mckinney kids magazine oct/nov 08

Oc to

be r 2 0 08 H H

November 2008

H H

FALLISSUEFALLISSUE

OutsmartYour Toddler

SMILE!It’s Time forHoliday Portraits!

Give Thanksto the PlanetThis Thanksgiving

The Gift ofGood Manners

OutsmartYour Toddler

SMILE!It’s Time forHoliday Portraits!

Give Thanksto the PlanetThis Thanksgiving

The Gift ofGood Manners

� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 �www.northtexasmagazines.com

24 Minding Their Manners Thegiftofgoodmanners makesadifferenceinour children’slives

26 Gifts Money Can’t Buy

6 Girls and Boys Can Be Girls and Boys

12 Outsmart Your Toddler 5Tricksforgettingyourstodo whatyouwant

18 SMILE - It’s Time for Holiday Portrait!

20 Give Thanks to the Planet ThisThanksgiving

features

mckinneykidscontents

mckinneykidsmagazine

Cover Picture:Samantha is a 1st grader at Glen Oaks Elementary and loves to play soccer. She is a member of the MISD Alpha program.

Cover photo taken by Michael Louis Photographywww.michaellouisphotos.com

Cover clothes by Born Fabulous�8�1 Craig Drive #101 •McKinney, TX

Cover shoot done on location atCalloways in McKinney

October/November 2008 issue 33

10 medical directory16 kid connection29 awesome achiever32 kandid kids

departments

6 12 24

North Texas Magazines, Inc.808 S. College St., Suite 112

McKinney, TX 75069972.547.6261

www.northtexasmagazines.com

onthecover

publisher/editor:Vanessa Ximenez

[email protected]

art director:Marlina Rahman

[email protected]

photographer:Michael Rivera

www.michaellouisphotos.com

contributing writers:Deborah Carpenter, M.A.

Lorie FangioJodi Helmer

Heidi Smith LuedtkeBelinda Mooney

Amy PawlakMichael Rivera

Kristine SpringateMartha Wegner

McKinney Kids Magazine is a product of North Texas Magazines, Inc.Copyright 2007, exclusive of proprietary ads and artwork designs. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Placement of advertising is not

a personal endorsement by the publisher or its representatives, and no liability arising therefrom is assumed.

� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

Green leaves turned into burnt shades of autumn and warm, sticky nights turned into cool breezy evenings remind us that fall is here. There’s no doubt that the seasonal excitement of Halloween, Thanksgiving and festive celebrations will be centered around family, friends and food. In this issue of MKM, read about getting your kids

involved in the preparation of the annual Thanksgiving dinner by creating dishes with simpler recipes and decorating with your child’s construction paper-cut outs or special “Be Thankful” placemats that can be laminated and used for years to come. Thanksgiving is the time we reflect on our typical blessings of family, friends, health, jobs, etc., but today we have one more blessing to count – Our planet! On page 20, read about giving thanks to Mother Nature by hosting a more eco-friendly celebration. Some suggestions include: decorating with natural materials, making silver polish with natural ingredients, using a non-disposable roasting pan, and encouraging your guests to carpool. While it hardly seems possible that these simple suggestions can be remotely effective, imagine if everyone participated! In addition, read about outsmarting your toddler with a little reverse psychology, getting your child to communicate without whining and giving your children gifts that money can’t buy. And finally, it’s the time of year for your holiday portraits and many of us aren’t ready to tackle the big event (especially if toddlers are involved). On page 18, we’ve offered a few simple suggestions to make the occasion a little more jolly and a little less jinxed!

Vanessa Ximenez

Editor’sNote

I recently had to let go of the idea that my parents were outrageously sexist. This long-nurtured belief had some basis: one of my dad’s favorite jokes is that I did pretty well, “for a girl.” And he refused to teach me to change my car oil, since “girls don’t

do that.” He also exhibits the typically male traits of not understanding the washing machine or stove and avoiding emotional issues (If I get too confessional on the phone, he immediately says, “Oh? Here’s your mother. Bye.”) As you see, I had some fuel for my fire.

By Kristine Springate

Girls and Boys Can BeGirls and Boys

� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008

So I felt indignant and empowered when I read two articles

that show how traditional gender expectations are expanding.

In “Girl Power,” the writer Harbour Fraser Hodder explains that

girls are doing well. One reason for their current confidence is

that they have learned how and when to use both feminine and

masculine skills. For example, during a soccer game, a girl can

rely on her more masculine traits of competition and aggression,

but as a leader, she could use her more feminine skill of net-

working. Successful girls adapt their behavior, just as they adapt

their clothing and language, to best suit the situation.

According to writers of “Fatherhood 2.0,” the old, narrow

perspective on masculinity is widening too. Fathers are more

involved than ever with their families, which helps everyone:

moms feel less stressed, fathers feel less emotionally restricted,

and children learn that both parents can work, run the house

and address their emotional needs. This expanded masculinity

could mean supporting the family, or staying home to raise

the children.

Prepared to blast my parents for their ignorance,

I began writing about how everyone in my

family knew their place: males poured cement,

changed tires and dug ditches. Females

directed social life and anything to do with food.

When trouble arose, my mom and I hugged

and cried while my brothers and dad slapped

each other’s shoulders.

But upon further reflection, I realized that they each crossed

over to the other side too. Despite general adherence to

traditional roles, my parents also ventured where they were

uncomfortable. My dad did child care, albeit in his own way

(when my brother threw food from his high chair, my dad tied

his hands behind his back!). And my mom struggled with the

leaky toilet or car battery- often successfully. In fact, they

perfectly exhibited an insight about gender roles I found in

yet another article. In “The New and Improved Self-Esteem,”

the writer explains that all people need to know themselves,

and develop both their strengths and weaknesses so that they

have many skills to rely on in any different situation. No trait is

particularly male or female- it’s just an appropriate and useful

trait for the situation- or not.

So I’ll have to tip my hat to my parents yet again. And perhaps

my husband should practice making ponytails, while I put the

chains back on the bikes. After all, we don’t want our children

to have anything to be outraged about either.

Kristine Springate is an Allen resident and ESL teacher at Quad C.


By Belinda Mooney

Be Thankful PlacematsEasy to Make Placemats to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time of remembering friends, family and special times in our lives that we are thankful for. As family and friends gather to share a meal many families reflect back over the past year. Some wonderful traditions are shared at this time. Many families take the time to each share something they are thankful for before eating, others offer special prayers to the Lord for His goodness in the past and some families have special foods or activities that are shared and take place on Thanksgiving Day.

