Uncharted Territory:Children & TechnologyParenting Tips...From Kids!The Eyes of BabesWhat you need to know about your child’s vision

April/May 2012

Building a Better

Bedtime Routine

How?It’s easy! Just send us an image, tell us what you want to say, choose a colour scheme and we’ll do the rest!

When?Submission deadline is the 5th of the month prior to publication.(i.e. May 5th for our June/July issue)

Photos?Photos cannot be low resolution. If you are using a professional photo, get permission first. (Some photographers might even offer custom designed birth announcements for our magazine!)

How much?Announcements are only $70 each plus HST.

Did you have visions of the perfect birth announcement? Sending personalized cookies to 100 of your closest family and friends, maybe?

Or seed packets with your baby’s photo stamped on them?But then you gave birth and this vision slipped away...

Now you’re sleep deprived and busy, really busy; you don’t want to make cookies...it’s hard enough just uploading a photo to Facebook!At Kamloops Momma, we understand what it’s like to have a newborn, so we’re making it easy. You can show off your beautiful baby to 8500 of your closest friends and family in our high-quality, glossy, colour

magazine that is meant to last. Now that’s better than cookies!

Space is limited!

Introducing Kamloops Momma

Birth Announcements

Visit www.kamloopsmomma.com for more info!

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I Love My 2nd Child Too!

It took me 8 weeks to announce the birth of my daughter…via email. Yes, unless my friends and family were local or on my own momma’s contact list, no one knew I had a baby until

she was 2 months old - and they couldn’t have assumed, either, because she arrived almost 2 months early!

I still feel a guilty about this, but it’s not that I wasn’t excited. You see, it was before Facebook was a necessity - when you

had to upload photos from your camera (not your phone) and send them one at a time via email. And I was busy…I had to change, feed, and bathe my new little bundle of joy. And I was sleep deprived.

I know! There is no way to justify this. And, honestly, I just wanted to snuggle my baby girl all day and couldn’t be bothered by pesky things like computers!

(Yes, I can hear the older generation groaning right now: ‘We didn’t even have computers when we had children...’)

By the time I got around to placing an announcement in the newspaper, my daughter was 5 months old. I was embarrassed to put her date of birth because everyone would know just how inefficient I was. I told myself, “At least I did it and I can cut out the newspaper date so she never knows!”

Fast-forward 3 years to the birth of my next baby girl. This time, I knew I would do better...and I did, sort of! Thanks to the immediacy and ease of social media, most people knew about her birth that day; this was also thanks to my mom, who uploaded photos almost immediately.

As for the birth announcement in the newspaper, well, it never actually happened. When she was a year old, I divulged to my mom how upset I was that I’d never

gotten around to the newspaper announcement. I feared that my daughter was the ‘typical’ second child – fewer photos, less one-on-one time, and hand-me-downs. I worried that she’d grow up thinking we didn’t care as much about her…and I wouldn’t even have a birth announcement to prove that we did! (This logic is likely a result of my own ‘second-child syndrome’!)

My mom gave me an ‘are-you-serious?’ look and said, “Courtney, your daughter was on the cover of the magazine - what better birth announcement could there be?!”

Of course, she was right. It was pretty cool…Wouldn’t it be cool to announce the birth of your baby in Kamloops Momma too?

Now you can! Check out www.kamloopsmomma.com for more info!

-- Courtney Charlton, editor

To share your ideas and comments, contact us at info@kamloopsmomma.com or find us on Facebook!

On the Cover:One and a half year old Yoonsung plays it up for the camera while hanging out at Peterson Creek. With warm weather and sunny skies ahead, be sure to head outdoors and capture your wee ones in action! (or better yet, be in the photos with them!)

Photo by Erin Brule, owner of Prairie Child Photography - photos moms (and dads) love! For more info, visit www.prairiechild.com

Letter from aKamloops

Momma

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Kamloops Momma 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 2 months and available for free at businesses and resource centres throughout our region. Read-

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

Kamloops Momma MagazinePublished by Courtney Charlton, editorContact: info@kamloopsmomma.com 778.472.0020Disclaimer: The publisher will not be responsible for errors or ommissions. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the contributors/writers and do not necessariily reflect the opinions or views of the publisher. 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.

www.kamloopsmomma.com

7 The Eyes of BabesWhat you need to know about your child’s vision

9 A Gift for Mother’s DayParenting tips from those who know you best - Kids!

10 Brides Gone WildMikayla’s Hope

11 The TimeraiserA volunteer fair with a creative twist

12 Building a Better Bedtime Routine5 tools to help create calm

14 Great ExpectationsA year in the life of a homeschooling momma of four

15 Before and AfterAmazing mommy transformations

17 Spring at LastTips to speed along your spring cleaning

18 Uncharted TerritoryOne mom’s perspective on children and technology

20 Bringing Kamloops’ Sexy Back: RevealedTammy Campbell

22 Moms with Cameras: New BeginningsA year-long course for budding photographers

23 Send in the ClownsA colourful carnival party idea

26 365 MemoriesA picture a day project

A Look Inside Kamloops Momma...

Ashton, 7 months

Skyler, 22 months

16 Home-Based Business Directory

24 Dear Aunty

28 Community Resource Directory

19 Things We Love

27 Notes from a Boho Momma

30 Community Events Calendar

Resources:

Paige, 3.5

Amelie, 2

Roselyn, 8 months

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80% of learning is through vision. How well does your child see?

The importance of proper visual development in children is paramount. An estimated 80 percent of all learning is performed through vision. As an optometrist, one of the most common questions I’m asked is when a child should be seen for their first eye exam. Many parents would be surprised to find that children can be tested as young as six months of age. This allows optometrists to ensure that the eyes are healthy, that eye movements are developing normally, and that both eyes are focusing properly. By age 3, the first comprehensive exam can be performed and is strongly recommended in order to ensure each child has equal opportunity as they enter the classroom and is not hindered by vision problems.

As many as one in six children diagnosed with a learning disorder actually has a correctable vision problem. Such conditions are not easily detectable by parents or teachers, as children are unlikely to voice concerns about their vision. How they see is how they think everyone else sees. Possible signs that a child is struggling include poor attention span, frequent eye rubbing, squinting, complaints about headaches or tired eyes, closing one eye to read or tilting their head to see better, among others. If any such symptoms arise, a trip to the eye doctor would help to determine whether there is an underlying vision problem. It is also very possible that a child will show no symptoms at all. One in five children has a vision disorder; the impact on academic and social development can be significant.

Annual eye exams are recommended for all school-age children (whether they wear glasses or not) in order to detect vision problems early. Near-sightedness (myopia) can develop at any age, but often starts during the school years. As it progresses, a child will gradually begin to have difficulty with their distance vision. They will have trouble seeing the board at school and may find they are making mistakes while taking notes or needing to copy off their friend’s notes. In the early stages of myopia, simply moving the child to the front of the classroom can delay the need for glasses. While myopia progresses naturally for many years throughout childhood and adolescence, it generally plateaus around age 20.

Far-sightedness (hyperopia) is a condition in which light

focuses behind the retina and the child must “focus in” to obtain clear vision. The demand for focus is greater at near than at distance. Low and mild hyperopia often does not require correction, as most children are able to focus comfortably through this prescription. In cases where there is a dysfunction of focusing ability, or when the hyperopic prescription is too strong, glasses may be required. Typical symptoms a child may exhibit in this case include fluctuating vision, poor near vision, aversion to extended near work, among others.

Astigmatism can occur with either myopia or hyperopia. It is a condition in which the cornea is oval in shape (like a football) as opposed to being perfectly spherical (like a soccer ball). This creates distortion in vision and can affect near as well as distance vision. Mild amounts of astigmatism can be monitored over time while greater amounts must be corrected with glasses. Children with refractive errors are best served by annual visits to the optometrist in order to determine the need for glasses as well as the on-going need for prescription updates as children grow.

A Note about UV ProtectionWith summer just around the corner, I’d like to

take a moment to encourage all parents to consider the importance of UV protection for their children’s eyes. According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of your lifetime exposure to UV is received before age 18. This puts children at the greatest risk for UV damage, as their pupils are large and the lenses inside their eyes are more transparent, allowing in more light and UV. Damage from UV builds over time and has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye problems later in life. Always make sure that your child’s sunglasses block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB radiation (look for the UV400 sticker). We all protect our skin from UV – make sure to protect those eyes as well!

Dr. Lindsay Williston is an optometrist at the Kamloops Family Vision Clinic.

By Dr. Lindsay Williston

The Eyes of Babes

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A Gift for Mother’s Day: Parenting Tips from Those Who Know You Best - KIDS!

Moms, you are pretty special and your job isn’t always easy. As I contemplated an article meant to support and celebrate you just in time for Mother’s Day, I looked

at my 4 year old granddaughter and said, “What do you think mommies would like to know?”

Her head popped up from playing with clay and she promptly answered:

“Gold. If you find gold in your backyard and saved it just for your kids, that might be nice. Just wrap it up for them.”

Of course, that makes perfect sense – an ideal education savings plan. And then I realized: who knows more about parents than a child? The now official article interview began:

What is important for moms to know?Think ‘happy.’ And let your children know it’s time for dinner.Do you have advice about laundry?You need to do laundry and not leave a mess. Please tell your

husbands not to leave the laundry mess on the couch or you will feel cranky and children won’t know what happened.

Any advice about cooking?Cooking is the best thing you can do. Try it a little.Advice about looking after children?Looking after children is hard but you have to. It can be fun

too. It is so hard when your children don’t listen and that makes mommies cranky. I know children listen.

So, children, try and clean up your room. Listen to your mother, little darlings. When you say, “Mommy, mommy, I don’t need to go to the bathroom. Mommy, mommy, I don’t need to go to the bathroom. Mommy, mommy, I don’t need to go to the bathroom.” It’s more work. So just let mommies do what she needs to do.

What’s important to know about babies? They always poo. And they always cry when they go to bed.

