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The Bald Truth

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   â”What happened to your leg?â” James asked my friend. Steve, an amputee for many years, laughed.

   â”All kids are curious about it,â” he told me, but I was still mortified. I want my kids to be honest, but courteous, and I thought back to my preschool years when I embarrassed my mother.

  â”This is my son, Bill,â” Mom said, introducing me to a tall man. I was used to people towering over me, but his head caught my attention. He wore a neatly-trimmed gray fringe on each side, but the center of his crown was only skin. I had heard of bald people before and seen them on TV, but this was my first direct encounter with a bald man and it fascinated me. The concept of baldness and the word connected in my mind and I summoned all of my fledgling communication skills.

  â”Youâ’re bald!â” I announced as if I alone knew that the emperor had no clothes.

  â”Bill!â” Mom admonished, but the tall man just laughed. I had sealed my fate.

Immediately after high school, my hair fled and I had to clear handfuls from the shower just to allow it to drain. Finally, the drain ran freely. I had no more hair to lose and I was as bald as the man that I had so rudely accosted. Saddened by my loss, I grew morose and Mom tried in vain to comfort me.

  â”Itâ’s genetic,â” she said. â”My father lost his hair at an early age.â” Intellectually, I know that she was right, but one thing still troubles me. I have one solitary hair that grows where my hairline used to be. That one lonely hair, I am convinced, exists for just two reasons: to mock me and to remind me of my rudeness as a child.

 

Bill Bartlett lives in Belton with his wife, Sandi, and two sons.

To Snack or Not to Snack

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   It is the middle of the afternoon when they suddenly hit you: hunger pains. Your stomach is growling and it is just about time for a snack. This is where the bad habits come in. Should you eat the apple or the donut or nothing at all? Paula Nyman, R.D., L.D., is a dietitian at the Renew Eating Disorder Recovery Center in Olathe. Here are some of Nyman’s tips for smarter snacking:

 

Eat breakfast. “Eating as soon as possible after rising is a great strategy for establishing good hunger patterns,” Nyman says. If you skip breakfast, your body is left to run only on fumes, according to www.WomansHealthMag.com. Your body will then desperately crave massive amounts of food, causing you to overeat later in the day.

 

Make mini meals. “Looking at a snack as a mini meal is a helpful picture for picking snack foods,” Nyman says. Try to incorporate a healthy balance in your snacks as well as in your meals. Some snack ideas that Nyman suggests are a half sandwich with a handful of nuts, or a piece of fruit combined with cheese or a mug of cereal.

 

Look for protein. Foods containing protein stabilize your blood glucose levels longer than foods containing only high amounts of sugar. Make sure to include protein not only in your main meals, but in your snacks as well. Your hunger will be stabilized for longer periods of time, eliminating cravings and overeating in the long run.

 

Don’t feel bad. Don’t look at foods and label them as “unhealthy.” Nyman says that if you label foods as unhealthy, this will cause you to feel bad about your eating behaviors. If your stomach is growling and your blood sugar is low, it is better to eat something less nutritious than to wait hours until your next meal.

Amanda Blue is an intern for KC Parent Magazine. She is a sophomore at the University of Kansas where she is studying Journalism.

Meningitis Facts: Save the Brain Membrane

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  Why can one type of meningitis be treated with antibiotics and not the other? And why are there so many organisms which can cause this one disease? Meningitis facts can strain the brain, but the plain answer is: meningitis is any inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes.

