My 6 year old has been losing teeth like crazy lately, so we have been having many a discussion on our new favorite unseen diva, the Tooth Fairy.
I didn't realize this was going to cause me to do so very much research, but being the generous spirit that I am, I'll share my findings with you.
1. Word has Tooth Fairy clip art. This has come in mighty handy what with all the note writing. Lordy, the Tooth Fairy is about to qualify for Pen Pal Status around here!
2. The Tooth Fairy is pretty much afraid of guard cats.
3. Her favorite color is pink. She writes her notes in pink ink.
4. If a nightlight isn't left on, she may opt to pass you by.
5. Sometimes the Tooth Fairy leaves things besides money. She has been known to leave books around here.
6. Some children are more sensitive than others to items under their pillows and wake up at 3 AM and when he stumbles across a word in the dark that he doesn't know, he thinks absolutely nothing about scampering down to wake up sleeping parents to decipher words in the DARK!
7. Most websites offering gifts from the Tooth Fairy are useless because they require you to think AHEAD of the time you will actually need a cool Tooth Fairy item. These sites also take FOREVER to ship once you outlay a boatload of cash. I'm not falling for that!
8. Pot-smoking Tree huggers write too many children's books, specifically on the topic of fairies. I have read the schmarmiest crap lately on this topic. I know all of these stupid stories to be completely untrue and unfounded! They're just trying to tap into the lucrative Tooth Fairy market share. Do not be fooled! Everybody in their right Diva minds knows that the Tooth Fairy collects teeth so she can make JEWELRY!!! DUH!!!!
The funniest thing I ran across, though was the letter for an older child. Here's the link: http://dentistry.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=dentistry&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fmonster-island.org%2Ftinashumor%2Fhumor%2Ftfairy.html
Some other decent information can be found at http://www.toothfairyletter.net/
Really, the main lesson grown ups can take from the Tooth Fairy is that childhood can be a magical, fun time for everyone ... only if we believe in the magic and help it happen.
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Enough of this Health Care Reform Business, Let's Talk Turtles
You know, those thingies on tops of SUVs and minivans perched on roof racks. You put luggage in them because your car is packed to the hilt with kids' gaming / DVD equipment to entertain them the whole ride. Side Note: Who ever thought that The Highway Alphabet Game would be labeled as LAME?????
I write this at the suggestion of one of my darling diva sisters, who confided in me tonight, that she is a Turtle Virgin and was totally unsure of how to proceed with such car accessory things. As the big sister, I assured her and even waxed poetic about my soft-sided turtle and bungee cord configuration that allows plenty of legroom in my diva-mobile; admitted, truthfully, that the worst part of the turtle was getting MY suitcase up beyond the tail gate and into the protective coating of my turtle (no animals have been harmed in the filling of my turtle, but I have had to go to the massage therapist afterwards!); and gave her a list of places with automotive departments (I'm not certain she comprendo "automotive department") that would most likely carry these exterior luggage accessories. I even told her that mine was from K-Mart and cost all of about $75! I thought I'd hear the immediate faint tones of high heel shoes clicking towards the garage in a flurry of activity heading for the nearest automotive supply outlet. However, what I got was, "So, do you HAVE to have a roof rack in order to have a turtle?" Um, pretty much. But those, too, can be acquired either by factory installation or accessory add-on places.
I went into the benefits of soft sided (like mine = more flexible, can cram more stuff in them) and the con's = easy for some body builder to abscond with your belongings while stopping at Bate's House of Turkey. The hard sided turtles are basically the flip arguments of the above.
I was a little stunned to find that she had a trailer hitch installed on the back of her SUV ... especially since she's not that into doing her own construction and doesn't own a boat.
There are more options these days with the addition of trailer hitch accessory carriers.
So, dear readers, please weigh in on pros and cons of your turtle experiences. Feel free to post questions to the blog.
Happy motoring, Poodle!
