The season is upon us, and soon we will all be setting off for sun, fun, and a break from reality. Be sure to pack these top tips for making the most of summer travel memories, too!

Summer vacations offer more than just a chance to get away and have fun together as a family – they are a chance to connect and create great memories that will last long after those long, lazy days are gone.

Are you heading for nearby beaches in New Jersey or Delaware, planning urban daytrips in Philadelphia, or hopping on a plane for a longer summer family journey? No matter where you’re headed, a little planning will help you make the most of summer travel with your family.

Before you go.

Whether you are planning a lazy beach vacation or a more cultural city trip, you’ll want to have at least a rough day-by-day itinerary. A great place to start your trip planning is the chamber of commerce or convention and visitors bureau website for the destination you’ll be visiting. Even if you’ve been there before, check in for up-to-date information about this summer’s special activities and festivals. Use an app like Evernote to keep track of your itinerary, and you’ll have access to it on your computer and your mobile devices while you’re on the road.

Create a rough day-to-day outline that includes both active and down time each day. Be sure to include both familiar activities you know your child will love, as well as some new experiences. For example, even very young children can spend some time appreciating art in a museum or using a guidebook to identify birds or plants. Always have contingency plans for weather-dependent activities.

Talk about your trip with your children before you leave. Show them photos or websites of the places you will be visiting, and talk about what you plan to do there. Older kids might want to be even more involved in trip planning – browse the websites of potential attractions or restaurants together and see what interests them.

On the road.

Once you arrive at your destination, a great way to get insider information from other parents is to head to the nearest playground and strike up a few conversations. Be flexible about the itinerary you’ve created, allowing it to change as you discover new things.

Encourage your child to collect tactile “treasures” to bring home – beach glass, small stones, shells, or even inexpensive colorful plastic tchotchkes are fun and tangible reminders of your trip that you can display once you’re home. Other free items to collect include free maps and brochures and paper menus from restaurants where you’ve dined.

If you’ve got an older or inexpensive digital camera, let your children take their own pictures. They have a different perspective than you do and will take photos of things that they see or that matter to them, creating a personalized record of your trip.

Each evening while you’re away, encourage your child to keep an age-appropriate journal or record of what you’ve done. There are as many different ways of doing this as there are kids. Young children might draw a picture and then dictate a caption that you write for them; older kids can write their own words. Or upload the photos your child has taken to your laptop or tablet and let your child take notes there. Once you’re home you can print these pages off and assemble them into a book.

Home again.

What can you do to keep that glow from your fabulous trip? It’s easy to let all those photos you took languish in your camera or on your computer. Act quickly to edit and organize them so you don’t forget where and when you took them. If you’ve collected souvenir brochures and maps, you can either preserve them as part of a scrapbook or scan them into your computer and add them to a photo book for your trip.

Once you’ve made your photo or scrapbooks, put them on a shelf that your children have access to along with the journals they created. Pull these books out routinely and look at them together, talking about what you did and where you went. (This is a great bedtime activity.)

If you’ve collected “treasures,” buy some inexpensive clear containers and display them. Allow your children to take the treasures out and touch them. Encourage them to share their memories with you – you’ll be amazed at how often they will remember exactly where they found a special object and what kinds of specific details they can tell you about it.

Set up a map in your children’s play- or bedroom and use colored pushpins or stickers to mark the places you’ve visited. This is a great way not just to remember your travels but to show your kids that they are global citizens.

May is pure magic — the sun remembers how to shine, the air is warm but light, and it seems everyone is just looking for an excuse to get out and do something upbeat and fun. And lucky for you, we have a selection of fun and often al fresco ways for you to do just that.

ArtTime Pajama Tour at The Barnes

What’s more fun that expiring the amazing collection of the esteemed Barnes Foundation? Um, how about seeing it all in your favorite footie PJs? On Friday, May 17, at 6 pm, young visitors and their parents can do just that. This month the focus is families, so tours will stop at pieces that showcase moms, dads, and kids, allowing kids from 2-5 to connect with a topic they can grasp. Register online or by calling 215-287-7200. Museum admission required.

It’s hard to put a mother’s love into words, but with these sweet and stylish personalized baubles, you can at least showcase it with a few important letters.

Heartstrings Mother’s Necklaces

What it is: Handcrafted necklaces in a classic and more modern styles that, when personalized, allow Mom to carry her children close to her heart daily.

Why it’s a must: As a parent yourself, you know the dramatic, unending depths you would go to for your children. So you know that one mere day honoring this lifetime of love isn’t enough, and a grocery store bouquet of quickly fading flowers may not speak the volumes of thanks you want it to. While we all will agree that a Mother’s Day gift is not about the value of the present but the thought and meaning behind it, it’s also true that an offering that can combine beauty, appreciation, and love in one package wouldn’t be scoffed at. While thoughtful and stylish any time of year, Heartstrings necklaces offer you the opportunity to show your mom (or your sister, or friend, or yourself through a well-placed hint) how much family means while helping her feel just a little bit more pulled together.

The highlight of this collection is the sheer diversity of styles available, making it easy to create a custom piece that suits her personality. Brightly colored acrylic monograms can honor the woman of honor, or the letters can be replaced with the first initials of her children. A more classic look can be done in gold, rose, or silver filigree, and a Mother’s Pendant option allows a combo message with the mother’s monogram at center surrounded by an engraved hoop bearing her children’s names. Metalworks options include a disk or rectangle of the same metals stamped with initials, names, or important dates, tied to a chain-link necklace or bracelet and accented with colored baubles (pick birthstones or simply Mom’s favorite hues). The same custom messages (think a brand new mom’s newborn’s name and date of birth) can be included in the Behind the Glass collections (pictured above), where patterns like chevron or paisley in a host of colors make up the background and are topped with a glass dome for a casual, trendy look.

Sure, the fashion-forward and sentimental pieces of this company got our attention. But there are other perks. Each piece is custom created per your request, so you always get the piece perfect for the recipient. Most orders offer 24-48 turnaround, meaning even a last minute gift can be beyond thoughtful. And when you order something from the Behind the Glass line, 25 percent of profits go to Helping Honduras Kids, an organization that helps orphaned, abandoned, abused, and/or neglected children through shelter, schools, and opportunities for growth and purpose.

Where to find it: Hatch, 12 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-646-1907

Price: Necklaces start at about $50.

Bonus! Hatch will help you make Mom’s day! Mention Main Line Parent when you order a piece, and save 10% off the purchase price!

May is all about Mom. The greatest gift you can give (or receive) is a few kind words that share just how much you truly care, but a special meal or gift is sure to be appreciated, too. A few of our local friends wanted you to know what they have planned for Mom — check out their special events, promotions, and deals below!

Restaurants

Azie on Main
789 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova; 610-527-5700

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 12, 11 am to 2:30 pm

$32 per person

Enjoy the classic Azie on Main Sunday morning spread, upgraded for Mom with carving stations, enhanced sushi selections, and more.

Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar
555 E. Lancaster Ave., Radnor; 610-688-9463

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 12, 11:30 am to 3 pm

$36.95 per person, $17.95 children 12 and younger

Enjoy a three-course, innovative brunch of classic favorites. In addition, each mom will receive a $25 dining card valid for a future visit.

Paramour
138 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-977-0600

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 12, 10 am to 3 pm

Keep an amazing meal going — all Mom’s will receive a take-home treat from the pastry kitchen!