But one thing almost every family has in common is mementos

(napkins, crafts the kids have made) and pictures of the past

year. Why not start a new family tradition at your house this

year. Get out those special pictures and mementos and turn

them into something that can be enjoyed on Thanksgiving and

all year round.

Be Thankful PlacematsYou will need: • construction paper

• crayons, colored pencils, markers

• family pictures

• mementos such as colorful napkins, paper crafts, scraps

of cloth

• clear contact paper

• trim such as ribbon or rick rack

• fancy scissors to trim paper or make your own fancy trim

What you do: 1. Write the words “I am thankful for” on a piece of construction

paper or plain white paper. Trim around it or decorate it. You

will glue this in the center of your place mat. You may glue it

on first and center things around it or glue it on last after you

have placed your pictures and mementos.

8 mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

2. Decide what pictures and mementos you want to include

on each placemat. Get another piece of construction paper

as your background for the placemat. Lay out your items and

try arranging them in different positions. Trim pictures if

necessary. Leave room to write captions underneath if you

would like to include them. Once you have decided on your

layout glue them in place on the construction paper.

3. Add any embellishments you would like such as ribbon, tiny

bows, fancy trims, sequins etc. Fill in your captions. Make

your placemat exactly the way you want it to look.

4. Cut two pieces of clear contact paper equal sizes. You want

the contact paper to be 1 inch wider all around than the

placemat. Place the placemat on the contact paper back first.

Then matching up the edges carefully, smooth the other piece

over the top, smoothing out bubbles out as you go.

Now you have a beautiful and easy kid’s craft that is perfect for

Thanksgiving. Make a new one each year. Make several and

share with grandma or grandpa. Your placemat can be wiped

off and used again and again.

Belinda Mooney is a freelance writer mainly focusing on parenting and family issues.



MedicalDirectory OrTHODOnTICS

ALLErGIES

The Ear Nose & Throat Centers of Texas4510 Medical Center Drive, Suite 100 • McKinney, TX 75069

1105 N. Central Expressway, Suite 210 • Allen, TX 75013972-984-1050 • www.enttx.com

McKinney ENT Clinic808 State Hwy. 121, Suite 120 • McKinney, TX 75070

214-383-5955

McKinney Dentist1716 W. Virginia Street • McKinney, TX 750695601 Virginia Parkway • McKinney, TX 75070

972-54-SMILE (76453) • www.mckinneydentist.com

DEnTISTry

FAMILy PrACTICE

Just for Kids Dentistry7700 Eldorado Parkway, Suite 200 • McKinney, TX 75070

972-540-5858 • www.dentaljustforkids.com

Snyder-Hopkins Family Medicine Center4561 Medical Center Drive • McKinney, TX 75069

214-544-2624www.rhondahopkinsmd.com • www.annsnydermd.com

170 N. Preston Road, Suite 30 • Prosper, TX 75078972-346-2279 • www.prosperfamilymedicine.com

Pediatric Dentistry201 N. Alma Drive • Allen, TX 75013

972-727-0737

Allergy, Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic4521 Medical Center Drive, Suite 400 • McKinney, TX 75069

972-548-7555 • www.allergyent.com

PEDIATrICS

Packard Family Orthodontics5100 W. Eldorado Parkway, Suite 108 • McKinney, TX 75070

972-562-0340 • www.pfortho.com

Sigoda Orthodontics7652 W. Eldorado Parkway • McKinney, TX 75070

972-542-2112

Smiles Hollywood Style Orthodontics175 Ridge Road, Suite 500 • McKinney, TX 75070

972-529-9700 • www.smileshollywoodstyle.com

Children’s Choice Pediatrics4510 Medical Center Drive, Suite 211 • McKinney, TX 75069

972-548-8382

McKinney Pediatrics4510 Medical Center Drive, Suite 207 • McKinney, TX 75069

972-548-0758 • www.mckinneypediatrics.com

Paul H. Reyes, MD (New Location on Nov 1, 2008)175 Ridge Road, Suite 200 • McKinney, TX 75070

214-592-0356 • www.stonebridgepediatrics.com

Raintree Pediatrics1111 Raintree Circle, Suite 290 • Allen, TX 75013214-644-0280 • www.raintreepediatrics.com

TLC Pediatrics, P.A. (Moving to new suites on Nov 1, 2008)1105 N. Central Expressway, Suite 250 • Allen, TX 75013

972-747-KIDS (5437)

Texas Pediatric Pulmonary Consultants2251 W. Eldorado Parkway, Suite 100 • McKinney, TX 75070

972-562-1188

Stonebridge Pediatrics175 Ridge Road, Suite 200 • McKinney, TX 75070

214-544-2555 • www.stonebridgepediatrics.com

mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 11www.northtexasmagazines.com

Somehow, my master’s degree in psychology had lulled me into

the mistaken notion that motherhood would be a piece of cake.

I knew the latest child-rearing theories. I’d handle behavior

problems with finesse.

Ha!Never did I envision how challenging raising a stubborn and

feisty toddler would be. Thankfully, I’ve now learned several

great toddler-taming strategies that work quite well. Sometimes,

I’ve found, you need to save the “I am the parent! Do as I say!”

approach and try a little creative thinking.

Act like an idiot “Even the most defiant toddler will take pity on us if we seem like

total incompetents,” says Harvey Karp, M.D., author of the DVD

and book “The Happiest Toddler on the Block.” The trick is to

convince your child that you should be helped, not resisted:

• Be forgetful. If she’s refusing to put away her toys, pick up

a few and put them not in the toy box but in some other unex-

pected place, like the bathtub or a kitchen cabinet. When your

child balks (she knows where things belong, even as young as 2),

say innocently, “What? I’m putting your toys in your toy box!”

She’ll likely take pity on you and help you put her stuff where it

really belongs.

• Be wrong. Next time you foresee a battle getting your

toddler in the stroller, try squeezing into it yourself. Chances

are good she’ll announce, “That’s mine!” Finally her possessive

streak is good for something.

• Be incompetent. Put your coat on backward and place

your shoes on your hands. Say, “I’m ready to go, are you?” She’ll

laugh, straighten you out, and get her own shoes on for once.

Don’t worry: Your child won’t really think you’re a boob, says

Dr. Karp. This is just a fun tactic, like playing hide-and-seek and

pretending you can’t find her.

Become a silver-lining expert Want to avoid disaster? Pretend everything’s great. Your

attitude, and the way you handle disappointments (big and

small), can greatly affect how your child learns to do the same.