I write this at the suggestion of one of my darling diva sisters, who confided in me tonight, that she is a Turtle Virgin and was totally unsure of how to proceed with such car accessory things. As the big sister, I assured her and even waxed poetic about my soft-sided turtle and bungee cord configuration that allows plenty of legroom in my diva-mobile; admitted, truthfully, that the worst part of the turtle was getting MY suitcase up beyond the tail gate and into the protective coating of my turtle (no animals have been harmed in the filling of my turtle, but I have had to go to the massage therapist afterwards!); and gave her a list of places with automotive departments (I'm not certain she comprendo "automotive department") that would most likely carry these exterior luggage accessories. I even told her that mine was from K-Mart and cost all of about $75! I thought I'd hear the immediate faint tones of high heel shoes clicking towards the garage in a flurry of activity heading for the nearest automotive supply outlet. However, what I got was, "So, do you HAVE to have a roof rack in order to have a turtle?" Um, pretty much. But those, too, can be acquired either by factory installation or accessory add-on places.
I went into the benefits of soft sided (like mine = more flexible, can cram more stuff in them) and the con's = easy for some body builder to abscond with your belongings while stopping at Bate's House of Turkey. The hard sided turtles are basically the flip arguments of the above.
I was a little stunned to find that she had a trailer hitch installed on the back of her SUV ... especially since she's not that into doing her own construction and doesn't own a boat.
There are more options these days with the addition of trailer hitch accessory carriers.
So, dear readers, please weigh in on pros and cons of your turtle experiences. Feel free to post questions to the blog.
Happy motoring, Poodle!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Trapped in a Cleaning Frenzy
I'm starting the New Year's off in my kids' closets. So far, it's been a Yard Bag of trash and a Yard Bag of donations per room. I haven't even gotten to my closet yet.... And the tree is still up... er ... all 4 trees are still up. The upshot of having Critically Ill Main Squeeze before Thanksgiving is that the live tree is still moist due to the fact that we acquired it later than usual. Silver linings abound.
Oh! And The Main Squeeze got his PICC line out before Christmas, so he is merry, hence so am I.
Regards from the battlefront, Poodle!
Oh! And The Main Squeeze got his PICC line out before Christmas, so he is merry, hence so am I.
Regards from the battlefront, Poodle!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Mental Note: Resist Spaghetti Day at Your Kid's Elementary School
When we moms get busy, we start to feel guilty about not paying enough attention to our kiddos. Personal reference: impending wedding (next week), heavy work load, normal never-ending amounts of laundry, etc. PLUS a child's birthday this week. So, one of our coping mechanisms to make our tots feel the mommy love is to go have lunch at the school when you can squeeze it into your mid-morning routine (yes, they eat lunch very early, which is why the afternoon snack is an essential MEAL).
I blatantly disregarded the lunch menu and was relieved that I could not only squeeze in lunch with one child, but both. Mine have the fortune of eating at 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., so I can get a visitor's pass and hang in the lunchroom for about 45 minutes and make BOTH boys feel like a million bucks. Sounds like the end of a little guilt, no?
So, it was Spaghetti Day. Let me just explain in as few words as possible how disgusting spaghetti + Kindergartners equals. I went to stand in line to get the unknown meal and my eyes rested on short noodles of spaghetti. I realized it was 10:45 and I was looking at spaghetti and felt terribly woozy. I managed to pass on lunch somehow and decided I'd just sit with the child(ren) and enjoy their precious company.
Once I got to the table with the Kindergarten class, the situation worsened. Despite wiping their faces kind of, the kids all took on an orange pallor. One kid I sat next to (not mine, thank God!), managed to get a small amount of sauce on his right ear (the side next to me, naturally). I thought at least twice I was about to have to run for a breath of fresh air.
Those sweet peas kept asking me if they could get me some iced tea. Really, I just couldn't imagine swallowing anything at that juncture. I must have looked a little green ... which certainly would have clashed with their bright, smiling, orange faces
Mercifully, their lunch time ended. When the 3 helpers in the class came to wipe down the tables, I had to flee. Really couldn't take that.
