June 2014 HerFamily

June 2014

Happy Father’s Day! Meet the

Family Jason Miller

Robot Apocalypse

North High STEM Program

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.

Diego, age 8Kearney, NECritical Aortic Valve Stenosis

The besT plaCe fOr kids.

Arlin Peak in a lathered-up moment with son, Braylin (6).

features7 Preventing Excessive TV8 Robot Apocalypse – North High STEM Program12 Be the Starfish – Learning to Swim18 The Stress of Growing Up

departments10 Meet the Family: Stay-at-Home Dad, Jason Miller 15 Young Hero: Sama Shah20 Activity: Hitting the Trail22 Education: Educational Games23 Food: Chicken and Leek Puff Pastry Squares24 Food: Hawiian Pizza26 Mom on the Rocks: Happy Father’s Day28 Books: “A” is for The Alchemist29 Fitness: Double-Duty Scissors30 Calendar of Events

4 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

Volume 1 • Issue 12

PUBLISHER

Todd Lemke

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Williams

MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Nelson

EDITORIAL INTERNS

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bev Carlson • Deborah Gleich-Bope

Allison Janda • Cherie Lytle • Leslie Murrell

Jill Reel M.D. • Chris Wolfgang

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o n average, children in the U.S. watch four to six hours of television each day. By the time they are 18 years old, most will have spent more time watching television than in the classroom. While there are programs that can teach our children good

values, there many more programs that can have a poor impact.

TIPS FOR PREVENTING EXCESSIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE TELEVISION VIEWING:

• Alternative activities - Encourage participation in sports, games, hobbies, and music.• Reading - Start reading to your child as an infant. When he or she gets older, encourage reading instead of television.

• Limit viewing - Set a limit of two hours or less per day. Allow extra time for occasional educational programs. Do not put a television in your childrens’ bedrooms.

• Don’t use as a distraction - Although it is easy for parents to use television to distract or “baby-sit” preschool age children, viewing should be limited to programs and videos specifically written for this age group. Preschoolers typically cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality. As a result, many television shows can cause fears.

• Use the TV program guide - Instead of “surfing” for a program of interest, teach your children to search the TV guide to find shows that interest them before turning on the television.

• Forbid violent shows - Pay attention to what shows your child watches. Many of the shows designed for children and teens contain violence, sex, drugs, and alcohol. Often parents must actually watch a show their child is interested in to discover these topics are being addressed. Be clear which shows are okay to watch, and turn off the TV when you don’t approve (see related sidebar).

• Talk about the violence - If your older child does watch shows with violence, point out how it can hurt the victim and their families. It is better to discuss these things with your child than to ignore them.

Excessive amounts of television viewing can be harmful to a child and lead to obesity. It decreases active time that could be spent playing with peers and participating in sports, music, and other activities. Heavy viewing can reduce school performance by interfering with studying and reading.

On the other hand, appropriate television viewing can educate children about different lifestyles and cultures, teach humanity toward others, and instruct on hobbies such as cooking and crafts.

Parents who limit their own television time and watch healthy programs can send a clear message to their children about responsible television viewing.

Preventing ExcessiveTelevision Watching

EXCESSIVE VIEWING OF VIOLENCE MAY:

• Numb a child’s sympathy toward victims of violence

• Cause a child to be excessively apprehensive about personal safety or his or her future

• Cause a young child to play more aggressively after viewing violence on television

Jill Reel, M.D.Boys Town Pediatrics

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 7

featurestory by Jill Reel, M.D. Boys Town Pediatrics

y ou’ve heard the old story repeated time and again: American students are failing to

keep up with students internationally in math and science.

High-tech businesses have more job openings than qualified applicants.

While some curse the darkness, a program at Omaha North High School is shining some light. A fast-growing program, STEM Education, now is offering activity and problem-based, hands-on learning in science, tech- nology, engineering, and math. The STEM Education program, unique to North High School, now includes more than 400 students.

“I can tell you that the push on STEM education has increased dramatically over the past six to seven years, says John Vinchattle, North High’s Magnet Facilitator. The goal is to “address our perceived lack of qualified candidates for high-tech careers.”

It seems that “a push” is an under-

statement. As part of its massive growth, the effort includes a robotics program that has grown from just two students six years ago to about 70 students today. The school anticipates more than 100 youth to be enrolled in the program next year.

In fact, the program grew so much that the school hosted the VEX Robotics tournament in December. In February, the school also hosted the Nebraska State Robotics Championship. The event drew 120 teams and more than 500 students.

