October 2018 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Birth Matters October 2018

Laura Maxson — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 01:16:33 +0000

Birth Matters October 2018 By Laura Maxson, LM A Bellies, Birth and Babies event is the perfect place for new and expectant parents to come together with birth and parenting related professionals to explore options. Putting on this kind of free event is what Birth Network of Santa Cruz County was born to do. In fact, Birth Network was born twenty years ago this fall, becoming the first nonprofit organization in the nation founded to promote Mother-Friendly Childbirth. Mother Friendly in this case refers to the Mother- Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI) created in 1996 by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. The MFCI has withstood the test of time to remain a relevant document to help support both parents and professionals in making decisions in the childbearing year. Service providers who endorse the MFCI are eligible to become profes- sional members of Birth Network and become part of an online and printed Pregnancy and Birth Resource Guide. These providers include midwives, birth and postpartum doulas, childbirth educators, birth photographers, chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, lactation support, doctors, yoga instructors and so many more. The resource guide can be a lifesaver for busy parents looking for a childbirth class or lactation support, but it is also handy for care providers to refer to other professionals. Instead of keeping track of a stack of business cards, they can share a resource guide with their favorite practitioners marked. Seeing names on paper or in an online listing is one way to get information, but Birth Network wants to encourage parents to have real conversations about real issues to help them understand the choices and decisions affecting their pregnancy and birth. Often the standard care expectant parents receive leaves some holes – time can be short at appointments or taken up with other concerns leaving parents with lingering questions. But more often than not, there can be entire aspects of care options that aren’t explored at all, simply because the provider may not know much about it. Birth Network’s next Bellies, Birth and Babies event, coming up on Nov 3, from 2-5pm, will give parents an opportunity to have open ended conversations with birth professionals and other parents about their goals and concerns about birth and parenting issues. But just as important as exploring known concerns is the exposure to new topics and ideas that may not have been considered yet. A parent looking for information on birth photographers might unexpectedly have a pivotal conversation with a lactation consultant. An informal chat with a childbirth educator or birth doula about common interventions or coping in labor might provide pregnant parents with key information to make more informed decisions. Talking about water birth with a homebirth midwife might open up possibilities that many parents don’t even know exist. To make it a truly fun event, there will be things to buy at the pop-up marketplace from baby toys to skin care products and nursing bras. Diapering demos provide invaluable advice. The many aches and pains of a changing body – with pregnancy and after baby arrives – are addressed by free mini-massages, as well as advice from chiropractors, acupuncturists and other body workers. The lactation station will have a baby scale available to weigh little ones along with information and support for breast-feeding. The baby wearing fashion show features an amazing variety of carriers available for families to borrow through Santa Cruz Baby Wearing. More baby-wearing action will be on display when the Groovaroo dancers take the floor! Birth Network’s presence in Santa Cruz County over the past twenty years has had an influence on the many birth and postpartum options that are available. Birth Network celebrates this milestone by continuing their tradition of providing parents with low and no cost opportunities for information, education and advocacy for safe, joyful and empowering childbirth. Bellies, Birth and Babies – Nov. 3, 2- 5 pm – Pacific Cultural Center, Corner of Broadway and Seabright in Santa Cruz. The first fifty families receive a swag bag and all are entered into a drawing for hundreds of dollars worth of prizes. Laura Maxson, LM, CPM, the mother of three grown children, has been working with pregnant and breastfeeding women for over 30 years. Currently she is the executive director of Birth Network of Santa Cruz County and has a home-birth midwifery practice. Contact her at midwife@scshop.com or postmaster@birthnet.org

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The Super Stoked Surf Mamas of Pleasure Point Catch a Wave with Filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin Silva