Yoga Services

The Yoga Garden
131 N. Narberth Ave., Narberth; 610-664-2705

Family Yoga (Ages 3+ with parent or care giver)
May 12, noon to 1 pm

$10 per person

Enjoy time together, experience the benefits of yoga, and leave feeling replenished and renewed. Taught in an interactive and fanciful format, these classes will have a sprinkling of yoga games, songs, asana stories, and magical meditations. Every class ends with a snuggly savasana with soft blankets and colorful eye pillows.

SPECIAL:
10% off any gift certificate for a package of three massage sessions.
All three sessions must be with the same therapist and purchased by Mother’s Day, May 12, 1013. Gift certificates are valid for a full year.

Synergy By Jasmine
3901B Main St., 2nd Floor, Philadelphia; 610-352-1177

Manayunk Couples Yoga Class For Mothers Day Weekend

$20 per person.

Get that 5th date feeling back with a spicy and soulful Yoga-licious night. As you go through the motions together, you and your partner can expect a closer, more romantic and more soulful relationship than ever with each other through giggles, movement, and massage.
Pre-registration with payment required – register online or by calling the studio.

SPECIAL:
FREE couples yoga class for you and your sweetie if you bring another full paying couple with you to the class. This contest is available for the FIRST couple to call and/or book online with their name and the other couple’s name will win a free class – must be for the Friday, May 12th class and mention the Main Line Parent Mother’s Day promotion when booking online or on the phone. Only 1 couple can win this offer for this promotion.

Arts & Crafts

Wayne Art Center
413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne; 610-688-3553

Teddy Bear Tea
May 11, 2-4 pm

$50 admission for one child and adult, $25 each additional child.

Enjoy an authentic sit down tea service with your mom or grandma, led by pastry Chef Maureen Hughes. Also included will be 45 minutes of craft-time (2 projects) along with a 30-minute live performance. This event is open to ages 4 and up.
Cost includes all activities and crafts. Pre-registration is required.

Painting With A Twist
107 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 484-367-7254

Moms and Mimosas!
May 12, 2-4 pm

$35 per painter

Come celebrate mom with mimosas and a painting party! You will have step-by-step instruction by a local artist who will guide you to create your own masterpiece on canvas! No previous painting experience needed! Uncork your inner artist!

The Handwork Studio
35 N. Narberth Ave., Narberth, 610-660-9600

May 5, 3-5 pm

Send your daughters in to make a needle arts Mother’s Day gift!  To register call Miss Alexis or register online.

The Center on Central
24 W Central Ave., Paoli; 610-710-1487

Kids Night Out
May 9, 6:30-9 pm

$30 first child, $20 each additional

Have your kids come and make a Mother’s Day gift, enjoy pizza snack, crafts, and a movie on the ceiling while you spend a night out on the town.

Home & Fashion

Louella
227 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-293-9800

SPECIAL:
Mention Main Line Parent magazine and receive 10% off your total purchase Mother’s Day Weekend — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 10-12.

Comfy Cozy

SPECIAL:
Use code “Main Line” at checkout and receive a 25% discount on all orders placed thru June 30, 2013.

Bankie Baby
484-362-7766

SPECIAL:
In honor of Mother’s Day, take 10% off all any bankie baby organic blankets — super-soft pieces featuring unique baby animal designs. Locally made, eco-friendly, and personalized. Use coupon code “newmom”at checkout. Offer expires July 30, 2013.

Spa Services

Lavenders Body Care Clinic
814 Fayette St., Conshohocken; 610-832-9470

SPECIALS:
Mommy-to-Be Package: 1 hr pre-natal massage, baby feet relief (foot massage add-on to alleviate swollen, tired feet), mini mommy-to-be facial. 90 minutes. $150
Citron Rose Scrub & Massage & Mini Facial: Zesty scent of oranges and limes with sweet fragrance of roses invigorates deyhrated skin while relaxing mind & body, paired with a mini Lavenders signature facial. 2 hours. $150
Golden Mother Package: Gold revitalizing facial combined with eco-fin hydrating hand treatment, 85-minute classic Swedish massage, and Indian head massage, 2.5 hours. $250
Packages available starting May 9, gift packages may be purchased through May 11.

Live Well Holistic Health Center
16 E. Lancaster Ave., Suite 104, Ardmore; 610-896-1554

SPECIALS:
15% off all gift certificates through May 12th! Certificates are available for these services:
Natural Healthcare & Stress Relief
30-minute visit = $75 | 60-minute new patient = $95
Relaxing Therapeutic Massage
60-minute = $60 | 90-minute = $90
Gentle Chiropractic Treatments
15-minute Visit = $50 | 30-minute visit = $75 | 60-minute new patient = $95
Prices listed are before 15% discount. Discount cannot be combined with any other specials at Live Well.

Museums & Attractions

Winterthur Museum
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE; 800-448-3883

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 11 & May 12

$34.95 per adult; children under 12 are 50% off; Members receive 10% discount up to a party of 4.

Come celebrate mom with a delicious Mother’s Day brunch at Winterthur. Seatings at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

Second Saturday Garden Walk
May 11, 1 pm

Join Winterthur’s horticulture staff for a garden walk highlighting interesting and seldom seen parts of the Winterthur landscape. On May 11, the spotlight is on Winterthur’s glorious azeleas and beautiful spring wildflowers.

Photo Services

bcm art & photography
215-353-1054

SPECIAL:
Mother’s Day Portrait Package Special – Purchase a standard family/newborn portrait package and get a FREE CD of images from your session!
Offer available through Saturday, May 4. Portrit sessions may be schedule within six months of package purchase.

Want to add your promotion here? Email details to melissa.greiner@mainlineparent.com.

Warmer weather beckons, but staying safe involves being smart. Read up on how to protect you and your kids as we enter tick season.

It’s that time of the year once again — you begin to enjoy spring, and all the outdoor activities that come with it. Unfortunately, deer ticks are also taking advantage of the warmer weather, and are waiting for you as you step outside. This is the time of the year when you are most likely to be bitten by a deer tick and to become infected with Lyme disease. Not only is Lyme disease a grave health risk to families, but there are other debilitating diseases one can also become infected with from ticks, such as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, bartonella, tularemia, tick paralysis, and viruses.

Pennsylvania leads all 50 states with the highest number of new Lyme disease cases reported each year, and this section of the state is particularly endemic for Lyme disease. When you realize that children represent the highest risk age group for contracting Lyme disease, you come to understand how extremely vigilant you have to be to protect the health and welfare of your family from ticks and the disease organisms they carry.

Little bug, big problem.

One must know a little about ticks to understand how such a small bug can cause such big problems for all of us. Ticks are parasites which survive by feeding on the blood of hosts such as mice, chipmunks, shrews, birds, squirrels, opossum, rabbits, and deer.  Regrettably, these hosts can also include people and their pets. Although the deer tick season is pretty much year round now, the peak of the deer tick’s activity starts in May and begins to wind down in August. During this time, the nymphal deer tick (about as small as a poppy seed) is actively looking for a host. And it will be from the nymphal deer tick bite that you and your children will most likely contract Lyme disease and/or another tick-borne co-infection.

Deer ticks require a humid environment to survive and can be found anywhere their hosts live  Thus they can be encountered in a variety of settings including woodlands, leaf litter, brush piles, your lawn, ground cover (pachysandra, etc.), and gardens. They can also be found near old stone walls, woodpiles, tree stumps and fallen logs, bird feeders, and storage sheds. They have even been found on park picnic tables and benches.

Plan for prevention.

