Summer2011

Summer 2011

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Managing Emotions During Separation & Divorce

Sleepover vs. Day Camps

Natural Remedies for Summertime First Aid

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Editorial Photography: Sharla Pike Photography

Contributors: Michelle Collie, Sara Dimmerman, Shelby Entner, Michale Hartte, Jeff Hays, Penny Hecter, Wayne Terai

Editor & PublisherColleen Bezeau

Advertising Inquiries: [email protected] Inquiries: [email protected] 1.888.373.5566

Okanagan Child is published four times per year by Bellhop Media Inc. Circulation: 15,000. Please note that this magazine is solely funded through the support of our advertisers and sponsors. Please support our advertisers! Opinions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Publish-er. All contents copyrighted ©. No part of this publication may be reprinted, quoted, copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Publisher.

To share your feedback, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

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contentsarticlesMoving Past “Good Job!”Sleepover vs. Day CampsManaging Adult Emotions During DivorceNatural Remedies for Summertime First AidAre Headaches Affecting Your Child’s Performance?

columnsEditor’s NoteGiveawaysAsk the ExpertRecipes We LoveFeatured Parent: Penny HecterEco-Friendly CraftsMichelle Collie: Mama DuckStuff We LoveResource DirectorySnap Happy

Summer 2011

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Managing Emotions During Separation & Divorce

Sleepover vs. Day Camps

Natural Remedies for Summertime First Aid

cover photo: Adrian Kids Photography www.adriankidsphotography.caE. [email protected]. 250.863.0176

812141824

56

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Summer 2011 l 4 www.okanaganchild.com

Come visit us in the Mission at2 - 3045 Tutt Street Square, Kelowna, BC 250.763.2837

Store hours Monday - Saturday 10-5

J

SUMMER 2011 volume 3, issue 2

Summer 2011 l 5www.okanaganchild.com

can, despite his status as one of the world’s pickiest eaters. It was my birthday. This outing was an exception. Cupcakes are an exception. Part of me wanted to run after the lady and shout these things at her. But another part of me felt like no matter my circumstance, it’s not her place to judge, not her place to taint a shared moment like that. We’re parents. We make choices for our children on an on-going basis. They’re our choices to make. Parenting is hard enough without having judgy-pants people interfering. In the end I hap-pily shared the cupcake with my son, who said “Happy Birthday Mommy” with icing on his lips.

Have a wonderful Summer!

It was my birthday recently. Excited to celebrate with my just-turned three year-old, I told him we were going to a cupcake store to get mommy some birthday cake. Naturally, he was de-

lighted as cake and the concept of birthdays are all by synonymous in his mind. He was so excited in fact, that he insisted he run up-stairs to his bed and bring teddy along. You see, teddy had to help pick out the cupcakes. And off the three of us went.

When we arrived at the store, there were a couple of people ahead of us in line. I squatted down to take a picture of him as we waited -- it was my birthday after all and it was an outing that is certainly not typical. Right as I took a picture, a hand reached in front of me, pointing at the cupcake displays. “This, this here is rubbish. It is killing our children,” boomed a woman’s voice behind me. For a brief moment I was stunned; by the time I stood up and turned around she was gone.

At first I was incredulous but this was immediately displaced by an-ger. How dare this woman judge. Yes, cupcakes are full of sugar and other not-so fresh and healthy ingredients. But I’m a firm supporter of everything in moderation. I work hard to feed my son well. As a parent, I take that repsonsibilty very seriously and in fact spend much time agonizing over how to help him get the best nutrition he

editor’s note

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When the kids are ready to burn off some energy they can head up to the Crazy Cow Kids Corral. This unique play area includes a barn filled with dried corn to play in, John Deer trikes to ride on, Bessie the milking cow, old fashioned water pumps so the kids can race rubber ducks, a fence maze, a giant sandbox with ride on tractors and a real farm truck. New this year is a giant spider web for kids of all ages to climb on. The fun goes on with animals in the “Critter Corral” and the Johnny Popper apple train. At super afford-able prices this is fun you don’t want to miss!

Davison Orchards Country Village is also stocked in season with fresh from the field produce, a huge selection of specialty jams and preserves made right on the farm. There is something for everyone. Davison Orchards…it’s about family, it’s about food, it’s about fun! www.davisonorchards.ca Family Fun Day Prize includes:• A punch pass for 10x to the Crazy Cow Kids Corral• A punch pass for 10x Orchard Tours • $30.00 gift certificate to Auntie May’s Deep Dish Café for lunch

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Entry Deadline: August 18, 2011Entry Location: Visit www.okanaganchild.com, select ‘giveaways’

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Urban Harvest Organic Delivery (offering service to the Central Okanagan from Peachland to Winfield) brings the farm to your doorstep! They deliver the freshest, certified organic produce, as well as free-range eggs, organic dairy products, tofu, micro-roasted coffees, teas, juice, Little Creek dressings, dips, salsas, and more! Urban Harvest purchases as much as they can locally and offers op-portunities for you to learn about the source of your food through their website, weekly newsletters, and seasonal celebrations!

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SYLVAN_OKCHILD_0428.indd 1 5/4/11 1:23:54 PM

Hang around any playground, playgroup, or place where children are playing and I guarantee you within 3 minutes you will hear the most common phrase said to children...

“Good job!”.

GOOD JOB – the parenting stamp of approval. Yes, I see what you are doing and I approve. But what exactly does that mean?

Let’s talk about “Good Job!”. Most times, the intention is true and honest. Parents want to encourage or recognize a child’s effort or behaviour.

“Dad, look at this picture I drew!” – “GOOD JOB!”

“Daddy, I can ride my bike – watch!” – “GOOD JOB!”

“Daddy, I put shoes on by myself!” – “GOOD JOB!”

Now, before any one gets the hackles up, I am not saying it is not important to support, love, and encourage our children – but be careful – it’s time to rephrase the praise.

Every time you say good job, is there an option to say “Bad job!”? “Daddy look at my picture!” – “BAD JOB. You didn’t stay in the lines there – and what is that? A dragon? A cloud? — Oh, it’s a Monster Truck? Really, well, I’ve seen Monster Trucks and they do not look like that.”

Alfie Kohn, a parenting expert whose work I love, wrote a very in-teresting article entitled “Reasons to Stop Saying Good Job!”. He suggests that uttering those two words can do more harm than good.

First of all, our children are hungry for our approval and a “good job” may be delivered for something that makes our life a little eas-ier. Are we manipulating out children? Not on purpose of course, we are not manipulators by trade, but the words good job make our lives a little easier. GOOD JOB for cleaning their room, GOOD JOB picking up the toys in the toy room… GOOD JOB for not wet-ting the bed last night (like that was a choice).

Now I am not saying that all compliments and expressions of ex-citement are bad and that you are doing harm if you let a “Good Job!” leak out. Odds are your heart is in the right place. I just en-courage you to spend a little time thinking about your real motive for blurting out that parenting crutch.

We can create a praise junkie, but when a child constantly looks to us for their next fix of approval – a child that craves our approval for everything they do – they constantly look for ways to get it. A good job here or there can get them through a day, but they seldom learn to look within for reward or enjoyment.

And sometimes a “Good Job!” will actually steal a child’s own plea-sure. For example, consider that your child has created a picture,

Spring 2011 l 22 www.okanaganchild.com

Moving Past “Good Job!”

by Jeff Hay

photo credit: www.SharlaPike.com

and you drift in and deliver a good job with the best of itentions. Now your child has been told HOW to feel about their picture.

When you feel the “Good Job!” urge about to strike, consider the following:

Be Present With Your Child. Good jobs leak out most when parents are busy and not really involved in the current play.

Try Saying Nothing. Just enjoy the moment with your child.

Say What you Saw. Talk about the what you are seeing – the journey not the end result. If your child puts on her own shoes, talk about what you see and let her take pride in herself. If he draws a picture and shows you, talk about what you see. For example, “That car has big wheels – boy you used a lot of purple on that picture!”.

