Parent Feb.-March 2012

ParentColumbus

February - March 2012

KITCHEN HELPERS • MONEY LESSONS • PREPARING FOR SECOND BABY

2 • February - March 2012 • Parent

Your town. Your community. Your media company.

Complete school, business

and government

closings online, anytime at

SEE ALERTS UNDER:

breaking newstherepublic.com/closingsfacebooktwitter

Parent • February - March 2012 • 3

Comments should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 or call 812-379-5625 or [email protected]. Advertising information: Call 812-379-5652. ©2012 by Home News Enterprises All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited. Stock im-ages provided by © Thinkstock.

Also insideColumnists wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Calendar of events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Easy recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Expecting baby No. 2 . . . . . . . . . . 20

Uncommon lunches . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Jennifer Tchida column . . . . . . . . 28Little white lies, page 14

Kids’ craft, page 30

ParentColumbus

Cooking with kids, page 9

Money lessons, page 16


From the editor:

Columbus Parent’s longtime humor columnist and local mom Debra Gayman has retired her column. Rather than seek one person to replace her, we’re giving everyone an opportunity.

If you are a parent or grandparent, male or female, and you have something to say, now is your chance.

We publish only six times a year, so we won’t be able to accommodate everyone. However, if you would like to submit a column for consideration, here are the guidelines.

All writing MUST be the original work of the person submitting the column.

Maximum length: 600 words.

Topic must be appropriate for our readership (parents and grandparents).

Columns can be either serious or humorous, however we are not looking for tales of woe.

Any submission selected for publication will be subject to editing as we feel appropriate. Writers will have a chance to review edited columns before publication.

Writers selected must agree to have their photograph published with their column.

Submissions may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Doug Showalter, c/o Columbus Parent, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201.

Columns may be submitted at any time, and there is no limit on the number of columns a writer may submit.

To be considered for publication in the April/May issue, submissions must be received no later than March 1.

Happy writing!

Doug Showalter

ColUMNISTS WANTeD


Calendar of eventsFebruary3 — First Fridays For Families: “The

Ugly Duckling.” Presented by Art Reach —The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Free, 6 p.m., The Commons. Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen story, we follow a poor little swan as he grows up “ugly” in a family of ducks before realizing his full potential. Information: 376-2539 or [email protected].

10 — Taste of Chocolate. 5 to 8 p.m., Fair Oaks Mall. Advance

LisT yoUr evenTs Fax 812-379-5711 E-mail: [email protected] Mail: Columbus Parent, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 Deadline for next issue: March 16.

space. Registration required: 376-2680 or online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/vsiwebtrac.html.

11 — Columbus indiana Philharmonic presents “Cool

& swingin’.” Five by Design returns to Columbus with a new show featur-ing legendary alto sax performer Richie Cole. Performances include “Almost Like Being in Love,” “What a Wonderful World,” “Night and Day,” and many more well-known songs. 7:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St., Single ticket prices begin at $10; tickets available at thecip.org or 376-2638, ext. 110.

12 — Columbus City Band winter concert. Free, 2 p.m., Asbury

United Methodist Church, 1751 27th St.

The annual Taste of Chocolate appeals to all ages. It returns this year on Feb. 10 at Fair Oaks Mall.

Hans Christian Andersen’s story of “The Ugly Duckling” will be presented Feb. 3 at The Commons.

tickets $2.50 each or $3 at the door.

Tickets available at Fair Oaks Mall office

and customer service desk, or by calling

350-0406.

11 — Kidscommons Carnivale rio. Annual fundraiser for kid-

scommons children’s museum, 7 to 10:30

p.m., at kidscommons, 309 Washington

St., for ages 21 and older. Information:

378-3046 or kidscommons.org.

11 — Community Cast-A-Ways sale. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Donner

Center. Free admission. Booth rental $26/


Canstruction challenges teams to build structures out of cans of food. After the event, which runs Feb. 18 to 26, the cans are donated to area food banks.

18-26 — 2012 CAnstruction. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fair Oaks Mall.

CANstruction is a local event associ-

ated with the international competition.

Teams build sculptures made entirely out

of canned foods. All cans are donated

after the event to Columbus area food

banks. Free. Information: 390-6912 or

[email protected].

25 — Music at Asbury: indiana University international vocal

ensemble. Free, 7:30 pm, Asbury United

Methodist Church, 1751 27th St. This

is not the usual college choir. The group

performs music from outside the Western

music tradition. You will hear music

from Africa, South America and Eastern

Europe. Information: 372-4555.

March2 — First Fridays For Families: Jim

Cosgrove, Mr. stinky Feet. Free,

6 p.m., The Commons. Using his guitar

and a box of instruments, Mr. Stinky Feet

knows how to make kids laugh and sing.

Information: 376-2539 or caac@artsinco-

lumbus.org.

3 — Kids/Teens only Garage sale (ages 8-18). 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,

Donner Center. Clean out your closets,

get rid of some stuff and make some extra

money. All items for this sale must be

kid/teen oriented. We provide the build-

ing, tables, chairs and advertising, you

provide the stuff to sell. Admission to the

sale is free to the public. Fee is $6/first

table, $3 each additional table, and dead-

line is March 2. Registration, 376-2680 or

online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/

vsiwebtrac.html.

4 — Columbus symphony orchestra. Dances from around the

world, featuring Christie’s Dance Studio

and Dance Street. 3:30 p.m., Columbus

North High School auditorium.

30 — Columbus Bluegrass Jamboree concert. Donner

Center. Open jam sessions begin at 4 p.m.; group performances begin at 5. Free (donations will be accepted). Information: 376-2680 or columbuspark-sandrec.com.

