Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2015 i MASK The Magazine

I love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read “Love You Forever” to my sons and still, to this day, the thought of it brings tears to my eyes. What moves me through this story are the moments I can’t believe I’ve been able to experience with my children. Time. It’s such a funny thing. When you’re in the moment, it feels like forever. But as you look back, those moments feel like mere glimpses, flashes of memories that flick faster as your children grow. As I sit here writing this, I have images of holding my babies, remembering their first words (which, for two out of my three kids, was “Mama”…LOL).…

A balanced diet includes Mother Nature’s finest products: fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce contains vitamins, minerals and nutrients vital to sustain health and maintenance of the body—especially for children. In fact, through its interactive website ChooseMyPlate.gov, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends a daily allowance of fruits and vegetables for children of all ages. Young children should eat a cup of fruit and vegetables a day, with older kids consuming two to three cups a day. But before fruits and vegetables can be eaten, they should be properly washed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six people in the U.S. get food poisoning each year. That’s roughly 48 million people. A study on foodborne illness in the U.S. found that around half of food…

Caffeine is the world’s most used psychoactive drug. It is consumed by almost 90 percent of North Americans, most often in coffee, soda and energy drinks. Recognizing this large consumer base, manufacturers of caffeinated products are expanding the market for even more caffeine consumption. A quick jolt can now be obtained through snacks such as gum, popcorn and even beef jerky. With coffee shops seemingly on every corner, it appears the world is in a caffeinated craze. Even though caffeine is mild compared to other drugs, it can mimic a form of substance dependence, particularly among children and young people. In 2013, chewing gum maker Wrigley introduced Alert Energy Caffeine Gum. One piece contained 40mg of caffeine, the same amount found in a half cup of coffee. A month into…

“Dr. Riley’s Box of Tricks: 80 Common Solutions for Everyday Parenting Problems” by Douglas Riley (Da Capo Lifelong Books, $15) “Forever Mom: What to Expect When You’re Adopting” by Mary Ostyn (Thomas Nelson, $16.99) “Trading Manny: How a Father and Son Learned to Love Baseball Again” by Jim Gullo (Da Capo Press, $23) “Yell Less, Love More: How the Orange Rhino Mom Stopped Yelling at Her Kids—and How You Can Too!” by Sheila McCraith (Fair Winds Press, $21.99) “The Gluten-Free Vegetarian Family Cookbook: 150 Healthy Recipes for Meals, Snacks, Sides, Desserts and More” by Susan O’Brien (Da Capo Lifelong Books, $17.99)…

If you’re looking for an abundance of family-friendly attractions, Seattle just may be the getaway you’re looking for this summer. Here are a few family-friendly spots your crew will enjoy. EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT | SCIENCE FICTION MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME Created by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Experience Music Project (EMP) is dedicated to exploring creativity and innovation in American popular music, from rock ’n roll to jazz, soul, gospel, country, blues, hip-hop, punk and other genres. Visitors to the Frank Gehry-designed, 140,000-square-foot museum can view rare artifacts, and experience the creative process by listening to musicians tell their own stories. The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, co-located with the Experience Music Project on the Seattle Center grounds, is a one-of-a-kind collection of memorabilia that include works by…

On the surface, Sunny Wight seemed to have it all: a successful doctor for a husband, two bright and healthy children, and a lucrative career in PR and marketing. But underneath that “sunny” exterior, she was stressed and harried and just trying to keep up with the demands of a busy family and career. “I had two small children, my husband—who is a physician—was never home, and I was trying to run a business from my home while raising two kids,” she says. Then, in 2009, Wight began to get sick. She noticed lesions on her hairline, which was revealed to be a rare form of shingles that eventually took over the right side of her body and caused her to experience debilitating fatigue and deep depression. “Before I got…

The facts say it all: Five thousand people under the age of 21 die each year from alcohol-related incidents. But according to the Pinnacle High School (PHS) Student Government, they don’t have to. Also known as PHS STUGO, the student group has taken a stand against underage drinking, and drinking and driving by working with MASK to educate students on the consequences of underage drinking. As students were arriving on campus on March 18th, just days before spring break and prom, a “deadly” simulated car accident took place. During what students thought would be a typical start to the school day, an immediate chain reaction of first responders quickly demonstrated the routine response to a real drinking and driving accident. The paramedics employed all actions to save the lives of…

To help students and parents make the most of family time, we asked members of the Arizona State University staff—Dr. Aaron Krasnow, assistant vice president and director of ASU Counseling; Dr. Leah Doane, assistant professor, Department of Psychology (Developmental); and Dr. William Corbin, associate professor, Department of Psychology (Clinical)—to provide some insight and advice. Here’s what they shared. As their child goes off to college, parents won’t have the access they’re used to having and, inevitably, feelings can get hurt. Do parents need to change their expectations when it comes to family time? It’s normal for parents to have feelings about the next stages in their child’s development. When you think back to different developmental milestones—be it walking, talking, going to school, making friends—for most parents, it was marked by…

