lawrence kids / winter '15

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WINTER, 2015

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Mama D’s Funniesby Julie Dunlap

“The Bachelor: Fully Clawed”

I blame Santa for the latest addition to our family. After all, when a child wakes up to a litter box Christmas morning, what else are the parents to do but adopt the cat said child has pined for so longingly (some might even say “stub-bornly”) for many months, handing over wish list after wish list with only one item on it (“A cat named Pablo”) but to hit the Humane Society the day after Christmas and scope out the inventory?

It had been a while since our last trip to the Humane So-ciety. The kennels were Disneyland clean and the animals were red-carpet-ready for the post-holiday onslaught of parents manipulated by St. Nick into adopting a pet.

We made our way into the first feline room where nearly every kennel was occupied with a cat on high alert for a ticket out like a scene from a show I like to call “The Bach-elor: Fully Clawed.”I blame Santa for the latest addition to our family. After all, when a child wakes up to a litter box Christmas morning, what else are the parents to do but adopt the cat said child has pined for so longingly (some might even say “stub-bornly”) for many months, handing over wish list after wish list with only one item on it (“A cat named Pablo”) but to hit the Humane Society the day after Christmas and scope out the inventory?

It had been a while since our last trip to the Humane So-ciety. The kennels were Disneyland clean and the animals

were red-carpet-ready for the post-holiday onslaught of parents manipulated by St. Nick into adopting a pet.

We made our way into the first feline room where nearly every kennel was occupied with a cat on high alert for a ticket out like a scene from a show I like to call “The Bach-elor: Fully Clawed.”

At 13, Luke Dunlap had enjoyed a childhood filled with sports, Scouts, video games, three sisters and a family dog. But even with all of this, Luke still felt something was miss-ing.

“I’d really just like to have my own pet,” Luke explained. “It would be fun to have a cat curled up on my lap while I’m watching ‘South Park’ reruns.”

The day finally arrived when Luke would meet his future mate. Dressed in his most relatively-clean KU t-shirt and highwater track pants, Luke entered the feline room and greeted each cat.

Some were eager to get to know the newest bachelor, paw-ing at their kennel doors and grooming themselves to get each hair in place. Others seemed less interested, perhaps jaded by rejection from their pasts.

With only one catnip-covered rose to give out, Luke had to make his selection carefully, taking the time to really form

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a connection with those cats which caught his eye. Looks were important (he immediately dismissed the one with the tiny head and big body), but personality was the deciding factor. He didn’t want one that was too aggressive, nor did he want one that sat in a corner and pouted.

After meeting every cat in the shelter, Luke spent some time on a group date with several cats in the playroom. He got to see how they reacted to each other and how much they paid attention to him when released into an area with ac-tivity and external stimulation. As it turned out, most cats prefer sitting on the highest shelf in the room to interacting with anyone or anything in a group date situation.

Undeterred by his group date experience, Luke took the courtship to the next level and chose a select few from a different area to go on coveted one-on-one dates with him in the isolation room under the jealous glares from those left alone in their kennels. This proved to be far more en-lightening as he spent time getting to know each cat, their likes and dislikes, how they reacted to the laser pointer he had brought with him.

He felt lucky to have the opportunity to meet so many great cats, but, in the end, he had a difficult decision to make, for his mother would only let him bring home one.

And, in the end, one is all he needed to catch his eye. A possible Russian Blue mix appropriately named Cupid by

his caregivers at the Humane Society, this one seemed to be the whole package. Young enough to be playful, yet old enough to have some maturity and real-world experience under his collar. Cuddly, yet agile. Friendly, yet neutered.

Luke handed Cupid his only rose (ie, his mom paid a non-refundable deposit), which Cupid (the Humane Society) gladly accepted, and returned home alone to ready his house for his mate.

The next few days were torture. Was Cupid as excited as Luke was to begin their life together or was Cupid having second thoughts about such a big commitment? Would the magic of their time at the Humane Society translate to the real world or would it fizzle out as soon as they settled into a routine? Would Luke uphold his promise to empty the litter box regularly?