Nowhere was safe, though. I went to the second grade child's class table. Interesting dynamic in second grade: The girls realize that the boys eating habits leave a lot to be desired and split to the extent they're allowed what with the rule being that they HAVE to all sit as a class in a line of about 4 tables. There were 2 girls on one far end of the outermost table, 5 or so boys in the middle table (mine in the middle of this 3-ring circus, of course) lined up on one side so they have to lean over each other's food to talk to the ones on the outer edges, and the teacher and about 6 other children (notably the remaining girls) at the other far end table. Not catching on quickly and ever-hopeful that second grade would be less gross, I sat across from my child, who, again, was in the middle of the pack of boys .... ahem ... eating his green beans with his fingers. What a proud moment that was for me. Had it been night, I would have run out into it screaming my lungs out. Alas, it was not even noon.
The only improvement - and believe me, it was an improvement - was that their faces all seemed to have relatively normal tones. A small mercy.
While I managed to survive, I simply cannot close my eyes to sleep because Spaghetti Day at Elementary School flashes before me and my legs wobble and the rest of me feels totally shaky.
Please pass the Ambien.
I blatantly disregarded the lunch menu and was relieved that I could not only squeeze in lunch with one child, but both. Mine have the fortune of eating at 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., so I can get a visitor's pass and hang in the lunchroom for about 45 minutes and make BOTH boys feel like a million bucks. Sounds like the end of a little guilt, no?
So, it was Spaghetti Day. Let me just explain in as few words as possible how disgusting spaghetti + Kindergartners equals. I went to stand in line to get the unknown meal and my eyes rested on short noodles of spaghetti. I realized it was 10:45 and I was looking at spaghetti and felt terribly woozy. I managed to pass on lunch somehow and decided I'd just sit with the child(ren) and enjoy their precious company.
Once I got to the table with the Kindergarten class, the situation worsened. Despite wiping their faces kind of, the kids all took on an orange pallor. One kid I sat next to (not mine, thank God!), managed to get a small amount of sauce on his right ear (the side next to me, naturally). I thought at least twice I was about to have to run for a breath of fresh air.
Those sweet peas kept asking me if they could get me some iced tea. Really, I just couldn't imagine swallowing anything at that juncture. I must have looked a little green ... which certainly would have clashed with their bright, smiling, orange faces
Mercifully, their lunch time ended. When the 3 helpers in the class came to wipe down the tables, I had to flee. Really couldn't take that.
Nowhere was safe, though. I went to the second grade child's class table. Interesting dynamic in second grade: The girls realize that the boys eating habits leave a lot to be desired and split to the extent they're allowed what with the rule being that they HAVE to all sit as a class in a line of about 4 tables. There were 2 girls on one far end of the outermost table, 5 or so boys in the middle table (mine in the middle of this 3-ring circus, of course) lined up on one side so they have to lean over each other's food to talk to the ones on the outer edges, and the teacher and about 6 other children (notably the remaining girls) at the other far end table. Not catching on quickly and ever-hopeful that second grade would be less gross, I sat across from my child, who, again, was in the middle of the pack of boys .... ahem ... eating his green beans with his fingers. What a proud moment that was for me. Had it been night, I would have run out into it screaming my lungs out. Alas, it was not even noon.
The only improvement - and believe me, it was an improvement - was that their faces all seemed to have relatively normal tones. A small mercy.
While I managed to survive, I simply cannot close my eyes to sleep because Spaghetti Day at Elementary School flashes before me and my legs wobble and the rest of me feels totally shaky.
Please pass the Ambien.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
School Supplies for MOM
No, I'm not going back to school. My liver couldn't take it, Poodle. However, the start of the school year is a great time for you to organize your household. I've talked in prior posts about the endless ambush of school papers coming home in those deadly backpacks, but golly PETE, they're relentless and will absolutely destroy your counter tops if you don't take preventative action.
Some of you may really like to file things. I like the concept, except for when it's in a nice drawer, it's all of a sudden out of sight, out of mind. And that's not so good when school items have to be returned by a certain date or your kid turns into the loser who can't go on the field trip because mom neatly filed the permission slip that's lounging one more day in its climate-controlled, dark drawer.