growingupsc — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:58:47 +0000

The Super Stoked Surf Mamas of Pleasure Point Catch a Wave with Filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin Silva By Suki Wessling When filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin Silva was young, she made the conscious choice to forego having children in part because of her passion for surfing. “I didn’t know of any women who had been pregnant and kept surfing,” remembers Silva. “I think if I had met the Mamas during my childbearing years I might have made a different choice.” When Katie Loggins learned she was pregnant the first time, she didn’t hesitate to get back on her board and keep surfing. “Ashley was already pregnant, and Jenny and I found out we were pregnant a few months later,” explains Loggins, a local mom, nurse, and surfer. “We continued to surf. As our bellies were getting bigger, I kept thinking, ‘This is so cool, I wish we had this on film’.” Both women speak of inspiration when they talk about their new film, “The Super Stoked Surf Mamas of Pleasure Point,” which will be screened again in Santa Cruz in the coming months. Silva and her film partner Paul Ferraris were instantly drawn to the idea of documenting the friendship of five women surfers when Loggins approached Silva by email to ask for advice about documenting their story. “It told the story of women coming together to support each other during a time when women can feel alone and are trying to balance new motherhood with their pre-mom passions,” Silva explains. “I love that the Mamas solved their problem without money.” By the time the film went into production, Loggins was pregnant with her second child. The 20-minute documentary includes interviews with all five surfers and follows Loggins’ pregnancy with gorgeous shots both from the beach and the water. “Paul [Ferraris] would sit outside and catch the wave at first peak,” Loggins says. “As he got to second peak, we would drop in on him, and he’d get shots behind us. That was the coolest shot!” The film focuses on the friendship of five women sharing a passion and looking out for one another. “It’s a lovely story that I think reflects what I’ve always loved about Santa Cruz,” says Silva, “a sense of community and caring and looking out for each other.” I interviewed three of the women about their surfing, motherhood, and their friendship. Cast: Katie Loggins: I was born and raised in my childhood home in Aptos. I really learned how to surf when I lived down in Mexico for a year. I am a Medical/Surgical nurse at Dominican Hospital. I am married to Beau Barcus, a local Santa Cruzan, and we have lived and surfed in Pleasure Point for 20 years. We have two kids, son Waylon (4) and daughter Winter (1). Mayra Aguilar: I was born in Mexico Baja California Sur in a small town called San Juanico, or Scorpion Bay as many people know it, where it is now famous for its wonderful waves. I started surfing about 10 years ago and I was the first local woman surfer and this inspired more girls to surf. I am a teacher and always motivate my students to take care of the environment and of course practice surfing. Three years ago I moved to Santa Cruz where I formed a beautiful family with my husband Micah Powell and my little one Owen Powell (3). Jenny Bennett: I was born and raised in Southern California. I loved the beach as kid but did not surf until I was in my early twenties. I grew up dancing ballet and danced with a ballet company after high school. After I stopped dancing I tried surfing. It took me a while to learn because I was afraid of big waves! I am married to Danny Bennett and we have two kids, our daughter Ruby Sunshine (11) and Kalé (4) . Also featured in the film but not interviewed: Ashley Lloyd Thompson and Grace Gooch. Conversation: What does surfing mean to you personally? Katie: Surfing is my spiritual practice. It means connecting to the wildness of the ocean, the beauty of the environment, my community of surfers, and the physicality of the sport. When I am surfing I am focused only on the water, my board, my body and the changing conditions. It fills me up to the point that I can then pour all of me into my kids, work and life. It makes me a better person, nurse and mother. Mayra: Surfing for me means to meditate and at the same time enjoy each wave no matter how many times you fall. There are days that we have good days and bad days; especially on bad days to go surfing me helps me to reflect and make better decisions but at the same time enjoy every wave I have. Jenny: Surfing means many things to me: freedom, fun and friendship with elements of challenge and exercise. When I paddle away from the shore I leave the worries and responsibilities of life on pause for a minute. I feel a connection to God in surfing, his creation and presence. I come back centered and a better wife and mom! It is also a challenge and a form of exercise which benefits my mind and physical body in a huge way. Did you ever consider giving up surfing when you became pregnant? Katie: When I did get pregnant I quickly had a new awareness of my body. Almost immediately I felt more tentative in the water and became hyper-alert about the