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TACO TUESDAY!

FIESTA-WORTHY TEX-MEX RECIPES

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES FOR

HANDS-ON LEARNING p lus

PREGNANCY

PAST 35 MAY 2018 · SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Champions for Children Arkansas Children’s Hospital earned Magnet® recognition — a symbol of excellence recognized all over the world. In fact, only 6% of all hospitals worldwide earn this honor. Magnet® means your child gets better faster. Magnet® means nurses spend more time at your child’s bedside. Magnet® means your child receives compassionate care from a world-class team.

Safety. Teamwork. Compassion. Excellence.

That’s what you can expect when your child visits Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

To find excellent, compassionate medical care for your child, or to learn more about what Magnet® recognition means for your family, visit archildrens.org/excellence

2 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

PUBLIC EDUCATION: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES

Pulaski County Special School District

TWO NEW SCHOOLS

OPENING 2018 pcssd.org

Mills University Studies High School Joe T. Robinson Middle School

501.234.2000

NEW MIDDLE SCH k r a P n u F & lf o iG OPENING FALL 20 Big Rock Moin e s r ! IP u TR o D EL C pes BIG PARTY OR FI RrNEXT U H O Y g R i FO H & e Az

se m Honut tiyA r a g P • e r tu Available

ll Frenz zrear L afo aMgeisn! i GoLF

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• AePSrial Adventure • Go-Karts • Amazing Ma GROU BIGze OME! WELC nzy • Newly Updated Arcade Fre zer La • lf Go ni Mi • st Minutes From The Outlets of Little Rock! • Bumper Boats • Batting Cages 501-455-3750 | BigRockFunPark.com 11411 Baseline Road Little Rock (Near Bass Pro Shops) SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

MAY 2018 5 EDITOR’S NOTE

8 ADVENTURE & FUN CALENDAR, CRAFTS & MORE!

12 MAMA SAID THE STUFF THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU

14 HEALTH & WELLNESS HOW TO SPOT THE TROUBLED CHILD

17 TACO TUESDAY! THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SIMPLE TACOS AND REFRESHING MARGARITAS THAT FEELS LIKE SUMMERTIME.

20 LEARNING OUTSIDE THE BOX NOT ALL KNOWLEDGE CAN BE GAINED IN A CLASSROOM OR FROM A BOOK.

26 THOSE WHO WAIT HAVING KIDS IN OUR 20s AND EVEN 30s DOESN’T WORK FOR EVERYONE.

30 KID APPROVED KELLY SLADE

ON THE COVER: LILLA GORDY TRIES HER HAND AT A POTTER'S WHEEL AT THE ARKANSAS REGIONAL INNOVATION HUB. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CHILDS.

4 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

May is for Moms

May is all about moms. Mother’s Day may officially be just one day—that’s May 13 for all you gift procrastinators—but it should really last all month long. In this issue of Savvy, you’ll find tons of info and ideas to make mom-ing, and parenting in general, a little easier. Our cover story spotlights local, hands-on learning opportunities. We all know you can’t learn everything you need to know in this world from a book; sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and learn by doing. Central Arkansas has tons of these opportunities for kids. From hand-building with clay to cooking, coding, dance and more, there are so many ways to inspire kids. Check out our list on page 20 and get your kids signed up for some fun, intensive hands-on summer programs. Times are changing, and more and more mothers are waiting to get started growing a family. Accotding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now, for the first time ever, more women are having kids in their 30s than in their 20s. There is a lot to know about waiting to have kids—the pros and cons seem endless. We talk with one of the city’s leading high-risk pregnancy doctors and two moms who waited to have kids–they have some opinions about outdated terms like “geriatric” and “elderly” pregnancy. Read their stories and gain some knowledge about advanced maternal age pregnancy on page 26. No matter what age you enter parenthood, you’ll need the right tools to get you through. Jen Holman lays it all out with five tips no one wants to tell you about being a new mom on page 12. Don’t forget to treat yourself this month; you’ve earned it! And there’s no better reward than indulging in a little fiesta. Kerry Guice gives delicious recipes for tacos, dips and margaritas that go above and beyond your average Tex-Mex menu. We hope you find something in the pages of this Savvy to make your parenting experience a little easier and a little more fun for the whole family.

Amy Gordy Editor, Savvy Kids amy.gordy@savvykidsar.com

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

PUBLISHER KATHERINE DANIELS | katherine@savvykidsar.com EDITOR AMY GORDY | amy.gordy@savvykidsar.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANDY KEENER | mandy@arktimes.com ART DIRECTOR KATIE HASSELL | katie@arktimes.com ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LESA THOMAS | lesa@arktimes.com

PROVIDING HOPE & HEALING TO OVERCOME TRAUMA THE PARENT CENTER OUTPATIENT COUNSELING CENTER DAY TREATMENT SCHOOL PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE KIMBERLY BENNETT | kim@arktimes.com PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER | CONTROLLER WELDON WILSON ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER ROLAND R. GLADDEN | roland@arktimes.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR LARISSA GUDINO | larissa.gudino@savvykidsar.com VDESIGN GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MIKE SPAIN | JASON HO OFFICE STAFF IT DIRECTOR ROBERT CURFMAN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/OFFICE MANAGER KELLY JONES BILLING/COLLECTIONS LINDA PHILLIPS CIRCULATION DIRECTOR ANITRA HICKMAN

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH & F I N CARE D US O N NATIONAL FOSTER MONTH

PROUD PARTNER OF

contributors

KERRY GUICE is a writer, recipe developer and photographer living in Little Rock with her husband and two busy kids. When she’s not working or driving kids from one activity to the next, she’s planning her family’s next outdoor adventure.