So, how do I get the 'You're such an on-top-of it Mom' praise from the teachers? (I admit to striving for the Pet Mom designation.) I return items the very next day with a little help from my Mom School Supplies.
Mom School Supply List:
1 colorful calendar for the fridge (I use themes every year. Sometimes we learn about a country, activity, etc - I know, I'm waaaay into themes- but I plan parties as part of my living, and it just spills over into other areas of my life). Mark school holidays and birthdays immediately. Write due dates of everything. Include sport activities for each child. This is now the brain of the household.
1-2 clip-type magnets to hold said calendar on the fridge (they get heavy and slide down to the floor otherwise). If you post the calendar on a Bulletin Board, you don't need magnets, but may need push pins. Some folks like the dry erase board message center, but the dust from those things stain floors and makes a mess in my experience. But suit yourself.
1 diva-inspired 1" binder with pockets. This is your HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT BINDER. You are too glamorous for a plain one, Princess. Mine has a blue leopard print on it. It's fabulous. Some days, it helps to have a fabulous binder with mundane topics in it to inspire you to open it.
A hole puncher. I have a skinny one that fits flat and has ring loops for the binder, which is great because I don't have to run upstairs to my office to grab the big hole punch.
Color coordinating (if possible, otherwise, just colorful) tabs. My tabs are as follows:
~ School for general information, medication forms (keep clean and make copies), summer reading lists, Progress reports or daily reports, etc.
~ Room Parent Information if you're the Room Mom (I'm not this year, I'm pleased to report). One suggestion if you are the room mom, get one or two other co-room-parents if possible so that if someone is out of town, in a meeting, has a sick child, there's more than one person to fill the job. This tab is especially helpful for school carnival or fundraiser information/lists as well as for how to contact parents in the classroom.
~ A tab for each sport/after-school activity that your kid/s participate in. I keep team rosters for years because some of the kids don't go to the same school and inevitably, one child wants a teammate to come to a birthday party and if I've thrown out the list, I can't look up the dad's name to find the child in the phone book. You know... Basic Nightmare.
~ A tab for summer activities so I can refresh my memory in say March when Junior is bugging the stew out of me at Spring Break and I yearn for ways to get him out of the house for an extended period of time
~ A tab for birthday party organization per child as well as a record of what the birthday present was for the child
~ A tab for Christmas gifts so I can make lists for the whole family ... and I never throw the lists out so I won't duplicate presents.
~ In the front pocket, I keep the most recent school directory and some adorable pre-printed Note To The Teacher forms so I can just check off a box.
~ In the back pocket, is a legal pad for notes. I use it a lot.
Cute sticky notes/little note pads, 'cause I love them a lot. I have sticky notes with my company name on them, and then the fun stuff like in the shape of a purse, with shoes printed on them, leopard print, etc. I just picked up the purse-shaped ones at Target for $1 last week. It's my current fave!
Colorful envelopes for sending money in for lunch, PTO dues, field trips, donations to the school library, and whatever endless items I have to send continual checks to the school for. I have noticed that these don't get misplaced like the plain ones do (I happen to be out of them right now and I just got an email that said the PTO didn't get my check, which I DID send BTW but in a plain white A-10 envelope, so see, it pays to have the colorful ones!)
Paper clips. I have an unexplained attachment to binder clips. I just LOVE them a lot. Especially the little bitty ones. They're so cute. But, I do love having everything together. Those backpacks are a black hole. If you paperclip your bright envelope with the check on to the form, there is less chance either piece will wind up in the unknown mystery area where socks disappear to when you put them in the dryer and they never return. Have you noticed that parallel universe between backpacks and clothes dryers, too? Or is it just me?
Any needed pens, pencils, etc.
I'm a To Do list person, so I need a colorful array of legal pads and spiral bound notebooks. These may not be essential for you.
As a management side note, I also have binders for each volunteer activity I do (church committee, each of my singing groups, Junior League, etc.) as well as any special projects I have going on (home decoration ideas I tear out of magazines, for example).
