No matter how old our children get, one thing we will always do is feed them. Food is a central focus of family gatherings and even teenagers appreciate a good meal.
Recently Reuter's carried a story about Swedish research showing that boys aged 15 who ate fish regularly gained marked improvement in cognitive skills. (Follow this link for the full story http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE52F4XH20090316 ) Anyone who has ever had a 15-year-old male living in their house knows this is a great discovery. The fatty fishes, such as salmon, have the most beneficial effect. The good news is that it is good for all of us.
So, instead of grabbing a carry-out hamburger or pizza, why not try some salmon instead. Getting the kids to eat it should be easy enough, as it is very palatable, especially with great seasonings. Here are a few recipes to try out on the males in your family from 15 to 50:
Salmon Pate
1 small onion, quartered
1 15 1/2 oz. can salmon, drained with skin and boned removed
1 8 oz. package fat free cream cheese, room temperature
2 or 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 heaping tablespoon horseradish
2 teaspoons dried dill
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
dash of Tobasco
salt and pepper
Pulse onion in food processor. Add all the other ingredients and pulse until smooth. Serve with wheat crackers.
Italian Pasta Salmon Salad
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
Dash of pepper
1 cup cooked small shell macaroni
4 radishes, sliced (leave out if your kids hate radishes)
1/2 green pepper cut into 1/2 inch squares
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1 can 6 1/2 oz. pink salmon, drained
8 cherry tomatoes, halved
In a small bowl combine oil, vinegar, garlic, basil, mustard, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate one hour. In a large bowl toss macaroni, radishes, green pepper, green onions, and carrot. Just before serving pour dressing over pasta and vegetables; toss. Add salmon and cherry tomatoes and toss gently.
Grilled Salmon
4 salmon fillets
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup margarine
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sherry
Make a marinade with the brown sugar, margarine, soy sauce and sherry. Pour over fillets and chill for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare coals to medium heat. Spray grill with non-stick cooking spray. Grill salmon for 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and pour remaining marinade over fish; continue grilling another 3 to 5 minutes until slamon flakes and is light pink in color, or until desired consistency and cooked through.
If all else fails, try the salmon burgers from Whole Foods on whole wheat buns. They're great!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
You've Got A Friend
What do you share with your kids? Hobbies, like fishing or Nascar? Sports, like baseball, soccer or golf? Are you both passionate about a college team, classic films or dirt biking? Whatever you share with your children now will be something that always connects you. It will be something that reminds them of family and growing up. These shared experiences will result in those warm fuzzies and reassurances we all need at different times in our lives.
I rocked my babies to show tunes, college songs and James Taylor. Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, Shower the People, You've Got A Friend-could there be anything better than J.T.? His music evokes that time in my life when all things were possible and the world was at my feet. I love my husband, Warren, but James had my heart first.
Both my girls learned to love James by osmosis. We call each other when he is on television. We turn the radio up when he is singing. We alert each other with his newest album. All three of us know every word to every song James has ever written.
I surprised the girls with tickets to see Sweet Baby James last weekend in Dallas. Neither had seen him in concert before. (Make this my fourth time). We made it a girl trip and had a ball. We shopped, we ate, we drank a little wine, but what we really did was share something that was special in our lives together. The music that evokes happy times and shared passions.
Our special might not be your special, but seize any opportunity to continue what you did together- what you still do together. Don't let moments that can create memories and life moments get away. Those moments are precious. Cultivate and create them for you and those you love.
(Our family is going to a dear friend's wedding in the fall. It happens to be in Nantucket. The ferry goes across to Martha's Vineyard, home of James Taylor. If you see I have been arrested in September as a stalker, know I just knew my invitation for a visit had probably been lost in the the mail.) chrissie
I rocked my babies to show tunes, college songs and James Taylor. Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, Shower the People, You've Got A Friend-could there be anything better than J.T.? His music evokes that time in my life when all things were possible and the world was at my feet. I love my husband, Warren, but James had my heart first.
Both my girls learned to love James by osmosis. We call each other when he is on television. We turn the radio up when he is singing. We alert each other with his newest album. All three of us know every word to every song James has ever written.
I surprised the girls with tickets to see Sweet Baby James last weekend in Dallas. Neither had seen him in concert before. (Make this my fourth time). We made it a girl trip and had a ball. We shopped, we ate, we drank a little wine, but what we really did was share something that was special in our lives together. The music that evokes happy times and shared passions.
Our special might not be your special, but seize any opportunity to continue what you did together- what you still do together. Don't let moments that can create memories and life moments get away. Those moments are precious. Cultivate and create them for you and those you love.