Developed in 2012, the Grabbagreen concept was born when Scottsdale moms and childhood friends Keely Newman and Kelley Bird found it increasingly difficult to feed their growing families nutritious meals. Between soccer, ballet, jazz, swimming, baseball, tennis and yoga, cooking wasn’t always possible and they were fed up with unhealthy fast food options. With convenience and health consciousness in mind, the friends turned their need for healthy food on the go into Grabbagreen, a place to quickly grabhealthyand organic food, satisfyingthe cravings of customers with super foods beneficial to their health. With three locations in the Valley, the food-and-juice restaurant concept offers a menu based on super food ingredients, centrifugal and cold-pressed juice, and filling smoothies. Menu items contain both hot and cold grains, green salad-based bowls, proteins, peanut butter…

MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization created in 2007 by a group of dedicated mothers who recognized the need to consistently educate families on rapidly changing issues. MASK’s mission is to educate parents and children about the issues facing our youth and to empower children to make safe, healthy choices. MASK gives parents the resources that will allow an open dialogue with their children, which provides children with tools to live productive, happier lives. MASK fulfills its mission by engaging, educating and empowering parents and children through its E3 (Engage, Educate and Empower) Program and MASK The Magazine. The E3 program presents helpful insights on over 70 topics in the following categories: health and wellness, digital solutions, and relational development, offering a comprehensive approach…

Learning to drive can be a stressful and scary time for both teens and parents. Many parents don’t even want to think about their child driving, but, as we know, time flies and our babies are in high school in the blink of an eye. Once there, the focus is on academics and the “fun things” associated with high school, such as being involved in clubs or sports, homecoming and prom. Fifteen is young; these kids are often at the end of their freshman year or in their sophomore year when they reach eligibility for their learner’s permit. Parents tend to equate summertime as the time for driver’s ed because that is what they did when they learned to drive. Times have changed; drivers ed isn’t offered in a lot…

The true beauty of family time isn’t just that these times together can be enjoyable for all ages—well, most of the time, that is—it’s also that meaningful moments are extremely beneficial for kids on so many levels. Lynne Kenney, Psy.D., a Scottsdale-based pediatric psychologist, mom of two, and co-author of the forthcoming “BLOOM: 50 Things to Say, Think and Do with Anxious, Angry and Over-the-Top Kids” says recent research has, in fact, shown that children whose parents are actively involved with them and interested in what they do have greater cortical thickness, the cortex being the part of the brain associated with language, sensory perception, motor command and thought. “No doubt about it, kids whose parents play with them, look at them and talk to them have better developed brains,”…

In my professional world, the term “dialed in” is often used in reference to a player who is hot at the plate and hitting everything he sees. Or a pitcher who is dominating the opposition with ease. So when I was asked to write this month’s column on being a “dialed in Dad,” it certainly got me wondering what that term means to me. Ultimately, it comes down to one really important factor: having a “dialed in Mom” as a life partner. As president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, I’m often put in a position to accept an award for the great work our organization does in the community and sometimes it can be uncomfortable receiving something that you know is really a reflection of those around you. The…

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reports that the quality of time spent with children matters more than how much time is spent with them. At first glance, this may seem counterintuitive. But when we reflect on the time we spend with our own kids, it makes sense. Rather than trying to pack our schedules with activities that take attention away from the relationship, parents and children might benefit more from improving the quality of the time already spent together. “Focusing on improving the quality of time we spend with our kids matters,” says Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Ariz. “It takes a deeper understanding of what they need at the different developmental levels in their lives.” Whether you have an elementary,…

The question posed to Iqra Ahmed was an obvious one given her hectic schedule as a student at Arizona State University: Do you get enough sleep? “Sometimes,” she laughed. For the 22-year-old psychology major/business minor, who commutes to ASU from Chandler and is heavily involved on the Tempe campus, getting the recommended eight hours of sleep on school nights is sometimes a challenge. Beginning with her sophomore year, Ahmed has thrown herself into extracurricular activities, joining student clubs and volunteering for nonprofits and completing several internships. As a senior this year, she assumed the demanding role of service chair for Changemaker Central @ ASU to coordinate “Devils in Disguise,” the university’s largest student-organized day of community service. So how does she balance extensive campus involvement with attending classes, studying and…

For some, the decision to go gluten free is more than just the latest diet trend; it’s a matter of quality of life. Those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) know that eliminating this wheat protein from the diet can be the difference between living in sickness and in health. But even though true celiacs comprise only 1 percent of the overall population, and the number of those with NCGS is much harder to determine, more and more people are jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon without knowing what gluten is or why someone would need to give it up. It’s important to know the word “gluten” is not synonymous with carbohydrate, and many people who go gluten free are not necessarily trying to lose weight. They’re often just…

