Needham Farm Gardening Classes for Young Families

New Family Gardening Classes
at the Needham Community Farm!

The Needham Community Farm (NCF) just celebrated its 10th anniversary, but many Needham residents don’t know about this great non-profit.  The NCF has three intertwined missions: to educate about sustainable growing and nutrition; to provide food to those in our community who experience food insecurity; and to build community through volunteerism.  Visitors to the Newman School may have noticed the NCF’s pilot garden site next to the Needham History Center, but the primary garden site is off the beaten path at the former Nike Site, adjacent to Ridge Hill Reservation, and next to the Needham Dog Park.  

For most of the 10 years, the produce grown at the farm has been donated to the Food Pantry at the Needham Community Council.  A few years ago, distribution hours were added at the Needham Housing Authority sites.  Last summer the farm began to offer subscriptions for weekly farm share distributions (CSA) during the growing season.

The NCF has always held gardening classes.  Typically, a student signs up for a full bed or half bed, and it’s theirs to farm for the season.  The instructor provides lessons in layout, planting, pest control, and other sustainable gardening practices.  This year, in conjunction with Parent Talk, NCF is offering new Family Classes with a different model, suitable for small children.  The class members will all share several beds.  At each class the activities will depend on where we are in the growing season, whether it’s planting peas, weeding, pulling carrots, or picking tomatoes. 

Families can sign up for classes to be held on Wednesday afternoons or Saturday mornings.  Each class is one hour long.  Three sessions are offered:  Spring (9 weeks), Summer (9 weeks), and Fall (8 weeks).  For more details, costs, and registration, please go to the NCF website at www.needhamfarm.org/family-garden-class.

Author: Jane Evans, Needham Community Farm Board Member

Successful Parenting Advice for Single Dads

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Successful Parenting Advice for Single Dads

Being a father can be an overwhelming challenge, especially if you are flying solo.  It’s a struggle more men are facing, and with the right tools you can be a successful dad with happy and healthy kids. 

You’re not alone.  More households than ever are led by single fathers.  According to studies cited by ABC News, the number of single father homes in America rose by 62 percent in a single decade, with numbers totalling over 2.2 million.  It’s believed that the rise signals acceptance of men’s ability to function successfully as single parents, and the number is only expected to continue to grow. 

Challenges.  Single dads struggle in many of the same areas single mothers do, with financial strains and finding balance between work and home life.  Unfortunately, single fathers often don’t feel they can reach out for help, fearing loss of custody. There are things you can do to face your challenges head on and work toward overcoming them, beginning with asking family and friends for help when you need it.  Get involved with local or online support groups, too - you’ll find there is benefit in shared struggles, and sometimes you may glean tips or assistance when you need help with your many obligations. 

Coping skills.  Being a single parent can be extremely stressful, but with good coping skills you can manage your concerns and overcome the obstacles in your path.  As explained by the experts at Behavioral Wellness & Recovery,  "It’s important to learn small ways to face that stress head-on and reduce it no matter where you are, because having effective coping mechanisms handy will allow you to get through even the most challenging times. You can use your new skills to immediately start feeling better, and to prevent the emergence of chronic mental health problems."  Some simple skills you can incorporate into your lifestyle are:

●      Reading a book.  Take a book with you wherever you go, and when life is feeling complicated enjoy an “escape” into the pages. 

●      Strolling outside.  Nature has a positive, healing effect on your well-being; a walk in the park or even around the block to enjoy some green space, fresh air and sunshine can work wonders for your stress level.

●      Petting animals.  Engaging with pets offers terrific benefits, like lowering your blood pressure and improving self-esteem.  If you don’t have a companion animal of your own, consider volunteering at a local shelter.

Finances.  Experts note that one of the most important issues you face as a single dad is budgeting your money.  Understanding your income and financial obligations, planning how you will meet them, and arranging your spending habits to accommodate your needs will give you a sense of security and control.  If you need to go back to school, do so.  Studies reflect that improving your level of education directly and positively impacts both your parenting style and communication, not to mention the potential for improving your work situation and income.

