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volume 4 · issue 3

March 2013

plus

Quick, tasty meals that use a secret helper

An Eye for Science

invent a little fun and watch your child’s inquisitive nature soar.

THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS.

Visit ChildrensOmaha.org for more information on how we can help your child. For a pediatrician, family physician or pediatric specialist, call 1.800.833.3100.

Superheroes Arenâ€™t Born,

Theyâ€™re Made

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FROM our MOMAHA.COM editOR

momaha where moms connect

vOLUME 4 · ISSUE 3 · MARCH 2013 editorial director CHRIS CHRISTEN chris.christen@owh.com 402-444-1094

creative director/designer A N A N DA S PA DT

momaha.com editor J O S I E LOZ A josie.loza@owh.com 402-444-1075

production coordinator PAT R I C I A “ M U R PH Y ” B E N O I T

on the cover I L LU S T R AT I O N BY A N A N DA S PA DT

content contributors A M Y TO KO S , C AT KO E H L E R , J O S I E LOZ A , DA N I E L L E H E R ZO g

copy editor AMY LAMAR

to advertise, contact KRISTINE BUHMAN kristine.buhman@owh.com 402-444-1442 MARCIA OSTRANSK Y marcia.ostransky@owh.com 402-444-1489 Momaha Magazine is a monthly publication of the Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 600, Omaha NE 68102. Momaha is a registered trademark, and all content is copyright 2013 by the Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved. The opinions and perspectives published herein are those of the authors and should not be construed as those of Momaha Magazine.

Curiosity — nurture it!

esearch shows that parental involvement in education is a strong predictor of educational success. It doesn’t matter which grade level your child is in. Whether it’s preschool or pre-college, he or she needs your help. This is especially true in the areas of math and science. Interest in these subjects needs to start at an early age. Preschoolers are naturally curious little beings. They enjoy playing with soap, swirling paint with their hands and squeezing Play-Doh. Kids ages 3 to 5 are already doing science. You know, observing and making hypotheses about how the things around them work. Ask them questions: What do you think will happen if you mix some colors together? What did you notice when you did that? Nurture their curiosity. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers at your fingertips. Your child is practicing key science skills. In this issue, we talk about places to go and things you can do in Omaha to spark your children’s interest in both science and math. Enjoy!

Meet Josie and the Momaha bloggers at the Baby Love Essentials Baby Fair March 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Convention Center.

Chat with Josie each Friday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on momaha.com Facebook.com/josie.loza @LozaFina Pinterest.com/momahaowh

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;-) Chat with Josie each Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. on momaha.com.

?! Read“How I Do It,” a Q & A feature on moms getting through their day.

Click through our Kids Camp directory.

Join momaha’s Evening Children’s Story Time. It meets the last Friday of each month at the Bookworm.

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from momaha.com

Not one of ‘those’girls

t looks like my 10-year-old daughter may be following in my writer footsteps. She loves to write stories. She has even written a few “selfpublished” books that can be found in our family library. While her love of writing excites me, her initial repulsion cat koehler of math and science frightened me. She fell into the Barbie-esque “Math is hard” cliché. For such an intelligent girl, I wasn’t buying it. Math wasn’t hard; it just wasn’t as much fun as making up stories. Her interest in science matched her interest in the current economic state of Kazakhstan. I had to find a way to make sure my daughter didn’t become one of those girls. You know the kind – they think math and science are for boys. One of my daughter’s loves is art. She can turn anything into an art project, so I figured that’s how we would conquer her math phobia. I bought a pack of blank

Cat Koehler is married and has two children. She works full-time. Read her column Mondays on momaha.com.

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index cards and instructed her to create multiplication flash cards. I got a grimace from my little darling, but her attitude changed when I handed her a bucket of markers. I think it’s safe to say that we have the most colorful flash cards this side of the district line. Oh, and guess who is more interested in math? Tackling my daughter’s interest in science was a little easier. Let’s face it: Science can be pretty cool. Don’t believe me? Mix a drop of food coloring into some vinegar. Then pour it into a dish of baking soda. Bubble, bubble, fizz, fizz! Oh, how cool science is! It also didn’t hurt to tell my daughter that her grandmother is a scientist. She thought it was pretty neat that she is related to a real-life scientist who has several patents and inventions to her credit. I’ve found that grandmas can make almost anything cool to a young kid. So as it turns out, a little creativity is all it took to turn boring into fabulous. I challenge you to put on your thinking cap and turn your child’s yawn-inducing subject into something that will make her squeal.