The battle lines were drawn: It was me against him. And he, my 2-year-old, was a formidable opponent. I lay in wait by the stairs, a pair of size-2T sweatpants clutched to my chest. Catching Kevin and wrestling him into his clothes reminded me of the day I tried (and failed) to catch a greased piglet at a county fair. At least with Kevin I didn’t have to worry I’d end up face-down in the mud. Suddenly, my slippery little boy popped up from behind the relative safety of the sofa. Our eyes met. He squealed and bolted for the kitchen. Game on!

By Deborah Carpenter, M.A.

Outsmart your Toddler5 Tricks for getting yours to do what you want

1� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

• Use positive language. The right words can lessen the blow

of letdowns and make mundane tasks seem interesting and fun.

For instance, the day 3-year-old Josh Boswell had been looking

forward to going to the playground, it rained. Rather than let him

sulk and stomp angrily around the house, his mom, Sue, said, “This

rain is wonderful! Now we get a chance to have that indoor picnic

I’ve been planning for you.” Josh was intrigued -- an indoor picnic

sounded at least as much fun as going to the playground. “Turning

disappointment into delight is part of the magic of being a parent,”

says his mom. “The silver lining is almost always there. You just

have to learn to point it out.”

• Teach your child to look on the bright side himself. If things don’t go right (the cupcakes fell on the floor or his best

friend isn’t at preschool that day), ask him to think up something

good about the bad situation. He might say he’s looking forward

to using a different icing color or that now he can draw a “get well

soon” picture for his pal (you might need to coach him at first). Play

this game often and your child will automatically learn to look for

the silver lining.

Try reverse psychology You say “yes,” she says “no!” You say “no,” she says “yes!” This ver-

bal tug-of-war is frustrating, but actually it’s a healthy declaration of

her growing independence.

There’s even an official name for this stage. “When your child

doesn’t want to wear certain clothes or taste new foods, it’s called

‘the oppositionalism of toddlerhood,’” says Laurence Steinberg,

Ph.D., author of “The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting.”

The solution? If you want your child to do something, like put on

her socks, pretend you don’t want her to do it.

One strategy I used to get my daughter, Kaylin, then 2, to try new

foods was to deny her first few requests for them. At dinner I’d

put two foods on her plate and four foods on the grown-up plates.

She’d stare longingly at our full plates and say, “Me want that!” I’d

reply, “Sorry, pumpkin. These foods are for grown-ups.” She’d keep

asking, and as she started to get frustrated, I’d ask, “Do you really

think you’re old enough?” She’d shout, “Yes!” and scoot over, hold-

ing out her plate. She couldn’t eat her broccoli fast enough.

And when I want Kevin, now 3, to get ready quickly, I pretend I’m

in a big rush. “Me come, too?” he’ll ask. “No, honey, Mommy’s in

a hurry today. Why don’t you stay here with Daddy instead?” My

son, who always prefers an adventure to staying home, will dash

off to the closet to get his shoes and jacket. When he returns, I say,

“I’m not sure you can get ready in time to come with me.” That

gets him to start hurriedly shoving his little arms into his jacket

sleeves -- and then I say, “Wow, you really can get ready quickly!”

He beams with pride and allows me to finish zipping him up in

mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 1�www.northtexasmagazines.com

1� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

record time. Say goodbye to the old capture-Kevin-

and-yank-his-clothes-on-while-pinning-him-to-the-

floor maneuver.

Reverse psychology works by using your toddler’s natural

desire for independence (also known as defiance) to get

what you both want. Just be sure to use it in a playful way

-- and not so often that he gets wise to you!

Say, “Yes, but...” Amanda Paolucci loved playing outside when she was a

toddler. She’d press her nose against the screen door and

plead to go out. “She’d throw a colossal fit if I refused to

let her,” says her mom, Julie. But once Paolucci learned

the “Yes, but...” trick, Amanda’s tantrums subsided. Instead

of saying no all the time, Paolucci now says, “Yes, Amanda, you

may go outside, but after dinner.” Or “Yes, you may ride your

big wheel, but we need to wait for the rain to stop.”

Toddlers are a lot more cooperative if they just know when they

can do whatever it is they want. The younger your child, the

less patience she’ll have to wait. So sidetrack her opposition

by offering up another activity with your “Yes, but.” You could

say, “Yes, you may have a cookie, but first we’re going to make

dinner together,” or “Yes, we can watch Dora, as soon as we’ve

picked up your toys.” She’ll fight a “no” -- a “yes, but” is harder

to resist.

Stay a step ahead Although most toddler battles are caused by hunger, fatigue, or

frustration, it’s easier to recognize those things after a tantrum

starts -- and after a few slices of apple would have saved the

day. So staying a step ahead of your child is not a quick solu-

tion so much as a smart way of thinking. It comes down to

consistent routines and reasonable expectations, so you don’t

have to be a toddler mind reader. Keeping your child on an

even keel can be relatively simple: Try to make his basic needs

-- food, sleep -- a priority, and not something you squeeze into

a busy day.

• Put him down for a nap before he seems super tired.

• Feed him several small meals to keep his blood sugar (and mood) level.

• Give him plenty of encouragement. He’ll be less inclined

to flip out when something goes wrong or he doesn’t get his

way. But also think twice before you make life unnecessarily

hard on him. If you’re thinking of braving the mall with a tired

child -- don’t. The notion “maybe I can just squeeze in one

more errand” has been the downfall of many otherwise rational

moms. Some of my finest parenting moments (and by finest I

mean horrifying and humiliating) have had me half-dragging,

half-wrestling my thrashing, wailing, screeching toddler out of

Wal-Mart. After public tantrum #36, I finally caught on to the

idea of setting limits -- for me. I now limit toddler-accompanied

outings to less than two hours.

Of course, if you have a toddler, you’ve already learned that life

rarely goes as planned. So, here’s one last trick to try on your-

self: Act as if you know what to do -- and soon enough, you will!

Deborah Carpenter, M.A., professional freelance journalist, writing instructor, and author of the soon-to-be released book The Everything Parent’s Guide to Dealing with Bullies.


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5100 W. Eldorado Pkwy., Ste. 108 • McKinney, TX 75070

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Thanksgiving, a Family AffairKidConnection

By Lorie Fangio

The cooler days of fall have finally arrived. Trees are a blaze with fiery colors, the air is clean and crisp and on a clear day an amazing color of blue is painted across the sky. Homes are decorated with friendly scarecrows and vivid orange pumpkins are everywhere reminding us that Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner.