AS parents, we teach our children to be themselves and embrace the power of creativity. We teach them to be critical thinkers who rise above the status quo and achieve their greatest dreams. So how is it, as spouses and partners, we allow ourselves to lose our creativity and spirit in our relationships? Couples who support each other, engage with each other, and grow through purposeful conversations and share new experiences are able to master their relationships and fan the flames of their love. Couples who don’t may risk missing the things that keep love alive and, in turn, they may stop supporting and appreciating the people who mean the most to them. Slowly, these relationships begin to dissolve over time and create an environment of contempt in which everyone’s…

BULLY Bullying occurs in all aspects of our daily lives, and group chat texting is no exception. To help your child understand and recognize this kind of bullying, sit down with him or her and brainstorm ideas on how to avoid it and how to help if one of their friends is being bullied through group texting. Teach that friendship isn’t an excuse to say negative things and retaliation isn’t a better alternative to exiting the group chat. DRUG With more free time and less supervision, studies show more teens begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol in June and July than any other time of the year. Be the first one to talk to your child about drugs. Role play situations involving drugs and peer pressure in order to teach…

TAKE THE PLEDGE TO DRIVE SAFELY Did you know that 5,000 teenagers die in automobile accidents every year? Don’t let your teen become a statistic. With the Parent/Teen Driver Contract, parents and their teens can openly discuss and agree upon the responsibilities of driving a car. It may be the most important thing you and your teen will ever do together. Sign the contract today at maskmatters.org. Driving kids around town may seem like just another humdrum chore every parent has to endure. But you can make the most of your driving time together by engaging your kids in meaningful conversations. “The car can be a non-threatening place to have a conversation because you’re not face to face. You don’t have that eye-to-eye contact that can really increase the pressure,”…

Divorce is one of the most difficult events that parents and their children will have to endure in their lifetime. It is a grieving process for all, and everyone involved will experience grief in a different way. According to Therese Hensler, a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist who speaks at Second Saturday divorce workshops, divorce has a major impact on a family. “Unfortunately, divorce can be a driving contribution to disconnection between parents and children,” she says. For divorced families, a helpful mantra to keep in mind is, “To feel, deal and heal.” As we all know, it isn’t necessarily about the quantity of time that you spend with your kids, but the quality of time. Taking time out of your own thoughts and being present for your…

I cannot tell you how many times that phrase came flying out of my mouth while raising my children. I was a single mom, working 50-plus hours a week and raising four children on my own. Not overly demanding, my children would ask me the normal adolescent questions: “Can you help with my homework?” “Are you coming to my game?” “Can you take me to my friend’s house?” My first response to these needs soon became, “I don’t have time.” But what were my children really hearing? As parents, we’re all so busy. We juggle our children’s schedules and social calendars with our careers, meetings and appointments, just to mention a few. Sometimes, we really don’t have time to do all the things we would like. Has “I don’t have…

AS Benjamin Franklin once said, “Time is money.” In today’s society, time is precious for everyone. And kids, especially teenagers, are no exception. How do students succeed academically while still being able to do the things they love? Or spend time with the people they love, all while staying stress-free? Overall, being able to maintain a balance between their schoolwork, social lives and extracurricular activities is a complex task that all teens struggle with. In fact, in a survey of teens in the U.S. by the American Psychological Association, 60 percent reported that managing time was a significant cause of stress. It’s a demanding task, one that each student approaches a bit differently. However, some strategies work better than others. JUGGLING ACT In order to gain a better perspective of…

A midst the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it can often be difficult to stop and think about how our words and actions can affect our families. In the rush to get out the door in the morning, you may forget to remind your spouse and kids how much you love them. Or you may snap and say something hurtful that was unwarranted or unintentional. You could use Post-it notes to remind yourself about how precious time is, or you could tune in to “Family Minute with Mark Merrill,” a daily radio show that offers everyday tips on marriage, parenting and family relationships. It’s a great way to remind us that, although we are usually in a hurry, it’s important to take a moment to appreciate the ones…

TRAVEL JOURNALS ADVENTURES REMEMBERED Family vacations not only strengthen family bonds, they can also create one-of-a-kind experiences and memories. Help your kids remember these special moments by giving them a travel journal that they can fill with stories and mementos of their adventures and favorite places. BIRTHDAY JOURNAL CELEBRATE THE AGES Create a journal to capture the life moments that your child has encountered for the year. Start the journal the year your child was born and document each year with significant milestones, happy memories and even a cherished keepsake. Create a wonderful tradition of filling in the journal at the end of your child’s celebration day. DVD YEARBOOK YOU OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES Who doesn’t have a zillion pictures and videos captured on their cell phone? It’s a great…