play activities.

• Establish regular routines for bedtime, mealtime, morning and chores forthe family. These routines help your child learn the self-regulation skills thatpredict school success.

• Be a calm assertive parent who sets limits in a firm but loving way.

• Visit http://earlylearningfoundation.com/resources-3/#all for more informa-tion on skills your child must develop to predict long-term learning success.

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