(That one was more my fear than Luke’s)

Luke returned to pick up his cat New Year’s Eve and imme-diately renamed him Pablo. Much to everyone’s relief, the cat has won the hearts of Luke’s family, enjoys a clean litter box every day and seems to be in for the fairy “tail” ending we never even knew we had always wanted. LK

Julie Dunlap is the mother to 4 kids, one dog and Pablo, the cat.

Winter Reading Suggestions from the

Librarians at the Lawrence Public LibraryRead Across Lawrence for Kids, 2015 SelectionChasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett - Set in Hyde Park, Chicago near the University of Chicago, the novel follows two children, Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee. After a famous Johannes Vermeer paint-ing is stolen en route to the Art Institute of Chicago, Calder and Petra work together to try to recover it. The thief publishes many advertisements in the news-paper, explaining that he will give the painting back if the community can discover which paintings under Vermeer’s name were really painted by him. This causes Petra, Calder, and the rest of Hyde Park to examine art more closely.

Picture Books for Preschoolers

Chick ‘n’ Pug by Jennifer Gordon Sattler - A fun picture book about a little Chick who idolizes a Pug and finds that he may be his very own superhero after all.

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan ObedA short and beautifully illustrated chapter book that chronicles one family’s love affair with winter. Ages 5 and up

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner A non-fiction classic that illustrates the world of plants and animals living in the layer of warmth beneath the snow. Ages 3 and up

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na What do animals do in the winter? This lyrical picture book will reveal all. Ages 0-5

Chapter Books: Ages 8-12

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm - What if you could take a pill and be young again? What if your cranky grandfather took that pill instead?

Magyk by Angie Sage - One night, the seventh son of a seventh son is stolen from his family and re-placed by a baby with purple eyes. Years later, every-one involved is thrust into the adventure of a lifetime.

This is a great read if you like adventure, magic and kid heroes.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - Ani is the Crown Princess of Kildenree but she is also blessed, and cursed, with special magical abilities. When her family changes their plans and sends her to a foreign land she learns who her true friends are and how to trust herself. This is the book for readers that like re-tellings of fairy tales and strong girl characters.

Hidden by Helen Frost - When she was eight years old Wren Abbott was accidently kidnapped by Dara’s father. A few years later, Dara and Wren end up at the same summer camp and have to learn how live with and forgive one another for a summer. A William Al-lan White Award winner, Hidden is a great short read for kids who like stories about friendship and summer camp life. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander - Josh Bell tells of life on and off of the basketball court through furious rhymes. His twin brother barely pays attention to him once he falls in love with the girl with the pink shoes and his ex-basketball star father won’t listen to heath advice. Kwame’s writing is as fresh and enter-taining as it is moving. The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy - Spend some time with the eclectic Fletcher family (all of the boys are adopted and from different cultures)! Soccer practice, a brainy private school, imaginary friends and a cranky neigh-bor are all part of this wacky, heartwarming story. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - What’s better than reading a twisty mystery when it’s cold outside? If you like the game Clue, you’ll love this Newbery-winning murder mystery who-done-it! Diamond Willow by Helen Frost - Willow’s story of life in the Alaskan wild is told in beautiful diamond-shaped poems (each contains a hidden message in its center). LK

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Dr. Kirsten Evans has lived in Lawrence since 1989. She completed medical school and residency at The University of Kansas Medical Center and has practiced pediatrics in Topeka, Kansas City and Virginia, treated children of all ages with a wide variety of illnesses. Dr. Evans has worked in private practice, as faculty at The KU Med Center and as a pediatric hospitalist at Stor-mont Vail Health Care. Dr Evans serves as adjunct fac-ulty for Saint Louis University and is president of the Kansas Medical Education Foundation.

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The BestSledding Spots in Lawrence

We’ve spent countless hours during the past few winters searching for the best hills in Lawrence.

We’ve found the best in town...

A 2003 study by a team of scientist from Southwest Texas State University and Arizona State Univer-sity proved that Kansas is, in fact, flatter than a pancake. Regardless of the rest of the state’s el-evation inadequacies, Lawrence boasts fantastic sledding spots.

Get your sleds, toboggans snowboards ready...

