(MOV Parent - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Anymore the children are exposed to many different things, and before we know it, they will be substituting playing outside, riding their bikes, playing games and playing with our friends like we use to growing up. Now all of a sudden, everything has turned to indoors due to all the various and different electronic games and devices available to them. Who ever though that our little children would be telling us as adults and teaching us how to program and use all these different electronic devises that they have. I think most of us do not really like or agree to see our little one spending hours upon hours playing games and texting friends and so on…when they could be involved in various other activities and happenings. It has become a fad and almost a must for most children, and therefore us as parents and grandparents provide them with the different devices that they want and try to keep up with the ones they like and want and their friends have. Who ever thought that grade school children would have their own cell phones and be texting and calling friends along with playing games. I do not criticize because our children and grandchildren are doing the same thing. I guess the good aspect is that it does make them use their minds and entertain themselves, plus it also helps the economy. I still think it is important that children need to be outside playing, getting fresh air, sunshine and socializing and visit with their friends.

Many things have changed and advanced in our society, but kids need to be kids for they will only be kids for a short time but adults all their lives.

It is also necessary for the parents to dress their children like children and not like adult movie stars. We need to check how they are dressed before we send them off to school — capri pants were fine, but the now days hot shorts and low-cut blouses are a little too much, even if that is what they like to wear.

Students of all ages need to dress appropriate and respectfully, not only when they are in school but all the time.

Attitude is another issue of students of all ages that also needs to be addressed. Please teach your children from a young age to be polite and respectful to everyone. In the old days and when I was young, it was a common practice on a bus or train to let an older person have your seat if there were no seats available. In today’s world, it is very very rare to ever see that take place and this is actually the fault of the parents because they are not instructing them correctly which it is a mistake. Remember it is us as adults that must guide and set the example and your children will thank you and appreciate all that you have done for them

Till next month!

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Rock ‘n’ Rollers

4 6-7 inch flour tortillas

4 ounces Neufchatel cheese, softened

1/3 cup peach preserves

1 cup shredded fat-free Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup packed, stemmed and washed fresh spinach leaves

3 ounces thinly sliced regular or smoked turkey breast

Spread each tortilla evenly with 1 once Neufchatel cheese; cover with thin layer of preserves. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. Arrange spinach leaves and turkey over Cheddar cheese. Roll up tortillas; trim ends. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut rollers crosswise in half or diagonally into 1-inch pieces.

Variations: Substitute salsa for peach preserves and shredded iceber lettuce for spinach leaves; omit peach preserves and spinach leaves. Substitute lean ham slices for turkey. Spread tortillas with Neufchatel cheese as directed, sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. Top each tortilla with about 2 tablepsoons finely chopped apple and 2 ham slices, roll up. Continue as directed.

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Kids’ Quesadillas

8 slices American cheese

8 10-inch flour tortillas

1/2 pound thinly sliced deli turkey

6 tablespoons honey mustard

2 tablespoons melted butter

1/4 teaspoon paprika

To prepare 1 quesadilla, arrange 2 slices of cheese on 1 tortilla. Top with 1/4 of the turkey. Spread with 1 1/2 tablespoons mustard, then top with another tortilla. Prepare 3 more quesadillas with remaining ingredients. Combine butter and paprika. Brush one side of tortilla with butter mixture.

Preheat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place tortilla butter side down and cook 2 minutes. Brush top of tortilla with butter mixture and turn over. Cook 1 1/2 minutes or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining 3 quesadillas. Slice into wedges before serving.

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Rainbow Pastel Parfaits

2 tablespoons pink decorating sugar

2 tablespoons green decorating sugar

2 tablespoons yellow decorating sugar

1 tablespoon strawberry gelatin powder

1 4-serving side package instant vanilla-flavored pudding mix, prepared according to package directions

1 4-serving side package instant lemon-flavored pudding mix, prepared according to package directions

1 4-serving side package instant pistachio-flavored pudding mix, prepared according to package directions

1/2 cup whipped topping

Spread decorating sugars on 3 small, separate plates. Wet rims of 8 parfait glasses with damp paper towel. Invert glasses onto plates of sugar and coat rims of glasses with varying colors of sugar. Set glasses upright on tray to dry.

Stir strawberry gelatin powder into vanilla pudding, one teaspoon at a time, until desired shade of pink is reached. Fill each glass about 1/3 full with vanilla pudding mixture. Add layer of lemon pudding and layer of pistachio pudding. Top each parfait with a dollop of whipped topping and any remaining sugar sprinkles, if desired.

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Frozen Florida Monkey Malt

2 bananas, peeled

5 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, do not thaw

1 cup low-fat milk

3 tablespoons malted milk powder

Wrap the bananas in plastic wrap, freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Break the bananas into pieces; place in a blender. Add the orange juice concentrate, milk and malted milk powder. Blend until the mixture is smooth; pour into glasses to serve.

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Cherry Tomato Pops

4 1-ounce pieces part-skim mozzarella string cheese

8 cherry tomatoes

3 tablespoons fat-free ranch dressing

Using a table knife, cut the string cheese in half lengthwise. Remove the stem end of each cherry tomato and gently squeeze out about 1/4 teaspoon of the pulp and seeds. Press one end of string cheese into the stem end of the tomato to make cherry tomato pop. Repeat with the remaining cheese pieces and tomatoes. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.

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Strawberry Lemonade

1 cup fresh strawberries, quartered

4 cups water

1 cup fresh lemon juice, from about 4 lemons

3/4 cup sugar substitute

Place strawberries in a blender; process until smooth. Pour into a large pitcher.

Add water, lemon juice and sugar substitute to pitcher; stir until blended. Strain strawberry seeds and pulp, if desired, by pouring lemonade through a strainer into tall glasses filled with ice.