31 — Columbus indiana Philharmonic. Anne Frank

was a teenager living in Amsterdam when she went into hiding during the Nazi occupation. Composer/conductor Michael Tilson Thomas has created an extraordinary musical work for narrator and orchestra that presents portions of the young teenager’s story of hope, de-termination and the resiliency of the hu-man spirit. 7:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St. Single ticket prices begin at $10; tick-ets available at www.thecip.org or 376-2638, ext.110.

April6 — First Fridays for Families: “The

Jungle Book.” Free, 6 p.m., The Commons. Dancers Studio presents “The Jungle Book,” which was adapted

10 — Community Cast-A-Ways sale. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Donner

Center. Free admission. Booth rental $26/space. Registration required: 376-2680 or online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/vsiwebtrac.html.

24 — Music at Asbury: Dan and Kim Christian. Free, 7:30 p.m.,

Asbury United Methodist Church, 1751 27th St. These accordion national cham-pions will entertain with a variety of mu-sic. Information: 372-4555.

Mr. Stinky Feet will entertain children March 2 at The Commons.


by Disney from Rudyard Kipling’s classic

story. Information: 376-2539 or caac@

artsincolumbus.org.

7 — easter egg Hunt. Free. 10 a.m. Donner Park. Areas for ages 1-2, 3-4,

5-6 and 7-8. If raining, eggs and candy

will be distributed in Donner Center.

Please bring a bag or basket for your eggs.

Information: 376-2680 or columbuspark-

sandrec.com.

14 — Family service inc.’s “Don’t shake” run Walk. Registration

is open. This event includes 5K and 10K

runs, a 5K walk and kids fun run, with

age group awards. Information: 372-3745

or familyservicebc.org.

14 — 2012 spring Craft show & sale. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Donner

Center. We provide the tables, chairs, ads,

and you provide the items to sell. Fee in-

cludes booth space (up to three 6-foot ta-

21 — Music at Asbury: pianist Kozo Kaneko. Free: 7:30 p.m.,

Asbury United Methodist Church,

1751 27th St. One of Japan’s top pia-

nists comes to Asbury. Also, a Japanese

professional ocarina player who lives in

Columbus will perform with Kaneko.

Information: 372-4555.

21-22 — The republic’s Home and Garden show.

Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Information: 379-5655 or kburnett@

therepublic.com.

22 — Columbus symphony orchestra “A Tour of europe.”

Featuring the music of Rossini, Ravel and

Beethoven, 3:30 p.m., Mill Race Park

amphitheater.

28 — Columbus indiana Philharmonic. Pianist Di Wu

returns to perform Rachmaninoff’s pow-

bles and chairs). You may buy more than one booth. Please indicate when register-ing the type of items to be sold and if you need electricity. No flea market/garage sale type items please. Admission to the show is free to the public. Registration fee is $29/space, and deadline is April 11, or until max is met. To register: 376-2680 or online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/vsiwebtrac.html.

15 — Columbus City Band spring concert. Free, 2 p.m., Asbury

United Methodist Church, 1751 27th St.

with 4d ultrasounds

oueforeere orn

columbus • 812.343.6376

Preserve Th ese Moments

all 4d ultrasounds include:pictures

cd with imagesvideo of the ultrasound

best images are between 24–30 weeks

& by appointment only

the video is for entertainment purposes only.

SPECIALIZING IN:Laparoscopic hysterectomy • Endometrial ablation

Surgical and non-surgical treatment for urinary incontinence

C-Section • Tubal ligationNormal and high-risk obstetrical care

including VBAC

SOUTHERN INDIANA OB/GYNPHYSICIAN’S PRACTICE ORGANIZATION, INC.

George Albers, MDBoard Certifi ed

Dan Davis, MDBoard Certifi ed

Pam Spencer, NP

2450 Northpark Suite A • Columbus • 812-376-3311www.southernindianaobgyn.net

Carnivale Rio, a fundraiser for kidscom-mons, will be Feb. 11.


erful Piano Concerto No. 2. 7:30 p.m., Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St. Single ticket prices begin at $10; tickets available at www.thecip.org. Information: 376-2638, ext. 110.

May12 — A Garden Tea. Fundraiser

for the Book Buddies pro-gram. Join us for tea in the Terrace Room of the BCSC Administration Building, 1200 Central Ave. Information: 376-4461.

ongoingMoMsnext provides fellowship, sup-port and friendship to mothers of elementary-age children. Meetings are twice a month throughout the school year from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. Information: Grace Lutheran Church, 372-4859.

Hamilton Center ice Arena. 25th Street and Lincoln Park Drive. Admission: child (5-17) $3.50; adult (18 and older) $4; 4 and younger free. Skate rental $2. Call for schedule and programming. Information: 376-2686.

Kidscommons. 309 Washington St., climbing wall and wonderland of discov-ery, education and imagination for chil-dren up to age 14. Hours are 10 a.m. to

Foundation for youth. 405 Hope Ave. For a complete schedule of activities: foundationforyouth.com.

Columbus Gymnastics Center. 405 Hope Ave. Classes and open gym for chil-dren. Information: 376-2545.

5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Admission is $6. Information: 378-3046.

Bartholomew County Public Library. Story time sessions and other children’s activities: barth.lib.in.us.

On March 31 Columbus Indiana Philharmonic tells the story of Anne Frank in the music of Michael Tilson Thomas. Five by Design returns to Columbus Feb. 11 with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.

The annual Easter egg hunt draws eager children to scour spring flowers at Donner Park.


By CRySTAL HENRy n pHoToS By DoUg SHowALTER

From the time children are born, one of the most important things in their lives is food. Babies are comforted with nourishment, and introduc-

ing solid foods is a fun milestone.

As they grow, children’s personalities even emerge through food preferences. And they learn a sense of adventure just by trying peas for the first time.

Bringing children into the kitchen from an early age can teach them to appreciate and be conscientious about the things they put into their bodies and provide a bonding experience for parents and children.