Enjoy yourself and your children.  Establish a daily routine in your household and make sure fun is part of it.  It’s healthy for you and your children to engage every day, talking and doing activities together.  Having a routine schedule gives your family security, and it’s better for everyone to know what expectations are.  Don’t think that because you’re a dad you can’t be close with your children; experts at Livestrong note that studies found the opposite: “...the relationship between a single parent and a child can be one that is close and affectionate.  A child in a single-parent home often sees the parent in a new light, and a single parent may be more likely to focus love and affection on a child when no spouse is involved.  The parent and child are mutually dependent on each other, and in many cases this leads to a relationship that is more supportive and communicative.”

Life as a single dad is challenging, but you aren’t alone in your struggle.  Reach out for help, use good coping skills, take control of your finances, and enjoy your children.  With these terrific tools you can achieve success as a single dad!

About the Author

Daniel is a single dad raising two children. At DadSolo.com, he aims to provide other single dads with information and resources to help them better equip themselves on the journey that is parenthood.

Encouraging Kids to Cultivate Gratitude on Thanksgiving

After begging for months, your child no longer wishes to attend the expensive gymnastics classes you sacrificed your Sunday mornings for. Slumped in her chair, she glares unblinking at the table because the pizza upon it did not originate from her restaurant of choice. She refuses to wear the new black Uggs she'd previously been pining for, because her friend at school has pink ones. With bows.
And like a slowed-down movie clip you hear yourself asking the eternal parent-to-child question: "Do you realize how lucky you are?!!"

The short answer (which in a perfect world would be delivered sans eye-rolling) is "No." Of course she doesn't. Hopefully, her limited life experience has not included walking 3 miles in the snow to school every day in beat up sneakers, or being forced to sit at the table for hours until she managed to choke down her cold brussels sprouts. Everything she's ever done has been scheduled for her by somebody else (which, let's face it, isn't always fun, even if the scheduled activity is expected to be). She has very little control over or responsibility for her present situation, and almost zero perspective. So aside from asking rhetorical questions or haranguing her with tales of our own pre-internet, landline limited childhoods, how can we hope to help our kids see how good they've got it? And secondly, why should we?

According to quite a bit of research in recent years, cultivating a sense of gratitude in our everyday lives can have a significant impact on our overall happiness. Every day of the year holds opportunities to reflect on the many things we can be thankful for in our lives; however, as the name suggests, the Thanksgiving holiday provides a veritable bonanza of these opportunities. Like any lasting practice or habit, cultivating gratitude on a regular basis is the best way for it to really take hold in our minds, but Thanksgiving is the perfect moment to introduce these ideas, start the process, or check in with what we've already been doing. Here are some ideas for cultivating gratitude with our kids, our families, and ourselves this Thanksgiving holiday.

Talk about the food.

Where did the food on the table come from? Who prepared it, and how? Discuss each family member's favorite dish and why. When we immerse ourselves in our experience, and really look at why we like what we like and what it takes for us to get to enjoy those things, feeling thankful naturally follows. Letting our kids participate in cooking the Thanksgiving meal can also be fun - find some kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes here.

Talk about why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

Ok, this is a sticky topic no doubt, and the truth about this time in our country's history is anything but pretty. Also, upon doing research for this blog post I discovered (and this may be true for you as well) that while I thought I knew how Thanksgiving came to be celebrated, I was missing a fair number of details.  Perhaps for these reasons it's even more worthy of discussion. For some guidance and ideas for broaching the topic without glossing over reality or traumatizing the children, give this article a gander. In addition to the history of the holiday, there is also the meaning it holds for each one of us, which in the end has more to do with why we continue to celebrate this tradition than the historical event that started it off.

Talk about what we are thankful for.

Just reflecting on this and discussing it tends to make us more aware of all we have. Go around the table and take turns saying one thing each person is grateful for and why. Or brainstorm a family gratitude list. Since anything and everything counts no matter how big or small, this can be a lot of fun.