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how I do It | athena ramos

She balances life, work with dad’s advice in her heart “How I Do It” introduces you to a local mom and how she juggles life. This week: Athena Ramos, a program coordinator for the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health in the Center for Reducing Health Disparities. She is 32, and is mom to Jonathan, 9, Nicholas, 8, and Italia, 1. She and her husband, Jose Sanchez, live in Bellevue.

athena’s aDVICe for moms

thena has been widely recognized for her commitment and dedication to making Omaha and Nebraska better places to live, work and play. She was recently named one of 10 Outstanding Young Omahans by the Omaha Jaycees. She also recently received the American Heart Association’s Advocacy Volunteer of the Year Award; was former president of Heartland Latino Leadership; and was recognized as one of Sarpy County’s 40 Women Under 40. Athena has been with UNMC for five years, and she loves her job. She currently serves on the board of directors for Justice for Our Neighbors, a local non-profit organization that provides immigration legal services.

BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY TIME

“Working in the College of Public Health allows for some flexibility, and UNMC offers great benefits. Being active in your family is encouraged. For example, I am able to schedule my lunch hour around breast-feeding my baby. “I’m also an adjunct instructor at Metropolitan Community College, where I teach human relations skills. This is a great class. It’s fun, and the material is useful for the students. I love teaching. My students come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, and they help me grow as a person.”

SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE KNOWS

“I’ve had to make many sacrifices in order to juggle everything and keep all the balls in the air. I had to resign from some boards and really narrow down my priorities. “I would love to earn a Ph.D., but it’s challenging to find time to be able to apply for and complete a program without interfering with the family time that I value. I would also love to live abroad for a few months at a time or open a coffee shop.”

FAMILY TIME

“On weekends when my husband works, the kids and I usually go out – even if that means just going to a store. We try to be tourists in our own city and state and explore new places. In my home, they call

me a ‘gypsy’ because I don’t like to stay home. I like to be moving and seeing and trying new things and experiencing life.”

MORE ABOUT MY FAMILY

“Jonathan is a good artist and writer. Nicholas likes to act like a clown, and he makes a ton of silly faces. He talks with big words that he doesn’t know the meaning of. He also creates new words that no one knows the meaning of like ‘cheche,’ which according to him means ‘a crazy loca who farts a lot.’ Italia made me fall in love with being a mom all over again. Jose – wow – I knew from the day I met him that this was the man for me.”

I WISH I COULD ...

“I wish I could figure out a way to get Nick to be quiet sometimes. He’s usually so excited that he talks like he’s screaming half the time. It’s great that he’s such a happy kid, but I wish I could get him to tone it down just a little – at least in the house.”

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON

“My daddy has been the most influential person in my life. He died in 2009, but we were extremely close. I spent most of my childhood growing up with him because my mom had to work since they were divorced. I learned to play cars and he learned how to play Barbies. He always gave me a lot of advice. It was sometimes more than I wanted, but how much I miss those conversations now. “He taught me to have a strong work ethic, and that if you work hard you can be anything you want. He encouraged me to be independent and never to depend on a man for anything ... that I should be able to make it on my own. He taught me to tell the truth – that honesty is the best policy. And that it’s OK to feel sad sometimes. It’s OK to cry. I learned discipline, love and passion from him. I was his passion. His love for me was evident in everything he did.”

• “I don’t have a to-do list. Instead, I schedule everything into my Outlook calendar – both professional and personal. So say I need to work on some materials for a fundraiser. I schedule the time I think I will need to accomplish this task into my calendar. Then I block the time so I can actually get it done.” • “We don’t have a TV in our living room. We have space for us to sit, lay and play without the distraction of the TV.” • “Take video games away from your kids. Work with them to play and be active using their bodies and their minds.”

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Happy New Year 2013 from the LeWonderment Family! Our fabulous team strives to create memorable learning experiences for you and your children. Donâ€™t miss this terriďŹ c oppo op port rtun unitityy to ttake ake ak e a Sa Satu turd rday ay opportunity Saturday and/or Sunday class. We canâ€™t waitit tto wa o se see e yo you u so soon on!! soon!

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Space is Limited - Register soon! To register for a learning-ďŹ lled, ďŹ lled, fun class contact LeWonderment 421 South 11th Street, treet, Omaha NE 68102 402-206-9928 â€˘ lewonderment.com Are you PupiCurious? Ask us about our â€œHow-Toâ€? Classes for dog lovers!