“We love to get people into our building,” says Jeremy Wiemer, robotics teacher and coach. “We have an excellent facility that works out very well for a tournament like this and great staff at the building and district level that coordinate these large events.”

Teams in the event came from as far away as Colorado.

The tournaments are surprisingly involved. Event judges first interview teams before competition begins. Participants present each robot to the judges and

Robot Apocalypse

The Omaha North High School

STEM Program

8 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

story by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann school feature

explain the process they used to build it. Judges ask the teams questions and students are evaluated based on their knowledge of their robots as well as the concepts they’ve learned. Students then create alliances with other participants and work together to build a championship-caliber machine.

“We strive to offer a top-notch, 21st-century education,” Vinchattle says.

Ultimately, the goal of the STEM program is to help college-bound students achieve a well-rounded education with an emphasis on STEM.

“We are very proud of our students and their accomplishments,” Vinchattle says. “We work every day to keep challenging them with relevant real-world experiences.

“I think we’ll continue to thrive because of the students that make up the program, the teachers that challenge the kids, and the community that supports our mission.”

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 9

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10 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

story by David Williams photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family - father’s day edition

uestions. Jason Miller gets lots of questions. And more than a few funny looks. The grocery store. The zoo. The park. Just about everywhere he takes his 5-year-old-son, Jack.

“The bar is set low for dads,” says Miller, a stay-at-home father. “It’s set so incredibly low that I am made to feel like a hero for doing what we do—doing the stay-at-home dad thing. But I don’t see it that way. I see it as just…being a dad.”

“Jason doesn’t fit into a box,” says University of Nebraska – Omaha sociologist Julie Pelton. That’s one way to describe what sociologists do. They put people into “boxes” and study them in terms of how many of what types of boxes constitute the breadth and depth of human behavior. “Jason doesn’t fit in the box that most men occupy,” she continues, so he gets questions.

An annotation to the preceding paragraph is in order. Let’s be clear to point out that the full name of the sociologist/anthropologist cited above is Julie Pelton-Miller. That’s right. As in Jason’s wife.

“It’s nice to not have to worry about some of the things that other working moms have to deal with,” Julie says. “Day care. What if my child gets sick? Calls from school. My colleagues have to work around all that stress, but I don’t have to. I know that

Jason, Julie, and Jack mugging for the camera.

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 11

Jack is always here with Jason.” The decision to have Jason raise Jack came when the Illinois

natives moved to Omaha for Julie’s job with the university. He had worked in radio as both a DJ and station manager in his home state and in Pennsylvania. When the couple did a mental balance sheet contrasting the cost of day care and other drawbacks of Jason going to work against the freedom allowed by a new way of life, they decided to take the stay-at-home dad plunge.

Jason, who has also worked as a stand-up comedian, blogs about his experiences on his website, OmahaDad.com. The act of writing, he says, is more than just a creative and cathartic endeavor.

“A lot of it is for Jack,” Jason explains. “He’ll have the blog stories to look back on some day. It’s the story of his life.”

Being a stay-at-home dad means that Jason can turn Jack’s days into an almost non-stop exploration of the world around them. Regular outings include Fontenelle Forest, the Omaha Children’s Museum, the Durham Museum, and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.

Jack’s favorite destination is the zoo’s Lied Jungle because, he says, “They have bats.” Asked why he is so mesmerized when the creepy critters dart all around him in the dankest corners of the

steamy jungle, the tot with enormous brown eyes and a cascade of blond locks takes on a quizzical look that sets his 5-year-old noggin’ to work.

“Because they’re bats!” Jack chirps as if to add an emphatic ‘duh’ to the apparently adults-just-don’t-get-it question that had been posed to him.

“Every day is what we want to make it,” Jason adds. “Every day can be an adventure. Being able to be with Jack this way is the greatest, best decision we ever made.”

Getting a few hours of quiet time on Father’s Day isn’t that big of a deal to Jason. After all, he already gets most every Sunday morning “off” as it is. That’s when Julie and Jack have a routine of grocery shopping and other errands that allow the stay-at-home dad some down time to use as he chooses.

“I feel like I was born to do this,” Jason says. “I used to think that radio was a great place to be. Now I know that being a dad is the best and most rewarding job in the world.”

Read more about the world of Jason, Jack and Julie at

OmahaDad.com.

wBE the StarfishKids Learn to Swim by Mimicking Nature

And they have a great track record of working really well.”

Schoenherr’s instructors use a technique called “Guided Discovery.” Much of the trick is getting kids to visualize swimming strokes by comparing them to movements the children already know. The result is a type of love more adorable than tough.

For the really little folks, instructions might sound like: “Show me what a frog looks like.” Mimicking the movements of the frog help the children get the basic idea of the breaststroke. “Show me what a starfish looks like.” That helps them learn to lie on their backs in the water. Playing dolphin helps children get their hips moving for the butterfly stroke.

anna teach a kid to swim? Just toss ‘em in the pond. They’ll figure it out mighty quick.

Wait. Don’t. Bad idea. As you might imagine, this isn’t the teaching technique used by modern swimming instructors. Nowadays, that old “baptism-by-water” trick would probably get you a call from Child Protective Services.

Today’s young children have it pretty easy. And, pretty fun. And, all that fun they’re having is pretty dang effective.

“There’s definitely more fun and games than in the past,” says Jill Schoenherr, a program director for the Maple Street YMCA. “But all the games and things that seem silly are all aimed at teaching.

12 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

story by Robert Nelsonfeature

“Put your ear in the water to hear the fishies. Put your mouth in the water to talk to the fishies.” This teaches youngsters how to breathe while swimming. Another game: As kids lie on their back in the water, the instructor tells them to look for some imaginary something-or-other on the ceiling. The idea: Get their mind off the fact they’re in the unnerving position of lying in water.

Some older-school instructors who join Schoenherr’s team aren’t always sure about all the fun and games.

“They kind of wonder why there’s all the playtime,” she says. “Then it dawns on them that all this has a very specific goal.”

Of course, as children move into the

higher-level classes, the starfishies give way to much more precise instructions on fundamentals. They start getting that push to becoming the best they can be.

But any serious swimmer has to love swimming. And, and Schoenherr points out, if someone helps you love swimming early on, you’re much more likely to become a lifetime swimmer.

“You try to make swimming so fun they want to come back,” she says. “The idea is to give them a love for a sport that can be a healthy part of their whole life. That’s pretty cool if it can all start with a starfish.”

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 13

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i t isn’t every day that you get a proclamation in your honor. It’s more uncommon still when the name on

the proclamation is that of a 15-year-old. But there it was in black and white. After six uses of the word ‘Whereas,’ Sama Shah’s name was emblazoned on the official City of Bennington Proclamation.

Shah, who just completed her freshman year at Brownell-Talbot School, was recognized at a recent city council meeting for earmarking birthday gift money to purchase and donate books to the Bennington Public Library. She had noticed that the library had precious few titles with information on the subject of her faith and culture—Islam—and Shah worked with library director Lisa Flaxbeard to select a group of eight books appropriate for different interests and learning levels.

Islam in the news, as Shah knows, doesn’t always paint an accurate, let alone complete picture of her faith, her people, and their customs and culture.

“I want people to understand,” Shah says, “that Muslims cannot be defined by headlines. Too many people think ‘Islam’ and ‘terrorism.’ That is not who I am. There are so many good things that people also need to know about us.”

Sama’s parents, Rafia and Dr. Inaganti Shah, began the birthday gift model of philanthropy when Sama’s older brother, Saif (now 19), was faced with his first candle on a cake. Sama’s giving tradition has also included Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides

hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical problems.

“Now that Sama is 15,” says Rafia, “she has had the chance to give to a number of charities. We hope that the spirit of giving continues for both Sama and Saif,” into adulthood.

Shah is involved in tennis, golf, and cheering at her school, and she plays the violin and piano. She is also is a member of the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra. Sama and Saif are familiar faces at the library, where they have volunteered in the library’s summer reading program.

“We are grateful for and inspired by Sama’s thoughtful generosity, which is helping the Bennington Public Library in its mission to welcome and support all people in their enjoyment of reading and pursuit of lifelong learning,” says Flaxbeard.

“Her generosity,” Bennington Mayor Gordon Mueller says in the proclamation, “is an important reminder that our library is a precious public resource which exists through the support of both public and private dollars.”

And what is Shah’s favorite pastime when there is so much as the smallest of breaks in her hectic schedule of school, sports, music, and volunteering?

Easy question, she replies. “I’m probably reading!

Young Hero proudly sponsored by:

Young Hero proudly sponsored by:

Young HeroSama Shah

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 15

story by David Williams photography by Bill Sitzmannyoung hero

pFine Diningin the Park

oor mayonnaise. It’s like the Boy in the Bubble. It has a famous inability to go outside.

So, of course, the first rule of exceptional picnicking is to hold the mayo. “In most cases, it’s just best to leave the mayonnaise or anything like it at home,” says Michael Mattheis, who oversees catering and the Café at Spirit World in Omaha. “It’s just has a chance to get ugly quick.”

“Anything like mayonnaise” means anything that doesn’t taste good or last at room temperature. Will the food shape-change at room temperature? Will it spoil? Will its moisture transfer to foods next to it? Will it brown? Will it turn all botulicious?

Cut fruits—particularly apples and bananas—don’t travel well. Soft breads go soggy. Thin-sliced meats or cheeses can slime or harden. Lettuce and tomatoes droop. All can degrade within the half hour when exposed to a summer day.

Fear not. With a little planning and the right foods, Mattheis says, a picnic can still be as tasty as many less-scenic indoor meals.

He suggests starting with the right bread. His favorite is French baguette because “it’s hard enough that, by the time you get to the park, it has softened up perfectly.” Sour dough also works, he says, as does marble rye.

Mattheis’s favorite picnic meat is salami sopressata, but most any cured meats are good. Other meats should be thickly sliced.

Finally, a good cheese, he says, is an absolute must. Cheeses travel well and

many taste their best at room temperature. Mattheis is particularly fond of two regional cheeses—Cottonwood River Cheddar made in Central Kansas and Jisa’s Farmstead Cheese made in Brainard, Neb.

For mom and dad: A sauvignon blanc is a nice wine for a warm afternoon in the park. Mattheis himself actually prefers a good locally-brewed IPA or light lager craft beer.

Of course, if you’ll be spending much time outside before you eat, keep all of your foods in a cooler. Also, if you won’t eat for a while, do as much combining of ingredients and toppings at the picnic site as possible.

“All those sandwich ingredients will start to bleed together in time,” he says. “If you can keep them in separate containers until meal time, it will all be much fresher.”

Oh, as for the much-maligned mayonnaise, Mattheis did say that it need not be abandoned completely as long as you treat it with care. Keep it cold and keep it separate from food until dinnertime and the mayonnaise should be fine. As far as possibly making you sick, that’s mostly a misnomer, he says.

“It was dangerous back when it was homemade with raw eggs,” he says. “Even if it looks odd, any store-bought mayonnaise probably won’t make you sick because it doesn’t have anything raw.

“If you pack the right foods,” he says, “you can have a really enjoyable meal. And obviously, you can’t beat the surroundings of a really nice picnic spot.”

16 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

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m

The Stress of Growing Up

y stress level is off the charts, Mom,” says my 16-year-old son. “We took a screening at school today, and my numbers were really high.”

I already knew that he was dealing with a lot—honors classes and the pressure to make good grades, band practice, learning to drive, stacks of letters and emails from college recruiters. Isn’t it that way for most Omaha-area high school kids though? But this was my easy-going, even-tempered son telling me that his stress was becoming overwhelming. It was a jolt for me to realize that he could feel so much pressure living in an incredibly supportive home. He’s not dealing with some of the major stressors that a many kids face every day: poverty, bullying, unhealthy family environment, instability, abuse or trauma. He’s a good student with many good friends and a solid support system.

When I started asking the experts, I learned there really is very little that can insulate today’s teenagers from hardcore stress. Call it a consequence of our “instant-on, always-plugged-in” society. While those of us who grew up before smartphones had our own issues to deal with, today’s teenagers are exposed to and being forced to manage adult-level worries, and then some. We were concerned about being accepted at school, but now kids have the anxiety of their online presence too. We knew we needed good grades and a solid ACT score, but the competition for college spots

and scholarships is so great now that high school kids essentially have to create resumes full of great scores, community service, volunteer work, and more—just to be considered. Just this year, Stanford turned away 95 percent of the students who applied. Ninety-five percent! Imagine all of those kids who had their hearts set on Stanford and the fractions of test points or that one “B” in French dashing their hopes.

I decided to ask my 13-year-old daughter when she first started feeling stressed out about school. “Fifth or sixth grade,” she told me. “That’s when I first started really worrying about making good grades and having enough time to get all of my homework done.” My son took the ACT for the first time in seventh grade! Granted, we live in a school district that was recently named the “most challenging in Nebraska,” but still…

The pressure escalates every grade level and, unlike adults who can change jobs when they don’t like their situation, kids are pretty much stuck with where they are.

The general signs of chronic stress in teens are the same as adults: moodiness or a sudden change in attitude, short tempers, decreased work efficiency or motivation, depression or changes in eating and sleeping habits. Some teens will also turn to substance abuse to try to relax.

A new survey by the American Psychological Association (APA)

“

18 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

story by Bev Carlson, APR, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraskafeature

indicates that during the school year today’s teens are reporting far higher stress levels than adults. During the summer, it’s almost the same as adult stress levels—around five on a 10-point scale. Thirty-one percent of teens also reported feeling overwhelmed, and 30 percent reported feeling depressed or sad because of stress. And to take it to the next scary step, depression is the leading cause of suicide, which is the third leading cause of death in young people aged 10-24.

It made me realize that expecting a young person to just suck it up, get off the video games, and work harder might just be the wrong answer for a stressed-out kid. “It underscores the importance of keeping communication channels open,” says Ryan Suhr of Lutheran Family Services. “Parents and guardians should be vigilant and mindful of what’s happening with their kids. Sometimes just being able to say ‘I just can’t handle it anymore,’ or ‘I need help’ out loud to someone who cares can make a difference. A sense of humor is also important, as is a focus on altruism. We need to help kids get out of their own heads and go help someone in need. ”

And help them feel in control and empowered as they step into the early stages of adult hood. Let your son or daughter know “You can do this. I’ve got your back.”

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 19

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The Road

HomePrescription Drug Abuse Among TeensNebraska’s

Premier Wealth AdvisorsThe Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson

Hitting the Trail(without hitting the trail)

b

20 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

story by Robert Nelson activity

eyond Fontenelle Forest and DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, most of the significant day hikes in Eastern Nebraska or Western Iowa take you up and down the steep bluff lines of the region’s major rivers.

Basically, in our landscape, if you don’t want to hike cornfields, you have to get back to the rivers.

Those bluffs in places such as Mahoney, Platte River and Indian Cave State Parks often offer the closest thing to a wilderness experience in the area, but they also present the closest thing to a real hazard. Typically, you’re walking on loose dirt, wood chips, rock aggregates, or compacted clays. The footing can be tricky when dry, downright unnerving when moist.

Not trying to alarm, here. Just be mindful when you hit the trails, especially with older parents or young children.

A few tips for a safe and enjoyable hike:

THE RIGHT SHOES You don’t need $500 mountaineering boots. You just need

good traction, something that protects your ankles from twists, something that limits the bend in your foot, and, depending on the forecast, something that either breathes air or repels water. Gore-Tex optional. Any light hiker will usually do. Kids will probably lobby to wear their athletic shoes. This isn’t the Front Range. Unless it’s muddy, the Nikes are usually okay.

A WALKING STICK This may feel like you’re overdoing it, but, again, those slopes

can be trickier than you realize. Walking sticks are cheap (even sometimes free on the forest floor) and they can be the difference between a close call and a fall.

WATER, WATER, WATERIn our area, hikers very often ignore the hydration issue. Sure,

you’ll survive on these relatively short trails. But you may be awfully thirsty, especially if you make a few wrong turns.

BUG REPELLENT What the region lacks in 14,000-foot peaks, it makes up for in

mosquitos and ticks.

SUNSCREEN You may be out longer than you planned and you’ll still get

plenty of sun in the woods.

A SNACK Again, this may not be a life or death issue, but, especially

with kids, you’ll be a hero when you pull out treats at the halfway point.

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bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 21bestofomaha.com HerFamily • May 2014 21

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EducationalGames

m any of us are aware of the importance of encouraging our children to play educational games, and many of us can name several such games from our own

childhoods—think Scrabble, Boggle, chess, and map puzzles. Educational games have come a long way since we were young, and many of the newer games are just as fun for adults as they are for kids. They’re also surprisingly affordable.

In my home, we love a game called Double Shutter. Players roll the dice and find different combinations of numbered tiles to flip down using the number they rolled. It’s strategic, mathematic, and a lot of fun. This game sells at big box stores for about $20.

Another math game parents may want to try is Head Full of Numbers (about $16). Players use a score pad to record numeric equations they can make after rolling a special set of dice. It is comparable to Boggle, but uses numbers instead of letters.

A third great math-centric choice is The Allowance Game (about $17). Players travel around a board collecting an allowance by doing chores and having opportunities to spend their earnings. This game has received great reviews and might be a more realistic experience for children than some other moneymaking games.

If math games are not what you’re looking for, the Melissa & Doug Smarty Pants Card Set (about $13) is comprised of over 100 trivia cards with a variety of puzzles, brainteasers, and other games that test your child’s knowledge. They come in different levels that range from preschool to 5th grade and are convenient games to take on-the-go.

You may also want to try the Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game (about $20). Players work to match and collect colored acorns while also using strategy to steal acorns from others.

Playing educational games with your children is a great way to support their learning, encourage the acquisition of new knowledge, and build great memories for you and your child—all while having a great time.

22 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

story by Deborah Gleich-Bopeeducation

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WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY?

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacm.orgto begin your child’s

LEARNING!

ometimes you just want to pull out all the stops. For maximum impression on family and friends, nothing beats comfort food, and what’s more comforting than flaky puff pastry? No one has to know

you grabbed it from the frozen food section. After all, you were the one who made the creamy chicken and leek stew that hides inside.

ingredients• 3 Tbsp butter• 1 leek• 2 cloves garlic• 1 lb boneless,

skinless chicken breasts

• 3 Tbsp cornstarch

• ½ cup dry

white wine• ½ cup chicken

stock• ½ cup heavy

cream• 2 sheets frozen

puff pastry• 1 egg

preparation1. Preheat oven to 400°F.2. Melt butter in large skillet. Slice leek

thinly and cook with crushed garlic until leek softens. Cube chicken, salt and pepper to taste, and cook until chicken is browned lightly.

3. Add blended cornstarch and wine, then stock and cream. Stir until mixture thickens. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes.

4. Cut each thawed pastry sheet in half. Place pastry pieces on greased baking sheet.

5. Spoon a quarter of the chicken mixture on half of one piece, leaving a ½-inch border. Brush edges with egg. Fold pastry over to enclose the filling and pinch pastry edges tightly to seal.

6. Cut two slits in the top of each pastry and brush with egg.

7. Bake, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until browned.

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1 Calories:

734; Fat: 49g; Saturated fat: 27g;

Carbohydrates: 37g; Fiber: 2g; Protein:

32g stitutes to ingredients may alter the

recipe’s nutritional content.

Chicken and Leek Puff Pastry Squares

s

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 23

story by Chris Wolfgang photography by Bill Sitzmannfood

ango and pineapple are fun pizza toppings on this sunny and sweet Hawaiian pizza. For more healthy recipes, visit HealthyKohlsKids.com. The Healthy Kohl’s Kids program is

a partnership between Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Kohl’s Department Stores to educate children and parenting about healthy nutrition and fitness.

ingredients• 1/2 cup

chopped red bell pepper

• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

• 1/2 cup chopped red onion

• 1/2 cup chopped mango

• 1/2 cup chopped pineapple

• 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 1 (14-inch) store-bought whole wheat pizza crust

preparation1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a large

bowl, combine all ingredients except pizza crust.

2. Spread mixture over pizza crust. Bake pizza until the toppings are hot and the crust is browned, about 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Cut into 4 slices for lunch, or 16 slices for an appetizer.

Nutrition Facts: Calories: 224; Saturated

Fat: 0; Cholesterol: 0; Sodium: 348 mg;

Carbohydrates: 44g; Fiber: 8g; Protein: 8g

Hawaiian Pizza

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24 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

text and photography provided by Children’s Hospital and Medical Center food

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lHappy Father’s Day From Mom on the Rocks

26 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

story by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

ast month, I discussed my Mother’s Day request: to be allowed the guilt-free pleasure of a few minutes of peace and quiet in the bathroom. I might have suggested that my husband, Chris, has the luxury of uninterrupted time in the

bathroom. I was immediately corrected with precise dates and times of when his bathroom time has been violated as well.

SuperDad to Max and Lucy was outraged at my claims. As it turns out, our kids practice gender equity when it comes to bathroom interference policies. We’re pretty sure they conspire against us. “Psst! I just heard Dad go in the bathroom. Since I messed with Mom about finding my hairband this morning, it’s your duty to (heh, heh, I just said ‘doodie’ while talking about the bathroom)…”

And so it goes.I’d like to list all the reasons I think Chris is the best dad in the world, but the magazine

won’t let me have a four-page layout. You’ll have to trust me on this one. The man is a brilliant father because he’s a loving husband.

There is no better way to be a dad than to show daughters what kind of man to marry and show his son what kind of man to be. Every day, Chris is a how-to-rock-life-out reference for his kids. How do you reward that with a tie?

So this year for Father’s Day, in lieu of the ties and funny T-shirts, and instead of the grill accessories, we’ll simply reciprocate: A day in peace.