From the time babies can sit up on their own, they can become familiar with the kitchen. Some parents fill a low drawer with baby-safe items, such as bowls and measuring cups, for their little ones to explore while they prepare meals.

Marguerite Rommeck of Columbus said her chil-

Kitchen kids

dren love to help in the kitchen, which she began letting them do when they were about a year old. She taught them to always wash their hands before han-dling anything, and just after they turned 1, she let them help by adding ingredients while she baked.

Liam and Chloe have been cracking eggs since they were 2. She said she lets them crack each egg in a separate bowl, so if they ruin one it’s only one egg. Rommeck measures the flour, sugar or vanilla and lets them pour it in the bowl. Since neither child has long hair, she lets them help operate the stand mixer. She puts her finger where they need to go with the lever, and they get to turn it on.

“The kids think they are seriously cool with this one,” she said.

She said she always stresses the dangers of putting hands or hair too close each time they do this. She

Parents find that having too many cooks doesn’t spoil anything


Above: While making chocolate chip cookies, Chloe Rommeck, 5, cracks an egg under the watchful guidance of mom Marguerite and brother Liam, 3. Below: Chloe smashes nuts to add to the dough. opposite page: Liam and Chloe place the cookie dough on baking sheets.

also has child-safe knives, which allow the children to spread their own butter, peanut butter and avocado on bread or crackers. And she often puts them in charge of washing berries and other fruit.

Try new thingsHarriet Armstrong, program assistant for health and

human services at the Bartholomew County Extension Office, said getting children involved in the kitchen is a great way to help them take ownership of what they put in their bodies.

Getting them to eat a variety of things can be chal-lenging, but allowing them to help prepare meals takes some of the mystery and apprehension out of trying new foods.

Taking children to the grocery store can also help get them involved and interested in their nutrition, she said.

Plenty of foods aren’t served more often because people get into ruts and eat the same things all the


time. Armstrong suggests taking children to the pro-duce section and letting them pick out one new fruit or vegetable they’ve never tried. Then incorporate that new food with things they already know they like. Just being involved in the decision to try a new food will help them want to try it.

Parents also should model good food buying by comparing labels and pointing out ingredients. It gets children and parents thinking about what they put in their bodies.

Pass it onArmstrong said getting children involved in the

kitchen is important because she’s seen too many stu-dents who rave about their mother’s cooking but say that she never wanted them in the kitchen. So they never learn those recipes or cooking skills. She said having children help does take longer, but it’s worth it.

“It’s the planting of information that’s going to reap rewards later on,” she said.

If children are too young for knives, she said, par-

ents can give them a Popsicle stick to spread with. Or let them use the aerosol can to spray the pan. Elementary schoolchildren can work on measuring skills by knowing what a cup or a teaspoon looks like. Experiment by asking them how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon and then use flour to find out.

Armstrong said both of her daughters helped in the kitchen at an early age, and now when they come home from college they enjoy cooking.

Maria Yang of Columbus said both of her girls enjoy being in the kitchen, too. Lulu, 9, loves to help sift flour, crack eggs and roll dough. And now she gets the job of rinsing dishes and putting them in the dishwash-er. Jasmine, 5, loves to help, too.

Yang said the most fun they have is making Chinese dumplings called jaozi. The girls put on their aprons, and Yang’s husband also joins in. The girls spoon some of the filling onto a wrapper and fold it.

“Who cares what it looks like if it’s yummy?” Yang said.


Let’s make these!

Here are some quick and easy recipes to try with the kids:

Banana Bites2 bananas

1 cup boxed pancake batter

Cut bananas into ¼-inch slices. one at a time dip the slices in batter, coating all over and shaking off excess batter into the bowl. place on a greased skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook for 1 minute on each side or until golden. older kids can help slice the bananas, and younger kids can help dip them. Let an adult handle the griddle or skillet. But let the kids pour the honey, syrup or yogurt on top before serving.

— Weelicious.com

No Cook Dough2 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 tablespoon cooking oil

½ to 1 cup cold water

2 drops food coloring

Combine flour and salt. Add water, food coloring and oil, and mix until ingredients are combined. Knead well. If consistency is too wet, add a little flour.

— Jessica Blaikie on easy-kids-recipes.com

PizzaDough:

1 envelope dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

¾ cup warm water

1¾ cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

Combine yeast, sugar and water. Let sit 6 to 8 minutes. Combine flour and salt in separate bowl. Mix water and flour mixture together and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Roll out on a floured or greased surface and spread out in a greased pizza pan. Let the kids help apply sauce, cheese and toppings of their choice. Cook in a preheated 475 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

— Babblingsandmore.blogspot.com


Smoothie Your Way

1 banana

1 cup fruit

½ cup plain yogurt

½ cup milk

Let the kids help wash the fruit and measure the ingredients. Have a variety of fruits to choose from, but let each child choose what fruits to put in his smoothie. put in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.

— Weelicious.com

Oatmeal Banana Cookies

1/3 cup butter, softened

¼ cup milk

2 cups oats

½ cup raisins

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 ripe bananas, mashed

Mix ingredients together in a medium bowl. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes to allow the oats to soak up all the milk. Drop by tablespoons onto a cookie sheet. Bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Allow to cool.

— Lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com


As a lawyer, Laurie Gray knows from experience that witnesses aren’t always capable of knowing, let alone telling, the whole truth. As a mom, she allows her-

self the same human quality.

Last year, she had her 10-year-old daughter lie about her age to register for a free email account, knowing the com-pany’s minimum was 13.

“She had told me you have to be 13,” said Gray, of Fort Wayne. “I responded you don’t actually have to BE 13. You just have to enter a year for your birth date that was at least 13 years ago.”

Rare is the parent who hasn’t faced a similar “ethical” di-lemma: How to model honesty for kids while navigating the grays of telling a lie, especially one that isn’t an act of kindness but rather a fib of convenience, or even laziness.