Involve kids in donation.

There are ample opportunities to donate food this time of year (all year round, actually). When bringing food donations to a local charity, take the kids along for the ride. They can learn about what you're doing and why you're doing it, and they get to be a part of it. With older kids, consider participating in some form of community service, like serving food at a soup kitchen, or sorting donated items at a food bank.

Have fun being together.

For many families, this is the only time of the year that all or most family members are in the same place at the same time. While this can be stressful, bringing some fun into the mix is never a bad idea. Depending on what your family likes to do, you can start a yearly tradition : a flag footbal game, an ugly sweater competition, or a pie-eating contest (you're gonna do it anyway!)

To wrap this up, here's a link to some fun Thanksgiving games, crafts, and activities to keep the kids entertained. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

About the Author:

Laura Perras is a mom and Realtor who grew up in Needham, where she now works as part of the Perras Group at the William Raveis Needham office. In addition to mom-ing and selling houses, Laura enjoys djing, yoga, and arts and crafts. She’s involved in Parent Talk as Board CoChair of Marketing and Communications, Blog Coordinator, and Sale Committee Member.  Please reach out if you would like to submit a post to the blog or have feedback or ideas regarding what you’d like to see here : Laura.Perras.Realtor@gmail.com

Beyond Sibling Rivalry -- Upcoming PT Lecture

While siblings have a special opportunity to develop close, strong bonds with one another, this special relationship can just as easily go the other way.  Siblings can engage in serious competition to such an extent that getting along just doesn't seem possible.  As the younger of two sisters, I have experienced sibling rivalry from childhood through my adult years.

"And a little sibling rivalry" by Cathy T

Some sibling competition can be good thing.  When my sister received a National Merit scholarship in her senior year of high school, I knew there was no question that I had to do the same. My senior year mirrored her accomplishment.  Although our paths took a different chronological order, we also both went on to graduate from the same university, attend law school, become attorneys, become part-time working moms and stay-at-home moms.  Along with similar interests, our competitiveness played a part in propelling us down similar, ultimately fulfilling paths.

At other times, sibling rivalry is not so pretty.  My sister and I have outgrown our rough and tumble cat fights as young kids.  But as an adult, I find it very easy to be pulled into the internal dialogue in which I compare the accomplishments of my child with her child, my niece whom I adore.  Based on our sibling history, I am certain that my sister does the same!   Luckily, for our families, this competition has not surfaced in any visible way (I hope!).

"Sibling rivalry" by Richard Leeming

If only there were some strategies and tactics that parents could take so that sibling competition among their kids doesn't become unhealthy rivalry.  Parents want their kids to nurture good feelings about each other and build supportive relationships that will last throughout their lives.

Interested in learning more about the pros and pitfalls of sibling rivalry?  Attend Parent Talk's  upcoming lecture, "Beyond Sibling Rivalry," by Peter Goldenthal, Ph.D on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the Charles River School in Dover.  The author of a book by the same name, Dr. Goldenthal is an expert on sibling relationships and child development.  Parent Talk members are invited to attend for free and non-members can purchase tickets for $20.  Register and get tickets at Eventbrite.com.

About the Author
Darlene W. Cancell is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom, and most recently, blog coordinator for Parent Talk.

Gardening with Kids: 5 Foods You Must Try!

The amazing thing about gardening at home is that your kids will shock you with how much produce they will consume, straight off the vine.  Once you get it inside, wash it and put it in a lunch box, all bets are off.  But while they are standing there, half-naked in the garden, harvesting gorgeous little tomatoes, they can't resist devouring half of what they pick.  Watching my kids eat "sooger nap peas" fresh from the garden just about makes my whole summer.

"Soogar nap peas" fresh from the garden.  Photo credit: LJR Images.