Isn’t Thanksgiving a great holiday? A gathering centered

around food, and being grateful for the abundance in our lives,

that’s my kind of party! Celebrating Thanksgiving tends to be

all about the adults, I don’t know about your kids, but I can’t

remember a time that one of mine begged me to make turkey

and dressing for dinner. McKinney children are out of school for

a whole week leading up to Thanksgiving Day but I don’t have a

lot of time to spend with my kids because of the intense prepa-

rations for this major meal. I am usually rushing around setting

the table, cleaning the house and running back and forth to the

grocery store for that one last ingredient. Meanwhile, the kids

are plugged into the computer or iPod just waiting for this day

to pass so they can get on to their favorite holiday, Christmas.

I had a thought, why not shake things up a bit and get the

children involved in the celebration by having them assist with

the preparations. When children help around the house it’s

amazing how much ownership and pride they take in their

accomplishments. I remember when I was little, it was always

my job to cut the jellied cranberry sauce into slices, it wasn’t

much but I sure was proud as it was passed around the table.

Engage your children in Thanksgiving preparations by assem-

bling in the kitchen. Assess your child’s abilities and assign them

a recipe to be responsible for. Choose a dish that can be made

a day in advance, it’s not a good idea to have your children

under foot while scurrying to put the finishing touches on the

meal. Next, assemble all of the necessary ingredients and uten-

sils and let your child proceed as independently as possible.

It may not be a time saver at first but keep in mind, you are

seeding your future, next year they may be able to execute

their dish by themselves, won’t that be nice! If a suitable recipe

doesn’t come to mind, have your youngster try my fantastic

Sweet Potato Casserole, it’s flavored with the zest of an orange

and crushed pineapple and with puffy marshmallows heaped

high on top, it’s hard to beat. When children have a hand in

preparing food they are far more likely to eat it, an added ben-

efit to having your kids help prepare the feast!

Get your teens involved in the table decorations by appointing

them chief designer. Let them use their imagination and the

bounty of the season to design a gorgeous table scape. It’s hard

go wrong with lively pumpkins, gourds and leaves in brilliant

orange, blazing reds and the golden colors of fall. Just piling

them high in the center of the table will be a showstopper.

For younger kids, start

early so they will have

plenty of time to feel

inspired and have them

create a special placemat

for each of your guests.

Collect lots of leaves in a

variety of burnished col-

ors; place the leaves between the pages of a book to press them

flat. Meanwhile, gather a coordinating color of construction pa-1� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

Listen to Lorie on Home Hints with Lorie Fangio on 97.5 KLAK!

per, glue and Therm o Web, iron on vinyl for laminating your project,

available at full service fabric stores. Have your youngster place the

flattened foliage in various patterns on the paper and glue the leaves

in place. The placemats can be made reversable by decorating the

other side with family photos or additional artwork. Laminating the

placemats is easy, just iron the vinyl in place using a towel to protect

the surface and your guests will have a lovely treasure to take home

with them as a reminder of a special day spent with your family.

Food is at the forefront of our minds when we think of this autumn

celebration; consider shifting the focus to gratitude. Thanksgiving is

the perfect time to reflect on the past year and to count the many

blessings we have in our lives. What better time to share these

thoughts of appreciation than around our Thanksgiving table. Using

construction paper, have your children cut out colorful leaves, one

for each guest. Set up a small space with the leaves, a pen and a

beautiful bowl. As your guests arrive ask them to write a sentiment

of gratitude on a paper leaf and place it in the bowl. Remember

the little ones too; they often have the most profound statements

of gratitude and moms you can do the writing. As the meal gets

underway, pass the bowl and have each person read a message.

Your family and guests will be filled with a sense of Thanksgiving.

Lighten your load and spend some quality time together this year

by getting your kids involved in the Thanksgiving preparations.

Connecting in the home will foster the true meaning of this

joyous celebration.

Delicious Sweet Potato Casserole

• 4-6 sweet potatoes

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 1 teaspoon orange zest

• 1 8 ounce can of crushed

pineapple

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons vanilla

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1 package large marshmallows

Bake sweet potatoes in the microwave for 8-10 minutes or until

tender. When potatoes have cooled, spoon the innards out of their

jackets into a bowl. Add all ingredients except marshmallows and

mix until creamy. Spread sweet potato mixture into a casserole dish,

cover and refrigerate until needed. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

and bake potatoes for 25-30 minutes until they are warmed through.

Spread marshmallows on top of casserole and place under the

broiler for about 1 minute until marshmallows are puffed and

beginning to brown.


With the Holiday Season just around the corner, it is time to

start looking for a photographer to take your family portraits.

Hiring weeks in advance will not only save you money, it will

save you time and peace of mind. During the holiday season,

greeting cards and family portraits are the most popular types

of photo shoots. With this being said, you definitely want to

plan ahead to avoid the holiday rush. If you have children,

a little extra planning is essential to capturing the best

possible portraits.

Listed below are a few factors to consider when scheduling

your photo session.

1. Choose the outfits to be worn early and make sure everyone

is comfortable with his attire. Otherwise the lack of

confidence or discomfort may be noticeable in the picture.

2. Make sure all children are well-rested before the session.

If your child has a scheduled nap, try to book the session right

after the nap. Also, if your children tend to more active after

having sugar or certain foods, limit their intake on the day of

the session. Restless or tired children can hinder the session and

affect the outcome of the portraits. If your child has a favorite

toy or stuffed animal that he finds comfort in, bring it along.

Because so much planning and preparation has gone into this

day, the session may take longer than expected to achieve the

best results. Bring along a dry snack for your child in the event

that his regular dinner schedule is disrupted.

3. If your daughter wears makeup, make sure the amount

applied and the colors she chooses are appropriate for the

family portrait.

4. Haircuts are usually on the list of things to do before a photo

session. While good grooming is very important, have it done

a few days to a week before the actual shoot to ensure a

more natural look as well as to avoid being photographed

with a disastrous cut.

5. Have an idea of the package you want to purchase and know

your budget. Typical portrait packages can vary from several

hundred dollars to several thousand so know what you can

spend and avoid exceeding your budget.

With just a little planning and preparation, you can make your

experience more pleasant and enjoyable for creating keepsakes

that will last a lifetime.

Michael Rivera is the Owner of Michael Louis Photography and is now booking on location holiday portraits. To schedule an appointment, call 214-578-5622.

SMILE – It’s Time foryour Family Holiday Portrait!