Say Less, Ask More. What was the toughest part to draw?

Are you present and involved with your child? Is your reaction help-ing your child build a sense of control over her life or will she always be looking to you for approval? Some families have a Curse jar, give your family a “Good Job!” jar - you’ll be amazed at how often you deliver these words every day. Now get back in the game and parent like a champion!


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When will my child no longer need to nap? What are the signs?

Sleep begets Sleep. It is not logical but it is biological. The more your child sleeps during the day, the better they will sleep at night. This does not change until somewhere between their second and third birthday.

You will know with two signs: they will miss the odd nap and simply play and giggle in their crib when they normally sleep. They will still be in a great mood right up to bedtime. This can happen a few times a week. Another sign is that they will sleep well for their nap but will take a long time falling asleep at night.

If you feel that the daytime sleeps might be interfering with your nights, then it is best to eliminate the nap. If you are still on the fence – like the nap, but think it might be interfering with the nights, then you could keep it in for the next two weeks and see what happens. It could be a phase.

If you are still on the fence – like the nap but think the length might be interfering with the nights, then you could try playing with max 1.5 hours or max 2 hours. Some children are OK with this. Some are not and it is way better to simply eliminate the nap entirely.

At the end of the day, it is MUCH better for your little one to go 7pm to 7 am and get 12 hours consolidated than 9 pm to 6 am and then 3 in the day. You will notice a much improved disposition. It sometimes takes a whole month for them to adjust. Don’t waffle back and forth though. Their little body will never be able to adjust. The only exception would be if they are sick. Then they will require more sleep. Avoid any car naps or stroller naps in the day when you decide to eliminate the nap. And, focus on an earlier bedtime if you need to during the adjustment period. Put your little one down as early as 6pm if you need to. 10 to 12 hours of nighttime consoli-

dated sleep is what is most important for your precious little one.

If you are worried that your little one is going to miss out on some down time during the day and you are going to miss out your “Mommy time”, then think about implementing quiet time instead.

Pam Nease, Licensed Sleep ConsultantSleep Sensewww.sleepsense.net/kelowna

How do I go about introducing solids to my baby?

Babies are not like little adults. Their digestive tracts are very im-mature. To ensure optimal health (i.e. avoiding the likelihood of allergy, building strong immune systems), we need to pay particu-lar importance to what we feed our babies. Knowing that babies produce primarily functional enzymes (pepsin and proteolytic en-zymes) and digestive juices (hydrochloric acid in the stomach), they have a great ability to digest proteins and fats - not grains (starchy carbohydrates). What, no Pablum? Well, when you think about it, this makes perfect sense since the milk from a healthy mother con-sists of 50-60% fat, which is critical for growth, energy and devel-opment). In addition, the cholesterol in human milk supplies an infant with close to six times the amount most adults consume from food. In some cultures, a new mother is encouraged to eat six to ten eggs a day and almost ten ounces of chicken and pork for at least a month after birth. This fat-rich diet ensures her breast milk will contain adequate healthy fats.

When it comes to feeding your baby, if your baby is bottle-fed, introduce solids at the 4 month mark. With breast fed babies, 6 months is a good time to start, unless your baby is a very hungry baby, in which case, you can introduce solids earlier. Start with just one small meal a day (followed by the breast or bottle).

Pay particular attention to food reactions. Start a food log. Wait four days before introducing each new food (this way, you will know which food caused the reaction). Allergic reactions tell you that your baby is not ready for that particular food, now or maybe even ever. Time will tell, however, for now, stop that particular new suspected food, record and re introduce that same food in 1 month.

Common allergic reactions include:Redness around the mouth; abdominal bloating, gas and disten-


Have Questions?We’ve got answers.

Ask the Expert

Send it to us at [email protected] and it may appear right here!

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tion; irritability, fussiness, over-activity and awaking throughout the night; constipation and diarrhea; frequent regurgitation of foods; nasal and/or chest congestion; and red, chapped or inflamed eczema-like skin rash.

First food: homemade meat stock. Simply simmer a piece of meat on the bone for 2-3 hours without adding salt or anything else to the filtered water. Separate the meat and bones from the liquid stock (using a sieve) and start with 1-2 tsp of warm meat stock. Remem-ber to keep the fat in the stock. Use the breast or bottle as a reward for tasting it. Gradually increase amount as your baby begins to ac-cept this new first food. Important: Do not use commercially made stock (too highly processed). Chicken stock is particularly gentle on the digestive system. Stocks can be kept in the fridge for 1 week or frozen for later use. You can also give your baby 1-2 tsp of freshly pressed vegetable juice mixed with some water between meals. Start with carrot juice, then add in some celery or lettuce to it. Serve im-mediately or within ½ hr after pressing. Again, do not use commer-cially made veggie or fruit juice!For the remainder of the baby’s first foods list, go to www.fitn-healthynutrition.com and look under my children’s health section.

Michale Hartte, BASc (Nutr), NNCPClinical Nutritionistwww.fitnhealthynutrition.com

I have questions about vaccinations but don’t know what is the best decision for my child. What do you recommend?

As physicians we all want our patients to be as healthy as possible and to move through infections with ease. Making the right vac-cine decisions for each individual child so that the child can achieve their greatest potential for health in a strong and vibrant way is one of the most important decisions as parents. Currently, almost all children in first world countries are vaccinated for several infec-tious diseases. In the first few years of life a child will receive 48 vaccines.

The massive immunization campaign and the vaccine schedule set up for these children take no individual health and risk factors into consideration. Additionally, vaccines in and of themselves have a certain degree of toxicity, and when you multiply that toxicity by the number of immunizations given to a child, the effects can be harm-ful. Discussions about the pros and cons of vaccines should be part of any well child visit and informed consent should be mandatory. Knowing the optimal time to vaccinate, lifestyle decisions that can help to decrease risks of infection and making an informed decision about which vaccines are important for your child are covered in visits where we outline the best vaccine decisions for your family. Although it is an area in medicine that is strongly divided, vaccine consultations are available to help you to decide what is right for your child.

Dr. Shelby EntnerOkanagan Natural Medicinewww.oknaturalmedicine.com

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WHY NOT YOU? WHY NOT TODAY?

Growing up in South Africa, sleepover camps weren’t nearly as popular. Or maybe it was just me who didn’t care to know much about

them. I hated the idea of not having a washroom in my cabin and having to make my way to one with only a flashlight to guide me. And I didn’t want to sit around camp fires listening to ghost stories that I feared would keep me awake at night.

My husband, on the other hand, looked forward to the entire sleeping away from home experience. He loved the independence, the camp outs, the sharing a cabin with 11 other boys his age, the trekking through the wild wooded area and portaging to the river. I think he especially loved the friendships he made and all the activities such as windsurfing and archery that he might never have been exposed to closer to home.

So, after our older daughter was grown up enough to choose between day camp and sleepover camp, I had to think really carefully about how I was going to help her make her decision. I ultimately encouraged my husband to play a larger role in sharing his positive experiences with her. We also requested that certain overnight camps send us their promotional DVDs so that she could see all that they had to offer. Since she already had a good taste of spending days away from us at summer day camps, she was then able to com-pare the two. Being more reticent and less adventur-ous in nature, she ultimately chose to stick closer to home.

Over the years, she enjoyed her experience at a cou-ple of wonderful day camps. She loved the spirit and camaraderie on the bus to camp. The campers and counsellors named their buses, decorated their inte-riors and sang songs to and from camp. Far enough from home and surrounded by nature, she felt as if she was experiencing the great outdoors. She loved swimming – both instructional and recreational – twice a day and especially loved the giant waterslide. She loved the farm animals, the arts and crafts, the drama and dancing classes and participating in all the sports activities. At the end of the day she arrived home, exhausted but looking forward to returning the following day. Ultimately, she became a counsellor at a day camp and continued to enjoy that experience.