ANGELA E. THOMAS is a proud University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate and a member of its Alumni Board. For 11 years, she served Central Arkansas as editor for a locally owned magazine. Thomas is founder and owner of the greeting card company GODsent Greetings.

Prizes & Summer Reading Programs for all ages starting May 14 Summer events kick-off at both branches as Laman Rocks Out! at 2 p.m. on June 1

STAY IN THE LOOP sign up for savvy’s monthly enewsletter and follow us on social media.

DWAIN HEBDA is a writer and editor living in Little Rock. He and his wife, Darlene, are the parents of four grown children. The empty-nesters spend their time traveling, working out and spoiling their two dogs.

KATIE CHILDS is a wedding, lifestyle and commercial photographer based in North Little Rock. When she’s not behind the camera, Katie and her husband, Jon, can be found rock climbing with their two pups in Northwest Arkansas and listening to embarrassing rap music.

savvykidsar.com ALL THINGS FAMILY F I N D

U S

O N

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

May

ADVENTURE & FUN

4-6 TOADSUCK DAZE in down-

town Conway is the only place in Arkansas to find concerts, carnival rides, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, the Toadal Kids Zone and the World-Famous Championship Toad Races. Admission to this family-friendly event is free. toadsuck.org.

6 NATIONAL LEMONADE DAY!

6 MOVIES IN THE PARKING LOT

Treat the whole family to a classic 80s film in the parking lot of The Root Café. Downtown Little Rock Partnership teams up again with the Arkansas Cinema Society for “Movies in the Parking Lot,” screening “Ghostbusters” at 8 p.m. Bring your own seats and blankets. Admission is free. Food and beer will be available for purchase. arkansascinemasociety.org.

12 LITTLE ROCK MINI MAKER FAIRE

Get inspired at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub's exciting hands-on learning and creating event, the North Little Rock Mini Maker Faire, along the North Shore Riverwalk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This all-day event combines science, art and technology to celebrate do-it-yourself creativity and tinkering. Maker Faire is an all-ages festival that's free to the public. arhub.org.

MAMIE’S POPPY PLATES will hold its annual

NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY!

10 MARGARITA FESTIVAL

Get a sitter and don’t miss the Don Julio Presents Arkansas Times Margarita Festival at the River Market Pavilions! Try 20 different margaritas prepared by local competing bars and restaurants, and determine the winner of Best Margarita! Enjoy live music, access to the after party and food available for purchase. centralarkansastickets.com.

8 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

fundraiser, Race to Remember, at War Memorial Stadium to raise awareness of stillbirth, infant and child loss. Registration includes participation in the certified 5K, food, drinks, activities for kids and lots of fun at this celebration of life! mamiespoppyplates.com.

18-20

ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL

Experience tastes from across the world at the 34th Annual International Greek Food Festival. This familyfriendly event at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church offers food, fun and fundraising. Admission is $3 or three canned food items for the Arkansas Foodbank. greekfoodfest.com.

19 MESSTIVAL!

Encourage your kids to get slimy, foamy, muddy and gooey at the Museum of Discovery’s Third Annual Messtival! It’s a fun, hands-on messy day of learning—and you don't have to clean up the messes! Messtival participation is covered under regular museum admission; $8 for kids, $10 for adults, free for members. museumofdiscovery.org.

19 ONE DISTRICT, ONE BOOK

Celebrate the end of the school year at One District, One Book, an outdoor festival on the grounds of the Clinton Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event will offer a variety of literary-based activities including free books, story time, bounce houses and much more to encourage students to read all summer. clintonfoundation.org.

25-27 RIVERFEST returns

under new direction to Little Rock’s Riverfront Park! The three-day music festival will showcase local, regional and national musicial acts from many genres on two main stages. Kids will love the Ford Family Fun Zone filled with carnival attractions and rides as well as classic festival food, beverages and booth vendors. riverfestarkansas.com.

18-20 BELLE AND THE BEAST

Follow the story of Belle and the Beast as Arkansas Festival Ballet performs the classic fairytale ballet at the Arkansas Arts Center's Children's Theatre. Tickets are $17-$32. arkansasdance.org.

MEMORIAL DAY SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

ADVENTURE & FUN

Handmade Mother’s Day Stationery

What mom doesn't love receiving flowers and handmade gifts from her kids? Combine the two and get a little crafty with this handmade, mom-friendly stationery.

You will need:

• Shredded paper • Water • Blender • Towels/paper towels • Plastic storage tub • Picture frames (they must be the same size to build a mould and deckle) • Glass from picture frames (or use a window) • Window screening • Tacks or a staple gun • Flower petals

How to build mould and deckle: Remove glass and any backing materials from two upcycled frames of the same size. Cover the flat side of one frame with the window screen and tack or staple in place. This is your mould. The second frame is your deckle.

CONGRATULATIONS

GRADS!

INVITATIONS • DECORATIONS • PARTY FAVORS • BALLOONS • PIÑATAS • CAKE SUPPLIES 10 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

How to make the paper: 1. Make your pulp by filling ⅓ of the blender with shredded paper. Add enough water to cover the paper and blend until well combined. Stir in the flower petals. 2. Set up your work area. Place a towel on the table. Then place the storage tub with water on top of the towel. We used about 3 to 4 inches of water. Make sure it's enough water to submerge the mould and deckle. 3. Pour the pulp into the water and stir with your hand. 4. Position the deckle (frame with no screen) on top of the mould (frame with screen)—matching all edges. Hold the two frames together and at a slight angle dip them into the pulp scooping up enough to cover the screen—this took some practice. 5. Slowly lift the frames straight up out of the tub and allow the water to drain off. 6. Remove the deckle (no screen). 7. Place the edge of the mould on the glass to transfer. Carefully lay the mould paper-side-down onto the glass. 8. Blot the back of the paper through the screen with towels. 9. Lift the mould off the paper. Make sure the paper has fully transferred. Set aside to dry.

