january - south jersey mom magazine

January 2010

IT’S OURANNIVERSARY!a LOOK BACKat the first THREE YEARS

10 Things YouMUST DO

in 2010

the NEW YEARwith an

OLD HOLLYWOODTHEMED BASH

RING IN

2 | January 2010 Visit our website and sign up for our e-newsletter

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mom 2 mom8 Is Your Child Dyslexic?

10 When Your Child Fails, How Will You Respond?

11 10 Things To Do in 2010

moms R women 213 Forgive and Forget,

A Great Start to the New Year

14 Working Through Depression

15 Chick Lit: Start Your New Year Off Right with Two Mom Must-Haves

know 2 grow22 Is There a Wrong

Way to Build Self-Esteem in Your Kids?

23 Ask the ADDvisor

features17 Ring In the New Year

with an Old Hollywood Themed Bash

20 Three Firsts Every Mom Will Go Through

28 Turning This World Upside Down28 Summer Camp Guide

also in this issue3 publisher’s note5 nana’s 2 sense6 life sentences

24 business spotlight25 just born26 business spotlight27 thinking out loud29 green mama32 learning 2 learn33 book review34 resource guide35 things 2 do

This month we cele-

brate South Jersey

MOM’s 3rd Anni-

versary! I can’t believe

it’s been three years.

Kayden was just 9

months old when I

launched the

first issue.

I’ve learned

so much about

m o t h e r h o o d

from my own

children, and from

South Jersey MOM. My

friends always joke that,

oftentimes, some of the

article topics reflect my

own issues with mother-

hood. I think it’s just a

coincidence and has more

to do with the fact that

we cover topics ALL

moms can relate to.

I thought it would be fun to rewind

time and take a look at what some of the

very first issues of South Jersey MOMlooked like. Looking back was like look-

ing at old childhood pictures of one’s

self. You know when you see those pho-

tos, you can’t believe the clothes you

were wearing or you’re embarrassed by

the hideous hairstyles you used to have!

Of course, back then you didn’t think

they looked so bad. That’s how it was

looking back at those very first issues.

We’ve come a long way,

baby! (You can take a look

for yourself on page 18.)

The good thing is that

we are constantly improv-

ing the magazine. Each

month, we try to out-do

the previous month’s issue.

We’ve never become complacent

with where we are; always want-

ing to do better, keeping you

informed on what’s happening

in our area and in the lives of

mothers. (You are not alone, no

matter how much it sometimes

feels that way.)

This month is also Camille’s 2nd

birthday. She grew up way too fast. Even

readers have written in, people who have

never met me or my children, saying, “I

can’t believe Camille is so grown up; it

seems like just a couple of months ago,

you introduced her to South Jersey.”

Time does fly… and kids do grow

up… and things

change. But one

thing that won’t

change is my

c o m m i t m e n t ,

and the commit-

ment of our staff,

to keep bringing

you relevant,

relatable material

to help you be the

mom you want

to be. As always,

we welcome to-

pic suggestions and

your feedback. Let

us know what you

need, as we are here to serve you.

([email protected]).�

Your Friend and Fellow MOM,

www.southjerseymom.com January 2010 | 3

Table ofContents

January 2010publisher’s note

pg. 18 It’s OurAnniversary:Reminicising over South Jersey Mom’sFirst Three Years

Kayden enjoys the hippos at Great Adventure Aquarium!

Happy 2nd Birthday Camille!

Dear


Tis the Season for Healthy Smiles!

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On the COVER“Cutest Kid in Town” winner: Jordyn is two years old and from CherryHill. She loves school, ballet and singing. Her favorite show is SuperWHYY and her favorite game to play is Preschool Jump Start. Jordyn lovesspending time with her family and especially her new brother Zachary.Photo by Lisa Ward Photography.

When I was in

grade school,

a “window”

was a way to dry my

hair. Back then, only

hair salons had blow

dryers. My mother did

finally get one of those dryers with a hose

and a plastic poofy hat. It looked a lot like

an inflated vacuum cleaner bag with the

hose attached — only pink. You had to

roll your hair and it took forever to dry. So

I dried my hair in front of the “window”

fan. It was pretty big and I could use it

most of the year. In the winter, I sat on the

floor in front of the heat vent. The vents

were huge in the old house we lived in,

about 1’ x 1’ square, so when the heat was

blowing, it was a pretty good dryer.

Today a “window” is a place on my

computer where I spend a lot of time and

get a lot of work done. And a “window” is

also an important frame of time; an oppor-

tunity. Over the past three years, I have

had the pleasure of spending almost every

Monday with my grandson. My grand-

daughter Camille’s birth two years ago

was an added bonus to my Mondays.

Kayden started preschool this year so now

on those Mondays, I only see him about

30 minutes before mom heads him out the

door to take him to school. Which, by the

way, he loves!

So on this Monday, after

Kayden went to school and mom

went to meetings, I played with

Camille. We colored with markers

whose tops we could not find. We

pretended to feed her baby and

every stuffed animal with a magic

plastic baby bottle that never goes

empty. I brought her a pink and purple

tutu to play dress up with and, when she

finally decided that she wanted to wear it,

she spun in circles until she dropped, gig-

gling. I also brought her a lemon flavored

lip gloss just for little girls. She loved

it…so much that after an exorbitant

amount of repeat applications on herself

and all her dollies, mom had to take it

away.

I realized on this particular Monday

that I am in the midst one of those win-

dows of time. The window of Mondays I

now have with Camille. So this year, and

until that “Monday” window closes, I will

most certainly cherish and try to make

every moment with both my grandchil-

dren very special.

Whatever will I do with my Mondays

when Camille starts school?�

—Nana Jean

Nana Jean is a South Jersey grandmother with two daughters and six grandchildren. Enjoy herstories about her 38+ years as a mom and 19 yearsas a grandmother as she shares her experiencesand lessons learned with lots of laughs and tearsalong the way.

January 2010


nana’s 2 sense

Publisher/Editor:Adrienne Richardson

[email protected]

Editorial Associate:Jeanette Giza

[email protected]

Advertising Inquiries:Orin Jespersen • 856.690.5565

[email protected]

Dianne Holland • [email protected]

Elaine Petrosino-Roehm • [email protected]

General Advertising Info:[email protected]

Copy Editor: Gaily Von Schlichting

Production Manager: Lisa Celfo

[email protected]

Communications Manager: Esther Donnelly

[email protected]

Photographer: Lisa Ward Photography

www.lisawardphotography.com

Contributing Writers:Terri Akman, Eileen Bishop, Mary Pat Correro,Lela Davidson, Angela De Groot, Janice Harrell,

Jane Heiza, Linda Karanzalis, Fran LoBiondo,Teresa McEntire, Keri Mikulski, Renee Taylor

Negin, Gwen Recinto, Kathryn Ross, Judy M. Schneider, Nicole Simonin,

Sheila Taney, Martha Wegner

Submit Calendar Listing:[email protected]

Letters to the Editor:[email protected]

For Any Other General Information:[email protected]

www.southjerseymom.com

South Jersey MOMTM is published monthly and distributed throughout the region. The pub-lication is available free of charge at select loca-

tions. Subscriptions $24.99 per year.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or inpart is not permitted without the authorization

of the publisher.

South Jersey MOMTM

P.O. Box 2413Vineland, NJ 08362-2413

856.692.MOMSFax: 856.405.6794

South JerseyMOM

Windows

To purchase your subscription via mail, cut out the form and mail with payment to: South Jersey MOMP.O. Box 2413, Vineland, NJ 08362-2413or purchase online at www.southjerseymom.com

For just $24.99 you will receive: Have South Jersey MOM

delivered to your home!� Home delivery of South Jersey MOM magazine� Our monthly e-newsletter in your inbox

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�

�

My little brother, Joey, stopped

being little when I was 17.

I know that because of an old

snapshot we found. In it, I was ready to go

out for the evening, keys to Dad’s car in

hand, with my arms draped across the

shoulders of Joey, 14, and Mickey, 13.

They were Irish twins, six days less than a

year apart, as different as chalk and

cheese. Except, suddenly, they both made

me look a little squatty.

That picture was taken at a good time

in our family, when we had three in col-

lege and I was a senior in High School.

My father was acting gleeful about his

impending empty nest. His plan was to

spend his retirement years traveling the

world, financed by his children, who

would pay him back his fatherhood

expenses, with interest. He’d cut out news

items that tallied the cost of raising a child

from birth to age 21, and pin them on the

kitchen calendar with a note: PLEASE

REMIT.

The good time did not last. Two years

later, Joey was going through surgery and

radiation for a deadly type of cancer, and

our father died suddenly of a heart attack.

Joey tried to grow up quickly. By age

16, he had lost his father and his child-

hood within a few months. He found him-

self taking the four-hour trip to the hospi-

tal in a county-operated bus. He missed

half his junior year of high school. He was

bald from the surgery and tattooed from

the x-ray treatments. Today, shaved heads

and ink marks are

everywhere. But in

1979, he drew

stares like a circus

freak.

The cancer

went away, but the

radiation effects

lingered. It had da-

maged the sleep

center of his brain,

so that now he slept

sporadically, like

an old man; up at

night, drowsy dur-

ing the day. Two

strips of hair

around his ears

never grew back.

And, like many

childhood cancer

survivors, he strug-

gled to get started

in adult life.

We watched as

he graduated from

college, started a

job and left it. He

taught at Christian

schools in the Do-

minican Republic and Canada, but lost the

energy to keep it up. He got other jobs,

lost them, got depressed, pulled himself

up, got other jobs. He’d move back with

our mother, move out, and, within a few

months, move back, while his siblings,

one by one, became exasperated with him.

He never stopped being the little brother.

Still, he clung to his faith in God, and, for

the most part, kept his chin up. He loved

corny jokes and puns and playing with his

nieces and nephews.

In recent years, after several strokes

related to treatment, Joe became too phys-

ically disabled to work and was facing a

long fight to get disability benefits. On a

beautiful day in October, God in his mercy

called Joe home.

Preparing for the memorial service, I

found another old photograph: Joey and

me, on our front porch before the

Thanksgiving Day game. We are looking

fine, he in his garnet-and-gold band suit

with fringed epaulets, and I in my braided

color-guard dress with pom-poms on my

boots. I am chewing him out for making

us late, and he, my little brother,

stood hunching his shoulders under my

gale-force tirade. My mother, with her

love for the candid shot, chose that

moment to snap the picture.

