Guest Authors: June 2009 Archives

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

During times of drought and water crisis in the state of California, now is the best time to teach our kids about conservation. Here are ten practical and cost-effective water saving measures.

First, kids can use the leftover drinking water from bottles or cups to feed indoor or outdoor plants or trees. This might seem ineffectual; however, it will train kids to conserve all sources of water rather than wasting them. You can make this fun by placing a new plant in a neglected flower pot; kids can even paint the pot in radiant summer strokes beforehand. Show kids that gardening is fun while educating them about smart water management.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Secondly, discuss a plan of cooking double-portioned meals so that your pans will not have to be washed as frequently. Let your kids help you wash the pots after the meal to see firsthand the amount of water required for the task. Additionally, you can show your kid-smart ways to wash dishes by turning off the water while scrubbing the items with soap and by using environmentally friendly soaps which require less rinsing.

A third creative method for preserving our state's limited water supply is to wash dirty items over the grass so that the water can be recycled. For example, if you've recently returned from a trip to the beach and need to wash your sand toys, place them on the grass while you rinse. You can do this with dirty shoes and sticky coolers as well.

A fourth method of smart water use is evidenced by some after dinner fun, as the kids and your family dog run through the sprinklers together. As many of you know, watering restrictions have been implemented and many residents are only allowed to water on certain days of the week and at certain times of day to maximize the absorption of the water and to limit outdoor use. By letting your kids run through the sprinklers during allotted times, it will show them that it's okay to enjoy water responsibly. Conserving can be fun!

A fifth way to demonstrate our need to save water as a family is to limit the amount of time in the shower. Set a timer for five minutes or less and reward the kids and yourself for staying within that time frame. Also, if you're the type to leave the shower running to heat up while you're fitting in one more quick email, you need to limit its useless downfall to one or two minutes. Use it wisely so that there's enough water for everyone. If your family is able to keep their showers within the limit for the whole week, reward yourselves with a pint of chocolate fudge ice cream on Saturday.

A sixth and sensible option for saving water can be observed as easily as letting your kids wash their hands with sanitizing hand-washing solution or wipes rather than with water. This is something most moms and dads practice while on the go anyways, so now you can implement this at home as well.

A seventh way to save water is by using a colander in the kitchen when washing fruits and vegetables. In the past, I have been tempted to wash each piece under the running water; however, in dire times such as these, we have to make daily changes such as grouping what we wash into one container so that the faucet won't run as long.

An eighth way of preserving our water supply is to wash only clothes, towels, and sheets that are truly dirty. Sometimes out of habit, we throw clothes into the hamper when they aren't even dirty. Some towels used at the pool are perfectly fine for reuse the next day. If a shirt or pair of jeans has a small spot on them, use a wet cloth to clean the small area rather than throwing them into the washing machine, which saves you money on detergent as well. This can also be applied to dishes by reusing the same cup or bowl for the entire day rather than getting a new one for each beverage or dry snack.

A ninth way of saving water can be evidenced by making smart summer choices, like going to a park or public pool where they've already committed to running the water rather than using your own source at home. You should limit your own summer use of the slip and slide or other inflatable water slides; instead you could play with bubbles, water balloons, or water guns. If your mind wraps itself around this form of conservation, you will save more on most days.

The last way to save water is to jump back a bit to sixth grade camp. Remember the adage "If it's yellow, let it mellow"? This might sound really gross, but Flex Your Power's sobering research states that "The United States uses about 5.8 billion gallons of water every day to flush waste". Check out their website at http://www.fypower.org for additional ways to conserve water and to save money. Two additional websites supporting water conservation are http://BeWaterWise.com and http://WaterUseItWisely.com.

Keep your kids excited about helping the environment and they will be well-prepared for a water friendly future. Try to remind your kids that every bit counts while simultaneously keeping your efforts inside of a fun context. Most kids will feel proud of their seemingly small efforts. Their changed mindsets will be the biggest gain of all, as a generation of water conserving children grows into the next generation of environmentally minded adults.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

You know those days where you wish you could type "Control Z" and start all over? It would be nice if you could chalk up the failures as typos that the spell-checker would catch. But life isn't like that; unfortunately, our words and actions are not intimately aligned with a mastermind underlining them in red or green for spelling and grammatical accuracy. I wish that some of my mean words and less than perfect actions could be corrected as easily as a right click of the mouse.