(Our family is going to a dear friend's wedding in the fall. It happens to be in Nantucket. The ferry goes across to Martha's Vineyard, home of James Taylor. If you see I have been arrested in September as a stalker, know I just knew my invitation for a visit had probably been lost in the the mail.) chrissie
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I'd Walk A Million Miles For One of Her Smiles
I hope this finds all Mothers' with a smile on their face after Sunday. Whether is was breakfast in bed with burned toast and smiling faces, plaster hand prints that will be pulled out in years to come (and bring tears every time), or a Hallmark card expressing sentiments you didn't imagine your teen would convey, Mother's Day is always a special time.
My youngest sent flowers. Tom is in the middle of finals and couldn't come home this weekend. But, he actually picked up his phone and called our local florist and ordered an arrangement. Be still my heart. I cried. Ward, out of the state on business, sent a rose bush, a card that said things every Mother wants to hear from her grown son and called Sunday. I cried. Annie, Greg and the Grandest of Babies met us at CaneBrake for lunch. Annie walked in first with her sister, Catherine, who drove from OKC, for Mother's Day Brunch. I cried. Warren remembered the day with a beautiful gift, thanking me for being the Mother of his children. I....well you know what I did.
I am not a crier. Never was. Sorta am now. I think as I've aged, as time has passed, the moments that make life worth living are more noticed, more appreciated. It is all whizzing by so quickly, I don't want to miss the good stuff. And as I try to live intentionally, I am more aware of life's blessings. Thereby the water works.
A friend sent the following and it is not only clever, it is true. Enjoy.
Motherhood is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother.......
4 YEARS OF AGE -My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE -My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE -Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She doesn't have a clue.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? Don't even ask.
25 YEARS OF AGE -Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE -Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mother.
Oh, how I wish i could! chrissie
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Drugged
Ally, a young woman very special in our family, (particularly one family member), sent me this last week. It has been circulating on the Internet. The unknown author has an interesting view regarding the drug problem in America today. I don't particularly agree with the woodpile part but expectations, consequences and responsibility are all important in raising a child to be a confident and contributing adult. It seems many parents have forgotten that. Read below and see what you think.
The other day, someone in a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county. He asked me the rhetorical question, "Why didn 't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"
I replied, "I had a drug problem when I was growing up. I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather."
"I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie ,brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was required of me."
"I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to Mom's garden to pull weeds from her flower beds and cockleburs out of Dad's fields.I was drug to the home of family, friends and neighbors to help out someone who needed help to mow the lawn, repair a clothesline or chop some firewood and if my Mother knew I had taken a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed."
"Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in every thing I think, do, or say. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin; and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place."
God Bless the parents who drug us.
Have a good week and drag your kiddo somewhere they need to go! chrissie
The other day, someone in a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county. He asked me the rhetorical question, "Why didn 't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"
I replied, "I had a drug problem when I was growing up. I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather."
"I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie ,brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was required of me."
"I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to Mom's garden to pull weeds from her flower beds and cockleburs out of Dad's fields.I was drug to the home of family, friends and neighbors to help out someone who needed help to mow the lawn, repair a clothesline or chop some firewood and if my Mother knew I had taken a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed."
"Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in every thing I think, do, or say. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin; and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place."
God Bless the parents who drug us.
Have a good week and drag your kiddo somewhere they need to go! chrissie
Monday, May 4, 2009
Tobacco Free Teens
Tobacco free teens start with tobacco free education. The Health Department recently sent out the following information about an anti-tobacco bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy. Here is the body of their message asking for help:
We've just learned that Senator Edward Kennedy plans to reintroduce the FDA regulation of tobacco bill in the Senate THIS WEEK. We need your assistance in generating as many calls as possible into your Senators' offices asking them to cosponsor this lifesaving legislation. We expect Senator Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to debate the legislation in the coming weeks and for the full Senate to consider the legislation soon thereafter. Last year, the legislation had more than 60 cosponsors and we will need to get those Senators back on as cosponsors, as well as add additional new cosponsors this year.
It is important that your Senators hear from you as soon as possible! You can reach your Senator by clicking here <http://action.tobaccofreekids.org/site/R?i=kpP4BFvw_iivI8J29hkzCQ..>. All you need is your phone...clicking the link will take you to your Senator's phone number, talking points for your call, and a brief form so you can let us know how the call went. The call will take no longer than 2 to 3 minutes. The message is: COSPONSOR the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which provides for effective FDA regulation of tobacco products. Click here to call today<http://action.tobaccofreekids.org/site/R?i=paFN_AOMev4T9Ph1lMdNLQ..>.
