How to Train a Babysitter

Jul 26th, 10 / 0 Comments
how-to-train-a-babysitter

by Auntie Em

“She can’t do this to me.”

I heard anger in her voice so decided not to say a word until she calmed down.

Ginger is the daughter of a good friend of mine and I knew she was talking about her mother…my girlfriend.   This was awkward.  I didn’t want to hear this rant and I certainly didn’t want to be a part of it.

Silence.   Then Ginger sat down with her 3-year-old and explained: “Mother is going away for her vacation.  A ten day cruise in fact and it’s around the same time that my class starts.”

Yikes.  I knew exactly where this was going, my mind was racing and I was prepared to jump up and get away as fast as possible.   She wouldn’t have a babysitter and I was not the person to fill in while her mom was away.

Yes, I did feel her frustration, but to stay friends with Ginger I knew I would have to help her find another alternative.

I used my Auntie Em skills to console her.   “It will be fine,” I said in my sweet and sympathetic voice.   Then I told her that I would help her pay for a babysitter for the two mornings she would be away at school.   The hard part was finding a good babysitter, but we had a plan.

We both made calls to other mothers, friends and neighbors for recommendations and then set up 15 minute interviews for about three of the young ladies that Ginger felt would be the best ones.

The interviews weren’t just with Ginger.  She also had her toddler with her and paid attention to how the potential babysitter and her child interacted.  That eliminated one candidate and the other one didn’t have reliable transportation.

But that was only the first step.  Once you have found the perfect babysitter, the real fun begins.  How do you make your babysitter adapt to your parenting style?

Here  are some tips on training a new babysitter.  Remember that it takes time, so be patient!

  • Set up a time for her to come over while you are at home for about a half hour and let her play with your child while you are in the house doing other things. This way she feels comfortable that you are near and you feel comfortable as well. Have her do this several times until you both feel comfortable.
  • Your toddler will test the babysitter-in-training to see if she will tell him what he can’t do. Be sure to let your babysitter-in-training know that she’s allowed to tell him no and send him to the time-out spot. Also be sure to let your child know this too.
  • Let your babysitter-in-training know that she is doing a good job. A confident babysitter will make you feel confident with leaving your child with her.
  • The next time let her know that you’ll be going outside the house s if you were leaving to go somewhere. Tell your toddler that you are going out and take your purse with you. You can just sit outside where your toddler can’t see you or go to the neighbors. When you “leave” let your toddler know that he should listen to the babysitter. This way your toddler won’t see the babysitter as a “playmate” but more of an adult. This allows your babysitter to get used to the idea of you not being around.
  • Next have her come over while your toddler is napping and really go somewhere. You can ask the babysitter to call you if your child wakes up then arrange to return home about a half hour afterwards. This way you give the babysitter some time with full responsibility, but you know that you are on your way home too.

And don’t forget to keep in touch with your babysitter in case grandma takes another vacation.

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Parenting

Lost and Found

Jul 22nd, 10 / 4 Comments
lost-and-found

by Momanista

I was watching “Modern Family” the other night and even a rerun of that TV show cracks me up. It was the episode where the gay couple leaves their baby in a hotel elevator.

I was laughing at their freak out, but any parent I know, Mom or Dad, has had this happen at least once, or so they tell me. It tends to etch in your memory–the time you lost your child.

The first time I remember was at my son’s 2nd birthday party. We had a palm-to-palm hand-off system, and my husband had him. While packing up, he assumed I’d taken him. A football field away, our toddler wandered toward a busy street. Our teen nephews ran like track stars, screaming, and this so startled our boy that he stopped…at the curb. My husband had to drive alone for an hour to recover.

Maybe it’s more accurate to say that we lost track of our child, and momentarily. But the terror is no less deep.

You’d think we’d be scared straight.

Let’s see, there was the time I lost him at Target in the baby department. He was way too old to test drive those saucers that save your sanity, and his tennies prevented him from getting back out of the leg holes. Occupado. Yes!

I even let him scoot to the next aisle, where I could still hear him as I browsed.

The silence strikes you. It’s way too quiet….

And bolt I did. Next aisle, the next aisle, jogging now, hollering his name, louder, frantic head swivels. Then I found the empty walker, my son’s sneakers tossed to the side. Oh my God, someone pulled him out. He couldn’t think this up.

Not 30 seconds later, I charged toward a red-vested associate.

“My child is gone,” I said in muted hysteria.

Him: “Well now if you go over to customer-“

Me:  “No. You need to get on that radio now. Tell them to head to the door.”

Him: “But it will be—“

Me: “A kid just vanished, which would make it bad publicity for the store. I’ll meet them at the door.”

Now listen to this, because I did something right here. The associate radios, the call comes back in an instant, and the P.A. announces “Code —-“to the whole store. The staff knows the code. The doors seal shut, and nobody gets out with a child until the missing one’s found.

I somehow knew from news that you squander precious minutes wandering a vast square footage; it takes only seconds to pull a small child out of the store and drive away.  Only now that the doors were secured could we search aisle by aisle.

I kept telling myself that the vast majority of abductions are by someone known to the child. But who listens to themselves at a time like this? We’ve heard the warnings. Keep your child in sight. And I didn’t.

Three long minutes later, a clerk spotted my three-year-old against an upholstered display, kicking back, clueless. “Hi Mom!” he said, pleased with his new hideaway. It was quite close to the abandoned saucer. But store managers said I’d done the right thing.

Most people would learn from that ordeal. Then you go to an amusement park in peak season. Standing in a 20-minute line at Knott’s Berry Farm for a mother-son dinner, I finally get to order. As I wait for the food, I look down to find my 4-year-old no longer climbing the western handrails.