As parents, we have to produce our best efforts and then move on. If we've said something to our kids that we'd like to take back, then we need to apologize and accept our humanness. Even though we can't erase the errors or misspellings from the previous day, we can move forward and aim to do better in the subsequent days and weeks.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Yesterday was a chaotic downward spiral of parenting failures and defeats. I wasn't void of numerous causes for feeling insane. In fact, many of my impatient and frustrated responses were fully merited, as all three kids had conspired against me. The day had the feel of a prolonged nightmare that just wouldn't end. It made me feel that this summer might be the longest one ever since we're just at the warm up stage of the first lap, here in the third week of June.

Starting in the morning, my middle child didn't get something she wanted and dramatically announced how she wanted to die and then responded by hiding inside of a pillow to punish me. Subsequently, after way too much effort just to get everyone fed and dressed, we were off to return a video and to drive through the car-wash. After three attempts, including two reversal maneuvers out of the car-washing tunnel and five minutes of my toddler's terrified howls, our mossy green mini-van was clean.

Five minutes later, we arrived at the park. Getting some fresh air seemed in order, so we stretched our limbs and sprinted toward the red and blue play-set. Quickly thereafter, two of my kids decided to run through the park's recently turned on sprinkler system while fully clothed, which was less than ideal because I hadn't brought their swimsuits or any towels.

After being soaked in recycled park water, my youngest covered herself in mud from several falls along the way of our grass-covered trail back to the car. As I thought about the possibility of any misplaced dry clothes being in the van, my soaking wet children ran at a cheetah-paced-sprint across the field toward the street while I yelled like a wild hyena trying to get them to stop. Thankfully our oldest caught up to his younger sisters and stopped them just short of the street.

With my luck, there were only extra sweaters and socks in the car, so we decided to head home. The library had to be postponed, as did any remnants of my sanity. Later in the day, the unending saga of chaos continued, as my middle daughter attempted to turn the stove on by herself. Thankfully, I noticed the attempt quickly and avoided carbon monoxide poisoning.

In the early evening, we all ventured out for some more fresh air, where my dog flattened my daughter and subsequently almost got into a fight with an unruly pit-bull. That was really minor though compared to my dog pooping on the only lawn that had its residents out front and the embarrassment of my youngest daughter subsequently playing in the poop while I apologized to the neighbors. When my middle child started peeling bird poop off of a green city post up ahead, I started wondering why I'd thought going on a walk was such a brilliant idea in the first place.

You know those days when you think locking yourselves in for the day would have been preferable? This was one of those days. If only I'd had the vampire Jasper from the Twilight books there to calm me down with his uncanny ability to comfort.

After seemingly endless hours of my kids' whining and bickering, along with a series of disastrous messes, as if a desert sandstorm had attacked my house, we were ready for some dinner. To say the least, I was not about to add to the mountain sized pile of dishes in the sink, so I made an SOS call to Little Caesar's.

The calm before the storm, or does it come after the storm? Either way, I was longing for some peace, though it didn't seem to come until much later in the night. After a two hour attempt to get my wild children to bed, I finally collapsed onto the couch next to my loving husband, where I unloaded the horrors of the day.

"Sometimes you're the lemon and sometimes you're the lemonade. Sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield." We've heard these adages before and they occasionally carry a weight of humor to them, but not when you're the lemon making the lemonade or the bug disgracefully decorating the windshield with your own guts.

Yesterday, I was the lemon and the bug. But, today is a new day. We must press on as parents realizing that our best is all that we can give. Parenting can feel like a blind aerospace mission to fly to the unknown discovering new planets and other forms of extra-terrestrial life. Unfortunately, as human parents, we don't get a map or an instruction manual; but, it's a good thing we come internally wired with an excessive amount of love and patience. We just have to take it one day at a time.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

I felt relieved earlier today while spreading peanut butter onto a piece of toast. I was freaked out to see that the toaster oven was on fire, but was glad that I'd looked down when I did; the three inch flame that danced the Salsa was manageable. Thankfully, I was able to blow it out with relative ease, avoiding its attack on the rest of my kitchen.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

A few minutes later, I was summoned by my six-year-old son to fish out the toilet paper holder from the poop-filled toilet in our downstairs bathroom. I'm not sure how he dropped it in the first place, but that's another topic. At least the toilet paper holder didn't get flushed down, which saved me a trip to Lowe's.