My younger daughter is more like her dad. She is www.okanaganchild.com

by Sara Dimerman

Sleepover versus Day Camps

an explorer and a lover of nature. She is less bothered by creepy crawlies and adapts easily to new situations. Now that the time has come to think about going to sleepover camp, as many of her friends are, she is fully contemplating it.

Here are some things to consider when choosing between day and sleepover camp:

1. Know your child. Every child is different and while it’s true that some children need to be encouraged to take on challenges and overcome fears, others can be quite traumatized if they are forced into an experience that they are not ready for.

2. Slow and steady. I’m not a big fan of sending very young (6 or 7 year olds) to sleepover camp. I think that young children are better suited to enjoying activities days closer to home. For a first time experience, children may do better with shorter pe-riods away from home (up to 10 days) rather than going away for a month as a first time experience.

3. Focus on interests. If you remove the sleeping away from home component, many day camps offer as enriched an activi-ties experience as do overnight camps. Its best to try to find a camp that offers activities that meet your child’s interests rather than sending your child to the most popular camp or the one closest to home.

4. Engage your child in the decision between day or sleepover camp. Even though children do not have the life


experience to make this kind of decision alone, let them have their say. If possible, visit camp sites ahead of making your decision so that you can all take a look around and meet the counsellors and staff.

5. Visit. It’s best, when possible, to have your child attend camp – especially for the first time – with a friend or family member. Chances are that he or she will branch out very quickly but most children say that it’s comforting to have a familiar face close by.

Sara Dimerman, Dip.C.S., C.Psych.Assoc., is registered with a College of Psy-chologists and provides counselling to individuals, couples and families. A parent herself, she is the author of two parenting books, ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’ and ‘Character Is the Key.’ Find out more at www.helpmesara.com

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2010_OkanaganChildMagRec_Ad.indd 1 5/6/2011 4:01:41 PM

Moms across Canada are connecting with each other through momcafé through meetings, seminars and internet based communications tools. Momcafe Okanagan provides a forum to connect and inspire women. Okanagan moms can now too enjoy good conversation, lattés, and on-site childcare while listening to inspirational speakers!

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Am I Normal? Managing Adult Emotions During

Separation and Divorce

Sometimes, life just doesn’t seem fair. You didn’t ask for this any more than your kids did. You didn’t even see it coming. Years of working together at creating a family and in an instant,

everything is different. Even though you’d heard stories from co-workers and friends, you never guessed that your marriage would end like theirs. Now you feel betrayed and angry. Intensely angry. In fact, you never knew you could feel this way and you don’t like it. The whole situation feels surreal and yet, as a parent, you try to keep your emotions in check and maintain normalcy in the house-hold for the sake of the children. Yet, everything seems far from normal and you find that you’re yelling at them for petty mistakes. You feel guilty about having so little patience but find it difficult to keep up the façade of having no problem at holding it all together. When the children are asleep or at school, you crumble into a heap, wondering how this could have happened. You’re not alone.

When needing to take care of one’s personal needs is at its peak, it is often difficult to attend to children’s needs too. Feeling guilty is a normal part of parenting, but an especially strong emotion at a time such as this when all a parent often wants to do is spend time alone to heal. Finding the right balance between taking care of one’s own pain and attending to our children’s emotional and physical needs can be challenging. So, go easy on yourself and remember that each day is a new day for learning.

Sadness is one of the strongest emotions felt at this time. Even if the decision to separate was mutual, you will still likely feel the loss of what once was. The loss of family as it once was, possibly the loss of companionship or the loss of seeing your children with their other parent. If you hide your tears completely and pretend that you have not been affected, your children may get the impression that they need to do the same. Tears and sadness are completely normal and need to be expressed at a time of loss and change. Of course, falling into a heap or crying all day and night would not be a good idea.

Part of our responsibility as parents is to ensure that our children see us as being able to stand strong enough to take care of them. This does not mean, however, that you need to stand strong and stoic all the time or that you need to mask your feelings all the time. Express sadness through tears and talk to them about your sadness if you’d like. Use age appropriate language and don’t get into the details that need to be reserved for adults only.

Be easy on yourself. Of course you are going to be less patient, less tolerant and more angry, especially if you didn’t want your relation-ship to end. As a single parent, you will also likely be more tired, may have less time to sleep or not sleep as well as you once did. All of this will contribute to your mood. Apologize to your children if you feel that you have been too harsh. Share with them that you too are experiencing different emotions as a result of the changes and that you may be less patient. Ask them to tell you when they feel that you are not being your old self. Let them know that the changes in you will not be permanent. Ask them to be patient with you too.

As I mentioned before, anger is another very strong emotion felt by many parents following a separation. The reasons for the height-ened anger are many. Some of what parents have shared with me include feeling abandoned or betrayed by a spouse, anger at being forced into selling the matrimonial home, anger at dealing with on-going financial matters, and anger at conflict about how much time each will spend with the children. As angry as you are at one an-other, try not to undermine or speak badly about each other in front of the children. Even though some parents have told me that they feel that their children should know “the truth,” the truth is that children don’t benefit from hearing bad things about either parent. In fact, they often suffer more as a result. Anger at one’s spouse is best reserved for when you are in the company of another adult and the children are not around.


by Sara Dimmerman

expected.

Sara Dimerman, Dip.C.S., C.Psych.Assoc., is registered with a College of Psy-chologists and provides counselling to individuals, couples and families. A par-ent herself, she is the author of two parenting books, ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’ and ‘Character Is the Key.’ Find out more at www.helpmesara.com

One of the most difficult things a parent has to adjust to following a separation is not having his or her children close by all the time. High on the list of items that separated parents fight about is time alone with the children. The idea of not being able to tuck one’s chil-dren into bed every night or to wake up to eat breakfast with them every morning can be overwhelmingly difficult to bear. However, many parents find that over time, and if the situation is settled quite amicably, that they quite enjoy having some down time. Parents have told me that over time they have appreciated being able to take care of their own needs without worrying about the children or have taken advantage of being able to plan activities on their own. Taking care of oneself – emotionally and physically, is always important but especially after working through such a difficult time in one’s life.

My clients tell me that talking to a therapist or a good friend (espe-cially one who has been through a similar experience) is extremely helpful. Remember that you are not weak if you cry (that goes for men too!) and that experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions is to be


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Dr. Shelby Entner ND

• Natural Family Medicine

• Women and Children’s Health• Allergy Testing• Natural treatments for asthma, eczema,

digestion & learning/behavioural disorders

www.oknaturalmedicine.com

Welcome to a different kind of medical clinic.

250.470.7496


Summertime is BURGER time! Try my super healthy Beef Burgers or nutrient-rich Ultimate Veggie Burgers below.

Best Beef or Buffalo Burgers

Yield: 8 4-inch burgers

Ingredients:• 2 lbs of organic lean ground beef or buffalo• 1 egg• ½ an onion, minced or 2 sliced leeks• 1 clove of garlic, crushed• 1 tsp celtic or himalayan salt• ½ tsp fresh ground pepper• 1 tbsp oregano• 1 tbsp basil• 1 tbsp mustard

Healthy note: mix in a ¼ cup organic blueberries or strawberries,

Recipes You’ll

LOVE

blended. This avoids any carcinogenic (cancer causing) properties when grilling.

Directions:Mix all ingredients together and form into 4-inch patties (best if it sits in the fridge for ½ hr or more before cooking). Grill on the BBQ, low setting, 10 minutes on each side.

Instead of the traditional “white burger bun”, try grilling portobello mushrooms caps spread with a mixture of crushed garlic, celtic/Himalayan salt and grape seed oil!

Great fixing ideas: mustard, ketchup (with very little natural sweet-eners), red onion, pickles (no sugar added), lettuce leaves, mayo (made with grapeseed oil and sweetened with honey). All delicious and yummy!!

