Stacey Hatton | Family Cookie Factory holds life lessons
STACEY HATTON COMMENTARY
My family craves anything sweet, but as a health professional, I try not to have the house stocked full of sugary treats.
However, my 3-year-old literally asks for a Popsicle every hour of the day. Winter, spring, summer or fall…all you have to say is “No!” for the zillionth time. And this has been going on for a year. The research says she is just testing us, but come on, the test is over! Put down your pencil and turn over your paper.
Now, the occasional cake or cookie is satisfying, but let me tell you, with two preschoolers, baking can be quite an adventure. To get Munchkin #2’s mind off the blasted Popsicles, we will sometimes play Family Cookie Factory.
One day as I was teaching my children the difference between salt and sugar and how to crack an egg, I started to see Family Cookie Factory was a great teaching tool, not only for baking skills, but life skills.
Here are a few life lessons that fit nicely with the Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip cookie recipe:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. This should be done by a responsible and preferably sober adult. Anything involving extreme heat should be handled by those who have passed grade school — the first time through.
Life Lesson 1: When things get hot, step away from the heat.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Use exact measurements when baking. Baking is like a chemistry experiment and you don’t want to throw things in willy-nilly or you might end up with a savory, flat briquette.
Life Lesson 2: Following directions can be helpful, and crucial if you grow up to be an electrician or a neurosurgeon.
Beat two sticks of butter, with sugars and vanilla until creamy. Two sticks of butter? Oh, my carotid is constricting as I type! There is a fine line between letting your children not feel bad about having an occasional cookie and not gasping and screaming expletives when you see the recipe calls for two entire sticks of butter.
Life Lesson 3: Take care of your body. You only get one and too many toxins and pollutants make aging more difficult and ridiculously ugly.
Add the eggs. Teaching preschoolers to crack eggs is always frustrating, messy or hilarious. I see it as the latter, but I enjoy slapstick comedy. I’d recommend using a separate bowl. Add it to the heart attack mixture in the previous step after retrieving the pieces of egg shell.
Life Lesson 4: Not all people are gifted at all things. The art of egg-cracking is not well developed by all persons. This skill will not be on your SATs.
Beat in flour mixture and add chocolate morsels. The word “beat” is confusing to youth. Educate them to use a hand mixer safely, which includes how to turn it on and off slowly and never aiming it at your sibling.
Life Lesson 5: Chocolate is the most blissful thing God created. A voice came straight from the heavens and gave Mr. N. Tollhouse the recipe. True story.
Drop teaspoon dollops onto baking sheet. That size is not written in stone.
Life Lesson 6: Bigger is…just bigger. Decide what you like and go for it.
Bake for nine to 11 minutes. Make sure to watch the cookies so they don’t get burnt.
Life Lesson 7: Don’t sunbathe too long or often — you’ll get melanomas.
Remove cookies to wire racks to cool. Make sure to let the cookies cool off enough before eating.
Life Lesson 8: Cookie cooling is a difficult lesson in patience. While patience is a desirable quality, it’s impossible to teach preschoolers; so sometimes they just have to learn the hard way. Tip: Have cold milk on close standby for this lesson. It will usually put out the fire.
Stacey Hatton is an Overland Park RN and freelance writer. Her blog can be found at http://nursemommylaughs.com.
I don’t know if it is because I am the mother of two young, passionate girls who have a flair for the drama, or if all parents experience this; but when does the whining STOP?! It is the #1 childhood characteristic which makes me want to go running for the hills with my husband’s noise canceling headphones suctioned to my ears, join a group of mute meditators who live in tree houses and sleep in hammocks while reading Walt Whitman. Not that I’ve ever thought this through before…
As a mom, I do let my emotions get me sometimes and inform the girls they need to stop whining at that exact moment. It unfortunately is a little louder request than I intend. Actually, the last time I lost it and pleaded for the whining to cease, they both stopped and started laughing. So I guess my loss of control worked in a backwards way. We all laughed and went on with our day.
As a nurse, however, I know better than that. I realize yelling at your child to stop whining does not work. The child is looking for a reaction from the adult and the yelling definitely counts as a reaction – a poor one, but a reaction.
There is a pretty successful way to cut out the majority of whining, but all caretakers need to be consistent with this method. When the child starts whining, calmly look at the child confused and say, “I just can’t understand you when you talk like that.” Treat the whining like they are speaking in Tongues or another language, and ask them to try it again so you can understand them. The only way this works is if you do this EVERY time a teensy whine comes through their lips. When the child changes her/his tone of voice to a more tolerable one, you can answer their question or help them out showing them praise with a smile, pat or hug.
This isn’t easy because it takes MUCH repetition and will-power from the parent, but you can do it. May the “whining poltergeists” in your home be exorcised with these few steps; and the darling, little sweeties return to your dinner table, their car-seats while traveling across town, and when passing the toy section at ANY store. It will make life much more pleasant – I promise!
I was going to paraphrase the warning of children swallowing Lithium cell batteries after reading this article, but felt Ms. Parker-Pope wrote such a thorough article for the New York Times, I decided to pass on her full story to you all. Terribly sad and dangerous…
The New York Times
May 31, 2010, 5:42 pm
For Very Young, Peril Lurks in Lithium Cell Batteries
Last fall, 13-month-old Aidan Truett of Hamilton, Ohio, developed what seemed like an upper respiratory infection. He lost interest in food and vomited a few times, but doctors attributed it to a virus. After nine days of severe symptoms and more doctor visits, the hospital finally ordered an X-ray to look for pneumonia.
What they found instead was totally unexpected. The child had ingested a “button” battery, one of those flat silver discs used to power remote controls, toys, musical greeting cards, bathroom scales and other home electronics.
The battery was surgically removed the next day, and Aidan was sent home. But what neither the doctors nor his parents realized was that the damage had been done. The battery’s current had set off a chemical reaction in the child’s esophagus, burning through both the esophageal wall and attacking the aorta. Two days after the battery was removed, Aidan began coughing blood, and soon died from his injuries.
To this day, Aidan’s parents don’t know where the battery came from. “This is something I would never want another parent to live with,” said Michelle Truett, Aidan’s mother. “I was oblivious as to how dangerous they were, and I want more people to know the danger.”
Such deaths are extremely rare. There were fewer than 10 documented during the last six years. But ingestion of lithium cell batteries, which children may mistake for candy and elderly adults for medication, is a surprisingly common problem, documented this week in two reports in the medical journal Pediatrics.
About 3,500 cases of button cell battery ingestion are reported annually to poison control centers. But while swallowing batteries has occurred for years, the development of larger, stronger lithium cell batteries has increased the risk of severe complications.
Data from the National Capital Poison Center in Washington found a sevenfold increase in severe complications from button cell ingestions in recent years. Moderate to severe cases have risen from less than a half percent (about a dozen cases per year) to about 3 percent (nearly 100 cases per year), based on a review of 56,000 cases since 1985.
Among the serious complications, the chemical reaction triggered by the batteries can damage vocal cords, leaving children with a lifelong whisper. Damage to the gastrointestinal tract means some children require feeding tubes and multiple surgeries. “The injuries are so much more serious,” said Dr. Toby Litovitz, director and lead author of both articles in Pediatrics. “It’s like drain opener or lye. It’s not something you want in the esophagus of your child.”
The batteries that pose the greatest risk are those that begin with the number 20, which stands for 20 millimeters. They are newer and stronger than older models. Batteries numbered 2032, 2025 and 2016 are responsible for more than 90 percent of serious injuries.
“Industry has shifted to this battery, and it has very popular appeal,” Dr. Litovitz said. “There are a lot of reasons why we want to use this battery, but the problem is we’ve got to use it in a safer way.” Federal safety rules require toys that use the batteries to have battery compartments that are locked with screws. But devices intended for adults — like bathroom scales and remote controls — often hold the batteries in with a simple plastic cover that can fall off or be removed easily.
That’s what happened when 13-month-old Kaiden Vasquez of Bristow, Va., picked up the remote control to his parent’s iPod docking station. Somehow, he dislodged the battery and swallowed it. But his parents did not notice the missing battery when he began crying hysterically and could not be calmed. Emergency room doctors diagnosed a stomach flu, but a week later the child’s pediatrician took an X-ray and saw what he thought was a quarter. When the round item was removed, doctors discovered the battery and kept Kaiden for observation. The battery had burned a hole in his esophagus and trachea and he required a feeding tube and two months of home nursing care.
Kaiden, who will be 3 in July, has recovered, although severe reflux after the incident damaged his teeth. “I don’t allow any of those disc batteries into my home,” said Kaiden’s mother, Amy Vasquez, who has three other young children. “I never thought a remote would do so much damage to my child.”
Battery ingestion is also a problem among the elderly, who often mistake hearing aid batteries for medication. But in those cases, the battery typically doesn’t get stuck because the digestive tract is larger and the battery used in hearing aids is smaller.
When children ingest batteries, it’s usually not because they found one loose in the home. In 60 percent of the cases involving children under age 6, the child has removed the battery from the electronic device. The problem is that most parents are not even aware when it happens, yet studies show the battery begins to cause severe damage within just two hours of ingestion. “It’s really a tight timeline, because a lot of these cases aren’t witnessed,” Dr. Litovitz said. “Children present with symptoms that are nonspecific, the parent doesn’t know the battery was ingested — that makes it difficult for the doctor to diagnose.”
Dr. Litovitz said the problem needed to be addressed by manufacturers of electronic products, who should secure the battery compartments in all devices, not just toys.
“Children have ready access to remote controls, watches, garage door openers,” she said. “Our major pitch is to get the industry to do something about the battery compartment, but parents also need to know that they need to be dealing with these batteries with a lot more vigilance and keeping them out of reach of the child.”
Cara George of Littleton, Colo., has been working to raise awareness about lithium batteries ever since her 18-month-old daughter, Brenna, died after ingesting one nearly two years ago. “I want to raise awareness for parents, for doctors, for the community,” she said. “I think there should be warnings on every item the batteries are in. They are in greeting cards and children’s books that talk. They’re everywhere.”
I have been one of those women you hear at the grocery store or standing in line at the tattoo parlor, who is becoming Negative Nancy about this year’s winter slap in the face. I can whine and complain about our arctic temperatures with the best of them – Voted #1 Member of the Mommy Whine and Dine Club.
However, my negativity needs to stop! I need to find the sunny side of the street. Bad example. I have little ears (my childrens, not mine) soaking up every complaint. They are learning negativity at every turn. I can hear it now at preschool in the gym, “Mary, this cold weather is awful! I just can’t get anything done. It’s cutting into my learning: my numbers are suffering, my alphabet has tanked, and I’m not even going to mention my shapes!”
I have Californian and Washington state friends in Facebook who are showing pictures of their cats curled up on their deck sunning themselves and speaking of the beautiful day. Friends hiking up a mountain trail with gentle breezes caressing their cheeks. The only gentle caressing of my cheeks is when I run back in the house frantically massaging parts of my body I want to regain circulation after being attacked by icy rain pellets. Was that complaining again? Sorry. Hard to break old habits.
Now that March is approaching, and here in the Midwest, that means we only have about a month before we might see 50 degrees, I am going to start celebrating spring early. I am going to have my girls start making colorful art projects out of tissue paper and pipe cleaners. Fill the house up with vases of paper flowers. To thumb my nose at old man winter, I am going to turn on every light in the house, crank up the heat, put on our swimming suits, flip flops, and sunglasses and play pool party. Umbrellas in everybody’s sippy cup!
When I go to the grocery store, instead of complaining in line about the cold and slush, and ice, AND snow…I am going to purchase a bouquet of flowers, set it on the front table, open up the curtains and share it with the neighbors. Tulips for everyone!!
Children always have such a gift for creating humorous scenarios. My girls are no different. While my husband was reading the “Funnies” section of the newspaper; and yes, routinely before the Business and Sports, Munchkin #1 (age 4) approached him and said…
“Daddy, can we read about the planets?”
Appearing over the FYI section with a sideways glance, I saw him glance over the paper front and back for any picture which would be a match to her question. He came up empty.
“The planets? What do you mean?” he questioned.
Munchkin #1 annoyed with my husband’s slowness, “You know…the one about comets!”
My husband and I replied in unison, “Ohhhhh!”
Hubby gently said with a smile, “You mean the comics!”
He reached down and swooped her up on his lap for a bonding moment of “Daddy and Daughter Comic Reading Time.” I went back to reading my paper, but failed to concentrate because this was one of those proud moments when realization of your child’s brilliance outshines the stars she is learning about! Sipping my coffee, I eavesdropped on them laughing at the jokes and memorized that feeling for another day when I would need a lift in my spirit!
Please share a story about your genius children…how often do people ask you to brag publicly?!
I have been working on an article on Asthma, Allergies and Eczema (working title: Why Can’t I Ever Spell These Blasted Words?) and after interviewing a local Allergy and Asthma specialist, he confirmed what I thought was just a kooky rumor – Infant Acetaminophen has been linked to Asthma in children. WHAT?! He said that children who received more acetaminophen as infants have more severe cases of asthma later on! He sited a study in CHEST Magazine 2009 (don’t worry this would be a G-rated magazine) which reports these findings. He also said that moms who used acetaminophen often during pregnancy might be responsible for more severe asthma in their kids too. Isn’t that nice for instilling a guilt complex?!
OK, my children are doomed!! Pediatric nurses are surely going to be the highest percentage of moms with kids suffering with asthma. Peds nurses are a breed of medication servers who know too much and want to prevent our kids from dealing with any pain or sniffle. I think I had tube of Oragel in my pocket for an entire year when my kids were teething! I think the next study should be who’s kids are coughing up the most phlegm. And the winner is…nurses kids!!
I will be delving into this study more in KC Parent’s April’s issue, so please stayed tuned. Does this freak out anyone else or do you have any stories to share about your kids teething experience? I would love to hear them!
While leaving my children’s preschool one morning, I fortunately was reminded what every parent needs to hear at the beginning of the day: slow down!
Who would say that to your face? No one with any sense of decorum — maybe with the exception of hall monitors or lifeguards. I was indirectly asked to slow down by a woman walking behind me who let out an audible exhalation. Actually, she could have blown me out the door with it!
Now, she didn’t realize she had done this, because when I turned around and mentioned it, she was embarrassed, so sorry. But I think she did me a favor. I am here to pass on her exhalation to you parents of young children out there. (Please, insert yours here. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.)
As the caregivers of our offspring, today’s society has programmed us to be in high gear all day long. How many times have you gotten through the kids’ nightly bath and thought, “Where did the day go? Didn’t I just have my first cup of coffee a minute ago?”
We are creatures of habit and nurturers, so we run through the day repeating: feed, clean, feed, clean, feed, clean, clean, read aloud, fall into a pile of mush and pass out. Doesn’t this sound familiar?
I think breath-holding has become an epidemic problem. We need to start a movement to change this behavior. No more walking through life with our shoulders up to our ears, wracked with stress! No more headaches brought on by forgetting to eat or drink water for half the day! No more absentmindedness from multi-tasking to the extreme when you really aren’t doing anything well because you can’t focus on one thing at a time! No more weekly appointments to the massage therapist or chiropractor! OK, I take that back. I didn’t mean to say that.
Let me break down this problem medically. Our body needs oxygen (and food and water) to survive. When we are stressed, humans have a tendency to take shorter inhalations and not exhale completely. Breathe in oxygen; breathe out same amount of carbon dioxide. That’s what we should do.
Many of us stressed individuals walk around holding our breath the majority of the day. This is not good for us or the plants, which need our carbon dioxide to survive. It really isn’t just something made up by yoga instructors or granola crunchers of the 70s. You need to get rid of extra carbon dioxide in your body. And if Whitney Houston can do it, so can you! No waiting to exhale.
So when you feel your stress creeping up on you, stop and exhale. Exhale daily and deeply. Think about it. You might even save a plant.
Stacey Hatton is an Overland Park pediatric nurse and freelance writer. Her blog is at http://nursemommylaughs.com.
As a pediatric nurse and a mommy of two preschoolers, you would think I wouldn’t be surprised by any childhood illnesses. But one of the problems with pediatric diagnosing is that with almost every disease or illness, the symptoms can be different for every child. It is an extremely difficult job to be an accurate diagnostician for children. What may seem clear for one kid, can be the complete opposite for another.
I recently published an article for KC Parent Magazine – January 2010 issue on the common cold. After listing the signs and symptoms, rulings on pediatric cold and cough medications, preventative measures, and when to call the doctor, parents expect to hear how to treat their child’s symptoms. But if your kid only has a cold and not something more severe, such as croup or an arm falling off, you have to ride it out! Not really what a sleep deprived, stressed out mommy wants to hear. Where is the miracle cure? Where is the no-fail drug that will give my child comfort and relief? Especially when there are over 200 common cold viruses out there and most kids tend to have between eight to ten colds in their first two years of life!
So you think your kid has a cold and then suddenly they spike a high fever, stop eating, and WANT to take a nap… any guesses what this one is? You got it…the dreaded EAR INFECTION! Now there may be several other symptoms that go along with this diagnosis, but if you have the runny nose, a fever and start tugging at your ear, your Mommy is going to cough up the doctor co-pay and head on over for an office visit.
My three year old recently had a fever, vomiting, started sleeping during the day (a LOT) and stopped eating for three days. No tugging at the ears, no complaining of ear pain – she just said her stomach hurt. Five days later she spiked another fever so off to the pediatrician we go. The doctor said both ears were “awful.” Just what you want to hear back from vacation. How can she have an ear infection so severe that her pediatrician winces and her only complaint is her stomach? Symptoms vary with each child…
Anyone out there have any stories to share regarding wacky childhood symptoms not matching the diagnosis?
Today I am getting my young children ready for their Kiddie Vacate. They are going to Grandma’s for a few days to give Hubby and me a break.
I was going to pack up everything while the kids were at school, but of course school district has closed the schools, so I am packing with two stir-crazy preschoolers trying to pull everything back out and reorganize my VERY organized system. Arghh!
Isn’t it amazing how much stuff you have to pack to get small children moved somewhere other than their home? Thank goodness we have a big vehicle because I truly believe if I had a sedan, we would have to rent a U-Haul! This packing frenzy is not as traumatic as having to pack them to go on an airplane though. I have a fabulous airplane trip “packing list” that another organized mom got from another mommy. It has saved me many a time. Any crazy airplane packing stories out there?
