This year, we won't be getting up early rushing to get a good spot on the sidewalk to watch the traditional 4th of July parade march down our small town's main street. The kids, two teenagers almost four years apart, would rather splash around the beach with their friends, hang out at the park, and in the evening, float on their friend's boats in the bay while watching the fireworks explode over their heads than get caught sitting curbside with the 'parental unit'. With two teens now, it gets harder to motivate them to celebrate this patriotic holiday with us, the parents. Well, this year they won't be with their pals because we'll be spending Independence day together at Disneyland.

Photo by Loren Javier

Courtesy of the Disney PR Team, we will be visiting Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks which I hope will yield insight on how to enjoy this national patriotic holiday with teens in general. After experiencing the Happiest Place on Earth during major holidays like Christmas, New Years and  Halloween with my pre-adolescent children, this 4th of July we'll be strolling down Main Street, racing down Splash Mountain and hanging out with our old friends Mickey and the gang -- with both teens in toe.

Hopefully, I won't be coxed into riding the Tower of Terror to watch the fireworks from the top floor to prove to my young adults just how cool I am ... wish me luck!

And come back to read about our 4th of July celebration at Disneyland ... "What will you celebrate?"

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"Mom, why did coach bench me the whole game if I went to all the practices and was never late to anything?" asked my perplexed softball pitcher on the car ride back from a weekend tournament. "We lost all our games, coach only played me two innings and used the same pitcher for all three games. She was tired, and all I did was warm-up my arm for nothing".

A variety of answers come to mind: "Because he thinks you suck", would be the sarcastic but hurtful thing to tell this already-disappointed youngster. Or, "because she's the coach's daughter" would be another snarky reply, and probably a logical explanation she could readily accept. In this case, however, the coach clearly stated his reasons for the benching: "We are here to win", he told the parents in the stands as he announced the line-up for the make-or-break game, letting us know four of the team members would ride the pine for the hour and twenty minute game. Try explaining that one-liner to the tender-hearted player after the team lost their third game in a row with the exact same players in the same positions.

"If the coach thinks I'm not good enough for the team, I might as well leave" is the common thought process of a dedicated player in any sport who feels the blow of little to no playing time. Bowing out of the team, regardless of how tactfully you'd like to do it, is called quitting. And the old saying "when the going gets tough, the tough get going" is more applicable than ever in these cases.  As a responsible sports-minded father, and long-ago baseball player who attended college on a full athletic scholarship, my husband constantly reinforces the message that  being a quitter is never an option in our home. Instead, when these situations arise, parents have to dig very deep to find a way to lift the youth's crushed spirits and learn from the situation in spite of the hateful feelings the adult actions conjure up.

"There isn't any other youth institution that equals sports as a setting in which to develop character. There just isn't. Sports are the perfect setting because character is tested all the time."

- John Gardner, Presidential Medal of Freedom Winner and Founding Member of Positive Coaching Alliance's National Advisory Board

In this particular case, the lessons we tried to instill were decorum (for both parents and player), try harder, and earn your spot. But the real lesson here was for us parents: self control. When coaches play favorites, and political maneuvering with team parents are foremost rather than game strategy or fairness, the range of emotions circling about in the stands can reach a boiling point, but must be contained for the sake of the child. There's no worse moment than when a parent looses control and embarrasses themselves and the child on the field. We've seen it play out on TV; the dad who beat and killed a father on his son's opposing team over a hockey game; the Texas cheer mom who plotted to kill her daughter's rival in 1992. Who can forget the Nancy Karrigan vs. Tonya Harding leg-clubbing incident in 1994, that event was a low point in youth sports of Olympic proportions!

I can tell you from our own experience, those ugly feelings competitive sports evoke when ones own child seems to be the victim of foul play, unfair treatment, or outright rude or insulting behavior from team mates and coaches can get the better of us. Trying to find a positive side to these gut-wrenching moments are all part of youth sports and can be really difficult to do, especially for parents. If you find yourself in a quandary after a game-day situation with your child, Responsiblesports.com is a website designed to help support everyone involved with youth sports; coaches, players and parents can find useful information to address the many character-testing as well as character-building situations you and your kids will encounter participating in organized sports.

On this particular hour-long drive back home, and once we settled down and rewarded ourselves with ice cream, we went on imparting a bit of wisdom to our broken-hearted slugger. "These are the real life lessons sports are supposed to teach you at this very young age. You see, you will encounter unreasonable, power hungry people everywhere: a boss at work, a teacher in the classroom, even your co-workers may not particularly care for you. But playing sports, and enduring these unexplained actions, will make you stronger so you can survive in the real world", we tell her while swallowing hard.

As we pull into our home, our sanctuary from the sometimes illogical actions we are subjected to on the playing fields, we've covered every possible angle or reason why the relief softball pitcher wasn't called to the mound to try to save a losing game. "Are you ready to go to practice tomorrow?" we ask the understandably upset teen. "No. I don't want to go. Why should I? I don't play anyway". I hear ya sista, I think to myself.