Ultimate Veggie Burger

Yield: 8 1-inch Veggie Burgers

Ingredients:• 1 tbsp coconut oil• 1 yellow onion, minced• 3 garlic cloves, minced• 1 cup grated carrot• 1 cup grated celery• 1 cup grated beets• 1 cup grated zucchini, water squeezed out• ¾ tsp mineral salt• 1 tsp dried oregano• ½ tsp cracked black pepper• ¾ cup mashed sweet potato or yam• ½ cup pumpkin seeds, raw ideally previously soaked and/or sprouted• 2 tbsp light soy sauce (wheat free)• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast• 2 tbsp minced tarragon

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• 2 tbsp minced parsley• 2 tbsp real maple syrup• 2 tbsp fresh wheat germ

Directions:Heat oil in a wide-bottomed pan and saute onions until translu-cent. Transfer sauteed onions into a bowl and add garlic, grated vegetables, herbs, salt and pepper. Form into burgers and chill for ½ hr. When ready, grill for 10 minutes each side over medium-low heat. Serve topped with melted grated goat mozzarella. Try topping with pesto sauce.

If you like these ideas, have a look at more of my nutrient-rich reci-pes at www.fitnhealthynutrition.com.

Check out Kelowna-based Michale Hartte’s BASc (Nutr), NNCP new book, The fit n healthy plan – The nutritional diet & lifestyle plan made easy! Found online at www.fitnhealthynutrition.com

By changing the way we eat,we control where our food comes from.

By saying NO to factory farming,we give a better quality of life for our animals.

By saying NO to GMO foods,we give a better quality of life for our families.

By choosing local and organic,we give strength to our farmers and our land.

Simply by choosing, we give strengthto our generation and our future generations.

It's time to take a stand, together.Live Well. Live Organic.

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Summer is quickly approaching with its sunny weather and fun outdoor activities. Along with summertime, comes the possibility of insect bites, poison oak rashes, injuries, and

sunburns. Even with these possible “risks,” you don’t need to stay cooped up indoors. Homeopathy offers safe, natural remedies that can put your mind and your body at ease this summer. Stocking your medicine cabinet or first aid kit with certain homeopathic remedies keeps you prepared for common summer ailments.

Homeopathically prepared remedies are commonly available in health food stores and many drug stores and are safe for people of all ages, including children and seniors. These all-natural medi-cines are easy to use, do not have side effects, and do not interact with other medications. They can be used day or night without causing drowsiness or stimulation.

Homeopathics are available as individual remedies and in combi-nations. Individual homeopathic remedies on hand at most stores are in 6, 12, and 30 C and X potencies, which are great for acute conditions. Homeopathic remedies can be repeated as often as ev-ery 15 minutes and given up to about 6 – 8 times per day. For chronic or acute conditions continuing for more than a few days with no improvement, be sure to consult a professional homeopath.There are numerous homeopathic remedies for first aid. Below you will find some of the top remedies to keep on hand this summer.

Too much fun in the sun can often lead to sunburns. Preventing sunburns with sunscreens, hats, and other cover-ups is essential. In case you miss a spot and still get sunburned, try apply-ing Aloe Vera gel or Calendula spray to the affected area. In addi-tion, homeopathic Cantharis can be taken internally to help soothe the pain and promote healing.

Watch where you step to avoid an uncomfortable rash. Hiking and camping is on many people’s list this summer. Be sure to look out for poison oak and poison ivy on the trails. Try Rhus tox for the itching and irritation.

Bugs are unavoidable in the outdoors. Avoid synthetic in-sect repellants that are full of harmful chemicals. Instead, choose natural essential oils such as neem or citronella oils. For bee stings and insect bites, homeopathic Apis can provide relief when there is pain, redness and swelling. Ledum is helpful for insect bites and stings when the skin is punctured and the affected area feels cold. If you have an allergy to bees, do not delay treatment, seek healthcare immediately to prevent an anaphylaxis reaction.

All-natural relief can soothe minor injuries. For minor scrapes and cuts, use topical Calendula ointment, salve or spray. Calendula heals and soothes the skin and is anti-microbial. For deep wounds, visit an urgent care center or emergency room for proper wound care. Once a deeper wound is beginning to heal, you can apply Calendula to help speed the recovery.

Accidents happen, but homeopathy can help. Arnica is the single most important remedy for trauma when there is sore-ness and tenderness especially to touch or pressure. It is useful for any kind of trauma including bruises, black eyes, and sore muscles. Arnica can be taken internally as a homeopathic and used exter-nally as ointments, salves or sprays.

Whatever outdoor activities you have planned this summer, be pre-pared by creating your own homeopathic first aid kit to take along with you on outings. In addition to band-aids and other basics, consider some or all of the homeopathic remedies mentioned in this article for your kit. At Okanagan Natural Medicine we sell travel size kits with over 30 different remedies and a “cheat sheet” outlining how to use them all. Having two small kids, I can tell you honestly that our kit goes everywhere in the summer, especially when we camp. I made my first kit in 1997 and we still use it regu-larly! It’s an affordable and easy way to use natural medicines with your family and to be able to enjoy the beautiful area that we live in safely and happily!Dr. Shelby Entner, Okanagan Natural Medicine, www.oknaturalmedicine.com


Natural Remedies for Summertime First Aid by Dr. Shelby Entner

Advertising Works! “To reach the families in the BC Interior, True Cud-dles decided to place an ad with Okanagan Child Magazine. Since our business is solely online, print is not our traditional channel of advertising. We were pleasantly surprised however, when at the recent Baby Fair, numerous moms said they recog-nized our name and brand from OCM. They could recall right away what we were about thanks to our ad. Our website hits and subscriber rates from this ad were also impressive. I’m truly pleased and will continue to advertise with OCM.”

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We have lots of fantastic giveaways that you can win. Lucky mama Danielle Calder won the Sleep Sense Private Consulation package last Fall. Check out her expereince...

I entered the Sleep Sense Contest through Okanagan Child Maga-zine because my family was sleep deprived! Our then 1 year old daughter, Meghan, refused to sleep through the night despite our best attempts. Meghan was our second child and we had never really struggled with sleep issues with our first child, Liam. How-ever, with our first child, if night time sleep didn't happen, it was easy to grab a quick daytime nap while he napped. When Meghan came along, those daytime naps were not possible with an older toddler to chase around. In many respects Meghan was a wonder-ful sleeper, she napped well and on schedule. She went to bed eas-ily at night; we didn't need to rock her but could put her in her crib awake and walk away and she would fall asleep. But then she would wake up over and over throughout the night - sometimes as many as 4 or 5 times. We relied on a night time bottle (sometimes bottles) and pacifiers to get her back to sleep. As Meghan got older, we tried numerous strategies to try and get her to sleep through the night - they all failed miserably and we were getting frustrated. We started working with Pam in January when Meghan was 14 months old. After discussions with Pam, we elected to remove Meghan's night feeds as well as her pacifiers all at once. The first week was absolute hell! But Pam encouraged us to stick with it and was there every step of the way coaching and cheering us on. She encouraged us to hang in there and stick with it. She was right, we now have a baby that sleeps through the night! It is amazing to get a full night's sleep again! Without Pam's support we could never have gotten through it. Pam also helped us with introducing afternoon Quiet Time with our 3 year old who had just dropped his afternoon nap. Quiet time has given me back some 'me time' that I lost when Liam gave up his naps. It helps me get a couple of house chores done or have some time to relax and recharge. It helps me be a better mom because I can focus all of my time and energy on playing with my kids knowing that I will also have some time during the day to get done the things that I have to get done. It also allows my son to re-charge and have a little downtime to work out his cranky's before coming back for another play session. Pam has helped make us a happier healthier family. Thank you Okanagan Child Magazine and Pam for a great giveaway.

-Danielle Calder

Giveaway Update!