1. Centennial ParkBetween 6th and 9th Streets; Iowa St & Rockledge

The 35-acre park is one of the most centrally located parks in Lawrence. Oregon Trail settlers once used the land now known as Centennial Park as an area to graze livestock as they traveled west. The most popular sledding spot is the big hill just west of the Ninth-street parking lot. On a snowy day, cars fill the lot and families take to the hill in mass. The wide sledding area has a steep downhill which levels on a large field. Get moving too fast, and you might need the foot brakes before landing in the creek. North of the parking lot and playground is another popu-lar hill. Though not as steep, when ridden correctly, the hill offers a longer ride. Centennial Park is filled with hills and trees, so ditch the crowds, take a walk and find your own sledding slope.

2. “Dad” Perry Park (2 parks)1200 Monterey Way & Harvard & Parkside Road

The park is named in honor of the “Father of Gymnas-tics in the State of Kansas,” L.R. “Dad” Perry. The 45-acre park is filled with naturally wooded areas, native grasses and includes nature trails that wind throughout the park. In addition, two large park shelters with rest rooms and parking are available that allows families and groups to reserve. Both West and North parks feature solid sledding slopes. The hills near the West playground are steeper and more popular. The playground is on a small plateau with short, steep hills bordering the east and north sides. Tall natural grass puts the brakes on any runaway sleds. The North park has smaller hills, perfect for younger chil-dren (and lazy parents). Also, the vast open field is perfect for snow angels, snowmen and snowball fights. The more adventurous sledders can take to the woods. The central portion of “Dad” Perry Park is dense woods dissected by trails. Many steep, tree-lined routes are available, but sled at your own risk!

3. Campanile HillNorth side of Memorial Drive - University of Kansas

Is there a more iconic sledding destination in Lawrence than in the shadow of the symbolic bell tower? Even af-ter recent construction on “the hill” the long slope directly north of KU’s Campanile remains a “must-do” for Law-rence sledders. The hill is wide enough to comfortably accommodate the crowds and it’s almost a guarantee that someone will build a snow jump. Without question, Campanile Hill features the most varied selection of rides. Everything from sleds and skies to trash sacks and card-board boxes will likely be spotted. Speed junkies have been know to forgo the grassy hill and opt for the ice cov-ered sidewalk (bring a helmet!). If classes are in session, parking can be an issue so plan on walking from your car. Be aware that students like to hit the hill after hitting the bar, so you might have to cover Jimmy’s ears a few times. Don’t forget to bring a camera and capture the views of Lawrence and Douglas County.

4. Alvamar Country Club1809 Crossgate Drive

The golf course is often quiet in the cold winter, but when the snow starts to stick in Lawrence, Alvamar Country Club gets popular. Just south of the clubhouse is a fantastic, steep hill that many think is the best sledding spot in town. Because the Alvamar grounds crew does such a great job maintaining the grass spring – fall, there is little worry of hidden rock and large branches ruining a snow suit or rosy cheek. Having an indoor bathroom and restaurant lends a ski mountain feel to a day on the Alvamar hill.

The catch: Alvamar is a private club and not open to the public. However, the club is very popular, so ask around – maybe your friends will let you tag along.

5. Carruth O’Leary Hall1246 West Campus Road

The hills just beyond the parking lot behind Carruth O’Leary Hall on KU’s campus are often overlooked by Campanile Hill sledders. The hills are steep and fast, so they may not be the best fit for younger kids. The parking lots West of Memorial Stadium have cut the length of a few routes, but many options remain for the more daring. If you can dodge sidewalks, a great run could land you on the banks of Potter’s Lake. Beware of rocks and branches covered by the snow. Like Campanile Hill, parking can be an issue when classes are in session. The buildings on campus may be open, so you might be able to sneak in for a quick restroom break or to warm your hands and toes. LK

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The Case for YouthMental Health First Aid

How the Bert Nash Community Health Center is helping

by Amelia Arvesen

identify potential mental health issues in Lawrence kids

David Johnson, Bert Nash CEO, says more than half of lifetime

mental health illnesses begin by the age of 14, a critical time in which

early interventionresults in a better

treatment outcome.