Well, Cupcake, I hope this helps get you organized to respond to this school year and that you, too, can strive for Pet Mom status. If you have any tips that work for you, please post to the blog. I'd la-la-love to add to my repertoire. XOXO
Some of you may really like to file things. I like the concept, except for when it's in a nice drawer, it's all of a sudden out of sight, out of mind. And that's not so good when school items have to be returned by a certain date or your kid turns into the loser who can't go on the field trip because mom neatly filed the permission slip that's lounging one more day in its climate-controlled, dark drawer.
So, how do I get the 'You're such an on-top-of it Mom' praise from the teachers? (I admit to striving for the Pet Mom designation.) I return items the very next day with a little help from my Mom School Supplies.
Mom School Supply List:
1 colorful calendar for the fridge (I use themes every year. Sometimes we learn about a country, activity, etc - I know, I'm waaaay into themes- but I plan parties as part of my living, and it just spills over into other areas of my life). Mark school holidays and birthdays immediately. Write due dates of everything. Include sport activities for each child. This is now the brain of the household.
1-2 clip-type magnets to hold said calendar on the fridge (they get heavy and slide down to the floor otherwise). If you post the calendar on a Bulletin Board, you don't need magnets, but may need push pins. Some folks like the dry erase board message center, but the dust from those things stain floors and makes a mess in my experience. But suit yourself.
1 diva-inspired 1" binder with pockets. This is your HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT BINDER. You are too glamorous for a plain one, Princess. Mine has a blue leopard print on it. It's fabulous. Some days, it helps to have a fabulous binder with mundane topics in it to inspire you to open it.
A hole puncher. I have a skinny one that fits flat and has ring loops for the binder, which is great because I don't have to run upstairs to my office to grab the big hole punch.
Color coordinating (if possible, otherwise, just colorful) tabs. My tabs are as follows:
~ School for general information, medication forms (keep clean and make copies), summer reading lists, Progress reports or daily reports, etc.
~ Room Parent Information if you're the Room Mom (I'm not this year, I'm pleased to report). One suggestion if you are the room mom, get one or two other co-room-parents if possible so that if someone is out of town, in a meeting, has a sick child, there's more than one person to fill the job. This tab is especially helpful for school carnival or fundraiser information/lists as well as for how to contact parents in the classroom.
~ A tab for each sport/after-school activity that your kid/s participate in. I keep team rosters for years because some of the kids don't go to the same school and inevitably, one child wants a teammate to come to a birthday party and if I've thrown out the list, I can't look up the dad's name to find the child in the phone book. You know... Basic Nightmare.
~ A tab for summer activities so I can refresh my memory in say March when Junior is bugging the stew out of me at Spring Break and I yearn for ways to get him out of the house for an extended period of time
~ A tab for birthday party organization per child as well as a record of what the birthday present was for the child
~ A tab for Christmas gifts so I can make lists for the whole family ... and I never throw the lists out so I won't duplicate presents.
~ In the front pocket, I keep the most recent school directory and some adorable pre-printed Note To The Teacher forms so I can just check off a box.
~ In the back pocket, is a legal pad for notes. I use it a lot.
Cute sticky notes/little note pads, 'cause I love them a lot. I have sticky notes with my company name on them, and then the fun stuff like in the shape of a purse, with shoes printed on them, leopard print, etc. I just picked up the purse-shaped ones at Target for $1 last week. It's my current fave!
Colorful envelopes for sending money in for lunch, PTO dues, field trips, donations to the school library, and whatever endless items I have to send continual checks to the school for. I have noticed that these don't get misplaced like the plain ones do (I happen to be out of them right now and I just got an email that said the PTO didn't get my check, which I DID send BTW but in a plain white A-10 envelope, so see, it pays to have the colorful ones!)
Paper clips. I have an unexplained attachment to binder clips. I just LOVE them a lot. Especially the little bitty ones. They're so cute. But, I do love having everything together. Those backpacks are a black hole. If you paperclip your bright envelope with the check on to the form, there is less chance either piece will wind up in the unknown mystery area where socks disappear to when you put them in the dryer and they never return. Have you noticed that parallel universe between backpacks and clothes dryers, too? Or is it just me?