Nightfall amid the fake rocks of Ghost Town. I repeated my Target move and walked straight to a cowgirl with a nametag. She radioed then walked me to a nearby lost and found office, where my kid had been taken. I was furious yet proud, because as soon as he knew he was lost, my boy went to a uniformed security guard.

Now before you call authorities, consider the balance we parents strive for, the one that sometimes tips out of our favor. You want to give your child freedom to explore, discover, experience and yes, even fall down and get hurt. They learn cause and effect and physics (you climb out onto a weak branch that is lighter than you are, and you will crash down).

In these experiences and mistakes made, small predicaments solved, they are alive and learning. You hope they will be enchanted. Try to test and figure things out. This takes letting them take risks.

But it’s never easy, is it?

MissingKids.com suggests these steps:

  1. Obtain a detailed description of the child including clothing.
  2. Go to the nearest in-house telephone and page “Code Adam,” describing the child’s physical features and clothing. Designated employees are to immediately stop working and look for the child. Designated employees monitor front entrances to ensure the child does not leave the premises.
  3. If the child is not found within 10 minutes, call law enforcement.

Personally, I’d insist parking lot personnel start hunting and I’d call the police sooner.

For an English-Spanish parent guide for what to do in such situations:

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=244

For more on what to do if your child goes missing at home or elsewhere, as outlined in the Code Adam, named in honor of 6-year-old Adam Walsh:  http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=244

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Parenting, Safety

What is Your Toddler’s Personality Type?

Jul 19th, 10 / 1 Comment
what-is-your-toddlers-personality-type

WHAT IS YOUR TODDLER’S PERSONALITY TYPE?

“If babies are angels, then toddlers must be cavemen.”

My neighbor says that a lot on those bad days.

“I just wish I could have prepared myself better for the attack of the Flintstones,” she whines while telling me that her 3 and 4 year-olds are uncivilized, oblivious to danger and totally egocentric. “They shove toy trucks and puzzle parts in their noses. They eat light bulbs.”

Toddlers are full of surprises.  But parents can master understanding these little creatures. The first step: figure out your toddler’s personality.  Knowing your child’s temperament helps you know when to pamper and when to push.

Generally, toddler personality is divided into three broad categories, experts say:

  • Easy or happy, but not constantly.
  • Shy or slow to warm — often thoughtful and quiet.
  • Spirited (a nice term for “Get down off the refrigerator right now!”)

The Easy Child: About half of kids are easygoing — waking up on the “right side of the bed,” cheerful and ready for a new day. They’re active, tolerate change, and basically like new people and situations. Parents need to just use common sense if this is their toddler’s personality. Easy children sometimes can be lost in the crowd — spending too much time left alone with the television, or not enough time with their parents because other children demand the attention. Make sure that a child who is easy doesn’t become a neglected child.

The Shy Child: About 15 percent of kids are shy or slow to warm up, experts say. By age 9 months, many easy babies will smile at strangers, but shy kids will frown and cling. Experts say children with this toddler personality type need a lot of transition time from one activity to another activity. They might be late walkers and they will often study, with intensity, how a game is played before jumping in. “Their motto is, ‘When in doubt, don’t!’ Parents, these are gentle souls — and should be shielded from harsh criticism and ridicule. Also, parents need to make sure children with this toddler personality type can’t be rushed into getting dressed or sitting on Santa’s lap.

The Spirited or Wild Child: About one in 10 toddlers is a strong-willed, challenging kid, experts say. These roller-coaster kids have high highs and lows.  Parents usually know they have a spirited child because they’re the ‘more’ kids.” More active. More impatient. More impulsive.  More defiant. M ore intense. More sensitive. More rigid. The best recommendation to parents with this toddler personality type: Keep them active. Get them outside to play — a lot. These kids need to burn off their energy and work through their moods, experts say. They also need firm structure to keep them safe and stable — and lots of patience.

Of course, no child is contained within one toddler personality type, but these three types can be a helpful guide on how to interact. And I must add that on the good days my neighbor calls her toddlers little darlings and she tells me all of the impressive and sweet things they are doing.

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Parenting

The Fish that Got Away

Jul 16th, 10 / 1 Comment
the-fish-that-got-away

by Momanista

It was midnight on Cabrillo Beach, way out at the tip of San Pedro, so I was surprised by how many preschoolers were still up, frolicking in the waves.

We had been on the sand for hours, me and my friend Trish, bundled in our $10 nylon tote chairs, waiting for the grunion.

I was a first-timer, she the seasoned grunion monger. Two nights earlier, we’d gone to Seal Beach with our families for a 9:40 p.m. potential arrival time. The grunion were no-shows. Since they were not expected until 10:15 p.m. at the earliest this weeknight, we left the offspring at home. (Just to assure you, showing up minus kids was nowhere near as weird as going childless to Chuck E. Cheese).

As a native Californian, this grunion pilgrimage had eluded me. I don’t care to catch and kill these one-of-a-kind creatures, the only fish in the world to flop out of water to spawn. I hear they taste like sardines and at a skinny five inches, are a bother for a meal.

Yet something about the grunion lore, which I learned while researching a travel story, suddenly intrigued me.

These shimmering fish are found nowhere but the California coast, from Santa Barbara south the Mexican border, only for four consecutive days, twice a month, from March to August. And only with a new or full moon are the tides high enough to ferry the fish ashore.

By the hundreds, the females use their tails to burrow out a hole into which they wriggle vertically until the sand comes halfway up their bodies. Then, they release their eggs just about when a half-dozen males curve around them, releasing a foamy milt. This milt rolls down her body to fertilize the orange eggs. The males catch a wave first, followed a few moments later by females riding the tide back to the sea.