Must we always ’fess up when caught in iffy lies by off-spring, or is it OK to plead guilty to lesser crimes without seeking mercy from that old nag, bad modeling? The usual

advice from parenting experts — NEVER lie to your mom but don’t tell grandma she’s fat — doesn’t leave much wiggle room for the less-than-necessary lie.

Child psychiatrist Elizabeth Berger sees a couple of options.

“What helps children grow, whether they are 5 or 10 or 35, is a relationship with the parent in which authentic, intimate and deep exploration of thoughts and feelings is encouraged,” said Berger, a mom of two adult children.

“This does not mean that the parent must fall on his sword. It means that the parent listens respectfully to the child’s point of view, whatever it may be,” she added. “The parent can say, ‘Ah, well maybe I didn’t handle that situation so well. I’ll have to think this over,’ or the parent can say, ‘Ah, I did my best. Go eat your broccoli.’”

Sean Horan isn’t a dad. He’s a “deception researcher” at DePaul University in Chicago. Human beings lie all the time, “and we lie the most to people that we’re closest to,” he said. “Some scholars have proposed that lying is, in fact, a ‘compe-

Parents are human, too, when it comes to fibbing

By LEANNE ITALIE n ASSoCIATED pRESS


tent’ communication behavior.”

Fostering guiltThen how can we get away with telling children as young

as 10 that lying is bad, most of the time? “That’s not reality,” Horan said. “If we raise children saying that lying is always wrong, they’re going to grow up feeling really guilty.”

Deception, he said, is sometimes neither good nor bad.

And the parent whose social lie is overheard by little ones? Like making up a dental appointment when a fellow mom calls for the umpteenth time to bag on the car pool.

“What counts for the child is the child’s sense of the par-ent’s honesty and trustworthiness in relation to the child,” Berger said. “A child who feels loved and respected by parents who are reliable and devoted to the child is not going to have his faith shaken by a fib about car pools.”

For mom Lee Reed, the nuances as she presented them to her 15-year-old daughter are these: “A little white lie allows the other person to keep their dignity and benefits them fully. Being dishonest, and true lying, is done to keep the person lying out of trouble. If she is the only one benefiting from the lie, then it is wrong.”

Was that the case when Reed cited her daughter as the reason she couldn’t join work colleagues for dinner after work

one Friday? While she doesn’t leave the teen home alone at night, she could have arranged a sleepover at a friend’s house but plain didn’t feel like going out.

“I let her know that it felt easier to use her as my excuse and that it was purely selfish on my part,” Reed said.

shades of grayKirsten Bischoff does worry about repercussions when

caught fibbing by her 12-year-old daughter, who’s old enough to understand the “many shades of gray surrounding the con-cept of lying.” That emotional sophistication, she said, makes it more precarious for mom and dad when they’re found out.

Was there any fallout for Gray and her 10-year-old over the email registration fib? What about all those kids allowed on Facebook by their parents before the minimum age of 13?

On a recent visit with her grandmother, Gray’s daughter tried to log on to her email account and was prompted for her birth date. “She typed her real birthday, honest child that she is, and received a message saying she’s not old enough to have an email account and that her account will be closed in 30 days,” mom reports.

Gray doubts she’ll ever “explicitly say the words, ‘It’s OK to lie,’ but just might find herself saying, “‘See what happens when we don’t tell the truth?’”

Like us on Facebook!W W W.W H AT S YO U R R E AC H.O R G

Made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Let your inner child inspire you with indoor winter activities that don’t feel like exercise.

Bowling can be fun for the whole family. It incorporates a great workout while being social. With every twist and turn you can burn up to 300 calories an hour.

Don’t forget to take the kids!

Be Activeyour way


I t’s true. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Often, children as young as 4 truly believe money comes from mommy’s purse or daddy’s wallet. Not real-

izing how much work goes into making money, they as-sume there is a never-ending fount. And mom and dad are the go-to source.

When is a good time to start talking to your child about money?

Mandy Williams, banking center manager for First Financial Bank, recommends starting with the basics as early as possible.

“Starting can be as easy as showing children what money looks like, the difference between dollar bills and coins and the value of each piece,” says Williams. “It is also important children understand how money can be used in different ways — to spend, to save and to give.”

Talking with your children about the value of a dollar doesn’t mean you have to divulge the entirety of your personal finances, says Diane Smith, business teacher at Columbus East High School.

“Parents often feel finances are a personal issue,”

says Smith. “So they typically keep it amongst them-selves. And we’re not talking about sharing how much you make. We’re talking about spending, where the things we get come from and how much those things cost.”

According to Smith, parents should include their children in the family’s money matters. For example, if you’re shopping for a new television or refrigerator, include the children in your shopping venture.

“Don’t be afraid to sit down with the kids and try to map out a plan about where you can get the best price,” Smith says. “Say, ‘Let’s find the best value for what mommy and daddy can spend’ and include the kids in on those discussions as early as possible.”

Helpful toolsOne proven tool for learning the value of money is

the allowance.

Toting the trash to the curb, cleaning one’s room, baby-sitting and mowing the lawn are just some of the jobs we did to earn our own cash as youngsters. So what’s changed in this digital age? Nothing.

into accountTaking money

Children learn lessons about all work and no pay

By JENNIFER wILLHITE


into accountTaking money


Smith recommends giving a weekly allowance that comfortably fits within the family budget. Let children earn money doing chores or things outside their nor-mal role to help them appreciate what it takes to make money. Have your child sweep out the garage one Saturday afternoon or help clean out the neglected hall closet. But the lesson shouldn’t stop there.

Say you agree to a weekly allowance of $5. Break it down and pay it in single bills. One percentage can be available for the child to spend and the rest set aside in a piggy bank.

Set goals. Ask your child how much he would like to save in a set period of time. Not only does the child get to see the savings grow, but it’s exciting for him to know he’s reaching his goal.