people around me. I knew that I could control myself but could not control the people around me. Therefore, I did everything I could to continue surfing but to ensure that my growing baby and I were safe (including making hot pink Baby on Board rash guards to wear over my wet-suit so people could see me in the water, and having friends paddle out with me every session to be my “blockers”). Finally at eight months my body told me to stop so I listened. Mayra: When I knew I was pregnant, the first thing I thought about was if I could continue surfing. Unfortunately I had complications in my first month of pregnancy and the doctor recommended that I better not surf until the first trimester of pregnancy. When I returned to surf with my belly it was a bit difficult because my body was completely different and I had to find a way to swim to feel safe and enjoy each wave as before. Jenny: For both of my pregnancies I stopped surfing between the 6 and 7 months. In each pregnancy when the time came to stop I cried! With my second pregnancy, Katie and I were both pregnant at the same time and we did water aerobics together. Also, while my daughter Ruby did Junior Guards I would swim the buoys! What do you think of helicopter parenting? Do people think that you are unnecessarily endangering your children? Katie: I believe that people who helicopter parent believe they are helping their children. However, being over-protective, overbearing and over-controlling is usually a result of projecting one’s own fears onto one’s children. Although it is a parent’s natural instinct to protect, it is equally important to let your children fly. Mistakes challenge them to admit fault, learn that vulnerability is a good thing, see how their actions affect others, feel a variety of emotions, self-reflect and learn how to make different choices in the future. Jenny: This question makes me laugh because a couple years ago I was visiting my parents in Hawaii. We were with some friends and spending the day at the beach. Kalé was almost 2 at the time. He was playing at the water’s edge. And I was standing right behind watching him like any “good responsible parent.” My friend Kanani came over and asked me what I was doing, why I was standing right over him. She said, “You look like a mainland mom— come sit with the rest of the moms over here.” She then said, “He will be fine and will learn how far he can go.” I was shocked! Who would not stand right next to their child who can’t swim. But I thought, OK, I will step away. He didn’t drown that day! But I think about that experience often in my parenting as a whole. If your surfing could teach your kids one thing, what would that be? Mayra: First of all, being patient to achieve what he wants, also to be shared and not be selfish, and enjoy every moment of the sea in the water or outside it. Katie: I hope by watching me surf and the role it plays in our family dynamics, my children will learn that there is something in this world that they can connect with on a deep level. It may be surfing, needlepoint, bird-watching, or something else, but they can find it and choose it. I hope they see how important it is to acknowledge that you deserve time to honor your needs, your passions, and replenish your soul by doing that thing you connect with so deeply… And in choosing it, your entire world benefits. Jenny: I hope that my surfing inspires my children to find things that they love to do! And to continue doing it through all the seasons of life they will walk through. Any parting words of wisdom for other moms who want to pursue their interests? Katie: Too often as parents we get consumed by the day-to-day hustle and bustle. My advice is to advocate for your needs. Choose to find a way to replenish your soul every day. I would say to any parent feeling the way we did, don’t give up on your interests. Continuing to practice your passion is more important than ever when you are a parent. It will keep you healthy, balanced and energized. And you will see the ripple effect in your family, with your children and in your parenting. Reach out, get vulnerable, ask for help, find your people and do what you love. Mayra: Invite all the girls to continue doing what they love, surf the sea, athletics and any other sport as long as they do it with much caution. Being pregnant is not an impediment to continue doing what you like but to enjoy every moment. Jenny: To find or refind your passion!! The dishes and laundry will always be there. A happy mom changes the whole dynamic of the home. There may be sand on the floor or dishes in the sink but it’s OK! Take a minute and do something for yourself. Challenge yourself to learn something new! Find a tribe of friends. We were made for community. And when both come together it’s life-giving. Exercise and community can lift depression and anx- iety (I have struggled with both). I hope to see you in the water! Suki Wessling is a local writer, teacher, and mother of two teens. Learn more at www.SukiWessling.com Keep up with the surf mama screenings on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/itsssmpp/, on instagram @surfmamas, or at www.otwfront.com Watch the trailer for surf mamas: vimeo.com/276451615