Too bad I don’t smoke.

This all sounded almost romantic for something I might previously have used to bait a hook.

And here we now were, poised at the front row for this mating life cycle. I now realized I would not be crashing this reproductive party, but I did want to watch. How often in the animal kingdom can you and your kids witness life being created?

It is the trifecta of teachable moments: a bit of hands-on science, entertainment and the novel bliss of being allowed to stay up late, even night swim in the ocean.

In the end, Trish and I talked about all that stuff you talk about when forced to sit still and not ‘’do’’ something. We met at the preschool but only at Cabrillo did I learn she had once taken trampoline in college. That says something about a person.

We didn’t care that much when high-beam lanterns and shrieking kids around us were certain to result in a grunion no-show. A few flopped ashore, but the rest of the bunch remained behind the breakers, eventually swimming off to a quieter stretch of sand. Elsewhere on the beach, families delighted in their arrival, and in two weeks, their eggs will hatch in safe captivity of the aquarium.

It is a wonderful, smaller aquarium to visit, and the grunion program later in July only cots $1 for kids and seniors, $5 for adults. http://www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/education/programs-individual-family/meet-the-grunion.asp

The grunion may show at any south-facing beach through summer’s end, mostly free or for the cost of parking. For the schedule and locations, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunionschedule.asp#runs

For some excellent fish tales, go to www.grunion.org

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Just for Fun

Top 10 Ice Cream Parlors

Jul 8th, 10 / 0 Comments
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Top 10 Ice Cream Parlors by Elise

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!  And yes, I did practically scream a couple weeks ago when I was informed that in 1984 Ronald Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream Month.

It has been a joke in my family that whenever we go to get ice cream, I get the exact same thing.  That classic scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough on a sugar cone has never let me down!

This month I plan to contribute to the USA being the country that consumes more ice-cream than any other country in the world.  My goal is to take some risks, experience new ice cream parlors and try unique flavors.

Join me in this month-long celebration! Below is the scoop on the top 10 kid friendly ice cream parlors I recommend trying.

Charlie Temmel’s Ice Cream

This little storefront ice cream parlor is a good alternative for those who aren’t huge fans of the frozen yogurt that is sold up and down the boardwalk. They don’t mind if you rollerblade in, or come in directly from the beach!

Location: 1313 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291

Hours: 11am-8pm

Contact: (310) 664-9564

Price: 2$ per scoop

Bennett’s Ice Cream

Tasty, tantalizing, and an all around treat, Bennett’s is one of the only Ice Cream places that still makes their own ice cream from fresh ingredients mixed on the spot right in front of you.  Bennett has won numerous awards for his fresh and flavorful ice cream!

Location: 6333 W. Third Street Stall # 548, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Hours: Mon-Thur. 9am-9pm, Sat. 9am-10:30 pm, Sun. 10am-8pm

Contact: 323-939-6786

Price: 3-4$ per scoop

Other: 2 hours free parking with validation in the Farmer’s Market Lot

Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain

Fair Oaks embraces the old soda fountain feel with its décor and classic menu.  They use only the highest quality ice cream for their hand-dipped shakes and malts as well as sundaes and ice cream cones.

Location: 1526 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9am-9pm, Sun. 10am-7pm

Price: 2-3$ per scoop for kids

Gelato Bar

Gelato Bar is a neighborhood gathering spot featuring Italian style gelato in over 24 different flavors.

Location: 1936 Hillhurst Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027

Hours: Mon-Thur. 8am-10pm, Fri-Sat. 8am-11pm, Sun. 9am-10pm

Price: 3.50$ per scoop

Other: Street parking available

Milk

The homemade delicious treats (including their well known chocolate cookies) makes this place a favorite!

Location: 7290 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Hours: Sun.-Tues. 9am-10pm, Fri. & Sat. 9am-11pm

Price:3.50$ per scoop

Scoops

This shop has earned its reputation for creating out-of-this world flavors such as pistachio and brown bread.

Location: 712 N. Heliotrope Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Hours:  Mon.-Sat. 12pm-10pm, Sun. 2pm-6pm

Contact: 323-906-2649

Price: 3$ per scoop

Diddy Reise

At any point in the day this small shop will have a line trailing down the street.  Don’t be fooled though, it moves fast and the warm cookies and creamy ice cream is well worth it! This build your own cookie sandwich is one of my favorite places!

Location: 926 Broxton Avenue, Westwood, CA 90024

Hours: Mon.-Thur. 10am-12am, Fri. 10am-1am, Sat. 12noon-1am, Sun. 12noon-12am

Contact: 310-208-0448

Price: 1.50$ for the ice cream sandwich, 1$ per scoop

Fosselman’s Ice Cream

Fosselman’s Ice Cream has been open for over 91 years and is still continuing with its same powerful philosophy of hand-making the most delicious ice cream.  “Quality, consistency, and customer service,” are their guiding values.

Location: 1824 W. Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10am-10pm, Sun. 11:30am-10pm

Contact: 626-282-6533

Price: 2.50$ per scoop

Glacier

Glacier features close to 80 different flavors of ice cream and gelato that are homemade with all-natural ingredients. Some of their most popular flavors that the kids might enjoy are Peanut Butter Blast or Carmel Crunch.

Location: 1605 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90266

Hours:  Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat. & Sun. 10am-6pm

Contact: 310-545-9730

Price: 3.95$ per scoop

Disney’s Soda Fountain

What is so great about this shop is that they not only have extra creamy ice cream but they tie in new sundae designs to the new themed movies that they are showing at the theatre next door!