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on the cover By Chelsea Flynn | MoMaha.CoM Intern IllustratIon By ananda spadt | the world-herald

Eye on Science

Invent a little fun and watch your youngster’s mind soar

ands-on activities and experiences are great ways to stretch your child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills. they also foster

interests in science, technology, engineering and

mathematics – career areas that are lagging nationwide.

Places to Go 1. take your child to the strategic

Images courtesy of the saC Museum

air and space Museum’s science Fair on March 28 for fourth- through eighth-graders. the fair will feature students who have previously participated in their school’s or school district’s science fair. It’s the perfect place for young ones to see how learning can be fun. the museum also hosts science- and math-themed events throughout the year worthy of checking into. www.sasmuseum.com

2. Check out the Millard observatory at neale woods, the largest public observatory in the omaha metro area. astronomy nights are held twice a month through May. you will be able to see constellations and planets through several types of telescopes on the observation deck. want to look at the stars without braving the cold? uno’s Mallory Kountze planetarium offers a monthly show called “what’s up” on the first weekend of each month. shows are $3 per person. www.fontenelleforest.org

JUNIOR LEAGUE SIGN-UP Eagle Run &

Stone Creek 3. Kid-friendly scientist,

Bill nye the science Guy, is coming to nebraska on april 12 for the inaugural nebraska science Festival. nye will speak at 7:30 p.m. at Joslyn art Museum’s witherspoon Concert hall. the festival runs from april 12-14, and will feature interactive activities for both kids and adults. www.joslyn.org

4. Visit the traveling

exhibition “alert today, alive tomorrow: living with the atomic Bomb 1945-1965,” which recently opened at the strategic air and space Museum. the exhibit explores the various ways that americans experienced the atomic threat as part of their daily lives. the show features more than 75 original objects from the era, as well as largescale graphics, radio broadcasts and films. standard admission fees apply. www.sasmuseum.com

5. head over to le wonderment in the old Market for a variety of mindchallenging and educational toys for children. the specialty store offers a wide variety of materials suited for children from birth to 15 years of age that are sure to stimulate curiosity. some of the games available include a currency exchange activity set for $12.99; a windmill generator for learning about renewable energy sources for $13.99; and a body magnets game that teaches players about the different organs and bones in the body. the game has 98 different pieces and is $29.99. www.lewonderment.com thinGs to Do 1. did you know that Ivory soap

floats? the bar has air inside of it, which makes it less dense than water. Compare Ivory soap and other soaps with your child. when they notice that one type floats while others do not, you can explain that Ivory has air bubbles inside of it because of how it’s made. next, you can place the Ivory soap in a microwaveable bowl. Cook it in the microwave for about a minute. the soap will expand and turn into a large pile of foam. Be careful when you first take the soap out of the microwave because it will be hot. once it cools off, you will notice that it feels brittle and flaky when you touch it. But it can still be used as soap. continued on page 10

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Science: ThingS To Do, cont. 2. Homemade silly putty is fun and easy to make. All you need is some glue and liquid starch (Borax works well). There are several variations on how this recipe can be made. I have found that if you pour equal amounts of glue and liquid starch together, you will have silly putty in no time. Get a bowl and add as much glue as you want. Measure about the same amount of liquid starch and pour it into the bowl. Start mixing the ingredients together until it thickens. It is best to knead the ingredients together with your hands for the best results. If the silly putty looks too runny, add more glue. If it appears too thick, add more liquid starch. Once you are finished you can add food coloring. Be aware, though, that food coloring can stain your hands. If you want to save the experiment, place it in a plastic bag.

3. Head outside and

try a Coke and Mentos experiment. Grab a 2-liter bottle of Coke (it can be diet or regular) and a box of Mentos. Place the soda on the ground, and advise the spectators to stand back because this will get messy! The more Mentos you drop in at a time, the higher the eruption will be. Be sure to stand back from the bottle as quickly as possible because the Coke can launch pretty high.

4. Practice math

equations with shaving cream. Place a garbage bag on a table to make clean-up as easy as possible. Next, spray shaving cream on the table and let the fun begin. Your child can write and draw and be entertained for a long time. Practice math problems or vocabulary words with it. Your child can simply use his finger to write in the shaving cream. When he’s done, he can erase what he wrote instantly and start a new project, which saves paper. Enjoy!

5. This gooey experiment called Oobleck is sure to be a memorable one. All you need is water and cornstarch. Place 1 cup of cornstarch in a bowl. Start stirring in about ½ cup of water. You may need to add more water to reach the desired consistency. Oobleck will appear runny, but when you squeeze it in your hand it will become hard. Weird, right? This mixture has both properties of a solid and a liquid. You can add food coloring if you like.