By Michael Rivera


Michael Louis Photography

Holiday portraits today...create memories for tomorrow

Schedule your appointmentbetween now and December 1st,

and receive 25 FREE greeting cardswith the purchase of any package

214-578-5622www.michaellouisphotos.com

SMILE – It’s Time foryour Family Holiday Portrait!


you’ve been thinking about Thanksgiving for months, right? In the midst of shopping for ingredients, washing the fine china and decorating the table, it’s important to take a few minutes to show your gratitude to Mother Earth. Try these tips for making your Thanksgiving celebrations more eco-friendly.

Decorate with natural materials: You can make

Thanksgiving decorations with items found in nature: a decora-

tive bowl filled with gourds makes a stunning centerpiece and

sprinkling colorful cranberries around the base of soy pillar

candles will help set the mood during dinner. Natural materi-

als are a much more eco-friendly option than mass produced

holiday decorations which often travel thousands of miles before

reaching store shelves. Once the holidays are over, most natural

decorations can be added to the compost pile.

Make silver polish with natural ingredients: Conventional silver polish contains harsh chemicals like ammonia.

There are natural alternatives to get your best silver to sparkle for

Thanksgiving dinner. To clean a few small pieces of silver, use a

dab of white toothpaste. Squeeze a drop of toothpaste on your

finger and rub it onto the silver for instant polish. If you have a

lot of silver to polish, boil a few strips of aluminum foil and two

tablespoons of baking soda in a pan. Add your silverware and let

it sit for a few minutes to remove the tarnish instantly.

Invest in a roasting pan: Disposable roasting pans

are inexpensive and readily available on grocery store shelves,

especially at this time of year. If everyone in the U.S. used a

disposable roasting pan to cook their Thanksgiving turkey, there

would be 46 million tinfoil pans heading to the landfill every

year. Instead, buy a heavy-duty roasting pan that you can use

every Thanksgiving (or any time you feel like cooking a turkey).

Consider it an investment in the environment.

By Jodi Helmer

Give Thanks to the PlanetTips for a more sustainable Thanksgiving celebration

�0 mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

Buy a salad spinner: Stop drying your lettuce on piles of

paper towels! A salad spinner is an inexpensive and waste-free

way to remove all of the moisture from your salad greens. After

you’ve removed the lettuce from the salad spinner, pour the left-

over water on your favorite houseplants.

Stock up on fresh veggies for dinner: It takes 3

BILLION kWh of energy per year to produce canned vegetables

– enough energy to run 8,571,428 refrigerators for an entire year!

Instead of frozen or canned vegetables, choose fresh potatoes and

yams for Thanksgiving dinner.

Make a few vegetarian dishes for dinner: Along

with a traditional Thanksgiving feast of turkey and ham, prepare

vegetarian dishes like green bean casserole, candied sweet po-

tatoes, creamed carrots and mushroom gravy. Eating vegetarian

dishes will help reduce your carbon footprint and prevent air and

water pollution. Feeling adventurous? Consider cooking a tofur-

key instead of a traditional bird.

Ask guests to bring reusable to-go containers to Thanksgiving dinner: You’ll probably have lots of leftover

turkey and mashed potatoes. Every year, Americans use enough

plastic wrap to cover all of Texas. Instead of sending your guests

home with leftovers piled on paper plates and covered in plastic

wrap, ask them to bring their own to-go containers.

Let your Thanksgiving leftovers cool: Putting

containers filled with piping hot mashed potatoes, gravy and

leftover turkey will decrease the efficiency of your refrigera-

tor. The steam will raise the temperature in the refrigerator,

causing it to work harder to stay cool. Enjoy an extra slice of

pumpkin pie and wait until your leftovers cool before putting

them in the refrigerator.

Learn to make turkey stock: Don’t let your

Thanksgiving turkey go to waste. Use the remains to make

stock for turkey soup. Simply boil the turkey carcass in a pot

of water with carrots, onions, celery and salt until the stock

turns golden brown. Add pieces of leftover turkey and serve

piping hot. It’s one of the most delicious ways to reduce,

reuse and recycle.

Encourage guests to carpool: It might take a little

more planning to get aunt Edna, cousin Fred and great-

grandma Ruth to arrive at Thanksgiving dinner in a single car

but the effort is worth it. Consider this: If 20 people in every

state cut out a 10-mile car trip once a week, it would prevent

more than 64,000 pounds of pollutants from being released

into the air.

Jodi Helmer is the author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference (Alpha, 2008). Go to www.green-year.com to learn more about going green.

mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 �1www.northtexasmagazines.com

t’s all too tempting to offer a bribe

to get your child to cut out the bad

behavior. After all, it usually works.

The problem, of course, is that kids are

quick learners. They’ll figure out that the

way to get a treat is by misbehaving, says

Sal Severe, Ph.D., author of How to Behave

So Your Preschooler Will, Too! Instead:

Recast the bribe as a reward for good behavior. “If you stay by my side and do

as I say, we’ll stop by the playground on

the way home.” It’s important to suggest

a reward before the bad behavior starts.

Otherwise, you’re in bribe territory.

3 ways to help your child learn a better way to ask for what she wants

Why kids whine: It’s a highly effective (and, yes, highly

annoying) way to get your attention.

The silver lining: Your toddler isn’t purposely trying to irritate

you. Whining begins around age 2, when kids can talk a little

but are still used to crying to get what they want, says Carolyn

Crowder, Ph.D., coauthor of Whining: 3 Steps to Stopping It

Before the Tears and Tantrums Start. To help your child learn a

better way to ask for what she wants:

Why Kids WhineBy Deborah Carpenter, M.A.

Teach her to be aware of her tone. When she whines, tell her once that the

problem isn’t what she’s saying but how

she’s saying it. (Don’t mimic your child

-- if she hears you whining, she’ll think it’s

acceptable for her to do it, too.)

Stop responding to it. Make it clear that if she whines for some-

thing, you’ll automatically say no. Or pretend you can’t hear

her if she does it.

Stand firm. Even if you do this, your child will still whine. It’ll take a Her-

culean effort to ignore it, but give in a few times and she’ll see

that whining works. (Toddlers learn from your actions much

more than your words.) When your child alters her tone and

speaks normally, give her your full attention.

Better Than BriberyThink ahead. You know your child: Does

she get really cranky when you have more

than two errands? Do doctor’s offices

induce meltdowns? Plan accordingly.

Try not to offer a reward for every little thing done right. You don’t want

to hear, “What will you give me?” Save

goodies for tough situations.

Remember that big prizes aren’t really what most kids want. Fun time with you

is the best kind of reward, and when your

child starts to associate behaving with your

undivided attention, she’ll see how great it

feels to be good.

I

�� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008

At the end of the day, the last thing you want to do is fight with your child over math problems, book reports and science projects. rather than nag, prod and argue, try these simple strategies instead.