Another tool Smith recommends is keeping track of your child’s receipts. Then, if he comes back asking where his money went, you can go over his receipts with him. A retrospective look at a written record can help show just how far money goes.

Recently, Tony Pottorff and his wife, Margie, insti-tuted a point system with their daughters, Delaney,

6, and Amanda, 11, to help teach them the value of money. The girls can earn up to 10 points a day, each worth 10 cents. They can earn points for doing their chores and also doing nice things for others.

When payday arrives at the end of the month, each may earn up to $30. That money is then divided into thirds. The first third may be spent immediately, the second third is saved over a longer term (up to three months or so) and the final third is put in the bank where it can’t be spent.

Money is a powerful incentive, and it’s no different with kids. The Pottorff girls have become quite com-petitive.

While cleaning up one of their play areas after the holidays, Amanda expressed displeasure over how points equate to amount of work done. Saying she had done twice as much work as her sister, Amanda felt she deserved twice as many points.

Considering their age difference, Pottorff explained to her that when Delaney is 11, he will expect just as much work from her. Meanwhile, the point system stands as is.


eye-opener for everyoneThe system is working well, and Pottorff says it’s

been an eye-opener for the girls. He says they don’t ask

for as much since they’ve seen firsthand just how far

money goes.

Acknowledging neither he nor his wife has been

disciplined with money in the past, Pottorff sees this

as an opportunity to offer the girls a lesson he never

learned.

“I am definitely going to tell them, and kids hate to

hear this, but ‘learn from my mistakes,’” says Pottorff.

“‘I know it’s not fun, but trust me, you’ll be thankful in

20 to 25 years, because it’s almost going to be second

nature that you’re putting money back.’”

Pottorff recommends parents take their children

into the bank with them. Explain why you’re there and

what you’re doing. Not only do they get a sucker from

the bank teller, but they learn something, too.

Also, let your child witness transactions. When

you pay for something, let her physically hand over the

money and get the change handed back to her.

Teaching a child the value of money is also an op-

portunity for you to learn something new, too. One

possible resource for expanding your financial under-

standing is Smart Money Week.

A decade ago, a collaborative effort among the

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and organizations

devoted to financial literacy, including educational in-

stitutions, libraries and the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corp., launched Smart Money Week.

Designed as an educational tool for individuals of

all ages, the community program focuses on banking,

credit and other money matter basics. The idea being,

the more educated you are about money and how it

works, the better your ability to manage your finances.

Often held during April, Smart Money Week is a

nationwide event. Depending on your schedule and

learning style, you may attend workshops in the class-

room, online or tune in to the Money Smart Podcast

Network.

Regardless of the teaching method, being smart

with money is about patterned behavior. As with

anything else, positive childhood habits carry over to

adulthood.

“We certainly learn our habits from our parents,”

Smith says. “Whether we know that we’re setting the

example for them or not, kids are watching us.”


H aving a baby for the first time throws new moms into a world full of questions and a land of new experiences. So when that sec-

ond baby comes along, these mothers are often referred to as veterans.

However, while some questions like, “Is this diaper normal?” are answered from previous experience, other questions and issues come up for the first time.

The second pregnancy brings new challenges almost as soon as it begins. A second-time mom who experi-ences morning sickness will often have an audience in the bathroom that a first-time mom doesn’t. And de-pleted energy levels or weight-lifting restrictions aren’t easily explained to a needy toddler.

When delivery day arrives, mothers not only have to get themselves to the hospital, but they also have to have somewhere in mind to deliver their firstborn. Moms without family close by will need to rely upon the help of a trusted friend or neighbor to take care of their older child while they bring the second one into the world.

When the little one arrives, they will need some gear. But one advantage veterans have is that they’ve

figured out what items they needed the first time around and can get rid of the unnecessary ones.

One new consideration is how to lug around two children. While some parents upgrade to a double stroller, others start with a sling or other baby carrier and keep the single stroller for the older child.

Nicole Wiltrout, a Columbus mother of two, sug-gests getting out the baby gear several weeks before the baby is due. She said for the first week or so her 2-year-old son, Ben, was constantly playing with it and press-ing buttons. But by the time baby Jonathan arrived, Ben was bored with it and didn’t bother Jonathan when he was in the bouncy seat or pack ’n’ play.

The one thing she didn’t bring out was an activ-ity mat, and when she did, Ben insisted that he and Jonathan take turns playing with it.

Rachael Branham of Columbus said she had to get a lot of new baby items for her second child because they lost most of their baby things in the flood in 2008. But even then, she said, there are a few things she would need to replace if they had a third.

Having two children of the same gender helped so that she didn’t have to buy new clothes, but she got a

CoMinGattraction

How to keep your firstborn from feeling second-best

By CRySTAL HENRy


new crib mattress, a special outfit for the baby to wear home from the hospital, his special blanket, a baby book, diapers, a double stroller, a new baby monitor and a new nursing pillow.

Even if the children are the same gender, the prox-imity of their birthdays also plays into whether they’ll need new clothes. A summer baby and a winter baby won’t be able to share as many clothes as children born around the same time of year.

is everyone ready?The entire household will need to prepare for the

arrival of the new baby, but the firstborn may need a little help getting ready.

Annie Tennis, a Columbus mom expecting her sec-ond child in April, said son Isaac, 2, doesn’t really seem that interested when she and her husband talk about his new baby sister.

Still, they’ve started to point out babies when they see them and are teaching Isaac to be gentler with things like the family cat, hoping that will carry over to the baby. Tennis said he’s not overly rough, but he is a little boy.

They also moved him into a bed and moved his crib into the new baby’s room. When Isaac goes in there to play with the crib, they explain that this is where his sister is going to sleep.

Wiltrout said it probably depends on the age of

the firstborn, but Ben was old enough to understand

vaguely what was happening. And they wanted to

make sure they prepared him as best they could for his

baby brother’s arrival.