The post The Super Stoked Surf Mamas of Pleasure Point Catch a Wave with Filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin Silva first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

You Want to be What?: Halloween 2018 for Kids and Tweens

growingupsc — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:39:07 +0000

You Want to be What?: Halloween 2018 for Kids and Tweens By John Koenig It’s October, and Halloween decorations and costumes have already been in the stores for at least a month! Hopefully, preparing your young one for the Big Night will be an autumn breeze this year, but if you’re anticipating trouble in the form of indecision, expense, or culture clash, now is the time to prepare and resolve Halloween nightmares before they begin. Halloween can be one of the most fun times of the year for parents and young ones to share, but potential problems are numerous. Is the costume your kid has their heart set on a little too scary, sexy, or commercial to set well with you? If you’re shopping at one of the Halloween-themed costume shops in Santa Cruz County, rest assured that the store associates are prepared to help find outfits that will make everyone happy. Beth Paiva, who manages the Wormwood Party Store in Capitola, has been shopping for this year’s Halloween treasures since January and began the store’s Halloween transformation in July as shipments begin rolling in. The store prepares knowingly for kids of all ages. The scariest decorations and masks are even given their own aisles so that easily frightened little ones can enter the store without being upset. Costume themes appropriate for an entire family are available, including The Incredibles. Paiva has learned that it’s the 7th and 8th grade girls who feel like they’ve out-grown kid outfits and often look for costumes that might reveal too much. She keeps an inventory of extra-small adult costumes for juniors who want to look “a little more grown up,” but she’s always ready to make helpful suggestions that will make parents and kids happy. Dru Acosta-Jewel, a store manager at Spirit Halloween, also notes how some older kids’ costume choices are deemed “a little inappropriate” by parents who often ask for a “toned down” version. He suggests maybe dressing as “Eleven,” a character from the Stranger Things series, who wears a white mini-dress— short, but perhaps not too short. More modest choices are Spirit’s Victorian Vampire collection or a witch from Disney’s Hocus Pocus. This year, costumes based on video games are especially popular, and fads come so quickly, it’s hard for stores to keep up. At Wormwood, the late fa- vorite is Overwatch, an anime-style ac- tion game, while old favorites Minecraft and Lego are still popular. Minecraft players can dress as “Creepers” or wear “Diamond Armor” and carry toy pick- axes, the game’s mining tool. Pickaxes figure more prominently, and much more violently, in the run- away hit game Fortnight, the online game in which players roam a virtual landscape finding weapons with which to “kill” their competitors. Imagine Minecraft crossed with The Hunger Games. A pickaxe is the default weapon that every player is given, and they come in several types. The Spirit Halloween store in the Capitola Mall carries an entire arsenal of toy weapons from Fortnight, including musical “Boogie Bomb” hand grenades, and the ubiquitous pickaxes, as well as the various clothing choices from the game (known as “skins”). Since this is the first year of the Fortnight phenomenon, it’s an open question as to whether neighborhoods will be transformed into islands of roaming survivalists or not. If you hear your kids talking about creepypasta, no, it’s not a dish to be served at a Halloween theme party. Creepypasta is a term to describe scary urban legends, and parents may be shocked at how knowledgeable their kids are about the lore. The notorious Slender Man and Jeff the Killer among them the better-known characters, and yes, there are creepypasta costumes at the Spirit store as well. Andrew the manager at Cabrillo Mall’s Hot Topic store adds one more popular addition to the gallery of frightful faces—Pennywise, the scary clown from Stephen King’s “It.” For girls who choose to be playfully villainous for the night, Batman’s Harley Quinn is a popular character at Hot Topic, and for little kids, Andrew suggests anime characters from the Dragonball Z or Pokemon universes. After all, who can resist a little Pikachu?

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Live Like Coco, Read Like Coco

growingupsc — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:26:34 +0000

Live Like Coco, Read Like Coco: Growing Program Gives 5,000 Books to Local Students By Linda Kissinger Thousands of local public school students will get a special gift to celebrate their birthdays this year: a free book of their choosing, courtesy of the Live Like Coco Foundation. The Birthday Books From Coco literacy program launched in 2015 in memory of Coco Lazenby, a 12-year- old Pajaro Valley School District (PVUSD) student who was killed in a car accident on August 8, 2015. The program has grown significantly since launching, and now includes 10 public schools in Santa Cruz, Soquel, Aptos and Watsonville, serving nearly 5,000 elementary school students. “It’s so amazing to see how excited the kids get about selecting their own books,” says Kate Pavao, the executive director of Live Like Coco and Coco’s mom. “Coco was such a bookworm, and it feels so good to have a reason be around kids and books, especially when they connect with a book that I know she would have loved.” During her life, Coco Lazenby worked in community gardens, participated in beach cleanups, collected jeans for homeless teens, and raised money to support a number of worthy causes. After she was killed at age 12 in a car accident, her parents started Live Like Coco to keep her spirit alive in the community she loved. Now, the Live Like Coco Foundation provides thousands of Santa Cruz kids with free books as well as funding scholarships to extra-curricular activities. We also support projects that keep kids healthy, as well as organizations protecting our county’s amazing natural spaces so kids can play and explore together. All kids should be able to grow up healthy and with the opportunity to pursue their dreams. This is something Coco believed. And now, the Live Like Coco Foundation is dedicated to the pursuit of the same goal. For more information, visit: LiveLikeCoco.com.