Like swings on a playground, kids’ moods quickly vacillate and a class offered by The Bert Nash Center can teach you how to discern between what is con-sidered developmentally normal and what may be signs of a mental health disorder. In February, the center will offer the Youth Mental Health First Aid class to the public on Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m. “We tell people you’re not going to be a therapist at the end of this class but you will have tools,” says Patricia Roach Smith, chief operations officer. Roach Smith says 20 percent of children (and 25 per-cent of adults) live with a diagnosable mental disor-der in any year and, more likely, children’s symptoms go unnoticed because they are often attributed to in-famous adolescent mood swings. The spectrum of disorders ranges from extreme, such as schizophrenia and psychosis, to the more com-mon, such as depression and anxiety, Roach Smith says. David Johnson, chief executive officer, says over half of lifetime mental health illnesses begin by the age of 14, a critical time in which early intervention results in a better treatment outcome. “These are illnesses that have as great or greater of an impact for people who are young as they do in their entire lifespan,” Johnson says. The course is designed for adults who regularly work with young people — caregivers, teachers, service

workers, youth leaders and parents. Roach Smith says the Bert Nash Center has offered the class to targeted audiences, such as the staff of the Lawrence Police Department and the Youth Detention Center since 2011. Due to a spike in interest, now anybody can become certified. The youth class is similar to the Adult Mental Health First Aid class but focuses on early developmental stages. The class touches on topics including anxiety, depression, disruptive behavior disorders, substance use and eating disorders. It highlights when services should be sought and what to do in the case of a crisis. April Ramos, a WRAP (Working to Recognize Alterna-tive Possibilities) specialist at Free State High School, says suicidal thoughts seem to be a trend in teenag-ers today. “If a kid is using the word suicide or saying ‘I’m think-ing about killing myself,’ what do you do with that?” Ramos says. “That freaks a lot of people out.” Ramos says there’s a tendency for the adult to either overreact or underplay the situation. She says reac-tion behavior matters. The class teaches to sensitively address warning signs with questions to better delve into what’s going on. Roach Smith says the program is designed to be highly interactive to prepare for real-life situations and, therefore, classes are taught through a com-bination of lectures, overhead slides, role playing, videos and time to discuss and share. cont.

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“People come in with a true sense of self and they’re willing to share that,” Ramos says. Roach Smith explains one of the tools you leave equipped with is an action plan for diagnosing packed into an easy acronym. ALGEE stands for asses for risk of suicide or harm, Listen without judgment, Give re-assurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help, and Encourage self help and sup-port strategies.

The center doesn’t have statistics that determine whether the number of people certified has caused an increase in the number admitted for treatment, but Roach Smith says they do hear stories of individu-als who leave with a better awareness of what dis-orders may be affecting their children. Johnson says 10 people are admitted for treatment services every business day. “David likes to say that the only people who should take mental health first aid are people who interact with other people,” Roach Smith says. He means everyone. In total, the $30 program is eight hours long. For the public, the center is breaking it down into manage-able two- and four-hour sessions. The program was first developed in Australia in 2001, according to the national website, and brought to the U.S. in 2008. Lawrence was one of the seven pilot sites in addition to Denver, Colo. and Pawtucket, R.I. Johnson said by the end of 2014, an estimate of nearly 350,000 Americans will be trained and certi-fied and 1,100 will be in Douglas County. Certifica-tion is good for three years and, like CPR and first aid, it must be renewed. Roach Smith and Johnson were the first people in Kansas trained to provide mental health first aid and oftentimes, they lead classes. “It’s an opportunity for us to educate about mental health disorders, but it’s also an opportunity to edu-cate about the Bert Nash Center,” says Roach Smith.

For more information on the class, or servicesoffered by the Bert Nash Community Health Center,

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200 Maine Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 843-9192

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Because you want to remember your best year yet.

The HouseThat Pa

BuiltNathan Clark decided to build a house along the Kansas River...

and take up his dad on an offer.

“When I told him I would love to buildhis family a house

one day, I was kind of kidding.

I guess he didn’tget the joke.”