When your children play outdoors in tick endemic areas, it is strongly recommended that they wear tick repellent clothing. The clothing should be treated with permethrin, an insecticide which repels and kills ticks and which has been approved by the EPA as safe for use on clothing apparel worn by adults and children. You can treat your own clothing and footwear, or purchase pre-treated clothing with the proprietary Insect Shield label from suppliers like REI, LLBean, ExOfficio, or Orvis. Once per month you should also spray outdoor shoes, athletic gear, tennis bags, back packs, camping gear (anything that could end up on the ground outside) with permethrin to keep the ticks away. Wearing an EPA-approved insect repellent on exposed skin parts will also provide added protection, but by itself, does not work as effectively as tick repellent clothing

Some simple prevention measures which are highly recommended for you and your family to follow include:

1. Avoid areas where there are ticks to the maximum extent possible. This is much easier said than done, but is well worth the effort.
2. When outside, wear clothing that is treated with permethrin. This is one of the easiest things to do with big prevention payoffs.  Also spray your outside shoe wear with permethrin once per month. And clothing your children wear at summer camp, such as T-shirts, shorts, and socks, should likewise be treated.
3. If you do not choose to treat the clothing yourself (good for six washings), you can also send it to be treated at the Insect Shield facility in North Carolina. It will come back, looking the same as you sent it, but with the permethrin protection bonded to the fabric and good for more than 70 washings.
4. Wear a tick repellent on your exposed skin. The tick repellent must say on the container that it repels ticks and for how long.  You can buy insect repellents with chemicals such as IR3535, Picaridin, and DEET in them; or if you prefer using organics, try essential oils like lemon eucalyptus oil and cedar oil.
5. Keep your outside clothes outside your home; there can be ticks on the clothing from outdoor activities. As soon as your children come in from outdoors, put their clothes in a separate hamper in the mud room or garage if possible. Then as soon as you can, put their clothes in the clothes dryer on high heat for 20 to 30 minutes. The dry heat will effectively kill any ticks that may be on them.
6. Do not allow any pets which go outside to sleep with your children or allow your pets on couches. They can bring ticks into your home which can get transferred to your children.
7. Treat your pets with tick repellent products as recommended by your veterinarian, and check them for ticks when they come in from outdoors.
8. Conduct full body tick checks of family members who go outside, both when they return indoors as well as at night before they go to bed. You can never check too often as ticks can be very hard to find.

Found one?

Removing deer ticks promptly can prevent the transmission of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. If you discover a tick attached to you, use pointed tweezers or other tick removal tool to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull the tick straight out, taking care not to twist or squish the attached tick. Finally, wash the bite site and apply an antiseptic. Save the tick, dead or alive, in a zip-top bag for future identification and testing for possible disease organisms. A reputable lab in this area is the Northeast Infectious Disease Diagnostic Laboratory located at East Stroudsburg University (download the tick submission form). You should also seek the immediate assistance of your health care provider for advice on initiating prophylactic treatment.

Spot the symptoms.

There are over 100 possible symptoms associated with Lyme disease, and that is one of the reasons why it is so very difficult to diagnose—it mimics so many other disease conditions that it is usually not diagnosed early on in the disease, allowing it to spread to most every part of the body.

Soon after a tick bite, you or your children may get a rash and have vague flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, sore throat, fatigue, muscle ache, stiff neck, and swollen lymph nodes. Other more serious conditions can affect your brain and nervous system, heart, muscles and joints, bones, and skin. Not uncommon are extreme fatigue, joint and muscle pain, chronic headaches, sleep disturbances, allergies, stomach pain, ear ringing, blurred vision, sensitivity to sounds and smells, facial numbness and tingling, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks, memory impairment, and lack of concentration.

If you follow these recommendations and use good common sense when outdoors, you can keep your family safer from ticks and the diseases they carry.

Bob Oley, PE, MSPH, is a Public Health Consultant who writes and speaks before groups on ticks, tick-borne diseases, and prevention. He also conducts inspections of residential and commercial properties and advises owners how to make them safer from ticks.

Earth Day is coming up — Monday, April 22. And the infomercials are true — it only takes a small change to impact a big difference. Try one of our three easy ideas to get you and your family seeing green. 

For many of us, Earth Day doesn’t pop up on our radar until the kids — or more likely, our Facebook feed — reminds us. Although I’d like to think I live a fairly “green” existence, I also know there’s always room for improvement. When Earth Day circles back around, I take it as a reminder to add a few more earth-friendly habits to my routine.

Since I have no immediate plans to install solar panels or switch over to geothermal heating just yet, the changes I make need to be quick, easy, and inexpensive… and require little to no dirt under my nails, because I just got them done. (Hey… I never said I was Ralph Nadar.)

Here are a few simple changes you and your family can make to observe Earth Day, and feel great doing it:

1. DIY Cleaners

Have your ever read and researched the ingredients in your cleaning products? Let’s just say there’s a reason why we don’t drink the stuff. It kills germs, for sure, but it also leaves a chemical residue that ends up on your hands, in your food, and in the soil. Switching over to a non-toxic brand, such as Mrs. Meyers, is a great start. But making your own cleaning products earns you a green star!
DIY cleaners reduce our reliance on plastic packaging, and lessen the pollution from manufacturing and the use of fossil fuels from delivery. Just add equal parts water and white distilled vinegar and about 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil to a clean, recycled spray bottle. Give it a little shake before each use and it’s great for countertops, bathrooms, and windows. (Just be sure test all new surfaces in an inconspicuous area before first use.) Check out this article for more tips on non-toxic cleaners.

2. Reusable Bags

Ok, you probably have a stack of these bags at home, right? Me, too. I feel great when I use them, but guilt sets in when I forget. And I forget all the time! Until, that is, I bought bags that fold up into the size of a deck of cards. Now I keep a few in my purse or car so I’m never caught with my preverbal (but reusable) pants down. And I feel good that I’m not contributing to the 12 million barrels of oil it takes to produce the estimated 100 billion plastic bags Americans use each year. In the market for a new bag? Check out this sweet little number.

3. Meatless Mondays

Factory-farmed meat is tough on the environment. Period. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the “meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions that accelerates climate change.” The land that’s used for grazing animals and growing crops for their food takes up 30 percent of the Earth’s land mass. Going one day without meat makes a big difference. No matter which way we slice the carrot, lessening our dependence on factory-farmed meats could help the environment and might also change our waist lines and improve our cholesterol levels! For recipes and more information check out www.meatlessmonday.com or watch Forks Over Knives.

Warm weather making you crave the outdoors with the kids? This weekend the Philadelphia Zoo debuts KidZooU, the new wildlife academy that unites a world-view education center with an up-close and personal children’s zoo.

The Philadelphia Zoo is one of those annual must-do destinations, and for families it’s always been a place for educational moments and laid-back fun. And this Saturday, April 13, America’s first zoo will open to the pubic their newest addition — a special hands-on section dedicated to their youngest visitors, KidsZooU.

The former Pachyderm House, where the zoo’s previously resident elephants lived, has been reinvented as an education center and wildlife academy focusing on the theme Saving Energy to Save Wildlife. This cool space teaches kids of all ages simple ways they can make a difference through conservation stations and interactive exhibits. A polar bear peeks into your living room to remind you how reducing your electricity consumption can ultimately preserve their habitat. An enclosure of colorful butterflies and lush vegetation accompanies a display showcasing our beautiful city reinforcing lessons of water conservation.

The outdoor portion of KidZooU is brimming with activity with a barnyard and stables where kids can still brush the sheep and feed the ducks. In this new space, though, they can also observe a 400-foot trail for rare goats to roam which included a goat bridge, built above the KidZooU entrance where goats walk overhead. While the goats scale their own supersize tower in the barnyard, children can climb a parallel structure to see the goats up close and practice playing just like they do.