Looking at that image, I wish I could

have cut out my own tongue. But that was

Joey… everyone’s little brother, exasper-

ating and lovable. Finally, he got to do

something first.�

Fran LoBiondo of Vineland has children in gradeschool, high school and college. A Purdue Universitygraduate with a degree in Journalism, she has written about parenting, food and fun for 25 yrs.

Spending this New Yearin Paradise By Fran LoBiondo


life

sent

ence

s


Dr. Doyle is a board-certified family practitioner and Dr. Reddy is a board-certified internist. Both physicians believe in providing preventive care, not just treating symptoms.

The doctors are located in the new Swedesboro Plaza, at 95 Woodstown Rd., Swedesboro, NJ, offering easy access to Mullica Hill, Beckett, Woodstown and Glassboro.

For an immediate appointment, call 856-832-4359.

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Welcome Stephanie Doyle, M.D., and

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The Center for Autism Research at The Children’sHospital of Philadelphia islooking for participants fora research study focusingon early brain development.

Who are we looking for?• Infant siblings of

typically developing children

• Infant siblings of children with autism


L earning to read is an impor-

tant milestone for children.

By kindergarten and first

grade, children are associating

sounds with letters and forming

words from those sounds. They are

beginning to recognize “sight

words” and to spell words, if not

correctly, at least phonetically. For

some children, these skills come

easily; but for others, learning to read is a

challenge that can lead to frustration and

leave parents with questions about their

child’s development.

One possible source of difficulty

obtaining language skills is a learning dis-

order known as dyslexia. While only for-

mal testing can determine whether a child

is dyslexic, there are some signs parents

can look for in their child that might indi-

cate testing for the disorder is necessary.

Preschoolers and young children may

talk later than their peers. According to the

International Dyslexia Association

(www.interdys.org), they may add new

words slowly or have a hard time rhyming

words. Once they are in school, they might

have difficulty with sight words, with

relating letters and sounds and may reverse

letters or letter orders. For example, q and

p may look the same to them, as might god

and dog.

As kids progress through elementary

school, additional symptoms might appear.

For example, sequences can be challeng-

ing—from the alphabet to months of the

year or similar such lists.

When reading, kids might guess at

words rather than sound them out. Words

they have memorized are easily recogniza-

ble, but unfamiliar words present a chal-

lenge to dyslexic children. While language

skills are where most symptoms are evi-

dent, dyslexia can affect math skills as

well, as numbers can appear out of order or

inverted (75 instead of 57 or 6 instead

of 9). Bear in mind that many younger

children who are not dyslexic start out

confusing letters, numbers and words.

Again, professional testing is the only way

to determine whether a child is dyslexic.

Once diagnosed, children with dyslex-

ia are often able to learn better reading and

writing skills using such methods as multi-

sensory learning. The Wilson Language

Training system (www.wilsonlanguage

.org) is used in several New Jersey schools

to help teachers help their students. These

systems can help children who are dyslex-

ic, as well as those who suffer from

other language-based learning disabilities.

Parents can use these types of language

learning systems at home, also, to help

their children improve their abilities.

If your child is diagnosed with dyslex-

ia, it’s important to remember they can still

acquire a successful level of language

learning. The sooner alternative teaching

methods are put into place, the better level

of success your child can reach.

Parents should know that, even

though dyslexia is a type of learning

disability, dyslexic adults often exhibit

extraordinary oral communication skills

and can possess excellent memory skills.

Dyslexic children can grow to become

intuitive adults with successful careers and

great people skills. They are often entre-

preneurs or work in fields such as graphic

design, drafting, or art—fields where their

ability to memorize details in print works

to their advantage.

While parents should pay attention to

their child’s development, keep in mind

that children develop at their own pace and

learn in many different ways. But if warn-

ing signs do pop up, discuss them with a

healthcare or education professional.

The key to successful learning,

whether a child is dyslexic or not, is find-

ing the method that works best for your

child. Take advantage of the resources

available to help your child reach their

fullest potential.�

Is Your ChildDYSLEXIC?

By Renee Taylor Negin

mom

2 m

om


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The way that a child responds to fail-

ure is influenced by his own percep-

tion and the reactions of the people

around him. While winning is good, there

is also triumph in failure in the sense that it

can teach you lessons guaranteed to last

through life. When kids embrace failure as

a normal part of life, they will not be afraid

to try new pursuits, thereby allowing them

to develop a healthy self-esteem.

If your child feels he is not being

appreciated for his efforts, he will work

doubly hard just to gain your approval. In

time, he will put it upon himself to always

achieve just to please you. He will never

be content with being just second best,

thinking that it will not make you happy.

And, when he finally succumbs to failure,

it may just shatter his inner drive to keep

on going.

Let your child know that everyone

gets to experience failure in small and big

ways. He can lose in a game with his

friend, or he may never get to join a

much coveted sports team. During these

instances, kids should never think they are

already set for a lifetime of failure. Guide

him on how he can make the experience

positive, either by helping him develop his

abilities, or by exploring his potential on

other things. Even with hard work, there is

still no guarantee that a child can get what

he wants. What’s really important is that

he’ll recognize failure should not put a halt

to all his goals. It should, rather, be like a

driving force to help him find his niche in

this competitive world.

When engaging in activities at home,

do not expect your child to produce a per-

fect output. If your child is not happy with

his drawings, tell him there is absolutely

nothing wrong with crooked lines. If your

child is frustrated, let him know it actually

takes time to master a skill. But with

dedication and practice, he can even-

tually develop the dexterity needed to

make straight lines. Make the experience

positive by complimenting him on his

progress and his

small achievements.

Children should

in no way associate

affection with suc-

cess. They should

clearly know that,

despite their missed

attempts and their

shortcomings, they

are well loved. Try

not to be overly crit-

ical, and always be

supportive. When kids hit rock bottom,

they may easily recover with the knowl-

edge that failure is always a part of life,

and even great men experience failure.

Your response to failure can also help

shape your child’s reaction to future situa-

tions. Show your child it’s okay to make

mistakes. If you just ruined a meal by

adding too much of a particular ingredient,

do not order take out just because you are

frustrated. If your kids can see you start

again from scratch, they may get the idea

that they can always have a fresh start too.

Young children may initially dislike

the concept of failure or even losing. But

when they get to see it’s just a stumbling

block they can overcome, they may learn

to develop the right attitude towards fail-

ure. Help your child overcome his fear of

failure by encouraging him to pursue his-

goals. Life has no rewinds, and it’s best to

live it to the brim.�

Jane Heiza is a mother of two and staff writer forGagazine.com. To learn more about positive parent-ing tips and helping your kids to deal with failure,visit www.Gagazine.com.


By Jane Heiza

When Your Child Fails...How Will You Respond?

Start a family tradition. We all have favorite childhood

memories: fun stuff like pizza on Fridays, bagels and donuts

on Saturdays, ice cream after each winning soccer game, and

even $5 for every “A” on the report card. This year, start

some new, creative traditions. Remember, they do not always

have to include “junk” food and sweet treats. For example,

call grandparents or family members on speaker phone once

a week. Or, hang a dry erase board in the kitchen and write

special family accomplishments.

Challenge yourself. Do you have a bucket list? You know,

things you want to accomplish in this lifetime? If you have

not done so already, write it down and make it happen. There

are a lot of interesting things to try, such as learning a second

language or running a marathon.

Set a new goal each month. This year, pick 12 things and

stick to them. Your goals may include cleaning the garage,

trying new recipes, using coupons whenever shopping or sav-

ing extra money for a family vacation. Whatever your goal,

write it down and stick to it. It may be helpful to do some

online research to help you get organized or get started.

Organize your pictures. Whether you have a stack of print-

ed pictures — or a ton saved to your computer — get organ-

ized! With online resources like Snapfish and Shutterfly, you

can create flipbooks with captions or print out pictures. Prices

vary, but are affordable.

Make health and fitness a regular thing. Most people are

great at making New Year’s resolutions, but have a hard time

sticking to them. If you have always wanted to get back into

shape, do it! One of the biggest things to remember is that

results will not come quickly and it’s going to be hard work.

Start off with small, manageable goals. For example, work

out every Monday to get your week and routine off to a good

start. Then, add more challenging activities and new goals. It

may help to work out with a partner.

Plan a “girls night in.” Nothing beats time with friends.

Make a list of your closest friends — and friends you haven’t

seen for some time — and schedule a time to get together.

Give them a call or send an Evite (www.evite.com) and have

them over. Get creative — consider hosting a pot luck, game

night or book exchange. You could even ask each person to

bring a guest.

Keep a journal. Life happens so fast we often forget about

the “small” things that happen everyday. Keep track of your

daily life or of your children’s lives. Jot down goofy things

they say that make you crack up. Years from now you can

look back and have a good laugh.

Teach your kids how to make their favorite foods.Whether it’s French toast or lasagna, teach your kids how to

cook. It’s a great way to spend time together. Before you

know it, you will have an assistant eager to help. One day,

you may even have a personal chef!

Give back to the community. Set a good example and

teach your kids the importance of helping others in need. You

may want to donate clothes you do not wear anymore or send

care packages to soldiers overseas. You could even partici-

pate in awareness and fundraising walks and get in shape at

the same time.

Go Green. Be “green” — and get your family onboard. It’s

easy. Turn the lights off when leaving the room, limit show-

ers to five minutes and reuse jars as storage containers. Use

both sides of a piece of paper and recycle whenever possible.

There are a lot of ways to be good to the environment. For

more information, go online to Worldwatch Institute

(www.worldwatch.org).�

10 Things 2010It’s a new year...and the perfect time to try something different

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to do in

1. 8.

9.

10.2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.


B aggage. We lug around the hurt, the resentment, the disap-

pointment and the anger caused by what our husbands for-

got, our girlfriends did and moms or moms-in-law said. We

hold on to our negative feelings to punish the people who hurt us,

when in fact we are only punishing ourselves.

Forgiveness is good for the body. It helps melt away the tension

and the stress locked in our muscles, helps build healthier relation-

ships and restores our feelings and thoughts to a positive state. It’s

also good for the people around us. When we are mad at someone,

we end up taking it out on the people around us – innocent

bystanders like sales clerks, coworkers and children bear the brunt

of our baggage.

Forgiving is difficult. It’s hard to let go. We want to lash out

and get even, so we carry around feelings that are toxic to our

systems and our relationships. How can we forgive somebody when

we do not feel like they deserve our forgiveness? Why should we

apologize when we were not the ones who were wrong?

Forgiveness does not mean condoning what has happened to

you. It does not mean they won and it certainly does not mean that

it’s okay for them to repeat their behavior. Forgiveness means

letting go of your anger and hurt and the power that those negative

emotions hold over you. It means you are ready to move on.