Any advice for moms and dads about children going to school?

They need to register and they need to make snacks. If the child says, “No, no” they need to go home and get their child a new snack. It’s better to just let them. I think you’ll figure out what’s going on.

Do you have suggestions for making spring cleaning fun?

Yes. Ask your children to help.How can families have more fun?Oh, go play outside!

My granddaughter went on to tell a great story about what to do when your child won’t eat dinner. She explained that you just feed them candy. Pretty soon, the child will say “OH ME! OH MY! I’ll stop eating candy!!” And, although the child might also say, “you sent me a bad message” to her parents, she will prefer dinner to candy.

My granddaughter beamed at having the opportunity to share her wisdom. And so, one kid interview led to another and here’s what three more wise children were willing to share:

What would you tell parents about food?Nora, age 6: More Chinese food and breakfast sandwiches.Ben, age 9: Tuna casserole and meat are good.Donovan, age 12: For our lunches, we have what we call

surprise snacks. A good idea is raw vegies, meat, crackers, sometimes cheese. It’s quick and easy and kids love it.

Kids can’t really enjoy fruits and vegetables so make them more fun. Smiley face apples. My mom would make a regular sandwich into a smiley face. Thank you, Mom! I like that and would think of her and enjoy it. Kids find foods bland so make it playful, spruce it up.

At this time of year many parents are thinking about spring cleaning. How do you think they could make that more fun?

Nora, age 6: Give each child a small job like washing a window or straightening shoes. Play music.

Ben, age 9: In our family, we turn on music and we each clean our rooms. We don’t really wash windows at our house, but my sister and I will wash them sometimes, anyway. It can be fun.

Donovan, age 12: Make it more fun. Give them (children) an objective like whoever cleans up the most gets a prize. Something small like from a dollar store. This works for me!

What do dads need to know?Nora, age 6: Dads can do the hard work.

By Janet Whitehead

9

Donovan, age 12: Do more diapering and hands on caring. Kids will trust them more. Usually, moms do more with the kids and dads are normally at work, so I think dads should get more ‘touchy’ with the kids.

Parents often wonder what they ought to do when their children are arguing or fighting. Do you have any ideas for them?

Nora, age 6: Put them outside for a while.Ben, age 9: Try to make it stop. Try and keep them away from

each other. Kids should get in trouble for fighting unless you are wrestling like somewhere where they teach you.

Donovan, age 12: Do something recreational like pogo sticks, swings or bike riding.

What advice do you have for families about laundry?Ben, age 9: It would be a good idea for the whole family to

empty their own pockets before washing. Usually moms always have to check and it would be easier if everyone emptied their own pockets.

Donovan, age 12: Do it while the kids are at school and you are not rushed. This gives you time to do it properly. Turn on some music to make it more fun.

What advice can you give about helping kids with school or homework?

Ben, age 9: Sometimes I help other kids with school work but only when they ask for help: ONLY when they ask for help. When I need help I ask someone. Sometimes we (children) might forget to do our homework because we’re too busy playing, so parents can ask if our homework is done.

Donovan, age 12: For kids, the first day of kindergarten can be stressful. Comfort them and tell them it will be fine and you will be picking them up after school. One of the problems is that children aren’t sure their parents are coming back so it’s important to reassure them.

Sometimes in school kids get fidgety. Give them a small toy to fidget with. Their minds wander but something to fidget with helps them to be able to focus on listening to the teacher.

What do parents need to know about babies and kids?Ben, age 9: Listen to kids, but not all the time – like not when

they are demanding.Donovan, age 12: Babies are pretty squirmy. Keep your eyes

on them all the time. Keep them entertained with large musical toys and building blocks - that’ll keep them amused.

Kids don’t want to sit for a long time. They get restless. Try to have a lot of fun whenever you can.. .say, sitting in a waiting room for the dentist, have a little fun. It will get the kids’ minds off of boring or scary.

Any advice around clothes for kids?Donovan, age 12: Parents have to clothe children and

sometimes kids are picky and want a specific style and fashion but not until they are around 8 (years old). Clothes can be expensive. Shop for something cheaper but that is like the style they want.

What would you tell parents about having more fun with the family?

Nora, age 6: Do puzzles. Have lots of craft stuff like paper mache, markers and crayons, and paint.

Ben, age 9: Go tubing, I love tubing! Go bike riding. I like doing puzzles with my dad.

What makes a family happy?

Donovan, age 12: Time together. Get out to do stuff like hiking and bike riding; play games, create something new; watch a video; go outside and play.

There’s even more to this gift for you than these brilliant answers to every day happenings in a family. All of these children were willing to share because they were contributing to a cause they felt was important (helping parents!). They knew they were truly being heard and their input was valuable. You can create the same scenario with your kids. Tell them about the article and invite them to answer questions that help parents.

The trick is to not judge, dispute, or otherwise affect what they have to say. Simply by acknowledging their willingness to share, you might be as delighted and entertained as the parents of our wonderful child contributors.

And, in the meantime, go play outside with the family and don’t forget to dig for gold.

Janet L.Whitehead is a Professional Life Coach, Master Creativity Coach, and joyful facilitator of ‘Muses for Mommies’ – a course for Moms to live inspired lives with less guilt and more fun. www.musingsandmud.com

Self-portrait, Nora, age 6

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Imagine 20 brides coming together for a night of wild fun and a great cause, with dresses pulled from the backs of

closets and rummaged from thrift store shelves: this is Brides Gone Wild!

Brides Gone Wild is an event inspired by eight year old Mikayla Schreiner’s hope for a cure - Mikayla is the ultimate flower girl.

Mikayla was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was just 18 months old. An often misunderstood disease, Type 1 Diabetes is a life threatening disease requiring 24 hour care. Mikayla is a rock star who has not and never will let this disease hold her back.

Last year’s event was incredible, raising almost $18 000, and described by the brides as, “The most fun I have ever had!” and “It was awesome!!”

This year in our small community of

Barnhartvale, a family is losing a mother. My heart, as a mom, aches. When I ex-plained to Mikayla what was happening just streets away, she didn’t hesitate for a moment. This year, Mikayla wants to lead the brides in hope for a cure for cancer. She knows, at just eight years old, that when another family is hurting this close to home, reaching out is the right thing to do. I couldn’t be prouder!

Being a bride is easy and as much fun as you want to make it! There is a $75.00 registration fee to participate that cov-ers your entire evening. Brides collect pledges that will all be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.

In our fundraising and advocacy efforts last year, many of our brides spent the weeks leading up to the event in their dresses. We grocery shopped, rode public transit, attended our kids soccer

games and sang karaoke. One of our brides even rode her bike to work in her dress! Everybody loves a bride and a Bride Gone Wild is no exception!

We will be running a contest this year that will allow community members to take images of our brides and upload them to our Facebook page. Find the most brides and you could win a prize!

Pageant sashes are also available to purchase. Brides will wear the name of a family or business as they parade around town advocating and fundraising for this great cause.

This year’s event is on June 2, 2012. If you would like to be a bride, purchase a sash, or contribute a prize item for the bride who collects the most pledges or the person who photographs the most brides, contact Sara at photographer@lifeunfolding.ca.

By Sara

Brides Gone Wild:

Mikayla’sHope

Join us June 2, 2012!

Last year 20 ‘brides’ got together for a wild day to raise funds for Type 1 Diabetes. The hugely successful event was sponsored by these amazing local businesses:

Beauty Code Boutique, the Hot House Bistro, Rivershore Chrysler, and the Commodore Lounge!

Photos:Milk & Honey PhotographyOwen Imaging

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Two years ago I was in a bit of a funk. I had gone back to work in IT (in English that is a job in computers) after my third maternity leave. I was feeling the weight of working

almost full time and the pressure of a big family that always needed more attention.

One day in August I escaped from reality for a half hour at the Art We Are Café and grabbed a copy of this magazine. I saw an ad in the directory for Musings and Mud Coaching and felt a connection. This started a journey down a completely new road for me.

After a couple of months of coaching with Janet, some serendipitous events happened one after another. During a long run, I started to visualize a perfect job for myself as a coordinator of employee volunteer programs and social events with a meaningful purpose - something no one I knew of did independently. In September, I stumbled upon the Timeraiser organization’s website and jumped up and down with excitement at finding something SO cool – I had to bring this event to Kamloops. In October, I ran a half-marathon. In November, I lost my job of 9 years as a computer programmer. I capped off the year by selling my first painting.

Fast forward two years. I am the self-employed owner of Social Fire consulting. I work mostly from home with way more time to support my three kids, my family and their myriad of needs. I have sold a number of art commissions. And I am in the middle of preparing Kamloops to host their first Timeraiser.

So what is a Timeraiser?Imagine going to a cocktail party in a funky building with

artwork from exciting emerging artists hung around the room. All of this art was bought at market value from local galleries. There are around 200 people in attendance enjoying live music, wine, beer and appetizers.

There are also representatives from 20 volunteer agencies setup around the room. They are talking about their roles in the community and what kind of opportunities they have available for volunteers.

As the night progresses, a silent auction starts on the artwork, but instead of bidding with money, participants bid with a commitment of volunteer hours! The winning bidder will get to take home the artwork after they complete their volunteer hours.

The Timeraiser organization has hosted 29 events across Canada since developing the idea in 2002. The amassed results are 100 000 volunteer hours raised, $500 000 invested in the careers of emerging artists and 6034 Canadians connected to a

cause they care about. The goal of the 2012

Kamloops Timeraiser is to generate pledges of 3000 hours of volunteer time, invest $10 000 into the careers of Kamloops artists, encourage 200 people to connect with local causes and support 20 charities to find new volunteers.

The Kamloops organization committee is spearheaded by Volunteer Kamloops and Social Fire. We have purchased 10 pieces of art from delighted artists and we are thankful to have NRI Distribution and Les Consenheim (Raymond James) as leading sponsors. The charity agencies are committing to showcase their cause, starting with Big Brothers and Sisters, The Family Tree Family Center and, of course, Volunteer Kamloops.