Location: 6834 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood CA,

Hours: open daily

Contact: 323-817-1475

Price: 2.95$ per scoop

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Just for Fun, Top 10

What Love Means to a Toddler

Jul 6th, 10 / 1 Comment
what-love-means-to-a-toddler

by Auntie Em

Someone just sent me an email about what love means to a toddler.
The message said that a group of children was asked, “What does love mean?” and the email gave their answers, which were wiser and deeper than I could have ever imagined. I was also amazed at their high level of self-esteem and confidence.

Take just a few minutes and read what the kids said.  See what you think:

Four-year-old Billy said: “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

‘”Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired,” said Albert, a 5-year old.

And Mary Ann, who is also five, said ‘”Love is when your puppy licks your face, even after you left him alone all day.”

But here is my favorite from a 4-year-old who had an elderly next door neighbor.  This man had recently lost his wife and when he noticed that the man was crying, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there.

When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy answered: “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

These remarks show how little children are not only wise and sympathetic but also show an obvious sense of good self-esteem.  And your preschooler’s self-esteem is very important because it lays the foundation for your child’s future.

Your goal is to ensure that your child develops pride and self-respect — in himself and in his cultural roots — as well as faith in his ability to handle life’s challenges.

Here are some ways to help boost your child’s self-esteem:

Pay attention. Carve out time to give your preschooler your undivided attention. That does wonders for your child’s self-worth because it sends the message that you think he’s important and valuable.  Make eye contact so it’s clear that you’re really listening to what he’s saying.

Teach limits. Establish a few reasonable rules for your preschooler. For instance, if you tell him to put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket, don’t say it’s okay to pile them on the floor. Knowing that certain family rules are set in stone will help him feel more secure.
Support healthy risks. Encourage your child to explore something new, such as trying a different food, finding a best pal, or riding a bike.

Celebrate the positive. Everyone responds well to encouragement, so make an effort to acknowledge the good things your child does every day within his earshot.

Resist comparisons. Comments such as “Why can’t you be more like your sister?” or “Why can’t you be nice like Peter?” will just remind your child of where he struggles in a way that fosters shame, envy, and competition.

And please don’t forget to laugh with your children and encourage them to laugh at themselves. If you or your child take yourselves too seriously, you won’t enjoy your day-to day experiences with each other. A good sense of humor and the ability to make light of things that happen in your life are important ingredients to be happy!

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Parenting

4th of July Fireworks

Jul 2nd, 10 / 3 Comments
4th-of-july-fireworks

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, more so than Thanksgiving or Christmas around.

Thanksgiving always gave me a stomach ache since  I was allowed to eat as much as I wanted and would end up in bed unable to move because of the pain from eating all day.

Christmas was ruled out for a different reason.  My family never really managed to spend a single Christmas together. Someone was always missing so it was a bitter-sweet holiday for me.

But the 4th of July was different. My dad would come home that day with an incredibly big box of fireworks and bags of food for the barbecue.  The whole day was spent listening to music, smelling the charcoal from the fire and waiting for the great tasting food.  But the best part of the day was saved for last: fireworks!  Once it was dark enough everyone in my family would go out to the street and watch as the adults put on a show for all the kids.

As an adult, I still enjoy the 4th of July, but it’s not the same now that my dad is not around -don’t panic or feel sad.   He is still alive, but has retired and moved out of the country – We still barbecue at the house, but now we go to a professional fireworks show at different locations every year. This has become our new family tradition.

So if you are looking for something to do with your whole family, going to a fireworks show would be a great way to build your own family tradition.

Here is a listing you can use, thanks to the Safe July 4th Coalition:

July 2

Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with special guest Vince Gill
Friday, July 2, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
323.850.2000
July 3

Avalon/Catalina
Isthmus Cove – Barge
Avalon
9:00 p.m.

Carson
Home Depot Center
Chivas USA vs. Philadelphia Union Soccer Match
18400 Avalon Blvd.
Carson
Game at 7:30, Post game fireworks

Cudahy
Cudahy Park
5220 Santa Ana St. (Field that backs up to the Riverbed)
9:00 p.m.

Hawaiian Gardens
Pharis Fedde Middle School
21409 Elaine Ave. (Pioneer & 215th St.)
9:00 p.m.

Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with special guest Vince Gill
Friday, July 2, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
323.850.2000

Irwindale
Irwindale Speedway
13300 Live Oak Ave.
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

La Mirada
La Mirada High School (Soccer Field)
13520 Adelfa Ave.
9:00 p.m.

La Puente
La Puente Park
501 N. Glendora Ave.
9:00 p.m.

Lawndale
Luezinger High School, Field
41118 W. Rosecrans Ave.
Lawndale, CA (Prairie/Rosecrans)
9:00 p.m.

Long Beach
The Queen Mary
1126 Queen’s Highway

Enjoy a fun filled weekend of music, activities, BBQ and more aboard the world-famous Queen Mary. Commemorate independence day with a gigantic firework display at 9:00 p.m. with the best view in the city.

Tickets include admission to the event, access to the ship and a spectacular fireworks show. Tickets are $24.95/adult, $12.95/child (5-11), $21.95 for military/seniors.
Buy tickets online, call (877) 342-0738, or purchase on the day of the event.
Buy tickets for Saturday July 3rd or Sunday July 4th.

Norwalk
Cerritos College
11110 E. Alondra Blvd.
Norwalk
9:00 p.m.

Norwalk
North City Library – Parking Lot
12350 Imperial Highway
9:00 p.m.