Any needed pens, pencils, etc.
I'm a To Do list person, so I need a colorful array of legal pads and spiral bound notebooks. These may not be essential for you.
As a management side note, I also have binders for each volunteer activity I do (church committee, each of my singing groups, Junior League, etc.) as well as any special projects I have going on (home decoration ideas I tear out of magazines, for example).
Well, Cupcake, I hope this helps get you organized to respond to this school year and that you, too, can strive for Pet Mom status. If you have any tips that work for you, please post to the blog. I'd la-la-love to add to my repertoire. XOXO
Thursday, August 7, 2008
From my cousin, Diva Eyes
It’s Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month! Many eye care providers are offering great discounts on children’s eye exams. Have you had your child’s vision checked? DO IT! 80% of learning in children is done visually.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Quick Tip: School Supplies
Have you noticed that the school supply lists are getting LONGER AND LONGER???? I have! Another thing I've noticed is that the closer one gets to the school start dates, the more likely places run out of very necessary supplies ... like construction paper (!). Why does a 2nd grader need construction paper? I get it for the kindergartner, but seriously. I digress.
You know who doesn't run out of school supplies? On-line places like Officedepot.com, Officemax.com, and Staples.com. When your order's big enough, they'll comp the shipping and save you a trip up and down and back again through their aisles. Noodle it, GlamourMom!
You know who doesn't run out of school supplies? On-line places like Officedepot.com, Officemax.com, and Staples.com. When your order's big enough, they'll comp the shipping and save you a trip up and down and back again through their aisles. Noodle it, GlamourMom!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Sick of your kids yet??? Pack 'em off to camp pronto
It's not too late. Several camps have openings ... starting tomorrow morning. Here's the news release I wrote (I'm the spokesperson, so I can do this kinda' thing):
It’s not too late to get your child off the couch and save the summer from boredom and unending trips to the swimming pool. A few Alabama camps have spaces for children at their camps.
“Parents may think they are out of luck by this point in the summer, but the reality is that camps across the state do have openings for campers,” says Marjorie Davis, spokesperson for the Association of Alabama Camps. “Camps have wonderful activities for children designed to get them active before the school bell rings,” she continues.
Some of the most popular activities at camp this year include traditional favorites such as horse-back riding, riflery, swimming, and tennis. “Children at camp certainly don’t complain about being bored because they’re too busy having fun and engaging in exciting activities designed for age and ability,” says Davis. “In addition to the activities typically associated with summer camp, kids this summer are flying through the air on zip lines, climbing bouldering walls, and jumping into lakes on inflatables called Blobs. There’s not a bored face in sight.”
The Association of Alabama Camps represents more than 90 summer camps across the state of Alabama. This year, camps in Alabama will serve an estimated 250,000 people.
Here's who's got spots and when:
Camp Skyline for Girls, Mentone AL
July 6-18
July 20-August 1
Contact www.campskyline.com, call 1-800-448-9279 or email info@campskyline.com
Camp Cosby (YMCA) Alpine (Lake Martin), AL
July 6-11
July 13-18
July 20-25
July 27-August 1
August 3-8
Contact wmcclain@campcosby.org, www.campcosby.org
Marannook Camp (boys and girls), LaFayette, AL
July 20-25
July 27-August 1
Contact www.marannook.org or marannook@mindspring.com
Lookout Mountain Camp for Boys (ages 7-15), Mentone, AL
July 6-18
July 20-August 2
July 6-August 2
Contact www.lookoutmountaincamp.com or call (256) 634-4758
Camp Mac (boys and girls), Talladega National Forest, AL
July 14-August 9
Contact www.campmac.com, office@capmmac.com, or (256) 362-7449
Riverview Camp for Girls, Mentone, AL
July 6-18
July 20-25
July 20- August 1
Go to www.riverviewcamp.com for immediate registration or 800-882-0722 for questions
Camp Coleman (Girl Scouts), Trussville, AL
All remaining sessions through July 25
Day camp accepts boys and girls
Contact the registrar by calling 1-800-734-4541. Camper does not have to be a Girl Scout to attend camp.