A bit about myself...I am a 40 year old first time mum, married to my husband Ben. Our son Sam will be turning 1 in July. I was born and raised in a small town near Rotorua, New Zealand. Curious to see the world beyond the shores of New Zealand, I spent many years travelling around the world - five of which were spent working in the cruise ship industry. I met my Canadian husband while at sea , and that’s how I ended up living in Kelowna. Whenever I gripe about the cold winters here, Ben is quick to remind me that we actually could be living in Winnipeg instead - he is originally from there!I am currently on maternity leave, and due to go back to work in June.

My journey to becoming a parent...I am very aware of the fact that I am a mature mother with a young baby. Had you told me ten years ago that I would have a baby at the age of 39, I would not have believed you. I was way too busy travel-ling and seeing the world!

It wasn’t an easy road for me to become a mum. I experienced a miscarriage in the spring of 2009 while my husband and I were travelling in Israel. Once I had shared my experience with fam-

ily and friends, it was surprising to find out how common miscar-riages are. Still, life had a way of working things out for us; in July of 2010 our son Sam was born here in Kelowna. It was love at first sight!

How I’m different since becoming a mum.....I am infinitely more patient (or working on it!) because you can-not rush things with a baby. They sense if you are stressed and in a hurry to get somewhere, and that doesn’t do either of you any good. I am in awe of my own mum, and never really appreciated all that she did for my brothers and I as children, until I became a mum myself. She had to deal with me and my twin brother as her first-born children, followed by my younger brother three years later. There are some days where I feel that I can barely hold it together with only one child! My maternal grandmother bore eleven chil-dren, and somehow without all the modern day trappings that we have available to us now, she managed to get everything done! What an amazing woman!

I find I am reliving life, by rediscovering things through Sam’s eyes. It’s very cliché, but it’s true! Everything is just amazing and wonder-ful to him, it really is incredible.

Penny Hechter -Motherhood Embraced

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography


I never leave home without...Sam’s diaper bag, which is full of “just in case” items, such as nap-pies, wipes, a soother, various toys, a change of clothes, and food and drink. I know the day I leave something at home I will need it!

On staying home vs. going back to work...I am currently on parental leave from my job, and I have been very fortunate to be able to enjoy a year off with Sam. I am due to go back to work in June, and I have mixed feelings about returning to work. It would be lovely to be able to stay home with Sam with him being so young, ... but on the other hand, I think going back to work will be good for me.... extending my brain power again and having conversations that do not include baby talk with other adults during the day will be refreshing!

The best parenting advice I ever received...Trust your own instincts! There is an overload of information out there, be it from well meaning relatives or friends, or from books or the internet. It is very easy to feel overwhelmed. I found that the health care providers when Sam was a newborn were also contra-dictory in their advice they gave me, so in the end, I did what I felt was best for Sam and I. It seems to have worked so far!

Pet peeves...People can be very judgemental! I have been out and about with Sam, when a complete stranger feels the need to comment on something such as “Oh, your baby has cradle cap!”. Other strang-ers will lean into Sam’s stroller and touch him or pick up his toy to shove in his face. People are naturally drawn to babies, and they are probably very well meaning - it can just get a little annoying!

How I make time for myself...When Sam is napping, I sometimes force myself to take a little time out for me. It is easy to think, oh the dishes need doing, or the laundry needs sorting or whatever. It is so easy to “sweat the small stuff ”. I used to be such a clean freak, but I would run myself ragged if I tried to keep the house spotless with a baby in the house all the time! And really, what does it all matter anyway? I’ve learnt to let it all go, and not be so fastidious about the cleaning. It can wait - and

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography

photo credit: Adrian Kids Photography Summer 2011 l 21www.okanaganchild.com

besides a bit of “me time” is essential for my sanity! I love to read a book, or catch up on a movie that I have recorded - which is usu-ally watched in instalments! My husband is great too, he will insist on my taking a few hours during the weekend, just so I can go and do what I want to do. I will even volunteer to go and do the grocery shopping on a weeknight, just to get out of the house!

What I want most for my children...Like any parent, I want Sam to grow up to be happy and healthy. I also want him to grow to appreciate everything that he has, as there are lots of families that are not so fortunate as ours. A touch of the travel bug wouldn’t go amiss - as I know mine has never gone away - it’s just laying dormant for a little while!

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Looking for safe baby products?

Items needed:• A cardboard egg carton• Recycled tissue paper from holidays or birthdays• Scrap materials (any colours)• A tin can• Paint and brushes or markers• Twist ties or pipe cleaners • Piece of Ribbon• Sand or small rocks• Scissors• Glue

Directions:• Carefully cut the egg carton into individual cups. Ask an adult to help you if you need it because this is the tricky part.

• Poke a very small hole in the bottom of each egg cup (just big enough to fit a pipe cleaner through).

• Now paint or colour the outside and inside of the cups.

• While the paint is drying, cut the scrap material into little pieces of different sizes and shapes. Glue the pieces of material onto the tin can to make a colourful collage vase. Wrap the ribbon around the collaged vase and tie it in a bow.

• For older children (6-10 yrs.), cut out squares of tissue paper (2.5 inches X 2.5 inches). You will need three squares per egg cup. Fold the tissue in half and in half again and cut the tip off of the corner so there is a small hole in the centre of the tissue when you unfold it. Now get your pipe cleaners and make small spirals at the ends then take one and stick the straight end through the three pieces of tissue and then through the DRY painted egg cup. Voila! You have your first flower. Proceed with the rest of the flowers until you have a bouquet and stick them into your collage vase full of sand or rocks.

• Present them to your Mom, Dad or Grandparents and tell them how much you love them!

Kiki the Eco Elf is a colourful children’s entertainer and clown who teaches young children about environmental issues through songs, stories and theatre. Currently she lives in Vernon with her partner and 3 small children. Check her out at www.ecokiki.com

by Michelle Collie


Nearly 35% of the trees cut every year become paper products. If we recycle HALF of the paper we use each year,

we would cut 20 million fewer acres of forest.

Environmental Fact:

Eco-FriendlyCrafts

At first I thought that meant perfect. But, it didn’t take long to figure out that kids don’t want perfect parents. Nor do they need them. It’s okay if they see us without makeup on. It’s okay if they see us sad or upset. They love me for my good and my bad.

I don’t want perfect kids either. But I do want kids who will learn from their mistakes, and even mine.

For centuries people have pondered the meaning of life. I could write pages on various theories, but one thing I’m sure of is that there is more to life than simply procreating and passing on our gene pool. There’s more to it, too, than the rat race of every day liv-ing. As parents, we have to find meaning in things other than the carpooling, the working and the household chores; otherwise we’ll get too caught up in the race and forget to enjoy ourselves along the way.

But we also can’t forget that they’re finding their own meaning too, and a lot of what they hold important are the things they learn from watching us.

The way I see it, as mama duck to my little ducklings, I have two choices. I can keep them under my wing and protect them from the world or I can let them follow and wander a bit on their own and help them pick themselves up when they make a mistake or can’t find their way.

And for now, in between the rat race of life, that brings me enough purpose and meaning to keep on leading. Not to mention, when-ever I turn around I will get to enjoy the simpler pleasures of par-enting, too: first smiles, first steps, first words, big hugs, dirty fin-gers, mud pies, bouquets of weeds, riding a bicycle, report cards, egg hunts, Christmas morning, night time wishes, first dates, a first dance etc.

Michelle Collie is a wife, mom, freelance writer and child chauffeur who lives in West Kelowna, B.C.


The other day I was walking through a store and the kids were dawdling behind me. An image of a mother duck leading her ducklings to water popped into my mind’s eye. I laughed to

myself as I looked around the store and saw various visions of other mama (and papa) ducks and their little ones following behind.

I mazed up and down aisles for fun. ‘Let’s see how long they’ll blindly follow me without asking where we are going and what we are doing.’ It didn’t take long for them to start their rounds of ques-tioning.

That’s when it hit me. Sure they follow me everywhere (even the bathroom!) but they no longer blindly trust where I am going. They are inquisitive and they are always watching and questioning in their efforts to learn the ways of the world. Without even realizing it, they hold me accountable for the little and big things in life.