Palmdale
Marie Kerr Park
2723 Rancho Vista Rd.
Palmdale
9:10 – 9:45 p.m.

Rosemead
Rosemead High School, Football Field
9200 Mission Dr.
Rosemead
9:00 p.m.

South El Monte
Shively Park
1105 Santa Anita Ave.(Fawcett Ave & Santa Anita).
South El Monte, CA
9:00 p.m.

July 4

Alhambra
Almansor Park
800 S. Almansor St.

Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
See the show from anywhere in the park. Limited parking, so arrive early.
Bring your own picnic or purchase food from various Youth Group Food Vendors.

Artesia
Artesia Community Park
12000 block of South Street / Elaine
Admission is free
9:00 p.m.

Baldwin Park
Sierra Vista High School
3600 Frazier Ave. (Field behind bleachers)
9:00 p.m.

Burbank
Starlight Bowl
1249 Lockheed View Drive

The Starlight Bowl’s 2010 Summer Concert Season begins with a “Salute to the Soul of America.” Enjoy an exciting evening of music and patriotism culminating in a spectacular aerial fireworks finale as the sights and sounds of Liberty ring out at the Bowl this 4th of July!
Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Entertainment from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Fireworks – 9:00 p.m

Carson
Home Depot Center
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders Soccer Match
18400 Avalon Blvd.
Carson
Game at 7:30, Post game fireworks

Calabasas
Calabasas High School
22855 W. Mulholland Hwy.
9:00 p.m.

Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake Recreation Area (Lower Lake)
32132 Castaic Lake
9:00 p.m.

Cerritos
Cerritos High School
12500 E. 183rd Street
9:00 p.m.

Claremont
Pomona College (Hammer Throw Field)
6th Street / N. Mills
9:00 p.m.

Commerce
Rosewood Park (Parking lot of Youth Center)
2535 Commerce Way
9:00 p.m.

Culver City
4401 Elenda Street
Annual 4th of July fireworks show at Culver City High School.

Gates open at 5PM, entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m., and the fireworks start at 9:00 p.m.
Suggested Donation is $2.00 per person.  Bring a picnic or enjoy food from snack bar and vendors.
Parking is available in nearby lots for $5 per car. Enter those lots off of Braddock Dr. at Huron Ave., two blocks east of Sepulveda Blvd.

Diamond Bar
Diamond Bar High School – Baseball Field
21400 E. Pathfinder Rd. (Pathfinder & Brea Canyon)
9:00 p.m.

Downey
Downey High School
10410 Brookshire (Brookshire and Firestone)
5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Food and Family Fun
9:00 p.m. 25-minute Fireworks Show

Gardena
Rowley Park (Baseball Field)
13220 S. Van Ness Ave.
9:00 p.m.

Hansen Dam
11770 Foothill Blvd.
Lake View Terrace

4th of July Celebration at Hansen Dam is in its 16th year and is a free fun- filled family oriented event which includes food, music, games, rides, prizes and other entertainment, which culminates with one of the most dramatic fireworks displays in the area.
Saturday, July 3rd 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, July 4th 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with special guest Vince Gill
Friday, July 2, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
323.850.2000

Huntington Beach
City Beach (between Main & Beach Blvd.)

$10 tickets on pier seating (hb4thofjuly.org for tickets)
Free on beach (better view, we think)
Hotels to watch fireworks – Shorebreak, Hilton, Hyatt beach front rooms
9:00 p.m.

Huntington Park
Salt Lake Park (Northwest Soccer Field)
3401 E. Florence Blvd.
9:00 p.m.

La Crescenta
Crescenta Valley High School
2900 Community Ave.

Entrance is via La Crescenta Elementary
Tickets are $5 each; children under 2 get in for free.
9:00 p.m.

La Habra
La Habra High School (Baseball Field)
801 Highlander
9:00 p.m.

Lancaster
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
2551 West Ave H

Celebrate the 4th of July with the entire family at the FREE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR here at the A.V. Fairgrounds.
6:00 p.m. – Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division – $25 admission
7:00 p.m. – Entertainment in grass area outside Grandstands
8:00 p.m. – Grandstands open for FREE ADMISSION to Fireworks
8:15 p.m. – Rural Olympics Event – Gravel truck & trailer backing, a tractor race, an antique car potato race, and a first-time event: The World’s Strongest Farmhand!
9:00 p.m. – Fireworks

Entertainment at The Cantina following the fireworks show.

Grandstand seating is available on a first come first serve basis. Or, you can bring chairs and blankets to sit on the grass. There will be plenty of food and parking is FREE!

Lancaster
Lancaster Municipal Stadium
2401 W. Avenue I
Lancaster
9:00 p.m.

Lynwood
Lynwood City Park (Baseball Fields)
Bullis Rd./Century Blvd.
9:00 p.m.

Long Beach
The Queen Mary
1126 Queen’s Highway

Enjoy a fun filled weekend of music, activities, BBQ and more aboard the world-famous Queen Mary. Commemorate independence day with a gigantic firework display at 9:00 p.m. with the best view in the city.

Tickets include admission to the event, access to the ship and a spectacular fireworks show. Tickets are $24.95/adult, $12.95/child (5-11), $21.95 for military/seniors.
Buy tickets online, call (877) 342-0738, or purchase on the day of the event.
Buy tickets for Saturday July 3rd or Sunday July 4th.

Lynwood

Lynwood City Park
Baseball Field
11301 Bullis Rd.
9:00 p.m.