11218 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD. / LITTLE ROCK 501.223.4929

4822 N. HILLS BLVD. / NORTH LITTLE ROCK 501.978.3154

• INVITATIONS • DECORATIONS • PARTY FAVORS • BALLOONS • PIÑATAS • CAKE SUPPLIES SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

MAMA SAID...

The Stuff They Didn’t Tell You Five Things New Parents Should Know

o matter how many times the old pros say it, expectant parents never quite grasp how different life will be after the first baby… until the sweet thing arrives. We’ve all been given similar advice. Well-meaning people wink and say “sleep now; you won’t get any after the baby comes” or “enjoy them while they’re little.” These helpful tips may be true, but they’re cliché and go in one ear and out the other. My husband and I were naïve enough to think our new parent experience would be different. We read the right book, after all, and we bought the right swing. We took the eight-week class. Ha. What we know now, after our third, is that all the preparation in the world can only get parents so far. When the poop hits the Pamper, so to speak, it’s instinct and stamina that’ll get you through the bad months. It’s sheer force of will and a strong gag reflex. And coffee. Lots of coffee. People love to give parenting advice, whether it’s solicited or not, but they don’t often get down to the nitty gritty. There are still some things you might not have heard.

You’re Gonna Need Help

If there’s one thing I wish I’d have done better in the early days, it’s asking for help. This is easy to say looking back. At the time, I thought needing help made me a bad mother. I thought it meant I didn’t have the skills required to rear the child I had created and carried. Ah, no. I wish I could go back and shake myself. Accepting help does not make someone a bad parent. For goodness sake, if your partner or family or a friend offers to watch the baby for an hour or two, take him up on it! Take a walk, cruise Target aisles—anything. It’s good for sleep-deprived and overworked parents to remember who they are and not be in charge of someone else for a while. Note to 2007 self and expectant or new parents: healthy parents make for healthy children.

Nursing is Hard

Good lord, I could tell you some horror stories. I won’t, but I could. What seems like the most natural and easy thing in the world can actually be really difficult. But it helps to be prepared, to have the knowledge, tools and support necessary before going live. Local resources Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition and La Leche League of Central Arkansas both have active Facebook pages. Baptist Health’s Expressly for You is a great program, and I’ve read about the AR WIC Breastfeeding hotline (800-445-6175).

3.Listen to Your Instincts

With so many people telling us what to do, how are parents supposed to know which advice to take and which to ignore? Simple: instincts. Hey, look, we got something for free! You’re equipped for this parenting thing, despite your fears. If something feels wrong, don’t do it—even if the book everyone else raves about says to. I learned something early on that changed my life: If you start to resent a situation, make a change. Don’t stick something out that’s making you miserable because it worked for your cousin. Every situation, every baby, is different. Listen to your instincts. And if those instincts tell you to make a change, well, that leads us to the next point.

Big Changes Take Three Days

Adjusting your sleep arrangements? Weaning? Starting a new daycare? Three days. If you can make it three days (or nights), you’re in the clear.

‘Stage’ Is Just Another Word for Latest Challenge

Speaking of changes, we parents are in for years of adjusting to them. If I had a train pass for every time I’ve said, “It’s just a stage,” I’d never have to pay the zoo again. In my house, we can go months with great behavior, and then wham! backtalk and mutiny. ‘It’s just a stage,’ they say. ‘Kids need to test their boundaries every once in a while.’ The truth? It’s true. Things eventually go back to normal, lulling us into the false belief we’ve excelled at this parenting thing. It’s cake and ice cream again until out of the blue, someone writes on the sofa with a hot pink Sharpie when there was perfectly good paper within reach (real example). Or maybe, after a solid week of sibling rivalry the kids form a loving truce all on their own. Stages. I can’t keep up. The best I can do is remain constant with rules and reactions. The kids may go in and out of bad sleep patterns and biting, but we’ll be here holding down the fort and a Magic Eraser. So, why? Why do we put up with all of it, the exhaustion, the pain, the frustration? We do it because our hearts have never felt so close to bursting as the first time we heard them laugh. Because one day they’re going to ask to watch “The Goonies” or “The Sandlot,” and a tear of pride will streak our cheek. We do it because parenting is the most important job in the world. Something I read stuck with me because it’s so true. “The nights are long but the years are short.” Nearly 11 short years since the birth of our first child, and four years since our last, and it’s only with fondness that I remember those long nights.

A PARTICULARLY BAD BLOWOUT, AND HARD PARENTING MOMENT AT THE LITTLE ROCK ZOO.

Jen Holman is determined to be a voice of reason amongst reality TV and momjudgment-gone-wild. Her newest novel (as yet unpublished) won the 2017 Rosemary award for excellence in young adult fiction. She lives in Little Rock with her husband and three (im)perfect children.

12 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

WHERE CARING MOVES

RESTORING MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE SINCE 1911

Statewide Toll-Free:

1-800-342-5541

www.snellpando.com Offices located in Little Rock, Russellville, Fort Smith, Mountain Home, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Conway and Bryant.