Schedule ItKids are natural procrastinators (“I’ll do it later”). And champion

negotiators (“Let me watch one more TV show first”). But putting

off homework only prolongs the agony—yours as well as your

child’s. “Set a homework time and stick to it,” says Trevor Romain,

author of How to Do Homework Without Throwing Up. And if

your little Pinocchio repeatedly claims he has no homework, a call

to the teacher is a wise idea. Even first-graders are expected to

complete homework assignments nowadays.

Erase ItIf attempting to squeeze homework into a long list of after-school

activities gives you a migraine, it’s time to cut back (on the activi-

ties, not the homework). To decide which to drop, list them all

and, with your child, rate each on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being “would

die without” and 1 being “could live without”). You may be pleas-

antly surprised at how often you agree.

5 Ways to Haltthe Homework Battle

Don’t Just Do ItWhen you see mistakes in your child’s homework, provide

coaching and guidance, but don’t simply give the answers.

Instead of “I fixed three run-on sentences for you,” say, “I see

three run-on sentences; can you find them?” Teachers can tell

when you’ve helped do the work or, worse, done it yourself.

It also makes it impossible for the teacher to get a realistic

picture of your child’s skills and how well he understands

the material.

Break It“When homework is broken up into manageable chunks, it’s

easier for kids to deal with,” says Romain. So build in breaks

to walk the dog, eat dinner or watch a TV show.

Get Help with ItWhile social phone calls should be discouraged during

homework time, a quick call to a classmate to discuss an

assignment can be useful — especially when you’re too

confused by the new math to explain it. But if your child

seems to need excessive help, talk with his teacher about

getting extra help or outside tutoring.

mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 ��www.northtexasmagazines.com

When I was a child, manners, particularly table manners, were at the forefront of all family discussion. My mother would scold, “Someday you will be eating dinner with your new husband’s parents, and what will they think?

I’m not having anyone imagine that I raised my children with-

out decent table manners. Now, sit up, put your napkin in your

lap, and chew with your mouth closed.” My sisters and I giggled

silently at the thought of someday sitting with refined adults

holding golden forks midair as they watched us gobble down the

mashed potatoes, our mouths stuffed full and the front of our

shirts sprinkled with gravy.

Now that I am an adult, I often notice how some people eat:

chewing with their mouths open, elbows and arms spread out on

the table, and picking up food with their hands ... I am downright

grateful that my Mom was such a stickler. Good manners at the

table make for an appetizing and pleasant experience for everyone.

And I find myself using the same speech (the one about the future

in-laws) with my own children.

But what about the other rules of civility? The ‘please’, the ‘thank

you’, the introductions, the thank you note? Are those still important?

To this question, authors Peggy Post and Cindy Post Senning would

give a resounding ‘yes’. In their book, “Emily Post’s The Gift of Good

Manners: a parent’s guide to raising respectful, kind, considerate

children,” (HarperCollins, 2002) they write, “Etiquette has been

described as society’s glue - the element that enables individuals to

live and work together harmoniously.” Furthermore, “Good manners

will play a considerable role in the happiness and contentment of

your child and the many people he encounters.”

Alex J. Packer author of “How Rude!: the teenagers’ guide to good

manners, proper behavior, and not grossing people out,” (Free Spirit

Publishing, 1997) agrees. He asserts that good manners:a. put people at ease.

b. impress people.

By Martha Wegner

Minding Their MannersWhy the gift of good manners makes a difference in our children’s lives

�� mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com

c. encourage respect from others.

d. build self-esteem.

e. are attractive. A well-mannered person is more likely to have

the friends and relationships he/she wants.

f. allow people to live and work together without unnecessary friction.

g. are rare. “Young people who have them sparkle like diamonds and

immediately get elevated status in the eyes of adults.”

h. make a person feel good. “You can hold your head high, knowing

that you’re doing your part to stop humanity’s slide into the

cesspool of incivility.”

i. make others feel good. “You can help to create a world in which

people treat one another with care, respect, and compassion.”

Spend a day with a kid who has drops his jacket on the floor, rummag-

es through your refrigerator without asking permission, and neglects

to thank you for taking him on that very expensive trip to the amuse-

ment park, and then spend another day with a child who says please

and thank you, asks permission to play with a toy, and clears the dishes

after he is done eating, and you know that what these authors are say-

ing is true. Good manners make for a good person, one we all want to

be around, and isn’t that something we want for our own children?

So, how do our children learn good manners? According to Post and

Senning, “The principles of etiquette and mannerly behavior are passed

on from one generation to the next ... As a parent or primary caregiver,

it is your responsibility to make the manners connection - letting your

child know by your teaching and example that good manners are part

of a good life.” It’s important to teach AND model good manners for

our children.

Concerned about what to teach? Pamela Espeland and Elizabeth

Verdick, authors of “Dude, That’s Rude!: (get some manners),” (Free

Spirit Publishing, 2007), tell us to start at home. They list 10 tips for

better family manners including “knock first” and “watch what you say”.

Then it’s time to move on to teaching our kids the manners for dealing

with the rest of the world.

If, like my husband, you missed the lesson on whether the knife blade

should point toward or away from the plate when setting a table

(it’s toward the plate, by the way), or some other essential piece of

etiquette, don’t worry. There are plenty of etiquette books which are

actually fun and easy to read, including the ones quoted here.

Say Post and Senning, “When etiquette is taught in conjunction with all

other aspects of a child’s intellectual, moral, and ethical development,

the child learns that manners are the sincere, considerate, and sensible

expressions of important values in everyday life... There is no time like

the present to begin.”

Through our own polite words and actions we are giving our children

the lasting gift of good manners. Just remember, our kids are watch-

ing, so make sure to say “please” and “thank you” along the way. And

don’t forget to put your napkin in your lap.

Martha Wegner is a freelance writer whose work can be found at www.marthawegner.com.


By Heidi Smith Luedtke


While gas and food prices soar and the family budget shrinks, it’s easy to feel pressured by your kids’ latest material wants. If you’re frustrated because your child’s wishes cost more than you can afford and you’re tempted to spend money you don’t have, give yourself a time out.

“Our kids do want more than material things,” says Betsy Taylor,

Founder and President of the Center for a New American Dream

in her book What Kids Really Want That Money Can’t Buy. Taylor

encourages parents to focus on meeting kids’ deeper wants

and needs, instead of getting caught up in the “more is more”

consumer culture. Give your kids these gifts money can’t buy

– they’ll grow with your kids for a lifetime.