Mark the date in your calendar: June 21 (to be confirmed).It will be a great way to celebrate the summer solstice! Posters and media outlets will be advertising as we get closer to the date. If you are interested in participating, contact september@socialfire.ca.

The Timeraiser: A Volunteer Fair with a Creative Twist!

You can bid on these beauti-ful local artworks at the Time-raiser...but leave your money at home because you pay with volunteer hours!

From top left to bottom right: Tulip Unexpected, Theresa

Tahara; Nazeem, Karen Palmer; Chinook, Ann Diehl; Spirit of the Dance, Linda McRae; Cascade,

Keishia Treber

By September Kuromi

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There’s that scene in Mary Poppins, right after they have jumped into Bert’s chalk picture and run the

horse race, where Jane and Michael are far too excited to go to sleep. Despite their protests, the two are positively hopeless against the power of Mary Pop-pins’ lullaby and, within about 2 minutes, they have succumbed to sleep.

Well, I have learned that very same lul-laby. I have tried doing some mending or knitting while sitting with my boys be-fore bed and have even been in a dress, on occasion, whilst doing it (perhaps in a subconscious attempt to create the same kind of success Mary Poppins has!). Nonetheless, it still takes me much lon-ger – sometimes much, much longer – to coax my two lovelies into docile submis-sion. Yes, I openly admit that I will never be mistaken for Mary Poppins, or Super-nanny for that matter, but am determined to stock my own magic carpetbag full of tools to build a better bedtime in our household.

Thus, an experiment emerges - one of mutual benefit. Through trial and error, I have identified 5 tools that have helped the end of day be-come a little less chaotic and a little more calm. I extend an invitation to see if they will do the same for you!

Tool #1: Music and EmotionCommercial industry has been us-

ing this link for years to make us shop longer, work harder, and feel better about doing it. Music has the power to elicit emotion, even for the small-est of children, and parents have every right to exploit that to their advantage!

Consider how the atmosphere in the

home changes depending on what back-ground noise is present. Loud screaming and banging (whether provided by a rock band or a two-year-old) creates an energy entirely different from a sung lul-laby, or different still from music fuelling an impromptu dance party in the living room. Each have a place, but being con-scious about the type of auditory cues parents provide children can be key in preparing them to welcome rest at the end of the day.

Rather than simply turning on a sleepy-time CD as your child is getting into bed, consider starting earlier. Start be-fore bedtime snack and carry the music straight through pajama time and teeth brushing so the emotion of calm that is being elicited from the music has time to fully develop. Then, perhaps when you strike up “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” you’ll be singing to an audience who is

ready to listen to your performance.

Tool #2: The Power of Story

In an informal survey I conducted as part of my re-search for this

piece, 100% of the mommas I spoke with inevi-tably mentioned “a good story book” as part of their tried-and-true bedtime success regime. Bedtime stories

are staples, and with good reason. Joëlle Samson, the Youth Services/Literacy Li-brarian for the TNRD Library System, ex-plains that reading while cuddled closely has a biological effect on our children. Bonding hormones are released that cre-ate positive feelings and memories for children; this starts with newborns (think breastfeeding), and continues as kids grow. Those same hormones are respon-sible for calming children down and, as they are linked to that memory of story time, aging kids who have been read to early on are more likely to turn back to books to lead them to the peace they seek.

Bedtime stories – ones shared orally or given from books – also increase aware-

ness of sound, word, and language, and invite our children to develop narrative skills and print motivation, all founda-tional to communication, literacy, and learning.

If you’re too tired to think up a story, conversation cards can be a big help. Shannon McQuillan and Linda Komori, two Kamloops mommas, have created Lit-tle Stars Bedtime Cards as a tool to help parents and 3 to 6 year-olds end the day with meaningful, affirming discussion. The cards prompt parents to ask ques-tions like, “What things can you do out-side that you can’t do inside?” or, “What kinds of sounds make you feel good?” and then suggest an end to the chat that encourages desirable attributes or be-haviors in kids (“So you like to listen too!” or “So you can calm yourself down too!”). Kids buy in because each card shows a Little Stars character involved in an activ-ity or experiencing some emotion that little guys understand, a visual cue that themes and grounds the talk. The mutual benefit: parents get a glimpse into what’s going on inside those little minds (that really aren’t little at all!), kids learn more about how to express themselves, and a dialogue opens where it may have been closed before.

Parents can brush up on their own storytelling techniques by attending any of the local early literacy programs avail-able. Mother Goose is always popular and TNRD Library offers a drop-in alternative called Tiny Tunes which focuses on songs, rhymes, and stories for babies and tod-dlers. Both programs are free and present families with a designated time to sit, sing, and read without the distractions of regular life - all learning that can be applied not only at bedtime,but throughout the day.

Tool #3: A Soft TouchPhysical touch is one of the most im-

portant ways that people relate with each other. Hugs, handshakes, and high-fives are all are signals of connection. Parents can use touch to increase connection with their children.

Sharon Beausoleil, a registered mas-sage therapist whose clientele includes infants and children, asserts that massage can help children become more positive. “I have had people on my table who have changed,” she explains, “Your tissues re-member things, and if you talk to children about their lives and dreams, and put

Building a Better Bedtime Routine:5 Tools to Help Create Calm

By Jennifer Sloan, Photos by Jennifer McCue

Enter to WIN a ‘sleep tools’ prize pack!

13

positive thoughts into them while massaging, almost coaching them, the body is absorbing what it feels like to feel good and will learn how to create that same feeling in other places and situations.”

Taking a few mo-ments at the end of the day to give your child a gentle and calming rub might be precisely what they need to relax, al-though they may be unsure at first. If chil-dren are not used to being touched, start-ing slowly and being consistent will help.Advice from Beausoleil: be in the moment with loving thoughts in your mind, tell your children what you’re doing so that they feel safe and protected with you, and follow your child’s lead. With time, their bodies will learn what is happening and they’ll be able to relax more.

Another benefit of massaging your child is that you can check for proper body alignment. Here are a few key places you can look to make sure that your kids are growing straight and strong:

1. At the ankle bones. With your child laying flat on the back, on the inner side of the ankle, feel where the ankle bone connects with the foot on both feet. Place your thumb there and check to see if your thumbs line up on the right and left sides. This checks your child’s leg length and can alert you to muscle tension that might be affecting one side but not the other.

2. At the hip bones. Have your child lay flat on the back and find the top of the hip on both sides. Place your thumb there. Check to see if your thumbs are parallel to each other AND if they are at the same height in relation to the supporting sur-face. This test helps you to see that your child’s hip and pelvic bones are positioned properly.

3. At the shoulders. This time, have your child stand up tall, and observe whether

or not the shoulders are even and paral-lel with the trunk, rather than slumping forward. Arms should be hanging beside the body, not in front or behind. Core should be pulled in so that the lower back is straight, not arched. If you notice pos-ture issues, give a lesson or play a game with your child to help them learn to stand straight. There’s nothing wrong with a relay where you balance books on your head every once in awhile!

Tool #4: The Air We BreatheIt is difficult to deny that the smells

surrounding people affect behavior. “All five of them were jumping off the wall,” recounts Lori Quinton, a consultant for doTERRA and mother of five children aged 1 to 12, “and it was time for bed!” Without telling her kids just exactly what she was doing, Quin-ton grabbed some essential oil and used a few drops to put on their shoulders and chest to see if it would work. “Within 15 minutes, they were settled.”

Lavender has long been used as a sleep aid, but is not the only scent out there that can help with relaxation. Sweet marjoram, roman chamomile, ylang ylang, sandalwood, and vanilla bean are all said to have the potential to help even the littlest people gear down. Try using a couple drops in the bath before bedtime, rub some in your hands then smooth out your child’s pillowcase, or combine it with olive, almond, or coconut oil for mas-sage time.

Tips for choosing essential oils:1. Check your source. Take some time to

investigate the company you are planning to purchase your oils from. Cheaper prod-ucts are usually either entirely synthetic or distilled using chemicals and those chemi-cals remain in the oil after it has been extracted from its plant source. Instead, look for oils that are steam-distilled or cold-pressed.

2. Get informed. Find a book or info ses-

sion to learn how oils work, how they can be combined, and what oils can be used for what. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood (New World Library, 1991) is a good place to start.

Tool #5: Dessert TeaIt’s also called Rooibos and comes

in flavours like caramel, marzipan, and crimson orange – not what one might expect from herbal tea. Grown in South Africa, Sandra McPherson (owner of the

Enchanted Tea Cup), explains that it is commonly used there to help young ones with insomnia, colic, and stomach cramps. For those a few years older, Rooibos tea is

also rich in antioxidants, calorie-free, and contains a very low tannin level, meaning that it won’t prevent the body from absorbing the iron it needs, as many black teas do.

So, if you and your kids are up for it, turn on some lullabies and, over some tea and crumpets, regale your lovelies with stories from when you were their age, or find out what they think things were like when you were their age! Then whisk them off for a foot rub with homemade massage oil: a bedtime experience even Mary Poppins could covet.

Want to WIN a Sleep Tools prize pack? Included is a massage with Sharon at Back to Health Centre, tea from the En-chanted Teacup, essential oils from Lori Quinton of doTERRA Essential Oils, Lit-tle Stars Bedtime Cards, and a selection of books from the TNRD library! To en-ter, simply go to the KM Facebook page and tell us the craziest thing you’ve done to try to get your kid to sleep!

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Great Expectations A year in the life of a homeschooling momma of four

By Teresa Wiedrick

The fairytale of the little girls in the white dresses, living happily ever after, well, I’m still searching for that. I’ve learned that little girls in lacy white dresses get dirty. And

that mom does a lot of laundry. It’s been my experience that parenting is like that: at times, the fantasy fades.