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Kids & chores: To pay or not to pay By Danielle Herzog

esponsibility, pride and self-sufficiency: These are three of many attributes that kids can gain from doing chores, according to Dr. James Wellborn, a clinical psychologist who focuses on adolescents and families. He stresses the importance of children learning to do chores in an article titled “What Kids Learn From Chores (or More Proof That Suffering Builds Character).” In the article, he explains that “The most straightforward reason your kid needs to do chores is to drive the point home that he is responsible for his actions in the world (and the messes he makes).” However, the question that most parents struggle with is whether chores should come with a price tag. Should a child earn a weekly allowance by doing chores, or are chores simply part of being a member of the family? Erin Angove, a mother of a 7- and 10-year-old, believes that not everything should come with a fee attached. “I think there are some things kids should be made to do just to help the house. Cleaning their

room and putting their own laundry away is a start. Both my kids are responsible for doing their own laundry, and my oldest takes out the garbage each week and does some shoveling. This is all without pay.” However, Erika Villar, a mother of a 4and 6-year-old, takes a different approach to chores in their home. “We have a cleaning schedule, and they are usually pretty good with it. I do not give them money for these chores. They are a part of being in the family. At the top of their chore chart we even have the phrase, ‘Because it’s important to work with my family and be responsible.’” She does, however, have a system using clothespins on the fridge that represent extra chores that the kids can do for money. Each chore is assigned an amount that they can earn. Also, they earn a sticker each day if they’ve completed their tasks with minimal issues and their behavior has been good. At the end of the week if they’ve received most of their stickers, they get to pick something from a jar of fun activities that Villar made. It has slips of paper in it that say things like, “Stay up past bedtime an extra 15 minutes”;

“Spend 30 minutes on the computer”; “Read an extra story/chapter at bedtime,” etc. So how do kids feel about doing chores? Alice Jonas, a 6-year-old, said that she loves to help her mom and dad clean. She said, “I like to put my clothes in the hamper and then fold them when they are all clean. I don’t like to take out the trash, though, because it is dirty and yucky.” Her brother doesn’t share the same sentiment, however. At 9 years old, he is responsible for setting the table, cleaning the litter box and keeping his room clean. He has a chance to make $5 per week if he does other chores, but admits that he doesn’t like doing them sometimes. “It’s hard work to rake leaves or shovel snow. I only do chores so I can be allowed to play games on the computer or watch television.” Whether kids get an allowance for their work or simply do chores in order to help take care of the household’s needs, they can learn responsibility and feel a sense of independence. Perhaps they will complain or not understand the reasoning, but over time they’ll feel pride in a job well done that goes beyond any monetary incentive.

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from momaha.com | the sassy housewife

Meet the newest mom blogger The Sassy Housewife is a weekly advice column on Momaha.com by Danielle Herzog. She covers the adventures in housewifery — from parenting, entertaining and recipes to the interests of a been-there-done-that and somewhat know-it-all wife. Sassy Housewife runs every Saturday. Have a question for her? Email momaha@owh.com.

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Dear Sassy Housewife, My husband and I are big foodies and love trying all sorts of eclectic foods. We have always shared that love in how we feed our child. However, our daughter just turned 2 and has become such a picky eater! She won’t eat many meats, wants to put ketchup on everything and has even started throwing her food. What’s happening to our child? She is acting like a maniac. Louise of Bellevue Dear Louise, Wait … um … is it wrong to put ketchup on everything? If so, Houston … we have a problem. I’ve dipped a world beyond French fries into ketchup. However, I’ll admit that I’ve shared the pain of a fussy eater — as I’ve had one of my own. Don’t worry so much about what she is eating, but rather how she is eating. All kids go through phases of what foods they like and dislike.

You don’t have to rush out and buy vegan products just yet. She might wake up tomorrow and crave a hot dog. You just never know. Toddlers are fickle creatures. Make sure you have a plan for what to do if she rejects food and starts to throw it. Speaking of food-throwing, I wonder … Is it followed by hysterical laughter and/or crying on your child’s part? If so, you’re being played. Your daughter has figured out that she can throw a fit when she doesn’t get what she wants. She’s testing her boundaries. Perhaps a time-out is needed. She’ll realize that throwing dinner around isn’t as much fun if she’s not getting the attention she wants. Now, what to feed her? Don’t offer too many meal options. One or two items is plenty. If she doesn’t immediately eat, try feeding her again in an hour or so. Trust me, no one wants to be a short-order cook.