Marina Del Rey
Barge in the main channel between Fisherman’s Village and the Breakwater (the ocean entrance to the harbor).
Popular locations to watch include:
Fisherman’s Village – 13755 Fiji Way (2 blocks west of Lincoln Blvd.)
Burton Chace Park – 13650 Mindanao Way (1 block west of Admiralty)
Marina Beach (Mother’s Beach) – 4101 Admiralty Way (1 block south of Washington Blvd.)
9:00 p.m.

Norwalk
Cerritos College
11110 E. Alondra Blvd.
Norwalk
9:00 p.m.

Pacific Palisades
Palisades Charter High School
15777 Bowdoin Street
July 4th
Entertainment 6:30 p.m.
Fireworks 9:00 p.m.

Pasadena
Rose Bowl
“Americafest 2010″

The Biggest and Best Fireworks Show in Southern California
Celebrate America with Music, Food and Fireworks
Full Day of Safe and Affordable Family Fun,
Food and Entertainment
Drum Corps International Presents five
World Class Unit Performances
2:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Tickets $13
Children 7 & under FREE
Active Military with ID FREE

Pico Rivera
Meller Elementary School (West grass area)
6016 Rosemead Blvd.
Pomona

Pomona
Pomona Fairplex
1101 W. McKinley
Pomona

It’s the 24th annual fireworks spectacular at Fairplex. Monster trucks and motoX extreme get the crowd cheering and the stupendous fireworks are the grand finale.
Monster Truck and Big Air Free style Motocross 8 p.m.
Fireworks Spectacular 9:15 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

Tickets are available at the kiosk at Fairplex Green Gate (located at Gate 1 on McKinley Avenue) beginning Monday, May 10 –July 4 (or until sold out) or online. Green Gate box office will be open weekdays noon-7 p.m., starting June 28-July 2.  Hours Saturday & Sunday, June 26 & 27, July 3-4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Reserved Box Seats $19.50
Trackside Bleachers $17.50
General Seating $14.00
Free, ages 2 and younger
PARKING Gate 17 on Fairplex Dr.
General Parking $9
Preferred Parking $12
*ACTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Porter Ranch
Shepherd of the Hills Church
“4th of July Spectacular”
19700 Rinaldi Street
Porter Ranch

This FREE festival and fireworks show at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter
Ranch includes moon bounces and face painting for the children, an outdoor stage
show as well as optional food purchases from over a dozen local food vendors.
The evening will conclude with a twenty-one minute aerial fireworks display,
presented by Pyro Spectaculars by Souza at 9:15 pm.
When: July 4, 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm, Gates open at 4:30
Cost: Free
Parking: Free

Redondo Beach
Seaside Lagoon
200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach

Gates open at 2:00, Fireworks at 9:00 p.m.
Kids 4th Annual Freedom Parade at 7:00, Live Entertainment until 10:00 p.m.

San Fernando
San Fernando Recreation Park
208 Park Avenue, (4th Street and Park)
Highlights of this year’s event include:

Old Memories SFV Classic Car Show
Classic Cars will be on display beginning at 10:00 a.m. Competition will be for City’s Choice and various categories. The Trophy Ceremony will be at 2:00 p.m.

Live Entertainment
Headliner The Brotherhood will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. The high energy band specializes in Rhythm and Blues, Latin Rock, and Old School. Other performances include regional Mexican folkdances by Ballet Folklorico Juvenil Ollin and a guest appearance by the City’s acclaimed Mariachi Master Apprentice Program

Fireworks Finale
Fireworks will light up the sky at 9:00 p.m. Entitled America The Beautiful, this year’s pyromusical will be orchestrated in English and Spanish using aerial and close proximity fireworks.
The event will also include vendors, games, face painting, and of course plenty of delicious food.

Admission is free and open to all ages. Arrive early to ensure the best seating for a fun-filled day of entertainment, food and fireworks. This is a family event – alcohol and smoking is prohibited. For more information, contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (818) 898-1290.

Santa Clarita
Valencia Town Center, Top of market Parking Structure
26735 Circle Drive, Santa Clarita (Citrus Dr/Magic Mtn. Pkwy)
9:15

South Gate
South Gate Park
Corner of Pinehurst and Tweedy
9:00 p.m.

Santa Clarita
Valencia Town Center
Off top of parking structure
26735 Circle Drive
9:15 p.m.

South Gate
South Gate Park
Corner of Pinehurst and Tweedy
9:00 p.m.

Studio City
CBS Studio Center
Grand Ole 4th of July Fireworks Festival
4024 Radford Ave., Studio City

On the Main Stage
Shel
Cody Bryant

In the VIP Room
Jaron and the Long Road to Love

Blacksheep
Exhibition Squadron

Kids Fun Zone

All-American Smokehouse BBQ

Business & Green Expo

To purchase tickets, see info below:

Online ticket orders will be taken until noon on July 3rd. Rooftop wristbands allow guests to see the fireworks display from the roof. These special tickets are limited and will be sold on a first come, first served basis
General Admission Adult: $15 ea.
Please note that General Admission prices go up on day of event ($20 for adults and $10 for children) and rooftop wristbands may be sold out by day of event.
Website

Torrance
Wilson Park
2200 Crenshaw Blvd.
30th Annual Old Fashion 4th of July Celebration
Starts at 11:00 a.m.
Fireworks at 9:00 p.m.

Torrance
Barge off Coast of Torrance Beach
Palos Verdes and Via Rivera.
9:00 p.m.

Walnut
Walnut High School
South end of Baseball Field
21207 La Puente Road
9:00 p.m.

Woodland Hills
Warner Park
5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Entertainment starts at 6 p.m.
Fireworks at 9 p.m.