In the scrapbook, the kids are perfect; the memories are momentous. After they’re all tucked into bed at night, the day seems idyllic. Real life, though, and real parenting, isn’t a scrapbook montage. Home educating has been much the same as the reality check on parenting. There are things I wasn’t expecting.

Cinderella keeps a constant handle on the broomstick and, though the hearth has been swept, it needs to be swept again, and again. A friend recently said that she sweeps the kitchen ten times a day. I don’t know if she was serious, but somehow I imagined this would not be necessary now that we were all at home - many hands make light work. Reality check: when you live in the house most of the day, it is most certainly not tidier.

Only Sleeping Beauty can claim enough slumber. The rest of us need to regulate our bedtimes. With inadequate sleep, I fumble with words and am irritable, edgy, and unclear in thought. Troubles abound when mixed with early mornings. Short nights and impertinent children: mountains made out of molehills. Is there help for my weary soul? Get to bed on time!!

I don’t know who took care of Jack and Jill after they tumbled down the hill, but when someone in my home is ill, I am the caretaker, whether I am as badly ill as anyone else. One morning, after a sleepless night of sickness, I got out of bed to do the paper route. I was off to the van, had Zach strapped into his toddler seat, handed him a bit of banana, and boom, puke everywhere. Hannah bathed and dressed him. I dismantled the newly installed carseat and gave it a bath. “Call in a sick day,”

my husband emailed. Yes, why is that so difficult to do when I’m not bound to anyone else’s schedule?

Snow White’s seven dwarves all demanded differing attention. Attending to the older girls’ seems more immediate, as they have specialized requests, like learning to calculate the area of a parallelogram or translating the sewing pattern. Trying to rush through a math lesson because you hear the toilet flush in the bathroom when everyone of flushing-age is in your room requires great patience. Intentional time to read Little Mr. books or throw a ball needs to be set aside. Although our youngest kids have had the earliest exposure to anatomy, they require me to rejig my priorities.

There are no fairy tales where the mother figure has a temper tantrum. Well, I can imagine the Old Woman in the Shoe doing so, but in illustrations, she looks very, very happy. I’ve spent more time than I imagined determining how to appropriately deal with frustrations because someone won’t listen or someone wacked someone or...you fill in the blank. I have heard many mothers say they wouldn’t home educate, because they simply couldn’t imagine that much time with their offspring. If you haven’t figured out how to interact with them, deal with their idiosyncrasies, or your own, like how not to yell, not to be unreasonable, or give them everything they want, home educating will definitely afford you the time.

Sometimes when the princess kisses the frog, she finds out he is just a frog. “I can’t do it if the answer isn’t eleven!” Rachel declared with frustration one day. The question: 8+4=? Well, what is a mother to do? The answer can’t be eleven just because she wants it to be. How do I cleverly respond to that? Understanding what the child understands is essential. I can’t just presume that she is going to understand the first time either.

Much like the Beauty attempting to tame her Beast, I had great expectations in my maternal role: a pristine, pretty world, orderly, generally quiet, with ongoing family harmony and undisturbed happiness: rather gargantuan hopes. The reality is I get all of those things, but usually in no particular order, with a helping of disorder, dirt, and dysfunction. We all have expectations but, as Belle discovered, the exterior is never the full representation of the experience.

The story is unfinished. The plot thickens as each child gets older. Chapters are added as each year is completed. The climax might be when all four kids weren’t sleeping through the night, perhaps when the three girls are teenagers, or any number of storylines I can’t yet predict. No question, though, our life isn’t a fairy tale. Yet I keep writing the stories and anticipating a happily ever after. The days are long, but the years are short.

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Lisa’s Tips for Success:

1) Keep a food diary. I wanted to be careful not to re-strict my calories too much because I’m breastfeed-

ing so I used Weight Watchers online. It helped me learn about correct portion sizes and taught me to eat filling foods but still leaves room for my favourite treats.

2) Meal plan. I found myself making poor food choices when my daughter was a newborn because I just

didn’t have time to make healthy meals. Now I plan my dinners a few days in advance and always keep my fridge stocked with healthy options. I spend an hour once a week to wash and chop my vegetables and portion out snacks to take on the go. This way I always have something nutritious I can eat even if it’s a hectic day.

3) Exercise. I do something active every day. I workout 3 days a week and on the other days I love walking my

dog. It’s a great activity that I can do with my daughter.

Andrea’s Tips for Success:

1) Schedule your exercise in - write it on the calendar, make plans to work out with a friend

2) Keep a food journal or log - myfitnesspal.com is very easy and free

3) Take your measurements - sometimes when your weight doesn’t change your measurements will and

this can be more motivating than a number on the scale. Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad day/week – real life has many ups and downs and so will your weight loss journey – just get back at it!

Lisa

Andrea

For more info on the Mommy’s Wellness Workouts and

Fit By Design, check outwww.kamloopsfitbydesign.com!

Advertising Feature

Who doesn’t like a good Before and After? There is something gratifying about seeing the results of someone’s hard work immediately when scanning from

picture to picture, especially when you know that it is actually the same heads and bodies in each image!

As a participant in the Fit By Design Mommy’s Wellness Workouts (as well as the resident photographer), I have been given the good fortune of being there for moments of amazing transformation.

I have witnessed the hard work of my fellow participants really pay off. Of course, there is more than just the physical transformation that has occurred. The changes we have made go beyond the inches lost and the newly acquired muscle tone.

This fitness program has given us the opportunity to develop and celebrate our inner strength; has fostered a sense of ac-complishment and self-confidence as we reach our goals; and given us all a strong and supportive community while we strive toward becoming healthier.

I have had the honour to get to know the ladies featured (along with many others) as we sweated, chatted, laughed, and even shed the occasional tear. The pictures I have taken are not about showing them (and the world) a glammed up version of themselves. These pictures are not meant to show “perfect” women, they are meant to show “real” women: women who started this journey to lose weight/inches but who, in the end, gained a whole lot more!

By Robyn Shiels

Before & After: Amazing Mommy Transformations

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Home-Based Business Directory

17

By Erin Brule

Spring At Last! Let’s Celebrate by Staying Indoors?

(Tips to speed along your spring purge)

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and new growth is starting to blossom all around you.For some strange reason, instead of doing the logical

thing - go play outdoors - we are suddenly overcome by the de-sire to declutter our homes, our garages, our sheds, and purge the items threatening to land us a guest spot on hoarders.

Why this urge doesn’t arrive mid-January, when staying in-doors kind of makes sense, is beyond me.

But every year it happens - spring cleaning fever! Usually before we get to the cleaning, we go through the organize and purge process.

Following advice from the many reality TV shows out there (which is another mystery to me...how entertaining is it to watch someone sort their junk?) here’s some tips to get through it as quick as possible!

#1. Tackle just one part of your house at a time.#2. Be quick. Be ruthless. Set a timer to get each room done.#3. Sort your unwanted stuff into 3 piles:

To Sell/To Donate/To Throw-OutAlso, if you have a friend that offers to come over to help,

let them! They will help you get rid of the ‘but what if I need it someday’ stuff, and the ‘my aunt bought me that ceramic cat with the fake sapphire eyes’ junk! If they can’t convince you to send those items out the door, put them in a box and mark them with today’s date. Don’t label what is IN the box – just put it up in storage. (Next spring, when you stumble across that box, resist the urge to open it...just get rid of it!)

Sell, Sell, SellAs you sort through your stuff, keep in mind that one woman’s

junk is another woman’s treasure. So, if it’s in good condition and worthy of wanting (by someone!), try selling it first! • List it for free on Kijiji or Craigslist• Take it in to a consignment shop • Add it to the Mom Swap on Facebook

• Put it up on E-bay (if it is easily shipped)• Have a garage sale (or much better...find a friend having a

garage sale who is willing to sell some of your stuff!)Sneaky Garage Sale Tip: If you decide you have enough stuff

that a garage sale is worth your time, here’s a tip to get better prices for your stuff. Have a couple friends come ‘shop’ at your garage sale, expressing an interest in items that other people seem to be looking at. The other people will snap them up at full price. Seriously. Try it. You’ll be amazed. • Give it AwayIf you just can’t be bothered to try to sell your stuff, the next

step is to donate it:• To friends & family (if they want it!)• ReStore (Habitat for Humanity)• Value Village• Salvation Army• Thrift City• Your church or community group Next step, send it to the curb! Literally! Before putting it in your trash, or taking it to the dump, try

putting it in a box with a big ol’ FREE sign on it and leave it out for a day or two. I furnished my first apartment in Victoria this way!

However, in the end, you’ll have a few sad items that just no one will buy or take. If they absolutely can’t be recycled or re-used in any other way, off to the dump they go. And if you can’t be bothered to do that yourself (or you don’t have a truck and can’t borrow one!), give 1-800-GOTJUNK a call!

As for the other part of spring cleaning...you know, doing the actual “cleaning” part of spring cleaning - giving your floors and walls a really good wash, dusting all the blinds, cleaning your carpets. Um. My advice...hire a professional and go out to play!

Happy cleaning!

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By Coreena McBurnie

Uncharted Territory

One mom’s perspective on children and technology

I am a mom of three kids and have been having the same conversation with many of my friends lately - a conversation about how to handle our children and technology and social

media. Should we be doing more, less, nothing at all? It is a confusing time to be a parent. This is not one of those issues I can phone my mom up and ask for advice, as I could with other issues when my kids were younger. This is new and untested territory and there is no roadmap of experience to guide the way.

I swear my children, aged 6 to 12, were born hardwired for technology. By age 3, each of them knew how to use a comput-er - when I think of that, I am amazed. Even now, when some-thing isn’t working right or I get frustrated with a program, quite often one of the kids will come over, click a few buttons and solve the problem. I am in awe of their creative spirits, problem solving abilities, how unrestrained by rules they are, and their willingness to press buttons - any buttons.

However, as a parent, all of this comes with a huge responsi-bility. There isn’t a day that goes by when you don’t hear stories about cyber bullying, creeps posing as teens in chat rooms to lure children, kids surfing the web and coming across inap-propriate material. The list goes on. And on. And then on some more.

What are we supposed to do as parents? How do we guide our children through this new and exciting world when we

don’t really understand it ourselves? And then, just when we think we’ve got a handle on it, the rules change again. Things are moving so fast, it is hard to keep up.

A few years ago I went to a talk from parenting expert Gor-don Neufeld. He said that before in human history, any new technology would always be used for three generations before it ever found its way into the hands of children. Now we live in a culture where we give our children cell phones. I’m not saying this is good or bad, just unprecedented. In fact, when I think about it, I’m sure that children will find ways to be so creative and innovative with all of this new technology that we can’t even imagine the possibilities.

In the meantime, as parents, we need to guide our children as best we can. We need to communicate with each other to find out what is working and what isn’t. Here is what I’ve done:

Learn as much as I can about social media. I have a Facebook account, Twitter, and a blog. Granted, I have these things for my own reasons, but also to learn how they operate so that I can help my kids with them. I had to learn how to navigate, how to deal with people I don’t know who wanted to be my friend, how to deal with friends’ inappropriate comments, and how to set my privacy settings. Now that I have done these things myself, I feel I can help explain them to my children.

I’ve thought about getting programs like Net Nanny and have

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decided against it. I know that these can be great programs and, maybe I’ve been lucky, but I haven’t had any really bad experiences so far with my children browsing the Internet. One of my concerns is that my children learn how to surf the net and what they should do when they come across something that makes them feel uncomfortable or is inappropriate. This is going to happen, eventually, and I would rather it be at home where I can help them than at a friend’s house.

Facebook. This has been an interesting one at our house. My son, at age 11, wanted Facebook. All of his friends had Facebook. Why can’t he have Facebook? I did finally succumb when several of his friends moved away and Facebook was a convenient and easy way for him to keep in touch with them. I related to this - one of the reasons I got Facebook was to keep in touch with friends and family outside of Kamloops - so we sat down and signed him up, and lied about his age (yes, you are supposed to be 13). However, I had my conditions. I always have the password and have access to his account. I read his page and even his chat and, if there is any inappropriate or bullying comments, the account is suspended.

Embrace Opportunities for Learning. We have had several “opportunities for learning” with Facebook and not all of these originated with my son, but were comments made by other people. It has prompted important discussions such as: how boys should treat and talk about girls, who to accept as friends, how much and what kind of information to post, what kind of language to use, and how what you say is there forever and is public - it doesn’t go away and may come back to haunt you so think about what you type.

Cellphones. My oldest is absolutely desperate for a cell phone, but he doesn’t have one...yet. He is still in elementary school, I drive him everywhere, and he is never anywhere that he couldn’t use the landline phone, so I haven’t found him having a cellphone necessary. I can see that changing next year when he goes to high school, but we’ll re-evaluate then.

These are the main ones at my house. I know there is more (Flikr, Google +, YouTube), but I am doing what I can where I can. I want to help my kids navigate this new world while they still (mostly) listen to me. Hopefully, they can make some cheap mistakes now that will save them in the long run.

I definitely feel the weight of this responsibility. I know that my children will grow up and go out into the big, wide world, but I always thought I would let go a little when they started school, then into the neighbourhood, then the city. I thought this change would be more gradual. Not so. Now we invite the whole world into our houses and let children explore at very young ages. There is good and bad with doing this, but it is also the world that they live in and I want to be there to help them learn about it.

“This is new and untested territory and there is no roadmap of experience to guide the way.” For the Wee Ones:

Baby Belle Doll by Peppa

Why do we love it?

These adorable 6 inch dolls will become your baby’s best friend. They’re made of all natural, non-toxic materials

- and no fluff - so they’re safe to chew on and the lightweight

knotted design is perfect for even the littlest of hands.

$9.99, Lizzie Bits Baby Co.

For the Little Kids:Trunki by Melissa and Doug

Why do we love it?

Travelling with little kids? You NEED the trunki! It’s a durable, lightweight, fun suitcase that doubles as a riding toy. Kids can pull it all by themselves with the tow strap and if (okay,

when!) they get tired, they can sit on it and parent’s can pull them, or carry the suitcase on their shoulder. It’s ideal for travelling by plane, but kids will have a great time venturing around the house with it too! $39.99, Tumbleweed Toys

For the Family:Custom Bundles from Bunches ‘n Bundles

Why do we love it? If you’re looking for the perfect gift that supports small businesses, Bunches ‘n Bundles is the place to look.Their gift ‘bundles’ are filled with thoughtfully

selected, unique items from small businesses, many of which are home-based and local. Best of all, the bundles can be customized for any occasion and price point.$25+, www.bunchesnbundles.com

Things We Love... {We’ve tried it and we love it and we don’t want to live without it!}

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In honour of Mother’s Day, Kamloops Momma set out to find a deserving momma in need of a day of girly fun with her daughters. Here’s who we found:

I would like to enter your contest for a mother/daughter photo shoot. My 2 daughters have displayed amazing grace and love as our family has been tossed around through the loops of a rollercoaster of emotion these past 3.5 years after my husband and I set out to adopt a child. After one wrong turn and losing everything (financially as well as emotionally) in a failed adoption from Ethiopia (because the agency went bankrupt due to fraudulent activities of its Canadian directors), we decided to do foster care. This brought us our sweet son, Jimmy, at 4 days old. He is now going to be 2 in April and we are currently awaiting the judge’s signature on his adoption order.

In the midst of receiving Jimmy, and discovering that we might be able to adopt him, and after turning to an orphanage in Haiti, we were also referred our twin boys, Monel and Mo-

liere. Imagine our joy and surprise after set-ting out to adopt one child to be bringing 3 into our lives!

We have survived the earthquake and its aftermath - the devas-tation of seeing them losing the building they lived in. They are now still only housed in plywood shelter. One of my son’s, Mo-liere, got cholera and survived after we sent

down life-saving medicines and then vaccines. The twins are now healthy 2.5 year olds and we expect to finally travel to Haiti to bring them home around Easter! This will be the most memorable and amazing Mother’s Day for me, no matter what, with all 5 of my children finally safe at home and in my arms!!

But my motivation for entering is my 7 and 5 year old daughters. They have expressed tremendous care and resilience through all of this. They have held lemonade stands for Haiti to raise money for their brother’s orphanage. They have lovingly selected their favourite toys to send to the other children who do not yet have families. They have asked for donations for their special ‘Haiti piggybanks’ where they have been patiently collecting and saving their money in order to cash in and purchase desperately needed supplies. They have collected boxes of donations through their school RLC for their dad and I to bring down to the orphanage when we travel to pick up the twins. My 7 year old daughter’s birthday is in March and for her birthday she told me that the only thing she wants is for her brothers to come home.

Through this, they also lost their other infant foster brother who we could not keep and are still healing their wounded hearts. I am so proud at all they have quietly and patiently endured with such grace and strength, welcoming their little brothers with open arms! They are such awesome little girls and I am so proud of them no matter what!

Bringing Kamloops’ Sexy Back...One Momma at a Time:

Tammy Campbell

Girliness

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Want to WIN your sexy back?Have a special dress that you’d love to wear again? Maybe a wedding dress or grad dress? Just tell us about your dress and why you want to rock it one more time and you’ll be entered to win!Check out www.kamloopsmomma.com for all the details! Deadline for entries

is April 17, 2012.

Thanks so much to our fantastic sponsors:*Kathleen Ferguson Photography (photos)

www.kathleenfergusonphotography.ca 250.574.2225

*Evie Beauty (make-up)www.eviebeauty.com 250.819.0234

*Ailsa Ainscow, Ra Hair Studio (hair)www.rahairstudio.com 250.372.8746

*Latasia - Rox-ann Haines (jewellery)www.mylatasia.ca/rox-annhaines 250.574.4233

“This will be the most memorable and amazing Mother’s Day for me, no matter what, with all 5 of my children finally safe at home and in my arms!!”

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Photography is a pathway - a visual pathway back to your children as they were at four months, four years and fourteen; how they looked when they smiled, when they

laughed in that open mouthed, care free way; how they cried or how they held chalk in chubby hands and pursed fat lips intent on their art; images that remind your senses how they smelled so perfectly baby sweet and how they felt in your arms when they were still little enough to fit there.

In my family, imagery has been a pathway to the milestones we have achieved as our daughter has taught us how to con-quer disease with attitude. My heart constricts as I look at the beginning of our path to those first few short months of life that are the only images my daughter will ever have that show her free from life with Type 1 Diabetes. But then I look forward through the pathway and see only the incredibleness that is my child. I see how she laughed at the lens of the camera, even when the photographer behind it was full of stress and overwhelming fear. Even in images that show her own sadness there is a fierce glint her eyes that says, ‘disease will never con-quer me!’ - a fierceness she taught, with the innocent wisdom only small kids can possess, her family to adopt.

She doesn’t live despite her disease; she just lives, plowing

through life with an aggressive spirit for which I give thanks to the very disease that could take her from us. We are a fearless family, owing it to Mikayla to live what she has been teaching us from beginning of this pathway. From my girls’ toddler grins over the basket of Easter eggs they are gleefully smelling, so excited by the simple act of collecting despite knowing that they couldn’t eat them, to the most recent image of Mikayla snowboarding with world class boarder Sean Busby.

At eight years old, disease has taught Mikayla life skills many adults still struggle to learn. There is nothing she won’t con-quer. All three of my kids have an unstoppable determination I owe to diabetes. I wouldn’t trade this motherhood for all the healthy kids in the world.

There is another mom with a camera at the beginning of this journey. Her pathway with Type 1 Diabetes is just starting with her small son Jack. It may feel like a tragic ending now but I am eager to watch Victoria’s images unfold as Jack teaches his family the same resilience Mikayla has taught us. I know one day, with time, Victoria will look back along the pathway of photographs and be filled with the same raw prideful love owed not only to motherhood but to the incredible experience of mothering a child with special needs.

Moms with Cameras: New Beginnings

By Sara Schriener, Life Unfolding Photography

Right: Diabetes has made our entire family

stronger

Advertising Feature

Right: Jack at the beginning of his own

path with diabetes

Left: Mikayla during ‘Riding on Insulin’ with Sean Busby

Left: One of the few pictures of Mikayla before diabetes

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Now that spring has made a bit of an appearance and the weather has turned a bit warmer, the usual sights of the fairs arriving and setting up always make me want to plan an outdoor carnival party. Oh, what

fun we can have at the fair! Popcorn and cotton candy, carnival games and such excitement…everything a birthday party should be.

This party can easily accommodate children of all ages (and parents too) and can be held at your home, the park or any type of hall. Invitations can be as simple as red and white striped card stock cut out in the shape of a popcorn container – for an extra special invite, glue some popped popcorn to the top for a more realistic look. Or, for a really fun invite, write all your information on a balloon (blown up but not tied) then place in an envelope with some confetti. When the balloon is blown up, all your party details will be revealed!

To decorate for this party, colour is the way to go. Bright balloons and streamers in reds, yellows and blues can be used to line the walls or line them up to the centre of the ceiling to form a circus tent. Decorate the whole party area with clown and circus pictures and posters. You can even take posters of people and write things like “Strong Man,” “Bearded Lady,” and other such oddities you would find at the circus.

For an extra fun project, find a large picture of a clown, tape it to card-board, cut out the face and put on a stand so that the kids can put their faces in the hole and be an instant clown!

When serving food, stick to your carnival and circus favourites such as hot dogs, popcorn, corn dogs, nachos and cheese, lemonade, caramel apples and soft pretzels. For an extra special touch, rent a cotton candy machine or snow cone machine and WOW your guests! You can even give out pretend money to the kids and let them purchase their own snacks from different food booths.

When the children arrive, have them dress as clowns or have a table set up to paint faces and/or decorate with tattoos. Give each child a set number of tickets they can use to play the games you have set up for them. Some ideas include: peanut relay, ring toss, guess the weight, ping pong toss, bean bag throw, fishing hole, balloon squish and bobbing for apples. Your guests can win prizes at each booth to help fill their loot bags. Booths for your games can be easily made from appliance boxes found at any ap-pliance store and decorated to reflect the game or activity.

Send the children home with the prizes they have collected from playing the various games and activities. Some small treat ideas can include: clown noses, bubbles, plastic animals, crazy straws, card games, mini bouncy balls, pixie sticks, yo-yo’s, bags of animal crackers and party horns. The kids can use popcorn bags to collect their treats in too. No matter how small or grand, this party can be amusing and entertaining for everyone. And don’t forget to dress up as a clown and join in the fun too!

Candace Walker and Andrea Lougheed are two local moms who own Wild About Party Packs, an online party store with all of your party needs.

Send in the Clowns: A colourful carnival

party idea

By Candace Walker and Andrea Lougheed

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DEAR AUNTY: I am considering getting cosmetic surgery. You used to work for a plastic surgeon, didn’t you? Any advice? - Pretty In KamloopsDear PINK, You’re not alone. There is a growing demand for cosmetic procedures in Canada, both surgical and non-surgical, and although neither Health Canada nor Statistics Canada keeps track of exactly

how many surgeries are performed each year, it has been es-timated that over 300,000 of us seek out some type of cosmetic procedure annually, making the industry worth about half a billion dollars per year.

The psychology behind our growing desire for cosmetic pro-cedures is fodder for an entire series of articles, articles which have been written by a host of far more qualified writers than I, I might add. However, dear ol’ Aunty can’t resist putting her two cents in, well, everywhere, and here they are: As long as you’re a grown adult who is making independent and thought-ful decisions, I think your body is your own and you have every right to dye, tattoo, pierce, implant, explant, augment, reduce, or otherwise modify that body of yours to whatever standard of beauty you hold dear. That being said, before you run out and do so, it is absolutely imperative that you have all the infor-mation you need to make a properly informed decision. You mentioned you’re considering surgery, so most of the following information is specific to the higher risks involved with surgi-cal procedures, however, even non-surgical procedures carry risks, and it is important to make sure you are as informed as possible before proceeding.

1) Know thy surgeon. I did indeed work for a plastic sur-geon and I worked for her in her St. Paul’s Hospital office in Vancouver where she was the Chair of the Department of Surgery for Providence Health Care. Dr. Van Laeken remains an excellent, well-respected surgeon; the credentials, training, administrative positions, university teaching affiliations, clini-cal positions, awards, research, and background (decades of experience) this amazing woman has is staggering and frankly, makes Aunty feel downright lazy by comparison. While Dr. Van Laeken’s credentials are impeccable, did you know that there are other physicians out there who bill themselves as “cosmetic surgeons” without actually being surgeons?

According to a 2008 CBC In Depth story: “In Canada, almost any medical doctor can perform cos-

metic surgery — even if he or she has had little or no training in surgery. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada does not recognize ‘cosmetic surgery’ as a specialty designation. So doctors who call themselves ‘cosmetic sur-geon’ or ‘cosmetic plastic surgeon’ may be doing it without the backing of the body that certifies physicians and sur-geons.” There are two specialties in cosmetic surgery that receive

formal training certification from the college: plastic surgeons for cosmetic surgery of the face and body and Otolaryngolo-gists (ear, nose and throat surgeons) for cosmetic surgery of the face and neck. There is also specialty training available for doctors who wish to perform procedures commonly called “cosmetic surgery.” The training ranges from weekend work-shops to in-depth courses. Your doctor should have her cre-dentials proudly displayed in the office, but to be sure, you can look them up through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia at www.cpsbc.ca. Remember, surgery should only be performed by physicians who have the proper training and experience. Ask your surgeon what her qualifica-tions are, how long she has been doing this procedure and how frequently, what her complication rates are, whether she has hospital-admitting privileges in case of complications, and whether she has privileges in a hospital to do the procedure she is doing in the clinic.

2) Know where your surgery will be performed. Cosmetic surgery is usually done in one of two types of facilities, either a hospital or a private clinic. A private clinic is one that is not affiliated with a hospital. If you are having surgery outside of a hospital, the clinic should have: • Excellent infection control protocols• All necessary equipment• Clear procedures and plans to handle emergencies • Well qualified staff It’s critical to ask questions about what happens if there are

sudden, unexpected problems and how quickly help is avail-able. Reputable clinics will not only be pleased to talk to you about these issues, they’ll be proud to show you their facilities, introduce you to their staff, and make sure all your questions are answered and you feel completely satisfied.

3) Be sure you understand the risks of the surgery, including the risk of the anaesthetic that will be used for your procedure. Ask what kind of anaesthesia will be used (will you be put to sleep, or will you be conscious but sedat-

Dear Aunty...Answering questions about you and your child’s health

Do you have a question for ‘Aunty’ Erin? Contact her at cdnnurse1995@yahoo.ca

25

ed?), who will be administering it and what her qualifications are, how long you will be in surgery, what the risks of your particular surgery are as well as the risks of surgery in general, and what the protocols are in case of an emergency.

You should also have a clear understanding about what will happen after the surgery: how long you should be off work and other normal activities, what kind of pain management to expect, how you should expect to feel in the first few days after the surgery, how much swelling and bruising to expect, and how to get in contact with the surgeon in case of any problems after-hours.

4) Make sure you have carefully weighed the risks and benefits and are completely comfortable and confident in your decision. The decision to have any operation is signifi-cant. Think about it carefully, gather all the information you can and ensure that your expectations are realistic. Here are some things you can do before you make a decision:

If you have a family doctor, talk to her about your deci-sion. Your GP is a great resource and can also help you if you are unsure about any medical complications (for example, will breast surgery interfere with future breastfeeding). Family doc-tors are also great starting points when beginning to look for an experienced and reputable plastic surgeon.

Ask yourself why you want this procedure. Make sure you have a good answer to this question and make sure your expectations are realistic.

Do your research. Look for other objective information from multiple sources. When you see the physician, ask to see before and after pictures from other patients who have had the procedure.

Book a consultation with the surgery provider. This is your opportunity to get the information you need to make a de-

cision. You should not feel pressured to proceed just because you have had a consultation. This consultation should include a detailed medical history, a discussion about your aesthetic concerns, and a thorough explanation of all the options avail-able to you to address your concerns. In addition, you should get a clear explanation of all the associated risks, benefits and complications associated with each option. It is very common for pre-operative pictures to be taken at the time of the initial consultation and the costs associated with each option are usu-ally discussed at the time of the initial visit.

Consider getting a second opinion. Different doctors have different approaches. Find one that suits you best.

Give informed consent. When you are asked to sign an agreement consenting to the procedure, make sure you care-fully read all of the information given to you, that you under-stand it and are confident with what you’re signing.

Remember, under no circumstances should you feel pres-sured to move ahead quickly into surgery. Take as much time as you need to make up your mind – and avoid any provider who makes you feel rushed.

Further Reading:CBC News In Depth Health: Cosmetic Surgery, Balancing

Risk. www.cbc.caCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia: Sur-

gical and Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures www.cpsbc.For a printable checklist of points to ponder, check out

www.cpsbc.ca/files/u1/Cosmetic-Procedures-Checklist.pdf“Aunty” Erin Mitchell is a proud nurse, momma, and owner of

Aunty’s House Registered Family Daycare. She is currently work-ing on a degree in child and adolescent psychology through TRU.

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Over the past couple of years I have heard people mention special photography projects and, being a lover of photography, I knew I had to look into it. My first experience with this was when I joined a group of people who took one photograph

a day during the month of December, 2010. The the aim was to focus on the things that make December so very special and to slow down and enjoy it.

When that month ended, I was able to look back fondly at the memories we had made and remember even the tiniest details: a favourite ornament, meal, or a bedtime ritual we have shared every Christmas Eve since our children were tiny. I knew as I looked back over those precious memories that this was something I wanted to keep doing.

What is a “Project 365”?It is a photo a day for a year. It doesn’t have to be daily, of course. If daily is too daunting,

consider weekly (Project 52) or monthly (Project 12).What do I need?A camera and the desire to take on a project to help capture those memories. It doesn’t

matter if your camera is a professional DSLR, point & shoot, film, on your phone, or your child’s Fisher Price camera. As long as it will take a photo, it will work!

When can I start?Lots of people are inspired at the beginning of the year or for a special date, but you

don’t have to wait. Do it today! Tips for your Project 365•Carry a camera with you at all times•Create a new album in your computer that will hold your photos. I label images

with the date shot as soon as they are on my computer and create folders within this album for each month. I found that when I didn’t file them immediately, the task of going back and finding each image was time consuming and discouraging

•Choose daily/weekly/monthly themes to inspire you•Search out others doing it for inspiration•Try to post them to an online album (Facebook, Flickr, or blog) daily or weekly so

you don’t get behind and become overwhelmed•Don’t forget about yourself. Self-portraits often get forgotten but it’s nice to look back

and say, “Wow, I was there too!”•Check out the many groups online by doing a Google search for “project 365”•Using your iPhone? Check out the app “Project 365.” It’s free and helps you to

organize those daily photos. Instagram is another app that I’ve applied to a lot of my photos. It’s a fun free tool for applying filters and changing the look of your picture.

Now what?It’s been a year; I have 365 photos of my family, myself, my life and my passions. Now

what? The answer to that question is entirely up to you! You can do nothing with them

and keep them as digital files, but please back them up so you don’t lose them! You can have them printed and then scrapbook them - if you’re anything like me, that project will take the next 365 days! Or you can do as I’ve done: build a project album (most photo labs let you do this online) that you can proudly print and display, and enjoy it whenever you choose.

Keep shooting and remember it’s not about perfect photos, just enjoy capturing those memories!

365 Memories: A Picture a Day Project

By Carrie Boileau

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Notes from a Boho MommaHappy Spring mamas!

For this issue I wanted to talk about Red Raspberry Leaf tea....you know, one of the many tips you receive

when you’re ripe and ready to give birth and everyone from your mother-in-law to the lady in the grocery store line are telling you what to do to GET THAT BABY OUT! Yes, that tea…but it is a misconception that Red Raspberry Leaf induces labour, as it is actually a tonic that supports and restores your body during pregnancy and also prepares the muscles for birthing.

Red Raspberry Leaf tea is made from the dried leaves of the raspberry plant and it does not taste like raspberries! The tea has a mild taste and is actually quite pleasant to drink hot or cold with a wee bit of honey. The herb has long been used for its many health benefits, especially for pregnancy related conditions such as morning sickness and preventing miscarriage and postpartum hemorrhage from a relaxed uterus.

Red Raspberry Leaf also helps reduce pain during labour and after birth, since it strengthens and tones the uterus and pelvic muscles, allowing for strong and efficient contractions, and reducing many of the reasons for a long and painful delivery (but, yes, you will still feel the cervical dilation!). Studies show that women who take Red Raspberry Leaf tea during pregnancy have a reduced rate of artificial rupture of membranes, forceps delivery and cesarean section…not too shabby!

The tea is also wonderfully nutritive as it is loaded with the vitamins A, B, C and E, and minerals such as potassium, calcium

and phosphorus. The rich mineral content is one of the reasons Red Raspberry Leaf also helps with plentiful milk supply and, when my children have sore throats, I give them the warm tea (with honey of course) since it soothes inflammation and reduces excess mucus production.

Have I convinced you yet? And since we’re on the topic of birth, we may as well include poop…it also helps to relieve constipation and diarrhea!

How to Make Red Raspberry Leaf Tea:• Boil water and pour into your favorite mug, let cool for a

few minutes so you don’t burn the leaves.• Place 1-2 teaspoons of the loose tea into an infuser (or use

a tea bag) and let steep for 10 minutes with mug covered.• Remove infuser or bag and sweeten if desired! A squeeze

of fresh lemon juice is a nice addition or you can mix it with another tea you enjoy such as peppermint or rooibos.

• How much? Up until 28 weeks, you can drink 1-2 cups per day. After that, I would suggest taking up to 4 cups per day as your birth day comes closer!

* Your local health food store will carry the loose Red Raspberry leaves and/or ready made tea bags.

** As with any herb or supplement you may be taking during your pregnancy, consult your midwife, naturopath, or other health care professional for more information on their effects and benefits.

Amanda Barker is a herbalist, doula, CBE, and owner of Ovio Organico skin care and Boho Birth. abarker@gmail.com.

By Amanda Barker

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Community Resource Directory Birthday Parties & Events Ana Banana’s Custom Cakes & MoreKamloops’ newest and trendiest fully licensed bakery 250.682.8085 abccakes@live.com www.ape4cake.com

Wild About Party PacksParty Packs for Birthday, Baby, and Bridal.wildaboutpartypack@hotmail.comwww.wildaboutpartypacks.com

The Woman’s FairMay 27th, 10am-4pmKamloops Convention Center250.764.7045melissa.naturaltouch@gmail.com

Bookkeeping Services Lyn A.M. L’EcuyerBookkeeping Serviceslyn@live.ca 250.376.0703

Construction Finish It. - MJ HomesMark and Jody 250.682.0873mjhomesltd@mail.comwww.mymjhome.com

Childcare and Preschool Sunshine Early Learning CenterPreschool classes 2, 3, or 5 days a week250.319.2247 Ieashia@telus.net

River City Gymnastics Gymnastics and Mutli-sport facility 778.471.5767 www.rivercitygymnastics.ca

Children’s Retail Bubbs and Buggs Unisex, eco-friendly clothing 778-220-7034 www.bubbsbuggwear.ca

Lizzie Bits Baby Co.Cloth diapers, unique children’s items, high quality children’s consignment205-450 Lansdowne 250.374.8706 www.lizziebaby.ca

Mulberry BushGently Loved Consignment & New Items1304 Battle St. 250.374.2501 www3.telus.net/mulberrybush

Peekabo Beans Playwear for kids on the grow!Christina Fitzmaurice 250.320.2337 christinaf.stylist@peekaboobeans.com

The Enchanted TeacupPrincess/fairy/character hostess, Dress-up theme parties, fun retail, tea retail410 Tranquille Road 250.376.8327www.enchantedteacup.com

Tumbleweed Toys Safe, Sustainable & Inspired toys, games, puzzles and more. Sahali Mall250.372.3500 www.TumbleweedToys.ca

Cleaning Services Dust Bunnies Cleaning Professional Residential and Commercial Cleaning 778.470.0607 dustbunniescleaning@hotmail.ca

Green Space ServicesEco-friendly & DRY carpet cleaning 250.682.1066 www.KamloopsCarpetCleaning.ca

Family Resources Big Brothers and Sisters 821 Seymour St 250.374.6134

Interior Community Services250.554.3134

Ministry of Children & Family Services 250.371.3600

Parent Helpline 1.888.603.9100

Welcome Wagon Expecting, have a baby under a year old, moving, or getting married? Welcome Wagon has programs, and/or basket gifts for you. Call Pamela Lee 250.573.2823

Food and Beverage Nature’s Fare MarketsOrganic and Natural Foods Grocer5-1350 Summit Drive 250.314.9560www.naturesfare.com

Sweet Home CafeCafe with a staffed kids play area1380 Hillside Dr 778.471.5579www.sweethomecafeforyou.com

Health & Wellness Aina Massage SpaMassage therapy and aesthetics using organic and natural products250.319.4111 www.ainaspa.ca

Body by Vi ChallengeMake a healthier change in your lifeRosie & Dan Worsfold 250.574.6029www.ahealthierkamloops.com

Fit By DesignFamily Friendly Fitness250.819.0822www.kamloopsfitbydesign.com

Let’s Move Studio Yoga - Dance - Wellnessletsmove@gmail.com 250.372.9642www.letsmovestudio.com

Musings and Mud Coaching StudioWorkshops, workbooks, personal coach-ing with a creative twist.Janet L. Whitehead, certified professional coach janet@musingsandmud.com250.376.8402 www.musingsandmud.com

Kamloops Family Vision ClinicNew patients welcome613 Lansdowne St 250.374.8755www.KamloopsOptometry.com

Smooth Effects Laser Hair RemovalThe leader in laser hair removal#8-1390 Hillside Dr. 250.372.2261www.smootheffects.ca

Home-based Sales and Services BeautiControl, Angela KinneyIndependent Sales Consultant#1 Premium Spa Brand250.574.0128 kinney@telus.netbeautipage.ca/spachick_angelakinney

Bunches ‘n BundlesCustom gift packages for all occasions with items from small local companies 250.318.5368 bunchesandbundles@gmail.com

Discovery Toys, Alison GregoryDiscovery Toys Team Leader250.851.2270 aligregory@telus.netdiscoverytoyslink.com/aligregory

Karla Weiss, Independent Consultant The Pampered ChefProducts to help you cook and entertain affordably 250.682.4435 anjel@shaw.cawww.pamperchef.biz/karlaweiss

Latasia, Rox-ann HainesFashion jewellery, special occasion accessories, sleepwear and loungewear250.574.4233 inkedroxstarr@shaw.cawww.mylatasia.ca/rox-annhaines

Lindsey S., Independent Regal Rep.Convenient, practical solutions, cool toys, cards and personalized products. lindsayregalrep@hotmail.com 778.220.4297 www.LindsayS.shopregal.ca

McSewSeamstress & Fibre Artist specializing in sleepsacks, felting, knitting, & alterations250.828.2309 McKnit@hotmail.com

Mila by LifemaxOmega-3 superfood, gluten-free, high in fiber, protein and antioxidantsVal Butterfield, Independent Distributer250.554.8203 milaval77@gmail.com

Moms Helping Moms – work from homePerfect opportunity for moms and otherswww.lookaround.ca choiceofwellness@gmail.com

SkincerityNightly Breathable MasqueAngela Busenius & Lisa Alentejano250.819.6536 250.319.4132nuceritydivas@mail.comwww.nucerity.net

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Treasured Memories CanadaKamloops’ newest scrapbook store!604.812.9785www.treasuredmemoriescanada.com

Usborne Books, Kathy Russel Senior SupervisorAward winning books from tots to teens250.579.9129 www.booksathome.ca

Music Kamloops Symphony Music SchoolGroup classes and private instruction for all ages and levels. 250.372.5000 Station Plaza #3-510 Lorne St.

Medical Services BC Nurse Line 1.866.215.4700

Royal Inland Hospital 250.374.5111

Walk-in Clinics:Northshore Treatment Centre 700 Tranquille Rd 250.554.4265

Summit Medical Clinic5 - 1380 Summit Drive 250.374.9800

Kamloops Urgent Care Clinic #4 - 910 Columbia Street 250-371-4905

Online Resources KamloopsMompreneurs.caOnline local resource for info on mom-preneurs in Kamloopswww.kamloopsmompreneurs.ca

KamloopsParents.comThe online resource to all things family-friendly in Kamloops. www.kamloopsparents.comelizabeth@kamloopsparents.com

MakeChildrenFirst.caMap of Family & Breastfeeding-friendly businesses in Kamloops 250.554.3134www.makechildrenfirst.ca

Parent-Child Groups Attachment Parenting2/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 10:30-12:30Interior Indian Friendship Society2355 Parkcrest Ave. 250.554.3134

Kamloops Connexions Fri 9:30-11:30, 700 Hugh Allen DriveS.W. Community Church 250.828.1114 coffee-connexions@hotmail.com

Kamloops Wiggles and Giggles Adoption Playgroup Monthly, Deanna, jones_A@telus.net

Mother GooseVarious times and locations 250.554.3134www.interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca

Next Steps Fri, 1-2:20, Kamloops Public Health Unit519 Columbia St. 250.851.7300

StrongStart Programs (during school year)

BumblebeesMon, 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, 8:45-11:15South Sahali Elem., 1585 Summit Dr. 250.374.2451

YMCA Child Interactive CentreMon-Fri 9-12 Southwest Y/CCRRUnit E, 1420 Hugh Allan Dr250-372-7791

Prenatal and Postpartum Care Beautiful BeginningsBreastfeeding classes and private lactation consultant services www.beautifulbeginningslactation.com

Birth Matters - Jodi AndersonDoula and Childbirth Educatorbirthmatters.doula.prenatal@gmail.com250.372.3733 250.819.2099

Boho BirthDoula services & prenatal educationAmanda Barker 250.376.8331bohobirth@gmail.com

Breastfeeding CentreDrop in breastfeeding info and helpDowntown Health Centre Lansdowne Mall 250-851-7300Mon 1- 4, Thurs 9 - 12

Mighty Oak Midwifery Personal, professional, woman-centered maternity care. 250.377.8611 www.mightyoakmidwifery.ca

Tiny Blessings Prenatal Prenatal education focusing on late preg-nancy, labor & delivery, breastfeeding, & newborn care. 250-819-0510www.tinyblessingsprenatal.com

Photography Captured Memories PhotographyChildren • Engagement • Family • Gradua-tion • Maternity • Newborns • Weddingswww.captured-memories.cahrsayers@gmail.com 250.320.6558

Life Unfolding Photography Photography for all your little wild thingsMoms with Camera’s facilitatorwww.lifeunfolding.ca

Milk & Honey PhotographyLisa DiGesomilkandhoney@mail.comwww.milkandhoneyphotography.ca

Real Estate and Investments Chelsea Mann, Realtor Century 21 - Desert Hills Realty250.571.6666chelsea@chelseamann.ca www.kamloopshomes.net

Karen Lanoue Canadian Scholarship TrustBoost your post-secondary education savings by $7200 karen.lanoue@cstresp.com 250.573.2299

Ken Featherstone, Realtor Royal LePage Westwin RealtyPersonal Real Estate Corp. 250.374.1461 kenfeathetone@royallepage.ca

Summer Camps Eureka! Week long science summer campsAges 7-14, July 3 - Aug 24www.tru.ca/eureka 250.371.5534

Andersom Sewing Center Sewing classes for kids 10+151 Victoria St 250.374.1154andersonsewing@yahoo.ca

Community Resource Directory

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Community Events Calendar presented by:

April 1: Kamloops Snowmobile Association Family Fun Day Fortune A&W, 250.554.3779April 1 (Cont) Kamloops Library Family Storytime Sunday, 1 – 1:30pm 250.374.8866 (free)April 1: Shopper’s Drug Mart Ladies Night Valleyview Shopper’s Drug Mart, 5:30 – 8:30 April 2 (Cont): North Kamloops Library Tiny Tunes Monday, 10:15 – 10:45am (free)April 3/May 1: Mom’s Morning Out Mighty Oak Midwifery, 11am – 1pm 250.377.86119 (free)April 4 – 8: Kamloops International Ice Hockey Tournament local arenas, www.kibiht.com Apr. 5 (Cont): Shambhala Meditation Thurs 7:00pm, 433b Lansdowne St. kamloopsshambhala.org 250.376.4224 April 5 (Cont): N.Kamloops Library After School Club Thursday 3 – 4pm (free)April 6 – 9: Easter Eggs-citement BC Wildlife Park, 250.573.3242 April 6 (Cont): North Kamloops Library Family

Storytime Friday 10:15 – 10:45am (free)April 7 (Cont): Chapters Craft and Storytime Saturdays 11-12pm 250.377.8468 (free)April 7 (Cont): BIG Little Science Centre Thurs/Fri 3-5 pm, Sat 10-4, 250.554.2572April 7: Easter Party Family Fun Sahali Mall 12- 2pm, 250.374.3033 (free)April 7 – 9: Retro Weekend at Sun Peaks 250.578.5542April 8: Tim Horton’s Easter Egg Hunt McGowan Park, 12 – 2pm 250.372.3162 (free)April 8: Easter Egg Bonanza at Sun Peaks Sun Peaks, 11am 250.578.5542 (free)April 11/May 16: Kamloops Adoption Support Group 396 Tranquille Rd, 7 – 8pm 250.579.8950April 12: Cloth Diapering 101 Lizzie Bits Baby Co 7 – 8pm 250.374.8706 (free)April 12/26/May 10, 24, 31:Groupe de jeux Bouts de chou francophones (0-5 ans), 10-11h30, École Colline-d’or, (free) 1-800-905-5056 April 13 – 15: Kamloops Home & Leisure Show McArthur Island Sports Centre (free) 250.377.8380April 14/May 12: Home Depot Kids Workshop 10am – 12pm

250.371.4300 (free)April 14: EarthRun Riverside ParkApril 14 – 28: Used Book and Record Sale Sahali Mall 250.374.3033April 15: Free Landfill Day Barnhartvale and Mission Flats Landfills, (free)April 16: ProD Day Camps at the Kamloops Museum Kamloops Museum, 9am – 4pm, 8 – 12 years old, 250.828.3576 ($45)April 16/May 21: Kamloops Infant and Pregnancy Loss Support Group 205-535 Tranquille Rd, 7 – 8:30pm 250.376.4646April 21: Rotary Kamloops Spring Food Drive your house, 250.376.2252April 21: Great Cloth Diaper Change Southwest Community Church 9 – 12pm 250.554.9722April 21: Wild About Antarctica Kamloops Museum & Archives, 10:30 – 11:30am 250.828.3576 (donation)April 22: Kamloops Young Naturalist’s Club Bird Watching Hike at Mission Flats 1 – 3pm 250.573.3127 April 22: Cloth Diapering 101 Lizzie Bits Baby Co 1 – 2pm, 250.374.8706 (free)April 23 – May 21: Downtown Artwalk various businesses 250.376.4646April 25: Craft Club at Kamloops Library 3 – 4pm, 250.374.8866 (free)April 27: Kamloops Bi-Centennial Celebrations Treeplanting 200 trees around the cityApril 28: KamloopsParents.Com Family Market 9am – 2pm, Calvary Community Church, 250.819.4004 ($2)April 28: Regional Synchronized Swimming

Championships Canada Games Aquatic Centre (TCC) 250.828.3655April 28 – 29: U15/U16 Women’s Volleyball Championships TCC Fieldhouse 250.828.3655April 29: Boogie the Bridge Victoria Street, 8:30am April 29: Creating the Connection- Mother-Daughter Workshop Kamloops Convention Centre, 10am – 2pm ($60)May 3 (Cont): North Kamloops Library After School Club Thursday 3 – 4pm (free)May 5: Little Warriors Workshop North Shore Community Centre, 10am – 1pm 1.888.440.1343 ($25)May 5: Old Time Fiddle Contest St. John Vianney, 11am 250.372.2809 ($5)May 10 – 11: Cities Fit For Children TRU 250.828.3500May 10: River City Guided Walking Tour Kamloops Museum, 5:30 – 7pm 250.828.3576 ($8)May 12: Mother’s Day Tea Kamloops Museum, 1pm and 2:30pm, 250.828.3576 ($2)May 13: Mother’s Day at the BC Wildlife Park BC Wildlife Park 250.573.3242 (free with admission)May 18 – 21: Kamloops Track & Field Centennial Meet Hillside StadiumMay 19 – 21: Victoria Day Celebrations BC Wildlife Park 250.573.3242 (free with admission)May 26: Dinosaur Discovery Kamloops Museum, 1 – 2:30pm, 7-9 years old 250.828.3576 ($20)May 27: Kamloops Young Naturalist’s Club Gold Panning 1 – 3pm, 250.573.3127

Have an event? Tell us about it and we’ll put it in our Community Events Calendar for FREE!info@kamloopsmomma.comFind us on Facebook!

Visit www.KamloopsParents.com for a complete, up-to-date calendar of family-friendly events!

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