- Dave Clark

A number of years ago, Dave Clark made a promise to his son, Nathan. Should Nathan ever decide to build a house, the elder Clark would do it for him.

Fast forward to 2013. Nathan and his wife Sarah had been looking, unsuccessfully, for a house in Lawrence. The couple, and son Des, just couldn’t find the right home.

“I know we were both pretty frustrated,” Nathan says. “We had in our minds the home we wanted, and we just couldn’t find it. We were about to give up.”

Sarah knew what she wanted. She just hadn’t found it in Lawrence.

“I had seen a home in Minnesota, where I grew up,” Sarah says with a smile. “I knew when I saw it that it was the home I wanted. We spent a long time looking at homes here and just never found one that seemed right. To be honest, we were about to give up.”

That’s when fate stepped in. Nathan was driving through North Lawrence when he spotted a small postcard atop a metal stake in a vacant lot.

“I stopped, I’m not really sure why, but I knew I had to stop,” Nathan says, shrugging his shoulders. “That post-card was a note saying the lot was for sale. On the next lot over an older woman was mowing her grass. I walked over and asked if she owned the lot. She says yes and I told her I would probably be back the next day to buy it. She thought that was a good idea.”

Nathan didn’t waste time.

“He called that afternoon,” Sarah recalls. “He said he saw a vacant lot for sale and that we had to talk, that night. I think we bought it the next day.”

The lot is fantastic. The southern border runs adjacent to the levee on the Kansas River. The northern edge looks to the wide-open Kansas sky. Nathan and Sarah fell in love immediately. They knew they had a call to make.

“When I told him I would love to build his family a house one day, I was kind of kidding,” laughs Dave Clark. “I guess Nathan didn’t get the joke.”

Dave Clark had been “of retirement age” for a while and was ready to end his time as an environmental engineer in Topeka. When Nathan called, he knew it was time to honor his end of the deal.

“Oh, I couldn’t be more happy to be doing this,” Dave says with a big smile. “Spending this time with Nathan, Sarah and the boys is really fantastic.”

Nathan took last summer off (he’s a partner at www.brand-newbox.com) and he and his dad got to work. Through the season and fall, Nathan and Dave spent countless hours clearing the lot and building walls. They contracted others to pour concrete and do some electrical work. The majority of the work, however, was done by father and son (and grandson, occasionally).

The open design of the home was Sarah’s idea – the ma-jority of inspiration coming from that home in Minnesota. She envisioned a welcoming house in which she and Na-than could raise Des and their youngest, Toby. She is con-fident that’s what Nathan and his father are building.

“I wish we could move in right now,” Sarah says with a laugh. “I’m so excited to be living in this house, on this land. The fact that we are building the house we designed just makes it even more special.”

The fact that neither Nathan nor his father has any sig-nificant building experience hasn’t hindered progress, or spirits. In fact, according to Nathan, that has helped.

“Well, we’re both engineers by trade,” Nathan says with a smile. “We don’t take instructions lightly. If we are work-ing on something and it comes with instructions, we follow those precisely. Also knowing it’s my house, we don’t cut any corners. Because of that, this house is being built as solid as it can. We are doing everything as well as it can be done.”

Though building a home for his son is a pretty great way to kickoff his retirement, Dave isn’t pounding nails just to put up walls. He’s building a future for his grandsons.

“I get to spend so much time with these two,” Dave says as he holds Toby and motions toward Des. “That’s the best part. This past summer Sarah would be here almost every-day with the boys. Having the chance to take a break and play with my grandsons or have them help in little ways is something I don’t take for granted.”

The home is taking longer to build than if a contractor handled the job, but Nathan and Sarah understand that they are building more than a home.

“A friend told me that these moments will still seed his dreams when he is an old man,” Nathan said about Des. “A father can’t ask for much more than that.” LK

A DAY AT THEMUSEUM

photos by Emmalee Schaumburg

Rebekah & Tim Wiebelhous, with their son Andric, explore the Spencer Museum of Art.

“Coming to the Spencer is a great opportunity tointeract with your kids.

You will spend timewalking and talking with your kids. You don’t need to be an expert. In fact, I

think that lends a sense of wonder. There is so much

to look at and talk about.”