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Just for Fun

Swimming Lessons

Jul 1st, 10 / 9 Comments
swimming-lessons

by Momanista

The perfume of my childhood summers evokes such happy, lazy days, filled with the aroma of barbecued burgers, smoky bonfires, lighter fluid, Hawaiian Tropic suntan oil and chlorine.

Even today, the smells of swimming pools make me nostalgic for carefree youth in which we, not our parents, were expected to fill the time. We called it boredom. I see now it was a gift.

For how many hours we kids spent swimming, I can’t remember either parent in the water with us.

I wish my son had quite that freedom. But I was determined to give him a better introduction to swimming than mine.  Family lore has it that one of my first dips in the inflatable wading pool involved actual snakes. My big brother, then probably nine, had caught them, in the nearby creek but forgot to alert our Mom of their new habitat.

Children being resilient, I was soon enough spending hours at Marco Polo and cannon-balling off the high dive. I wished for my infant boy to love the water like I did.

There was also a dark aspect. When I was little, my beloved younger cousin Deana, like a baby sister to me, had been bumped by her St. Bernard into the family’s backyard pool. Her grandmother had run inside for a thimble, and the phone rang. Five minutes later, toddler Deana was gone. Her legacy is that every child in my family took lessons early, many before they walked.

And so was the case with my baby.

We luck out in having an affordable city pool down the street. It is indoors, which isn’t my favorite, but in cold and scorching weather it is a blessing. And nobody has to be smothered in sun block.

Before he was walking, I toted my infant down to the pool. He was remarkably secure about floating on his back. He was also the only baby in the water. The pool was swarming with children—loud, screaming, shoving, jumping off the deck to throw waves of water into my baby’s face.

He just blinked and giggled. I was calm, he was calm. He didn’t seem to know fear, and was open to the splashing world.

A few years later, not so much.

The whole Mommy and Me class ended with a sigh. It was tolerated. Same pool. Same parents. But a sign of the water temp was the teachers wearing wetsuits.

Then came group lessons which, to me, were tedious at toddler age and taught playing more than swimming. That’s fine if it suits you, or you feel unprepared in the water, or enjoy racing home from work to be splashed in the face for a half hour by strangers.

Otherwise, you can do the whole floating, splashing and kicking thing on your own.

Given our family history, I went for the one-on-one. At a neighborhood swim school where the water was balmy warm, they knew what they were doing. It was about $15 per 15-minute lesson. But I had the peace of mind of seeing my son, still in swim diapers and jeans, bumped into the water but able to swim to the pool side.

A decent amount of my friends shuddered at the teachers dunking the tikes, could not take watching them scream furiously, or frightened, and give that look that says, have you forsaken me? The school’s view, which I shared, was that you can’t swim well with a dry face.

There were weeks of panic and dread. Bribery by Hot Wheels was committed by someone close to the case. It was enough reward to gut through initial fear for a 15-minute lesson.

“Look!”  I said, a bit too chirpy, pointing to a giant clock. “Five minutes are already gone!”

My husband would say, it’s not worth this. Let’s take a break and revisit this. But I witnessed three-month-olds pollywog around, and I knew the tragedy of seeing a toddler survive without brain activity for years. It would not befall us.

To me, there was no better way to show that we can overcome fear. With swimming, you do one stroke after another, you do it or you sink. So you do it.

As a Mom, I learned unexpectedly about faith. My child would get past momentary panic and gain confidence in having done so. He would learn what he could do. He would be braver each time. And so would I.

Any time we faced some daunting task that seemed beyond our reach, we could remember swim lessons, and say, if you can learn to stay afloat, you can do anything.

###

If you are looking for public pools in your area, check out our Top 10 Summer Splashes blog entry by Elise

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Parenting, Safety

Top 10 Summer Splashes

Jun 28th, 10 / 0 Comments
top-10-summer-splashes

Top 10 Summer Splashes

One of my fondest childhood summer memories was spending Friday afternoons at my Grammie and Pop’s pool.  My younger brother and I would spend hours sitting on the pool steps giggling as we splashed each other with water or held competitions to see who could blow the best bubbles (“car washes,” as well called it) with our faces in the water.  Back then, and even now, the pool functions as one of those “must-go-to” summer spots.  The atmosphere of water, grass, families, and laughter couldn’t be better place for family gatherings. I’ve put together a list of 10 pools where I think you as a family will enjoy spending a day, afternoon, or even just a couple hours.

1. Banning Pool

1450 N. Avalon Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744

Contact: 310-548-7420, banning.pool@lacity.org

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays, 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

2. Hansen Dam Aquatic Center

11798 Foothill Blvd, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Contact: 818-899-3779

Hours:  Weekdays and weekends 10am-7pm, waterslide hours 11am-6pm

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

3. Santa Monica Swim Center

2225 16th St. Santa Monica, CA 90405

Contact: 310-458-8700

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10am-7pm, Weekends 10:00am-7pm

Cost: Resident Child-$1.00, Adult-$2.50, Non-Resident Child-$2.00, Adult-$5

Other: Outdoor, 2 pools, Pool Temperature 80F

4. Hubert H. Humphrey Pool

12560 Filmore St. Pacoima, CA 91331

Contact: 818-896-0067

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

Other: Waterslide at pool

5. John C. Aruge Expo Center

3990S. Menlo Ave, Los Agneles, CA 90037

Contact: 213-763-0129

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

Other: Lap and shallow wading pools

6. Algin Sutton Pool

8800 S. Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90044

Contact: 323-789-2826

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

7. Peck Park Pool

560 N. Western Ave, San Pedro, CA 90732

Contact: 310-548-2434

Hours: Monday-Friday: 3:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Saturday-Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

8. Griffith Park Pool

3401 Riverside Dr. Los Angeles, Ca 90027

Contact: 323-644-6878

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

Other: Outdoor pool as well as other activities available within Griffith Park.