Bacterial vs. viral meningitis Dr. Jennifer Andrews, a pediatrician at Shawnee Mission Pediatrics, says the big difference is, â”Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics and viral meningitis cannot.â” She warns, â”Both forms of meningitis can be serious.â”

Whoâ’s most at risk? â”The two most common causes of bacterial meningitis in children are Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcal) and Neisseria meningitidis (Meningococcal),â” says Dr. Andrews. Haemophilus influenza (Hib) used to be widespread, but now with the current immunization schedule, the numbers have dropped dramatically. â”Pneumococcal meningitis,â” reports Dr. Andrews, â”is most common in infants, young children and individuals with immune deficiency. Meningococcal is most common in adolescents and young adults.â”

Common symptoms The American Academy of Pediatrics says meningitis quickly progresses, so notify a pediatrician promptly if warning signs are present:

Under 2 years:

  • Fever
  • Decreased appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Listlessness
  • Extreme crankiness
  • Rash

2 to 5 years old: above symptoms, plus

  • Complaint of headache
  • Pain in back
  • Stiff neck
  • Aversion to bright lights

Treatment for bacterial meningitis

Diagnosis is made by doing a procedure called a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), according to Dr. Andrews. Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial meningitis, and they are typically given through an IV in the beginning of treatment. Those who receive immediate treatment recover well.

 

Viral meningitis is less serious but can remain undiagnosed because it is often misdiagnosed as influenza.

Prevention is Key â”The most important thing parents can do to prevent meningitis is to take their children in for their immunizations,â” Dr. Andrews says. â”There has been a substantial decrease of bacterial meningitis with the current immunization schedule.â”

 

Dr. Laurie Hornberger, a Kansas City, MO, pediatrician specializing in adolescent health, says, â”High school and college-aged kids are at the highest risk for meningococcal disease.â” Since they live in close quarters, share food, drinks and utensils, the disease can be passed on easily.

 

Teens should definitely get vaccinated before entering college, but â”the current recommendation for the meningococcal vaccine is 11 years,â” says Dr. Hornberger. â”There are, however, new studies that say a booster may be needed at 16 to cover them throughout college years.â”

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric registered nurse and advocate for childhood immunizations.

Seven Steps to Financial Peace

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  After weight loss strategies, debt-free living must be one of the most talked about, search-engined topics around. Evidence: a recent Google search returned â”aboutâ” 9,720,000 results in .12 seconds. Some catchy titles popped up, but the third-ranked program was the Dave Ramsey homepage, www.DaveRamsey.com.

  Living like no one elseâ-being weirdâ-is at the core of Dave Ramseyâ’s Financial Peace University (FPU) program. The dynamic radio talk show host, best-selling author and charismatic speaker has helped millions of American families get out of debt. The average family eliminates $5,300 of debt and saves $2,700 in the first 91 days of the program. Excepting the home mortgage, most families are debt-free in 18-24 months.

  The secret? Itâ’s a seven-step, self-help programâ-WAIT! Donâ’t stop reading! The steps are sound financial principles that Ramsey himself follows (see sidebar). The program puts people in charge of their money using a flexible monthly budget.

Normal is broke. Be weird.

  â”Oh, yeah, youâ’re that Dave Ramsey family…┠Thatâ’s the reputation

  Mike and Michelle Sumler built by repeatedly turning down credit card offers at a childrenâ’s clothing store. The Sumlers retired between $26,000 and $28,000 of debt in 14 months. After hearing Ramseyâ’s radio program, the couple enrolled in a Financial Peace University seminar at their Belton church in 2007. The Sumlers paid off student loans, then tackled furniture and unexpected real estate taxes. Today, they are on Baby Step 4, retirement saving. Ramseyâ’s Financial Peace Jr., taught their children how to earn money and prioritize spending, saving and giving.

The Envelopes, Please?

  The Sumlers attribute much of their success to using FPUs monthly cash flow plan, which Michelle found â”doableâ” compared to other budgeting approaches. To stay on track, they use a modified FPU budget form and its envelope system to keep track of monthly expenses. Debit cards pay for monthly expenses (groceries, gas, etc.); the receipts go in their respective envelopes, and the expenses are deducted from the monthly total. When they reach their monthly allotment, they stop spending.

