Fran Hendrick, Beech Acres

Fran Hendrick is the Parent Coaching Director of Beech Acres Parenting Center. Beech Acres offers parents guidance and support with its ultimate goal of strengthening parents' ability to raise children who achieve their unique potential.  Beech Acres Parenting Center taps the strengths in every family, and every parent, to help them achieve their goals. 

To find out more about Beech Acres Parenting Center and parenting resources call 513.231.6630 or visit them the web at http://www.beechacres.org/main/

For Fran's Tips for Connecting with your kids click "read more".

For Doc Wolfe's Family Dives, just click "read more"

For Amy's Itailan Meun, just click "read more"

Wills, Living Wills, and Healthcare Power of Attorney

Just click "read more" for all of Amy's information on Wills, Living Wills and Healthcare Power of Attorney.

Jonathon Willis Photography

Website – www.willlisphotoart.com

Phone: 859-866-7462

e-mail studio@willisphotoart.com

39 E. Court street

Cincinnati, OH  45202

Fran Hendrick from Beech Acres: Tips for Connecting with Your Kids
• Kids know when you’re listening.  Allow yourself to be captivated by your kids.  When your children talk to you, strive to be fully present, physically and emotionally. 
• Kids gravitate towards adults who take them seriously.  Children work hard to learn and grow.  That’s reflected in the thoughts and feelings that they express. Strive to appreciate their thought process and respect their growth instead of giving in to the impulse to correct their conclusions.
• Kids like to talk to people who see all that they are – and who feel that it is enough. Notice your children's strengths – and point them out often. 
• Kids talk to people who see them as individuals.  Strive to see the person.  Kids are fascinating!  Be excited to learn about your children’s thoughts, tastes, wishes, beliefs.  Your genuine interest has the side effect of helping your kids be open to your concerns. 
• It’s comfortable to share with adults who reflect feelings rather than correcting them. Work to understand what your child is experiencing. Remember, communication, by definition, means receiving the message of the other person – not cheerleading them out of it.
• Once you can see it from your child's point of view, his feelings will make sense to you.  Knowing that you’ll try to understand without judging makes kids feel safe and loved – and they’re more likely to talk to you as a result. 
• It’s more important to empathize than “fix.”  Especially as kids move into the teen years, they have a healthy need to find their own solutions.  It’s part of fully establishing themselves as individuals.  Jumping in with answers robs them of their growing independence.  Unfortunately, that increases their need to keep their concerns to themselves.
• Kids tend to share difficult information with adults they perceive as strong.  Listen calmly.  If you’re overwhelmed, take a break and come back.
• Kids share with adults who are genuinely enjoy them.  Champion your children’s efforts and enjoy their successes!

Copyright 2008 Beech Acres Parenting Center

Doc Wolfe's Family Dives 

Sky Galley, 262 Wilmer, Turkey Bottom, (513) 871-7400
Every Day 11 -10 Bar hours slightly longer.
Price Range $7 -16 for a meal.

Chicken on the Run
Deer Park
Games, fried food, beer and sports on TV.
Kids can go home saying, We went to a bar! Kid's love to go to the bar. Not only are they with you but they're at a place they're not supposed to be.

Salem Gardens
Salem Ave in Anderson
Games, 20 foot long schuffleboard.

Mr. Gene's Dog House, 3703 Beekman St., Cumminsville, (513) 541-7636
Mon - Fri 10 - 10, Sat 10 - 6
Price Range $5-7 for a meal

The Echo
3510 Edwards
321-2816
Monday - Wednesday 6 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

HaHa Pizza, 108 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, (937) 767-2131
11:30a-10p Mon-Thurs 
11:30a-10:30p Fri-Sat
11-8 Sun
Price Range: $7-12

Wills, Living Wills and Health Care Power of Attorney

Do you have a will? Between half and two-thirds of American adults don't. Do you need a will? Only if you answer yes to any of the questions below:

Do you care who gets your property if you die?

Do you care who gets your money if you die?

Do you care who is appointed guardian of your children if you die?

If you die without a will, the state writes one for you. The court names a guardian for your minor children and divvies up your assets according to state law. If you're single with no dependents, your parents or your siblings inherit your possessions. If you don’t have any blood relatives, the state gets your money. The good news is, you probably don’t need a lawyer to create your own will. Most people can create their own wills with legal software or websites.

Here are three to get you started:

Quicken Willmaker Plus
http://www.nolo.com/product.cfm/objectID/6E9ED903-C9B4-42E0-9C2E235DD87A0A8A/309/

Build a Will
http://www.buildawill.com/google/?ad=will&wcw=google

Legal Zoom
http://www.legalzoom.com/
 
Other things to take care of while you’re at it:
A Living Will: lets you specify decisions about artificial life support in advance. It not only ensures your wishes will be heard, but also protects your loved ones from having to make these difficult, deeply personal choices for you.  A Health Care Power of Attorney lets you appoint someone you trust to make specific healthcare decisions for you.

Menu
Chopped Italian Salad with Italian Vinaigrette
Italian Wedding Soup
Homemade Garlic Bread

Chopped Italian Salad with Italian Vinaigrette
Serves 4

1 head romaine lettuce (about 1¼ pounds), chopped
¼ pound sliced salami, chopped
1/3 cup roasted red peppers (one 4 ounce jar), drained and chopped
1/3 cup red onion, chopped
½ cup ripe black olives, pitted and chopped
½ cup provolone cheese, diced

In a large bowl, combine all the above ingredients.  Toss to combine.  Serve with Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Italian Vinaigrette
Makes 1 cup

½ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
Pinch salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chopped herbs (a mixture of basil, oregano and thyme)
½ cup olive oil

In the bowl of a blender or food processor, combine the vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper and herbs. Process on high speed until the mixture is well blended. With the motor running, carefully pour the oil in a steady stream. Store in the refrigerator after use.  (Vinaigrette will last approximately 2 weeks in the refrigerator)

Italian Wedding Soup
Serves 6

½ head escarole (about ½ pound or 4 cups chopped), cleaned, washed and stem ends removed
1 large carrot, chopped
12 cups chicken stock
4 ounces ditalini or tubetti, or other small pasta
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Meatballs
½ pound ground veal or beef
½ cup plain bread crumbs
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
½ cup grated onion
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste 
Separate the escarole leaves and wash thoroughly to remove all grit. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips.  Combine the escarole, carrots, and stock in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the escarole is almost tender, about 30 minutes.

To make the meatballs
Combine the ground meat, bread crumbs, cheese, onion, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Shape the mixture into tiny balls, less than 1 inch in diameter.
To assemble
When the escarole is almost tender, stir in the pasta and return the soup to the simmer. Drop the meatballs into the soup. Cook over low heat, stirring gently, until the meatballs and pasta are cooked, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Serve hot with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Homemade Garlic Bread
Serves 4-6

1 loaf French or Italian bread, cut in half lengthwise
4 garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.  Halve roll horizontally. Mince garlic and mash to a paste with salt, then stir into butter and spread on cut sides of bread. Put halves back together and wrap in foil. Bake in oven 10 minutes, then open foil and arrange halves, cut sides up, on foil and bake until golden, about 10 minutes more. Slice and serve warm.