Forgiving is something you do for yourself, not for them.

Benefits of forgiveness:� It’s good for your heart. Less stress and anger means lower

heart rate and blood pressure.

� Forgiveness improves sleep quality; it eliminates the tossingand turning at night, reliving those hurtful experiences.

� Forgiveness improves relationships, based on honest feelingsand mutual respect, where you accept people for who they are

and not who you want them to be.

� Forgiveness promotes a positive outlook. Letting go and moving on lifts your spirits and gives you a can-do attitude.

� Forgiveness increases self-esteem. Forgiveness improves yourself-image and well-being when you accept yourself, faults

and all.

Forgiveness strategies:� Express yourself – use non-accusatory language and tone to

explain how their actions affected you. Expel those negative

feelings by putting them into words. If you are not ready to

share your feelings with the offender, then write them down in

a journal.

� Look for the positive – ask yourself what you have learned,rather than focusing on your emotions. Give yourself some

distance and objectivity.

� Focus on good qualities – yours and theirs. Nobody is perfect,and that is okay.

� Protect yourself – acknowledge that the actions of othersare beyond your control. Forgive and move on without

bitterness and without exposing yourself to further upset.

If you cannot be around that person without getting

sucked back into the cycle of detrimental emotions, then

perhaps it’s better to avoid those people and situations.

� Do not rehash the events and work yourself up over and overagain. It’s draining and a waste of emotion and effort.

� Seek professional help – sometimes feelings and situations aretoo complex or traumatic to work through on our own.

Consider talking with a therapist who will support you and help

you work through the process.

� Be patient – forgiveness takes guts, wisdom, time and imagination. It’s a long journey made up of tiny steps.

� Forgive yourself – come clean without beating yourself up.Have compassion for yourself and for others. Recognize your

own behavior and admit when you are wrong, at least to

yourself.

Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. Set yourself free from the

snarl of emotions holding you back and governing your choices. Is

it better to be right or to be happy? By forgiving others and forget-

ting what has been done to you, you will feel better about yourself.

This is me, baggage-free.�

forgive and forget–

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” —Paul Boese

mom

s R wom

en 2

By Angela De GrootA Great Start to the New Year

Depression – the word itself sounds depressing. Depression

is a serious medical condition that can affect men and

women of all ages, races and economic levels. It can

affect teenagers and children as well. It often interferes with a per-

son’s ability to function in normal activities and can last for

weeks, months and even years. The exact cause of depression is

unknown, but many researchers feel depression is caused by

chemical imbalances in the brain. These imbalances may be

hereditary or caused by stressful changes or events in a person’s

life.

Depression is more than feeling the blues or being down in

the dumps. It’s a state of mind that is often accompanied by hope-

lessness, sadness, discouragement and despair. As well as affect-

ing your mood, depression can affect your thoughts, your behav-

ior, your physical well-being and your outlook on life.

Depression can be mild or severe. People who are mildly

depressed carry on with their normal lives but are less sharp in

their thinking, less interested in things they were previously inter-

ested in and appear low in spirits. They continue doing necessary

activities such as taking care of themselves and their family and

going to work or school, but they often stop doing things they do

not have to do.

There are many treatment options for mild depression but the

most effective are lifestyle changes such as getting enough sleep,

regular exercise, a healthy diet and relaxation.

Major depression occurs when a person has five or more of

the symptoms below, for at least two weeks.

These symptoms include: • Feeling sad, hopeless and worthless

• Agitation, restlessness and irritability

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Fatigue and lack of energy

• Dramatic changes in appetite, often with weight gain or loss

• Inactivity

• Withdrawal from usual activities or loss of interest in activities

that were once enjoyed

• Extreme difficulty focusing or concentrating

• Feelings of helplessness

• Crying spells for no apparent reason

• Difficulty making decisions

• Feelings of self-hate and inappropriate guilt

• Unexplained physical problems such as back pain or headaches

• Thoughts of death or suicide

In most mild cases, your primary doctor can treat your depression

with mild anti-depressants or suggestions for lifestyle changes.

But with major depression, seeking a qualified mental health

provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, may be in order.

Depression is not caused by personal weakness, laziness or

lack of willpower. It can be directly linked to stressful events in

your life such as a loved one’s death, a divorce, loss of a job, ill-

ness, abusing drugs and alcohol, and even happy events such as

the birth of a baby or the holidays.

Most people associate the birth of a baby with excitement

and joy but childbirth can also cause feelings of fear and anxiety

leading to depression. Many new moms experience postpartum

depression, a more severe form of emotional distress. Symptoms

include mood swings, anxiety, sadness, crying, irritability, prob-

lems concentrating and trouble sleeping. Approximately 10 per-

cent of new mothers experience postpartum depression but, with

prompt treatment, symptoms can be managed, allowing the new

mom to enjoy her new baby.

Most people go through some type of depression at some

point during their lives so it’s important to know the symptoms.

Whether the depression is mild or severe, accept the fact that you

may need help. Something as simple as changing your lifestyle or,

more seriously, finding a healthcare professional can help you

work through depression.�

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By Janice Harrell



chick lit

By Keri Mikulski

Start Your New YearOff Right With TwoMom Must-Haves

Keri Mikulski is the author of the upcoming Pretty Tough Series(Penguin/Razorbill), Screwball and its sequel, Change Up. Her first book in thePretty Tough Series, FULL COURT PRESS, will be available in Winter 2011.Keri lives at the Jersey shore with her husband and daughter. Disclaimer: Occasionally, the columnist receives books from authors and publishers for the purpose of a review and/or recommendation. However, rec-ommendations are based solely on South Jersey MOM’s audience and booksthat are sent directly to the columnist do not guarantee a recommendation.

Mothers Need Time Outs, TooBy Susan Callahan, Anne Nolen and Katrin SchumannDo you ever feel pressured to be the

“perfect” mom? Do you ever feel

worn out, stressed or just plain

exhausted? Well, time-outs aren’t just for

toddlers anymore, according to MothersNeed Time-Outs, Too.

Three mothers (one stay-at-home,

one who works part-time, and one who

works full-time) with ten children among

them set off on a journey to answer age-

old questions about parenting. After col-

lecting stories from hundreds of mothers

across the country, they discovered

happy mothering begins with balance,

and they have packed this amazing guide with useful mom-

tested tips and tales. If you have ever felt frazzled, check out

Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too.

Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in GirlsBy Rachel SimmonsBestselling author Rachel Simmons

uncovers the hidden truth about twenty-

first century female bullying with her

2002 sensation, Odd Girl Out. A fascinat-

ing and emotional read, Odd Girl Outexposes the abuse girls suffer day after

day at the hands of their peers, and

includes tactics on how to approach and

help your ‘tween and/or teen daughter. In

fact, this book is so powerful, The Boston

Globe deemed Odd Girl Out “required reading for young girls

and their mothers.” For more on female bullying, do not miss

Odd Girl Out Speaks Out: Girls Write about Bullies, Cliques,Popularity and Jealousy.�

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olleen Mullaney, entertaining ma-

ven and author of It’s 5 o’clockSomewhere, is celebrating the New

Year with a classic chic flair. Many

will skip the expensive glitzy parties this

year and opt for more intimate gatherings

amongst family friends. Just because you

are skimping on expensive parties, do not

skimp on glam, style and fun for the

night’s festivities.

Throwing an old Hollywood themed

bash is a symbolic and great way to look to

the past while bringing in the new.

Mullaney touts, go classic. From cocktails

that Ingrid Bergman would enjoy to nib-

bles that would have Bing Crosby dancing,

throw a bash that celebrates the icons of

past Hollywood while welcoming in the

New Year and all that the future days will

bring. Here’s how to do it.

Setting the Scene: Start with the invite,

perhaps a black and white photo of

Hollywood legends, or a vintage style

photo of a champagne glass. Use a silver

metallic marker to send a sparkling mes-

sage about the soiree.

Décor should be easy, but stylish.

Black and white paper lanterns will add

great dimension; use accents of silver and

crystal. Candlesticks add festive glow

through the night. Photocopy vintage pho-

tos of stars and place them around the

party space for added fun. Fresh or faux

flowers of lilies in silver cups give a color-

ful fresh retro feel.

Eats, Drinks and Treats: Next, decide

on the cocktails and menu. A signature

cocktail will set the stylish scene and is an

instant party starter. Try something that’s

classic but that will appeal to the masses.

Nibbles can be anything from cheese

sprinkled popcorn to spiced nuts. More

substantial bites could include bite-sized

brie in puffed pastry, stuffed mushrooms

and, a classic by any standard, Swedish

meatballs.

Entertainment: Do not forget to make a

playlist for the evening. It should start out

with classic tunes to start, and move into

dance tunes to get everyone in the mood to

ring in the New Year with pizzazz! If a tel-

evision will be in the room where the party

is taking place, play a classic black and

white movie (be sure to turn off the sound,

so as to not clash with the music).

For a little added fun, bring out your

digital camera and set up an area where

you can have couples and attendees pose

for old Hollywood style photos. Have a

few props, such as a boa, top hat, long

gloves and huge faux diamond ring. Later,

you can create an album on your favorite

social site or web-based photo sharing site.

Do not forget the little party goers: If

your party will have little ones in atten-

dance, definitely include them in the fun.

Set a festive table for them, complete with

plastic champagne glasses and create a

mocktail that is Tinsel-town worthy.

Create a star studded centerpiece by hang-

ing glitter covered paper stars from

branches. Add fun to dips with star-shaped

chips simply cut out of tortillas with a star

shaped cookie cutter and lightly fried.

For a sweet treat try the below:

Baked Snowflakes• 12 flour tortillas

• 1 tablespoon melted butter

• colored sugar

• ¾ cup powdered sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Fold each

tortilla in quarters much like you would

fold paper when making a snowflake. Cut

out shapes with scissors. On a cookie

sheet, place the snowflakes and brush with

melted butter. Sprinkle each with colored

sugar. Bake 5 minutes and let cool at room

temperature. Dust with powdered sugar

and serve.

Whether hosting an adult or family-

oriented party, these are easy to do

ideas that keep the party going!

For more tips, crafts and recipes visit

www.colleenmullaney.com.�

C

Old HollywoodRing in the New Year with an

Themed Bash

South Jersey MOM is turning three! The maga-

zine, founded by Adrienne Richardson of

Vineland, has grown up in these first three

years. Adrienne has grown too.