We don't have any particularly green thumbs in our house, but the fantasy of what our garden could be is so strong that we have been attempting to garden for years -- in pots, plots, the yard, and window sill.  Through trial and error, we have discovered five super simple things that our kids love to cultivate with us.

TOMATOES  

Grow after danger of frost, and harvest 2 to 3 months later.

We grow all kinds, but the kids' clear favorite are the cherry varieties.  Last year, the sungolds were the best.  The year before that, the sweet cherry 100s won the day.  The year before that, it was the yellow pear tomatoes.  Just grab two or three varieties (plants, not seeds) and plant them all.  The kids had a tomato and lemonade sale last summer that was a big hit with the neighbors.

Step right up!  Photo credit: LJR Images.

 SUGAR SNAP PEAS 

Sow in spring, just after last frost, and harvest in morning.

These are quick to sprout and early to mature, so you will be eating them long before your tomatoes come along later in the season.  We like to get the climbing kind, not bush beans.  Watching them snake their way up a trellis is half the fun.  These are best grown from seeds.  Sow them deeper than recommended or the bunnies and chipmunks will eat the seeds.  We grow them mainly to eat in the yard, so we almost never cook them.  We do have one pretty fabulous salad suggestion with snaps, radishes, sumac dressing and feta, but let's be honest.  Our kids are more likely to start spontaneously cleaning than eat this salad.  Because it's not all about the kids, try this salad.

Our favorite way to enjoy our tomatoes and basil.  Photo credit: LJR Images.

LETTUCE 

Grow in spring or fall, and harvest by leaf or by heads when almost mature.

We usually pick up a few plants on our first run to the green house in the early spring.  We get them in the ground early and try our luck with the frost.  At the same time, we plant a couple of rows of arugula and spinach seeds.  We "thin" these by eating baby sprouts and greens every few days after they get started.  Our kids blow our minds when they eat greens from our garden, because lettuce was on the "never would I touch that in my wildest dreams" list before we started growing our own.  Now, they just nibble a bit here and there, but it's a start.

POTATOES 

 Plant within 2 weeks of last frost, and harvest 10 weeks later.

Who knew growing potatoes was fun???  We buy the spuds at our local garden store and plant them after the last frost.  They grow big, beautiful, full plants relatively early in summer before they become obnoxious, gangly, and start to fall over.  We refuse to stake them, so we ultimately end up mowing them a little bit by accident when we do the lawn.  When the plants start to die (which is normal, it has nothing to do with our mowing habits), we freak out and think all is lost.  Then, we start digging and uncover little golden globes of awesomeness in the dirt.

Finally harvesting the pumpkins in September.  Photo credit: LJR Images.

PUMPKINS

 Plant late May or seed inside 2-4 weeks before last spring frost.

Last fall was our first success with pumpkins, so don't give up if they fail at first.  We had two gorgeous green (but ripening to orange) pumpkins, a little smaller than soccer balls.  They were even candidates for carving in October!  Pumpkins are tricky because of the declining bee population, so you may have to help with pollination.  What an awesome lesson for the kids, right??? Just google how to pollinate pumpkins, and go for it.  (Of course, this is also a great reminder that you can plant a pollinator garden with your kids as well, which is a story for another post.)  Pumpkins need a lot of space, but if your backyard is miniscule (like ours), don't let this stop you.  Our one plant is in an area about 6'x6' and it gets lots of morning and mid-day sun.

A few other things we do?  We love to grow scallions, herbs of all kinds, and jalapenos.  We attribute a good deal of our success to the compost we work into the garden each year.  We have a bin, and we buy worms.  Freaked out? Then just buy some good dirt at the garden store.

Hard-Bargaining Gardeners.  Photo credit: LJR Images.