Danielle Herzog, a married mother of two, taught middle and high school students and served as a student counseling advisor in the Washington, D.C., area prior to moving to Omaha. She is currently completing her master’s degree in counseling.

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get organized

Counting can help sort out your storage

By Amy Tokos

e acquire items throughout our lives. Stuff fills our spaces, and sometimes we don’t realize just how much we have acquired. It’s time to start counting. Before you start, try to estimate how many you need or want of each item. What is a reasonable amount to have on-hand? Let’s start in your bedroom closet. Which items seem to be dominating the space? What is a good number of these items to have? Everyone is different. A shoe lover may say that 50 pairs of shoes are needed to keep her looking stylish, whereas her husband may think that five pairs is enough to keep his feet covered. As you consider the ideal number for your clothing, take into consideration your weekly laundry duties. How often do you wash whites, etc.? This may affect how many that you need to have on-hand.

Consider this. shirts. How many do you have? We usually separate our shirts by season, so just count for one season. There are about 30 days in a month. How many days can you go before repeating a shirt in your wardrobe? kids clothes. Kids wear the same things over and over. They wear what they love. As long as your child has enough to make it between laundry cycles, they will be happy. The added bonus is that their clothing will be easier for them to maintain and their drawers will actually close. Do the count and see if their clothes can be minimized. Let them pick their favorites. Aside from bedroom closets, we see a lot of extras in the kitchen. Let’s start counting. Pantry items like soup, cake mixes and desserts. How often do you make dessert? How many cake mixes do you have? How many

months will your supply last? The same goes for soup. If you eat soup once a week, a dozen cans will last you three months. Do you have space for that, or can you use that space for something else? Recipes. Do you cut recipes out of cooking magazines? Recipes can be inspiring, or they can weigh you down. Consider how often you try a new recipe: Once a week? Once a month? How many recipes have you cut out? Hmm, does it match up? If you are struggling to get rid of recipes, be sure to consider how you typically find new ones. If you’re hungry for a certain type of food, where would you go to find a recipe? The trend is to go to the Internet or use an app. If this is you, reduce your paper recipe clutter. These are just a few examples of how putting a number to certain items will help you clean out the clutter. The less you have, the less you have to maintain. Simplicity at its best.

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healthy eating

Weekday salvation

Well-stocked ‘cantry’ keeps meal prep simple

hat’s for dinner? Just look in your pantry, and make no apologies for the canned foods you’re about to incorporate into your family’s meals. Because many fruits and vegetables are canned directly after harvest, the

process seals in freshness and natural goodness, retaining taste, quality and

nutrients. Another plus: Many canned vegetables and fruits provide as many vitamins and as much dietary fiber as their fresh and frozen counterparts. Reduced cooking time is a plus, too!

Smoky SouthweSt ChiCken and wild RiCe Soup Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes

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1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 cup cooked wild rice 1 cup canned sliced carrots, drained 2 cans (3 ounces each) premium chunk chicken breast in water, drained 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin Pinch ground chipotle chile 1 cup shredded pepper-jack cheese, divided 1/3 cup evaporated fat-free canned milk or heavy cream 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro Cilantro sprigs for garnish

Recipes and images courtesy of Mealtime.org. 1. In a large saucepan, heat oil over mediumhigh heat; add onion and celery. Sauté, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes or until softened. 2. Stir in soup and broth. Add rice, carrots, chicken, chili powder, cumin, chipotle chile and 3/4 cup cheese; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. 3. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors. 4. Stir in evaporated milk and chopped cilantro. 5. Garnish with remaining cheese and cilantro sprigs. Serves: 6

ChiCken mediteRRanean pizza Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes 2 teaspoons cornmeal 1 refrigerated pizza crust (12 to 14 inches), unbaked 1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained 1 can (5 ounces) chunk chicken breast, drained and flaked 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Pinch crushed red pepper, if desired

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Sprinkle cornmeal on bottom of pizza pan. 3. Place pizza crust over cornmeal. Spread pesto sauce over surface of crust. Top with remaining ingredients. 4. Bake 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and edges are browned. Serves: 4

Continues on Page 16

StoCking the “CantRy” Your inventory of canned goods should include: - Vegetables (peas, corn, carrots, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, spinach) - Tomatoes (sauce, paste, diced, crushed, whole) - Beans (black, pinto, garbanzo, navy) - Fruit (pears, pineapple, peaches) - Seafood (salmon, shrimp, tuna) - Flavored beans (baked, refried, seasoned) - Broth - Condensed soups - Meat (chicken, turkey, roast beef)

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healthy eating, cont. Family Fiesta soFt tacos

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes