Kamloops Momma Issue 7

Kamloops Momma June/July 2011 1

TIPS For Taking

Great Photos of Your Children

Things We Things We Things We Things We LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...

Summer Summer Summer Summer Fun GuideFun GuideFun GuideFun Guide

It’s Our First Birthday Celebration!

New Look! New Features! New Fun!New Look! New Features! New Fun!New Look! New Features! New Fun!New Look! New Features! New Fun!

TIPS For Taking

Great Photos of Your Children

New Feature:

Things We Things We Things We Things We LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...

Summer Summer Summer Summer Fun GuideFun GuideFun GuideFun Guide

It’s Our First Birthday Celebration!

New Look! New Features! New Fun!New Look! New Features! New Fun!New Look! New Features! New Fun!New Look! New Features! New Fun!

The free magazine for local moms...and dads too!

7

June/July 2011


O ne year ago, I stood timidly at my Canada Day

booth, gripping tightly to the first issue of Kamloops

Momma. I was terrified. What if people didn’t like

it? What if no one wanted it? What if I had to throw them

away?

Yes, in retrospect, I was just being silly. It’s shiny and

free…not exactly a hard sell. But still, I had put so much into

it. At the time I was growing a baby in my belly, but I felt

like the magazine was my baby too. Imagine how you

would feel if someone said they didn’t like your baby? And,

I’ll admit, criticism and me aren’t best friends. Well, I survived the debut and am happy to say that the

magazine has survived to see its first birthday. I guess you

could say it’s done more than survive.

And it’s because of you: the readers - the parents, grand-parents, caregivers, and community members that have embraced Kamloops

Momma and helped to make it what it is today. To you I give my sincerest

thanks.

Of course, my family has had a little something to do with the magazine’s suc-

cess too! - my daughters who continue to inspire me everyday; my sweet baby

who has spent more than her share of time cozied up in my arms while I work on

the computer; my not-so-little-anymore girl who plays ‘magazine seller’ on a

daily basis; my husband, the self-proclaimed ‘Director of Distribution,’ who has

mastered delivering the magazine to 30 places/hour while I still struggle to do

more than 3; and my own momma, who I can always count on for advice,

babysitting, and late night editing.

I started Kamloops Momma with the intent of creating a local resource that

would connect the parenting community and, through it, I have discovered what

a truly amazing community we have. I have met remarkable people, heard ex-

traordinary stories, and been honoured to share them with you.

As we embark into our sophomore year, I am giddy with the possibilities.

What stories will people share? Who will I meet? What kind of trouble will my

girls get into next? Oh! I cant wait to see!

— Courtney Charlton, editor

To share your ideas and comments, contact us at [email protected]

or find us at facebook.com/kamloopsmommamagazine.

On the Cover: Serena Hughes has a great time ‘smashing’

an enormous cupcake for her first birthday

celebration.

Photo by Lisa DiGeso of Milk & Honey Photography. Lisa's style is fun, whimsical,

and upbeat. She loves to incorporate fun

props, vintage chairs, cute hats and aims to

make art that warms hearts! She is a natural

light & studio photographer and photographs

maternity, newborns and babies under 1.5

years of age. For more information, check

out www.milkandhoneyphotography.ca.

Letter from a Kamloops Momma

A Bit of Reflection….

is the fun, reliable publication connecting local families to each other and to our community. We provide information about regional events, resources and businesses, as well as articles intended to inspire, enlighten, and empower parents and caregivers.

As a local resource, we want our community to get involved. We encourage and accept submissions from any person, business, or organization sharing our goal to strengthen our parenting community.

Kamloops Momma is published every two months and available for free at businesses and organizations throughout our region. Read-

ers can also download the magazine online and subscribe to have it delivered right to their door.

Kamloops Momma Magazine Published by Courtney Charlton, Editor Contact: 778-472-0020 [email protected] www.kamloopsmomma.com facebook.com/kamloopsmommamagazine All rights reserved. No written or illustrated part of this magazine may be reproduced, except brief quotations in articles or reviews, without permission from the editor and individual authors.

A Look Inside Kamloops Momma...

Devyn Jordan, 2

Riley, 3 and Kayla

Jessie Boileau, 2

Mia Hunter, 6 months

Brandon Dupuis, 3, and Kalem Dupuis, 2 months

Want Kamloops Momma delivered right to your door? Subscribe for just $20/year!

Resources: 9999 Things We Love 13131313 Birthday Party Directory

18181818 Community Business Directory 21212121 Dear Aunty 24 24 24 24 Get Connected 30303030 Community Events Calendar

5555 Doing the Dance The art of balancing work and family

6666 The Momma Makeover Revealed

Danielle Campbell

8888 Taking Great Pictures of Your Children Tips for capturing that perfect shot

10101010 Can I have a Gold Star? Pretty Please!

Following a first-time mom from final trimester to 1st birthday

11111111 The Mompreneur Minute A look at local moms with businesses

12121212 The Blooming Garden

A plant perfect party idea

15151515 The Summer Fun Guide

20202020 Prenatal Massage Therapy

Good for you and for baby

22222222 Moms with Cameras

Photo Feature

23232323 And the World Will Live as One

Visiting an inclusive childcare centre

24242424 The Little Moments A dad’s perspective

26262626 Travels in Tuktoyaktak

An educational adventure

28282828 Music Education: Priceless

Visiting an inclusive child care centre

Kamloops Momma


By Jennifer Howatt

I think I started babysitting before I was old enough to take

the official babysitting course offered in the small, northern

British Columbian community where I lived. I loved babies

and kids of all ages, and apparently back in the 80’s, some

parents were okay leaving their kids with a ten-year old.

It was a pretty safe town, but I like to think that those parents

knew I was mature and responsible even at a young age. Be-

sides, they could obviously tell that I really cared about their

kids. I was sad to leave ‘my kids’ when we finally moved to Kamloops in 1990, but I soon met new families and established

new bonds with their children as well. I continued to babysit

well into my early 20’s, when I finally got too busy with univer-

sity, part-time jobs, friends and dating, and then a career and

marriage.

So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that, after having

my first baby girl, Hayley, and commencing maternity leave, I

missed my job. I missed my colleagues and clients. I missed

the challenge of projects and deadlines. I loved Hayley, of

course, but I sure struggled with the adjustment of being at

home all the time. Not that I thought it would be the same as

my previous babysitting experiences, but somehow I guess I

thought that because I liked children so much, I would love

being at home with my baby and dread the day when I would

have to return to work. Instead, I found myself regularly

checking my work email, stopping in for visits and sometimes

(gasp) longing for my first day back on the job. Guilt began to

settle in.

When Hayley turned 1, I returned to work fulltime and she

attended daycare. Although I missed my time at home with her

– the spontaneous week-day activities and outings, the clean

and organized home and, above all, being there for major

milestones such as her first words and first steps – I was happy

to be back at work. (I do realize that I am one of the lucky ones

who loves her job.) Evenings, weekends, and holidays were

precious family time now, but after a Sunday of coloring ten

pictures and setting up ten dance parties, I was always secret-

ly relieved to go back to work on Monday morning. Sigh…

more guilt.

Flash forward to present day and I again find myself at home on maternity leave with Hayley and her baby sister, Megan.

Life is busier now with my 3-year old and 8-month old. (We’ve

had four dance parties today already). I know it will get busier

when I return to work and have to master the art of the “work/

life dance.” With only 4 months remaining in my maternity

leave, I try to appreciate be-

ing home fulltime with them

now. I miss my job again, but

at least I’m not surprised by

that this time around and I

guess I am beginning to get

used to the guilt!

I have begun to learn that

as a parent/mother, I will

always feel guilty about

something when it comes to

my children. My husband

and I have both made the

decision to work and place

our children in daycare but I don’t feel guilty about that. In fact, our daycare is a fabulous

centre with educated and caring staff who love children.

There is no doubt in my mind that Hayley has benefited

greatly in her education and social skills from attending day-

care and I know Megan will too.

I feel guilty for NOT wanting to stay at home with them full-

time. My mother and my mother-in-law were both stay-at-

home moms until the school years at least. Why don’t I want

to do that? As I ponder that final question, I hear Hayley call

to me to help her set up the fifth (and surely not the last!)

dance party of the day. And I will hit ‘save’ on this article,

close the laptop, go and help her set up the dance party, and

learn to let go of a little bit of guilt.

“...imagine my surprise

when I discovered

that after having my

first baby girl, Hayley,

and commencing

maternity leave, I

missed my job.”

Doing the Dance: The art of balancing work and family

6 Kamloops Momma June/July 2011

BeforeBeforeBeforeBefore

Thanks to our fantastic sponsors:Thanks to our fantastic sponsors:Thanks to our fantastic sponsors:Thanks to our fantastic sponsors:

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The Momma Makeover Revealed:The Momma Makeover Revealed:The Momma Makeover Revealed:The Momma Makeover Revealed: Danielle Campbell

Danielle Campbell is the busy momma of 2 girls: Summer, 2, and Alyssa, 6

months. When she entered our Momma Makeover Contest, Danielle said, “I

would love to win this contest to remind my husband and myself what it’s like

to be an attractive woman again.” Well, we only have one thing to say: mission

accomplished! Danielle received over $700 dollars in pampering and we

think she looks like a million bucks!

Photo: Kathleen Ferguson Photography Hair: Pure Evolution Bio-Natural Salon Make-Up: Beauty Has Endless Possibilities Clothing: The Ruby Room


What Danielle says...What Danielle says...What Danielle says...What Danielle says... “ I went for my facial two days before the big day. What a relax-

ing moment it was for me. My skin felt amazing after and to

think the pampering wasn't over yet!

“The next day I met with Shannon from the Ruby Room to find

some clothes for the big day. She was wonderful! I had to resort

to bringing my kids with me. Not only did she help me find some

really cute outfits; she was a big help with my girls. Have you

ever taken your kids to a clothing store to try on clothes? It’s al-

most impossible! While one is screaming, the other is running

around getting into everything. I couldn't have done it without

her.

“I started my makeover day at 9am with Shannon from Beauty

has Endless Possibilities. What an amazing woman! It was nice to

connect with a woman who has children as well.

“I then rushed over to Pure Evolution for my hair appointment.

It was great! I met with Courtney, the publisher of the magazine,

and Kathleen Ferguson while I was getting my hair done. The

salon offered fresh fruit and coffee to us. It was wonderful, espe-

cially since it was a busy day and I didn't even think about food.

“After my hair was transformed, Kathleen and I hit the road for

the photo shoot. This was by far the best experience I had that

day. What a talented and amazing photographer! She was able

to capture angles that I didn't think were possible. We got into a

really cool remote location that wasn't far from the salon. What

an amazing day! I sure did miss my kids by the end of the day

and it was great to get home and relax from relaxing. I would

like to thank everyone who made this day possible.”


By Kelly Tuohey

I ’d never really thought much about taking great photos

before my first child was born. But, as many new parents

know, children are often the inspiration for a lifelong love

of photography. I took hundreds of photos of my son when he

was born and then thousands when my daughter came along!

I want to share with you some great tips I’ve acquired over

the years that hopefully will help you to capture all your

treasured, hilarious, beautiful, you-just-had-to-be-there mo-

ments!

1 Get down on their level – This is probably the most im-portant tip I have to share. So many photos of kids are

taken from an adult’s perspective and not your child’s. These

photos distort kids out of perspective, giving them big heads

and little bodies and result in mundane, everyday snapshots.

Getting down on their level means you may have to lay on

your belly in the grass or crawl on your elbows and knees for

a bit. You’ll get dirty, but you’ll also get the image you were

looking for!

2 Watch your background – This is applicable to taking anyone’s photo and it is easier said than done. As humans

we tend to focus on what’s immediately calling our attention –

our kids, and forget to look behind at the scenery (garbage on

the ground, light post coming out of their head, person walk-

ing through the scene). Sometimes all it takes is two extra se-

Tips for Taking Great Photos of Your Children

Kelly captures a quiet moment of her kids, Wesley, 3, and Zoe, 1.

“Kids are only young

once and we can’t

remember every

moment, so capture it

with a photograph!”


conds to wait for a clear background or just two steps to

the left to move the tree into a more appropriate position,

to turn a “this would’ve been a great photo except for...”

photo into a “Wow, you really nailed that expression! Can

you send me a copy?” photo.

3 Let them be kids – “Bobby – smile! Bobby, look over here. Bobby, hey Bobby, hellllooo? HEY! Look HERE!”

Unfortunately, I’ve totally done this and it rarely results in

a great smile, or image for that matter. My son now auto-

matically says cheese when I pull the camera out and

won’t even look up from what he’s doing. A better ap-

proach is to just photograph them as they are, even if they

aren’t looking at the camera. Sometimes you’ll end up

catching a moment of total absorption, a much better im-

age than if you had coaxed them to smile and pose for the camera.

4 Carry your camera everywhere – You can’t take a great picture if you don’t have your camera! I make a

habit of always throwing my camera in my purse so it’s

always ready for me to grab. My phone takes okay photos,

but the quality just isn’t the same as my digital camera.

There’s nothing worse than going, “Oh, I wish I had my

camera!”

5 Explore your camera – Even with today’s basic point and shoot cameras, there are many options for you to

explore. Move out of “P” or “Auto” mode (the green

square) – explore Macro, Portrait, Action. Read up online

about what your camera can do; you’ll be surprised at how

versatile a point and shoot is. And if you have a DSLR,

watch out! These cameras can result in really stunning

photos....when you learn your camera, you’ll begin to take

great photos on purpose, instead of by accident.

6 Introduce a prop – Sometimes the prop makes us reach for the camera. Other times the camera makes us

reach for a prop. Kids tend to stay in one spot more if you

give them something to look at or hold onto. For babies

and young kids, bubbles are amazing. For really young

ones, tickling with a feather works wonders. Kids will often

feel more comfortable if they can hold a block, a truck, a

doll, a stuffy (especially their own), and this will result in

candid and real expressions that photograph wonderfully!

7 Stop centering on your kids! - Learn some basic rules of composition: the rule of thirds! When you look at

your LCD screen on the back of your camera, there may

be a 3x3 grid overlaid on your image. This is to help you

take better photos. Try lining your child up on one of the vertical lines or, if zoomed in, putting an intersection of

lines over their eye. Photos broken into thirds are more

visually appealing. Start paying attention to children’s ads

in magazines, or notice when a photo really grabs you.

Where is the subject placed? Where are his eyes? Where

are his hands? You’ll begin to see the rule of thirds every-

where. Use it to create some of your own amazing photos!

I hope this inspires you to pick up your camera and get

out and shoot some amazing photos of your children. Kids

are only young once and we can’t remember every mo-

ment, so capture it with a photograph!

Kelly Tuohey operates Butterbutter photography. Her em-

phasis is on colour and fun with a fresh approach to newborn

and family photography...capturing the way you see them in

your heart! www.bbphotography.ca.

Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...Things We LOVE...

We’ve tried it and we love it and we don’t want to live without it!

For wee ones:

Swimmi Diaper by Bummis

Why do we love it? Let’s face it: buying disposable swim diapers feels like throwing money away. Put ‘em on and a half hour later they’re in the

garbage. And most of us know from experience that using regular disposables in water isn’t exactly a great idea! Swimmi diapers are an excellent alternative. They are adjustable, com-fortable, eco and wallet-friendly, and get the job done...and did we mention that they are darn cute? $14, Lizzie Bits Baby Co.

For the whole family: Bite Me Not! Outdoor Spray by Delish Naturals

Why do we love it? The rules with bug sprays seem to be ever changing, especially when it comes to using them on kids. But one thing stays the same: we don’t like bug bites

and our kids certainly don’t either. Bite Me Not! is a pure essential oil spray that keeps the bugs away and is safe for children ages 6 months and up, plus it smells great and is handmade local-ly by Krystal Clark, owner of Delish Naturals. $12.99, www.delishnaturals.com

For the Mommas: Pure Package at Spa Pure

Why do we love it? 3 hours of kid-free, momma-only pampering for under $100...do we really need to say more? Well, we will. Three

HOURS! A massage, facial, manicure and pedicure. We think the Pure Package will make you a better momma. Really! You’ll leave relaxed, reju-venated, and ready to take on whatever parenting throws your way. $95, Spa Pure



By Erin Brûlé

T his just in...being a mom is hard. Don't get me wrong, I also

think it's a LOT of fun, and really rewarding, but man...it's not

easy! There is no guidebook.

Actually, that's not true. There are LOTS of guidebooks – and every one of them has a conflicting opinion (of course, most are written in

the tone that they are not 'opinions' but rather, facts).

I find myself calling my mom quite often. After all, she raised

me...and I turned out (mostly) well- adjusted, so I figure she must

know a thing or two. But, alas, all she will say is, “You will figure out

what is right for your family.” Sigh.

And, so back to the books I go. And to Facebook to solicit advice

from other moms – which can get pretty comical, if you have friends

with completely different parenting styles… which I do.

Take this question for example... “Help! Rya wants to be social and is resisting being in her crib alone. How long should I ‘wait out’ the crying?”

Answers...

• As long as it takes. She needs consistency.

• 30 minutes.

• We started at 5 minutes, then worked up to 10, 15, 20 and so on.

• 1 hour.

• WHAT? You let her cry it out? Oh...tsk....tsk...I wouldn't do that,

the studies say that can negatively impact their development.

• WHAT? You went to her when she was crying? Oh...tsk...tsk...I

wouldn't do that, the studies say that can negatively impact their

development.

And so on...generally leaving me more confused than ever, which

makes my mom's advice seem pretty damn good... “I'll figure it out.”

I am now 9 months into this alien journey of motherhood, and while

there are HEAPS of things I haven't figured out, here are a few things I

have...

Gold stars? Yes...metaphorically anyway. I recent-

ly read The Happiness Project. In it, the author, Gretchen Rubin, talks about her desire for getting

'gold stars' for her efforts. Nothing over the top, just a

few words of recognition from her spouse saying,

“Yes...what you just did is awesome!” “YOU are awe-

some.”

This comment really resonated with me. I want gold

stars too. What us moms do is hard work.

And, it's my very biased opinion that us mommies

don't get NEARLY the number of gold stars that we

deserve. We frickin' rock! Seriously.

So, give a mommy you know a gold star. Give

YOURSELF a gold star!

(Note: after last issue's 'Oranges in Tubesocks' I am sad to report that an ALARMING number of veteran

mommies told me this was NO myth...I also heard

post-baby boobs described as 'fried eggs' 'pancakes'

or 'fried eggs on pancakes.' Damn. We deserve 10

gold stars for giving up our perky sisters!) To catch

updates as

Erin navi-

gates the

alien world

of parent-

hood, and to

share your

stories, tid-

bits and

advice,

check

loopyma-

ma.ca.

Can I Have a Gold Star? Pretty Please!

9 month old Rya isn’t quite sure if her mom should get a gold star!

Photo: Erin Brûlé

Things I’ve Learned

- My heart is capable of holding more love than I ever thought

humanly possible

- My entire mood can be lifted by a tiny grin

- Baby teeth are sharp…like, crazy razor sharp!

- I have become one of those mothers that uses spit to clean my ba-

by’s face

- Sleep isn’t as necessary as I once thought

it was

- No matter what I do, there’s a book saying I am doing it wrong.

There’s also a book saying I am doing it right. To hell with the books!

- Watching my baby’s face light up when I walk into the room melts

my heart. Every. single. time.

- If I need to be somewhere at a certain time, without fail, seconds

before walking out the door, I'll have to deal with a blowout.

- I crave gold stars.

Following a first-time mom’s journey from the final trimester to baby's 1st birthday


By Candace Walker and Andrea Lougheed

T he sun is shining (okay not every day yet) and the bulbs are blooming

(well, in most parts of Kamloops) and your summer baby is turning one

year older. Need a party idea that’s a little different…why not plan a green

thumb birthday party to help welcome in the warmer weather and teach them a

little about botany? This party idea can be a wonderful experience for children

by letting them get a little or a lot dirty and have some hands on fun exploring

Mother Nature. This party can easily

be designed to accommodate children

of all ages and works well for boy and

girl guests.

Invitations can be done as easily as a

packet of seeds with the details written

on the back with a permanent marker or attached to a card in the shape of a flower. As a fun variation, tie an apple a recipe card to the stem of an

apple with the party details on one side and your favourite apple recipe

on the other and hand deliver to your guests.

Of course, a garden would be the ideal setting, but relying on the

weather can sometimes be a challenge. So why not bring the outdoors in?

A checkered table cloth and a vase of fresh flowers make for a summery

centerpiece. Sprinkle a few plastic bugs on the table for authenticity and

you’re ready to go. Make fun flower place settings for each child by filling

a mini terracotta pot with green jelly beans and a silk daisy, and then

write the child’s name on with permanent craft pens. Decorate the house

with real flowers, silk flowers, tissue paper bouquets, flower pots, vegeta-

bles, nests, birds, and bird houses.

A fruit and veggie tray are a must at every garden party and using them

for your serving dishes can make the ordinary a little extra special. Use

half a watermelon to poke fruit skewers into and use a hollowed out pep-

per for your vegie dip. Serve alongside some ‘Ants on a log’ (celery

sticks with peanut butter or spreadable cheese and raisin-ants on top),

‘Critter Crunch’ (mixture of pretzel sticks, yogurt covered raisins, fish

crackers, chocolate chips etc.) and some Bug Juice or Nectar (apricot

juice and 7-Up) and you have the perfect garden treats.

If you have a younger group of party guests, simple games like Pin the

Bee on the Flower or a bug hunt can be a challenge. Or set up a watering

can relay where guests have to transfer water from one bucket to another

with only a small watering can. This one is probably enjoyed best out-

doors for obvious reasons!

Why not purchase some inexpensive terra cotta or plastic flower pots

and let the children decorate with markers, stickers, tissue paper etc.? A

couple coats or a Mod Podge-type sealant and they are outdoor ready.

Then let the fun begin! The children can plant a few seeds or small flowers

in their decorated pot. If working indoors, cover an area with newspapers

for easy clean-up and provide some soil, large spoons or trowels and a flower or packet of seeds for each child. For those youngsters that need

the instant result that seeds do not guarantee, a hardy flower such as a

Marigold works well. Grass seed also works well as the germination time

is very short.

At the end of the party send each guest home with a small watering can

filled with a packet of seeds, kids gardening gloves, gummy worms or a

grow your own herb garden kit.

Of course, don’t let them forget their flower pots and their experiment

with horticulture. Who knows- you may end up having some help planting

this years garden and flower beds.

Candace Walker and Andrea Lougheed are two local moms who own Wild

About Party Packs, an online party store with all your party needs.

The Blooming Garden: A plant perfect party idea

Jadyn, age 5, holds an earth buddies from Wild About Party Packs’ “Blooming Garden Party” loot bag.

Photo: Candace Walker.


Birthday Party Directory



TheTheTheTheTheTheTheTheTheTheTheThe Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun Summer Fun GuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuide

WWWW hat’s the best part about living in Kamloops? Summertime, of course! From the lakes to the mountains to the events and the ‘usually’ fantastic weather, Kam-

loops really is the place to be. But there’s one problem: There are so many things to do that you probably find

yourself saying, “Oh! I wish we’d done that” when summer is over. Well, we’re here to help! Kamloops Momma has compiled a list of our ’must do’ activities. Check it out with your kids and then make your very own ‘must do’ list together!

Kid Approved Summer Treat:Kid Approved Summer Treat:Kid Approved Summer Treat:Kid Approved Summer Treat:

Really, a Spinach Popsicle?

Feel a little guilty giving your kids sugary frozen treats but even guiltier not letting them enjoy these summertime favourites? We have the solution: Green Smoothie Popsicles! These delicious treats are a fan-tastic way to get kids (and yourself!) to eat their fruits and veggies. No ice cream. No yogurt. No added sugar. Just fruits and veggies.

We’ve included a simple recipe here, but the smoothie possibilities are endless. Try different fruits and greens to find your fa-vourite combination!

Note: Calling them spinach popsicles is not actually recommended!

Green Smoothie RecipeGreen Smoothie RecipeGreen Smoothie RecipeGreen Smoothie Recipe

2 cups spinach, fresh 1.5 cups water 1 large banana 1 cup blueberries, frozen 1/2 cup strawberries, frozen Put water and spinach in blender and blend until liq-uified. Put in remaining in-gredients and blend. Enjoy now as a smoothie or fill popsicle moulds and freeze for later.

Must Do’s Must Do’s Must Do’s Must Do’s (circle your favourites)

Water fight � Backyard Campout � Kamloops’Kamloops’Kamloops’Kamloops’ Children’sChildren’sChildren’sChildren’s Museum Museum Museum Museum �

Build a Sandcastle � BC Wildlife Park BC Wildlife Park BC Wildlife Park BC Wildlife Park � Tie-dye Party � Boat Ride

� No TV Week � Swimming � S’moresS’moresS’moresS’mores � Camping � Fly a Kite �

Spontaneous Road Trip Spontaneous Road Trip Spontaneous Road Trip Spontaneous Road Trip � Children’s Summer Theatre � Family

Game Night � Make Popsicles � Music in the Park � Farmer’s Farmer’s Farmer’s Farmer’s

Market Market Market Market � Big Little Science Centre � Invent an Ice Cream Flavour

� Sleep in � Canada Day Fireworks Canada Day Fireworks Canada Day Fireworks Canada Day Fireworks � Moonlight Movie Night �

Centre of the Universe � Secwepemc Museum � Neighbourhood BBQ Neighbourhood BBQ Neighbourhood BBQ Neighbourhood BBQ

� Photo Scavenger Hunt � Ride the 2141 train Ride the 2141 train Ride the 2141 train Ride the 2141 train � Float Down the

River � Geocaching � Water Parks � Day at the Beach Day at the Beach Day at the Beach Day at the Beach � X Fest


By Susan Hammond, Assistant Operator BIG Little

Science Centre

T he BIG Little Science Centre is not just for kids

anymore. Everyone will discover fun, exciting

activities and experiments. Seniors bring your

grandchildren, parents bring your out of town guests,

children bring your families; enjoy yourselves while

investigating the world of science.

Join us for excitement and science adventure; new

shows and activities each week will bring you back

again and again. Open all year round, we know we

have something just for you.

The BIG Little Science Centre is a Kamloops-based,

non-profit society dedicated to developing a passion for science in our community. We provide amazing labs, shows and

hands-on learning for School District 73 classes, campers and the general public.

Summer Camps too! Interactive fun; do hands-on science all camp long!

Each year the BIG Little Science Centre runs cool science camps for children from

ages 6 to 12. Activities include explosions, rockets, animals, experiments, games,

crafts, crazy challenges to solve and lots of fun. Check out snow in summer, hand-

made roller coasters, chemistry excitement and more.

As well as our annual junior and senior camps this year, for the first time ever, we

are running a Robotics Camp for campers 10 years of age and up. This is an excit-

ing new program which will give all those computer programmers and robot build-

ers a chance to shine!

Visit us until June 25 Thursday and Friday 3pm to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm

with a show at 1:30pm. To visit during the school week between 10am and 4pm, call

to check on availability. Summer hours will run Monday July 4 to Saturday Au-

gust 27; 10am to 4pm.

On Canada Day, July 1st, look for our mini-science centre in Riverside Park.

Discover and Explore Fun Science at the BIG Little Science Centre!

Summer Fun at the BIG Little Science Centre!

Photo courtesy of BLSC

Name the Day: Name the Day: Name the Day: Name the Day: Inspire your imaginative little genius this summer

E instein and Da Vinci were genius, not because

they could do math or read, but because they

were able to use their imaginations to visualize

something different. Their genius was in the power to

connect the disconnected and to imagine the impossible being possible. Why not have a whole lot of fun this sum-

mer and know that you are inspiring and supporting the

genius in you and your children?

This simple, free, fun, and memorable imagination

game can enhance outdoor adventures, driving time,

home days, and even trips to the grocery store.

Name the Day examples:Name the Day examples:Name the Day examples:Name the Day examples: Today is the day of Trees Telling Stories. Today is ‘What would a faerie do?’ Day.

Today is the colour orange showing us its wonders.

Today is Pirate Day.

Today is Piece of Cloth Day.

Today is Elephant Day.

Today is ‘We are Dr. Seuss’ Day.

As the instigator of the “Name the Day” game, you will at first need to model what “Name the Day” can be. On

‘Orange’ day, each time you see something orange you

can tell a story of what Orange might be thinking. Or-

ange traffic cones might say, “Without me, these cones

would be squished because drivers wouldn’t notice us.”

On ‘Trees Telling Stories’ day, you might notice a lone

tree who tells a fantasy story of how he came to be the

protector of all around him.

On Pirate day, you can make up your own pirate names to call each other and ponder, “what would a pi-

rate do?” ( or “what would a faerie do?”) as situations

occur in the day. You don’t have to do what they would

do, just ponder what they might do.

And ‘Piece of Cloth’ day? Take a piece of cloth or tow-

el with you and during the day see how many uses the

family can come up with besides its traditional use. (ie: a wig, a cloak, a cover for your invisible pet, albeit the

cloth might be too small for the imaginary elephant that

joins you on ‘Elephant Day’… unless your elephant has

shrinking abilities.) And who knows, your family might

soon be reciting:

The day we name the day, we love. We do.

We love when Orange had a story about Blue. We love that our elephant scared Auntie Sue.

Pirates are not always mean. It’s true. We think.

We think our elephant is bright pink,

Oh what if we have a day named ‘kitchen sink’?

By Janet L. Whitehead ©2011 Certified Professional Life and Creativity Coach

****Game!Game!Game!Game!



Child Care

Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops

A good place to be

Summer Day Camps July 11-August 26

McArthur Island Club

250.554.5437

Enriched Daycare

Aberdeen & Sahali Mall locations, 24/7 care.

Dance, fitness, music, science and more!

Birthday Party Fun Spot! 250.377.8190

www.enricheddaycare.com

Over the Raynebow Family Daycare

DROP-IN CARE Now Available!

North Shore. Open 7am-5pm. School pick-up

and drop off. Daily outings.

Contact Rayne at 250.376.7262

Children’s Stores and Services

The Kids Room New owner, same great quality and service!

Brand name clothing, shoes, and toys

Geox, Striderite, Roxy, Blu, Mexx and more!

460-500 Notre Dame Dr. 250.374.5022

Lizzie Bits Baby Co. Go Green! Use Cloth!

Cloth diaper specialists. Unique children’s

items. High quality children’s consignment. 205-450 Lansdowne 250.374.8706 lizziebaby.ca

Mommy & Me Boutique Largest selection of NEW and USED items Nursing bras, Harley Davidson, Robeez &

more! Over 10 000 quality consignment items!

3-700 Tranquille 250.376.1914 & Facebook

Mulberry Bush Kids Stuff Inc. Gently Loved Consignment & New Items

Infant to Adult Clothing, Baby Furniture, the

largest inventory of Robeez, Melissa & Doug

www3.telus.net/mulberrybush 250.374.2501

Now on Facebook!

Tumbleweed Toys Sahali Mall Specializing in the highest quality dolls, cos-

tumes, music, art, crafts, gifts, books, edu-

cational games, puppets, science kits

250.372.3500 www.TumbleweedToys.ca

Health and Wellness

Aina Eco Spa Let us take you away…

Massage therapy and aesthetics using organ-

ic and natural products

248 Victoria St. 250.319.4111

[email protected] www.ainaspa.ca

Alive and Well Massage Therapy

Clinic BC Registered Massage Therapy 790 Seymour St 250-374-6325

Perinatal and infant massage available

www.AliveAndWellMassageTherapy.ca

Ashley Leighton, RMT Optimal Health Therapeutic Massage

Pain and Stress Management, Relaxation,

Injury Prevention, and Sports Massage.

250-376-3070 www.ohtmassage.com [email protected]

Fit By Design Precision Fitness Training...for Body and Mind

Family Friendly Boot Camp

Sabrina, www.kamloopsfitbydesign.com

Look for us on Facebook!

Let’s Move Studio Yoga - Dance - Wellness

Classes, workshops, and events

[email protected] 250.372.9642

www.letsmovestudio.com

Musings and Mud Coaching Studio Life Coaching with a creative twist!

Workshops, workbooks, personal coaching!

Janet L. Whitehead, certified professional

coach [email protected]

250.376.8402 www.musingsandmud.com

Spa Pure Enjoy a relaxing treatment at a luxurious spa

without the worry of cost!

201B-1150 Hillside Dr. 250.574.1995

www.spapure.ca

Home-Based Sales and Services

Cakes For Wee Ones A unique gift for new and expectant parents

Diaper cakes, towel cakes, washcloth bou-

quets and more!

[email protected]

Facebook.com/CakesForWeeOnes

Delish Naturals Organic & natural body care for the whole family

Yum Bum Butter, Body Lotion, Raspy Rub,

Delish-ious Shampoo, Mango Mama Bump

Butter, Bite Me Not! and more!

www.delishnaturals.com

Community Business Directory

“Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're

looking for ideas.”

~ Paula Poundstone


Home-Based Sales and Service Cont’d

Discovery Toys, Alison Gregory Discovery Toys Educational Leader

250.851.2270 [email protected]

discoverytoyslink.com/aligregory

Teach. Play. Inspire.

Judy Turnbull Sewing Services Costuming, Hemming, Alterations, Home

Décor, Custom Adaptive Clothing (for those

with physical limitations) and Dressmaking


Ladybugz Slings n’ Things Baby products you’ll get attached to!

NEW soft and sustainable bamboo ring

slings. Custom orders welcome!

Shannon, 250.319.4437 LadybugzSlings.com

Moms Helping Moms –

work from home Perfect opportunity for moms and others

www.lookaround.ca [email protected]

Sleepsacks by McSew 100% cotton flannelette

Readymade or custom ordered, made in

Kamloops by me!

Jane at [email protected] 250.828.2309

Three Green Beans Save Money, Protect Your Health & the Envi-

ronment with the SmartKleanTM Laundry Ball 250.573.7505 [email protected]

www.smartklean.com

Indoor Activities

Akimbo Dance Studios Summer Dance Programs!

Tots, Junior, Youth, and Boys Only Camps!

250.374.5404 765 Lansdowne St.

www.akimbodancestudios.com

BIG Little Science Centre Discover & Explore Fun Science!

Starting July 4, open Mon-Sat, 10-4

Summer Camps, Birthdays, Special Events!

250.554.2572 www.blsc.org Bert Edwards Science School, 711 Windsor Ave.

Game-On Interactive Fitness Putting the Fun into Fitness.

All Ages, All Abilities, All FUN!

444 St Paul St 250.374.4263 www.gameoninteractivefitness.com

Music

David Milwain Drum School Fun and affordable private lessons in the art

of drumming

One-on-one, in home, or studio classes avail.

778.220.4447

www.davidmilwaindrumschool.com

Music for Young Children Music for Young Children is a national music

program designed to build solid musician-

ship in young students; starting as young as

3! Kamloops Symphony Music School

250.372. 5000 www.myc.com

Kamloops Symphony Music

School Group classes and private instruction for all

ages and levels.

Station Plaza #3-510 Lorne St.


Parenting Resources

KamloopsParents.com The online resource to all things family-

friendly in Kamloops.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter!

www.kamloopsparents.com

[email protected]

The Loopy Family Coupon Book Because it’s fun to be frugal!

2011Coupon Book Now Available!

250.574.1258

[email protected] www.loopyfamily.ca

Welcome Wagon Are you expecting, or do you have a baby

under a year old, moving, or getting mar-

ried? Welcome Wagon has Programs, and/

or basket gifts for you!

Call Pamela Lee for more info! 250.573.2823

Prenatal and Postpartum Care

Mighty Oak Midwifery Personal, professional, woman-centered

maternity care.

Now accepting new clients!

250.377.8611 www.mightyoakmidwifery.ca

Parenthood in the Making Childbirth and Postpartum Services

Susanne Pytela, B.S.W.

DONA trained birth and postpartum doula


There’s more business listings!

Community Business Directory


By Jenn Johnson, RMT

M assage for the expectant mother can be a way of tak-

ing much-needed time for self-care and the benefits

will be felt both physically and mentally.

Physical discomforts such as swelling in the feet and legs,

back and hip pain, and tension headaches can all be ad-

dressed with massage. During pregnancy, circulation can be

affected by the increase in blood volume that occurs, as well

as the compression of arteries in the pelvis due to the in-

creasing size and weight of the uterus. Long, rhythmic mas-

sage strokes encourage proper circulation which may help

to relieve swelling in the lower body and decrease chances

of developing varicose veins.

With a changing center of gravity and increased weight in the front of the body, many women experience low back and

hip pain as well as pain in the upper back and shoulders. By

targeting muscle and connective tissue, massage therapy

can help to combat the aches and pains associated with im-

balances that can happen as your body adjusts to changes in

posture and gait. Tension headaches are also quite common

during pregnancy and are often caused by postural changes

and muscle imbalances too.

As well as the physical relief that massage can provide,

there are also many important emotional and mental benefits

of massage therapy pre- and perinatally. Studies done by

Tiffany Field and Associates at the Touch Research Institute

found that women who received regular massage during

pregnancy had lower levels of stress hormones, not only

during the study but for several months postpartum. These

results also affected their infants, as babies born to the mas-

saged mothers also showed lower stress hormones than con-

trols. Relaxation during pregnancy has been shown to corre-

late with shorter labours, fewer prenatal and labour compli-

cations, reduced fear and anxiety and an increased immune

response.

The Alive and

Well Massage Ther-

apy clinic has been

operating in Kam-

loops since 1999.

Started as the

solo practice of Luz

Meyer, RMT, it has

grown to include

eight therapists. Our

office is equipped

with a Body Cushion

pillow designed

specifically to ac-

commodate preg-

nant women, ade-

quately supporting

the stomach so that

back massage can

be performed com-

fortably and safely.

Prenatal Massage Therapy:Prenatal Massage Therapy:Prenatal Massage Therapy:Prenatal Massage Therapy: Good for you and for baby

Prenatal and Postpartum Care Cont’d

Tiny Blessings Prenatal Expecting? Let us teach you what to expect.

Prenatal education focusing on late pregnan-

cy, labor & delivery, breastfeeding, & new-

born care. www.tinyblessingsprenatal.com

250-819-0510

Photography and Art

Butterbutter Photography ...capturing the way you seen them in your

heart, a fresh approach to newborn and fami-ly photography

250.377.5890 www.bbphotography.ca

Find us on Facebook!

The Art We Are Artisan Market Local art, comfy couches, unique, delicious

and (mostly) healthy food!

New Location! 246 Victoria St.


Brianna Munro Something different from your normal studio

photography www.briannamunro.com

[email protected]

Milk & Honey Photography Lisa DiGeso

[email protected]

www.milkandhoneyphotography.ca

Twist of Fate Yarns A Momma Friendly shop for your knitting &

spinning needs. Classes, drop-in knitting, &

events! 778.471.5562 twistoffateyarns.com

2020– F Falcon Rd *By Falcon Lanes Bowling.

Real Estate and Investments

Ken Featherstone, Realtor Bringing Families Home

Royal LePage Westwin Realty

Personal Real Estate Corp.


Kim Livingston, Mortgage Specialist

You take care of the kids, let me take care of

your mortgage. The Mortgage Group

250.571.2480 kamloopsmortgagegroup.com

Small Business Consulting

KG Creative Consulting Fresh new approach to helping you succeed!

Specializing in small business marketing,

promotions and events. Mompreneur pack-

ages and promotions available.

Visit www.kamloopsevents.ca for full details


DEAR AUNTY: My son is entering Kindergarten and is still sucking his thumb. I am worried about teasing and about him ruining his teeth. How do I stop this? - Melanie

Dear Melanie: I consulted Dr. Jason Heilmann at Riverside Den-

tal Clinic and looked to the Canadian Paediatric Society and

American Academy for Pediatrics for help with your question.

“The good news is that most children stop their sucking hab-

its before they get very far in school,” says the American Acad-

emy for Pediatrics. “This is because of peer pressure. While

your child might still use sucking as a way of going to sleep or

calming down when upset, this is usually done in private and is

not harmful. Putting too much pressure on your child to stop

may cause more harm than good. Be assured your child will

eventually stop the habit on his own.”

Dr. Heilmann points out that from a dentist’s point of view,

incoming permanent teeth can “flare” in appearance with con-

tinued thumb sucking. If baby teeth are starting to fall out and

thumb sucking is continuing, or if you see that the roof of your

child‘s mouth is changing shape or the way their teeth are lin-

ing up is changing, there are some behavioural tips for helping

your child to stop. “Harsh words, teasing, or punishment may

upset your child and is not an effective way to get rid of hab-

its.” Instead, try the following:

• Praise and reward your child when he does not suck his thumb or use the pacifier. Star charts, rewards, and gentle

reminders, especially during the day, are also very helpful.

• If your child uses sucking to relieve boredom, keep his hands busy or distract him with things he finds fun.

• Talk to your pediatrician or pediatric dentist. There are de-vices that can be put in the mouth that make it uncomfortable

to suck on a finger or thumb.

But remember, “no matter what method you try, be sure to

explain them to your child. If they make your child afraid or

tense, stop them at once.” For more information check out:

www.nccpeds.com/sdrive/Patient%20Handouts/pacifiers.pdf

DEAR AUNTY: A friend sent me a link on the Internet showing a program where young kids can be taught to flip over in the water to prevent drowning. Is there anywhere in Kamloops that I can sign my baby up for this program? With summer coming, better safe than sorry! - Jessica

Dear Jessica: Timely question! The Red Cross’s Water Safety

Week is June 4-11 and I consulted with them I consulted with

them and the Canadian Paediatric Society for your question.

“There has been a video circulating on the Internet showing

young children able to float on their backs, suggesting that this

method will protect them from drowning. The Canadian Red

Cross completely disagrees with this method and states that

the only way to keep children safe in and around water is

Dear Aunty…

Answering questions about you and your child’s health

H ello fellow Kamloops Mommas (and Papas)! I received a huge response from our last column

about the Birds and Bees and I’m thrilled to announce that thanks to all your interest, an “Askable

Parent” workshop is being brought to Kamloops this fall, put on by Options for Sexual Health in

Vancouver. The 3-hour interactive course is designed for parents and other adults who want to

“improve the knowledge and skills they need to be approachable, non-judgmental sources of reliable

sexual health information for their children and other young people, and guides who can help them con-

firm their values, sexual self-image, and decision making abilities as they mature.” Look for more info in

our next issue! Now, on to your letters...

through constant adult supervision. This learned sequence

of floating skills as shown in the video will not protect chil-

dren from drowning.”

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, drowning

is the second most common cause of death for children un-

der 5 years of age. Children can drown in as little as 2.5 cm

(1 inch) of water, and many of these tragedies happen in

backyard pools, and almost always in pools without 4-side

pool fencing and self-closing, self-latching safety gates. So

if the so-called “drown proofing” programs as shown on the

internet don’t actually work, What are some other water

safety tips?

• Use diapers designed for use in water. They don’t get as heavy as regular diapers and are less likely to cause your

child to lose his balance in a wading pool.

• Empty buckets and pails, ice chests with melted ice, or bathtubs as soon as you are done with them.

• When your children are playing under a sprinkler, watch for pools of water collecting on the ground. They can be

slippery. Move the sprinkler often, or take a break until

the water has drained. Use sprinklers on grassy surfaces

and make sure the play area is free of toys or other obsta-

cles.

• A backyard water slide should be used with caution. Set it up on a soft, grassy slope, free of bumps, and well away

from trees or shrubs. Teach children to slide in a sitting

position.

• Keep children away from ponds and streams at any time of year, unless you are with them.

As for swimming lessons, the Canadian Paediatric Society

says ,“there is not a lot of research about the exact age

when young children are ready to learn how to swim. Sev-

eral studies show that children do not have the skills to

swim on their own until they are 4 years old, even if they start lessons at a younger age. If your child is younger than

4 years old, look for swimming programs that focus on

building water confidence and that teach parents about wa-

ter safety. This is a great way to have fun and be active with

your children.”

Here in Kamloops we have a two wonderful programs for

young children: one through the YMCA and one through the

Parks and Recreation Department. You can talk to the in-

structors and lifeguards directly, or check out the excellent

sites at the Canadian Red Cross or the Paediatric Society’s

“Caring for Kids” website: www.caringforkids.cps.ca/

keepkidssafe/WaterSafety.htm

"Aunty" Erin Mitchell is a proud nurse, momma, and owner/

operator of Aunty's House Registered Family Daycare in Kam-

loops. She is currently working on a degree in child and ado-

lescent psychology through TRU.

Do you have a question for “Aunty” Erin? Contact her at [email protected].


By Sara Schriener

N at Anfield of Studio-Five-O and

myself, Sara Schreiner of Life

Unfolding, are professional

photographers and moms who be-

lieve that photography is about more

than great images. Photography is an

opportunity to create positive experi-

ences and change for individuals and

our community.

Both natural teachers, Nat and I

brought together a group of moms

who were lugging around camera’s

that had never been taken out of the Auto shooting mode. Our goal? To

spend a year connecting with these

women while teaching them both the

technical and emotional elements of

photography.

Follow along as these amateur pho-

tographers complete assignments

designed to lead them along a reflec-

tive journey that will accumulate in a

gallery showing of the year’s work.

For more information on Mom’s

with Cameras, contact Sara at

[email protected].

Photo Feature:

Top: Who They Are

Elizabeth Chubak Right:

Innocence Shauna Peace

Left: Innocence Sara Mills Below: Who They Are Jen Mallais

What’s Next?

Next issue it’s the kids’ turn! We’re going to be featuring the work of kids taking part in the Shoot for the Moon photography workshops hosted by Studio-Five-O photography. Check out studiofive-o.com for more info.


By Courtney Charlton

I magine a world where everyone plays together in harmo-

ny, regardless of language, religion, socio-economic status,

or ability. It sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Well, I was recently asked to visit the Kamloops Child De-

velopment Society and I have to say that this child care centre

is probably as close to a harmonious world as I’ve witnessed.

The Kamloops Child Development Society is a non-profit

society founded in 1973. Its vision is “a community where all

children have opportunities for their unlimited development.”

At the core of the KCDS is the belief that all children should

learn together, regardless of their differences; a belief called

‘inclusion.’

The KCDS offers child care for ages 9 months and up, pre-school, and out of school programs, including summer camps.

The common thread of these programs is that typical children

and children with special needs are together.

Great importance is placed on the development of social

and emotional skills.

“Through social skills, we acquire discipline, knowledge,

ambitions, and empathy for those around us,” says Mayanna

Stiles, Early Childhood Educator, “These things allow us to

participate in the life of the family and later school and the

community.”

“Children with special needs lag in social competence,”

explains Stiles, “Also, children with special needs initiate far

fewer social exchanges than normally developing peers.”

At the KCDC, typical children are used as models for social

skills, but the mentoring works both ways.

And, most importantly, everyone is treated the same and all

activities are modified so everyone can be involved.

“We find that’s the best learning environment for every-

one,” says Barb McLean, Executive Director.

For example, if a speech therapist recommends a game for a

specific child, they will play the game with everyone so the

child isn’t singled out.

Or if a child has low muscle tone, he uses a special chair so

he can eat at the table with his peers and a custom glove that

enables him to hold objects such as paint brushes and spoons.

It’s not just the children with special needs that benefit from

the inclusive setting: it’s the typical children as well.

They learn to be compassionate; they learn to helpful; they

learn to be mentors.

Although the programs focus on including everyone, the

attention to individual needs is very clear.

One room, for example, has a “How are you feeling to-

day?” chart where children place a picture of an emotion

beside their name upon arrival.

There’s also a plastic cube covered in a blanket where chil-

dren go to calm down, especially when experiencing senso-

ry overload, but it’s a choice rather than a punishment.

And on the floor leading into another room are train tracks

with Thomas the Train. They are there for a boy who loves

Thomas but has a difficult time leaving his parents each day.

“We wrap the program around the children, not the chil-

dren around the program,” explains McLean.

As such, the dynamic of every class is different. Some are

quiet, some are loud; some are structured, some are more flexible – whatever the children need.

But within each program, consistency is very important.

“Transitions without having consistency and routine builds

anxiety,” says McLean.

Visual schedules - pictures in sequence of the day’s agen-

da - are used to help children deal with transitions.

It’s the little details like this that make inclusion not only

possible, but exceptional.

For more information on the Kamloops Child Development

Society, call 250.376.2233 or go to www.cdckamloops.com.

And the World will Live as One…

Visiting an inclusive child care centre


Attachment Parenting 2/month - days and locations vary 250-376-4723

Family Tree Drop-in Mon and Wed 9-4 283 West Victoria St. 250.377.6890

Healthy Beginnings Tues 9:45-11:45 Thurs 10:30-12:30 Interior Indian Friendship Society 2355 Parkcrest Ave. 250.554.3134

Kamloops Connexions *will be outside when weather is nice—please call to confirm location Fri 9:30-11:30 Prince Charles Park 250.828.1114 [email protected]

Kamloops Wiggles and Giggles Adoption Playgroup Monthly, times and locations vary Deanna Jones, [email protected]

Next Steps Fri, 1-2:20 Kamloops Public Health Unit 519 Columbia St. 250.851.7300

StrongStart Programs (during school year)

Bumblebees Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 8:30-11:30 Wed, 12-2:30 Arthur Hatton Elem., 315 Chestnut Ave. 250.376.7217

Dragon Flies Mon-Fri, 8:30-11:30 Marion Schilling Elem., 2200 Park Dr. 250.376.2027

Eagles’ Nest Mon-Fri, 8:45-11:15 South Sahali Elem., 1585 Summit Dr. 250.374.2451

YMCA Child Interactive Centre Mon-Fri 9-12 Southwest Y/CCRR Unit E, 1420 Hugh Allan Dr 250-372-7791

Get Connected: A guide to local parent-child groups

By Tony Carmichael

M y wife and daughter, who just turned 5, were sitting in the grass

chatting while I was playing with our middle boy. I heard them

both trying to snap so I decided to listen in: "Can you snap your

pointy finger and your thumb, mama? I can't work it right!" "Nope, Bella I

can't. I don't think many people can." "My daddy can!" she said all proud

and big.

My heart melted and I remembered why I wanted to have a big family:

because moments like that where my daughter announces to her mom

that I am awesome or moments like when she proudly tells her aunty she

is going to marry her daddy!

Okay, so in fatherhood we all make mistakes. Case in point: I am mak-

ing a pb and jam sandwich and my daughter walks over and says, “Eew,

is that blood, Daddy?” I kind of giggle and before I can answer she tottles off. Well, when I pick her up from school that day her teacher pulls me

aside and says, "Bella told the other children you were eating blood to-

day for lunch." Uh oh! Now I'm in trouble. Hehe. But how can I be mad at

her when she looks and me and says, “It's okay, Daddy. Mommy will

make you a better lunch tomorrow!”

Nathan, 21 months, waits patiently as his dad builds his

new bike.

The Little Moments: A Dad’s Perspective


By Teresa Wiedrick

W e had driven eleven days in a minivan with four children under nine: that would be two car

seats, two booster seats, and two adults trying to entertain them for six hours a day. Ten

nights of luggage dragged in and out of hotels or roadside motels. Thirty three meals in

restaurants meant hamburgers, mini pizzas and chicken fingers, with complimentarily and ubiquitous

French fries. No vegetables. And three meals of milk per child—the equivalent of four litres a day.

The last five weeks, we`d lived in a two bedroom apartment, sunshine full blast...sunshine through

the night, through the day—blackout blinds enabling a pseudo-night. We were thankful for the win-

dowless room that the girls stayed in. Madelyn remarked one day that we hadn’t done much: We do

the same thing day in and day out. We get up, watch cartoons, do studies, play in the common area,

sometimes go to the pool or library, do more studies, eat, read and go to bed. Same thing every day!

Except, of course, for the afternoons at the Boot Lake Beach, the caramel steamers at the local cafe,

a super expensive fast food dinner at the Roost Restaurant, making bread almost every day, inde-pendently preparing breakfasts on the stove: scrambled eggs or French toast. Oh, there was also the

church ice cream social and playground visits with the local kids. How about trips to the gift and book

stores, grocery shopping is an adventure: wow, mom, look how much diapers are!! (Zachary, you’re

on the countdown to diaper training).

There were visits to the biggest greenhouse in North West Territories and the Roman Catholic Igloo

Church. Learning to make muskox wool out of muskox fur at the Northern Arts Festival. Trying mus-

kox hamburgers, Parks Day at Mackenzie School watching aboriginal drummers and dancers. And

first hand viewing of stuffed muskox and caribou at the Inuvik Visitor Centre. Gulp, deep breath.

We’ve found a few things to do.

But today, at almost the 70th parallel, we had decided to take a most exotic trip. I was taking my

three girls on a Cessna flight to Tuktoyaktuk, a forty five minute flight from Inuvik. I remember the

name of this northern Arctic town because as a child my par-

ents drove the ice roads from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk; my dad a

long distance truck driver, long before I was born, experi-

enced many remote locations of Canada.

So here I was, twenty five years later, booking a flight with a

charter company, the Arctic Chalet Bed and Breakfast, to fly in

a six seater Cessna to a North West Territories whaling town

on the Beaufort Sea.

The youngest three of us bartered over seat choices. There

were only four available and there were exactly four of us pre-

sent. As we followed the Mackenzie Delta northward from

Inuvik, our temporary residence for the summer, we flew over

more black spruce than I imagined would be this far north. The

mighty Mackenzie fertilizes all these trees. But just over the

Delta, moving eastward, the trees recede into tundra. Lakes

upon lakes upon lakes like watery puddles of holes of Swiss

cheese. In a minute, Hannah counted 200 lakes on the right;

Travels in Tuktoyaktuk: An educational adventure


Madelyn counted 100.

Oliver, the young Quebecois fellow flying the plane up front, graciously

tipped the plane to the right for us to see the close-up of a pingo. Right on

top of it we were. Like a frozen volcano, the four or five we saw sat forlorn in

the far reaches of the north. Five year old Rachel was less than thrilled with

this aeronautic trick.

An Inuvialuit woman, Elaine, met us at the Tuktoyaktuk airport. A long time

resident to the area, she had lived there since she was a child. She had one

son and for six months of each year, she and her family would go `out on the

land` living in a cabin hunting caribou and picking blueberries, cranberries

and cloudberries.

Eileen showed us the community built icehouse—30 feet straight down

into permafrost—a natural freezer for food with three hallways and nineteen

compartments. The girls couldn`t have been more disappointed when I told

them they wouldn’t be able to use their Velcro-strapped headlights to make an adventurous trek downstairs. Though I was advised that the ladder down

was slippery so I could ``catch`` them. I don’t really understand the logistics

of that: catching three girls might be a little tricky.

Whaling season had just ended that previous month. We could stand on

the dock beside the inlet where the belugas and their babies play in the

deep brown sea, but we didn`t catch a glimpse.

We learned that the fourteen foot beluga whales are harpooned first, then

shot at so that when they come up for air and dragged back to the Tuk har-

bour, they won`t sink to the bottom. Every last bit of the beluga is used for

something and can feed three families: blubber for cooking oil, blood

drained for blood soup, the almost black meat shared amongst the partici-

pant`s families and always something left over for single families or elders.

The health center was pointed out...my husband had visited there only a

week before as he was medi-vacked there to deliver a baby, which was a

free trip to Tuk for him.

Two people occupied the seniors home. The remaining rooms were rent-

ed out to the 50 year old crowd. There was even a small college...with one

professor willing to teach whatever clever ideas the residents could pro-

cure.

Queen Elizabeth visited Tuk in the 1960s. Her car was flown in so she

could tour this tiny island in style. Only a week or two after our visit, Prime

Minister Stephen Harper visited too—he ski-dooed down the airport runway.

We couldn`t resist visiting the local store, a Northern Mart. What I thought

was expensive in Inuvik now seemed a pittance. At $12 for 4 litres of milk in

Inuvik, I was willing to forgo dairy for five weeks. But in Tuk, 4 litres was $20!

If I`d lived here, I might not so eagerly support the dairy industry. I might

even think soya milk was tasty. That UHT stuff I drank as a child might come

back in vogue.

The girls got into their little purses and found enough money to purchase

Lik-a-Maids ($1.69 each) and I purchased a white chocolate Toblerone for

the trip home. Perhaps I should have checked the expiry on my purchase; it was over a year old and tasted like it too. I guess white Toblerone is overrat-

ed in the north.

We grabbed our treats, were driven by

the 4x4 back to the airport and met Oliver

in the airport. He flew us over the Arctic

Ocean, one last look at this cafe latte col-

oured northern mark on the Canadian

map. As we flew southwest to our tempo-

rary home in Inuvik, a rainbow, just under

the level of clouds, guided us home.

The Kids’ Perspectives

“We goed to a candy store and we went to a place where we stored whales. I wish we could go into the whale spot. We went on a plane. The man moved the plane over the pingo so we could see it. There were shells there, at the Arctic Ocean. It was fun. I liked that we were doing fun things and liked that we got to see where they stored their food: whales, seafood and penguins (nope, you'll only see penguins in the Antarctic actually). The beach at the ocean was nice. It was cold. I thought it would be winter, because in the place where we were just staying, Inuvik, it felt like win-ter.” “Cold, rainy and interesting. Sorta smelly too. Smelled like raw meat. The plane flight made me feel sick. The most amazing thing I saw was the view of Inuvik from the plane and see-ing the Mackenzie Delta. The funniest thing about the day: the tour guide was surprised that we didn't go down into the ice freezer. The ice house stinked. The beach was cold, cold, and cold. It was interesting though. I could see the Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort Sea. The scariest thing about the day: I took a picture of the meat freezer, just put my hand out over top of it and took a picture 30 feet down. Interesting to see a pingo.” “We went to a candy store. And we went to that ice place where they hold-ed meat. It was fun. I just liked the ex-perience of going into there. I didn't really see the meat freezer. The ocean was fun and there were a lot of rocks beside the ocean. They were big and had lots of seaweed and moss on them. The ocean was blue and really cold. We got to bring home shells, and water in a plastic water bottle. We got to see inside the meat freezer and have candy for the plane ride. The plane ride was really sickening. It surprised me that the ground was really dirty and there was lots of snow and there was ice on the water. The people looked like Indians (Hannah in background: they don't like to be called Indians). The meat freezer stinked.”

Hannah, Madelyn, and Rachel explore Tuktoyaktak with their mom, Teresa.

-Rachel, 5

-Hannah, 9

-Madelyn, 7



By Linda Shwaylyk

W hat are the benefits of music lessons from those of us in the trenches

who have witnessed first hand the effect on children as they grow up

to adulthood? I would like to point out three from my vantage point of

thirty years teaching music to young children.

I ask my kids, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is, “One mouthful

at a time.” This, of course, reveals the generation gap. I am the ‘Elephant Joke’

generation and the kids are usually grossed out. However, it exemplifies the

first benefit of music education- being able to take a big task and break it

down into little tiny chunks. What a life skill that is! The dreaded “P” word, practice, is arguably the best thing to come out of music lessons.

A friend of mine pointed out the second benefit. She said that those who take

music lessons are more open to listening to all kinds of music. They may not like it but they will at least listen to it. There is such history, culture and tradi-tion in music that I see it as a real benefit to be open to all of it instead of being

limited to just one generation’s music. It gives me great pleasure when I teach

my kids a song that their grandparents can sing along to.

The third benefit is the emotional component. My mom said that she knew how my day at school went by how I played my scales. Trust me, that beautiful

child you have is going to turn into a teenager. You just might be looking for a

healthy vent for all that emotion!

At my dentist’s office I read a plaque that defines success. As I was mulling

each aspect over in my mind, the thought occurred to me that nearly all were

being taught for the price of music lessons. And what other endeavour could

you start so young, teaching self-discipline, co-operation, self-esteem and self-

confidence to toddlers even!

Because I teach young children specifically, I would like to point out benefits

of starting them young. If you participate with your child you can observe how

they react to a teacher, how they react to instruction, how they learn, and how

they interact with peers. All of this is valuable information for when you send

them to school where you are not present to witness these things. In music class

you can be there to coax them through dealing with mistakes and learning how

to listen. As the work load increases, you can teach them how to organize their

tasks.

Another benefit to starting young is that children get all the preliminary stuff

done while we can still make it fun for them. Then when they are starting to

make their own choices, they can be on to interesting endeavours that they find fun. The fun aspect is strong motivation for overcoming the practicing hurdle.

music lessons cost in time and money. However, the benefits are, as they say,

PRICELESS!

Suggested reading on the benefits of music education: The Mozart Effect; This is

Your Brain on Music: The science of a Human Obsession; Musicophilia: Tales of

Music and the Brain, and many others available.

Music Education: Music Education: Music Education:

PricelessPricelessPriceless

Left to right: Grayson, 8 mon, Sienna, 2.5, Emma, 3

Lizzie Update

By Troi Crombie

A re you a super mom to some pret-

ty super kids? Hockey tourna-

ments, Justin Bieber concerts,

play dates? What about the mountains of

laundry and what’s behind the closet

doors?

I am convinced that it is the most diffi-cult, wonderful, fun, and rewarding job

in the world-a job that nothing can pre-

pare you for. And, of course, let’s also

remember that as a super mom we are

first a super wife to our husbands-you

know how we’re always super sexy at

the end of the week for that always scheduled date night that we exchange

our flip flops in for our pumps, right?

And is your week also filled up with a

day job? Being on your toes and at the

beck and call of all the others besides

your family? What about being a busi-

ness owner? Are HST numbers, employ-

ee scheduling, payroll, stock, WCB, and write-offs friends to you?

What about on top off all of this one of

your children is battling cancer? Blood

transfusions, white blood counts, sur-

gery, chemotherapy, infection, antibiot-

ics, watching your child miss out on what

is considered a ‘normal’ social life? If you were balancing all of this would you

keep your name as ‘super mom’?

In the past year I have met a pretty su-

per friend and I have watched her keep

the title of super mom: Jennifer Harbaruk

balances her own cheque book, makes

sure she tells her husband how im-portant he is, makes her boys a priority,

cherishes her customers that support her

family’s store, adores her employees

and, yes, she drives her little girl to and

from Children’s Hospital.

I’ve had the privilege of writing the

story of her daughter, Elizabeth, and their family as Lizzie battles cancer and,

even though I have a little window into

their life, I still have no idea what they,

and other families like them, go through

every day. And Jenn even makes the

time to show her friends that she appre-

ciates their thoughts, prayers and love. Lizzie has just finished week 32 of

chemotherapy treatment. The Harba-

ruk’s wait for her evaluation scheduled

for mid-June. She continues to be strong,

although susceptible to even the com-

mon cold and infection when her white

counts are low. Look for Lizzie’s full write story in the next Kamloops Momma.


June 1 (Cont): Family Game

Night Wed 5:30-8:30, All A-Board Games, 334 Victoria St.,

250.377.0745

June 1-Oct 30: Downtown

Farmer’s Market

Sat: St. Paul between 2nd+3rd

Wed: Victoria St. between

4th+5th. Market starts at 8am.

June 2-13: BC Lions Training

Camp Hillside Stadium (free)

June 2 (Cont): Shambhala

Meditation Mon/Thurs 7 pm, Sat 12pm, 433b Lansdowne St.

kamloops.shambhala.org,

250.376.4224 (free)

June 3: Car Seat Safety Event

1-2:30, Public Health 519 Co-

lumbia (free)

June 3-Oct 28: North Shore

Farmer’s Market Spirit Square, Fri. 4-8 (free)

June 4 (Cont): Chapters Craft

and Storytime Saturdays 11-12pm 250.377.8468 (free)

June 5: YMCA Healthy Kids

Day 10-2, Downtown Y, 250.372.7725 (free)

June 5-9: Performing Arts

BC Provincial Festival

www.kfpa.ca

June 8/July13: Moms Morn-

ing Out 9:30-11:30, Mighty Oak Midwifery, 202-322 Vic-

toria Street, 250.377.8611

(free)

June 8/ July 12: Cloth Dia-

pers 101 Weds 7-8, Sun 1-2 Lizzie Bits Baby Co.,

250.374.8706 (free)

June 11: Brides Gone Wild

Get dressed up in a wedding

dress to support Juvenile Dia-

betes research, Sara,

250.682.6481

June 11/July 9: Home Depot

Kids Workshop 10am, ages 4-12 250.371.4300 (free)

June 11: Relay For Life 10

am, Riverside Park

June 12: Walk to Cure Diabe-

tes 9:30, MacDonald Park

June 13/15: Enriched Parent-

ing Classes Lead by a reg. clinical counsellor and ECE,

250.377.8190

June 16: Teddy Bear Picnic/

Mother Goose Celebration

11 -1, Prince Charles Park,

250.828.3500 (free)

June 17-19: Wellness Festi-

val Let’s Move Studio, www.letsmovestudio.com

June 18 : Fathers Day at the

Kamloops Museum 1:30-3:30, boys only, make a mod-

el car, 250.828.3576

June 18/July 16: Child Pas-

senger Safety 11-3pm Free at clinic. $5 by appt or visit.

Lizzie Bits Baby Co.

250.374.8706

June 18/22: Family Fun Day

at Senior Froggy N. Shore, 5-7, feat. Uncle Chris the Clown,

250.554.2055

June 19: Father’s Day at the

BC Wildlife Park- Walk/Run

for Prostate Cancer 9077 Dallas Dr. 250.573.3242

June 19: End of School Fami-

ly Weekend Bash at BC

Wildlife Park 250-573-3242

June 20/July 18: Held in the

Wings of Angels Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support

Group. 7-8:30pm, Pregnancy

Care Centre, 250-376-4646

June 24: 5 Buck Fun Fit Fri-

days 6-8pm, Game-On! 444 St. Paul, 250.374.4263

June 26: Kids of Steel Tri-

athlon Swim, cycle, run and have fun, 250.579.2312

[email protected]

July 1: Canada Day Cele-

brations at Riverside Park

Art in the Park, entertainment,

cultural food, fireworks (free)

July 1: The 2141 Canada Day

Train Kamloops Heritage Railway, #6 - 510 Lorne

Street ,9:30pm, 250.374.2141

July 1-Aug 31: Music in the

Park Nightly entertainment at Rotary Bandshell, Riverside

Park, 7-8:30 (free)

July 2– Aug 30: The Spirit of

Kamloops 2141 Train

Mon/Fri -7pm, Sat -11am

250.374.2141

July 2-3: Summer Kick Off

Celebration at Sun Peaks

(free)

July 2-Aug 27: Artisan’s

Square at St. Andrews on the

Square Sat, 8:30-12 (free)

July 4-22: KISSM (Kamloops

Interior Summer School of

Music) 250.574.5437

July 5-Aug 28: the BIG Little

Science Centre Summer

Schedule 711 Windsor Ave., Mon-Sat 10-4, www.blscs.org

July 6/20: Family Fun Day at

Senior Froggy N. Shore, 5-7, feat. Uncle Chris the Clown,

250.554.2055

July 9: Kamloops

Highland Games Albert McGowan Park kamloopshighlandgames.com

July 13/20: Moonlight Movie

Night Riverside Park at dusk, proceeds to Boys and Girls

Club, 250.554.5437

July 20-Aug 6: X-Fest 2010

presents Munsch Ado About

Nothing 250-374-5483 for ticket info

July 23: Chrome on the

Grass Show n’ Shine Prince Charles Park. Pro-

ceeds go to Children’s Ward

at RIH. 250-573-4321

July 23-24: Seek the Peaks

Geocaching Weekend Reg. req’d. 250.578.5542

July 29-July 31: Kamloopa

Pow Wow One of the largest celebrations of First Nations’ culture in Western Canada,

250-372-8833

July 29-Sept 6: North Shore

Art Walk Local artists’ work is displayed at businesses

Aug 1: BC Bears Celebration

at the BC Wildlife Park feat. Peter and Friends,

250.573.3242

Community Events Calendar

Have an event? Tell us about it and we’ll put it in our Community Events Calendar for FREE! [email protected] or find us on Facebook!


Kamloops Momma Issue 7

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