Worried about not having enough space to garden?  We have several different areas in our backyard that we use for veggies.  We mix in flowers, especially marigolds, because they are attractive to pollinators while allegedly deterring some garden pests.  As long as you have some good sun, you can plant anywhere.  You don't need to section off a giant rectangle with perfect 90 degree angles.  But, in case you're wondering, we do have a cool planter and we also had a raised bed with paver edges put in a couple of years ago.  Still, much of our garden grows along our back fence without anything fancy.  Okay - maybe a little bit fancy -- we picked up two of these trellises for our sugar snap peas.  And our tomatoes grow so high that we are always on the lookout for new ways to manage/stake them.  Give us your suggestions.

Happy gardening!

About the Authors
Dani & Cindy are two moms in Massachusetts.  They have never blogged before, so give them a cheer and a like.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Parent Talk will be partnering with Needham Community Farm to offer classes in the Spring.  Check the Parent Talk events calendar for updates!

Twisted Corned Beef and Cabbage with Eggs, Naturally

I love crock pot recipes for the ease and convenience they offer in creating a healthy, hearty meal for the family with little time investment.  But my personal experience with crock pot meals is that they typically result in food that is okay to pretty good, rather than delicious to mouthwatering.  There was, however, one exception.  On St. Patrick's Day 2010, my crock pot turned out the most incredible corned beef and cabbage that the world has ever seen!  I brought it to an office party where it was promptly devoured and exclaimed over.

"Faces from the St. Patrick's Day Parade" by Jeffrey

Unfortunately, those were the days before I had any interest in cooking, so that recipe has pretty much disappeared.  But with St. Patrick's Day 2016 coming up, I did an online search for that corned beef and cabbage recipe.  I only remembered that it called for the somewhat surprising additions of orange juice and brown sugar.  A lot of recipes came up, but not the one I wanted. 

I took a stab at melding the recipes that I found with memory.  The result was a sweet and sour take on traditional corned beef.  For those with traditional tastes and like a strictly salty corned beef, this is a recipe to skip.  If you like sweet and sour and don't mind mixing it with salty, it could be worth your walk on the wilder side.  This was not a repeat of St. Paddy's Day 2010, but added to white rice, I thought this version of corned beef tasted pretty good.  And since pretty good is the hallmark of a decent crock pot recipe, why not share?

TWISTED CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE

Ingredients

3 lb corned beef (with seasoning packet or already seasoned -- I used one from Trader Joe's)

1/2 head of cabbage, coarsely chopped

 12 large red potatoes, quartered

1 onion, chopped

1 lb carrots, peeled and chopped (I used ready-to-eat carrots)

1 can frozen orange juice concentrate

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 cups water

Place potatoes, onion, carrots and cabbage in crock pot.  Place seasoned corned beef on top of vegetables.  (Tip: if veggies are a bit too bulky for the crock pot, place half of the cabbage in the pot and let it cook down first before adding the rest of the cabbage.  Or, just wait until last hour of cooking to add cabbage, since otherwise it tends to disintegrate and disappear).  Mix orange juice concentrate and brown sugar with water and pour over the beef.  Cook in slow cooker on high for 3 hours, then switch to low for 5 hours or until done.  Serve over fresh white rice.

NATURAL FOOD COLORING FOR EASTER EGGS

After St. Paddy's Day, I'm looking forward to trying out some naturally dyed Easter eggs.  Last year, I dyed some eggs with natural food coloring with this result:

The naturally dyed eggs are resting on a used Paas dyed eggs carton for drying.  They are darker in color when I used brown eggs.  Yellow on a white egg became orange to brown on a brown egg. I also attempted some two-tone striping that turned out a bit uneven.

Last year's experiment was a lesson.  This year, I will try to remember a few things.  First, I will buy white eggs instead of the brown that I normally get to achieve brighter colors.  Second, I will add extra-plenty of the natural dye ingredients (spinach for green, turmeric for orange/yellow, beets for pink, and blueberries for blue) with vinegar to get a more vibrant color.  Third, I'll leave time to do a second or even third dip for stronger colors and clearer striping, since the natural dyes tend to be lighter than synthetic dyes.