Kanawahala Program Center (Girl Scouts), Dunnavant, AL
All remaining sessions through July 25
Contact the registrar by calling 1-800-734-4541. Camper does not have to be a Girl Scout to attend camp.
The available slots were reported to the AAC as of 7/2/08 and are subject change. Please contact individual camp for age, availability, payment arrangements, and other questions.
It’s not too late to get your child off the couch and save the summer from boredom and unending trips to the swimming pool. A few Alabama camps have spaces for children at their camps.
“Parents may think they are out of luck by this point in the summer, but the reality is that camps across the state do have openings for campers,” says Marjorie Davis, spokesperson for the Association of Alabama Camps. “Camps have wonderful activities for children designed to get them active before the school bell rings,” she continues.
Some of the most popular activities at camp this year include traditional favorites such as horse-back riding, riflery, swimming, and tennis. “Children at camp certainly don’t complain about being bored because they’re too busy having fun and engaging in exciting activities designed for age and ability,” says Davis. “In addition to the activities typically associated with summer camp, kids this summer are flying through the air on zip lines, climbing bouldering walls, and jumping into lakes on inflatables called Blobs. There’s not a bored face in sight.”
The Association of Alabama Camps represents more than 90 summer camps across the state of Alabama. This year, camps in Alabama will serve an estimated 250,000 people.
Here's who's got spots and when:
Camp Skyline for Girls, Mentone AL
July 6-18
July 20-August 1
Contact www.campskyline.com, call 1-800-448-9279 or email info@campskyline.com
Camp Cosby (YMCA) Alpine (Lake Martin), AL
July 6-11
July 13-18
July 20-25
July 27-August 1
August 3-8
Contact wmcclain@campcosby.org, www.campcosby.org
Marannook Camp (boys and girls), LaFayette, AL
July 20-25
July 27-August 1
Contact www.marannook.org or marannook@mindspring.com
Lookout Mountain Camp for Boys (ages 7-15), Mentone, AL
July 6-18
July 20-August 2
July 6-August 2
Contact www.lookoutmountaincamp.com or call (256) 634-4758
Camp Mac (boys and girls), Talladega National Forest, AL
July 14-August 9
Contact www.campmac.com, office@capmmac.com, or (256) 362-7449
Riverview Camp for Girls, Mentone, AL
July 6-18
July 20-25
July 20- August 1
Go to www.riverviewcamp.com for immediate registration or 800-882-0722 for questions
Camp Coleman (Girl Scouts), Trussville, AL
All remaining sessions through July 25
Day camp accepts boys and girls
Contact the registrar by calling 1-800-734-4541. Camper does not have to be a Girl Scout to attend camp.
Kanawahala Program Center (Girl Scouts), Dunnavant, AL
All remaining sessions through July 25
Contact the registrar by calling 1-800-734-4541. Camper does not have to be a Girl Scout to attend camp.
The available slots were reported to the AAC as of 7/2/08 and are subject change. Please contact individual camp for age, availability, payment arrangements, and other questions.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
My Eyes, My Eyes. A Reprise, of sorts
Several of you close to the Main Dish got an email or heard the story this summer. I post it now for the good of the group. We had another incident in the car this very afternoon before soccer with hand sanitizer. Muffin, remind me to program Poison Control into my cell phone. Here's the original story and what to do:
The Brainiac is watching the SpongeBob Network downstairs resting before the T-Ball play-off game. I’m upstairs working. Suddenly, I hear loud, awful shrieks of agony: “Ow, ow, ow. Mommy, help!!! HELP!!! I’m blind. I’m BLIND!!!!!”