South Jersey MOM Magazine was conceived by

Adrienne as a way to satisfy her creativity and drive

while staying home to care for her child. During her

pregnancy, Adrienne attended business courses and

mapped out her plans for the magazine.

Adrienne’s son, Kayden, was born in May 2006,

and postpartum depression almost kept the magazine

from becoming a reality. When she searched for

resources for herself and found them lacking, she

knew she had to share her story with others. Nine

months after Kayden was born, South Jersey MOMpremiered. Now, three years and one daughter later,

the magazine and Adrienne are both thriving.

Being a parent and a business owner is rarely

easy, and Adrienne admits it’s a constant balancing

act. Kayden, now 3½, attends preschool full time, and

Camille, 2, naps after lunch. Adrienne takes advan-

tage of their schedules to work on the magazine. She

admits there are times where she has to decide

whether to work or to play, but also appreciates that

she can be flexible with her schedule in order to spend

time with her family. Adrienne’s husband, Eric, was

skeptical of the idea of starting a magazine from

scratch. However, he has witnessed the success of the

magazine and now he’s her biggest fan.

Adrienne is proud of South Jersey MOM, and she

is passionate about it too. She still runs the magazine

from her home, keeping the overhead as low as pos-

sible and allowing her to be with her children. All of

her employees work from their homes as well.

The employees of the magazine are able to con-

tribute their talents to the magazine while taking care

of their families. The sales reps, the graphic designer,

and the writers all put their hearts into making the

magazine the best it can be.

The readers love the articles and can relate to the

topics the magazine addresses. Each month, Adrienne

writes a note to lead off the magazine, and many

times she has been told that people feel like they

know her from reading her notes. Adrienne admits her

struggles as well as her triumphs in these notes, will-

ing to share her personal life with the community she

feels so connected to.

During the rough economic conditions of the past

couple of years, many businesses have folded. SouthJersey MOM has had its share of struggles too, but is

doing well. Readership is steadily rising and there are

plans to expand into other markets in the next year or

two. Adrienne points out that the magazine and its

readers—that she and her readers—are part of each

other’s lives. “We’re not going anywhere,” she says.

“We’re here for you.”


By Renee Taylor Negin


In a recent poll, 70 percent of

readers said they read the maga-

zine cover to cover. To Adrienne,

this is further evidence of the con-

nection between the magazine and

the community. She feels that SouthJersey MOM is both about and for its

readers. Adrienne enjoys getting letters

from readers. Oftentimes, they are writing

to compliment the magazine, to ask about

the writers, or to suggest a topic. She looks

forward to continuing that personal rela-

tionship with her readers, and hearing

from them about what they like about

South Jersey MOM and what they want

more of.

“If there’s a topic someone wants cov-

ered, you should definitely contact us and

tell us about it. We love to hear from you.”

South Jersey MOM will continue to

thrive and grow in the South Jersey area.

The magazine will continue to provide

local resources, valuable information and a

sense of family to the South Jersey com-

munity.

Happy Anniversary, South JerseyMOM! Here’s to your three years of

success and many more to follow.�

You could win one of the followingAMAZING prizes:

Enter to win at www.southjerseymom.com, click on (online exclusives), then (giveaways)

South Jersey

MOM’sAnniversary Celebration

• $200 gift certificate from TLC Creations• $150 portraiture gift certificate from

Lisa Ward Photography• $100 off flooring purchase from Matteo Kitchens• $100 gift card to Utopia Salon and Spa,

Vineland• 1 FREE month of boot camp classes at

Shape It Up Fitness, Mantua• Free Birthday Party at Canlan Sports, Vineland

(up to 10 children)

• FREE Three Month Full Access Membership for MOM and child at Cherry Hill Health &Racquet Club

• $50 Tupperware Surprise Pack• $30 gift card toward any personalized item

from Just For Little People • 1 Free Ultimate Afternoon Tea at Vintage

Rose Tea Room, Millville

1.2.


I’m not a fan of play dates, but I’ve learned to call another

mother and schedule time for our children to eat my food and

mess up my house. If it were up to me, I’d send them into the

street to find a friend, but I go along. As my kids get older,

though, I’m faced with a new kind of play date: coed.

It started when my son came home from school excited

about a certain girl he’d been partnered with on a field trip.

Sitting together and giggling, they became more than friends. “It’s a very exciting relationship,” my son said. Before I

could process this information he added a juicy tidbit. “We’re

going to either Hawaii or the Bahamas for our honeymoon so she

can wear those coconuts on her nipples.”

I was speechless.

“Sorry, breasts,” he said. Like that was better.

I pushed the honeymoon thing out of my

mind until later that night when he asked me

for my engagement ring. Yeah right—as soonas your dad upgrades me to the two carat.

Things were moving fast, but I appre-

ciated the upside. The same hormones

causing my son to smell like a hamper

were now making him like girls enough

to want to lose that stink. When he show-

ered, the intoxicating aroma of AXE body

wash and spray filled the house. When it

comes to grooming, we are working on lessis more. But information-wise, more is always

more. I had to play it cool.

“What do you call it when you like someone and they like

you back?” I asked when I tucked him in that night.

“The other kids call it being a couple,” he said. “But I don’t

like that.” Oh good. “Because we’re still just getting into eachother.” He had a point. “Can we have a play date?”

I froze, wondering about the protocol. Do I call the mom?

Does he call the girl? Can I send them to the playroom like I do

with the rest of the neighborhood rugrats or do I have to chaper-

one? The next day I called the mother and invited the girl over to

play. I even invited the little brother to come along to make it less

of a date. Now he and my daughter are engaged too.

“We’re getting married,” she said,

flashing me the Ring Pop she received.

I’ll have to get used to it, this pas-

sage from play dates to dating, from dat-

ing to rings. And when the big moment

comes, I hope my daughter will hold out

for something better. But really, a candy ring

isn’t so bad. It’s big, it’s gaudy, and when you

break up, you can eat it.�

Lela Davidson’s award-winning column, After theBubbly, appears regularly in Peekaboo magazine and

her essays have been read by parents around theworld. Read more at www.afterthebubbly.com.

As soon as anyone knows you are

pregnant, expect to hear every birth

and pregnancy horror story they

know. You will receive unsolicited advice

and everyone will want to touch your “baby

belly.” Rarely helpful, these invasions of

your pregnancy bliss can range from

annoying to infuriating.

Becoming a mother is the hardest and

best calling in the world. A new mom can-

not imagine how much she is going to

obsess over the new baby – 24 hours a day

every day for the rest of her life.

However, there are five things a new

mother should know that will help her

transition to motherhood.

1. First, give yourself a break. Be satisfied

with being a “good enough” mom.

None of us are perfect. Stop expecting

yourself to be the perfect mom. All

moms make mistakes so learn from

them.

2. Even in the earliest days of new moth-

erhood, take time to nurture yourself.

Do something every day for yourself,

even if it’s just to eat an ounce of dark

chocolate.

3. A mom needs to make sure she has bal-

anced nutrition, gets as much sleep as

possible, exercises and enjoys some

relaxation. A happy, content mom goes

a long way in fostering content children

and family.

4. Continue learning new skills while you

are growing a support system for your

mothering. Ask experienced moms

whom you respect to share their mother

craft. Seek balance in your mothering

and your whole life. This is a hard task

because you are a new, inexperienced,

but committed, mom. Ask for help and

delegate even if your help does not do

it your way. Done their way is better

than not done at all.

5. Finally, when all else fails, laugh.

Tears and laughter are both cleansing

and therapeutic. Laughter is more fun,

raises your endorphins and elevates

everyone’s mood. Look for the humor

and laugh out loud every day.

Cheers and Happy Mothering!�

First Crush…Falling in Love on a Play Date

New Moms Need to Take Care of Themselves TooBy Judy M. Schneider, IBCLC

By Lela Davidson


3.

There are two types of first-borns.

Although they both desire control,

they use different methods to attain

it. The first type is a compliant nurturer or

caregiver. The second type is an aggressive

mover and shaker. Both types exhibit

many of the first-born traits listed below.

Firstborn Traits • Natural leader – majority of politicians,

directors and spokespersons are first-

borns

• High achiever – sets goals and reaches

them

• Picky and precise – pays attention to

detail and expects perfection

• Organized and competent

• Punctual

• Likes to be in control and does not like

surprises

• Can be moody and lack sensitivity

• Can be intimidating and refuse to take

no for an answer

• Sometimes can be a “know-it-all”

• Often bossy and feel they are right

• Responsible and tries to keep the rules;

will misbehave if rejected

• Tries to please others, especially adults,

may not say “no” or disagree because

they do not want to cause problems

• Poor at delegating because they want to

make sure it’s done right

If your child is a first daughter or first son

with an older sibling of the opposite sex,

he or she might exhibit firstborn traits.

Your child might also exhibit firstborn

traits if there are more than five years

between the child and the older sibling.

Don’t expect perfectionYour child already puts a lot of pressure

upon him/herself, so do not have higher

expectations than what the child can

achieve. Firstborns will set goals for

themselves. Make sure the goals are not

too difficult to attain or they will become

frustrated. Make sure your child is aware

of what your expectations are; otherwise,

they may assume they are higher.

Psychologist Kevin Leman says first-

borns seek their parents’ approval. “For

instance, let’s say you ask your oldest son

to make his bed. If you tell him it looks

good but then proceed to fluff the pillow

and straighten out wrinkles in the bed-

spread, you send the message that he could

have done better.”

Don’t demand too muchOlder children often do more work than

their younger siblings. Divide the work-

load as soon as the younger child is capa-

ble of helping. Do not expect your first

born to be an instant babysitter. Check

with their schedule and pay them when

appropriate.

Do not put too many responsibilities

on your child. You cannot expect a six year

old to watch her younger siblings and then

be responsible if something happens. Let

her know it’s not her fault and praise her

for telling you about the incident.

Provide one-on-one timeFirstborns enjoy adult company. They

often feel their parents do not pay attention

to them because they are consumed with

younger siblings. Spend time with your

firstborn, sharing an activity the two of

you enjoy.

Teach patienceEldest children are often bossy. They can

do more than their younger siblings, so

they may feel as if they are better. Remind

them that they were young once and

encourage them to have patience. Help

your child work through his or her frustra-

tions with younger siblings. It’s their job to

teach their siblings, not rule over them.

Fun Firstborn Facts • Fifty-two percent of US presidents have

been first born children, and most of the

others were firstborn sons.