What to do in the down time between cooking a St. Paddy's Day meal and dying Easter eggs?  I'm tempted to find a good recipe for making a glazed ham, because then I can change the color of egg yolks by injecting some food color . . . and voila, Green Eggs and Ham!  Instant fun for my child's breakfast, when accompanied by the well-loved Dr. Seuss story!


About the Author
Darlene W. Cancell is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom, and most recently, blog coordinator for Parent Talk.

Finding Balance is a Work in Progress for SAHM

Here's how I pictured life as a stay-at-home mom.  The coffee machine switches on, and the cozy smell of caffeine wafts into my bedroom waking me up.  I go from room to room, collecting my children.  I serve them breakfast while we laugh together.  We spend our mornings at a My Gym class, our afternoons with friends, and our evenings as a family, perhaps snuggled together watching a movie.

"Ridge's Food for infants and invalids" by Boston Public Library

Are you cry-laughing at me yet?

As you can imagine, my first year of motherhood was a SHOCK.  There was nothing to talk about with my infant over breakfast -- caffeinated or not.  My Gym classes were weekly, not daily, and I had completely forgotten about the whole two or three naps a day problem.  Afternoons with friends would be great, if those friends didn't have to stay home with their own napping children.  And when my husband came home from work, what I wanted -- no, needed -- was a break from my needy little sidekick and a chance to get things done for the first time all day.

When my second baby was born only fifteen months later, I realized how wrong my expectations had been.  I also realized that I didn't have to change my stay-at-home status to improve my outlook.  I just had to change my expectations, and I did that by recognizing some crucial things about myself.

"tired mom" by Dragan

I FOUND THE RIGHT LEVEL OF SOCIALIZING FOR ME

Ideally, I would start every day with a hot mug and a long chat (to my husband's dismay).  I need very little alone time, but I have close friends who do just fine when housebound for an entire week.  When I stopped trying to be more like them, and instead found ways to meet my individual needs (e.g., catch-up phone calls during drop-offs, side-by-side Stairmasters at the gym, kid-free dinners with playgroup moms), I started to find the balance that I needed.

I KEEP MY BRAIN MOVING

Leaving my teaching job behind to become a SAHM did not meaning turning off my intellect like a switch, but I didn't know where to find intellectual stimulation outside of work.  Needham and its neighboring towns are overflowing with astoundingly smart people.  Finding fellow parents who read interesting books or were engaged in their careers or passionate about volunteer work was something that happened organically.  I also dabbled in tutoring and curriculum writing at different points between newborns.  Now that I am officially done with babies, I'm researching for a book that my dad and I plan to write together.  I have realized that flexing my mental muscle needs to be a core part of my life, even if I have to work to find opportunities.

"Woman reading newspapaers in Close Hall, The University of Iowa, 1920s" by Iowa Digital Library

I FOUND WHAT REALLY RELAXES ME

For my husband, relaxation means massage, but that feels a little too unproductive for me (I know, I have a problem).  One of my close friends processes her thoughts on long runs.  That's not me, either.  Other fellow moms unwind with a glass of wine.  Although I like to drink with my girlfriends, solo pinot doesn't have the same effect for me.

I discovered that the things that relax me are reading escapist novels (Elin Hilderbrand's are a current favorite), watching offbeat comedies on Netflix in bed, and basically doing anything with my friends (I have some excellent friends!).  Now that I know my list of relaxing things, I can try to fit a little of each into every week.  I'm always also on the lookout for additional de-stressing activities.

"keep cool on the swimming pool" by Julien Haler

I DON'T HAVE TO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE

I have worked in publishing, test prep, high schools and middle schools, and never in any of those jobs have I been told to savor every moment.  But in my job as a parent, I feel this constant undercurrent of expectation.  People say, "Whenever you are at the end of your tether, take a deep breath and remember how fast it all goes."  You know what?  I have tried that.  While it did nothing for relieving my anger, it sure made me feel guilty about being angry.  Helpful!

