I take pains to be unfailingly, unflinchingly honest with my daughter (within the bounds of age-appropriateness, of course). She believes what I tell her; then again, being 5 years old, she believes almost anything anyone tells her.

For instance, one of Willow’s friends recently told her that she once caught a mermaid. Willow not only believed it, she wanted a mermaid for her very own.

And so, when she found a chestnut at preschool she brought it home, put it in the biggest bowl we have in the house, and filled it with water. She told her dad and me that it was a mermaid egg, and that it may take some time to hatch. Like, two or three years.

“I don’t think so, honey” I said. I tried to explain that mermaids aren’t real. They are make-believe. Willow wouldn’t hear of it; she continued to insist that her “egg” would one day “hatch.”

That’s when my husband, chuckling, remarked that it would be fun to sneak a goldfish into the bowl when she wasn’t looking.

Thus began the biggest whopper of a story we’ve ever concocted for our daughter.

Yes, I did sneak off to the pet store while Willow was at preschool; found a beautiful blue betta (they are supposed to be hardy); came home and cleaned out the water and put in the fish. Then I left the house, so that when she came home with her dad later on, she could discover that her mermaid egg had hatched.

And I’m happy to report that she went wild when she saw the “mermaid fish.” It really blew her mind that the story she created came true. We rushed out after dinner that night to get a glass tank and betta fish food, and Willow had a lot of fun setting up the fish’s new home. This fish is also her first real pet, her sole responsibility, and she is taking very good care of it. She delights in telling everyone about how her mermaid fish hatched, and we back her up when incredulous adults express skepticism.

I realize that some folks might frown on our encouragement of childhood fantasy and our total disregard for the ethical problems of feeding an impressional young child a total whopper of a lie.  These people probably don’t get visits from the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.

She named it “Flower.” Welcome home, flower the fish.

- MM

1 Comment »

It seems a local mom was asked by a staff member of Currents to breastfeed her child in the bathroom this week. The mom protested, but the staff insisted that she stop breastfeeding in public.

Knowing her rights, the mom complained to Missoula Parks and Rec, which issued a prompt apology and pledged to correct the problem by running staff through training.

The three e-mails copied below should serve as an important reminder to parents to know the laws about breastfeeding in Montana. I know there was a time when I, as a new mom, felt rather meek about stuff like this. Time was, I would have obeyed the lifeguard at Current unquestioningly, and slunk off to the bathroom to nurse my baby. I am so thankful was have moms like Kris Laroche to stand up for all of us.

I also hope the conversation will serve as a reminder to businesses, agencies and organizations – both public and private – to brush up on Montana’s breastfeeding laws as well. It’s not enough just to post a sign in the window declaring your support of breastfeeding. You have to make sure you – and your employees – understand what that means. And that includes making it clear that moms have the right to breastfeed their babies in public places.

- MM

Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment »

I get regular, always positive news releases on the state of K-12 education in Montana from the state Office of Public Instruction. Often, I dutifully post the releases on this blog for readers.

Naturally, I didn’t hear a peep from OPI about this latest news, which is based on a national study that dealt Montana a failing grade for our math and English standards:

“Montana’s English language arts standards ’are among the worst in the country,’ the study’s three authors wrote.

Findings on Montana’s math standards were equally woeful.”

Ai yi yi.

Montana Superintendent Denise Juneau shrugged off the findings, pointing out that the study failed to include a key portion of the state’s standards, and noting how well Montana has done in other national studies.

So it’s the battle of the studies, apparently.

Meanwhile, the OPI broke some more positive news: Montana is set to take in $11.5 million in Department of Education grants to improve some of our worst-performing schools. Here’s the release, below.

- MM

Read the rest of this entry »

No Comments »

I’m almost embarrassed to admit that my family has not yet made the trip to Glacier National Park. I know – it’s a travesty, right? Here’s hoping that we get a chance to visit before the end of the year. I’m putting on my to-do list right now.

In the meantime, here’s a heartwarming news release from the Udall Foundation, which is sponsoring a trip to Glacier for 12 young people from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Missoula as part of the Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus program.

- MM

First Ever Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus Trip in Montana

There will be a change of scenery for 12 Montana youth as they go on a camping trip to Glacier National Park – a first for many of them. The students, who will be armed with digital cameras, are participating in the Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus program, which gives young environmental leaders (Udall scholarship alumni) the opportunity to pass their knowledge to children who might never have seen a national park or spent time exploring a wilderness area.

Read the rest of this entry »

No Comments »

YWCA Missoula runs this program called Girls Using Their Strengths, GUTS! for short. I don’t know why the exclamation mark is added in the acronym; personally, I find it irritating rather than enlivening – but the program  itself is great. It organizes dozens of volunteers to help more than 200 girls a year build confidence and leadership skills.

And that’s important, says GUTS! co-founder and director Jen Euell, because “our culture is more sexualized than ever, so we feel it’s important to reach girls at a young age so that they can learn to value their inner strengths and talents, not just their appearances.”

Right on, sister. To further that mission, this year the program is offering its first-ever day camp for 9- and 10-year-olds. The camp kicked off on Monday and wraps up on Friday. According to the YWCA, “Activities will include visiting Raptors of the Rockies and the Wild Bear Institute, swimming in a creek, helping build a community garden with Missoula’s Parks and Recreation Department, as well as spending one night at the Homestead Organics Farm.”

For more information about GUTS!, future day camps or volunteer opportunities, give Jen Euell a call on her cell phone at 360-5962.

- MM

No Comments »

Wow! What day is it? I’m still reeling from a long world-class kayak competition and Independence Day weekend, and already I can feel Missoula gearing up to hit me with another crazy too-much-t0-see-and-do weekend.

Friday is the third annual Kiddopalooza (or however you spell it) music festival, which doubles as a benefit event for Families First. Who’s playing? What’s happening? Well, there’s the Sweet Adeline’s Barbershop Octet, Tangled Tones, Wise River Mercantile, a Championship Training Taekwondo Demonstration, Julie and the Wolves, “The Mime” Christian Ackerman, Derailed, Vera, Parson’s Pony Rides (from 6:30-8:30pm), TWO – count ‘em – TWO bouncy houses, a water slide, face painting, a giant sandbox, mini-mobile races (huh?), a Western Montana Fairgrounds Rodeo Queens Rope Course (4-6 p.m.), a gymnastics course, the MCAT Space Taxi, free rides on the Missoula Carousel (7-9 p.m.) and – oh, just go check it out for yourself.

The festivities start at 2 p.m. and end at 8 p.m., unless you count the free carousel rides, which go on until 9 p.m. And since it’s summer, there will still be enough light to run around outside until the kids finally tucker out.

It costs $15 for an all-access wristband; $20 for a wristband with a T-shirt; $1 per ticket if you want to purchase activities individually.

And if the kids have any leftover energy the next day (ha ha – you know they will), there’s the Kids Marathon. Nearly 200 kids have registered.

- MM

No Comments »

Shakespeare and Co., a local book store located right across the street from my office at the Missoulian – at 103 S. Third St. W. in the “Hip Strip” on South Higgins – announced this weekend that it is starting a book club for kids.

The age range invited includes kids entering fourth through seventh grades in the coming school year. For more information, call Shakespeare at 549-9010, e-mail shakespeare@montana.com or check out the Shakespeare and Co. Booksellers blog at http://shakespeareandco.com/2010/07/03/kids-book-club/.

- MM

No Comments »

You can stop compulsively channel surfing; on the heels of “The Biggest Loser” and “Hoarders” hails the latest in intervention reality shows, “Obsessed” – this one splashing on screen the sorrows of sufferers from OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

After my husband and I witnessed a commercial for the June 28 debut, he appeared unusually pensive.

“I may have a touch of that,” he hesitatingly confessed. “I count when I walk. But I don’t have to,” he added as an important distinction. I know of what I speak, being the mother of two daughters who for over five years have relied on prescription medication post therapy to keep them from ruminating in never-ending circular thought patterns.

Read the rest of this entry »

No Comments »

Here’s some cool news on this warm day. I’ll paste the press release in full, below.

- MM

NEW REPORT: MT a Leader in Meeting Needs of Hungry Children During the Summer
Summer meals are in when school is out

HELENA – A new report found that Montana is among the nation’s top five states that best responded to the growing needs of hungry children during the summer.  Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau said that Montana’s Summer Food Service Program is a leader in providing healthy food to an increasing number of low-income children when school is out – and is a leader in the nation in reaching eligible low-income children.

“During summer break kids should not worry about getting enough to eat,” said Juneau. The Summer Food Program makes sure all children get healthy food during the summer months so they can return to school ready to learn.  Studies show that children who are hungry are more likely to be in poor health and less likely to form friendships, to be curious, and to learn.  One in ten people in Montana live in households where there is not always enough nutritious food.

The Food Research and Action Center’s report titled “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report 2010” found that more than 6,600 children were served meals in Montana communities in 2009—up from 5,700 in 2008. The report is available on the OPI Web site: http://www.opi.mt.gov/Programs/SchoolPrograms/School_Nutrition/Summer.html

“The schools, non-profits, and communities that sponsor summer food sites are meeting a real need,” said Juneau. “This is a very real problem in our state and we need to all find ways to make sure children do not go hungry.”

Each summer, kids can eat free lunches through the Summer Food Service Program, a federally-funded nutrition program open to children and youth aged 1-18 years. It runs from June to mid-August. In addition to lunches, many sites also offer breakfasts and snacks as well. Meals are served at locations where kids congregate, such as playgrounds, summer schools and community centers.

“Montana’s communities and sponsors who have stepped up to help these kids deserve our thanks,” said Juneau.

To find a meal site, families can call 1-800-809-4752 or go to http://mfbn.org/SummerFoodMT.  The website shows maps of summer lunch sites by city or county and hours they are open. It also provides contact information for those who want to find out about activities, transportation and how to volunteer or donate to a local site.

No Comments »

Today’s Missoulian carries the news that the Missoula Breastfeeding Coalition has signed on 100 local businesses to its campaign. This means that these businesses, which sport a sticker identifying themselves as “breastfeeding friendly,” support the goals of the coalition and the Missoula City-County Health Department in providing an encouraging environment to breastfeeding moms and their babies.

As the comments posted with this story online illustrate, this support is badly needed. I’m always a bit taken aback by the level of scorn heaped upon breastfeeding moms. These women have to decide for themselves and their children what age is best to stop breastfeeding, what level of modesty is called for in a particular situation and how to go about the delicate business of feeding a baby in a public place.

Kudos to the Breastfeeding 100, as I hereby dub them, for being among the first businesses in Missoula to officially declare their awareness of this reality.

- MM

No Comments »