By the end of the month, we usually don't sit on an excess of cash, but at least we are able to pay all of our bills. Likewise, we have a generous amount of food decorating our fridge and cupboards, even if we are having eggs and pancakes for dinner towards the end. Additionally, our cars aren't in perfect shape, but I'm grateful that they're both running. The cup is half full because we always have enough to get by.

All in all, our family is blessed with good health as well, aside from some minor conditions such as our son's allergies and asthma. Likewise, my husband is plagued with a bad back and I'm unpleasantly hit with irritable bowel syndrome from time to time. But, primarily, we all check in with a clean bill of health. Things could always be worse.

Seeing the glass half full can be tricky at times. When someone is jobless, he pines for a new one right away, but maybe his glass is half full with a beautiful and loving family. In contrast, for the secure income-earner, it could be a recent divorce that plagues him with feelings of eternal loneliness.

When the glass is half full, it also means it's half empty. But, seeing the fullness of life is what helps you to have a good life. If you spend time worrying principally about what you don't have rather than contemplating your many blessings, you won't feel happy.

Eventually, the fire will get blown out. The treasure in the toilet will get fished out. The monetary needs will be met, even if it means you have to cut back elsewhere or downsize from previous luxuries. Your health might be less than perfect, but it is likely better than a lot of other people's. If you are jobless, you will eventually find something else or start your own business instead. If your singleness is making your glass half empty, you might make someone else's half full by reaching out to them.

If all else fails, put on some good jazz music and pour yourself half of a glass of Merlot or some full-bodied coffee. You can't go wrong with half a glass of either one of those.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Cats sleep, sleep, and then sleep some more. If you're a cat-owner, then you know exactly what I mean. My cat Sage gets so relaxed that you'd seriously think he was dead. In fact, one day I did mistake him for dead while he was fast asleeeeeeeeep in my daughter's crib. I was so convinced he was dead that I even started to get teary-eyed. I poked and prodded him hoping he would budge, but he didn't. Eventually, he made a sharp motion that convinced me rigor mortis had kicked in. In actuality, he was just dead asleep.

In addition to my cat's uncanny ability to sleep deeply for twenty three hours per day, my cat also snores like a bulldozer. You'll be alone in the house and hear a noise that makes you think, "My gosh, someone's in the house" and then you realize, "No, it's just the cat snoring up a storm of thunderous Zs."

Special to The Press-Enterprise:
By Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH.
Professor, Section of Pediatric Dentistry,
UCLA School of Dentistry

It's not unusual to see children from as young as 18 months old with cavities. Troubling, yes. Uncommon, hardly. Cavities continue to be a huge problem among kids. In fact, tooth decay is more common than asthma or hay fever. When left untreated, dental problems like tooth decay can lead to difficulty speaking and chewing and ultimately, time away from the classroom. Chronic tooth decay can lead to more serious health issues as children grow to adolescence and through to adulthood.

The main culprits of cavities are sugary and processed snack foods. And a lack of proper oral hygiene, like not brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Still, toothbrushes and toothpastes alone aren't enough.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Sometimes it feels that your life has gone missing, like you're one of those puppies on the mailboxes shouting out "Reward, $150". You know your life is moving forward on the track, but you question whether or not you're even aboard the train. The mortgage is slowly getting paid; the cars are mostly all running fine and most of your basic needs and wants are being met. You care for everyone else around you and somewhere in the midst of it all, you've gotten lost. If only there was a reward poster somewhere so you could be found.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

It's time to say "Cheese" and show off those pearly whites. It's not for a photo shoot or for a special family occasion. The admonition is simply to show someone a friendly smile and your beautiful eyes because it means you're alive. It also signifies that you care, even about the strangers you co-exist with. It's astonishing how few people show their smiles or any other kind of facial expression while interacting with passersby. Rather than a welcoming impression of friendliness, people express a sullen monk's facials or the look of a fearful lamb about to be devoured.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

We take so many simple blessings for granted by focusing on what we do not have or on the struggles that entangle us. Instead, we should spend our energy on the strengths we possess or on the joys that fill our days. Many people take their faithful spouse or their healthy children for granted because they're around them every day. Likewise, it is easy to grow indifferent about our basic provisions, such as a shelter over our heads or three filling meals per day.