They watch what I put into my shopping cart, how I interact with friends and strangers, how I put on my makeup and what I eat. And they have a question for everything. “Who is she?” “Why are you talking to her?” “Why are you buying that?” “How come you drink coffee?” “Why do you wear lipstick?” It goes on and on and on.

It’s good. It keeps our dialogue open, gives me plenty of opportu-nity to teach through example and also keeps me in check. After all, if I sneak a chocolate bar into the shopping cart or buy a new pair of shoes, I know their eyes are watching and not only will they ask me questions about it, but they’ll also tell Dad! And, I’ll have to share the chocolate, too!

I lost my privacy the day I gave birth and I don’t think I’ll be getting it back anytime soon. Nothing gets by the kids which means that, as their mother, I get the all-important job of being a role model.

I get to be the kind of person I want them to be.

Mama Duck said “Quack, Quack, Quack’ and all the little ducklings quacked right back ......

by Michelle Collie

Has your child ever complained of a nagging head-ache? If so, he or she isn’t alone. Research shows that headaches are as much of a problem for chil-

dren as adults – not only because of the pain, but also be-cause of the effects on a child’s quality of life.

Researchers in Germany identified headaches as the most common form of pain in children and adolescents. In re-cent research, more than 1,000 students answered ques-tions about pain location, intensity and duration. Eighty percent of respondents reported some sort of pain dur-ing the previous three months. A whopping 57 percent of these suffered from headaches. More than 30 percent of the youths endured pain lasting longer than six month (Schmerz 2003;17:171-8).

Another study conducted in the Netherlands documented that pe-diatric headache frequency is on the rise – up 6 percent since 1985! Specifically, headache prevalence doubled in elementary-aged school boys (Eur J Pain 2001;5:145-53). Children typically do not “out-grow” their childhood headaches either. Headache-enduring youths are likely to suffer into adulthood and report physical and psychological problems (BMJ 2001;322:1145).

Childhood Headache Sufferers Do Worse in SchoolScientists recently followed 971 people from birth to age 32. Fre-quent headaches were identified in children from 7 to 13 years, and data relating to cognitive and academic performance in sub-jects from 3 to 32 years of age were analyzed. Although adults with “tension-type” headaches did not score worse on cognitive tests than their headache-free peers, a “consistent relation was found between childhood headache (regardless of headache diagnosis in adulthood) and lower scores on most cognitive measures from age 3 years through adolescence (verbal and performance IQ, recep-tive language, and reading scores).” (Curr Pain Headache Rep 2007; 11:454-60).

Start of School Associated with HeadacheIt’s particularly important to focus on preventing childhood head-aches during the start of the school year or new term. Researchers found that youngsters with a history of head pain are likely to have

episodes starting in September. One study, which enrolled more than 1,400 6-and 7-year-old children, revealed that headache fre-quency increased by 20 percent during the first months of school. What’s more, the students’ headaches became more frequent as the year progressed. “School start appears to increase the incidence of headache (occasional headache in particular) in children, indepen-dent of other factors,” the study’s authors explain. (Pediatrics 1999; 103:80).

Headaches Lead to Missing SchoolPainful headaches directly affect a student’s ability to concentrate, listen and think. Worse yet, research documents another unde-niable fact: Students with headaches miss more school than their headache-free peers.

A report published in the renowned British Medical Journal re-vealed that students with headaches and migraines miss twice the number of school days each year compared to students without head pain. The study, which enrolled 2,165 5- through 15-year-old students, revealed that migraines and tension-type headaches increase with age. The authors concluded, “Migraine is a common cause of headache in children and causes significantly reduced school attendance.” (BMJ 1994; 309:765-9).

Headaches Can Hurt Social InteractionHaving friends is key to enjoying school, and in turn, excelling aca-demically. Sadly, headaches may put a damper on a child’s ability to

Are Headaches Affecting Your

Child’s Academic Performance?


by Dr. Wayne Terai


seek out friends and maintain relationships.

Children who suffer from headaches are more apt to skip social-izing and have trouble with peers and authority figures. These youngsters are also more likely to report feeling lethargic and re-flect on morbid subjects (such as death) than pain-free youngsters (Pediatrics 2000; 106:270-5).

Headaches and DepressionA growing percentage of youngsters are diagnosed each year with emotional depression. And this trend may be related to the escalat-ing number of children suffering from head pain, say researchers who compared 128 6- to 18-year-old headache sufferers with 83 pain-free peers. Those with headaches often endured more psy-chological problems, such as despair and anxiety, than those in the pain-free control group (Cephalalgia 2003:23:206-13).

In another study, a group of 100 3- to 17-year-old youths drew pictures to illustrate how their headaches made them feel. More than 30 percent of the children’s illustrations disclosed emotions of helplessness, frustration and anger. More than 20 percent of the adolescents depicted themselves as dead, dying or about to be killed by their headaches (Headache 1996; 36:224-30).

Skipped SleepFor children and adults, sleep is vital for the rejuvenation of body, mind and spirit. For students, restless nights generate devastating effects on academic records. And current research shows that chil-dren with head pain are more likely to miss out on sleep, compared with headache-free youngsters.

In one recent study, investigators assessed headaches in 118 chil-dren, ages 2 through 12. Headache sufferers were found to rest few-er hours, on average, than pain-free youths. Migraine frequency and duration were also linked to anxiety about sleeping, resisting bedtime and sleep disorders – such as sleepwalking, night terrors and bed-wetting (Headache 2003;43:362-8).

How to Help HeadachesDoctors of chiropractic focus on the correction of vertebral sub-luxations – a common condition caused by misaligned vertebrae. Studies show vertebral subluxations in the neck are a leading cause of headaches (Wien Med Wochenschr 1994;144:102-8). In a re-view of nine studies, which included approximately 700 patients with chronic headaches and migraines, chiropractic care was much more effective than other alternative therapies, such as massage. Additionally, chiropractic adjustments were as effective as prescrip-tion medications for migraines and tension-type headaches, with-out the potential hazardous side effects of medication (J Manipula-tive Physiol Ther 2001;24:457-66).

Another report enrolled 127 volunteers, ages 10 to 70, who en-dured at least one migraine per month. Participants received two months of chiropractic care, with a maximum of 16 chiropractic adjustments. Compared with patients who did not receive adjust-ments, the chiropractic cohort significantly slashed its medication use and migraine frequency, intensity and duration. Specifically, 22

percent of the chiropractic patients enjoyed more than a 90 percent reduction in migraines. Approximately 50 percent more reported significant improvement in an episode’s pain and duration (J Ma-nipulative Physiol Ther 2000;23:91-5).

Other Natural SolutionsAcupuncture has been time-proven to be a genuine migraine cure (Curr Treat Options Neurol 2008;10:20-9). Wet-cupping, another ancient Chinese technique using a vacuum over a superficial cut to increase blood supply to the tissue, has shown to decrease migraine severity by up to 66%, and lower the monthly number of headache days (Am J Chin Med 2008;36:37-44).

Aromatherapy, hypnosis, relaxation, skin-warming, biofeedback, physical therapy and physical exercise have also been shown to positive outcomes. Supplements have also shown promise in re-cent years: Feverfew and Butterbur (Neurol Sci 2010;31:S137-9), Magnesium (Headache 2003;6:601-10), 5-hydroxytryptophan, Co-enzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, Vitamin B2 and B3, and Reishi mushroom.

Some other simple, low-cost suggestions to help control headache frequency and intensity are taking a warm bath or shower, apply-ing a cold compress to the forehead or back of the neck, drinking enough water to stay hydrated, massaging the face, head, neck and shoulders, and resting in a dark room.

Of course, your youngster can’t opt out of school to avoid head-aches (wishful thinking on their part!). So this upcoming school year, vow to eradicate your child’s headaches. Rather than masking symptoms with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, which are loaded with potential side effects, try one of the proven, all-natural solu-tion for pediatric headaches.

This information is provided by Dr. Wayne Terai, B.Sc., D.C., a family practice chiropractor, Advanced Proficiency Rated in Activator Methods. He has prac-ticed in Kelowna for 15 years, and has practice includes the new Kelowna Laser Therapy Clinic, implementing the BioFlex Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT). LILT is used to effectively treat injuries and chronic and inflammatory conditions.

It’s time to call your Welcome Wagon

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Attractions & Recreation Big White & Silver Starwww.silverstar.comwww.bigwhite.com

City of Kelowna - Recreationwww.kelowna.caCity of Kelowna, Recreation and Cultural Services offers programs and activities for individuals of all ages and abilities in neighbourhoods throughout Kelowna, including swimming, dance, karate, sports, Mom & Baby programs and more.See ad on page 13.

Crystal Mountain Resortwww.crystalresort.com

Davison Orchardswww.davisonorchards.ca3111 Davison Rd.Open Daily May 1 - October 31st.Davison Orchards is a three generation farm which grows 70 acres of fresh pro-duce, offers Orchard tours, and has many great activates for children includingfarm animals and the New “Crazy Cow Kids Corral” play area. Fresh baking, specialty foods, country gifts, & so much more!See ad inside front cover.

Kelowna Art Gallerywww.kelownaartgallery.comVisitors to Kelowna can explore provoca-tive and varied exhibitions of art in the spacious facility located in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District. Serving the Central Okanagan Valley with a variety of exhibitions, the Gallery also offers a wide selection of public programs for all ages.

Maple Springs Bible Campwww.maplesprings.caSee ad on page 13.

We Teach SwimmingPrivate Kelowna swim academy for all ages from cradle to career.www.weteachswimming.ca250.470.7496See ad on page 15.

YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanaganwww.ymca-ywca.comThe YMCA-YWCA is a trusted charity committed to building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. The Y proudly operates the Kelowna Family Y, the H20 Adventure and Fitness Centre, 3 out of school care centres, a childcare and preschool, and the Y Career Contact Centre for Youth.

Breastfeeding Clinics / Support

La Leche Leaguewww.lllc.caKelowna, BC: First Wednesday of the Month, 7pm, 630 Cadder Avenue (The Parent Place)Penticton, BC: Third Tuesday of the Month, 10am, Penticton Health UnitVernon, BC: First Tuesday of the Month, 10am, Vernon Alliance Church, 2601 - 43rd Avenue

Okanagan Breastfeeding Coalition330 Ellis St., Penticton, BCwww.okanaganbreastfeeding.orgSee ad on page 15.

Rutland Health Centre Breastfeeding Centre155 Gray Rd , Kelowna, BC 250.980.4822

Child Care - preschools, daycares, nannies Building Blocks Educational Childcare Ltd.buildingblockseducare.com778.478.1818See ad on page 11.

International Nannies and HomecareMake your life easier with a nanny. 250.862.4949www.internationalnannies.comSee ad on inside front cover.

Nannysitterswww.nannysitters.caKelowna’s premier nanny and babysit-ter agency. Specializing in providing thoroughly-screened local childcare pro-fessionals. Nannysitters is fully licensed, bonded and insured.See ad on page 13

North Okanagan Childcare Societywww.noccs.ca

Okanagan Montessoriwww.okmontessori.comWe provide a prepared environment where children are guided through activities by trained Montessori teachers. Children learn as they experiment with and actively participate in activities.See ad on page 4.

Summerland Montessori Schoolwww.summerlandmontessori.comThe Summerland Montessori School incorporates Montessori philosophy and current best teaching practices to create our unique school character.

Childcare Resource & Referral Kelowna Child Care Resource & Referral1890 Ambrosi Rd, Kelowna, BC

250.763.3536

Penticton Child Care Resource & Referral 330 Ellis St., Penticton, BC 250.492.2926

Vernon Child Care Resource & Referral 3300- 37th Avenue, Vernon, BC250.542.3121

Chiropractic Care Burtch Chiropractic, Dr. Wayne Terai250.860.4518229-1634 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna BCDr. Wayne Terai is a Doctor of Chiro-practic practicing in Kelowna for over 15 years, helping Okanagan families be well without the use of drugs and surgery.

Diaper Service Booty Boutiquewww.bootyboutique.ca1.888.594.5204We offer eco-friendly diapering solutions for the modern family along with a Try Before you Buy program!See ad on page 11.

Tidy Tushees Diaper [email protected] help families with all their natural parenting needs including cloth diaper-ing. Whether you choose to let us do the dirty work for you, you need help troubleshooting your system or you are on the hunt for products, we are here to help!

Doulas

Doula Services Association, BC604.515.5588www.bcdoulas.org

Education 4CATS Art StudioIn Kelowna; West Kelowna location opening soon!www.4cats.com

Aberdeen Hallwww.aberdeenhall.comAberdeen Hall is an independent, non-denominational university preparatory school for boys and girls from preschool to senior grades. We offer a safe and bal-anced learning environment, individual attention and specialized instruction to enable your child’s to reach his or her full potential.

CSF Schoolswww.csf.bc.caThe Couseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. offers French language public edu-cation across the province. It has schools in Kelowna and Penticton and elsewhere in the province.

Sylvan LearningReading . Writing . MathSchool success is a phone call away! Kelowna 250.861.1255Vernon 250.549.2443www.sylvanbc.caSee ad on page 7.

Employment Vitality Nowwww.vitalitynow.wisehomebiz.comWe need enthusiastic people wanting

Resource Directory

Check out local cutieson Page 30

in our

section!Snap Happy


Resource Directoryto increase family income. Many of us earn $50,000 a year or more working part time from home. Training provided. Must be coachable and willing to learn.Events Babies in Bloom Baby Fair

Fat Cat Children’s Festivalwww.fatcatfestival.caJune 11-12, 2011

Rotary International Children’s FestivalMay 26-28, 2011www.okchildrensfest.org

Fashion for Moms AvonCandice [email protected]/candice.munro250.868.8783See ad on page 11.

Arbonne Internationalwww.kgilkyson.myarbonne.cagilkyson.karen@gmail.comArbonne’s products are botanically based. Arbonne’s Baby Skin care is free of parabens, sls, mineral oil, dyes, fragrance and phthalates. It will make your baby very happy to have Arbonne!! Call for your complimentary ABC Baby Care sample today. See ad on page 21.

Finances Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan, Beverly O’Reillywww.cst.org . 250.498.6234beverly.o’[email protected]’re RESP Specialists. Our goal is to make sure your education savings are there when your child goes to school. A non-profit company, started in 1960, we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year.

Freedom 55 FinancialTo find out more about how we can provide permanent insurance and pro-vide for your child’s future, give us a call today at 250.763.1114 Chantal Diaz: ext. 233Daniel Bussiere: ext. 256

Health & Wellness Maternity Care Westside853 Anders Road, West Kelownainfo@maternitycarewestside.com778.755.5720www.maternitycarewestside.comSee ad on inside front cover.

Nature’s Fare Marketswww.naturesfare.comKelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon and

PentictonSee ad on page 17.

Okanagan Natural Medicinewww.oknaturalmedicine.comDr. Shelby Entner and Dr. Chris Spooner offer natural family medicine, allergy testing, herbal medicine, nutrition, ho-meopathy, laser therapy, hormone health, prolotherapy, iv medicine and vitamin injections.See ad on page 15.

Today I Ate A Rainbowwww.todayiatearainbow.comToday I Ate a RainbowTM is a chart that makes eating a rainbow of healthy fruits and vegetables FUN for kids! This hands-on tool makes it easy for parents to set up healthy eating habits.See ad on inside back cover.

Lawyers Gordon and Company102 - 1433 St. Paul Street, Kelowna, BC250.860.9997With over 30 years of professional experi-ence, Gordon and Company offer an extensive range of serices including all types of litigation, family law, wills/estate disputes and personal injury.See ad on page 29.