• Many newscasters and TV talk show

hosts are first born, e.g., Walter

Cronkite, Peter Jennings, Dan Rather,

Ted Koppel, Oprah Winfrey, Phil

Donahue, Geraldo Rivera, Arsenio Hall

and Rush Limbaugh.

• Twenty-one out of the twenty-three

astronauts sent into space were first-

borns and two were only children.

• Oldest children are overrepresented

among college faculty.�

This article was provided by Families.com – a com-munity rich with articles, ideas, forums and blogsfrom family-minded participants. They collect thebest information and resources for family living andpublish the Internet’s largest collection of family-related blogs with new entries appearing each day.

Parenting Your First Born Child…What to Expect & DoBy Teresa McEntire

There are different schools of thought

about promoting self-esteem in chil-

dren. The pendulum swings back

and forth from one generation to the next in

the belief that you must constantly build up

your kids to make them feel special and

important.

The opposing view suggests that kids

must fit into society, and if you make them

believe they are too special, they will

become narcissistic and have trouble sur-

viving in the real world.

According to well-known family ther-

apist Daniel Gottlieb, best known for his

award-winning radio talk show Voices inthe Family on WHYY and his most recent

book, Learning from the Heart, parents

should not pursue self-esteem for their

children. That should be a byproduct of the

love and support you give them.

“Kids don’t have to know that they’re

great and wonderful, they have to know

that they’re loved,” he points out.

“Research shows that kids coming out of

college are self-absorbed, less resilient,

more narcissistic and their depression rate

is going up. Kids should grow up thinking

they are human, they are loved, they are

similar to everybody else and they have the

ability to make a contribution to the world,

to help other people. That’s where the gifts

are.”

Michael Kresloff, Moorestown dad of

two boys, ages 5 and 2, views helping his

children develop a strong sense of self-

esteem as one of the most important things

he can do as a father.

“I’ve heard it said that praising chil-

dren repeatedly helps kids feel good about

themselves, but this has always felt hollow

to me,” he explains. “I just don’t see how I

can create self-esteem through praise

alone. I really think, for the most part, a

child has to have self-esteem grow from

within.”

Kressloff adds that he does not want

his kids to ever feel that he has unrealisti-

cally high expectations of them.

”Sure, I have certain fundamental

expectations, but I want my kids to be who

they are, not who they think I want them to

be,” adds Pam Girgenti, who has 5 and 6

year old daughters and lives in Marlton.

“Teaching your children about self-esteem

means letting them know you love them,

mistakes and all.”

Susan Ambrose, mother of three chil-

dren, ages 8, 7 and 5, from Moorestown,

says, “I tell the kids never, never leave any-

one out of anything and always stick up for

other kids if they can’t do it themselves.”

Ambrose teaches her children to

believe in themselves and encourages them

to always feel confident to come to their

parents seeking advice or help. She also

urges them to “dream big” and take respon-

sibility for their actions.

While most parents try to build up

their children’s confidence with praise,

Gottlieb urges parents to be careful how

they do that. Reinforce a behavior, such as

“you did great on that test, and I’m happy

for you and proud of you.” But do not go

overboard and tell them that they are a

math genius.

“Over time, they’ll come to know that

there’s something precious inside, and

they’ll learn that by knowing that they’re

loved and secure and they have successes

and failures,” Gottlieb says.�

Terri Akman is a freelance writer and preschoolteacher at M’Kor Shalom in Cherry Hill. She hasthree children and lives in Voorhees. Check out herblog at www.preschoolteach.blogspot.com.

Classroom time includes a mix of teacher-directedas well as independent learning center activities.

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Is there a Wrong Wayto build self-esteem in your kids?

know

2 g

row

By Terri Akman

I dread when my child comeshome from school and the home-

work battle begins. It causes chaos inour home right up until bedtime. Whyis it so difficult for my child to do home-work?

Take heart, you are not alone in this

dilemma. Children with ADD have

ongoing struggles with homework. From

the moment the assignment is given to

completion, many skills and behaviors are

involved. Being easily distracted means

your child has a difficult time with each of

the steps below. Each one of these steps is

a challenge and causes conflict.

1. Processing the assignment (hearing,

writing and understanding it).

2. Deciding what materials should be

brought home to complete assignments.

3. Unpacking the book bag, organizing

materials, prioritizing assignments and

managing time.

4. Doing the work by putting forth extra

effort on a boring task. Those with

ADD have brains that shut down com-

plex, tedious tasks without stimulation.

5. Pack up book bag.

6. Turn the homework in.

How much time should I allow mychild to spend on homework?

The rule of thumb to follow is 10

minutes per grade level. Typically

children with ADD take two to three times

longer to complete homework than their

peers. As your child gets older, the amount

of time it takes causes distress and takes

away from the benefit of homework.

Schedule a meeting with your child’s

teacher. Bring samples of work with notes

on how long it took

to complete each

assignment and

what it took to get it

done. Ask for sug-

gestions and have a

follow up meeting.

If the struggle con-

tinues, your next

step is to request a

504 Plan* in writ-

ing, which will pro-

vide accommoda-

tions and modifica-

tions for homework

and in-class sup-

port. If your child is

on medication, you

may want to contact

your physician and

ask about a small

dose after school to

help with home-

work, but one that

won’t keep your

child up at night.

Your physician will

help you determine

if this is best for

your child.

What types of strategiescan I use at home to help

my child with homework?

Allow your child to unwind

for a half hour before start-

ing homework. During this time, try to

have your child do something physical:

stationary bike, treadmill or good old fash-

ioned outside play. Research indicates

physical activity improves focus. Make

sure your child starts homework immedi-

ately afterwards to utilize this benefit. Your

role is to provide structure, support and

encouragement…not to re-teach them the

work. Homework is for your child, not you!

Stay focused on actually learning some-

thing from it, rather than just getting it over

with or earning the grade. To be successful,

most of the children I see need to have a

behavior modification program in place

which has been designed specifically for

them. A “one size fits all” approach is not

beneficial. This involves setting up rules,

rewards and consequences along with

parent coaching.

How can I help my child getorganized?

If your child is anything like others

with ADD, your child’s room and

book bag probably look like a disaster area.

You can help your child by color-coding his

or her textbooks, notebooks and folders by

subject area. Visuals are extremely helpful

to children with ADD. Post a list of what

needs to be done, and in what order, after

school. A clear plastic folder works well for

holding completed homework.�

*A 504 Plan is a legal document that protects those with disabilities or other healthimpairments so they can receive special accommodations in school to achieve better learning.

Linda Karanzalis, M.S., founder and owner ofADDvantages Learning Center in Cherry Hill is thecoordinator of CHADD of South Jersey, a non-profitorganization serving children and adults with attention deficit disorder. Listen to her “Ask theADDvisor‚” radio show on 92.1 FM. For more info contact Linda Karanzalis at (856) 482-0756 or atwww.addvantageslearningcenter.com.

Moorestown Friends School

3 year olds through 12th grade 110 E. Main St. Moorestown, NJ 08057

For more information, call (856) 235-2900, e-mail [email protected] or visit mfriends.org.

The Early Years Matter

Our college preparatory program runs seamlessly from Preschool (age 3) – Grade 12.

Learn more about a transformational educationfor your child at an upcoming Open House:

Sunday, January 24, 2 p.m.

Thursday, February 18, 7 p.m. (Middle/Upper School only)

Saturday, February 20, 10 a.m. (Lower School only)

By Linda Karanzalis, M.S. Learning Specialist/ADD Coach

Ask the

Q.

Q. A.

A.

ask the AD

Dvisor


Q.

A.

Q. A.

ADDvisor


The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by their 1st Birthday Come Join

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• Treating infants thru adolescents• Focus on prevention education• Orthodontist on staff*• Flexible hours at two locations

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GREGORY D. McGANN, D.M.D.PAUL A. SIMONS, D.D.S. STACEY A. YANDOLI, D.M.D.

432 Ganttown Rd., Suite 203, Sewell • 776 Grove Rd., West Deptford856.589.6886 • www.kidsowndentist.com • 856.848-2211

FREE Monthly seminar on infant oral health forpregnant moms, new moms, and moms trying to conceive. For more info visit our website.

W. Deptford Office

CHECK OUT MOMMY MORNINGS!

Call for dates and more info

There is nothing cuter than a gapped-tooth smile on

a child, especially when his or her teeth are healthy.

Today, parents recognize that strong teeth do not

just happen, and that dental care is an important part

of your child’s overall health. Luckily, Your Child’s Very Own Dentist is on a mission to keep your children’s

smiles in tip-top shape. The colorful, kid-friendly office is wel-

coming to kids and parents alike.

What makes Your Child’s Very Own Dentist different from the

dentist you grew up with is their devotion to early prevention of

dental issues.

“We want to see patients as young as possible to instill good

habits,” explains Stacey Yandoli, one of the five pediatric dentists

serving offices in Sewell and West Deptford. “That, ideally, starts

when the mother is pregnant because, even in the very beginning,

you can affect your child’s future oral health.”

Your Child’s Very Own Dentist offers informal monthly hour-

long seminars for parents to discuss things they can do to help

prevent dental decay in their children.

“A lot of the focus is getting the mom’s oral health to be as

good as it possibly can be,” suggests Yandoli. “Studies show that

the mom’s bacterial flora is passed on to their children and some

of these bacteria are the ones that cause dental decay.”

The group sees kids from infant to adolescent. Families are

encouraged to bring their children in for their first visit when the

child reaches age 1 or six months from the eruption of the first

tooth, whichever comes first. That visit gives the kids a chance

to meet the dentist and get a feel for the office, which has kid-

friendly DVDs running at every chair.

This visit also provides a chance to further educate parents

about important dental health tips. Topics of discussion include:

habits to avoid, when to discontinue the bottle, non-nutritive suck-

ing issues (such as the use of pacifiers) and healthy food choices.

“There are hidden dangers in kids’ diets; things you wouldn’t

consider a ‘bad snack’ but are actually pretty bad for your teeth,”

points out Yandoli. “Fruit snacks and fruit roll-ups are sometimes

advertised as being healthy, like fruit, and maybe have Vitamin C

in them. But, they are so sticky and high in sugar [that] they don’t

come off the teeth, even with good brushing.”

Juice is another problem for children’s teeth, as it’s so high in

sugar content. Parents think diluting juice with water fixes the

problem, yet, by sipping even diluted juice out of a sippy cup all

day, the kids are still constantly bathing their teeth in sugar. “Your

mouth never gets the chance to go back to a good environment to

fight decay,” says Yandoli.

Your Child’s Very Own Dentist understands that education is

the front line defense against cavities and other dental issues.