Accredited Facility

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

HEALTH & WELLNESS mind, body & soul

How to Spot the Troubled Child Be proactive and know the warning signs to head off tragedy BY DWAIN HEBDA

he statistics surrounding destructive youth behaviors—from suicide to violence against others —are shocking to the point of numbing. It’s enough to scare any parent or teacher into hyper-vigilance to recognize warning signs that could head off the next personal or community tragedy. But while experts say adults in authority are a critical piece of the intervention process, many don’t know what to look for and many parents don’t want to admit what they’re seeing. “When you think about your kids, you’re probably not on a regular basis wondering if they’re stockpiling weapons or if they ever thought about shooting up a school,” said Maureen Skinner, licensed psychological examiner with Chenal Family Therapy’s Conway office. “We tend to not think in those terms, even when it’s right in front of us. ‘Well, you know, boys will be boys. He was just mad.’ We make excuses for people that we love.” “It’s about being in their business. A lot of the kids who are having thoughts about doing things that are violent, it’s all blogged on the computer,” said Angelica Brown, director of clinical services for Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare in Little Rock. “As they say, you don’t want to be a friend to the kid, you want to be an administrator. You want to be a parent. That’s fine if they’re mad and upset about it.” For years, red flags signaling impending trouble included kids talking about suicide or violence, giving belongings away or personality changes such as aggression or showing declining interest in grades, friends or activities. But there are others.

14 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

“Some of the earliest warning signs are the defiant type behaviors, just general rule breaking, lack of empathy,” said Skinner. “In little kids, if their friend is hurt, then they hug them, right? Without that empathy, there is no kind of compassion and that’s generally a warning sign.” Social media gets a lot of blame for giving kids places to hide their true thoughts, or for inflating issues through negative peer comments or online bullying. And while that’s true, Brown cautioned parents not to rely exclusively on what they see out of their child online. “Everyone doesn’t put everything on Facebook; some of them are savvy enough to say ‘Hey, I’m just going to write this in my journal,’” she said. “Listening to dark music or writing dark poetry can be warning signs.” Both Brown and Skinner said that, while parents should definitely pay attention to their teen’s moods and behaviors, that attention should only be an extension of what’s already been started long before. A long-term relationship and involvement in your child’s life is the best way to develop sufficient instincts to know when something’s amiss. “Always take it seriously. Always ask about the taboo subjects like suicide or self-harm or some other kind or harm of someone else,” Skinner said. “One of the things that we’re seeing on a national scale is this general feeling of disconnectedness. You have to be involved in your kid’s life. Know who their friends are, know where they’re going, what they’re doing. “We’re not actually supposed to be their best friends that let them do whatever; it’s our job to be overly involved. Yes, it’s important for them to have privacy, but it’s far more important for them to be safe.”

STUDENT VIOLENCE BY THE NUMBERS

Arkansas ranks 10th in the nation in overall suicide •rates, with nearly 20 people taking their own life per 100,000 in the population.

is the third leading cause of death among 15•toSuicide 24-year-olds and the fifth leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14, per 2015 data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported that in 2015, eight percent of •students nationally, in grades 9 through 12, had been

in a physical fight on school property in the past year. Four percent of students in this age group reported •carrying a weapon to school in the past 30 days; six

percent had been threatened with a weapon on school property at least once in the past 12 months. As of mid-February’s incident in Parkland, Fla., •there have been seven firearm attacks in U.S. schools this year. (“Firearm attack” is defined as deliberate firearm discharge during school hours.) Five of these incidents resulted in injuries or death.

Sources: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Snopes.com.

WELCOMES

Alan Bagley, MD Dr. Bagley specializes in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He’s joining Arkansas Families First's team of clinicians to offer comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Dr. Bagley works collaboratively with our psychologists, social workers and counselors to provide quality care for families facing a wide range of problems, including ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety and more. New Referrals and Most Insurances Accepted.

501-812-4268 • ARFAMILIESFIRST.COM North Little Rock and Conway • Most Insurances Accepted SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

16 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

TACO TUESDAY!

This warm patio weather makes me want to change “Taco Tuesday” to “Taco Today,” no matter what day it is! There's something about simple tacos and refreshing margaritas that feels like summertime. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KERRY GUICE

acos are like sandwiches to me. Peanut butter and jelly over and over would drive me crazy, just as beef tacos over and over do. You have to switch it up! It's hard to go wrong with taco fillings, and it’s always fun to try new recipes. I love shrimp tacos with charred shrimp and a refreshing crunchy salsa on top. I thought a watermelon salsa would be fun to try, and then I decided to incorporate pickled watermelon rind into the recipe so it's all at once sweet, spicy, briny, crunchy and refreshing! It's everything you want to go with charred shrimp. Or a tortilla. Or a spoon. It's best after about 2-3 hours in the refrigerator. The ranch style beans are the perfect warm-your-tummy complement to the crisp and refreshing tacos, and my Piña Margaritas are absolutely necessary to wash it all down! I wanted to create a cocktail that was between a piña colada and a margarita, but with no added sugar, and I think I hit the jackpot. It’s great frozen or on the rocks, and will put you in the fiesta mood!

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

PICKLED WATERMELON SALSA 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced with seeds removed (keep seeds for extra spicy salsa) 1 cup water ½ cup white wine vinegar ½ cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup sugar 1 tablespoon salt ½ teaspoon mustard seed ½ teaspoon coriander seed 1 teaspoon grated ginger 4-6 small radishes, cut in half and sliced paper thin ¼ watermelon Start by bringing the water, sugar and salt to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar, seeds and ginger. Let cool completely. While cooling, prepare the watermelon by slicing the red part of the fruit almost completely off, just leaving about ½ inch attached to the rind (save that in the fridge for snacking!), and then carefully slice away the dark green skin, leaving just the white rind and ½ inch of the pink melon. Slice into thin sticks and place in a large bowl. Slice the radishes in half, then slice as thinly as possible and add that to the bowl. Slice the jalapeño and add that to the melon and radish. When pickling liquid has cooled, pour over the melon mixture in the bowl and carefully toss to combine. Pour into jar(s) and place in refrigerator at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. Serve cold as a dip with chips or as a topping for salads or tacos.