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It’s the Spookiest Time of the Year: Always Amused October 2018

growingupsc — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:14:07 +0000

It’s the Spookiest Time of the Year: Always Amused October 2018 By Eric Chalhoub October is the start of the fall sea- son — the days become shorter, trees become bare, orange becomes the common color, and zombies start to roam the streets (in larger numbers, at least). It’s also one of the best, if not busiest, times to visit a theme park, and locally, we’ve got one of the best Halloween events around. California’s Great America’s 11th annual Halloween Haunt got the spooky season underway Sept. 21, and will continue to run Friday through Sunday nights up to Oct. 28. This year, the event sees a new maze (Tooth Fairy), new scare zone (Ripper’s Revenge), and a reimagining of two classic mazes (Madame Marie’s Blackout and CornStalkers), all of which are a hit and continue Haunt’s constant evolution. In addition, magician Ed Alonzo is back, headlining a strong lineup of live shows. After attending Halloween Haunt every year since 2010, I’m always on the lookout for some new element that takes me by surprise. So I was thrilled to see just that in the Tooth Fairy maze, something that I was talking about the entire night when I visited on Sept. 21. I was even glad to wait in a long line the second go-round just to experience it again. I won’t spoil the surprise in this column. Madame Marie’s Blackout also added a new twist to a maze that made its debut in 2012. This year, Great America turned the lights off in the voodoo manor-themed maze, only giving you a small, dim flash- light to navigate the fog-filled corridors. I experienced a similar maze last year at Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest, and I’ve grown to be a big fan of lights-out-type experiences. Chaos House at Halloween Haunt is probably the most unique, trippiest experience I’ve had at the event. The maze, which debuted in 2017, is nothing but strobe lights, mirrors, fog, warped walls, complete blackness and a few monsters strewn about. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart, and if you are prone to seizures, avoid it. One walk-through per visit is enough for me. It was, however, disappointing to see that Great America removed Haunt’s Skeleton Key rooms this year, which were upcharged attractions each with a crazy experience for small groups. Thinking about visiting Halloween Haunt for the first time? Here are a few tips and observations I have picked up over the years: – Get there early. The event opens at 7 p.m.; plan on being in the park- ing lot at 6:30 p.m. The crowds will be held back in the park’s entrance plaza while the opening ceremony commences. Being there early gives you time to make your way through the parking and ticket booths, which can take awhile. – Hit the mazes in the back of the park first. Most guests will get in the line for the first mazes they see near the entrance (Backwoods, Roadkill Roadhouse and Chaos House), causing congested lines and lengthy waits. Once the opening ceremony wraps up, head directly to the back of the park and get in line for Zombie High, Tooth Fairy and Corn-Stalkers. Chances are, you will be one of the first guests in line, and the monsters will be more energetic. They tend to tire out as the night goes on. Once you hit those three mazes, then make your way to the front, going opposite of the crowds. – Please, do not bring small children. Great America recommends Halloween Haunt is suitable for anyone 13 and over. I’ve lost count of how many elementary school-aged children and those in strollers I’ve seen in tears and terrified at the scary monsters, loud music and creepy environments. Great America does have a daytime Halloween event just for the younger set, The Great Pumpkin Fest, where kids ages 12 and under can trick-or-treat with Peanuts characters, go through a hay maze and more. – Most of all, have fun. Be prepared to get scared, keep an open mind and be courteous to your fellow park guests and monsters. Plan your visit by going to www.cagreatamerica.com. Writer Erik Chalhoub has never found a roller coaster too fast or a haunted house too scary. He travels the country riding the best thrill rides. He’s a former Cabrillo College student who is now editor at the Watsonville Register Pajaronian.

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Help Kids Get to School Safely: Here’s How You Can Get Involved

growingupsc — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:02:25 +0000

Help Get Kids to School Safely: Here’s How You Can Get Involved By Karen Kefauver At times, we may wax nostalgic, and say, “Back in my day, we all biked and walked to school, because it was safe, but now…” While your kids may roll their eyes, it’s true; times have changed. According to the National Center for Safe Routes to School, in 1969, 48 percent of children ages 5 to 14 years old usually walked or bicycled to school. By 2009, that number dropped to 31 percent for the same age group. Is that steep decline just a sad fact of modern life? Fortunately, there’s a chance to help reverse that trend and help your kids get to school by bike or by foot safely, instead of by car. (You all know how hellish it can be at school “rush hour” during pick-up and drop-off.) Ecology Action, the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Scotts Valley and the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency are partnering to create a Safe Routes to School Plan for 16 schools in Live Oak, Aptos and Scotts Valley. This project is modeled after a similar Safe Routes to School plan that was launched in the City of Santa Cruz. After completing the plan in 2013, Santa Cruz received $1.4 million in grant funding to design and construct a variety of safety improvements around Santa Cruz City Schools. Past grants have funded projects that improve or create sidewalks, school crossings and bike lanes. The first step in the Safe Routes to School process is to identify barriers preventing students from walking and biking to school safely. Common barriers include the distance to school, traffic concerns, weather and danger from crime. In Santa Cruz County, bicycle and pedestrian accidents are a serious problem. But changes are underway locally in urban infrastructure, such as the City of Santa Cruz’s recent addition of contra-flow bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections and prominent, bright green bike lane markings. To specifically improve safe access to schools, Safe Routes to School (an international program (www.saferoutesinfo.org) emphasizes traffic safety education classes for cyclists and pedestrians, creating Safe Routes Maps for bicycling and walking to each school and helps promote fun events, like Bike to Work Day on October 4th. (See locations for free breakfasts ecoact.org/biketowork). While we can’t travel back in time, Safe Routes to School is a positive way to move forward to a brighter future with fewer cars, better health for our kids and their walking and biking safely to school. See you at Bike to Work Day! Karen Kefauver is a freelance journalist and social media coach based in Santa Cruz since 1993. She’s an avid mountain biker and bicycle commuter. www.karenkefauver.com

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Trick or Treat: Halloween is Really Scary for Kids with Diabetes

growingupsc — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:22:05 +0000

Trick or Treat: Halloween is Really Scary for Kids with Diabetes By Tony Hicks Jenny Urban discovered her 6-year-old son, Chase, had Type 1 Diabetes – five days before Halloween. “It was a rapid adjustment,” said the Half Moon Bay resident, with a laugh. “It became a totally different holiday for him.” And for his mom, who suddenly found herself monitoring the now 14-year-old’s blood sugar, monitoring how much exercise he was getting, and how much candy he could have at night’s end, when kids traditionally sort and compare their loot. Celebrating what’s supposed to be the creepiest day on the calendar gets even scarier for some parents each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. A study published in 2017 in the New England Journal of Medicine says cases of Juvenile Type 1 diabetes is growing by 1.8 percent annually, which is eclipsed in the same age group (below 20 years old) by Type 2 diabetes, which the study says is growing at a 4.8 percent clip annually. According to the NIH, Type 1 Diabetes – which prevents the body from making insulin – is the most common form of the disease in young people. With Type 2 diabetes, the body does not make or use insulin well. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in a person’s blood. “Everyone, kids included, should limit sweets,” says Jeff Hitchcock, the president of advocacy group Children with Diabetes. “And sugar-free candy is not a good idea, since most are sweetened by sugar alcohols, which can cause stomach distress. If you’re going to allow your children to eat candy, then let them enjoy the real thing.” Urban says she doesn’t see many parents offering sugar-free candy, which Chase doesn’t like anyway. Instead, she monitors (or monitored, as Chase doesn’t trick-or- treat much anymore) Chase’s blood sugar while he burns calories traveling from house to house. Kids may actually need some sugar for all the energy they burn. “We stayed close to him, because walking lowers his blood sugar,” she says, adding that when that does occur, Smarties are her go-to choice for a sugar boost. When not logging neighborhood miles, Urban would parcel out the candy over time (making sure the whole family satisfied their collective sweet tooth as well). Food like Smarties are good for increasing levels of dextrose, which brings depleted sugar levels up rapidly (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation agrees with her Smarties assessment in its Halloween guide). The JDRF also says chocolate bars, with their high sugar fat content, isn’t necessarily good for bringing up sugar levels quickly. But if the sugar level is good, “If he’s going to have something sugary, we give him dark chocolate, because it’s more healthy,” Urban says. “It has lots of fat, so he digests it slower.” Shelly Jensen, the Marketing and Communications Director of the Bay Area chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, says the group publishes a Halloween guide for young diabetics and their parents every year (go to www.JDRF.org). This year’s version has yet to be published, but the 2017 guide helps lay out a plan for parents, including researching foods to avoid, the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), counting carbohydrates (which break down digestible food into sugar), and finding alternative treats with less sugar. The JDRF recommends parents decide beforehand how much sugar they’re comfortable with allowing their kids to eat, monitoring blood sugar, knowing the appropriate insulin levels kids should be at, which foods to avoid. The guide also lists the carbohydrate count for various items that may show up in the goodie bags of children including blow pops (13 grams), candy corn (1.9 grans per piece), Hershey’s Kiss (2.8 grams per piece), Skittles (1 gram per piece), and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, which comes in with a whopping 12 grams per 21- ounce cup. The foundation also recommends parents remember the effect all that running around between houses isn’t necessarily regular routine, and that they consider the activity level of their kids. Plus, lower temperatures can contribute to hypoglycemia. “Regardless of costume, make sure your child stays warm,” the foundation recommends. Plus, as most parents understand, kids may believe they can be sly with their candy consumption. “Take inventory,” the foundation says. “Sneakily consumed candy can be the explanation for some elevated Halloween blood sugars.” The good news for parents is that there are choices when it comes to taking … and giving. “Get the real thing, or give out alternatives, like small toys, which is what our family does,” says Hitchcock. Each year we buy a bunch of Halloween-themed, inexpensive toys. Kids – even teens – often appreciate getting something fun and different.” The JDRF says it’s a good opportunity for parents to “get creative.” They can score a win for their own taste buds by buying back treats, either with cash or more healthy alternatives. The candy can also be used as currency to get other items. Dentists often have candy buy-back programs. The sugar loot can also serve as a method by which to teach kids how to be charitable. “Food pantries and hunger groups often accept candy donations for those in need,” says the treat guide. “And military organizations will send candy to trips overseas.” That would likely be a great way to spend a sugar rush.