Listening. Kids have a lot to share with the world, but our busy work-

school routines make meaningful conversations difficult. Talk

with your kids about their lives (school, friends, interests,

dreams). Invite kids to share their ideas by asking good ques-

tions. “What do you think we should do about…?” or “If you

could change one thing…?” are helpful conversation starters.

Gifts Money Can’t Buy

Then, listen deeply. Make eye contact with your child. Take it all in

without interrupting. Ask follow up questions and share your ideas,

too. Kids love to feel important and respected in conversation.

Friendship. Kids want friends and have a deep need for acceptance. Help your

child make new friends or strengthen existing friendships. Wel-

come your child’s friends into your home by hosting informal play

dates or sleepovers. Kids build relationships by sharing experienc-

es, so include kids’ friends in fun family activities, like baking cook-

ies, playing games, or staging a talent show. There’s no need to

entertain your kids and their friends every minute, they’ll treasure

time to themselves and appreciate your respect for their privacy.

Family Connections. Kids need to feel a part of an extended family network. Grandpar-

ents, aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings are important figures

in kids’ lives. Help your kids connect with far away family members

through phone calls or email. Allow kids to make cards or gifts

for special relatives. Encourage grandparents, aunts and uncles to

spend time with your kids (and without you). Kids’ confidence and

self-esteem grow in proportion to the number of caring adults in

their lives. Arrange activities to share with cousins and siblings.

Family members are friends, too.


Kid Time. Kids want free time not cluttered by school, homework, have-

to-do activities and programs. Help your kids unwind, learn

and grow by protecting precious kid time. If their schedules

are crowded by extracurricular activities, consider cutting back.

Review the amount of homework expected of your child, and

be his advocate if necessary. Too much work makes kids tired,

cranky and unmotivated. Give kids ample time to play or putter

without specific tasks to accomplish.

Nature. Kids love the natural world and connect deeply with fields,

forests, and animals. As we spend more and more time indoors

at school, daycare, and home, kids lose touch with the special

magic of the earth. Help your kids reconnect through outdoor

play. Visit wild places close to home – lakes and streams, parks

and meadows. Build snow forts or collect pine cones together.

Watch squirrels scamper. The gift of nature isn’t fancy or expen-

sive, but your children will treasure it just the same.

Spirituality. Like adults, kids want inner peace. They long to understand

why things happen and to feel a sense of purpose. Whether or

not you belong to a formal religious community, you’ve likely

sought calm and connection somehow, sometime. Respect kids’

inner lives and help them think through moral issues. Show

gratitude when kids do good things and encourage them to

thank others. Create traditions and hold special celebrations to

help kids internalize spiritual values. Ritual keeps kids centered.

Opportunities to Change the World. Kids dream of a world where people get along in harmony, ev-

eryone has enough to eat, and each unique individual is valued.

Help your kids practice service and compassion. Work together

to sort used toys or clothing and donate them to charity. Collect

canned goods in your neighborhood and deliver them to a food

bank. Rake leaves or mow lawns for elderly neighbors and give

the proceeds to a local environmental conservancy. Keep track

of kids’ contributions so they see the big impact they have on

others’ lives.

Love and affection. More than anything else, kids want to feel loved. They thrive

on parents’ undivided attention. Hugs and kisses, tickles and

tousles, and pats on the back are especially valued. Don’t wait

for a special occasion to show your child how much she’s loved

and how proud you are. Slip a special note in your child’s lunch-

box or backpack. Ask for one of his very special hugs when you

are feeling down. Small and big kids alike want to see and feel

love in tangible ways.

As you take time to meet kids’ psychological needs, you’ll build

stronger, more resilient family relationships. But kids’ material

wants won’t disappear over night – especially if TV commercials

and favorite web pages keep kids focused on the latest fun

gadgets and gizmos.

“In the end, we need to help our kids regularly consider if they

really want or need any given item – and why,” Taylor concludes.

“Perhaps the most fundamental question to instill in your kids is

this one: How much is enough?” Be a good role model – don’t

buy what you don’t need. Slow down and rediscover life’s simple

pleasures with your kids. After all, in the ways that matter, you’re

already wealthy beyond measure.

Heidi Smith Luedtke is a psychologist and freelance writer. You’ll find her parenting and leadership blog at www.leadingmama.com.

As a First Grader at Glen Oaks Elementary School, MKM cover girl Samantha, is a member of the ALPHA (gifted and talented) program. The program is designed to identify gifted students and nurture their special abilities and needs,

thereby assisting them in translating their gifts of poten-tial into productive performances and products that are commensurate with their abilities. High school graduates in this program will exceed the MISD graduate profile with products and performances of professional quality. The goals of the ALPHA (gifted and talented) program are to provide opportunities for developing:- Critical and creative thinking and problem solving strategies- Strong self-concepts

Dr. Tammy Gough, D.D.S, M.S. & Dr. Jessie Hunter, D.D.S.proudly support Samantha Paxson

Tammy L. Gough, D.D.S., M.S.Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry

Our Mission is to provide a dental experience that

makes kids say, “I can’t wait to come back.”

972.727.0737201 N. Alma Drive

Allen, TX 75013(Behind Bluckbuster Video)

Jessie Hunter, D.D.S.Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry


MKM Awesome Achiever

- Intellectual and creative abilities- Self-directed and life-long learning skills

Samantha is a first generation Chinese American, whose favorite subjects include reading, writing and computer lab. She enjoys playing soccer, hanging out with friends, singing and reading for fun. Samantha is a member of the Indian Princess program (www.tatankanation.org) which she participates with her father, Damon. Her Indian name is “Breaking Banks”, her favorite time is spent camping and enjoying smores by the camp fire. She loves to travel, and had the privilege of visiting her grandpar-ents in Shanghai, China where she learned about her culture, family history and met distant relatives. Some of her other favorite destinations include New York City and Cancun, Mexico, or anywhere there is great food.

She and her brother, Justin, enjoy playing with their three cats (Miley, B.W and Mandy). Her favorite foods are “Chicken Noodle soup”, Sushi and fresh fruits. Samantha would like to be a Teacher, or a Dentist when she grows up.


Expands to After-School Club in McKinney ISD

new after-school club for children with special needs

opened in McKinney this fall in two locations as

a cooperative venture between McKinney ISD and

The Arc of Dallas, a nonprofit United Way agency.

The program is a response to the challenge working parents

face when they have a child with an intellectual disability such

as Down syndrome, autism or mental retardation. Although the

public school system provides an individualized education plan

(IEP) during the school day, choices for summer time and after

school care can be scarce. Most camps and daycare programs

cannot handle children with special needs.