"We know, but stick it out for your own sake. In the long run you will be better for it", all the while rolling our eyes on the inside as we say this.

Children our like our hearts walking around outside of our bodies, and when our kids are hurt, emotionally or physically, we feel it much more than they do, but they don't know it, and sometimes, it's better that way. With out a doubt, participating in youth organized sports has it's trying moments, but the questions remains: How much disappointment can a child or a parent take?

In youth sports, you better be ready for more disappointment than you can imagine, a lot more...

I've told you my story, what's yours? Tell me about that little league nightmare you conquered, or how you silenced a heckling parent. Each of one of your anecdotes and how you handled them could help someone in a similar situation.

So, go ahead and vent. I'm here for you.

“Grab your iPod and go study for the SAT!” I certainly never thought I’d hear myself say this to my college-bound teen since it’s usually the exact opposite coming out of my mouth during study time. Taking advantage of the widespread use of the iPhone and iPod Touch apps, a new vocabulary-building game could be just the thing to help increase any student’s SAT scores.

Modality, maker of popular iPhone and iPod Touch apps, teamed up with the Princeton Review and recently launched the SAT® Vocab Challenge, a study application for prospective SAT takers to use on the go. This innovative study game was just awarded the “Editor’s Choice Award” by the Children’s Technology Review, a leading authority on children’s technology products.

Four timed, fast-paced games challenge the user to master 250 words and their synonyms, antonyms, definition and connotation, including the Princeton Review’s “Hit Parade”, the 100 most likely words to show up on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Using the mobile device's touch, shake or swipe alternatives, the user selects the correct answer and the app keeps track of each mastered section.The app makes “aggressive game play” out of the otherwise wrote memorization of vocabulary words and is simple to use, fast, effective, and best of all portable, which is exactly what today’s students are after; smaller, or better yet, non-existent cumbersome books to tie them to a desk!

Speaking with Robert Franek, Vice President of Publishing for the Princeton Review and author of “The Best 368 Colleges”, I couldn’t help but join him in his enthusiasm for this innovative test-taking tool. “For testing geeks like me, this application could be the way to move SAT scores, which is key to getting into college” he told me over the phone from New York. Franek is also an SAT teacher, worked as an admissions officer, and is in charge of the Princeton Review’s website: www.princetonreview.com

The SAT® Vocab Challenge, at $4.99, is available from Apple's iTunes and is cheaper than a class or test prep book - certainly lighter too. A student can take advantage of idle time to learn as they play, especially while sitting on the bus, car or other transportation, when kids today tend to immediately plug into their music (during summer vacation, you can take your modern equipment to the beach and learn while you tan too!). The learning curve for this game is pretty flat given even my incoming high school freshman could use it with relative ease. Fun, addictive, easy and cool are a few words both of my high schoolers used (pre-SAT vocab mastery game, of course!) when I asked them to describe the iPhone/iPod SAT app.

I see additional benefits to this handy test tool:

·        Technology and our kids go hand in hand. It’s probably a true statement to say that a majority of high school students, regardless of socio-economic level, own some kind of technology, and not because it’s a luxury, but a necessity: laptops, computers, cell phones or iPods are part of kids’ assortment of accouterments they can’t survive without in today's technology-dependent environment. The new SAT Vocab Challenge app can fit right in with students' regular use of the favored iPod or iPhone.

·        Not all kids can afford a college test prep course, tutor or those robust Princeton Review college editions. At $4.99, and available at Apple’s App Store, practically anyone could take advantage of this new service by the Princeton Review, experts at helping students prepare for the college admissions process.

·        Swiping or shaking the devise to select the answers in the game makes it fun and interactive. Besides the four basic games, all 250 words can be accessed to find out the definition, part of speech, an example of its use in a sentence, and by touching the “listen” option, a little voice (and not your parents) will tell you how to say it!

·        The app can also help ally fears or apprehension about what is in the make-or-break college entrance exam and how it works. Frenak pointed out that an added advantage to this product is learning speed, accuracy and the process of elimination. “The [SAT® Vocab Challenge] game mimics the test taking environment incorporating the use of these skills which we teach in the classroom”.

Accessible to all, a snap to use and certainly a lighter version of any test prep book around, this new study app can be used practically anywhere and anytime. I asked Robert about future SAT related apps, and the good news is there are more in the works! After testing The Princeton Review’s new SAT® Vocab Challenge app, I’m convinced this handy learning tool will be changing the way kids and parents tackle test-prep study time.

BOOK GIVEAWAY! The frst two readers to correctly answer the following question in the comments section will win the publication titled Princeton Review's Guide to College Visits! A $20 value, yours FREE for doing your homework! I'll be verifying your answers using the SAT® Vocab Challenge app, but you can go old-school and use ... a dictionary! Make sure you leave your name and e-mail along with your answers too.

What are the synonym, antonym, connotation and definition of the word Supercilious.

All four answers needed to win. Good luck!

This summer, one of the most entertaining activities families with teenagers can enjoy together is Comic-Con in San Diego, Ca., which is also celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year.  The yearly comic book convention had its humble beginnings with the comic book industry, but in recent years, this aspect of the convention has taken a back seat to the Hollywood movie industry’s take over of the exhibition halls at the San Diego Convention Center. Last year’s convention was completely sold out before the doors to the giant venue opened. This year, if you haven’t purchased your badges by now, I guess you’ll be joining the party outside of the modern building-- the event is already completely sold out! This annual convention has been called "Geekfest USA", and has a loyal throng of attendees who will sleep outside if they have to, in order to get a seat in a hall hosting one of the many movie discussion panels staffed by the film's celebs themselves.

To help celebrate Comic Con's 40th anniversary, many of the original members of Comic-Con will be on hand: Richard Alf, Bill Lund, Barry Alfonso, and George Clayton-Johnson who wrote a number of the classic Twilight Zone episodes, co-authored the novels Ocean's 11 and Logan's Run, and wrote the premiere episode of Star Trek. Bill Mummy is also scheduled to appear. Remember him? You would if you’re a forty or fifty-something. Mummy played Will Robinson in the television show Lost in Space!

In the last few years, Comic Con has become a prefered family attraction in Southern California. Families flock to this event partly due to the huge popularity of the exhibits mounted by Hollywood studios like Lionsgate, Disney, Sony, Nickelodeon, Summit, Universal and MGM, which were among last year’s movie companies. And it looks like they’ll be back in town again promoting their biggest upcoming films. Last year, San Diego’s Comic Con was the springboard for movie trailer premiers like Watchmen, UP, Bolt, and Terminator Salvation to name a few.

In 2008, Comic Con visitors also had the first look at Twilight’s cast and director, Catherine Hardwick. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were present at the panel discussions as hoards of teens jammed the hall to catch a glimpse of  author Stephanie Meyer's main characters come to life before them.  Summit's recent announcement that the cast from the Twilight saga's sequel, New Moon, will be showing up at the convention center this year already has teens salivating for the second movie, scheduled to be released in November.

Living in San Diego during the month of July is one of those rare times it has its perks (besides the year-round great weather!). July 23^rd through the 26^th, I’ll be ensconced in downtown San Diego, press badge securely clipped to my lanyard, where our fine city will be teaming with an ever growing assortment of Storm Troopers, Trekies, Captain Jacks, gooks, geeks, and a variety of video game costume characters only diehard gamers know and love.

I’ll be posting helpful information through out the next few weeks to try to help you, and your family, plan for this year’s Comic Con. Make sure to check back often. If you’ve already started to map out your strategy for this year's 'Con', share your tips! And, “may the force be with you” (and me!).

Lambs Players Theater organized a beautiful tribute, the Crown Awards, to honor the movers and shakers of Coronado's leading non-profit organizations who greatly contribute to the stability and continued success of our community service programs.

Honoree Alejandro Valle and family in front of the Crown Awards' commemorative poster

Twelve volunteers were selected by their respective organizations as most deserving of this inaugural distinction: Coronado Schools Foundation's Mark Andrews, PAWS's Louise Shirey, Coronado Little League's Alex Valle, Islander Sports Foundation's Mary Humphrey, COSA'S Chris Bevevino, SAFE's Chuck Howe, FOCUS Ethel Kallsen, Coronado Hospital Foundation's Caroline Captnich, Coronado 4th of July Andrew Szymanski and the Coronado Historical Society's Courtney McGowen were the honorees.

The Crown Awards 2009 Honorees

CSF President Spiro Chaconas, CLL President JC Smith, ISF President John Ovrom with Honoree Alex Valle

Specially prepared musical numbers opened the evening's celebration, and emcee Carol LeBeau, sitting at a special table on the stage due to recent foot surgery, graciously carried on with the production. Special guest Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka, handed each recipient a custom crystal trophy to symbolize the importance of these selfless individuals to each of the programs they were representing.

Channel 10's Carol LeBeau poses with Norma and Jaime Paullada at the Crown Awards in Coronado

In this inaugural event for the Crown Awards, Lambs Players Theater, Jeff Tyler and his crew worked tirelessly to establish a new tradition in the emeral city which they hope will continue to honor the efforts of individuals who give back to their beloved community in a tangible way.

Congratulations to the first 2009 Crown Award recipients, and thank you for your work and dedication to our non-profit organizations!

I'll be interviewing Rob Franek, author of  the Princeton Review's "Best 368 Colleges" about the soon-to-be-available SAT Vocab Challenge game from Apple’s App Store for iPhone and iPod touch, and I need your help ...   more »