9. Rosebowl Aquatics

360 N Arroyo Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 91103
Contact: (626) 564-0330
Hours for Recreational and Family Swim: Tues-Fri 12-2pm, Mon.-Fri evenings 7:30pm-8:30pm, Weekends 2pm-4:30pm

Cost for Non-Member Day Use: Adult (18 & over) 2$, Children (17 & under) $1.00

10. Westwood Recreation Center

1350 Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025

Contact: 310-478-7019

Hours: Mon-Thurs. 8:00am-10:00pm, Fri. 8:30am-9:30pm, Sat. 8:30am-6:00pm, Sun. 10:00am- 5:00pm

Cost: Adults-$1.25, Seniors and Kids FREE

Info: Indoor, 1 pool, temperature 81F year-round

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Just for Fun

Hanging On Your Every (Bad) Word by Momanista

Jun 24th, 10 / 3 Comments
hanging-on-your-every-bad-word-by-momanista

by Momanista

There is a first time for everybody and mine came in the carpool lane of the San Diego Freeway.

“Bleeping BLEEP!” I yelled at the tail-gating trucker who risked killing me and my 2-year-old strapped in back.

A couple heartbeats later, a song issued forth from the child safety seat. “Bleeping BLEEP! Bleeping BLEEP!” There was humming. Hand claps.

Had anyone else been in the car, I’m sure it would be on YouTube, like the tooting baby videos.

“No, no, NO,” I sang back nervously, hoping he’d pick up the new lyric.  No chance. The chanting incident persisted just long enough to cause a few friends to fall over laughing.

But there would be another.

In front of our local deli, my car was  trapped by the largest SUV on the market, which was also illegally parked. There was no driver, no way out and we needed to be at work and preschool. After a 50-point back-forth attempt to escape, I finally resorted to tapping the truck’s front bumper twice, hoping for just two inches to escape.

An enraged woman sprung from nowhere, fist up, shrieking through the window. I responded on adrenalin–textbook for what NOT to do.

Her: “Didn’t you see you were hitting my truck, B?!”

Me:  “Didn’t you see my kid in the back, B?”

I instantly gassed it but was shook. How brilliant to scold her for swearing…by swearing.  Some role model. My son, far from scared, cheered like I’d defeated Darth. He still retells this story to friends.

What is it with driving and swearing?

“I remember when my daughter was two, and my husband was in Japan on a movie,” said my friend Susan, whose MARRIED TO A sound engineer. “I was kind of stressed, and this woman cuts me off, and I blurt out, (the f.b. combo)! So two weeks later, my husband comes home and he’s driving to the store and he has to slam on his brakes for somebody. And he has no idea why when our daughter yells” (blanking blank!)”

I could go on with these anecdotes, and most of them occur in cars. I won’t claim I’ve stopped swearing, but I definitely watch myself when not alone.

As your kids get a bit older, the condemnation starts.

“You just broke one of the 10 Commandments,” said the son of my friend, Robyn, who confessed her sin and vowed to seek forgiveness at church that Sunday. In the good old days when he was three, she’d heard that you can bury a curse word in a stream of rhymes: luck, duck, stuck, muck, yuck….

Speaking for myself, I can’t take the lectures from someone that much shorter than me.

But the jig is up by grade school. The other day, a first-grade boy said my dress was ‘’sexy.” I looked around speechless. Another Mom on the playground mouthed, “South Park,” shaking her head.

What you permit your kids to watch on TV is a cross-over issue with your family’s policy on swearing. I tend to see friends who allowed their kids to watch “The Simpsons” at 4 and 5 having a lenient view of cursing in the house.

Their take is that swearing permeates popular culture, and teaching them to know when to use it is part of learning overall manners and respect for others.

“I think they see our hypocrisy if we tell them no-no on swearing but watch shows with everyone using the F-word,” argued Susan.

Still, I hated it when I saw cards from neighbor kids that read, “Happy freakin’ Valentine’s Day.” They’d been sold as fundraisers at the local elementary school.

On one of my favorite blogs, www.Motherlode.com, one poster cited the findings of a 2007 British study:  “Swearing was [seen] as a social phenomenon to reflect solidarity and enhance group cohesiveness or as a psychological phenomenon to release stress.”

I think that is true. Coming clean with your children about that, as they get older, gives you credibility. It is also a relief to children to hear their parents make mistakes. (I actually think this is my son’s FAVORITE kind of story, what Mom messed up today). Be it swearing or losing your cool, sharing your blunders can effectively show that nobody’s perfect; the goal is to learn from the mistakes.

Kids can feel an alarming degree of pressure to be perfect. Sometimes I forget that.

Yet there has to be a limit. In the same Motherlode blog post, it was revealed that preschoolers at the local daycare were seeing swearing of a stunning kind. Toddlers not even walking were known to drop their Sippy cups and yell, “What the….”

That’s just wrong.

But in our house, our take is that swear words are just words, but the ones you choose reflect something about you. Saying ‘Oh my God,’ for instance, offends some of our relatives. The obviously bad language might cost you friends and play dates if a parent hears you swearing.

I also confessed to my son that I swear up a storm when I’m alone in my car, and that I don’t really care what he says privately, because cursing, for me, is a release. But it all comes down to manners, which means making others feel comfortable.

An extreme form of this: a friend of my haircutter gives her kids five minutes a day in a room to yell and scream anything they want.

It’s like late-night cable TV in there, and you might find yourself thinking, “What the what?”

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