Mother’s Day – What I want most
5 going on 15
It seems like it was just last week I was pushing around my little man in a stroller … able to contain him in any environment – the mall, the zoo, the arts festival.
But just a few short weeks ago, my baby turned 5 and I found myself registering him for kindergarten, setting up his big-boy bed in his room, and holding my breath as he went on the kiddie roller-coaster at the local amusement park.
Of course, it was a nonstop celebration to honor Hunter’s turning 5. It was a day he’d been anxious for and with all the begging and pleading, it still couldn’t come quick enough for him. For me? It’s always too quick.
A week full of a visit from Gwennie (as grandma is so affectionately called) culminated in the party of the century with a big dancing, talking mouse (any guesses?). A chocolate-only cake, decorated in Star Wars fashion was on the menu, topped with Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker with real working light sabres (it doesn’t get cooler than that). Friends, family and even a girlfriend (yes, girlfriend!) made the event extra special for my little guy.
And it seems things have changed overnight. My 5-year-old is already going on 15. The phrases he uses, the facial expressions, the eye-rolls … the ones that say “Mom, you are so not cool” when I’m trying to make him laugh. Worrying about giving his mom kisses in public … worrying about whether his jeans are “regular” or “skinny” and if his shirt is tucked just right. He’ll readily stick up for friends if they find themselves on the receiving end of a bully’s push. And he still manages to tell me how pretty he thinks I am and but now adds how he thinks I should wear my hair.
He’s truly turning into his own little man. As fast as it goes, it gets better every day.
-Erica Smith
It’s hot in there – Don’t leave children and dogs in parked cars
As the temperature rises, it’s getting warmer … but it’s even hotter inside your vehicle.
Don’t leave your children or pets inside your parked cars.
Would you want to be locked in a car with temperatures more than 100 degrees?
According to AAA, “On a summer day in Oklahoma, the inside temperature of a car can reach more than 100 degrees in just a short time. Heatstroke can occur in an adult when the temperature reaches 104 degrees and death can occur at 107 degrees; for a child, it is less.”
You might think you’re going to be “just a minute,” or maybe that ”it’s not that hot outside, so it must be OK in the car.”
But, you’re wrong. A minute can turn into 5, which can turn into 10, which can turn into half an hour. If you throw a hot car into the scenario, you’re putting your loved ones in jeopardy.
AAA also warns owners to keep their automobiles locked at all times when they’re not in use, so a curious child doesn’t become trapped in the vehicle.
Here are safety tips from AAA:
- Never leave a child unattended in a car, even for a minute, and even if the windows are tinted or down. The same recommendations apply to pets and the elderly.
- Never leave car keys where children have access to them.
- Keep doors locked and windows closed at all times, even when the vehicle is in the garage or on a driveway.
- Make sure all children leave the vehicle when you reach your destination.
Don’t leave anyone behind:
- When you first place a child in a car seat in the back seat of the car, also open the glove compartment door, flip down the passenger side visor or put a purse in the back seat. These actions can serve as visual reminders that a child is in the back seat.
- If you see a child alone in a locked, parked car, immediately call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.
March for Babies May 7 at State Fair Park
The March of Dimes annual March for Babies is planned for Saturday, May 7, at State Fair Park.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the program beginning at 9 a.m.
The day also will include a DJ, children’s carnival games and activities, a bounce house, face painting, team photos, food and a visit from Rumble during registration.
Funds raised by March for Babies in Oklahoma help support prenatal wellness programs, community grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.
The fee is $10 per walker.
For more information about the event, visit March for Babies or call (405) 943-1025