RANCH STYLE BEANS 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cans pinto beans, drained 3 cloves garlic ¼ cup diced bell pepper ¼ cup diced onion 3½ cups chicken stock 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1 bay leaf ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ teaspoon cayenne ½ teaspoon each of: Salt Pepper Chili powder Cumin Oregano Ground mustard Heat olive oil over medium low heat in a large pot. Add the pepper, onion and garlic and sauté a few minutes until soft. Add the remaining ingredients, raise the heat to bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and simmer 20 minutes. Serve hot.

18 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

PIÑA MARGARITAS Makes 2 margaritas

3 ounces fresh lime juice 6 ounces fresh pineapple juice 4 ounces coconut water 2 ounces fresh orange juice 4-5 ounces gold tequila Lime wedges, pineapple wedges and margarita salt for garnish For margaritas on the rocks, add all ingredients to a shaker, then pour over 2 cups filled as high as possible with crushed ice. For frozen, add all ingredients to a blender and then add 1-2 handfuls of ice and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Garnish with frozen or fresh lime and/or pineapple wedges.

CHARRED SHRIMP TACOS 1 lb. peeled and deveined large shrimp (I used 21-25ct wild shrimp) 2 tablespoons olive oil ¼ teaspoon each of: Salt Pepper Garlic powder Onion powder Chili powder Paprika Cumin Oregano Set broiler to high and place oven rack on highest setting. In a large bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil and spices. Broil in the oven in a single row on high for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove from oven and serve hot, filling corn or flour tortillas with 4-6 shrimp, then topping with avocado slices, lime juice and pickled watermelon salsa.

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

EXPLORE & LEARN

Not all knowledge can be gained in a classroom or from a book. Sometimes kids need to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty! BY DWAIN HEBDA PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CHILDS AND COURTESY OF VENUES

20 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

hoever wrote, “Summertime and the living is easy,” never had to keep a houseful of youngsters engaged and entertained after school lets out. Fortunately, Little Rock is chock-full of great hands-on day camps to serve virtually every interest. The following is a sample of what’s out there to hold the kids’ attention and burn off some energy.

M U S E U M O F D I S COV E R Y

The mission of the award-winning Museum of Discovery is to open children’s minds, which it does daily through highly-interactive exhibits. The slate of summertime offerings is no different. “We’ve got kids that come back every year,” said Kendall Thornton, chief marketing officer. “Some kids are at every single camp all summer long; some come to two or three of their favorites. We literally watch these kids grow up and continue to be amazed with what they do and what they learn.” Summer offerings include Wiggle Worms Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to noon, a science primer for very young children, each with a different theme such as dinosaurs and space monkeys. Starting at age 6, children can choose from weeklong Discovery Camps that run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. These camps wrap science lessons in fun themes, including Minecraft, Legos and Harry Potter. This year, there’s also an engineering camp that not only shows how to construct something, but how demolition experts tear it down. And Createch provides campers with the basics of telling stories through stop-animation, green screens, drones and other fun aspects of filmmaking. The Museum of Discovery is a great place where families can drop in anytime. Among the attractions is a new exhibit called “Diamonds,” with a focus on Arkansas’s own Crater of Diamonds. The Room to Grow area, targeting children under 6, has also undergone a major renovation catering to the younger set.

Museum of Discovery 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 501-396-7050 museumofdiscovery.org/summer-camps/

KIDS LOVE TO TINKER, LEARN, DISCOVER AND GET MESSY AT MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY'S SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMMING.

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

A R K A N S A S R E G I O N A L I N N OVAT I O N H U B

The North Little Rock maker space challenges the ingenuity of youngsters all year long, but really turns things up in the summertime with its Maker Faire, Saturday May 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the North Shore Riverwalk. This free event draws thousands to browse makers’ products and experience hands-on activities, said Errin Stanger, deputy director. “There is a lot of hands-on learning that day; for example, there will be onsite screen printing and there will be onsite ceramics being made,” she said. “We’ve got virtual reality; we’ve got robots. Kids can get really hands-on with stuff, which is exciting.” Maker Faire is broken down into different worlds, each featuring its own slate of activities and creators. Flying, art, tech and gaming are just a few of the themes these worlds offer the roughly 3,500 guests it attracts. “It’s definitely inspiring, because you see things you may not realize you can do, or that you even enjoy,” Stanger said. “Let’s say you’re coming to a tent and seeing these 3D printers making something incredible that you didn’t even know was possible. You may say, ‘How does that work?’ Well, we have a class at the Innovation Hub where you can come and do that.” The Innovation Hub also sponsors a number of summer camps for kids, in both its maker and artistic programs. On the make side, video game design and robotics are two of the most popular camps, while on the art side, screen printing and ceramics are the camps in highest demand. Also popular is a six-week program called Creative Art Teen catering to kids ages 14 to 17, providing formal instruction in the morning and staffsupported free creative time in the afternoon.

Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub 204 E. Fourth St., North Little Rock 501-907-6570 arhub.org/summer-camps

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND DIVE INTO HANDS-ON LEARNING AT THE ARKANSAS REGIONAL INNOVATION HUB. EXPLORE CLAY BUILDING, SCREEN PRINTING, 3D PRINTING, ROBOTICS AND MORE AT THE HUB!

22 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

BALLET ARKANSAS

For youngsters whose tastes run to dance, Ballet Arkansas has several options to keep kids on their toes. In addition to its long-running summer intensive camp July 31 to August 3 for dancers ages 11 to 21, the organization has also rolled out new programs this year. “We have a new junior intensive that will run the same week,” said Catherine Fothergill, associate artistic director. “It’s a little shorter, from 9 a.m. until noon, and it’ll basically prepare them so that when they’re 11, if they’d like to be a part of a longer or larger intensive, it gets them ready for it.” Another brand-new, half-day summer camp is for ages 5 to 8, slated from June 11 to 15. “This is Princess Camp, where they can learn to dance,” Fothergill said. “We’ll provide tutus which they’re going to decorate with a craft hour and then wear them to dance at the end of the day. They also have story time with a professional ballerina. It’s just a really fun way to get them moving.” Unlike the regular intensive, which requires an audition, junior intensive and Princess camps are available simply by registering. Both intensives are held at UALR, while the Princess Camp is held at Ballet Arkansas. “Dance is such a human art form and it is something that people do truly connect with,” Fothergill said. “Children in particular are so open to this and we want to open those doors and provide that opportunity.”

BALLET ARKANSAS 1521 Merrill Drive 501-223-5150 balletarkansas.org/summer-camps

A R K A N S A S R E P E R TO R Y T H E AT R E

Late last month, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre announced it’s closing its doors, however the 2018 summer programs are scheduled to continue. The Rep’s summer theatre program serves children across all grade levels, from rising Kindergartners to rising high school seniors, in a series of camps called sessions. Anna Kimmell, education director, said the curriculum offers something for everyone. “We have sessions in acting and musical theater training,” she said. “Most programs are a week long and run the full day, performing a final showcase in our black box theater. The high school program is what we call The Conservatory and it’s a two-week program. Again, it’s a healthy balance of training and performance, and they have a fuller showcase at the end.” The sessions are non-audition, first-come, first-served which makes them a very popular summertime option for kids with an interest in the stage. Scholarships are available to help families afford the cost of the experience. “It’s open to all ages and all experience levels,” she said. “We really try to meet people where they are and accommodate all experience levels.”

Arkansas Repertory Theatre 601 Main St. 501-378-0405 • therep.org/education/summer-sessions/

MOVEMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT. BALLET ARKANSAS MAKES IT FUN WITH PRINCESS CAMP FOR YOUNGER DANCERS, AS WELL AS SUMMER AND JUNIOR INTENSIVE PROGRAMS.

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

A R K A N SAS A R T S C E N T E R

There’s not enough space to detail the long roster of hands-on art education available at the Arkansas Arts Center, both in the summertime and all year around. Miranda Young, youth and community engagement manager, said the variety of educational programming reaches a wide cross-section of the community. “We reach somewhere between 500 and 600 students per year in our Museum School classes,” she said. “That doesn’t count the school groups and the outreach that we do elsewhere in the building. We also have free programs that people come to on the weekends and a reading program during the week in the galleries.” That yearlong reading program, a joint effort with Central Arkansas Library System, combines literary works with representative art in the gallery. It’s one example of how the Arts Center connects the dots for its youngest consumers. The Arts Center offers a catalogue of classes for young people in visual and theatre arts on a variety of topics through the Museum School. Summer camp themes this year include working in clay, underwater worlds, magical and mythical creatures and Studio Zoo, which focuses on capturing animals in art. “New to us this summer is a pinhole camera workshop,” Young said. “We’re going back in time to give kids an understanding of how photography started. They’ll be building and making their own camera obscura and developing RC paper negatives. That should be pretty exciting.”

Arkansas Arts Center 9th & Commerce streets 501-372-4000 • arkansasartscenter.org/youth-classes

KIDS DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ART AND THEATER AT THE ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER'S SUMMER PROGRAMMING. FIND JUST THEY CLASS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AT THE MUSEUM SCHOOL.

UA - P U L A S K I T E C H CO L L E G E OF CULINARY ARTS

The Youth Chefs Culinary Camp program at UA-Pulaski Tech’s College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management may just be the hardest camp in Central Arkansas to get into and not because of any high prerequisites or exacting entrance exam. The 14 camps are just that popular, routinely selling out practically as soon as they are open. “We’ve been doing this for about five summers now and it’s grown every year,” said Todd Gold, dean of culinary arts. “We started it because we had some interest from people saying, ‘Hey, my kid loves the Food Network or “Cake Boss,”’ and so we said let’s put together a little culinary camp for one week. That’s how the whole thing started. It just exploded from there.” The 14 half-day camps focus on three levels of culinary skills and baking for 10- to 17-year-olds. Each class accommodates about 25 kids and culminates with a camper-prepared buffet for family and invited guests. “I think last year we had seven camps and still had a waiting list of 180 kids after they were all full,” Gold said. “If you ask me why 10- to 17-yearolds have become so interested in it, I guess we could attribute it to the Food Network. There’s definitely a strong interest.”

UA-Pulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute 13000 Interstate 30 501-812-2200 • uaptc.edu/youthchef

24 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

DO YOU HAVE A BUDDING CELEBRITY CHEF? IF SO, CHECK OUT THE FUN SUMMER CLASSES OFFERED AT UA-PULASKI TECH COLLEGE OF CULINARY ARTS! CLASSES FILL UP FAST SO DON'T WAIT.