They talked about what babies are like, who would

take care of him while mom and dad were at the hospi-

tal, and what life would be like once they brought the

baby home. They also read books about babies and big

brothers that they found at the library.

She said just talking to him about what the plans

were helped him adjust. By the time her due date ar-

rived, Ben was very excited to spend a few days with

his grandparents rather than being apprehensive about

the changes going on.

Wiltrout said that one book they read called “Why

Does Baby Cry?” talked about all the different reasons

a baby might cry. Before Jonathan arrived, Ben would

get upset when he heard babies crying, so she wanted

to address the issue before Jonathan was born. She said

Ben still gets a little worried when he hears Jonathan

crying, but they just remind him that he’s probably

hungry or tired or some of the other reasons the book

mentions, and this calms Ben down.

Branham said Jace, her oldest, noticed her tummy

growing, and they talked about the baby growing in-

Rachael Branham holds her son, Jace. She has since given birth to a second son, Tyce.

Nicole Wiltrout is pictured with son Ben prior to the birth of his brother, Jonathan.

SUBM

ITTE

D p

Ho

ToS


pHoTo By DoUg SHowALTER

Annie Tennis plays with son Isaac, 2, in their Columbus home. Tennis is expecting her second child in April.

side. They took him to the ultrasound, but he wasn’t

really interested. And when they saw a baby, they

would remind him that he’d have a baby in his house

soon. They read him stories, and he would talk to her

belly.

But she said that until he saw Tyce, she doesn’t

think Jace really understood that he was real. She said

he was very excited when they talked about having the

new baby, but the first time he saw her holding Tyce he

cried. However, by the next day he was asking to hold

Tyce, too.

She said Jace wasn’t allowed to come visit at the

hospital because Tyce was born during a swine flu out-

break, and children weren’t allowed to visit the birth-

ing center. But she said even if he had been able to

come, it might have been for the best that he didn’t.

She worried it might be scary for a 2-year-old to see

mommy hooked up to machines and not able to move

easily. It also gave her time to rest and recover from

her cesarean section, and it gave them time to bond

with Tyce, knowing Jace was at home with his normal

routine, getting showered with affection from loved ones who were taking care of him.

Back at homeWhen the new baby comes home, reactions differ

from child to child. Wiltrout said Ben is very loving toward Jonathan and is sometimes interested in what he’s doing, but for the most part he doesn’t pay much attention to him.

She and her husband try to make an effort to give Ben special one-on-one attention when they can, and she thinks that has helped. They also give him little tasks like throwing diapers away or getting burp cloths to get him involved and show him he’s needed.

Branham said Jace cried and wouldn’t come near her, and it took him almost a whole day to come near or hold Tyce. She was worried, but soon he was telling anyone he met about his brother and loved kissing him and giving him his pacifier. She said she didn’t have any more trouble until Tyce got old enough to start playing with Jace’s toys.

see seConD on page 29

lunch is served — with a side of the

unexpectedBy ALISoN LADMAN n FoR THE ASSoCIATED pRESS

COLD HAM AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

This “casserole” is a great way to use up leftovers. Feel free to play with the ingredients. Chicken, steak and even chopped leftover hamburgers are fine substi-tutes for the ham.

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Serves: 1

1 teaspoon mustard

2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

½ cup cooked rice, white or brown

¼ cup cubed cooked ham

2 tablespoons shredded cheddar

1 scallion, thinly sliced, to garnish

In a small bowl, stir together the mustard, mayon-naise and vinegar. Add the rice, ham and cheddar, then mix well.

Getting creative with kids lunches can be a bit of a minefield. It can be hard enough to get them to embrace new foods at home, never

mind when they are surrounded by friends at school.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t break free of the same-old-sandwich routine. It’s just a matter of us-ing foods already in your children’s comfort zone, but working with them in new and creative ways.

Leftovers are a great place to start (assuming they were well-received the first time around). Plenty of thick stews and chilies can be repurposed as chilled fill-ings for wraps, especially when topped with shredded cheese. Ditto for salads, including the pasta and potato varieties.

Or consider deconstructing something, such as pasta salad. Put it back together in a way that’s fun for kids, as we did for the tortellini veggie skewers. Also, breakfast is great for the beginning of the day and makes a fun supper, so why not also consider it for lunch, too?



812-373-2700 800-334-0077

3203 Middle Road

Columbus

www.sandcrest.org

Keeping you HEALTHY

is what we do.

PhysiciansSlade Crowder, MDAmanda Dornfeld, MDJamie Hannah, MDLoren Hurst, MDAndrea Mernitz, MDDavid Porter, MD

Nurse PractitionerAnn James, MSN, RN, CS

Family CounselorDan Boyer, MSW, LCSW

Pregnancy Care CoordinatorHeather Cowan, CMA

SA N DC RE S T FA M I LY ME DI C I NE

Columbus Regional Health

S

PREGNANCY CARE • PEDIATRICS • ADULTS • WELL CARESICK CARE • MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

BREAKFAST LUNCHThis easy pancake and bacon breakfast-lunch lets kids as-

semble their own meal. You just need to give them the basics — tiny pancakes, cooked bacon slices, blueberries and maple syrup for dunking.

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Serves: 1

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon cornmeal

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon sugar

Pinch salt

¼ cup plain yogurt

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon butter

2 slices cooked bacon

½ cup blueberries (or favorite fruit)

Maple syrup, for dipping

To make the pancakes, in a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, sugar and salt. Add the yo-gurt and milk, then whisk until just smooth.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Drop spoonfuls of batter into the pan, leaving space between each to allow for spreading. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Allow to cool thoroughly before packing.

Pack the pancakes with the bacon, fruit and maple syrup on the side.