The Philadelphia Zoo is the first zoo in the world to implement an animal rotation plan on a campus-wide basis. Through these trails, animals will move throughout the zoo, creating a constantly changing experience for the animals – and guests alike.

The Philadelphia Zoo worked with experts from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Autism Research and the Overbrook School for the Blind to ensure the design of KidZooU is friendly to special needs communities. KidZooU includes Braille, sign language, and a picture exchange system for children on the autism spectrum.

For more information on the KidsZooU, not to mention the zoo’s new, convenient parking garage, visit their website.

Want a closer look? MLP’s Sarah Bond and Carrie Hill take you into the KidsZooU during their visit:

It’s here, dear readers! And may we say, it’s beautiful!

We are so excited to share out new Spring/Summer print magazine — Issue 6! — with our community, and what better way to show off the new book and celebrate our amazing MLP family than with a festive Mingle!?

Please join us for a release party at Azie on Main on April 11, 2013, from 6-7:30 pm. There will be complementary light bites from the chefs of Azie, discount drink specials, and your first opportunity to leaf through the new magazine. We hope to see you there and share this milestone with you!

RSVP here!

MLP Issue 6 Release Mingle

April 11, 2013   6 pm

Azie on Main, 789 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova

From marathons to 5Ks, many Philadelphia-area races welcome kids or host a child-friendly version of the main event, allowing everyone to break a sweat. 

The family that stays fit together, stays together. Or something like that, right!? Whether its you working on your next sub-4 marathon or your kids getting into their first tastes of track and field, get outside as a family and take part in the many area races and walks that allow you to spend time together, keep active, and often help support a great charity. Lace up those sneakers, let’s get going!

April 6

Collegeville Rotary Run Around, Perkiomen High School, Collegeville
5K, open to children 12 and older
$25

Dash 4 Diabetes, Chester County Justice Center, West Chester
5K run, 2.5K walk, Kid’s Run
$25 adults, $10 children

April 7

Miles for Moms 5K, Phoenixville Area High School, Phoenixville
5K run, 1 mile walk
$20

April 12

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 13

Gener8tion Run, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
8K run, .8K walk, family festival
$35 run, $15 walk

Oreland 5K, EPI Center, Oreland
5K, 1 mile loop walk (strollers welcome), Kid’s Fun Run
$20 race, $15 walk, $10 children

April 14

Finding Her Footing 5K, Delaware County Community College, Media
5K walk/run, Kid’s Dash
$20, children are free

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 19

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 20

5K Run For Clean Air, MLK Drive, Philadelphia
5K run, 3K walk, Kids’ Fun Run, Earth Day Celebration
$30 run, $20 walk, $10 children

Footsteps for Friends, Haverford Friends School, Haverford
5K run, 1 mile fun run
$25, $15 age 14 and younger

Spring Zing, Shady Brook Elementary School, Blue Bell
5K run, 1 mile walk
$20, $10 age 12 and younger

April 21

Art and Sole Run, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown
5K race, Kid’s Dash for younger runners
$25 adults, $12 children

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

Burning for Learning, Upper Dublin High School, Fort Washington
5K run/walk, 1 mile walk (strollers welcome)
$30 run, $10 walk (mile)

Radnor Elementary SMART Run, Radnor Elementary School, Wayne
5K run/walk, 1 mile Kid’s Fun Run
$20, $10 ages 6-14, $5 age 5 and younger

Valley Forge Revolutionary Run, Valley Forge National Historical Park, King of Prussia
5 mile run, 3 mile walk, 1 mile Young Patriots Fun Run
$30 run, $15 walk, $5 children

April 26

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 27

Twilight Run & Walk, Haverford High School, Havertown
5K run/walk, 1 mile Elementary Challenge
$20 adult, $10 students

Narberth Cystic Fibrosis Run, Narberth Park, Narberth
5 mile run, Kidz Run
$30, $10 children

April 28

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

Run Wild Save the Orangutans Run/Walk, Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia
5K run/walk (strollers welcome)
$25, discounts for families

May 3

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

May 4

Alex Wake Run, The Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr
5K run, 1 mile fun walk
$22, $15 student

May 5

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

May 10

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

May 11

Broad Street ReRun, Broad Street, Lansdale
5 mile run, 1 mile family walk, 1/2 mile kids’ run
$35, $10 children

May 12

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

Mother’s Day 5K, Church Street, West Chester
5K run, 1.5 mile walk, female-only (strollers welcome)
$25

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Eakins Oval, Philadelphia
5K run, 5K walk, 1 mile walk, Kids Dash for the Cure
$35, $15 children

May 19

Thrill On the Hill, Hill Top Preparatory School, Rosemont
5K run/walk, 1 mile fun walk
$20 run, $10 walk

June 9

Great Amazing Race Family Day, Neshaminy State Park, Bensalem
Amazing Race-style competition
$40 per family/team

Did we miss a race you are involved with? Please send us the details and we’d be happy to include! Send information to melissa.greiner@mainlineparent.com.

The moment you have a child, life is centered around them and their tiny cries for simple needs. But to take care of your children you need to take care of yourself, and that includes having and enjoying an adult relationship. Our suggestions on how to get back out there.

Dating was hard enough when you were a carefree single person, but add a child to the mix and suddenly you think, “Why even bother?” With after-school activities, homework, and play dates to keep you busy, it’s no wonder all you want to do is crash after work. And if you’re the parent of an even smaller kiddo, your world revolves around sleepless nights, teething, and potty training. If you can’t even remember to take a shower some days, how can you find a date?

If you’re ready to jump back into the dating scene, here are ten tips to help you on the road to romance.

1.Lose the guilt.

Looking after the kids might be your main job, but taking care of yourself is important, too — and that means finding time for a romantic relationship.

“I always use the airplane oxygen mask example,” said Laura Weissflog, MSN, CRNP, of Chester Springs Counseling. “You have to put your mask on first before you can help someone else. So, if parents want to be the best they can be at taking care of their children, they need to take good care of themselves as well. It all comes down to a healthy balance.”

2. Get together with local singles.

Parents Without Partners has chapters in Valley Forge and Delco, and regularly holds dances and other social events. Or check out Meetup.com, and you’ll find everything from “The Philadelphia Hip Single Parents Meetup Group” to “Main Line Friends and Singles 25-40.”

“There are some advantages to dating other single parents,” Weissflog said. “Both parties will certainly be able to relate to one another’s situations. But, there can be challenges to dating someone with children, where someone with children will have more responsibilities and scheduling responsibilities. Single parents should be open to dating non-parents, too.”

3. Ask around.

Chances are, someone you know has a friend/coworker/cousin who’s also single or recently divorced, but you’ll never find out if you don’t ask. Put it out there that you’re looking, and you might be surprised at the number of friends who’ve been dying to set you up with someone.

4. Head online.

If you’re short on time or don’t want to go the route of singles activities and big groups, why not date from your living room? The most popular sites, like eHarmony and Match.com, let you search for members who have children, as well as those who don’t mind if their potential match has children from a previous relationship. There also are dating sites specifically geared toward parents, like Single Parent Match and Single Parent Love.

5. Line up childcare early.

Whether it’s your parents, a neighbor, or your coworker’s high school-age daughter, identify reliable people who can watch your kids when you’re on a date. If the help is free, like a relative, make sure not to wear out your welcome by asking them to babysit too often. Don’t know a sitter? Check out Care.com or UrbanSitter for background-checked babysitters nearby.