How Simple the Difficult Things Can Be

  Rebecca and Ryan Mills of east Kansas City, MO, took a slightly different path to financial freedom. They utilized the internet, radio show and Ramseyâ’s best-seller, Total Money Makeover. After reading that book, Ryan says, â”A light bulb came on,â” and he was sold on the program. The couple retired $35,000 of debt in just over one year. Ryan explains their success: â”You both need to be on the same page, share responsibilities and communicate regularly about finances.â”

The Mills snowballed their debt (see Baby Step 2) by paying off some lingering wedding expenses and credit cards. Next were the car payments and a second property. â”Once we accomplished this,â” Ryan recalls, â”we had the momentum going. Paying off the first two debts gave us more money to put toward the next two.â” Unlike other financial advisors, Ramsey tells participants to pay off the lowest debts first. Early success creates the snowball effect that keeps people motivated.

  Momentum and motivation are key. Both families treated themselves to vacations during their debt reduction process. The Sumlers went to Disney, the Mills to Jamaica. The major difference: neither incurred any debt. This is how you â”live like no one else.â” Be weird. Live

debt-free.

Kathy Stump lives in Parkville, MO, where she and her husband are raising two financially-savvy children on a budget.

Finding the Right Camp for Your Child

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Ready, Set, Camp!

Finding the Right Camp for Your Child

  You are considering a summer camp, but how to choose? Thereâ’s a camp that is ideally suited for every child, providing a summer of growth and fun whether your child attends a day or overnight camp, a specialized or traditional camp. With a little help from the camp professionals at the American Camp Association, hereâ’s some sound advice that helps parents sort through the choices and benefits that camp delivers. As spring approaches, parents and children can look forward to planning for the futureâ-a future that includes the opportunities for exploration and discovery that arrives with summer camp.

How to Decide When Your Child is Ready for Camp

Children are ready for new experiences at different stages. Parents know their children best and these questions can help gauge whether this is the summer your child will start camp.

What is your childâ’s age? Children under age 7 may not adjust easily to being away from home. Consider the day camp experience to prepare them for future overnight camps.

How did your child become interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp on a sustained basis? How much persuasion is necessary from you?

Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?

What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.

Are you able to share consistent and positive messages about camp? Your confidence in a positive experience will be contagious.

A Camp for Every Childâ-The Perfect Fit

Camp can last for just a few days or stretch to all summer long. Itâ’s well worth the trouble to investigate the variety of choices offered by camps before your child packs a backpack. These questions help you consider the options.

Near or Far?

Where do you want your child to go to camp? Locally or far away? While each camp experience has something unique to offer your child, this is an opportunity for families to assess what they value for their campers.

Benefits of Camp Nearby

  • Easier to evaluate and visit
  • Friends and family are likely familiar with camp
  • Minimal travel costs
  • Likely contact with classmates or children from same region

Benefits of Camp Far Away

  • More choices
  • Different experiences, different geography, e.g., mountains or oceansâ-even different languages
  • Promotes independence, particularly for early and late adolescent campers
  • Diversity of campers
  • Chance for family to visit and vacation at close of camp

Session Length Offers Another Choice

Camps offer widely varying options to help parents and children reach their goals for summer fun and exploration. Talking with your child about the goals you both share helps determine which choice is right for you.

Benefits of Short Sessions (1-3 weeks)

  • First-time or younger campers have a chance to learn new skills
  • Bonds develop with other campers and staff
  • Great exposure to camp experience with less expense
  • Minimizes homesickness

Benefits of Longer Sessions (4-12 weeks)

  • Strong sense of belonging to camp community
  • Chance to learn new skills
  • Development of specialized skills
  • Multiple opportunities for learning and enrichment
  • Lifelong friendships
  • Opportunities to contribute to camp culture

For more information about child development and the camp experience, please visit our family-dedicated website, www.CampParents.org, or call our toll-free number, 1.800.428.CAMP (2267).

Originally printed in CAMP Magazine, reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association © 2005 American Camping Association, Inc.

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