Just like me for Mother’s Day, I know he’ll secretly hate this. It’s forbidden to scoot the very beings who made us parents out of the house on our individual celebratory days of parenthood. What we want, treasure, and are starting to scrap for is simple time with our kids. We know our days with our kids tapping on the bathroom door are numbered.

I can’t really promise a day of peace and quiet for the guy anyway, as it is our annual tradition to spend the entire weekend at a track meet. For Father’s Day, we’ll wake up early and forego the breakfast in bed. We’ll spend the day at Burke Stadium. Chris will spend two days coaching Max and Lucy and many other kids. I’ll glance over at my brood, snap some pictures, and get sentimental. The kids will roll their eyes and then go hug their dad, an attempt to dote on him, all while deflating my Father’s Day pictorial essay.

But as soon as Chris needs a bathroom, I will stand guard, like a bouncer, protecting him from his own children. He’ll get just a glimmer of peace on the throne. Because he did that for me on Mother’s Day. In times like these I realize the best way to undo kids uniting in force against us is for parents to unite in force against them. One way or another, we’ll win back our peace and quiet. At least in the bathroom.

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a

“A” is for TheAlchemistBy James Larson

fter 28 years directing one of the nation’s top youth theaters, James Larson knows how cats

talk. They tend to be a bit snooty. They certainly like to think they’re smarter than your average talking dog.

So shifting to writing children’s literature after decades directing the Omaha Theater Company for Young People wasn’t that difficult, Larson says. Especially since Larson also has written stage adaptions for some of America’s most beloved children’s books.

“Writing fiction is quite a bit of fun,” says Larson, who adapted, among others, The Little Engine That Could and Mercer Mayer’s There’s an Alligator Under My Bed for national tours. “I’m usually limited to the space on a stage. In a book, nothing limits your imagination.”

Larson’s new book, “A” is for The

Alchemist, is an absolute joy, a book seemingly written by a seasoned literary veteran rather than a first-time novelist. Of course, Larson brings to writing a lifetime as a master storyteller, particularly of stories meant to engage and entertain young minds. “A” is for The Alchemist, a tale of a brother and sister and their cat and dog pitted against a mad scientist, has exactly what fans of the Theater Company would expect from Larson: Vivid, fun, young characters, dastardly antagonists, a frolicking adventure and, yes, some lovable and pitch-perfect animal characters.

story by Robert Nelsonbooks

28 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

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tDouble-Duty Scissors

his simple workout is based on a classic scissors move, but is modified here to extend the exercise’s benefits to upper-body elements of the arms, abs, and obliques.

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 29

text by David Williams photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1. Lie on your right side with legs stacked and right elbow down.

2. Use your right hand to support your head. Position your left palm flat on the floor at chest level.

3. Push off the floor with your left hand to lift your upper body while simultaneously raising your left leg as high as possible.

4. Return to your original position and do a total of 12 reps.

5. Reverse position to lie on your left side and repeat with the same 12 reps.

6. Cycle through three sets of this fat-burning workout.

Exercise

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DINOS: THE BIG DIGTHROUGH SEPTEMBER 7, OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM,

500 S 20TH ST. Grab a shovel and dig in to Omaha Children’s Museum’s summer blockbuster, Dinos: The Big Dig. Uncover secrets of the past in this 10,000 square-foot exhibit featuring life-size robotic dinosaurs. Dig, explore and unearth fossils in the two-story dig pit, make your way through the 40-foot fossil climber, take your photo with a T-Rex and climb aboard the Dino-Train for a ride. – ocm.org.

THE ROSE’S PRODUCTION OF TARZANJUNE 6-22, THE ROSE THEATER, 2001 FARNAM ST. After a storm leaves Tarzan orphaned in the jungle, he is adopted by a caring family of apes. As he grows, he realizes he is not like them—a fact his gorilla father never lets him forget. When humans arrive in the jungle, Tarzan is suddenly caught between two worlds. Best for ages 4-11. $20-$25. Thurs & Fri /7 pm; Sat & Sun /2 pm. 402-345-4849 – rosetheater.org.

