The FOOD ISSUE Eat Your Way Around North Texas with Family-Friendly Foodie Tours

105 THINGS TO DO IN APRIL THE MAGAZINE PARENTS LIVE BY IN DENTON COUNTY april 2017 HOW TO TEACH KINDNESS What is TO KIDS PANDAS? A look at the brain disorder born from a common infection MEET OUR MOM NEXT DOOR EMILE STEWART THE FOOD ISSUE Eat your way around North Texas with family-friendly foodie tours special *sponsored section: family vacation planning pages / APRIL 2017 DEPARTMENTS NOTED 5 Kindness Counts Raising an empathetic kid starts with you THE CHART 6 Get the Goods Delivered Get groceries with the click of a button REAL MOMS 9 Mom Next Door / Emile Stewart An adventurous artist creates a family life in Denton 10 Healthy Glow Quick facials for busy moms 10 And All That Jazz Dance and dine New Orleans-style 10 Like a (Cake) Boss Learn how to decorate cakes like a pro 12 Routines / Michelle Roberts One day with a data analyst and single mom of three KID CULTURE 33 Off the Rails Ditch the car and take a field trip by DART 35 Agenda Places to go to see (and sometimes sample) how local fare is made, p. 18 Our five favorite things to do this month 36 EveryDay FEATURES ON THE COVER Calendar of events for every day in April SHE’S NOT THERE 5-year-old Tristan 14 A medical mystery that turns of Coppell a child’s life — and yours — Photography: upside down Nick Prendergast words Brooke Conley Grooming: Shane Monden, FOOD TRIPPIN’ Wallflower 18 10 local foodie family field trips Management COLUMNS words Beth McGee and Jessica Myers Styling: Meredith Mosshart 46 Confessions / Mommy Fails When bad things happen to good parents PUBLISHER/ Managing Editor ART Account Executives PR/MARKETING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carrie Steingruber Graphic Designer Samantha Barnhart, Nancy Audience Development Director Joylyn Niebes Assistant Editor Susan Horn Crosbie, Nancy McDaniel, Candace Emerson Kristen Niebes, Sandi Tijerina, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jessica Myers Editorial Designer Kerensa Vest ADMINISTRATION Lauren Niebes Research Editor Katie Garza Office Manager + Distribution Beth McGee Advertising Coordinator Robbie Scott EDITORIAL ADVERTISING Amy Klembara Executive Editor Calendar Editor Associate Publisher Wendy Manwarren Generes Elizabeth Smith Diana Whitworth Nelson NorthTexasChild is published monthly by Lauren Publications, Inc. NorthTexasChild is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only NorthTexasChild authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. Additional or back copies of NorthTexasChild are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications, Inc. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NorthTexasChild is ©2017 by Lauren Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited. northtexaschild / april 2017 3 noted. that this behavior is mean-spirited and unacceptable. And use it as a teaching moment. Ask kids what they think it might feel like to be in that person’s shoes. Reflective discussions like this help children appreciate different perspectives. Praise your child. Thank a child for altruistic kindness such as going out of their way to help someone; don’t reward everyday helpfulness like cleaning up after dinner, which is expected as a family contribution. Recognize weaknesses. “Sometimes kids appear unkind if they are shy, do not make eye contact, do not smile or are ner- vous and anxious about making an overture,” Istre says. “For some kids, social skills have to be taught just like any other subject.” Acknowledge mistakes. Kids are still learning, and developmen- tally, they may be self-centered. Encourage them to do their best they always see those behaviors to act kindly, but recognize when kindness modeled,” adds Barbara Shelton, those efforts fall short. Show them ACH chief development officer. the power of apology through your So lead by example. Take a own actions. “Admit when your counts meal to a family who behavior has been recently had a baby unkind, own your how to raise kids who aren’t jerks or make and pass NICE TRY mistakes, apolo- out boxes of supplies gize and try to do WORDS JAMIE LOBER Let these groups help kids (including tooth- master being kind. better,” explains brushes, deodorant Rabbi Elana Zelony Let the kids become part and restaurant gift of the Dear President of Congregation cards) to the home- Trump: Letters from Beth Torah in s parents, we’ve prob- (from a list of 50) as possible in one less. Model authentic Kids About Kindness Richardson. ably said, “Play nicely” week. Some acts were as simple as compassion by Facebook group to spread Give back to or “Be sweet to your complimenting five people; others treating friends, what they learn. the community. brother.” Undoubtedly, asked kids to come out of their acquaintances, Pastoral Counseling Volunteer together to A we want to raise kind, comfort zones and step up for colleagues, even the Center (PCC) offers help widen a child’s thoughtful, compassionate kids, someone in need. The motive? To grocery store clerk five-week group sessions worldview, teach where kids learn and right? But can kindness be taught? create happier, healthier environ- and server, with practice listening and them gratitude and Jessica Ferguson thinks so. She ments, which aren’t actually taught, genuine respect. positive social interactions. build an awareness and her 9-year-old son Cooper experts say, but learned. Use kind words. Dallas, 214/526-4525; and sensitivity to recently made lavender-infused And apparently, we parents And help kids navi- pccdallas.org others’ struggles. soaps together then hand-delivered need to step up our game. A recent gate the conflicting The Social Learning That’s exactly them to the residents at a nearby study found that 80 percent of kids messages they may Connection uses hands- what Ferguson is assisted living care center. “I want say Mom and Dad taught them that encounter, suggests on activities to help kids trying to do. “I want to teach Cooper to have a heart personal happiness and achieve- Dr. Susan Istre, in kindergarten and older consider the points of Cooper to know for others,” says the Dallas mom. ments were more important than director and owner of view, emotions and beliefs how good it feels “We attend church every Sunday, being kind to others — yikes! the Center for Social of others. Fort Worth, to give selflessly to but there’s nothing as powerful as Kindness should be the univer- Success in Dallas. 817/845-8101; social- others,” she says. practicing what you preach.” sal language we help our children It is important learningconnection.com And he did. He got Earlier this year, Good Morning develop from birth, says Melissa to teach tolerance that warm-and- America put kids across the country Opheim, chief operating officer at of others’ views, fuzzy sensation to the test with the Great Kindness ACH Child and Family Services in beliefs and feelings. Many TVshows when his homemade soaps were Challenge, encouraging schools Fort Worth. (even cartoons) use humor to met with smiles. “This life is about and youth groups nationwide to “Kids innately want to be kind make fun of people’s differences. the legacy of love and kindness we ©ISTOCK.COM/FATCAMERA perform as many acts of kindness to others, but I do not know that As you watch as a family, point out leave behind,” his mom says. northtexaschild / april 2017 5 the chart get the goods delivered North Texas has seen a lot of local grocery stores and services make the timely chore of food shopping a lot easier on moms. By adding grocery delivery, these stores eliminated unpleasant scenarios — like arguing with your toddler because she can’t sit in the blue car cart at Tom Thumb (it’s being used by another shopper) or hitting Kroger after the kiddos are in bed, which is where you’d like to be too. There are fees associated with some of the services, but the time, sanity and gas you’ll save are worth it. WORDS JESSICA MYERS SERVICE THE DETAILS WHY MOMS LOVE IT BEST FOR COST JOIN NOW AMAZON Filter items by brand, rating, calories per Own an Amazon Echo? Moms who typically $14.99/month if Available in Argyle, FRESH serving, even labels such as organic, Just tell Alexa what to add hit the grocery store you already have Coppell, Corinth, Flower vegan and GMO-free, and get groceries to your cart as you toss the multiple times a Amazon Prime; Mound, Highland delivered same-day or overnight in dry empty container in the trash. week. You can reach $9.99 delivery Village, Irving, Las ice-packed, insulated bags. the $40 minimum fee on orders Colinas, Lewisville and pretty quickly. less than $40. Valley Ranch, 206/922- 0880; amazon.com/ AmazonFresh AMAZON Moms with a Prime membership order Free same-day, two-hour Moms who already Tipping is Available in Argyle, PRIME refrigerator and pantry essentials delivery windows and text shop Amazon suggested but Coppell, Corinth, Flower NOW from a local Sprouts and/or Amazon messages from the person- for just about not required. Mound, Highland Village, distribution center. al shopper who alerts you everything. Irving, Las Colinas, that the organic blueberries Lewisville and Valley you wanted are sold out, Ranch, 206/922-0880; but the organic blackberries primenow.amazon.com look awesome. GOOGLE Order pantry staples from stores such Get the laundry detergent Moms who prefer $95 annual Sign up for a free EXPRESS as Costco and Whole Foods. Personal from Costco, a hostess gift to shop farmers membership. three-month trial online. shoppers walk the aisles, check out from Pier 1 Imports, diapers markets for fruits, Available in Argyle, then drop your order off at FedEx or from Buy Buy Baby ($15 veggies, milk Coppell, Corinth, Denton, UPS to make the same-day, overnight minimum per store) along and eggs.

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