We might think the tobacco battle is over, but just yesterday I saw an ad in this month's Vogue showing a beautiful young woman holding a cigarette with the caption, "Life is Rich." I was kind of taken aback - back to 1985 when certain ads showed lithe young women who had "come a long way, baby," and my mother passed away from lung cancer. Not everyone who smokes will get lung cancer - some will get asthma, heart disease, or emphysema. But, why risk it at all with your child's life? Tobacco free is the only option.
-------Melony
We've just learned that Senator Edward Kennedy plans to reintroduce the FDA regulation of tobacco bill in the Senate THIS WEEK. We need your assistance in generating as many calls as possible into your Senators' offices asking them to cosponsor this lifesaving legislation. We expect Senator Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to debate the legislation in the coming weeks and for the full Senate to consider the legislation soon thereafter. Last year, the legislation had more than 60 cosponsors and we will need to get those Senators back on as cosponsors, as well as add additional new cosponsors this year.
It is important that your Senators hear from you as soon as possible! You can reach your Senator by clicking here <http://action.tobaccofreekids.org/site/R?i=kpP4BFvw_iivI8J29hkzCQ..>. All you need is your phone...clicking the link will take you to your Senator's phone number, talking points for your call, and a brief form so you can let us know how the call went. The call will take no longer than 2 to 3 minutes. The message is: COSPONSOR the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which provides for effective FDA regulation of tobacco products. Click here to call today<http://action.tobaccofreekids.org/site/R?i=paFN_AOMev4T9Ph1lMdNLQ..>.
We might think the tobacco battle is over, but just yesterday I saw an ad in this month's Vogue showing a beautiful young woman holding a cigarette with the caption, "Life is Rich." I was kind of taken aback - back to 1985 when certain ads showed lithe young women who had "come a long way, baby," and my mother passed away from lung cancer. Not everyone who smokes will get lung cancer - some will get asthma, heart disease, or emphysema. But, why risk it at all with your child's life? Tobacco free is the only option.
-------Melony
Monday, April 27, 2009
It's My Party
Prom. I can't believe it is time again. The kids at MHS always got into such a frenzy and usually set themselves us to be disappointed. Nothing can meet the expectations when a school cafeteria and crepe paper is involved.
If there was anything I tried to get my students to do was, #1. Not spend more than they could afford and #2. Be wise with plans and choices.
Dinner together is what's fun. It really doesn't matter where. Some groups had a blast with dinner at someone's house. Willing parents set table, offered a simple menu like Lasagna and Caesar Salad, lit the candles and cleared out so the couples be together. Driving to Tulsa is difficult because travel time and dinner gets the prom arrival after 10:00. Book reservations locally. HINT: A pre-arranged menu will speed things along. Ask any restaurant in town. There is nothing worse than 16 formally dressed teens ordering everything different from a menu. It is a guaranteed "slow" service dinner.
I was always horrified to see kids drive up in limo's. I knew what the rental was and I knew the beaming passengers had often worked at a minimum wage job for months to pay for the ride. Encourage your kids to save their money for more important things. (like college funds and car payments). The same goes for extravagant dresses and expensive tuxes. A pair of good khakis and a blazer that can be worn for other occasions is better than a one night rental. There are so many cute dresses at reasonable prices now+ resale and consignment shops are a fun way to "dig around and see what you can find."
Mel and I cannot emphasize enough about the drinking deal. Really talk about the dangers and the legality of this choice. I know we don't even have to mention, NEVER be an adult hosting an after -prom party that involves alcohol. Parents have been arrested for allowing underage drinking. Offer a fun alternative with other couples. A pool party and dancing on the patio. Movies and breakfast with all the trimmings. A Dessert Buffet with a Coffee Bar. Rent the Bowling Alley or Skating Rink. Organize an All-Night Event at a church Rec Center. Communicate with your child and see what sounds fun. They may scream "NO" and that it all seem corny but perhaps "one of these or nothing at all" makes a safe and controlled option more palpable. Get a "posse" of parents to agree to agree on choices.
No one wants to regrets the "Morning After". Help your prom-goer make memories. Safe and reasonable memories. Photographs of beaming young men and radiant young women are the goal here. They will never be so young, innocent and so expectant again. chrissie
If there was anything I tried to get my students to do was, #1. Not spend more than they could afford and #2. Be wise with plans and choices.
Dinner together is what's fun. It really doesn't matter where. Some groups had a blast with dinner at someone's house. Willing parents set table, offered a simple menu like Lasagna and Caesar Salad, lit the candles and cleared out so the couples be together. Driving to Tulsa is difficult because travel time and dinner gets the prom arrival after 10:00. Book reservations locally. HINT: A pre-arranged menu will speed things along. Ask any restaurant in town. There is nothing worse than 16 formally dressed teens ordering everything different from a menu. It is a guaranteed "slow" service dinner.
I was always horrified to see kids drive up in limo's. I knew what the rental was and I knew the beaming passengers had often worked at a minimum wage job for months to pay for the ride. Encourage your kids to save their money for more important things. (like college funds and car payments). The same goes for extravagant dresses and expensive tuxes. A pair of good khakis and a blazer that can be worn for other occasions is better than a one night rental. There are so many cute dresses at reasonable prices now+ resale and consignment shops are a fun way to "dig around and see what you can find."
Mel and I cannot emphasize enough about the drinking deal. Really talk about the dangers and the legality of this choice. I know we don't even have to mention, NEVER be an adult hosting an after -prom party that involves alcohol. Parents have been arrested for allowing underage drinking. Offer a fun alternative with other couples. A pool party and dancing on the patio. Movies and breakfast with all the trimmings. A Dessert Buffet with a Coffee Bar. Rent the Bowling Alley or Skating Rink. Organize an All-Night Event at a church Rec Center. Communicate with your child and see what sounds fun. They may scream "NO" and that it all seem corny but perhaps "one of these or nothing at all" makes a safe and controlled option more palpable. Get a "posse" of parents to agree to agree on choices.
No one wants to regrets the "Morning After". Help your prom-goer make memories. Safe and reasonable memories. Photographs of beaming young men and radiant young women are the goal here. They will never be so young, innocent and so expectant again. chrissie
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Prom Issues
It's Prom season and girls everywhere are struggling to find the right thing to wear. A girl in Indiana took her right to wear a tux to the Prom to the School Board there. They had evidently banned her from wearing pants (in the form of a tuxedo) to the Prom in an attempt to curtail her civil rights. The ACLU tackled that one.
I found a Christian Teen Girls Blog that suggests finding a cute dress with some kind of decency standards in mind. http://teengirls.agblogger.org/2009/03/11/what-to-wear-wednesday-2-prom/ At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney, I think a Prom dress can be cute and still have standards, too.
Our Mayor started a Prom dress and tux recycling program when he was the STUCO president at Muskogee High School. Girls could come and "shop" the store. It is a great idea and this year's Prom sponsor at MHS, Krista Tillotson, is asking for donations. Muskogee High School's Jr. - Sr. Prom is May 9th. To donate, call MHS and speak to Mrs. Tillotson.
One Prom issue that always has parents on edge is drinking at after parties. Anti-drinking campaigns, such as the one sponsored by Project CLEAR, have done a really good job of educating students about the perils of drinking and driving. Many communities sponsor an all night after party at a church or in the school gym to give teens something to do in a controlled environment. Parents could do the same at their home, if they feel comfortable with their child's friends and can stay up all night monitoring the situation!
There are always issues surrounding Prom, from what to wear, to where to eat, to who to go with to the big event. But, Prom is one of the last great American high school experiences remaining. Encourage your child to go and have fun. Be sure to take lots of pictures!
I found a Christian Teen Girls Blog that suggests finding a cute dress with some kind of decency standards in mind. http://teengirls.agblogger.org/2009/03/11/what-to-wear-wednesday-2-prom/ At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney, I think a Prom dress can be cute and still have standards, too.
Our Mayor started a Prom dress and tux recycling program when he was the STUCO president at Muskogee High School. Girls could come and "shop" the store. It is a great idea and this year's Prom sponsor at MHS, Krista Tillotson, is asking for donations. Muskogee High School's Jr. - Sr. Prom is May 9th. To donate, call MHS and speak to Mrs. Tillotson.
One Prom issue that always has parents on edge is drinking at after parties. Anti-drinking campaigns, such as the one sponsored by Project CLEAR, have done a really good job of educating students about the perils of drinking and driving. Many communities sponsor an all night after party at a church or in the school gym to give teens something to do in a controlled environment. Parents could do the same at their home, if they feel comfortable with their child's friends and can stay up all night monitoring the situation!
There are always issues surrounding Prom, from what to wear, to where to eat, to who to go with to the big event. But, Prom is one of the last great American high school experiences remaining. Encourage your child to go and have fun. Be sure to take lots of pictures!
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