TORTELLINI VEGGIE SKEWERSStart to finish: 20 minutes

Serves: 1

½ yellow bell pepper

12 cooked tortellini

6 whole black olives

6 cherry tomatoes

1 slice deli turkey

1 slice provolone cheese

Cut the yellow pepper into 6 strips. Using each pepper strip as a skewer, push 2 tortellini onto each strip.

Use a paring knife to poke a hole into the top of each cherry tomato and cap the end of each pepper strip with a to-mato and an olive. Cut the slices of turkey and provolone into 6 long strips, then wrap one of each around the skewers. Serve the skewers with a side of your child’s favorite salad dressing.


Jennifer TchidaClassic tales

for winter readingLooking for something good to read this winter? Here

are some great children’s books that don’t always get the at-tention they deserve. Let’s call them “overlooked classics.”

“Freight Train,” by Donald Crews — A bright and colorful book that describes all the cars in a freight train. A fantastic book for budding train enthusiasts. Ages 2 and up.

“The snowy Day,” by Ezra Jack Keats — Peter wakes to find the city covered in snow. This picture book beautifully conveys the pleasures that can be found in a place blan-keted with snow. Ages 3 and up.

“Harry the Dirty Dog,” by Gene Zion — Harry is a lov-able dog that hates baths. So he decides to run away from home. Harry has some fun as he gets really dirty, but he realizes how much he misses his family. The problem is he is so dirty no one recognizes him. What’s a dog to do? Ages 3 and up.

“The Monster at the end of This Book,” by Jon Stone — Grover reads on the first page that there’s a monster at the end of the book. He begs and pleads for the reader not to turn pages, but you can’t read a book without turning pages. Will there be a monster at the end of the book? This book is pure fun. Ages 3 and up.

“Make Way for Ducklings,” by Robert McCloskey — Mr. Mallard thinks the Boston Public Gardens would be a great place to raise his family, but Mrs. Mallard thinks the area is too busy for her babies. She decides to build her nest elsewhere and meet Mr. Mallard when the ducklings have grown. When it’s time to make the move the ducklings cannot fly. How will they get to the Public Gardens safely? Superb charcoal illustrations add to this touching story. Ages 3 and up.


“Harriet the spy,” by Louise Fitzhugh — Harriet wants to be a writer and a spy, so she decides to keep a notebook of everything she sees as practice for her future career. Unfortunately, Harriet loses her notebook, and her friends read what she has written, some of it mean-spirited. Harriet finds herself alone … can she make things right? An honest look at growing up and the turbulence of childhood. Ages 8 and up.

“An old-Fashioned Girl,” by Louisa May Alcott — A quiet and unassuming story of Polly, a shy, country girl who has a chance to see how her rich friend, Fanny Shaw, lives in the city. But it’s Polly who shows Fanny and her family that wealth is not needed to be happy. Ages 10 and up.

“The Book of Three,” by Lloyd Alexander — The battle of good and evil takes place in this compelling fantasy with plenty of adventure and humor. Taran is assistant pig-keeper, but his dream is to be a hero and escape his life in a small village. He gets his chance when unrest breaks out in the kingdom. How will Taran’s future change? Ages 10 and up.

Jennifer Tchida is children’s services librarian at Bartholomew County Public Library.

seConD continued from page 23

Keeping the older child’s routine can be especially difficult with all the changes a new baby brings. Wiltrout said she tries to talk Ben through her day with the baby.

For instance, if she’s about to nurse Jonathan, she’ll ask Ben if he needs anything and often tries to get him to use the bathroom to cut down on his asking for things while she’s nursing. She also tries to get Jonathan down for a nap before Ben’s naptime so she doesn’t have to juggle both of them at once.

She said getting enough sleep has been more difficult. While she could try with one child to sleep when the baby slept, she can’t nap for an hour in the morning while Jonathan’s napping with a 2-year-old running around the house.

She said she’s very fortunate to have a husband who has always been more than willing to take on any parenting task. But he cer-tainly has his hands full now.

“We often joke that he has become a single parent to a 2-year-old, and I’m a single parent to a newborn,” she said.

Branham said it’s double the laundry, dishes and responsibility, but as the work grows so does your love.

“It has to be one of the sweetest, tear-jerking things to see your oldest kiss, hug and hold your newborn for the first time,” she said. “It’s perfect.”


I ’m fond of using the expression, “If you are lucky enough to be born Irish, you are lucky enough,” especially around St. Patrick’s Day, which honors

the patron saint of Ireland.

Americans of Irish descent have come to embrace the heritage handed down by ancestors, many of whom fled their homeland during the great Irish potato fam-ine in the mid-1800s when millions had to leave or starve.

St. Patrick’s Day in America is a secular holiday that people celebrate with parades, parties and what we call “the wearin’ o’ the green,” which, by the way, is also the title of an 18th century Irish folk song.

But in Ireland, where March 17 has been observed for more than 1,000 years, St. Patrick’s Day is a reli-gious holiday commemorating the death of St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the coun-try. The words of the old ballad have a special meaning that expresses the sadness of Irish Catholics during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, when wearing a shamrock and the color green was a sign of rebellion and grounds for hanging.

You can “try on a little leprechaun” using these instructions I found at www.familyfun.go.com/crafts/try-on-leprechaun-985020.

Supplies you will need:

Small mirror, 4 to 5 inches wide.

Printable templates from the website.

Sheets of craft foam in light and dark green, yel-low and orange.

Tracing paper.

Pencil.

Scissors.

White craft glue.

Tape.

String for hanging (optional).

Download the patterns from the website.

Use tracing paper to transfer the frame, hat, hat band, beard, hair and shamrock onto colored foam sheets and cut out. Make the frame yellow, the hat light green, the beard and hair orange, and the hat band brown. You will need to trace three leaves and the stem out of the darker green foam and glue them together on the hat band to form a shamrock.

Cut out the circle from the yellow frame and mount the mirror to the back of the yellow frame with tape.