After reading the nine millionth HuffPo article purporting to teach parents something new about gratitude, while feeling shamed for not "stopping to smell the roses" as my toddlers wrote on walls and swallowed barrettes and head-butted me for picking out the wrong sweatpants, I had enough.  I am doing THE BEST I CAN.  That should be good enough.  My kids are going to be JUST FINE.

"Playdate" by Ian Brown

Some of my initial fantasy has come true.  I do have my hot cup of caffeine on most mornings . . . but it's usually not until after the round of drop-offs.  My kids and I see our friends at sports, playdates, impromptu pizza parties and in all sorts of ways, foreseen or unforeseen.  With five kids under eight years of age, my house has become our very own My Gym, with no monthly fees!

I do have to work hard to find my balance, and the balance will continue to change.  It may not always be roses, but my constant efforts have always been worth the reward (so far!).


About the Author
Joanna Noon is a Brookline native who loves living in Needham with her husband and five children.  She worked in education before becoming a stay-at-home mom.  Joanna is a longtime member of Parent Talk and is excited to serve on the Parent Talk Board as Membership Co-Chair.

Mash-Up of the Red Holidays

In my household, the next couple of weeks are a chance to create new memories and traditions.  There is the weeklong celebration for Chinese New Year beginning on February 7th, followed by Valentine's Day on the 14th.   The Chinese believe that the color red scares away bad luck and attracts good luck and prosperity, so Chinese New Year fits right in with the holiday that is full of hearts.

Lion dance being performed in Hong Kong.  "CNY Parade at Ocean Park" by shankar s.

This year, my son has already marched in a Chinese New Year's parade of children dressed as the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and viewed his first lion dance.  We have eaten Chinese restaurant food as part of the celebration, but I will also probably try my hand at a few dishes at home.  As a slightly intimidated new cook, I have not decided whether to make the traditional new year's foods like the sweet, chewy rice cake, nian gao.  But at the very least, I have a standby favorite recipe that I like to make on most holidays (Chinese or otherwise) -- Chinese Sticky Rice.

It's the Year of the Monkey, the ninth of in a cycle of twelve animals of Chinese lunar calendar.  Babies born in the twelve months beginning on February 8, 2016 are Monkeys.  You may also be Monkey if you were born in the appropriate twelve year cycle.  Monkeys are clever, active, and social.  They are versatile in careers and can make good leaders. Arrogance, a hot-temper and restlessness are also characteristics.  Monkeys may take some time to settle down, but ultimately tend to be loyal and committed when finally finding true love.

Speaking of love, for Valentine's Day, I'll try my hand at some cookies with the new cookie cutters I got for Christmas.  It's also an opportunity to use my son's love of crafting to help decorate the house.  Here is a look at a simple craft that we did together -- creating a Valentine's Day mobile.

We cut out 3 large hearts of equal size in pink, red, and purple construction paper.

Additionally, we cut out 3 medium sized hearts, removing the middle of each to create a border effect. We used the first cutout of the three as a template to ensure equal sizing of the medium hearts.

Lastly, we cut out 3 small hearts, for a total of 9 pink, red, and purple pieces.

With a glue stick, we glued one half of the small red heart to the facing one half of the small pink heart for a 3-D effect.

My son enjoyed smearing glue all over the small purple heart.  We then passed a string through the middle, and pasted the small 3-D red and pink heart (the half-red, half-pink side) to the purple one.

Here is a view of the 3-D small heart ornament on the string.

Below the small heart, we passed the string down the center of a medium heart to which glue was already applied.

We added glue to the other medium hearts and created the same 3-D look here, as well.

Lastly, we passed the bottom part of the string down the middle of one of the largest hearts, and repeated the steps to make the 3-D effect. We knotted the string at the very bottom tip of the large heart ornament.

The end result is a simple but decorative and colorful Valentine's Day mobile. A spiffed up version can be made by adding glitter glue, stamps, stickers, lace or drawings to the paper hearts.



About the Author
Darlene W. Cancell is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom and most recently blog coordinator for Parent Talk.