6. Schedule smart.

If your children’s mother/father is still in the picture, try to arrange dates when he or she is visiting with the kids. Not only does it eliminate the need to find childcare, but it also minimizes the complications of explaining dates to your child (at least initially).

7. Take a class.

Main Line School Night offers classes in everything from French language to cooking; maybe you’re not guaranteed to meet someone special, but even if you don’t, you’ll get a kid-free night out, learn a new skill, and have some fun along the way.

8. Plan weeknight fun.

If you only have custody on the weekends or your Saturdays are just too packed with family obligations, an after-work date can be just as good. Meet up for a quiet dinner at George’s in Wayne, or hit up the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Wednesday evenings for pay-as-you-wish nights, featuring special programs, music and more.

9. Get active.

If you’ve got time to work out, you’ve got the time to date. Invite your date into your exercise routine: ride bikes through Valley Forge Park, play tennis, take a hike, or go on a jog along Boathouse Row.

10. Make time for yourself.

When you’re spending day in and day out covered in baby food, it’s hard to imagine getting dressed up enough to attract someone of the opposite sex. Whether it’s a new haircut, a mani-pedi, or a trip to your favorite boutique for an updated outfit, even a small change will help you feel fresh and ready for the dating scene.

No time, low-cash ways to instantly turn a boring Thursday into a love fest.

We don’t need a Hallmark holiday to remind us who is important in our lives, but it doesn’t hurt to take a timeout and make sure everyone hears how you feel, loud and clear. We’ve come up with 14 adorable — and affordable! — ways to make sure the ones you hold dear feel special this Valentine’s Day. Our gift to you — we do love you so!

1. Have them wake up to a Valentine’s surprise, like red and pink balloons floating on their ceiling or heart confetti sprinkled on their pillow.

2. Make the morning routine sweeter with a love message written on the bathroom mirror. (Use a white board marker — it wipes right off!)

3. Breakfast should get their heart pumping! Try heart-shaped pancakes with a side of strawberries sliced in half and placed next together to form a heart.

4. Decorate the house a bit with fun but easy crafts. A simple heart garland, or a few mini bunches of pink and red flowers can set the tone.

5. Add a special treat in their lunchbox — something simple that even your teen won’t be able to complain about. Think homemade cookies, or cash for something indulgent from the cafeteria.

6. Send them a love note (even an email or text counts!) — everyone from your significant other to your Kindergartener learning to read will enjoy the surprise!

7. For a special dinner everyone can agree on, do a quick ride through town and grab everyone’s take-out of choice, then enjoy picnic-style back home.

8. Take a cue from Thanksgiving and have everyone say one thing they love about the other members of the family.

9. Make eating out of containers a little bit more fancy by mixing in red chevron napkins or pink plastic cutlery.

10. Toast the love in your family! Champagne for the adults, sparkling cider or Shirley Temples for the kids.

11. Create a quick and fun cupcake bar for dessert, complete with red, pink, and white frosting, candies, sprinkles, and other mini adornments.

12. Share the love. Over dessert decide on a charity to visit this month as a family.

13. Cuddle up and watch a classic romantic movie before bed. You are never to young to appreciate the virtues of Sleepless in Seattle or An Affair to Remember.

14. Tell them you love them. Perhaps not the most creative gesture, but certainly the most important.

Make the most of your holiday get-together by creating a stunning setting that’s surprisingly simple to do.

We wrap our gifts with bows and ribbons, clad ourselves in little black dresses and sparkling statement necklaces. Why not give your table the same glamorous treatment for your next get together? Don’t fret: a beautiful tablescape need not take as long — or cost as much — as your preferred beauty routine. A little creativity and some accessories from the area’s amazing home shops quickly turn the dull dining room table into a piece of art.

During the winter you’re cooped inside with the heat on high, so get in touch with outside by adding nature to your table. Pine branches and cones collected by the kids add instant whimsy while shiny metallic accents create contrast and a touch of glitz.

Shop for the look:

Gold Foil and Assorted Metallic Ceramic Spheres, $4, Gold Satin Knot Napkin, $3.95; Pier1

Vietri Incanto Metallic Small Round Base Candleholder, $126, Roost Golden Berry Juice Glass, $15.95; Scarlett Alley

Simon Pearce Copper Charger, $100, Match Viviana Pewter-edged Dinner Plate, $103; The Little House Shop

See this and more in our Fall/Winter print magazine issue, available online here or though our Main Line Parent app.

Freshman year comes with plenty of anxiety, most noticeably for parents the expectations of getting their child through this school and ready for the next.

High school is an overwhelming world to navigate – especially for parents of high school students. Even for those veteran moms and dads who have seen their eldest children through these grueling four years before, there always seems to be unanswered questions. And there is often a better way to organize the high school journey to maximize success and minimize stress.

Here is an overview of the high school experience with some insights into every step of the journey…

Freshman Year: What to do after class

High school students in the 21st century need to do everything: athletics, community service, work, multicultural enrichment. But that does not mean they should do just anything.

College admissions officers want students on their campus who are not only outstanding, but also authentic. They can recognize a student who is simply signing up for afternoon and weekend commitments to fill their resumes. These are the students whose extracurricular activities in no way relate to one another; no true passion can be identified.

A student should make sense on his or her application. Do not encourage your son or daughter to join the Spanish Club if they barely have a passing grade in Spanish class. At the same time, if your son or daughter truly has a passion for soccer, they should not only play on the varsity team, but they should also volunteer as a coach for younger students and work as a referee throughout the year. If they are in the band as a trumpet player, they should join classmates to volunteer as entertainment at local community events, join the marching band or jazz club, and work at the local music store.

Be creative. Be authentic.

Sophomore Year: The SAT and the ACT

Aside from beach time at the shore and working a part-time job, students should use the summer months following sophomore year to begin thinking about the dreaded standardized tests: the SAT and the ACT. But choosing the best test – and then achieving an individual’s goal score – requires time and energy.

High school students will attempt to justify the quickest possible way to determine the better test for them; many parents do not even realize there is an option. Some follow the notion that the ACT favors those who excel at math and science. Well, I studied nonfiction writing in college and I scored significantly higher on the ACT than the SAT.

Others will instinctively gravitate toward the SAT. That is because, for us in the Delaware Valley, the SAT is seemingly a rite of passage to college acceptance. Longstanding misconceptions about the ACT prevent many students from even realizing there is another option – perhaps a better option – to the SAT.

Most won’t endorse one test over the other. But all colleges, even the elite Ivy octet, not only accept both the SAT or the ACT – they also evaluate them equally. So when students ask, ‘What test should I take?’ the answer is easy: the one on which you score higher.

And how does a student determine that? Students should learn the basic format and strategies for each test, set aside a pair of four-hour windows one week, and take both tests. If one score is significantly higher than the other, then the decision is straightforward. If the scores are equivalent, students should focus on the one that felt better.

From that point forward, it is practice, practice, practice all throughout the summer: practice problems, practice tests. The goal should be to finish standardized testing by the early winter of junior year. This will save students a load of stress during the critical second half of junior year.

Junior Year: The Pivotal Year

Admissions officers endure the question constantly: should my child take the harder class and risk getting a B, or should they take the easier class and earn an A. The answer sounds like the punch line to a bad joke: take the harder class and get an A.

While this thought process applies to every year in high school, junior year is the pivotal year for academics – for every level of student. This is the year students often enroll in their first AP classes, on top of the more familiar honors courses. If a student is not taking any honors or APs, academic excellence still remains essential; if grades peak during junior year, it can signal academic maturation to an admissions officer.

Senior Year: College Application Essays

Many of the top tier universities in the nation will proudly proclaim that if they rejected a given year’s entire class of accepted applicants, and instead selected the next group of applicants who in reality they had rejected, they would not be sacrificing quality in numbers.

The disheartening moral of this hypothetical: a student can do everything ‘right’ and still be rejected.

Yet, there is a key word in the above scenario. “Numbers.” Test scores and grades do not get a student into a school. They hold a high level of importance, but they do not separate one student from another. That is why the college application essays are so critical.

The number of prompts a college may require can range from zero to 10. Any student using the Common Application automatically has to submit two essays (the Personal Statement and an Activity Essay) before even getting to the college supplements. But the fundamental goals of these essays are universal: be thoughtful, be meaningful, and be personal.

Students habitually do not write enough about themselves; they fail to focus on the central protagonist of every application – themselves. Furthermore, high school students often lack the perspective to recognize the significance of their own greatest accomplishments. They compose broad overviews of their triumphs without expressing the true meaning of their work.

At the end of the day, admissions officers are just people. When faced with applicants who boast identical numbers, they will ultimately accept the one to which they feel a stronger connection. The standout students are those with the most memorable essays. Students should embrace the essays as their only opportunity to distinguish themselves from their peers – and not let their years of hard work in class be overlooked.

Four year, countless trials and challenges, one ultimate triumph. Any student with the desire can achieve it, and any parent can come out the other side with most of their hair. Preparation and practice can be the difference between a simple graduation and commencement into the next exciting journey.

Temps are set to soar this week — stock up on cool treats, water toys, and a slew of activities to keep everyone comfortable and entertained!

Monday, June 18

The Haverford Township Free Library has the perfect way to start the week after an eventful weekend: a Monday Morning Movie! Each week will begin with a new family-friendly movie with air conditioning and popcorn!

It’s the Coffee House Social for teens ages 13-16 at Paoli Library. Come and share your talent! Sign up to share your poem, song, or special skill.

Tuesday, June 19

Stories, crafts, and songs combine for a fun-filled morning at the Willow Grove Park Mall when the team from Play & Learn host the Morning Club at 10:30 am.

Wednesday, June 20

Penn Museum’s Summer Wonder series returns with performances and demos perfect for the whole family. Join in with Summer Wonder every Wednesday from 10:30-11:30 am until August 8, 2012. Program is free with museum admission. Today’s program features Phil-A-Rhythm, teaching children about percussion instruments.

The Please Touch Museum visits Paoli Library with an adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, Alice in Wonderland. Discover a world unlike any other as you wander through flowers, crazy croquet games, and explore your imagination.

The Philadelphia Zoo’s Zoo on Wheels crew is stopping at the Haverford Township Free Library for a Summer Reading Club show that will knock your socks off! Check out real, live nocturnal animals in this program.

Officer Dolan of the Easttown Police Department will be at the Easttown Library to fingerprint your children for you to keep on hand for safety purposes. Come back at 7 pm for a visit from Quivery Farms and a story about night life on the farm, complete with a few live critters!

Thursday, June 21

The Tredyffrin Township Summer Concert Series begins tonight with family-friendly musical entertainment at Wilson Farm Park every Thursday at 7 pm through July. Tonight enjoy the Janis Nowlan Band. The township is partnering with F4 Fiorenza’s Food for Friends to collect non-perishable food donations during these concerts to be distributed to local food pantries in Chester County.

The Giggle Gang at the Springfield Mall presents The Community Arts Center. Listen to the story of a wondrous kingdom, create a sparkly crown, and experience what it’s like to be king or queen for the day!

Dreams, Schemes & Magic Things presented by Magician Mike Rose at the Tredyffrin Public Library is a show full of impossible magic tricks, weird mind-reading stunts, and off-the-wall comedy all themed around dreams and the night!

Friday, June 22

Head to the Riverbend Environmental Education Center for a Summer Solstice Celebration at 6 pm – a party in honor of the longest day of the year! Nature explorations, bonfire with roasted marshmallows, games, and more will make this a fun evening for the whole family. $15 per family.

Saturday, June 23

Elmwood Park Zoo’s adults-only Beast of a Feast fundraiser includes an open bar, silent auction, and food from top restaurants like Blackfish, Stella Blue, and Del Frisco’s. Come out to help support this local treasure!

Meet Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese cat who thinks he is a chihuahua, at story time at Barnes & Noble in Valley Forge.

The 23rd Annual Manayunk Arts Festival begins today, the regions largest outdoor, juried arts festival. Artists from 23 states bring the culture of arts and crafts to collectors, buyers, and designers, along with the shops, restaurants, and businesses of historic Manayunk.

Narberth Community Library dedicates this year as the Summer of Star Wars, and invites children ages 4 and older to join for crafts, trivia, and a special Jedi Academy with the Capitol City Jedi Knights!

Sunday, June 24

It’s Sunday FUNday at Painting With A Twist for families with children age 7 and older. Bring your favorite snacks and beverages. Today you’ll be painting a summery seashell medley.

Narberth’s summer edition of the Music and Arts Festival happens today on Haverford Avenue with street food, drinks, and live music all day. Check out the Artists Alley on Forrest Avenue where artists and artisans will be showcasing unique handmade pieces.

The gifts, be they purchased or handmade, are good. A hearty breakfast or smokey, grilled supper is great. But Dad may need some time to relax and unwind this special weekend, so hand him the keys and send him off to one of these testosterone-tested spots for some R&R.

Ashes Cigars

With its 52-inch plasma TVs, swanky leather sofas, and wide variety of industry-best cigars, Ashes the perfect spot for a dads’ night out with other adults. Cigars are the only guilty pleasure for sale at this Manayunk BYOB, so make a pit stop at the Beer Yard in Wayne to pick up one of its 1,903 in-stock brews. 4453 Main St., Philadelphia, 215-508-0808.

Play-a-Round Golf

For the avid or casual golfer, Play-a-Round Golf provides the ability to test the greens of Pebble Beach or Spyglass Hill, all from one location on Route 30. This year-round, all-weather golf center provides tee times and clinics on virtually simulated greens with state-of- the-art technology. Go alone for some serious technique practice, or make it a party with the guys. BYOB and food. Lincoln Court Center, 245 Lancaster Ave., Malvern, 610-725-9155.

Shaving Grace Barbers

Renew a centuries-old ritual and treat your man to a straight razor shave with all the accoutrements at Shaving Grace Barbers. Complimentary beer, flat-screen TVs, and a pool table complement the experience designed to provide hygienic benefits as well as rejuvenation of the mind and spirit. 269 Main St., Exton, 610-524-6977.

Marsh Creek Watersports

A nautical adventure for the outdoor man awaits just a few miles away at Marsh Creek Lake, the 535-acre lake within the 1,705-acre Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County. Rent a motorized row boat, kayak, canoe, paddle boat, or a variety of sail boats at Marsh Creek Watersports, open seven days a week through the summer. Take a tour around the lake or purchase a fishing license to take advantage of the large and small mouth bass, perch, muskie, sunfish, and channel catfish that call the lake home. 675 Park Road, Downingtown, 610-458-5040.

Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon

It’s the preferred salon of the Eagles Cheerleaders, but the sleek Joseph Anthony Spa also draws other high-profile sports Philebrities (Ryan Howard, anyone?) with its just-for-men spa offerings. The Stress Relief Back Treatment and Moor Mud Float, among other traditional treatments, promise to detox, relax, and de-stress even the most frazzled of dads. 243 W. Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, 610-459-4663.

Turn your standard summer get-together into a meaningful evening with a few simple steps by joining the Dine In, Help Out movement.

An evening out to dinner is one of those little indulgences that we may take for granted. Oh, sure, finding the time, and the sitter, and a menu you both like … that all can take a little time. But paying the bill at the end of the meal we can often handle.

For countless families in our area, the scene is quite different. The bill is too steep at the grocery store, let alone a restaurant. Food stamps and community pantry contributions may still not cut it. With young children to feed, each meal of healthy food is a blessing.

This summer, we invite you to join us and others across the Philadelphia area for Dine In, Help Out, a program that benefits the St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children and its Farm to Families initiative.

The premise is quite simple. Instead of heading out to dinner, stay home. Invite over some friends, put on the music, or fire up the grill. Make it a pot-luck, cook up the overflow from your backyard garden, or pick a fun theme like Mexican or Hawaiian. Above all, ask your guests to take the money they would have spent on a restaurant meal and donate it to Farms to Families. Contributions will help the foundation bring local, healthy food and produce into North Philadelphia, where it will help nourish and encourage hungry families.

“It’s overwhelming how many people just got it and wanted to help and be part of the solution,” says Jan Shaeffer, executive director of the St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children, of 2011′s inaugural season. “A friend of mine hosted a party, and people there were really talking about what the issues were. The dialogue was we have so much goodness, so much plenitude. And we feel a connection to those who don’t have all this.”

Head to the program’s website to learn more about the charity and the cause. You can also find out how you can set up a donation website for your guests, or download credit card donation sheets to have on hand at your party, plus print recipes from notable Philly chefs to make your meal memorable.

We wanted to help your planning, too, so we’ve created an invitation you can download. Just fill in the blanks (use Adobe Reader or print and fill in by hand) and kick off your event with style. (Click here to download the PDF.)

No matter if you go for simple or soiree, Schaeffer reminds would-be hosts how much of a difference their evening will make. “The impact you make is big,” she says. “Get creative, and have fun with it.”

Spending less never meant so much.

Have a fear of flying? You’re not alone. Flight-related anxiety often strikes out of the blue, especially after giving birth and becoming a parent. Captain Tom Bunn, airline pilot and licensed therapist, shares some explanations and tips for how to handle jitters when flying.

Summer vacation season is officially here, and with it flights to warm locales and days packed with entertainment. It’s going to be a wonderful trip — if you can just get there. Studies have shown that almost 40 percent of adults have some level of anxiety when it comes to flying, so if boarding that plane is making you nervous, you aren’t alone. Here are some common scenarios and how to handle them.

I flew without any issues for my entire life, and it all changed when I became a parent. Why?

Fear of flying often begins during pregnancy. We might think it is because of the responsibility for another life. But it is more than that. Shortly before delivery, brains of expectant mothers are flooded with hormones that cause an obsession with safety. Everything that even remotely looks like a risk has to be controlled or avoided. The hormones go away after delivery, but the patterns of behavior established by the hormones may continue.

The patterns need to be recognized and reviewed. Yes, you are responsible for a life other than your own. You might have previously thought, “Well, if something happens, it’s just me.” But now you are making choices for someone else, someone totally dependent upon you. You want to make the best decisions.

To make a good decision, you need to know that you — and your child — are safer on an airliner than sleeping at home at night. What about during the day? Research has shown that driving 5.4 miles in an urban setting has the same risk as a flight. Since your daily routine probably involves a lot more than 5.4 miles of driving, you increase safety when you stop your daily routine and get on a plane.

I am concerned my kids will pick up on my fear of flying when we travel together as a family. How can I make sure I don’t pass my phobia onto my children?

When I became a parent, it almost paralyzed me to think how every move I made was going to influence on my child. I had no way to know what the result of what I did would be 20 years down the road. At some point I realized this: the best gift I could give my child was the ability to make his/her own well thought-out choices. And the way to give that gift is to model that behavior by making choices that are well thought-out.

Fear of flying is not transferred from parent to child during flight. Rather, it results from an underdeveloped ability to regulate feelings. Ability to regulate emotion is established — or fails to be established — during the first two years of life. During this period of rapid brain growth, the circuits that regulate emotion are constructed. How well these circuits develop depends upon certain qualities in the child’s relationship with its primary caregiver, usually the mother. Try this game to help your little one better control emotions: Face you child and make eye contact, then for the child to respond with a sound, a facial expression, or a motion. When the child does, return with your own response, either identical to what your child did or something new. Like a tennis ball going back and forth across the net, expression goes back and forth between you and your child. When excitement becomes high, take a break to calm down and wait for your child to re–initiate play.

We are planning a trip without the kids and I’m beginning to panic about something going wrong during the flight. How can I cope?

Most people who fear flying tend to imagine things going wrong. These thoughts then cause physical tension, which only fuels your imagination further. To help stop this process, keep the visual part of your mind busy. Buy a number of magazines with splashy color pictures and take them with you. Just flip through the pictures to keep the “visual” part of your mind too busy to make up imaginary disasters. You can take a further step by keeping the “auditory” part of your mind busy, too. Bring along an iPod with you, and make sure you have a full line-up of favorite soothing songs.

Relax, and enjoy your flight.

Airline captain and licensed therapist Tom Bunn is president and founder of SOAR, Inc., a program that helps people overcome their fear of flying. A former Pan Am pilot, he was licensed as a therapist in 1990. Learn more about Captain Tom and SOAR at www.fearofflying.com.

It’s a topic no one wants to discuss — but one that, should the situation arise, you need to be honest with your children about. A local expert provides some tips for navigating the emotions and questions.

Divorce is difficult for everyone, but when it involves children, it becomes an even bigger challenge. Parents often struggle with the best ways to explain divorce to kids and how to help them through the process. Let me try and help you understand your child’s needs during this huge change. Below are tips on how to make this process as painless as possible for your little ones.

1. Tell your child about the divorce with both parents present. This shows children that even though mom and dad may be splitting up, they are united on this decision and taking care of their children. Both parents should sit down together with their children to explain the choice they have made to divorce. Children are concrete thinkers, therefore they need simple explanations.

2. Talk to your children about the changes that they can expect. Try to help them “see” what those changes are going to look like. For example, “we are going to live in our house until the end of the school year, and then we are going to move with Grammy and Pappy on Magnolia Street.” One conversation to explain the changes will not be enough; understand that they will probably ask questions that need to be answered again. Be patient and remember that their world has just been turned upside down and it is healthy for them to communicate their fears.

3. Understand the difference between “secrecy” and “privacy”. Decide with your spouse what details you will share with your children. Your children do not need to know how you have hurt each other, so make sure to keep those details out of conversations with them. They do not want to hear about anyone hurting their parents, let alone hurting each other. Most importantly they need to know that they can love and respect each of you, for that is how they identify with you. Briefly describe what’s happening and take full responsibility for it.  It is extremely important for both parents stick to their original story in order to avoid causing any feelings of split loyalty within your children. They will always be half of you and half of your spouse, so make it your job to keep your child from hearing any negative details about other parents (and in turn, themselves).

4. Allow your children to share their input on decisions, but parents should always make the final decision. Letting your child make decisions about custody arrangements can be damaging because they feel guilty or caught in a conflict of loyalty. Instead, allow them to provide input (they’d like to see each parent every week, etc.) then take this and consider it in your final decision. Kids want to feel like their parents know what they’re doing; they feel safe when decisions are made for them.