I don’t think I hit a stair running to him, those words being pretty alarming to a parent. In a burst of wisdom, the child, watching TV, decided that he needed sunscreen (he won’t be going outside for hours, by the way) and starts applying to his face. Of course, it runs into his eyes; hence, the ear-piercing screams akin to amplified nails on a chalkboard. Apparently, sunscreen REALLY BADLY stings when it gets in the eyes. I quickly wet a washcloth and put it on his eyes, but that didn’t work for long. Then I knocked off everything from my bathroom counter, hoisted the kid (boy, he’s heavy!) up there lying down, stuck his head under the faucet and ran water. The screaming intensified as he bumped his head on the faucet trying to … well, I don’t know what he was trying to do. I left him there, told him NOT TO MOVE, and I called the doctor’s office, who told me to call Poison Control. I was surprised since he hadn’t ingested it (Thank GOD!), but the nice lady at Poison Control knew exactly what to say.
You know, I’ve read: “Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, flush thoroughly.” It seems straightforward enough, but now when faced with it I wondered how to properly flush an eye – especially an eye belonging to someone other than me. So, Poison Control Lady told me to put the screaming banshee in the shower for 15 minutes. The Sun-Screamer doesn’t even have to keep their eyes open and it will still work. The eyes may appear blood-shot, but don’t put any eye drops in the eye for 24 hours. He’s totally fine, by the way. Can see SpongeBob clearly from a distance once again.
Side note: I'd been using the sunscreen stick on the boys' faces ALL SUMMER. Why he thought to squirt the stuff on his face ... oh yeah, he's a a boy and boys will do weird, strange things, so just get over it (I'm channeling the Main Squeeze, a successful father of a successfully grown boy).
May you never need this information! But if you do, please note that the same approach applies when hand sanitizer is squirted into the hand and bits of it splash into the eye. Although, a mom feels much more helpless driving down the road away from home at 45 mph than in the comfort of her own abode. Thank goodness for bottled water.
The Brainiac is watching the SpongeBob Network downstairs resting before the T-Ball play-off game. I’m upstairs working. Suddenly, I hear loud, awful shrieks of agony: “Ow, ow, ow. Mommy, help!!! HELP!!! I’m blind. I’m BLIND!!!!!”
I don’t think I hit a stair running to him, those words being pretty alarming to a parent. In a burst of wisdom, the child, watching TV, decided that he needed sunscreen (he won’t be going outside for hours, by the way) and starts applying to his face. Of course, it runs into his eyes; hence, the ear-piercing screams akin to amplified nails on a chalkboard. Apparently, sunscreen REALLY BADLY stings when it gets in the eyes. I quickly wet a washcloth and put it on his eyes, but that didn’t work for long. Then I knocked off everything from my bathroom counter, hoisted the kid (boy, he’s heavy!) up there lying down, stuck his head under the faucet and ran water. The screaming intensified as he bumped his head on the faucet trying to … well, I don’t know what he was trying to do. I left him there, told him NOT TO MOVE, and I called the doctor’s office, who told me to call Poison Control. I was surprised since he hadn’t ingested it (Thank GOD!), but the nice lady at Poison Control knew exactly what to say.
You know, I’ve read: “Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, flush thoroughly.” It seems straightforward enough, but now when faced with it I wondered how to properly flush an eye – especially an eye belonging to someone other than me. So, Poison Control Lady told me to put the screaming banshee in the shower for 15 minutes. The Sun-Screamer doesn’t even have to keep their eyes open and it will still work. The eyes may appear blood-shot, but don’t put any eye drops in the eye for 24 hours. He’s totally fine, by the way. Can see SpongeBob clearly from a distance once again.
Side note: I'd been using the sunscreen stick on the boys' faces ALL SUMMER. Why he thought to squirt the stuff on his face ... oh yeah, he's a a boy and boys will do weird, strange things, so just get over it (I'm channeling the Main Squeeze, a successful father of a successfully grown boy).
May you never need this information! But if you do, please note that the same approach applies when hand sanitizer is squirted into the hand and bits of it splash into the eye. Although, a mom feels much more helpless driving down the road away from home at 45 mph than in the comfort of her own abode. Thank goodness for bottled water.
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