Using the photo as a guide, attach the orange beard and hair to the yellow frame with glue.

Layer the hat on top of the hair, the hat band onto the hat and the shamrock on top of the hat band.

Tape a string to the back of the frame to hang, if you would like.

Kids’ Craft

By KATHy ANToNIoTTI AKRoN BEACoN JoURNAL

Little leprechauns reflect on St. Patrick’s Day


Read the news online anytime at TheRepublic.com.

Columbus, Indiana

News Sports Living Fun Community Classifi eds Search Sign-In E-Edition About Us Contact Us Subscribe!

BREAKINGNEWS

Taylorsville, Parkside, Columbus North and Northside Middle schools on 2 hour delay due to ammonia leak. Click for details

Local

Weather View complete weather

36˚ SunnyWind: ESE at 2 mphGusting to 2 mph

www.IUPUC.eduOUR COMPLETE WEATHER COVERAGE IS BROUGH TO YOU BY:

Events View event calendar

• Friday Café• Columbus FFA Chili Supper• Columbus Baptist Church Chili Supper

Zeller Insurance AgencyOUR COMPLETE COMMUNITY CALENDAR IS BROUGH TO YOU BY:

New Sports Around Town ObituariesSearch continues for suspects in anhydrous ammonia leak Updated: Mar-30-10 4:55 pm - Comments

Ivy Tech students chosen for program Updated: Mar-30-10 4:37 pm - Comments

Muscatatuck festival seeks vendors Updated: Mar-30-10 4:29 pm - Comments

U.S. 31 closed, neighborhoods evacuated due to anhydrousammonia cloud Updated: Mar-30-10 6:03 am - Comments

Photos in today's Republic - March 29 Updated: Mar-29-10 6:12 pm - Comments

+ Click for more stories

Site Highlights:SITE HIGHLIGHTS BROUGH TO YOU BY:

• Check out The Republic's video archives

• Play Numbrix from Parade magazine

• Play Sudoku on TheRepublic.com

• Read magazines produced by The Republic

• Customize your front page! Sign up today

• Send us a news tip today

Local news is front and center in tabs for easy

viewing

Click on ourlogo to return to our home page from

anywhere onthe site

Current weather highlighted

View the events in our community

Indiana

Indiana unemployment rate rises slightly to 9.8% Updated: Mar-26-10 10:54 am - Comments

Landmark E. Ind. restaurant closes after 6 decades Updated: Mar-26-10 10:28 am - Comments

Web post of night out linked to S. Ind. burglary Updated: Mar-26-10 11:25 am - Comments

Layoffs start at Ind. Whirlpool plant being closed Updated: Mar-26-10 8:22 am - Comments

New or updated information is

fl agged

Ammonialeak causes evacuations, highway closureClick to see photos and video on this developing news story.

Find breaking news at a

glance

Log on today to check out these features:• Get it here fi rst: local news• Stunning photo galleries• Hundreds of videos

• Up-to-the-minute weather coverage• Comment feature on every story• Links to Facebook, Twitter and other social media

• Home page customization features for subscribers• Font size increase option

www.TheRepublic.com

Each sectionfeatures thelatest news

updated 24/7

See how many

people havecommented.

Join thediscussion.

Opinion

1

Published February, April, June, August, October & December by

PPubPubPubPubPubPubublililislislislislisli h ddhedhedhedhedhedhed FFeFeFeFeebbrubrubrubrubrubruaryaryaryaryaryary AAAA, A, AA iipripripripriprip lllll, l,l JJunJunJunJununneee, e, e,e AAuAuAuAuAuAuAugusgusgusgusgusgusgu tttt, t, t,tOctOctOctOOctOctc obeobeobeobeober &r &r &r && DeDeeDeDecemcemcemcemcemberberberberber bybybybyby

Published February, April, June, August, October & December by

ABC-Stewart SchoolThe ArkAton’s Self StorageBar-Cons Credit UnionBartholomew County Library -Children’s DeptCentra Credit Union - 46 WCircle K - State Rd 11Circle K - Jonathan Moore PikeCitgoColumbus Family DentalColumbus PediatricsColumbus Regional HospitalCummins Child Development CenterDairy Queen - 3rd StDr. Brad Coers/ Coers Family Eye CareDr. Daniel Martin OrthodonticsDoctors Park Family MedicineFairlawn Presbyterian PreschoolFairOaks MallFamily ServiceFirst Christian Church PreschoolFirst Presbyterian PreschoolHipsterImagination StationJay C - Jonathan Moore PikeJody’s GymnasticsKids N CompanyKidscommons

Koopman Family MedicineKumon Learning CenterKroger Learning Tree PreschoolLittle Lambs Child Care MinistryLove ChapelMarathon Station - 25th StMarshMcCabe OrthodonticsMcDonald’s - National RdMcDonald’s - 3rd StMcDonald’s - Jonathan Moore PikeMcDonald’s - US 31, Edin-burghMusic & MoreNorthside Family MedicineNorthstar Montessori SchoolParks & Recreation DepartmentPremier AgPromptMedThe RepublicSandcrest Family MedicineSandy Hook Church PreschoolSonya’s Dance ZoneSylvan Learning CenterTipton Lakes Athletic ClubVan Arsdall Family OptometryViewpoint BooksVillage PantryVisitors Center

For more information, contact at (812) 379-5652FFFFFFFFFFFoooooooooorrrrrrrrrr mmmmmmmmmmmoooooooooorrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnfffffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnn,,,,,, ccccccccccoooooooooonnnnnnnnnnttttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccctttttttttt aaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttt ((((((((888888888888111111111222222222))))))))) 33333333337777777799999999999-------555555555555666666666666555555555522222222For more information, contact at (812) 379-5652

Columbus Parent magazine is intown. Pick upyour copy at these local businesses!

Parent Feb.-March 2012

Documents

Transcript of Parent Feb.-March 2012