September 2009 Newsletter

Board Member's Letter
News & Notes
Happy Birthday
Comings & Goings
Tips for Tots
Craft
Recipe of the Month

Board Member's Letter

September is here and that means school time for many of the kids in our Club…including my 3 1/2-year-old son, Andrew. He starts 3-day-a-week preschool this week and it is with joy and sadness that I send him out the door.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s ready to go…and I’m ready for him to go. At the beginning of the summer, I remember thinking that September couldn’t come fast enough. How was I supposed to entertain an energetic little boy with a new baby in tow? However, we charged into summer and really enjoyed being together.

Now September is here and I pause to wonder how I’m going to send my little one off to school without a few tears shed on my part. Granted, it is only three mornings a week for preschool, but it is the starting of new phase of life for our family. I’m sure it is the same for many of you with kids in school. As stay-at-home moms, we spend so much of our time and energy caring for and teaching our little ones…and slowly, we see glimpses of the impacts we have had on them. Then the day comes when it is time for the children to put those lessons into practice in a new setting: school. That is when we give hugs and kisses (if the kids let us), hold our breath and hope we did a good job.

Good luck to all of your kids who are starting school this week…and good luck to you moms!

Michele O.
MOMS Club Secretary

 

News & Notes

Votes Passed at August General Meeting
The 2009/2010 Service Plan and Annual Budget were approved by a vote at the August General Meeting.

Committee Positions Filled
The committees are now full – thanks to everyone who volunteered. We're actually disbanding the General Meeting Planning committee since we're going to try to go a little more low-key this year with General Meeting activities.

Baby Items for Afghanistan Clinic
Chrissie will continue to collect items for the women's clinic in Afghanistan until Sept. 19th. They need USED baby blankets, bottles (the kind that don't require liners), clothing, shoes, burp cloths, cloth diapers and pins, formula, and Similac & Enfamil coupons that don't expire before 9/30/09. We're also collecting monetary donations to pay for formula and shipping. Contact Chrissie to arrange drop-off.

New 5s+ & All Ages Coordinator
Welcome to Erin M. who has kindly volunteered to take over coordinating all ages activities, as well as those for our school-aged children (5s+). As a reminder, our coordinators are:
Infants: Chris C.
1s: Liz A.
2s: Paige C.
3s: Wendy C.
4s: Tonia P.
5s+ & all ages: Erin M.

Consignment Sale Announcement
The sale will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17th from 8am-1pm. Volunteers and cosigners will be able to shop the preview sale on Friday, October 16th right after your shift. Consigner registration forms must be submitted by 9 am on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 to Tara W. or Grace Weekday Preschool. Like last year, we will have a table of baked goods for sale, so if you cannot donate your time please consider donating some baked goods.

If you are interested in volunteering (either on the day of the sale or for setup on the 16th), or you would like to consign, please contact our consignment sale coordinator, Katie P. Keep in mind – you do not have to consign to volunteer at the sale! All proceeds of this consignment sale will go to our Coat Drive in November. Thanks for helping us make this Consignment Sale a success!

Tips for cosigners:

  • Complete the registration form by 9am on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
  • Only maternity and children's items will be accepted
  • You set your own prices, and you will receive 60% of the item's sold price
  • You must tag your items

Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Distribute fliers to local schools
  • Help make and post signs throughout the community
  • Volunteer to work the sale: Duties can range from set-up, checking-in and organizing the merchandise, helping customers, checking-out customers, and sorting unsold items on both Friday and Saturday, and working the bake sale.

Halloween Costume Swap
Looking for a costume for your little one, but don't want to spend too much? How about getting a costume for FREE? Sounds good to me too! If you'd like to participate in the MOMS Club annual costume exchange:

  1. Send a quick email to Jenny B. and let her know which costume(s) you have to lend & size (or if you are just interested in borrowing).
  2. Come to our September General Meeting on 9/28/09 (same bat time, same bat channel) All of you who lend a costume will get first dibs on picking a costume to borrow. Don't worry, there are always plenty leftover for those who are just borrowing! We'll keep track of who has who's costume to facilitate costume returns. This should be spooktacular!
    (sorry, couldn't help it!)

Happy Birthday to You!

Children

Julia N. turns 2
Jake Z. turns 4
Kylie C. turns 5
Stella B. turns 1
Ethan W. turns 3
Lauren W. turns 2
Meredith M. turns 4
Paige B. turns 3

Moms

Julie C.
Laura M.
Angela H.

Comings and Goings

We'd like to welcome the following new members:

Debra B. and sons Noah and Nathan
Tanya P. and son Lear
Kristin Z. and children Jake and Grace
Shannon D. and children Maya and Sagan
Sharon B. and daughter Paige

We’d like to bid a fond farewell and send best wishes to the following members:

Michelle M. and daughters Madeleine & Madison
Wendy F. and daughter Shoshana

Tips for Tots
Practical advice from MOMS Club members.

Question of the Month: How do you prepare your child for bullies?

Advice: As much as you may want to, you can’t parent someone else’s child, even when you think they’re doing a poor job. Your focus should remain on your own child. So the best way to teach your child to stand up for yourself is by setting a good example.

Let’s say you see this little bully taking a toy your child was playing with, instead of getting angry and yelling at him, simply walk over, take the toy from him and explain very calmly but firmly that your child was playing with it first and when your child is done, he can play with the toy. Suggest some other toys he can play with in the mean time. When your child is done with the time, make sure they understand why they now have to give the toy to the other child and explain why the bully’s behavior wasn’t acceptable.

Advice: It is important to remember that this child is only a toddler and not an adult. The child doesn't understand or see things the way an adult does. This toddler is behaving this way because, more than likely, the child is allowed to behave this way at home.

Advice: When you catch the child in the act of behaving poorly, correct them instantly - if and only if the parent of the child is not intervening or anywhere to be found. First, tell them to stop hitting (or whatever) and that their mother wouldn't like to see them behave that way. Next, tell the child that he/she is not playing nicely and that if he/she wants to continue to play with your child they will have to behave nicely.

 

Recipe of the Month

Chicken Lo Mein
(From Prevention’s “Low-Fat, Low-Cost, Freezer Cookbook” by Sharon Saunders)

I love this cookbook and I especially like this recipe for Chicken Lo Mein. It is easy and delicious and it saves us getting take-out!

Ingredients
4 ounces spaghetti or fettuccine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 sweet red pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
8 ounces chicken breasts, skinned, boned and cut into strips
1/2 cup snow peas, cut in thirds diagonally
2 scallions, thinly sliced

  1. Cook the spaghetti or fettuccine in a large pot of boiling water according to the package directions. Drain well.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the stock, soy sauce, brown sugar, and orange juice concentrate. Mix well.
  3. Coat a 10” non-stick skillet with no-stick spray and place over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add the peppers and onions. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft but not browned.
  4. Add the chicken. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center. Check by inserting the tip of a sharp knife into 1 strip.
  5. Add the snow peas, pasta, and the stock mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute, or until the sauce thickens. Sprinkle with scallions.


Past Newsletters:
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009