5. Involve your children in the new living arrangements. Take them along to look at houses or apartments. Help them feel at home in both spaces by giving them a sense of permanency with their own furniture or toys. Even just having their own drawer in your dresser can help them feel at home. Always refer to both parent’s homes as your child’s two homes. Help them understand that they live with both parents, rather than a visiting one, as it sounds too temporary.

6. Limit the amount of changes that your children will experience during this difficult time. The fewer changes they have to adjust to, the easier this transition will be. This will help to reduce any anxiety in anticipation of upcoming changes. Try to keep your child in their home and school during the first year. They may talk about all the changes in their life — confirm their feelings but also help them see all the things that stayed the same. For example, they play with the same friends, go to the same school, still live in their same house, and sleep in their same bedroom.

7. Be flexible with visitation schedule, always keeping your child first. Do you want your kids to stay with you on Sunday night because it’s hard for you to be alone or because they should have more time with you and it’s an easy transition to school on Monday? Remember that as adults we have much more control of situations and coping skills to deal with stress than children do, you want to make it easier for them, not you.

8. Develop a new parenting relationship with your ex. Your relationship has gone from an intimate one to more of a business-like one. You may need assistance and time to develop the best ways to communicate, agree on a practical schedule, respect the other parent’s time with your children, and separate your personal feelings from your working relationship. Reach out to a professional if you need help in developing a healthy, shared parenting relationship.

If you found these tips helpful and would like more information, pick up a copy of Mom’s  House, Dad’s House: making two homes for your child by Isolina Ricci, Ph.D. You can also share the kid’s version with your children, Mom’s House, Dad’s House for Kids. These books have been great resources for families during this difficult time.

Parenthood sure doesn’t come with a manual, but thanks to technology, it now comes with a number of handy smartphone apps that can make everything from baby’s first fever to your grade schooler’s allowance debate a little easier.

You’re always on the lookout for a phone or tablet app than will entertain and educate your children. But why should your kids have all the fun?

Many apps can be helpful to parents as they guide their children’s cyber lives, as well as keep them safe, healthy, and working towards positive life goals. Having a good app is like having an expert and wise grandparent in your pocket at all times. But who has time to sift through the millions of apps out there to find the good ones? Here’s a quick list of resources to help you navigate those choices and make parenting just a little bit easier.

Your Own Personal Tech Guru

Choosing the best and most appropriate technology and media for your child can be overwhelming. Enter Common Sense – the app that is. Common Sense helps parents make good choices about websites, apps, games, and movies. This free, comprehensive iPhone app provides recommendations for choosing media based on childhood developmental principles of what’s appropriate for every age and stage.

A Doctor in Your Pocket

Two apps that can provide parents with instant access to expert guidance on medical, emotional, and developmental matters are WebMD BABY and Baby Connect. WebMD Baby is free and available for Apple devices only. The app contains 400 articles, 600 tips, and 70 videos on discipline strategies, dealing with emergencies and illnesses, or what to expect at scheduled doctors’ visits. WebMD Baby also contains a Baby Book section to record videos, pictures, and your notes. Baby Connect is available on Android or Apple devices and currently costs $5.00. While not as informative as WebMD Baby, it has more options for recording milestones such as vaccines, height, and weight for each child, plus tracking devices for feedings, diaper changes, and more.

Child Safety

Keeping your child safe is a primary concern for all parents, and The FBI’s Child ID app “puts safety in your hands.” This free, government-issued app (currently only for iPhones) stores photos and vital information about your child with the ability to quickly email it to authorities, as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first crucial hours after a child goes missing. While it is not an option that you ever want to use, it is incredibly reassuring that in an emergency, you can. The app also includes general tips on keeping children safe.

Chore Tracker

iEarnedThat and iRewardChart are apps that provide tools for rewarding, monitoring, and encouraging good behavior, habits, and choices. iEarnedThat is a system for children to earn a reward for an identified goal from brushing their teeth to doing homework. Using interactive 3D puzzles that the child manipulates, they can track their progress surrounding the goal. Less interactive but the winner of a number of awards is iRewardChart. Using a star system, a child can attain a customizable reward, such as one hour of TV for, accomplishing identified goals like sharing with others.

Rose diBenedetto is the director of educational technology at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. She will give a presentation the developmentally appropriate use of technology for children from toddlers to tweens at Shipley on May 17. Visit www.shipleyschool.org/onlineparenting for more information.

Have you considered trying herbal supplements but are overwhelmed by the variety and confused about what they do, you aren’t alone. A Main Line herbalist shares five popular herbs you may want to check out.

Herbal supplements are harmless extracts from herbal plants that have been found by herbalists to benefit the health of mankind. The practice of herbal medicine has evolved into a sophisticated industry to the extent that more than 40% of the population use natural herbal remedies to improve their health. If you have thought about adding herbs to your daily routine, consider one of these five popular options.

Ginko Biloba

Improving one’s memory is high on everyone’s to do list. Ginkgo Biloba has been used for centuries by herbalists to improve memory. Ginkgo contains extremely powerful flavonoids that increase circulation to the brain, attributing to increased mental awareness and memory. It also protects the ears and eyes, and promotes blood circulation to the heart and lower legs.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Everyone’s looking for the magic beauty cream that will slow the signs of again, but what if the answer was in a pill? Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is one of the most powerful antioxidants known to herbalists and it works in conjunction with Vitamin C and Vitamin E to help slow the aging process, notably aging of the skin, heart, and other vital organ systems.

Bitters

Digestion issues plague all of us at some time in our lives. Many of these problems can be overcome by simply taking a herbalist formulation called bitters, which contains extracts of bitter plants like arugula, artichoke, fenugreek, green orange peel, and dandelion. Bitters stimulate the liver to produce bile, the pancreas to produce pancreatic enzymes, and the stomach to product hydrochloric acid. This simple, yet effective, herbal compound can quickly alleviate more than 60% of digestive problems, including acid reflux disease, gas, bloating, nausea, and constipation. To say the least, bitters are truly wonderful and beneficial to our health.

Hawthorn

Our heart is an organ that we cannot live without, yet it fails so many of us in the most untimely manner. Fortunately, herbalists have discovered a truly wonderful tonic that strengthens and fortifies the heart. This herb is none other than Hawthorn. Hawthorn extracts contain bioflavonoids (vitexin, hyperoside, and oligomeric proyanidins) which are good for the heart health. They block enzymes which destroy heart muscles. They prevent congestive heart failure, increase heart muscle repair, and improve blood circulation to decrease blood pressure. Hawthorn also reduces constriction of blood vessels and angina, and increases circulation to extremities (cold hands and feet, varicose veins). Hawthorn also decreases LDL in blood, reduces fat/plagues/hardening of arteries in atherosclerosis, and alleviates joint pain and arthritis.

Milk Thistle

The liver is one of the largest vital organs in our body, and it carries out more than 500 different essential functions on a daily basis.  It is truly the ‘work-engine’ of the body. But sometimes it gets clogged up or fails to function at full capacity. Unclogging your liver can significantly improve your health and should be done on a yearly basis. One of the best cleansers of the liver is milk thistle (silymarin). Milk thistle acts as a detoxifier and protector of the liver through its antioxidant qualities  It promotes metabolism, detox pathways, and works as a tonic to the liver.

Each of these five wonders of the herbal world have minimal side effects and can be taken to improve your health, your happiness, and your well being. If you have any questions about supplements, be sure to discuss with your doctor and/or herbalist.

Dr. Mark E. Stearns, has had a long career as a research scientist. He retired to start Herbalishous in Wayne in order to provide herbal remedies for the needy. He is committed to finding the best herbs and products to help people with their medical problems and health.