Super Suburbs

{Stuff We Love} Mighty Fine

May 17, 2012 By Betsie Leave a Comment

I recently had the opportunity to preview an extremely thought-provoking movie called Mighty Fine. Premiering next weekend, Mighty Fine stars Chazz Palminteri and Andie McDowell as parents to two teenage girls. The movie is set in the 70’s and follows the Fine family as they relocate from New York to Louisiana. Here’s some more information about the film from the movie’s website:

A powerful family drama about a father’s love for his wife and daughters, and their vulnerability in the face of his unpredictable and explosive rage. “Mighty Fine,” premiering in select cities May 25, strikes a chord among those who’ve experienced the often incomprehensible behavior of an abusive parent.

While it’s definitely not going to win any “feel good movie of the year” awards, I found Mighty Fine very provocative. Joe Fine, the father in the story, is a hot-tempered man who’s clearly suffering from some extreme psychological issues. It was painful to watch his outbursts, and I spent much of the movie reflecting upon my own parenting skills and childhood. Here’s the trailer, to give you an idea of what I mean:

Mighty Fine is opening in select theaters next Friday, May 25th. You can go here to locate a theater near you that is showing the film. There is some nudity and graphic language, hence the R rating. Regardless, Mighty Fine is a powerful reminder of how much power our words and moods have over our children, and the long-lasting effects our actions can have.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Mighty Fine and the distributor. I received access to an online showing of the film and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Leave a Comment

Happy Mother’s Day!

May 13, 2012 By Betsie Leave a Comment

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there, including my own! I know I’ve been slightly dreading this day, as most of the time I don’t feel like a great mother, but last night I snuggled down between Daniel and Sophie and watched a movie, made them popcorn, and then put them to bed – and while I don’t exactly feel like Supermom most of the time, I do know that I’m doing the very best I can for my kids. And isn’t that all any of us can hope for? Anyway, happy Mother’s Day to all of you – I hope you’re having a very wonderful weekend!

And if you happen to be a working mom (of any sort) I was wondering if I could get you to fill out the brief, easy (I promise!) survey below for me. I’m working on a concept I’m VERY excited about, but I need some input from some other working moms before I forge ahead. It’ll only take a minute or two of your time and will help me immensely. Thanks so much!

Click here to take survey

Leave a Comment

{Giveaway} Oral B Smart Series 5000 Electric Toothbrush

May 10, 2012 By Betsie 18 Comments

After my glowing recommendation of our pediatric dentist earlier this week, it’s only fitting that today I’m happy to offer a tooth-related giveaway!

The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is kicking off “Dentist by 1,” a statewide public service campaign to educate parents about the benefits of taking their children to the dentist by age 1 and to encourage them to schedule a visit.

In conjunction with the campaign, the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is offering one of my readers an electric toothbrush ($160 value) to help promote good oral health! (Open to Illinois residents only).

To enter, tell me about your child’s first trip to the dentist in a comment below – or if you haven’t taken your little one yet, tell me about YOUR most recent trip to the dentist! (Personally, I have severe dentist anxiety, so I have some pretty crazy stories to tell!)

For additional entries:

Pledge to take your kids to the dentist by age 1 or to regular visits at www.dentistby1.com and tell me you did so in the comments below. When you pledge, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation will donate an oral health kit to a local, underprivileged child and will also send you a kit! (Kits include a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and a children’s oral health tip sheet.)

“Like” Super Suburbs on Facebook (and let me know you’re a fan in a comment below).

“Like” Delta Dental of Illinois on Facebook for more information about upcoming contests and tips on establishing good oral health habits for a lifetime of healthy smiles (and let me know you’re a fan in a comment below).

Four ways to win, and you must leave a separate comment for each. This Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation “Dentist by 1” Electric Toothbrush giveaway begins today and ends on May 25th, 2012. Good luck, and thanks for entering! :o)

18 Comments

Tips for your child’s first trip to the dentist

May 9, 2012 By Betsie Leave a Comment

Staying with our theme this week, here are some things we did to have a successful first trip to our wonderful dentist!

Get excited about the appointment in the days or weeks leading up to it. Let your kids know what a grown-up thing this is to be doing! My kids do well with sticker calendars to help them understand how many days are left before an event. Some children might do better with the appointment being a surprise, but mine do better when they have some advance notice of when the appointment is.

Prepare for the appointment by talking about it with your kids. If they’re anxious, you may have them talk to a friend who’s had a positive experience at the dentist. Also, watching YouTube videos such as the one below will give them some knowledge to help them know what’s going to happen at the appointment (this is a tactic we use a lot – just search YouTube for videos relating to what you’re preparing your child for – always make sure you watch the video before you let your child watch though, just in case!).

Bring something from home to the appointment. A special stuffed animal or blanket can help your child feel relaxed. Some offices might not let them have it while they’re in the chair, but it can help calm their nerves during the wait time, and knowing you have their special lovey for them to hold once they’re done can be reassuring.

Have a reward ready for your child when she is done. It doesn’t have to be anything big – the promise of a small toy or a trip to the park can turn a timid child into a brave one. And make sure to praise them for a job well done!

Last, but not least, keep your own anxiety in check. Children are little sponges, and if they can tell that you’re nervous about the appointment, they will be too. Regardless of how you feel about going to the dentist yourself, act confident and excited about the experience when you talk to you child. The more relaxed you are, the calmer they will be!

Do you have anything you’d add? I’ve heard so many horror stories from other parents about their children’s first trips to the dentist; I was so glad when my kids’ appointments went much smoother than I expected!

Leave a Comment

{Stuff We Love} National Public Gardens Day

May 8, 2012 By Betsie Leave a Comment

Did you know this coming Friday, May 11, is National Public Gardens Day? (The things you learn, right?) That means you can get free admission at select gardens on Friday – which sounds like a great start to Mother’s Day weekend to me! Here’s some info from the National Public Gardens Day website:

National Public Gardens Day celebrates all public gardens, botanical gardens, educational gardens, specialty gardens, entertainment gardens, arboreta, farm gardens, historical landscapes, and zoos and each institution participates in their own unique way.

Many of the nation’s public gardens will mark the day with special events and activities for schools, families and thousands of visitors to explore and discover their local public garden, while learning about each garden’s commitment to education, research and environmental stewardship.

Local participating gardens include the Chicago Botanic Garden, The Morton Arboretum, Cantigny Park (which we just love – I wrote a review here if you’d like to see more), and more – the map here can help you search for a participating location near you! Click here to fill out and print your voucher for free admission, and be sure to check out the participating garden websites for more information on how they’ll be celebrating the day. Enjoy! :o)