For the past eight years, The Arc of Dallas has offered its sum-

mer “Adventure Camp” in Dallas, more recently expanding it

to locations in Collin and Rockwall counties. The McKinney

ISD stood up and took notice and decided to partner with The

Day Camp for Children with Special Needs

Arc for the 2008-09 school year and offer “Adventure Club for

Kids,” ages 5-12; and “Adventure Club for Teens,” ages 13-21.

Adventure Club extends the programmatic success The Arc has

enjoyed with Adventure Camp and runs parallel to the district

operated “Club 360” after-school program for regular students.

Adventure Club is staffed by experienced special-care profes-

sionals from The Arc who will align a student’s after-school

activities with the IEP developed by his or her teachers as well as

the wishes of the parent. McKinney ISD will provide transporta-

tion to the two club locations: Slaughter Elementary School for

kids; and Dr. Jack Cockrill Middle School for teens.

Parents can register their child to become a club member by

calling The Arc of Dallas at 214.634.9810 or visiting its website

for an application at www.arcdallas.org. Club tuition begins at

$20 per day.

A

Advertiseyour business here

and reach yourtarget market

McKinney Kids Magazine972-547-6261

mckinneykidsmagazine October/November 2008 �1www.northtexasmagazines.com


KandidKids

Email candid shots [email protected]

Hey. Can you give usa ride in this?

Being so handsomeis so much hard work.

Hurry before the waves get me!

A hockey player with allhis teeth!

May I have your attention, please?

They call me slick.

Anyone needa massage?

Boo!Now leave me alone!

The Golden ruleBy Amy Pawlak

Stonebridge UMC Opens Doors to Gustav and Ike Evacuees;Thanks to Church Family Members and Community for Their Support

he Golden Rule of “Do unto others as you would have

others do unto you” is talked about frequently in

sermons by pastors John Mollet and Terri Swan at

Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney. Recently,

church members experienced the opportunity to live out The

Golden Rule not once, but twice, as they welcomed hurricanes

Gustav and Ike evacuees into Red Cross shelters held in their

new, 22-thousand square foot Robertson Activity Center.

“We have always wanted to provide this type of ministry here at

Stonebridge UMC,” senior pastor John Mollet said. “Shelter fa-

cilities played a huge role in the design process of the Robertson

Activity Center, from shower facilities to kitchen space. There

are not too many greater feelings I can think of than offering

a home away from home to God’s people in their greatest times

of need. I think our entire church family witnessed this powerful

message of Christ’s love.”

Even preschoolers enrolled in the church’s Sunshine Kids

Preschool got an extra lesson on the Golden Rule with the

shelter for Ike evacuees. School had not begun yet during

the Gustav shelter.

“Our Chapel lesson for the week was The Golden Rule,”

preschool director Amy Stewardson said. “It was exciting to tell

the children how Stonebridge UMC was putting this scripture

into action by helping the people who had been affected by

Hurricane Ike.”

With help from the Red Cross, Salvation Army and City and

County services, the church welcomed just over 200 evacuees

from both hurricanes. According to Carrie Kitzmiller, church

member and shelter volunteer, the two shelters differed

dramatically. During Gustav, shelter guests had emotional

bonds with their family, their pets, and others in the shelter.

During Ike, many shelter guests either lived on the streets or

in homeless shelters.

“From a broad perspective and regardless of the differences

between the two groups, I think we were able to connect

with our guests and others on a genuine and personal level,”

Kitzmiller said. “We wanted to give them a sense of comfort, to

be a safe harbor to rest, regain their strength, and be refreshed

enough to face the challenges that were ahead for them.”

Red Cross rules and regulations only allow Red Cross trained

volunteers to work inside a Red Cross shelter. When hurricane

Gustav hit, only seven church family members had completed

the required training to assist inside a Red Cross disaster shelter.

The day after the shelter reopened for Hurricane Ike, 32 Stone-

bridge UMC church family members underwent the required

training and then helped to staff the shelter for the remainder

of the week.

“As the saying goes, ‘Life is what happens while you’re making

plans’,” Marilyn Mattei, church member and shelter volunteer,

said. “Our plans for hosting a disaster shelter had just begun

to take shape when Gustav hit on Labor Day. We were asked

T


to open, ready or not. Before we could even catch our breath, here

came Ike. This learn-as you-go experience has taught us many hings,

and if we are called on to shelter again, we hope to be equipped to

staff our shelter with an all Stonebridge UMC Red Cross trained staff.”

“The need is so large for workers inside the shelter because there

is just so much to do and so many needs to care for,” Kitzmiller said.

“Volunteers of all kinds are needed including liaisons with other

service organizations, medical professionals to evaluate shelter guests,

physical therapists to help elderly or disabled guests continue their

treatments, volunteers to help coordinate children’s activities, sewers,

and tons more from many different areas. A big need is for volun-

teers to just sit and listen to the guests. They all have stories to be

told and really benefit from talking with others.”

Many volunteers were needed outside the shelter as well. The

church distributed a daily email update and donations list of

needed items and services. Such items included over-the-counter

medications, medical equipment/supplies, batteries, pillows, blankets,

laundry, clothing, extension cords, games and activities for children,

and much more. Church members and other community members

that received the list provided an overwhelming response by meeting

almost every need of shelter guests.

Along with the many donations from Stonebridge UMC church

family members, the shelter also received luggage from Grace

Avenue United Methodist Church in Frisco and cell phones from

McKinney Fellowship Bible, Cornerstone Church, and San Gabriel ‘s

Catholic Church. Almost $4000 in gift cards was also donated

to shelter guests.

After caring for the evacuees and really getting to know them,

Kitzmiller says it is hard to let them go.

“You know, for me, it becomes almost like fostering a child and the

child having to go back to the parents. It’s like, gosh, where are they

going to go? You grieve a little for them.”

“I think those who were involved in the sheltering experience will

agree that it was one of the hardest things they have ever done, but

also one of the most worthwhile. We truly had the opportunity to be

the hands and feet of Christ,” Mattei added.

About Stonebridge United Methodist Church Stonebridge United Methodist Church is located

at 1800 S. Stonebridge Drive , McKinney, Texas

75070. Each week over 1,600 worshipers celebrate God’s love, grow

in God’s word, serve God’s people and expand God’s kingdom. For

more information on the church, ministries and upcoming events, visit

www.mysumc.org or call 972-529-5601.

Amy PawlakCoordinator of Communications, Stonebridge United Methodist ChurchFreelance Writer, Communications Professional


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