In addition to the aforementioned blessings, I am incredibly grateful for my five senses. These may be the most thankless amenities of all, as most of us have enjoyed them for our entire lives. But imagine if you didn't have them and how different your life would be. I cherish the smell of my children as I kiss their heads after a hot bath, or the smell of garden fresh roses or basil leaves. I couldn't imagine trading in my ability to smell my favorite scented perfumes and lotions or the peaceful ocean breeze.

Guest blogger Karen Bergh spotlights local personality:

Karen Bergh

Special to The Press-Enterprise
By Karen Bergh

It's a long way from Boston, but the Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California, has its own version of the Cheers neighborhood bar where everyone knows your name. The centerpiece of this watering hole, however, is not a "Sam" but a spry silver-haired gentleman named "Doyle."

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Our most special moments should be savored and remembered. One way to do this is to keep a token from that treasured memory with you. You can take a physical memento, a digital picture, or a meditated impression upon your heart. It's valuable to recount the spectacular moments of our lives because they remind us that life is great, even when we occasionally travel through a season of darkness or despair. As Dennis Prager wisely opines during his "Happiness Hour" every Friday on 590 KTIE, happiness is a personal and individual choice that makes humanity better. One particular way to feel happier is to focus on joyful memories.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Musical instruction is an integral part of parenting. You might assume that music is mainly transferred to our kids in a formal setting, such as during violin or guitar lessons. However, our kids pick up a vast number of vocal and instrumental influences throughout the day just by listening to the radio or the television. In addition to those effortless mediums, here are four other ways of getting your kids excited about music.

Written by guest author Trudie Mitschang:

Trudie Mitschang

Guest Author

I spent much of young life competing with other women. Competing for boys and later for men. Vying for attention from professors and bosses. Angling for position, especially in those dangerous Bermuda Triangles otherwise known as three-way female friendships. You know the drill: two little girls can be the best of friends but add a third to the mix and somebody's going to get her feelings hurt. I'm sure that's why Carrie had Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha in her posse; the odds of the whole group turning on her diminished significantly with a fourth wheel.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Life is not simply a "To Do" list, and yet there are a plethora of daily projects to accomplish. Even our family conversations revolve around the tasks which must be completed. Whether we are dealing with our spouse or with our kids, it seems that all we talk about is the next day's schedule or the events of the upcoming weekend. Was it dinner with the Clarks or lunch with the Johnsons? Did we commit to making brownies for the soccer party or was it cookies for the swim meet? In an ideal world, I'd say we could suspend this cycle of madness. But, we don't live in a utopia, do we?

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Each eclectic mug we sip our coffee or tea from has a story to tell. If mugs could talk, we would hear such amazing tales of old. Some mugs reflect such poignant memories from the past. Do you remember the time I sat with Billie over that cup of English tea? It was a beautiful ceramic one decorated with pansies, chrysanthemums, and light pink ivy geraniums. Oh, what a conversation that was, and the tea was delightful with just the right amount of honey in it. I didn't really know much about the War until I sat next to her on that rainy afternoon.

Written by guest author Maura Ammenheuser:

Does anyone else experience the weird time warp that is summer break?

Maura Ammenheuser
Guest Author

My children have just three days left of school before they're out for two months. I know this week will zoom by, with a blur of field days, award ceremonies, ice cream parties and more. At home, I'm scrambling to maximize what little quiet free time I'll have for work and other grown-up responsibilities between helping teachers with classroom parties and events. On Friday, the kids will be home -- free! And extremely energized! Carving out necessary quiet time for work or just a deep inhale will become far more difficult.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

"Just go for it" is my new motto. Why not? Life is so short, so there's no reason to hold back from your dreams, passions, and your god-given talents. If you were to die tomorrow, wouldn't you want to know you gave this life your best shot in every area? I would want to know upon looking over my thirty-three years of life that I was committed to getting the most out of each and every day.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

In psychological terms, one observes a response mechanism called "fight or flight". If you are faced with a threatening situation, you either stay there and fight or you put on your sprinting shoes and flee the scene. I experienced this with surfing awhile back. When a huge set of waves surged in, the response was either to fight it and catch one of those big gnarly looking waves or to duck-dive under them at their calm point, escaping the thunderous crash. Since I'm not very good at surfing, more of an observer of the ocean's magnificent beauty and power, I usually opted for going under the wave with the leash attached to my ankle.