Last winter, Kelly McNames was getting frustrated. The stay-at-home mom of two was at her wits ends. The snow had piled up and her kids (Lily, 5 and Jonathan, 4) had been sledding 4 of the past 5 days. They needed something else to do.

“I wanted something to get the kids out of the house that didn’t involve 20 minutes of getting snow pants and gloves on,” Kelly says with a laugh. “I love that my kids want to sled and build snowmen, but sometimes we need something new.”

While watching Lily scribble with markers on white con-struction paper, Kelly had an idea.

“My kids love creating art,” she says. “It occurred to me that I had never taken them to the museums in town. As soon as I had the idea, I got nervous. Something about the idea of taking these two to the museum was really intimidating. I felt like we needed to get cleaned up and change clothes.”

Kelly says she got the kids out of their pajamas and into the Spencer Museum of Art on the campus of the Uni-versity of Kansas. The idea turned out to be great one.

“From the moment we stepped in, Lily and Jonathan were enthralled,” Kelly says. “They both walked in and said ‘Whoa!’ It was so much fun. I wish we would have started going to the library sooner.”

That sense of intimidation is nothing new to Kristina Walker, Director of Education at the Spencer Museum of Art. She deals with it all the time.

“Parents feeling intimidated to bring their children and families to the museum is one of our biggest chal-lenges,” Walker says. “I understand the perception that museums are stuffy and formal. We work very hard to change that perception. We love to have families here. We think spending an afternoon at the museum is a fantastic activity.”

The Spencer Museum of Art is a large, open space that encourages patrons to stroll casually through the halls. The museum houses an internationally known collec-tion that is deep and diverse, currently numbering near-ly 36,000 artworks and artifacts in all media. In short, there’s a lot for you and your kids to see.

“Coming to the Spencer is a great opportunity to inter-act with your kids,” Walker says. “You will spend time walking and talking with your kids. You don’t need to be an expert. In fact, I think that lends a sense of wonder. There is so much to look at and talk about.”

Kelly McNames agrees with Walker.

“I was really surprised at how welcoming and friend-ly everyone was,” she says. “I’m a little embarrassed about how apprehensive I was to take Lily and John. I was worried about them being too loud and not staying right by my side.”

The idea that kids must stay silent and walk gingerly through the exhibitions is true. Well, not totally true.

“We want all people to feel welcome here,” Walker says. “We encourage families to talk and enjoy themselves. Of course we don’t want people touching all the pieces, but by no means do we expect visitors to be silent and still. We want people to have fun.”

Walker says she feels lucky to live in Lawrence, where art education is a respected part of elementary educa-tion. The Spencer hosts every 3rd and 4th grade student in the district once a year. She says that often leads to kids showing their parents around.

“Many times a family will come in and the parents will not have been to the museum before,” Walker says. “It’s great to see the kids lead their parents through the exhi-bitions and show them the pieces they remember.”

The Spencer supports art education and interacting through art by hosting Art Cart every weekend. The staff creates an activity based on a specific piece of art or style. The activities are free and open to the public. For more information, or a schedule of events, parents should contact the museum directly at 785.864.4710.

“We want all Lawrence families to feel welcome here,” Walker says. “Viewing art with your children provides so many opportunities to have discussions. You can dis-cuss your interpretation of the work or what the artist’s motivation might have been. It can encourage your chil-dren to explore non-verbal expression of their ideas and emotions. The Spencer has more than 36,000 objects that span centuries and styles. I’m sure you’ll find some-thing that interests you and your kids.” LK

WINTER MUST DOWe agree with Ferris Bueller: Life does move pretty fast. Winter is the perfect time to slow down. We know the kids have games and practices and play dates and sledding sessions. When all that is done, leave the television off and play a game. Our newest game obsession is backgammon. The classic game teaches math, strategy and patience. We play it with our 14 year-old girls and 5 year-old daughter. Sure, the kids initially think it’s just an old person game. That ends after they play once. Put the iGadgets down. Turn the television off. Let’s interact with our kids over a fierce game of backgammon! LK

lawrence kids / winter '15

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