The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1232982
B-4 Wednesday, April 8, 2020 The Press-Dispatch HOME LIFE TO ADVERTISE: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: ads@pressdispatch.net Visit: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Deadline: 5 p.m. on Monday Down on the Farm Field work incorporated Call Jessica Mason, 812-582-0246 *Closing must take place by 12/30/2020. Charity must be a registered 501(c)(3) REFERRAL PROGRAM JOIN MY Know anyone planning to buy or sell by the end of the year? Even if it's you. I will make a $500 donation to a charity or school of your choice for every referral that results in a closing! * By Mary Ruth Branstetter Youth First, Inc. Many years ago, a friend gave me a beautifully framed quote that reads, "Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace within the storm." Over the last couple of weeks, we have all found ourselves within the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is especially true for children and par- ents of school-aged children. Our children have had to switch gears from going to school to being at home 24 hours a day/seven days per week. Parents have had to shift gears also, possibly working from home and adding the title of "teacher" to their pa- rental resume. This shift creates additional work and stress for both parents and chil- dren. However, children often do not know how to put words to their feel- ings. Because children may not have words such as worry, fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, and even depression to describe their stressful feelings, they act out. Acting out may look like exces- sive clinginess, tearfulness, emotion- al meltdowns, aggressiveness, or re- gression in other behaviors. Children may also suffer from more physical complaints such as headaches, stom- ach aches, a racing heart, dizziness, in- terruption in sleep patterns, etc. As a parent, grandparent or caregiv- er, you have the challenge of helping your child learn to express and deal with their complicated feelings in a healthy, appropriate manner. This is no easy task, as you may be experienc- ing many of the same feelings your- self. However, you have to remember that you are your child's "safe place" in what may seem like an unsafe world at present. Children are usually at their best when they feel safe, connected to oth- ers and have structure and organiza- tion in their lives; in other words, a sense of predictability and normalcy. You can be this fortress of safety and normalcy by trying some of the follow- ing strategies. Learn/teach how to properly prac- tice deep, relaxing breathing. You can do this in innovative, fun ways such as lying on the floor with your child while each of you puts a stuffed animal on your stomach. As you breathe in through your nose for a count of three or four and out through your mouth for a count of three or four, you should see the animal sink and rise on your bel- ly. This means you are doing deep, re- laxing diaphragm breathing. Deep breathing activates your par- asympathetic nervous system. In sim- ple language, it helps decrease sensa- tions of fear or distress and increases a sense of calm. This would be an excel- lent way to start your at-home school days along with a discussion of what the day's routine is going to be, which again conveys a sense of safety to chil- dren. Try to take a break every 20 -30 minutes, depending on age and atten- tion span of your child. During these breaks, dance, sing, hum, and encour- age movement, as these types of activ- ities help to naturally promote a sense of calmness and/or positive mood. If you notice your child is starting to become frustrated or upset during an assignment, try to interrupt the frus- tration before it becomes a full-blown meltdown. Suggest they splash cold water on their face, put a cool rag to the back of their neck, or give them a piece of sugar-free candy or gum to chew. You could also try a five-minute "blanket break." Wrap the upset child in a blanket for five minutes, have them close their eyes if they're comforta- ble doing so, take three to four deep breaths and think about a family va- cation, memory or activity that makes them happy. End your home school/homework time with a discussion of what the next day's tentative schedule is going to be and one thing they have learned or are grateful for from their day. Again, this promotes predictability and a positive attitude. Also, in ending your school/ homework time with your children, give them time to ask questions or talk about something that is on their mind or important to them. Even if you only have five or 10 min- utes to do this, try to really listen, em- pathize if needed, answer questions truthfully with age-appropriate facts... and try not to be judgmental. Just like you, children are trying to under- stand and come to terms with the cur- rent chaos and unknown of the "new normal" – in what is not their normal world. Check out the Youth First website at youthfirstinc.org/selmaterial for additional suggestions, activities, and exercises to help strengthen families and youth through this stressful time in our lives. This column is written by Mary Ruth Bran- stetter, LCSW, LCAC, RPT, school social work- er for Youth First, Inc., a local nonprofit ded- icated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides 59 master's level social workers to 81 schools in 10 Indiana counties. Over 39,500 youth and families per year have access to Youth First's school social work and after-school programs that prevent substance abuse, promote healthy behaviors, and maxi- mize student success. Youth First Coping skills for adults and children COPYCAT LUNCH LADY PIZZA MEALS IN Monica's MINUTES Share your favorite recipe! www.facebook.com/mealsinminutes Monica's Meals in Minutes PO Box 68, Petersbushelsshelsrg, IN 47567 mealsinminutes@pressdispatch.net FACEBOOK MAIL EMAIL By Monica Sinclair This week, our governor passed down the news that schools will be closed for the re- mainder of the school year. For you moms and dads (who are now teachers/cafeteria cooks/ janitors), I'm sure that was hard news to take. However, if your children are actually missing going to school, I found a recipe that just might help. It's a school pizza recipe! I'm not sure if they still serve it like they used to when I was in school, but this recipe looks just like what I used to eat. Not to mention, it will be fun to make as a family. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS • 2 2/3 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup non-fat dry milk powder • 2 tbsp sugar • 1 packet quick rise or pizza yeast • 1 tsp salt • 1 2/3 cup warm water • 2 tbsp vegetable oil • 1/2 lb Italian sausage • 1/2 lb lean ground beef • 1 jar (12 oz) pizza sauce • 8 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese shredded INSTRUCTIONS 1. Grease a metal (1/2-sized) sheet pan (18"x13") and line it with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, milk pow- der, sugar, yeast and salt. Microwave the water for about 1 minute and add the oil. Pour the oil and wa- ter mixture into the flour mixture and stir with a spatula until a batter is formed. If there are a few lumps remaining, it's OK. 3. Spread the pizza dough into the prepared sheet pan, being sure the dough is spread evenly and to the edges of the pan. If you are having trouble with the dough spreading to the edges of the pan, allow the dough to rest for at least 5 minutes be- fore spreading it with your fingertips. 4. Meanwhile, brown the Italian sausage and ground beef together until cooked completely. Drain if necessary and set aside. 5. Bake the un-topped crust for 6 - 8 minutes. Re- move the crust and top with the pizza sauce, then the cooked sausage and beef mixture and then the shredded cheese. 6. Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an ad- ditional 8 - 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and beginning to brown. 7. Slice into rectangles and serve. Source: foodtasticmom.com By Hans Schmitz Purdue Extension Educator hschmitz@purdue.edu With the warm temperatures and nearly week-long window of dry weath- er, fieldwork began in earnest last week in Southwest Indiana. Depending on the type of farm management scenar- io, this fieldwork can look very differ- ently from farm to farm. Some equiva- lents can also be drawn between lawn work and what goes on out in the fields. Around the time that lawns look to be mowed for the first time, soil temper- atures have begun to increase enough to start thinking about preparing fields for planting. For crop insurance pur- poses, planting of corn should not oc- cur before April 1 in southwest Indiana. For soybeans, the date is April 15. Un- like northern areas of the state, most farmers in this area will prepare fields for planting of corn first, then switch to soybeans as time allows. Wheat, in the meantime, has received one appli- cation of nitrogen and awaits further develop- ment before additional management. As corn fields are be- ing prepared, many farms will begin with a spring burndown appli- cation of herbicide to kill weeds. Then, farm man- agement takes a sharp turn. Some fields will get heavy tillage. Others a newer, less deep form of tillage called vertical tillage. Others receive no till- age at all. Likewise, pre-plant applica- tions of nitrogen might occur via one of a couple of different forms, urea or an- hydrous ammonia. Certain farms apply no nitrogen ahead of planting, prefer- ring to put some source of ni- trogen near the seed at plant- ing with a follow-up applica- tion after the corn plants emerge from the soil. Final- ly, planting occurs. When fields are properly prepared, planting can occur quickly. Recent years' weekly crop and weather reports have shown that most states can plant 50 per cent of a crop in a week with the weather co- operating. With the variability in spring man- agement by farm, The Fertilizer Insti- tute has promoted a concept for the past few years regarding farmer choice of practice. This organization refers to Pregnant... or think you are? Call:1-877-257-1084 or Locally Call: 1-812-354-2814 • Free pregnancy testing • Free counseling and info. on pregnancy options. • Confi dential counseling for women & men who are suff ering from post-abortion syndrome. • Residential Care • Health and assistance referrals. • Training and education. • Assistance in getting baby and maternity clothes washpcc@sbcglobal.net www.washingtonpregnancycenter.com Continued on page 7