Midwives Midwives Asscoation of BC604.736.5976www.bcmidwives.com

Music Music for Young Childrenwww.myc.comCelebrating its 30th anniversary, Music for Young Children has been among the world’s leading music-learning systems. The hour-long classes include rhythm ensembles, singing, ear-training, sight-reading, note-reading, theory and composing techniques.

OnLine Parenting Sites Kelowna New Parentwww.kelownanewparent.comKelowna New Parent is Kelowna’s best resource for all things baby! Check out information on activities, play groups, dining, daycares and much more.

GlimpseProduct reviews for Canadians!See ad on page 19.

Mom CafeSee ad on page 13.

Mother of a DealDeal hunting made easy!www.motherofadeal.com

True CuddlesEach week we bring you one baby or tod-dler product, in limited quantity, at up to 75% off retail!www.truecuddles.caSee ad on page 4.

Parent & Tot Storytimes The Okanagan Regional Librarywww.orl.bc.caThe ORL is your most economical, sustainable and relevant source for information and entertainment in the BC Southern Interior. Visit us at one of our 29 branches or at www.orl.bc.ca

Party & Event Services Par-T-Perfectwww.par-t-perfect.comYour complete Children’s PARTY & EVENT Service! Whether it’s a birthday for 8, a corporate gathering or festival for thousands...if kids are involved, let us do it for you!

Photography & Portraits Adrian Kids Photographywww.adriankidsphotography.cainfo@adriankidsphotography.caKelowna photographers Jon + Jenny bring their fresh and creative style to kids portrait sessions. Visit them online or give them a call to book your kids session. See ad on page 9.

Aviva Photo Studioswww.avivaphotostudios.comWe are Mike & Elizabeth Soergel and together we are Aviva Studios. We’re pas-sionate about what we do and we believe that the experience is just as important as the images themselves.

Public Health Services/Nurses Kelowna Health Unit1340 Ellis Street250.868.7700

Penticton Health Unit740 Carmi Avenue250.770.3434

Rutland Health Unit155 Gray Road250.980.4825

Summerland Health Unit12815 Atkinson Road250.404.8050

West Kelowna Health Unit

160 – 2300 Carrington Road250.980.5150

Vernon Health Unit1440 – 14th Avenue250.549.5700

Retail Angel Babies Kids Shoppe375 Main St., Penticton, BC250.493.8823Calling mamas-to-be, parents and grandparents! With a great mix of con-signment (maternity & kids) and new clothing, products & gear, Angel Babies is a must visit for young families.See ad on page 19.

Bitsy Birdwww.bitsybird.comBitsy Bird creates beautiful gifts that are sure to impress at any baby shower.Our themed diaper cakes, washcloth cup-cakes and tutus make memorable gifts that are charming and practical.See ad on page 9.

Bo Peep Boutiquewww.bo-peep.caBo Peep Boutique stocks fashioable and great quality clothes for children aged 0 -13. They also carry lots of fun toys, books and accessories for moms and babies.

Buddies Kids [email protected]’s boutique offering clothing, shoes and special gifts from 0-10. Bud-dies has been a unique place to shop for children since 2003.See ad on page5.

Chicken Little4407 - 29th Street, Vernon BCwww.chickenlittle.caChicken Little is a great place to shop for your kids, grandkids, family and friends. For shopping 24 hrs/day, visit us online at www.chickenlittle.caSee ad on page 5.

Epic Jr.Trendy clothes for kids infant to pre-teeen.Epicjr.com778.478.98982079 Enterprise WaySee ad on page 3.

Lalabee Bathworkswww.lalabeebathworks.comOrganic skincare for Mommy and Baby. Lalabee Mommy covers the three stages of pregnancy all organically! Our organic Bottom Balm is a fantastic cream that really works on diaper rash.


Little Baby HugzMom and Baby Necessities!www.littlebabyhugz.ca250.963.9214info@littlebabyhugz.ca

Loadza ToysToys for all ages.Orchard Park Mall, Kelowna and Cherry Lane Mall, Penticton (opening Summer 2011). www.loadzatoys.com250.717.8209See ad on page 19.

Mountain Babywww.mountainbaby.comServing young children and families for over 15 years, we offer outstanding products that encourage families to be fit, to be in nature, and to be together in every season.

My Lil Packagewww.mylilpackage.comA unique selection of hard to find prod-ucts for mom, dad and baby.See ad on page 15.

Natural Belly and Baby1331 Ellis St., Kelowna, BC250.860.0307 . 1.866.763.7214www.naturalbellyandbaby.comOffers customers a unique opportunity to select from not only the latest and most highly respected brands for moms and babies, but also introduces many yet unknown locally produced productsdestined to be appreciated.

Raspberry Kidswww.raspberrykids.comRaspberry Kids is an online lifestyle store that features fresh, healthy & fun products for the little ones in your life. We cater to savvy expectant parents, moms, dads and gift givers.See ad on inside front cover.

The ShrunksInflatable, portable toddler beds and much more!www.theshrunks.com See ad on back cover.

Sleep Sleep Sensewww.sleeptsense.net/kelownaGive you and your family the gift of a good night’s sleep with the Okanagan’s only licensed & local Sleep SenseTM Consultant. Call Pam at 250.575.6988 or visit www.sleepsense.net/kelownaSee ad on page 17.

Support Services Aboriginal Infant Development Program442 Leon Ave , Kelowna, BC 250.763.4905

ACHIEVE BCToll Free: 1.800.514.0554Website: www.AchieveBC.ca Advice on prenatal care, nutrition and developmental guides. Parenting tips and information on stimulating your child’s mind and body through reading and play. Learn more about the services offered through the Government of British Columbia by calling the toll free number or visiting the website.

Association for the Benefit of Children with Disabilities250.763.4663

BC 24- HOUR Nurse LineCall: 8-1-1Website: www.bchealthguide.com BC Nurseline gives you 24 hour, 7 day toll-free access to registered nursed specially trained to provide confiden-tial help on the telephone. Available to answer medical enquiries free of charge - carecard required

BC Council for Families204-2590 Granville St , Vancouver, BC1.800.663.5638The BC Council for Families works to help create healthy families in a healthy society. Our goal is to empower families. We provide educational resources on topics such as parenting, childhood development, parent-teen relationships, work-life balance, suicide awareness and more.

BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities250.763.0899

Big Brothers and Sisters - Okanagan151 Commercial Dr , Kelowna, BC www.bigs.bc.caBig Brothers Big Sisters of the Okanagan provides children and youth ages 7 - 12 (‘Littles’) with volunteer adult mentors (‘Bigs’) who provide a positive influence in their lives.

Welcome Wagon1.866.856.8442www.welcomewagon.caIt’s time to call your Welcome Wagon representative. She will bring new con-gratulations and gifts for the new baby and family.See ad page 25.

Watch for our next issue...

Spring 2011arriving this February

When the Virtual School Society (VSS) launched its “Cyber Safe with Steve Dotto” initiative targeting parents, it believed that

the best way to combat internet danger was to find a way to get stu-dents, teachers, parents and the community all working together. It seems to have found a great champion for a significant part of the student-focused component in Vernon Secondary School’s media and social studies teacher, Mike Sawka.

Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries Public

T. 250.860.9997F. 250.860.9937

102 - 1433 St. Paul Street, Kelowna BC V1Y 2E4

JOSEPH R. GORDONB.A., LL.B

FRANCES JOY BULLICKB.S.W., B.JURIS., LL.B, LL.M.

OVER 30 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• ALL TYPES OF LITIGATION

• CRIMINAL DEFENCE

• FAMILY LAW

• PERSONAL INJURY

• REAL ESTATE DISPUTES

• TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS & TICKETS

• WILLS & ESTATE DISPUTES

Before you know it...it will be Fall!

Watch for the next issue late August.


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TODAY I ATE A R a i n b o w !

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