Make plans to attend the first ever, Arkansas Times Yoga On The Field event presented by Baptist Health at 6 p.m., Saturday May 26 at War Memorial Stadium.

PRESENTS THE

Join Wendy Cook from Big Rock Yoga along with hundreds of Central Arkansas yoga enthusiasts for an hour of fun, intensive yoga followed by food, cocktails and Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer in the south end zone.

BRING YOUR MAT!

PROCEEDS BENEFIT OUR HOUSE

ON THE FIELD AT WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM Saturday, May 26, 6p.m.-8:30 p.m. SPONSORED BY:

For more information regarding this file, please contact the Production Team at: Design Bridge Limited International Branding Agency 18 Clerkenwell Close London EC1R 0QN United Kingdom T +44 (0)20 7814 9922 F +44 (0)20 7814 9024 www.designbridge.com

Includes complimentary food and cocktails after the yoga session. Tickets are limited. Purchase early.

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DIAGEO INNORD LOGO 21.07.2016 MD

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200mm - DO NOT SCALE THIS MEDIA BOX

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Important Notice Fonts will not be supplied with this artwork. The client or the client’s third party supplier is responsible for ensuring that it has obtained all fonts and necessary licences. All special colours specified are from the Pantone matching system unless otherwise stated. The colours on this printout are not accurate and are intended to be used as a guide only, do not use for matching purposes unless otherwise stated. This artwork file is repro ready, but does not contain important information such as trap/grip/choke etc, these need to be applied by a reprographics specialist. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the text in this artwork, Design Bridge cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. © Design Bridge 2016. All intellectual property reserved. Pending payment of full contract price. See terms and conditions.

CENTRALARKANSASTICKETS.COM H I L L C R E S T WAT E R B U G S

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sat, may 19 1o a.m. - 3 p.m.

museumofdiscovery.org

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

Those Who Wait

Having kids in our 20s and early 30s doesn’t work for everyone. Whether it’s timing, fertility, finances or a laundry list of other reasons—moms are waiting later to get started. BY ANGELA E. THOMAS

26 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

he narrative of graduating college, marrying and starting your family in your mid-20s—and the even older narrative of marrying your high-school sweetheart and soon afterward starting your family—no longer holds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of women choosing to have a first child after 35 has increased steadily since the 1970s. With this new trend, followed by Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and celebrities like Janet Jackson, who have given birth after turning 50—terms like “menopause baby” and “geriatric mother” are viewed as archaic and shortsighted. While the reasons for delaying childbirth may vary, the CDC states, “first-time older mothers are generally better educated and more likely to have more resources, including higher incomes, than younger women.” Meet Jenny Ruud. She and husband Gerry Bruno became first-time parents to fraternal twin boys in their 40s. “We were kind of just living life, doing our thing. We lived in New York and had a very busy lifestyle that included commuting—we eventually moved to New Jersey— working long days and having events nearly every night. Our lives were exciting but hectic,” Ruud said. Seeking to increase their quality of life, they moved to Arkansas in 2008 and casually decided to start a family. “We had a mindset of ‘If it happens, it happens,’ but then it didn’t happen and [expanding our family] became more of a yearning,” Ruud said. So, after four years, when Ruud was 37, they decided to seek help. “This is when it became more of a commitment, more like work. And I experienced a loss of boundaries. I would say I went into the process a bit too optimistic. I didn’t realize there was so much involved in a ‘woman of my age’ becoming pregnant. You almost feel as if you’ve done something wrong. It’s definitely a process. You go in for a lot of appointments. You’re probed, poked and prodded, but in the end, it’s absolutely worth it. I mean, they’re miracle workers. Really.”

(FROM TOP) JENNY RUUD HOLDING TWINS LUCAS AND ELIJAH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE NICU THE DAY AFTER THEY WERE BORN. A RECENT DAY OF FUN WITH TWINS, DAD, GERRY BRUNO AND MOM, JENNY.

(LEFT) LAURA GRIMES AT 24 WEEKS WITH HUSBAND, BEN, AND SON (AND PROUD BIG BROTHER), JULIAN BRYANT "BUZZ." PHOTO BY JANE COLCLASURE. SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

(FROM TOP) JENNY RELAXING WITH THE DOGS AT 30 WEEKS, A WEEK BEFORE SHE ENDED UP ON BEDREST AT UAMS. LUCAS AND ELIJAH THEIR FIRST WEEK HOME.

“We had a mindset of ‘If it happens, it happens,’ but then it didn’t happen and [expanding our family] became more of a yearning.”

28 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Dr. Paul Wendell is one of those “miracle workers.” He is a boardcertified obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies; he practices at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. When discussing the topic of older women having children, he has professional and personal experience: He and his wife have six children, three born after his wife was 35 years old and one when she was 43. Medically speaking, childbearing age is 12 to 35 years of age. Once a woman turns 35, Wendell said, statistically and genetically speaking, things are different. Three key things must be taken into consideration. First, the risk of a child being born with Down syndrome increases significantly. He said, “the chances of a 20- or 30-year-old woman having a child with Down syndrome is 1 in 2,000…for a 45-year-old woman, it’s 1 in 10.” “Moms who are older than 35 years don’t like to hear that; however, it’s important to note because genetics don’t change. As we get older, we get wiser but not necessarily better from a health standpoint,” he said. Conditions, such as cardiac disease, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory issues, kidney or renal trouble, autoimmune diseases, like lupus, inherited risk factors, and any past injuries and sickness may also come into play as they become more common as we age. Lastly, Dr. Wendell pointed out, is a factor that Mom can control: her social life. “No one makes it to 40 without a bit of drama in his or her life. Successful business people run their lives on a clock. They’re busy. And if you have a child or two, you’re even busier. From personal experience, I can tell you even an unplanned but wanted pregnancy requires change. We had a son in high school and a 4-year-old with children in between [when my wife became pregnant at 42]. It’s a lot harder to deal with sleepless nights at that age.” Wendell also suggests potential moms reprioritize. He said, “The most important thing is a successful pregnancy and [a healthy] baby…be prepared to decrease your work hours and social activities.” Laura Grimes can attest to this. She’s 36 and recently gave birth to her second child, a healthy baby girl. She also has a 4½-year-old son. “My first pregnancy was different. It was less ‘involved.’ There were fewer tests, appointments and ultrasounds,” Grimes said. Some of this was due to military medical regulations, others were due to her age. “We didn’t plan to wait so long to have another child; however, my husband was deployed and returned home last spring. We did purposely wait to begin having children. I was 28 when we married, which is a bit older according to the ‘local standards’ of the region where we lived.” This time around, though, Grimes found pregnancy posed a few physical challenges, such as severe morning sickness—which isn’t necessarily due to age—and back pain due to an injury and surgery she’d previously undergone. She also had what doctors called an irritable uterus, meaning she experienced contractions that didn’t cause dilation, but quite a bit of discomfort. She worked from home for a portion of her pregnancy and later was placed on bedrest. Ruud also experienced some difficulty. She became pregnant after a second round of IVF. She said the months-long process of appointments, hormones and shots was stressful, but made her and husband Gerry an even stronger team. She had preeclampsia at 30 weeks and was placed on bedrest in the hospital.

Dr. Wendell said Ruud’s experience is common with high-risk pregnancies. “They almost always involve preeclampsia, a complication characterized by high blood pressure; preterm labor; or premature rupture of membranes.

Additionally, Ruud and Grimes both underwent several tests. Grimes noted that her doctors referred her to specialists for genetic testing for chromosome abnormalities. “My doctors were very upfront about what they were looking for. I felt very well informed. I did experience a little [cringe moment], when I saw the term ‘elderly pregnancy’ on some paperwork. It just seemed a little too far. I expected to see the term geriatric. However, the nurses and doctors were extremely apologetic. You can tell there’s a shift in the medical community in terms of how they think and talk about pregnancy [in women older than 35].” Coincidentally, both women have lived in New York, an area where many women wait to have children. Having had children during and after the “official childbearing years,” Grimes has gained perspective. “I wish I’d known not to stress over every little thing and not to rush through the hard parts. Physically, pregnancy at a younger age is easier; however, the advantage of being older is that you’re financially and emotionally more settled,” she said. Ruud said her children are well worth all that she experienced. “My boys are pretty awesome.” She offers a bit of advice for other women who wish to become first-time mothers after 35. “Get help right away. Find out information about your body and your eggs. The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be. I had endometriosis, and I was aware of that. I had to be treated for that before we could proceed.” Both women are overjoyed with their decisions. While they experienced some difficulty during their pregnancies, they are enjoying their children and treasure the joys of “late” motherhood.

AFTER WEEKS OF BEDREST AND A SLIGHTLY BUMPY PREGNANCY, THE GRIMES FAMILY WELCOMED FLORENCE ELIZABETH "BIRDIE" IN MARCH.

I wish I’d known not to “ stress over every little thing

and not to rush through the hard parts.

”

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

kid approved

IDENTIFY NATIVE BIRDS BY COLOR IN YOUR GARDEN WITH THE “BIRDS OF ARKANSAS FIELD GUIDE”

FEED HUMMINGBIRDS RIGHT FROM YOUR HANDS! THIS COLORFUL ZUMMR RING DOUBLES AS A HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER AND IS GREAT TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT WILDLIFE.

IT’S SUCH A TREAT TO FEED BIRDS AT YOUR WINDOW! PRO TIP: USE SAFFLOWER SEED AND THE SQUIRRELS WILL LEAVE IT ALONE!

SPEAKING OF SQUIRRELS, WE LOVE TO READ THIS BOOK ABOUT A GROUP OF MISCHIEVOUS SQUIRRELS.

Kelly Slade

IS A NURSE ANESTHETIST AT THE ENDOSCOPY CENTER OF ARKANSAS. SHE’S MOM TO TWO CUTE GARDENLOVING KIDS, JACK , 6, AND JANE, 3. SHE AND HER HUSBAND, DAVID, LOVE SPENDING AFTERNOONS WATCHING THE KIDS, BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE EXPLORE THE MEANDERING PATHWAYS THROUGH THEIR TERRACED, ENGLISH GARDEN. THE SLADE FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THEIR HOME FOR FOUR YEARS, AND THE GARDEN IS WHERE THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME. THE KIDS LOVE TO HELP IN THE GARDEN! THIS THREE-PIECE GARDEN TOOL SET IS MADE OF WOOD AND METAL, SO IT HOLDS UP FOR SERIOUS GARDENING.

WE LIKE TO LABEL OUR VEGGIES SO WE CAN WATCH WHILE THEY GROW! THESE SLATE GARDEN LABELS ARE CUTE AND REUSABLE.

THE KIDS LOVE TO CREATE FUN, SPECIAL LITTLE PLACES IN THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES OF THE GARDEN. THIS FAIRY GARDEN DOOR IS GREAT FOR IMAGINATION AND TO ADD A LITTLE WHIMSY!

30 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | MAY 2018

32 MAY 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM