There’S No Escaping Mom

Mon., Nov. 9, 1998

By Laura Crooks laurac@spokesman.com

I recently returned from visiting with my parents for a week, where I learned an important lesson:

No matter how old you are or how many of your own kid’s fevers you’ve battled, if you’re sick and your mother is within a mile radius, she’ll be by your side trying stick a thermometer in your mouth, pour chicken soup down your throat and nag you about going to the doctor.

* While we’re on the subject of doctors. The Inland Optometric Society recommends that a child’s first eye exam take place at age 6 months with follow up exams at age 3 and then every year between age 6 and 18.

* The best slogan I’ve heard for a campaign to educate children about sex comes from Baltimore: “Talk to Your Kids About Sex Before They Make You a Grandparent.”

* Parent input needed. The Governor’s Commission on Early Learning is holding a parents meeting Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Spokane Falls Community College, in the Student Union. Hosted by Mona Lee Locke and Melinda French Gates (yes, Mrs. Governor and Mrs. Microsoft), the meeting is designed to give parents in the Spokane area a chance to share their experiences with early childhood (up to age 5) and talk about what programs in the community are working well and where additional support is needed.

* Scaring wannabe parents out of profcreating. A media resource booklet listing dozens of parenting authors and experts available for interviews and presentations includes titles such as “Keep Your Baby From Ruining Your Sex Life,” “The Hidden Cause of Self-Mutilation,” “Why Lice Cures Aren’t Working,” “Do Teens Always Mean Trouble?” “How to Spot an Up & Coming Killer Teen” and “How You Encourage Your Child’s Evil Ways.”

* Contest alert. Keep your kids busy on a dreary cold day with these contests:

- Call the Shout (you know, the Stain Professionals) tip hotline at (800) 991-7468 for advice on how to get spots out of clothes and to leave your name and age, child’s name and age (between 10 and 17), address and daytime phone number for the chance to win a one-week trip to the Adidas Soccer Academy in Florida next summer. One entry per person. Deadline is Nov. 30.

- Calling Captain Calcium is a campaign that invites children ages 6 to 10 to draw “Captain Calcium” in a four-panel comic strip showing how calcium helps kids grow up healthy and strong. The top winner gets a $2,500 scholarship and a year’s supply of calcium- fortified juices and cereal bars. Runners-up get $500 scholarships and food prizes. Entries must be on paper no larger than 11 by 17 inches, using crayons, markers or colored pencils or paint. Entries must be postmarked by Nov. 30 and sent to “Calling Captain Calcium” Kids Comic Strip Contest, 8400 Normandale Lake Blvd., Suite 500 Minneapolis, MN 55437.

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