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What’s a Dentist’s Eye View of the Sweets Given Out at Halloween?

growingupsc — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:09:53 +0000

What’s a Dentist’s Eye View of the Sweets Given Out at Halloween? By Dr. Megan With the advent of the Trick or Treat, there could be some levels of concern, thoughts, or even fear in every parent’s mind, contemplating how to handle the situation with their children. It is considered a joyful experience to which many children are looking forward. How can we let them enjoy the full adventure without a constant concern about the volume of all the sweets brought in? Parents who have met me, probably know how I try to spend some time talking about what sugar does to the brain. You read it right. I’m not even starting with teeth here! I tell them “I’m a dentist, but for me teeth come second!” There is more research nowadays illuminating the relationship between sugar and systemic diseases, even in children. You might think they are children, they grow up and will do better with their diet in future. I must tell you, sugar has been proved to be more addictive than cocaine! What it does to our brain cells to make us want it more and more is just comparable to addictive drugs. I know when I have an occasional piece of sweet, I definitely crave some more the day after and I have to try much harder to kill that craving in me. Halloween should be handled just like any other occasion such as birthdays or family functions; meaning everything starts with how well and efficient the parents have been able to keep children away from sweet all their life. It starts by telling children true stories, in their own words though, of how cavities begin. Obviously this is very much age/maturity dependent. However the following is a sample of how I present my stories to children 3-6 years old, and you may modify my wordings for the younger or older group: Every time we eat something sweet, like candies, juice, (feel free to use as many examples here as possible!), we invite “sugar bugs” or “sugar germs” to our teeth. They are very small and you don’t see them with your eyes. These sugar bugs LOVE the sweet and start having a lot of fun with so much sweet around them. After a while of partying, they are so stuck on our teeth that they make these little holes and we call them cavities. Do you like having those holes on your teeth? You may ask, however, how do we deal with the whole basket of sweets they want to run through over night? This is when some strictness is suggested. Storing (I mean hiding) or rationing them would be a good idea. If they are happy with a little sweet given to them occasionally (preferably with/after a meal), plan and schedule providing it such that they have it only as an occasional treat, not an every-day one. Is electric toothbrush recommended? If yes, when? Despite all the media commercials you see advocating for electric toothbrushes to be superior to regular toothbrushes, there is not much scientific data to prove it. Using them is just as good as using regular toothbrushes. Don’t get me wrong. There are cases I recommend using them. However, assuming there is a magic behind the technology of an electric toothbrush that a regular toothbrush doesn’t have, would be wrong. So when do I suggest them? If you cared enough reading this far, you probably have a child and we all know how they could be peculiar with their preferences and desires. If an electric toothbrush is a motive for a child to brush their teeth, go for it! Let them enjoy the experience! Although I’ve heard of the reverse as well where they find it intimidating, noisy or just not the right tool to bring close to their teeth. Just recently a father was telling me how his 4 year-old boy does not like the taste of children’s toothpastes and only wants to use the adult ones. I must tell you this was a first! In conclusion, there is really no rule set in stone when it comes to using electric toothbrushes. Use them at your discretion when/if it is acceptable/preferred by your beloved child. I am Dr. Mojdeh Faraz, AKA Dr. Megan 🙂 I am a Board-certified pediatric dentist at Pajaro Valley Childrens Dental Group. I received my DDS at NYU fol- lowed by my specialty training at Jacobi Medical Center in affiliation with Albert Einstein School of Medicine. My passion in working with children and to be part of their innocent world led me to my field. I am proud to work with an amazing crew who are so seasoned when it comes to working with children. They are the reason for the excellent reviews and feedback we’ve receive over the years. Please Feel free to come by and visit our fun and child- friendly practice

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We Asked, You Answered October 2018

growingupsc — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 22:52:35 +0000

What Are Your Halloween Traditions? We Asked, You Answered: October 2018 By Ann Carin Niland “We usually go to the mall and roam around there. We don’t do the usual traditional neighborhood way. It’s just the thing to do.” Chris Ruelas, of Capitola, has two kids, Jacob, 12 and Anicia, 5 “We decorate our house. A little bit spooky but not too spooky because they’re still young. And then we do trick-or-treat at night. We usually go to the New Brighton area to trick-or-treat. We meet up with their cousin, who is Nathan’s age, we do a little bit of trick-or-treating and then we go home.” Jillian Mickel, of Live Oak, has Nathan, 6, Isla, 4, and Mackenna, 1 “Every year we go to a friend’s house in Watsonville and have a pizza party. Then everybody gets dressed up and we go to a neighborhood that’s very compact where they can trick-or-treat a lot in a span of an hour and then we get to go home.” Stacy Kyle, of Live Oak, has Aiden, 9 and Alexandra, 6 “We put out a table. We put out a table with food for the parents that have died. The food that they really liked. Because for Dia de los Muertos they come back to enjoy their favorite food. Like, posole, or if they drink a lot of coffee in the mornings we put out a pot of coffee for them, Or a bottle of tequila. We put out a photo of everybody and one of the candles.” Sergio Garcia, of Watsonville, has Freddy, 19, Jasmine, 14 and Sergio, 4 “We go to a pumpkin patch. We were living in Arizona, so we are back here for this Halloween and will probably go to Hollister. Gabriel picks out Halloween shirts for him and I and we where the Halloween shirts while spending the day at a fun pumpkin patch that has a bunch of attractions.” Lena Bonds, of Live Oak, has Gabriel, 4. “Currently, we don’t have a set tradition, because we may or may not have our kid on Halloween itself. When we do have her it is going trick or treating preferably in the good neighborhoods where all the best candy is and then getting home in time to get her in bed for school the next day.” Joseph Rosa, of Live Oak, has Myra 6

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The First Baby Picture on a Camera Phone was Taken in Santa Cruz

growingupsc — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 22:18:02 +0000

The First Baby Picture on a Camera Phone was Taken in Santa Cruz By Brad Kava On June 11, 1997, Santa Cruz in- ventor Philippe Kahn was waiting dur- ing his wife, Sonia Lee’s 18-hour labor when the idea struck. He wanted to send out pictures of his daughter Sophie, when she was born at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center. He had a cell phone and a camera, but up to then, no one had thought to link them. He thought about how clumsy it would be to take the photo and upload it to a laptop to email it out, and with time on his hands, he zipped over to Radio Shack for soldering wire. He linked his Casio QV-10 point-and- shoot camera to his Motorola Startac phone, wrote some code and–voila!– two stars were born. His invention became the most widely circulated technology in the world, he says. “The vision was ‘point, shoot and share instantly,’” says Kahn, 66. “That vision gave birth to citizen journalism, telemedicine in practical ways, and more generally letting Ms. and Mr. Everyone take and share more pictures than ever before. That’s a game- changer.” His daughter is now a journalism student at NYU. Kahn, a French immigrant with degrees in music (as a classical flautist) and math, showed up in Silicon Valley on a tourist visa and wanted to stay. He knew no one here and didn’t have a Green Card, but ended up getting a job making printer cables. He was making a different kind of connection, too— with tech power players, and it led to his co-founding of the software com- pany Borland International in Scotts Valley in 1983. He went through ups and downs, including getting forced out of the company he founded in 1995 after an economic downturn. But Kahn’s entrepreneurial spirit wouldn’t quit. After the cell phone camera, he started Fullpower Technologies, which focuses on health apps for beds and watches. His devices tell how well and how long you slept and how much exercise you are getting. A world-class sailor, Kahn has crossed the Pacific 10 times, and started the Pegasus Racing team. It was those long trips that inspired the Fullpower invention, as a way to monitor sleep during grueling trips. The monitors use technology that tracks micro-movements to see how fitful sleep is. He still loves Santa Cruz and has offices downtown above Forever 21. “The first time I experienced the Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz, I decided that Santa Cruz has it all: surfing waves, sailing wind, mountain-biking trails,” Kahn says. “What an ideal playground to create new technology with like- minded passionate engineers.” Sutter hasn’t put up a plaque to commemorate the invention, but they should. Meanwhile, there’s a great video with Kahn in it celebrating the day here: https://vimeo.com/221117048

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