Come in, meet the staff and find out how you can best keep your

children’s teeth healthy. With the new year under way, make a

resolution to stay involved with your children’s dental routine.

When brushing, check to see they are reaching all of their teeth,

that their gums are not bleeding and, if they do not have the

manual dexterity to floss, be sure to help them out.�

Dr. Yandoli’s partners are Gregory McGann, D.M.D and Paul A. Simons, D.M.D. Their team also includes associates George T. Lynch IV, D.M.D, JudithSamselski, D.M.D. and orthodontist Janine R. Trindade, D.M.D. They alwayshave a dentist on call to handle emergencies. For more information call (856) 589-6886 in Sewell, or (856) 848-2211 in West Deptford. Or, visit them on the web at www.kidsowndentist.com.

busi

ness

spo

tligh

t

By Terri Akman

Your Child’s Very Own Dentist


just bornFlings Party BinsDeveloped to make trash and recycling more accessible, easier and fun. Great for parties and events at home or away. Flings make clean-up a snap!Your guests can’t help but spot them, which means less mess to clean yourselfat the party’s end. Leaves bottles and cans already separated. FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS! 4 for $15.99, www.Flingsbins.com

Bottle SnugglersNeed an extra hand? This bottle support system is designed to assists duringbaby’s feeding time. It supports the bottle while you hold the baby, leaving a hand free. No more propping the bottle under your chin or on unstable surfaces! Just insert the bottle into the Bottle Snuggler, position it properly,and everyone wins. Great for parents with multiples. Machine washable.$23.95, www.Bottlesnugglers.com

Bumble BellsBumble Bells are the original baby tracking device! These expandable, 925sterling silver anklets are beautiful accessories with bells on them so that youcan hear wherever baby goes. Choose from several designs. $45 and up,www.Bumblebells.com

Stay With Me SocksFinally…socks that stay on baby’s feet! This unique design helps keep littlesocks on tiny feet until they are taken off. Stay with Me Socks also looptogether easily for washing. No more lost socks! 0 – 14 months. $4.50 and up, Target or www.staywithmesocks.com

My Baby ZooThis unique and cute sleep trainer shows, in an intuitive way, when your child is allowed to get out of bed or still needs to catch some sleep: EyesClosed – “I should be sleeping”, Eyes Open – ”Rise and shine!” $34.99,www.mybabyzoo.com

BornFitBornFit is an active wear collection for moms of all ages and baby too. The collection flatters the figure before, during and after baby. The products celebrate loving ones self and a journey toward healthy living. The beautyof being “fit” is that it comes in all different sizes, shapes, interests and passions. Prices vary, at running stores or www.Bornfit.com.

Fillo FactoryThe Fillo Factory, with over 25 years experience in the Fillo business have per-fected the art of creating Fillo dough and Fillo dough products. With a varietyof vegan, vegetarian, organic and Kosher products, they are not only delicious,nutritious and creative, but also fit into today’s lifestyle by being both healthyand convenient. Prices vary, BJs Wholesale Club or www.fillofactory.com

GrippiesThe no-slip solution for tights, socks and gloves. Now you don’t have to worryabout the kids slipping on tile or hardwood floors. Make any pair of sock ortights non-slip. Available in various shapes. Offered in adhesive and iron-onoptions. $5.99 and up, Target or www.grippiesonline.com

Eti-Kits: Napkin Clips Growing up we were always told to place a napkin in our laps, the only problem is little ones tend to move a lot, which means by the time somethingspills those napkins are gone. This is where Napkin Clips come in. Perfect fordiners of all ages who want to keep their clothes clean while dining at thetable or on the go. 6 clips for $8, www.Eit-kits.com

Spoonful of ComfortBe comforted by the warmth and greatness of old-fashion chicken soup; ahome-style taste that even grandmas would approve of! Chicken soup haslong been touted by grandmas everywhere as being “good for what ails you”.If someone you love is sick, sad or having a bad say…send a little comforttheir way! $32, www.spoonfulofcomfort.com.

Looking for the latest gadgets, toys, books or familyrelated products? Look no further! Each month, we highlightthe latest and greatest just for you. Take a look at these “justborn” products and add them to your list of must haves!

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January is the busiest time for those who want to get back into

the habit of a healthy lifestyle, get into shape and lose those

few extra pounds they gained over the holidays. New Year’s

resolutions provide the additional drive to make some changes.

The unfortunate reality is that most New Year’s resolutions

are broken within the first week and more than half are complete-

ly forgotten by the end of January. Why do we give up on our res-

olutions? Most people fail at keeping their resolutions because

they were not 100 percent committed, had poor planning, lacked

time management or lacked support.

How can you break the cycle this year and stick to your

resolutions?

“Resolve” means to decide with determination and a fixed,

firm purpose. So, if you are not 100 percent committed to reach-

ing your resolution, then it’s only an idea or a wish. Once you have

made the commitment, you will want to make some S.M.A.R.T.

goals for yourself. Here is an easy formula for setting those goals:

Specific – A specific goal has a higher chance of being

accomplished than a vague or general goal. Ask who, what,

when, where and why.

Measurable –When you measure your progress, you stay on

track and experience the exhilaration of accomplishing each

smaller goal which spurs you on to continue your effort to

reach your ultimate goal.

Attainable – When you plan your steps wisely and establish

a realistic time frame, you can attain most goals.

Realistic – A realistic goal must represent an object for which

you are both willing and able to work.

Timely – A goal should be grounded within a time frame.

With no time limit, there is no sense of urgency.

Remember to be patient with yourself. Constantly remind yourself

of the commitment you have made. Measure and track your

progress often. Do not be too hard on yourself. Stick to it and you

will achieve your resolutions.

If you need more help, contact Shape It Up Fitness. They

have helped many people, just like you, master their metabolism

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Nicole Simonin is the owner of Shape It Up Fitness located in Mantua. Shape It Up Fitness guarantees results. Bringing the “personal” back into fitness training! Get your Free Health and Wellness Package today atwww.ShapeItUpFitness.com or call (609) 501-0587.

busi

ness

spo

tligh

tHOW TO BE

S.M.A.R.T. About Your New Year’s

Fitness Resolutions!By Nicole Simonin, CPT, LWMC, PTA

December 31, 10 p.m.: big plans for 2010 are

being made in my head and I am very gung-ho

about it! January 1, 12:01 a.m.: I have already

started forgiving myself for resolutions broken. I figure

I’d better get to bed before I really start waffling! By January 7,

most of my big ticket promises are laying by the side of the

road, abandoned. I do not linger long in my shame because I

have decided that, sometimes, the small promises are the most

important to keep because, like many small embers, great

flames can take flight…how is that for rationalization?!?

In all seriousness, my philosophy is to try and put into prac-

tice the lessons learned through mistakes made as a mother, a

wife, a friend, a daughter, a human. So instead of beating myself

up for the stupid thing I did last September, when a similar sit-

uation comes up in February, I will, hopefully, deal with it bet-

ter, based on my experience. I think the trick will be putting my

money where my mouth is, but only time will tell.

One of the promises I plan on keeping and which will prob-

ably cause me the most angst is to try and wear my rose-colored

glasses a little more often. Whereas, I know correcting my many

faults and keeping my many promises of self-improvement is an

ongoing effort, if I don my glasses and peer into a mirror, I may

cut myself a break because I will see a woman who tries every

day to do the right thing and does not do all that badly by her

family. Sure, she yells like a banshee on the warpath more often

than she would like. She lets her kids watch more than the rec-

ommended amount of television and she orders out at least once

a week, but at the end of the day, her children kiss her and hug

her and tell her she is the “best and beautifulest mom ever” and

her husband still looks at her like a beauty queen. Sweet.

Look, it’s simple. We’re human. As parents, we have to

understand that we are not dealing with peers; we are dealing

with a very intelligent, high-energy being and doing the right

thing at the right time with the right temperament is, to say the

least, hard. We do the best we can, we pray every day that it’s

the right thing and that tomorrow will be a better day… even if

today was a great day.

There is no job in the world, which I am sure you will

agree, better than being a mom. Nothing compares – nothing. If

we can resolve in the New Year to try and enjoy it as much as

absolutely possible, I think that is enough. It’s enough for our

kids to see us smiling because, in their minds, if we are smiling,

they are not in trouble… what more could a kid ask for?

Happy, healthy 2010 all you South Jersey moms (and dads

secretly reading)!! May you wear your rosy glasses often and

cut yourself the same breaks your kids cut you daily.�

Eileen Cassidy Bishop is a National Sales Rep turned stay-at-home mom fromFlorence, NJ who, along with her husband Gene, is raising their two children,Leo and Catherine and doing whatever she can to keep her name from comingup at her children's therapy sessions twenty years from now!


thinking out loud

Another Chance

By Eileen Bishop

We all prepare to care for our children...

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This month, on January 18, we celebrate our newest national

holiday, one that we have celebrated for less than 20 years:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day. My children are happy to

have no school that day, but I’ve wondered, do they know why we

celebrate?

I asked my children what they knew about Martin Luther King

Jr. The answers they gave were pretty accurate: he fought for civil

rights for African Americans, he spent time in jail, he led a march in

Washington, he wrote the “I Have a Dream” speech, and somebody

shot him. My children had been taught well. But I couldn’t help but

feel that the knowledge they had was a little rehearsed. It was just

knowledge… knowledge in the head, but not in the heart. This both-

ered me. I want my children to understand the significance of this

holiday and, most especially, the significance of the man himself. I

want to teach my children about Martin Luther King Jr. and the

great things he did to promote equality in this nation. I want them to

understand his intelligence, his great speaking skills, his faith and,

most importantly, his courage. I wanted to make this great man

more real and meaningful to them and to their lives, not just anoth-

er excuse to skip school.

I headed to the library, where I checked out lots of books on the

subject. Buried in my stack of library books, I found one sparkling

solution to my quest. It’s called, My Brother Martin: A SisterRemembers Growing up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,(Simon and Schuster, 2003). It’s written by Martin Luther King Jr.’s

big sister, Christine King Farris. Written in a simple, straightforward

style, this book tells what it was like growing up with her brother,

Martin Luther King Jr. Christine describes her childhood with M.L.

(the family’s nickname for Martin) and their youngest brother, A.D.,

“…like three peas in a pod, we grew together. Our days and rooms

were filled with adventure stories, and Tinkertoys, with dolls and

Monopoly and Chinese checkers.” M.L. also liked to play baseball

with the white boys across the street until the children’s mother put

an end to it. Trying to explain to the confused children why this hap-

pened, M.L. and Christine’s mother said, “Because they don’t

understand that everyone is the same, but someday, it will be better.”

According to his big sister, M.L. looked into his mother’s face and

said, “Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn this world upside

down.” Which of course, he did.

What struck me about this story was that, in fact, Martin Luther

King Jr. was just a regular kid with some remarkable insights.

Insights we hear every day from our own children, if we take the

time to acknowledge and nurture these insights into action.

On top of that, he had exceptional parents, who provided mod-

els of courage and integrity to their children. According to Christine,

“… a police officer pulled Daddy over and called him ‘boy’. Daddy

pointed to M.L., sitting next to him in the car, and said, ‘This is a

boy. I am a man, and until you call me one, I will not listen to you.”

So this year, my children and I are talking differently about

Martin Luther King Jr. Sure, we remember the great speeches and

the thousands who marched with him to Washington. But mostly,

we remember a little boy. A boy who knew from an early age that

he would fight for justice for all people. Using little M.L. as an

example for themselves, my children are thinking that perhaps they

too can speak up when someone is being excluded or bullied or

shunned because they are different.

As a parent, I’m thinking differently about this day too. I’m

looking for ways that I can nurture that spark in my children, the one

that will make them want to fight for justice and peace in this world,

just as Martin’s parents did. And I’ll be looking for ways that I can

be a model of justice and courage for my own children.

Christine King Farris ends the book, “… my brother never for-

got the example of our father, or the promise he made to our moth-

er on the day his friends turned him away. And when he was much

older, my brother M.L. dreamed a dream…that turned the world

upside down.”

Maybe with a little effort and a lot of courage we can all do the

same.�


By Martha Wegner

By Sheila Taney, RN, MSN

ENERGY

The days are shorter and the nights are colder. Winter months

keep us inside more often, which means we use more ener-

gy. Try some of these easy tips to decrease energy use. The

tips will carry over into the warm weather months as well.

� Close heating vents in rooms that are not used.

� Seal leaky windows.

� Open window blinds to let natural sunlight in for extraheating. Close them in the summer for cooling.

� Run the washing machine and dishwasher before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

� Lower the water heater thermostat.

� Turn off the lights/TV/computers when you leave a room.

� Keep the heat on the lowest comfortable setting.

� Switch to CFL or LED light bulbs.

� Line-dry clothes as much as possible.

� Wash dishes in a full dishwasher.

Teach your children the importance of these energy-saving

measures and they too will do their part. These little tips will

bring big savings to your energy bills and reduce your carbon

footprint.�

Sheila Taney has two children and resides in Cherry Hill. She is passionateabout teaching her children and others how they can participate in saving the environment.

green mam

azappers


Looking for Child Care?Promote children,families and qualitylearning in Gloucester andCape May Counties

• Parent Referrals• Child Care Subsidy

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Registration

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Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm

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Parent Name: ____________________________________________________________

Address:_________________________________________ Phone: ________________

Child(ren) Name(s) & Birthdates: ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

If you think you have the cutest kid in town, send a 4x6 photo and a $15 entry fee to P.O. Box 2413, Vineland, NJ 08362-2413.

If your child(ren) is/are selected, we will arrange a FREE professional photo shoot andthey could be on our next cover for all your friends and family to see! Sorry, photos cannot be returned.

Is your child the CUTEST KID IN TOWN?Every month, South Jersey MOMwill feature a local child on the cover!



For more information, call 856-914-4416 or visit www.mfriends.org/campfair

LARGEST CAMP FAIR IN SOUTH JERSEY!


Summer Camp Fair(serving campers from age 3 - 18)

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�� Winter Flea MarketFebruary 20, 2010 from 9a-1230p

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Entry Fee for Shoppers: Just $1 Supervised activities for your kids while you shop!

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GREAT TIMES DAY CAMPTwo in-ground pools, a 25 acre lake, tennisand swim lessons, arts & crafts, full sportsprogram. Over 10,000 sq. ft. of air-condi-tioned space. All State Certified teachers ascounselors. Hot lunch, transportation andweekly trips are included - no extra charge.www.greattimesdaycamp.com.

ISC SummerDay Camp

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE FUN!!ISC SUMMER DAY CAMP has excitingfield trips, swimming trips, special guests,games & activities this summer. June 21-Sept 3; Ages 3 1/2-8th Grade; 7a-6p. Lunch included. $45/day (Siblings$39/day). Mt. Laurel, Cherry Hill andDeptford. www.sjsummercamps.com or (856) 273-2828.

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE • SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

GET CLOSE TO NATURE ATCAMP CREEK RUN!50 wooded acres in Marlton, offering certified teachers, sports, arts & nature programs, fishing, boating, swim instruc-tion, archery, hiking trails, basketball, volleyball & gaga courts, challenge course, butterfly house, farm sanctuary & more! Call (856) 596-4250 for more info or visitwww.campcreekrun.com.

� Have at least one son and onedaughter

� Have been a parent for morethan five years

� Good at expressing himself on paper

� Live in South Jersey� Willing to openly share

personal experiences

DAD WANTED!

We are looking for a DAD who would like to write a regularmonthly column about parenthood from a “Dad’s Point of

View.” Applicants must match the following criteria:

Please send an email to [email protected] with bio and reason why you would make a great columnist.


Well, it’s that time of year. Teachers have finished

reviewing material and getting the children accli-

mated to their new class and grade. Some chil-

dren may be starting to show stress, resistance or

difficulty learning the new curriculum. These are often sub-

tle indications of covert learning difficulties. If your child

is being taught well, is doing all assignments and attending school

regularly, then academic struggling points to a difficulty in how they

process information.

Talk to your child’s teacher to stay on top of things and get their

feedback. Monitor your child’s progress and problems closely and

do not go more than another marking period to find out what is real-

ly going on for your child. Trust your instincts and do not let anyone

“talk you out of” what your gut is telling you. You know your child

best!

You have the right to request that a comprehensive learning

evaluation be done to determine if your child does have any learn-

ing difficulties. Very often, comments about not paying attention,

failing to get their work done on time or an inability to stay on task

are red flags that may signal learning disabilities.

If you choose to have your child evaluated, here are some

critical suggestions:

First, request an evaluation by sending a letter (not an email) to

the director of your township’s child study team. By law, they are

required to send you a response.

When the meeting has been scheduled, make sure you bring a

friend or preferably an advocate with you. Just as we seek lawyers,

accountants, etc. to help us with important legal issues, so too is this

a legal matter; and unless you are an experienced special education

specialist, you need another objective “set of ears” with you as sup-

port. You will receive a lot of information and your emotions may

interfere with your ability to really hear everything being said.

Tape record all the sessions. This is perfectly legal and there

should not be any problem unless there is something to hide! Again,

write a letter to the appropriate person to inform them that you will

be doing so.

Understanding the process of interpreting diagnostic tests is the

most important piece of information. Most districts still use the

“Discrepancy Model” which is a subjective approach to determining

if a child has a learning disability or not. The criteria are subjective,

vary from town to town and never have been supported by scientif-

ic research or proven to have any correlation to learning disabilities.

The discrepancy is between the Standard IQ score and the academ-

ic achievement scores. Basically, what the Discrepancy Model indi-

cates is if your child is an over achiever who has an unidentified

learning disability or if your child is an underachiever who probably

has a learning disability!

The WISC, WIAT and WJ III are the usual tests used. Through

years of sitting on both sides of the desk, testing children for learn-

ing disabilities and then working directly with them in remediating

learning problems, it has become very clear to me that these tests are

neither comprehensive nor diagnostic enough! They do not test all

the areas proven to be critical to the learning process and the scores

tend to be inflated.

When it comes to testing, insist that

your child have a thorough reading assess-

ment, which must include a reading inven-

tory to be a truly valid assessment.

Audiological assessments and vision eval-

uations are also critical components.

If necessary, request a private evaluation or a second opinion

that includes these tests. Just as you would take your child to a spe-

cialist for a serious illness beyond the treatment of your local pedi-

atrician, you may have to go outside your local school district alone

to diagnose and resolve learning problems.

If you choose to seek an outside opinion, make sure they are not

using the same tests the school district is using and that they are not

using the “Discrepancy Model.”

Make it clear what you want to have tested and, if they cannot

or will not do it, move on until you are satisfied with the answers

you get. Wrightslaw.com is an excellent resource for parents

involved in this process. Best wishes for a successful school year for

your child and you!�Mary Pat Correro is the founder of The Center For Learning Enhancement,LLC. TheCenter resolves learning disabilities through a comprehensive, developmental approachbased on the most current research on the brain and learning. For more info call (856) 234-7337 or visit www.CLEnhancement.com.

If You Suspect aLearning Problem...

By Mary Pat Correro, Ed.M.

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2 le

arn


Do you remember when

you first learned to read?

Scroll back to those earli-

est days of your childhood when

the world seemed simpler and

adults bustled about in your life

seeing to your personal needs…

someone there to tie your shoe and

blow your nose and make sure

food was served at appropriate

times of the day. Clothing worn

one day and muddied in play

would miraculously reappear in your dresser drawers clean and

folded and ready to be worn once again with no effort on your

part. Ahhh . . . remember when?

And at some point, those mysterious marks in neat little rows

on paper stuck between two hard bits of board magically turned

into words when a nearby adult looked at them. It was a mysteri-

ous language that, you were told, you would one day be able to

read for yourself. For a time, the colorful illustrations were

enough of a feast for your eyes and meditations of your heart. But,

oh! To read words!

Enter the obligatory ABC book. Every

child had one. A is for apple. B is for boy. C

is for cat. Each letter accessorized by a

charming picture. For generations, children

have loved their ABC books – the first les-

sons of learning language. Letters have

sounds. Stringing those letters together

makes words. Words have meaning and

convey ideas. Literacy! Magic!

I recommend the literacy and magic of

Green Tiger Press’ nostalgic ABC book,

featuring five renderings of each letter on a

double page spread with illustrations from

five different antique alphabet books circa

19th and early 20th century. The illustra-

tions were culled from the vintage collec-

tions of children’s book illustrations at the

Blue Lantern Studio. How fascinating to

study through the myriad ways the alphabet

has been presented to tender tots. My

favorite is the action alphabet letters: “K is

for kicking” accompanied by a whimsical

letter “K” with face, arms and legs, kicking

a ball in what appears to be a soccer game.

And how about letter “I” for “idle” com-

plete with a moral poem concerning the vice, plus “idle” illustrat-

ed. Character education and reading skills in one! That’s the way

they used to do it. I’m so glad Green Tiger has preserved a sam-

ple of our heritage in language and literacy for the 21st century

child!

Follow-up Activity: This large hardcover edition is a treasure.

Share it one letter at a time and discuss all five renderings. Then

consider how you would present and illustrate the letter. Have

paper and crayons available to visually create your spin on the

ABC’s and preserve them in a binder. Have everyone in the fami-

ly contribute to the task!�

Kathryn Ross is a professional storyteller celebrating the love of learning and literacy with children of all ages. She hosts Tale Spin Stories every Tuesday forpreschoolers at the Cumberland Mall in Vineland. To learn more about Miss Kathyprograms from Pageant Wagon Productions, visit www.pwpstorytellers.com.

By Kathryn Ross, a.k.a. “Miss Kathy”

Tale Spin StoriesRead-to-Me Book Reviews

THEME: First Language Lessons

BOOK: Green Tiger’s Illustrated ABC

AUTHOR: Green Tiger Press

ILLUSTRATOR: Blue Lantern Studio

EAN: 9781595830418

��

Now Enrolling for Preschool Winter Sessions

Celebrating 15Award-Winning

Years!

book review

CLASSESJUMPBUNCH SPORTS & FITNESS FOR KIDSIntroduces sports and fitness to childrenin a non-competitive environment. 18 mos-12 years. Classes improve grossmotor skills, hand/eye coordination,balance, and self-esteem & teamwork.For details contact Jamie (856) 433-8220, [email protected] Askabout our birthday parties & summercamps! www.jumpbunch.com.

ABRAKADOODLE - REGISTER NOW FOR WINTER CLASSES!Get MESSY, be CREATIVE and have FUN! Learn how Abrakadoodle received 7 nods fromNickelodeon’s GoCityKids for “Best Art Program”in 2009. For ages 20 mts-10 yrs. Visit us atwww.abrakadoodle. com/nj01 for class schedule & locations. Questions, call us at (856) 914-0521.

CONSIGNMENT SERVICESBRING DOWN THE COST OF GROWING UP AT KIDSTUFF!KIDSTUFF consignment shop specializes in superior pre-owned clothes for kids. Vast selection of high quality & designer brands,

all in excellent condition at fraction of originalcost. Recycle your child’s “still like-new” clothingback into cash! www.kidstuff.vpweb.com,(856) 589-7171.

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHERSNOW BOOKING VALENTINES PORTRAITSFamily, children, babies & maternity portraits.Ladies, having a hard time finding that perfectgift? Book a glamour/boudoir portrait sessionand give him, “The Valentines gift only you cangive.” Call (856) 415-1000 or visit www.moorecreativephotography.com or [email protected].

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONINGLOOKING FOR A RELIABLE, HONEST, AFFORDABLE HEATING CONTRACTOR?Then you’ve found them! For new construction,including custom homes, upgrades, change outsor renovations call RJ Mechanical for all yourHVAC needs. (856) 690-9692.

JOB OPPORTUNITIESRAISE YOUR INCOME WHILE RAISING YOUR FAMILYYou can make extra money without puttingthe kids in daycare. You set your own hours. No billing, no collections, no carrying inventory,

no large investment.Great local support.Call us today at(856) 305-7680.

PARTIES – ADULTCOME H.O.M.E. TO TUPPERWARE! Let us help you be healthier, organized, make nsave money, and better our environment! Waysto bring Tupperware home: In home Parties,book sales, fundraisers or by joining our awesome team! Ed Maher at (856) 616-1515,http://my.tupperwarecom/ed [email protected].

PARTIES – CHILDRENCELEBRATE YOUR SPECIAL DAY WITH CARVELOrder your holiday cakes today. Custom flavorsand designs. Gluten & egg free available. Madefresh daily. Open year round. Mention this adand receive a 15% discount for Jan. Have yournext Party at Carvel! (856) 478-4599.

PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY NEED HELP GUIDING YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNEY? At The Schlinic, happy childhoods are our spe-cialty. Kids come for awesome motor equipment,fun sensory experiences and developmentalplay. Parents come for answers, professionalswho listen, assessments and research-supportedintervention. Learn more at www.schlinic.comor call Dr. Jodi at (856) 692-9292.

WILLS/ESTATE PLANNINGWHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN?Appointing Guardians for your minor children is one of the most important aspects of Estate Planning. Complimentary initial consulta-tion. Mention this ad and receive 15% discount for Jan. Contact James F Fahy, Esq., LLCto learn more. Call (856) 287-3107 or [email protected].


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urce

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de

WANTED:STORIES ABOUT SOUTH JERSEY MOMS!

Do you know a woman who is an inspiration to others? We arelooking for MOMs of all types to interview for future articles.

Below are just some examples of MOMs we want to hear about:

� Parents who have a child with Cerebral Palsy, Austism,Asperger’s, Tourette’s Syndrome,Speech Impairments, severe skindisorders, Spina Bifida, DownSyndrome, Epilepsy or Juvenile Diabetes.

� Foster Parents� Breast Cancer Survivors� Experienced the loss of an

infant/child� Adopted a child� Volunteer in their community/

are a mentor to at-risk children� Military moms

Please send a brief description of a MOM who deserves recognition to [email protected]! Please include all contact information sowe can reach you if chosen.


For a complete list of events, log ontowww.southjerseymom.com

ATLANTIC COUNTYClimbing Your Family Tree January 11 from 6 to 8 p.m.Introduction to www.ancestry-library.com & www.heritagequest.com. Atlantic County Library System/Buena CommunityReading Room located in BuenaRegional High School, Buena. Opento adults. Registration required (609)625-2776 x 6325. For information(856) 697-4701.

Toddler TalesJanuary 13 at 10:30 a.m.Children ages 2-4 and a caregiverare invited for stories and songs.free. Registration required. Atlantic County Library, 134Philadelphia Ave., Egg Harbor City.(609) 804-1063.

BURLINGTON COUNTYMedford Least Studio ExhibitionJan. 15-Feb. 8 from 11a to 6p (Fri.& Sat) 1 to 5p (Sun)Gifted artists from the Medford Least Studio exhibit their finestworks. Medford Arts Center, 18 N.Main St., Medford. (609) 654-6033 or www.artsinmedford.org.

Winter Subscription ConcertJanuary 17 at 2 p.m.The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey presents its WinterSubscription Concert featuringinternationally known pianist VedaZuponic. $20 - $25. Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, Eastern High School, Laurel Oak Rd,Voorhees. (866) 779-2600 orwww.psnj.org.

CAMDEN COUNTYKids Karaoke Night!January 27 from 4:30 to 8:30pMove over American Idol! Kids andtheir families are invited to belt outtheir favorite songs Karaoke-style orjust sing along with Miley, TaylorSwift and the Jonas Brothers. Linedances and surprises, too! The PopShop, 729 Haddon Ave,Collingswood. (856) 869-0111

Splashtastic New Year’s Bash Dec. 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.Admission to Water Park, arcade,hors d’ oeuvres, dinner & dessertbuffet, DJ, kids craft corner. SaharaSam’s Oasis Indoor Water Park, 535N Rt 73, West Berlin. Reservationrequired, (856) 767-7580.

CAPE MAY COUNTYChild Safety Seat Inspections at Burke Motors January 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Nationally certified technicians willreview the current seat installationand point out deficiencies, check forrecalls and walk the parent /caregiv-er through the proper installation.Children should be present at timeof inspection. 519 Stone Harbor Blvd,Cape May Ct House. (609) 463-6425.

Yoga at Woodbine Library January 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 3 to 4 p.m.The Cape May County Library isdelighted to offer Yoga classes atWoodbine Public Library. Classes in gymnasium at WoodbineCommunity Center in the library. 800 Monroe St., Woodbine. (609)861-2501 or www.cmclibrary.org.

Wine Pairing DinnerJanuary 15Enjoy a wine pairing dinner at thePeter Shields Restaurant where eachcourse will be paired with a differentwine from Cape May Winery &Vineyard’s current wine selections.Reservations required, (609) 884-9090 or www.capemaywinery.com.

CUMBERLAND COUNTYStory Time for Children Throughout JanuaryBaby story time (age 6-23 months w/adult) on Fridays from 10:30-11a.Toddler story time (age 2 w/adult)on Tuesdays 10:30-11a.Preschool story time (age 3-5 w/adult) Wed and Thurs 10:30-11:15a.Toddler and Preschool Music Timealso available. Call (856) 794-4244 x 4246 for details. RegistrationREQUIRED. Vineland Library, 1058East Landis Ave, Vineland.

Exhibit: Animal AttractionDec 21-March 3Features a juried photography exhi-bition with animals as the subject ofthe photos. Cumberland CountyLibrary, 800 E. Commerce St.,Bridgeton. (856) 453-2210

GLOUCESTER COUNTYThe Frog Prince; Jan. 22 at 10a & Jan. 23 at 10a & 1p.The first in the classic collection ofBrothers Grimm fairytales, The FrogPrince is the story of a spoiledprincess and her unlikely prince.The princess is forced to keep herword to befriend the frog after heretrieves her lost golden ball fromthe spring. Broadway Theatre ofPitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman.

(856) 384-8381 or www.pit-manbroadwaytheatre.com.

Nature TotsJanuary 13 at 10 a.m.A special program for pre-schoolers and their caregivers.Explore nature through crafts andthe outdoors. Children must beaccompanied by an adult. Make a winter craft and take a “CabinFever Walk”. Call Jill Taylor, (856) 881-0845.

Powerful You! Women’s NetworkJanuary 21 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.Powerful You! Women’s Network isopen to all women who have an interest in networking/connecting with other women on a business/professional level, light dinner, discussions, relationships. AdelphiaRestaurant, 1750 Clements BridgeRd., Deptford. $25/members andnew attendees; $35 non-members. Contact Shaun Stephenson at (609)560-8370 or [email protected] or www.powerfulyou.com for moreinfo.

SALEM COUNTYChris Smither’s MusicJanuary 30 at 8 p.m.Chris Smither’s music draws asdeeply from the blues as it does from American folk music.Smither considers himself a performer first, though the strengthof his songwriting skills is clear fromthe artists who have covered hissongs – from Bonnie Raitt to theDixie Chicks and Diana Krall. $25.Appel Farm Arts and Music Center,457 Shirley Rd, Elmer. (856) 358-2472

January Calendar

To submit your event, send an email to [email protected]. Entries are due eight weeks prior to the event and are filled on a first come first serve basis. Space is limited.

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january - south jersey mom magazine

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