HEALTHY KIDS DAY: A YMCA INITIATIVEJUNE 14, AKSARBEN VILLAGE, 67TH & CENTER. Healthy Kids Day is a national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids by providing a day full of fun activities to stimulate the body and mind. F/11 am-2 pm. 402-496-1616 – aksarbenvillage.com

ZOOMJUNE 14-15 OMAHA’S HENRY DOORLY ZOO & AQUAR-

IUM, 3701 S 10TH. See cool classic cars, antique cars and environmentally friendly cars while exploring exhibits. Fast Action Motorsports Entertainment will have simulator racing and tire changing tournaments. 9-3 p.m. Free with zoo admission. 402-733-8401 – omahazoo.com

FOR THE FAMILY

OMAHA STORM CHASERSTHROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, WERNER PARK, 12356 BALLPARK

WAY. Batter up! The Triple-A champion Omaha Storm Chasers continue a defense of their title with 12 home games in June.

NEBRASKA CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY’S SAND IN THE CITYJUNE 6-8, CENTURYLINK CENTER OMAHA, 455 N 10TH

ST. Kick off your summer by attending the area’s ultimate beach party. Nearly 400 tons of sand will transform the middle of downtown Omaha into a beach. View sand sculptures, vote for your favorite, and enjoy great food and local entertainment on the main stage. Enjoy the in-teractive Kid Zone, bounce houses, face paint-ing, balloon twisting and other kids’ games and activities. Free. Sat/10 am-8 pm; Sun/11 am-5 pm. 402-451-0787 – sandinthecityomaha.com.

OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVALJUNE 6-8, GENE LEAHY MALL, 1203 FARNAM ST. The Arts Festival features 135 of the nation’s finest visual artists, a stage full of rich multicultural musical performances and a hands-on Chil-dren’s Fair. In addition, TasteFest offers a large variety of food vendors. Free. 10am-10pm. 402-345-5401 – summerarts.org.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEINTHROUGH JUNE 29, OMAHA COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE,

6915 CASS ST. IT’S ALIVE! The Mel Brooks hit, Young Frankenstein, is the riotously funny story of Dr. Frankenstein (that’s Fronkensteen) and his adventures as he embraces the family name and creates a monster with his partners, hunchbacked Igor (that’s Eye-gore), voluptuous Inga, and in spite of his prudish fiancée, Eliz-abeth. $21-$40. Wed-Sat/7:30 pm; Sun/2 pm. 402-553-0800 – omahaplayhouse.com.

FOR MOM & DAD

OMAHA ARTISTS, INC. THROUGH JUNE 17, LAURITZEN GARDENS, 100 BAN-

CROFT ST. An exhibition of art depicting flowers, landscapes and botanical themes in a variety of media by local artists. Mediums include: oil, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, linocut prints, photography, jewelry, encaustic, pastel and graphite. $7. 9 am-5pm daily. 402-346-4002 – lauritzengardens.org.

MAYA ANGELOUJUNE 9, ORPHEUM THEATER, 409 S 16TH ST. Hailed as one of the greatest speakers of our time, Maya Angelou’s words have been a source of inspira-tion, comfort, encouragement, and strength for millions of people around the world. She will mesmerize you with her vigor and fill you with the fire of her spoken word. Enjoy your evening with the living legend, Maya Angelou. $40-$90. 7:30 pm. 402-345-0606 – omahaperformingarts.org

COLLEGE WORLD SERIESJUNE 14-24/25, 2014, TD AMERITRADE PARK OMAHA,

1200 MIKE FAHEY ST. The pinnacle of college base-ball played in Omaha for more than 60 years. For tickets: 866-208-0048 or at ncaa.com/cwstickets.com

BANK OF THE WEST CELEBRATES AMERICAJUNE 27, MEMORIAL PARK, 6005 UNDERWOOD AVE.

Free concert with spectacular fireworks finale. Artists include Blues Traveler, Sugar Ray, Uncle Kracker and Smash Mouth. 6-10 pm. – celebratesamerica.com.

30 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

Calendar of EventsDinos: The Big Dig College World Series

bestofomaha.com HerFamily • June 2014 31

Summer Reading Program

Presented by

2014

Visit omahalibrary.org to find out more & sign up.

May 31-July 31Kids’ & Teens’ ProgramGet a prize pack by reading or listening for 10 hours AND collecting 10 virtual badges from a variety of activities!

Adults’ Program Collect any 10 virtual badges and be entered in a drawing for gift certificates and memberships to area entertainment venues.

Prizes available beginning June 1, while supplies last.

Kids’ & Teens’ Prize Pack:• Coupon sheet• Collapsible water bottle• Book• Storm Chasers vouchers

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To be happy for no reasonTo always be curious

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32 HerFamily • June 2014 omahamagazine.com

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