Pitner Ortho January 2018

THE STRAIGHT UP

January 2018

it was an assignment for school or an interaction in my personal life, if I couldn’t act perfectly every time, how would I do anything worthwhile? As I now know, trying to be perfect is utterly impossible. It’s the source of endless unhappiness. We are not meant to be perfect automatons who never mess up. People are born to make mistakes! If we never made mistakes, we would never learn, grow, or challenge ourselves to be better. My long quest to overcome perfectionism benefited greatly from reading Dr. Kristin Neff’s “Self-Compassion” and Dr. Brené Brown’s “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of WhoYou ThinkYou're Supposed to Be and Embrace WhoYou Are.” It’s so helpful to be reminded that no one ever said you have to be perfect. This is a great relief, because sometimes, even I forget pursuing perfection leads nowhere. myself responsible for another living thing activated the perfection impulse in my brain. It demanded I get him the best food, find the best groomer, buy the best dog bed, and never do anything that could cause this fluffy animal any suffering. The worry was overwhelming, and it completely overshadowed why I wanted to get Buster in the first place. I spun off into orbit because I felt like I had to be the “perfect puppy parent.” My need to be perfect came up again last October when I got my dog, Buster. Finding

Luckily, I came down from my perfection craze quickly when I remembered having a dog is supposed to be fun. My husband and I brought Buster into our house because dogs are awesome and they make people happy — and also because he is

PICTURE IMPERFECT Let’s Celebrate Making Mistakes in 2018

erfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal.”

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“WE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE PERFECT AUTOMATONS WHO NEVER MESS UP. PEOPLE ARE BORN TO MAKE MISTAKES!”

–Brené Brown, “The Gifts of Imperfection”

I am a recovering perfectionist. In the past, I had an unreasonable inner need to be flawless in all things. I never felt good enough and would get terribly upset if I messed anything up. Whether

scientifically the cutest dog ever. Neither Buster nor my husband would be very happy if I was stressed out all the time in a fruitless attempt to be perfect. Wow, if just taking care of a dog is enough to make me worry like this, I have to applaud parents who are able to raise their children without worrying they will mess up every day! Tell me, what’s your secret? Inspired by my brief backslide into attempted perfection, my goal for 2018 is to be imperfect. Since I’m really good at being imperfect, I’m happy to report I already succeeded on day one. Of course, the year’s still young, and there is the chance something will happen that will send me into a perfection spiral again. And that’s okay! It will be another mistake I can grow from. Being human is about doing your best, and in the end, no one can say your best isn’t good enough.

–Dr. Leslie Pitner

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3WAYS TRAVEL CAN TRANSFORMYOUR KIDS THE LIFELONG BENEFITS OF TRAVEL

When you go on a trip, whether it’s a quick jaunt to a neighboring town or a weeklong stay in an exotic locale, you interact with new people and cultures. It’s one thing to hear someone talk about the laid-back vibes of theWest Coast, but you can’t really feel them for yourself until you’ve meandered through the redwoods or watched the sun set over Puget Sound. Now, imagine the positive effects this kind of cultural awakening could have on a young mind! While we tend to think about the worst-case scenarios and added stresses of traveling with kids, they stand to benefit as much, if not more, from travel as we do. You never know — your son or daughter may realize a passion for a subject that will one day become their career. As you’re plotting destinations for the new year, keep these life-changing possibilities in mind.

By fostering a sense of healthy curiosity about new places, you’ll help your child feel confident enough to branch out of their comfort zone and make new friends at home and on the road. 3. THEY’LL UNDERSTAND COMPASSION. After a trip to Fiji, Lonely Planet Kids writer Patrick Kinsella found that, long after they returned, his eldest daughter continued to reflect on her experience. “It’s an eye- and mind-opening experience, especially for Ivy, who has never before considered that someone her age might not have a TV, let alone lack electricity,” Kinsella writes. “For many months afterward, Ivy talk[ed] about Po, imagining her Fijian friend’s life.” Because they’re so open-minded, kids are the perfect sponges for new experiences. At the very least, they’ll

1. HISTORY WILL COME TO LIFE. Yes, your kids will read aboutWorldWar II in school and take state capital quizzes. But in the end, nothing compares to firsthand experiences of culturally significant loca- tions. Imagine showing a child the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin’s famous theory of evolution was conceived, or having the chance to talk about the beginnings of the RevolutionaryWar while strolling through Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts. If you live in a state with a rich history, make it a point to visit one of the nearby museums. If you’re planning a vacation abroad, incorporate visits to historical sites. Take the opportunity to learn as a family! 2. THEY’LL PICK UP NEW SKILLS. In addition to learning about history, your child may discover a new skill. They may learn a bit of conversational Spanish during a trip to Mexico or they might play soccer with a group of children and realize they have a knack for it.

be less likely to take what they have for granted, and they might even develop an expansive and exploratory worldview.

3 CARE TIPS FOR YOUR PET’S ORAL HEALTH YES, YOU DO NEED TO BRUSH YOUR DOG’S TEETH

BRUSH YOUR PET’S TEETH. The first step to caring for your pet’s teeth is regular brushing. Find a specially designed pet toothbrush or a child’s toothbrush and get pet-friendly toothpaste — never use human toothpaste on your pet! Most tooth- pastes contain fluoride, which is extremely toxic to pets. Dog owners can get some advice on brushing at rover.com/blog/how- to-brush-your-dogs-teeth. Meanwhile, cat lovers should check out petful.com/groom- ing/how-to-brush-cats-teeth-right-way. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TREATS. The occasional dental treat can help clear plaque from your pet’s teeth. Rawhide bones are also great for knocking away tartar and keeping your furry friend’s gums healthy. Dogs and cats both will welcome a tasty rawhide bone as a treat.

ENLIST PROFESSIONAL HELP. Just like your trips to the dentist, it’s im- portant that a vet checks your pet’s teeth regularly. Sometimes, your pet may need a professional veterinary dental cleaning. While it may sound extreme, professional cleanings are important to maintain your pet's health and are far less dangerous than a periodontal disease, which may develop otherwise. Often times, pets won’t show signs of tooth pain until they refuse to eat. This is why it’s important to stay on top of your pet’s oral health. In many households, the dog or cat is a member of the family. The least we can do is make sure their teeth are as healthy as our own.

We love our pets. The internet is the greatest invention in the history of mankind, and we use it to post pictures of cats. The average dog owner spends around $1,600 a year on their pup. Despite our undying adoration, there’s one area pet owners tend to overlook, and this oversight can seriously jeopardize your pet’s health. Just like humans, your pet’s oral health is systemic to the rest of their health. Tooth decay and gum disease have been linked to heart disease, kidney failure, and other chronic illnesses. However, unlike us, dogs and cats aren’t able to properly care for their teeth. Here’s what you can do to make sure your pet’s pearly whites stay healthy.

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A BETTER CLASS OF FAMILY BOARD GAME Bored of Monopoly, Scrabble, or Candy Land?

If you’ve ever played Monopoly with the whole family, you know high-tension classic board games can bring out the worst in people. Whether your sibling gloats after putting your most valuable property into mortgage or a tyke flips the board in a feverish rage, some of those old games can do more harm than good. But there are board games that won’t turn family fun time into a heap of tears and yelling. Here are a few modern hits that blow Parker Brothers’ basics out of the water: SETTLERS OF CATAN The perfect entry point for a more intricate world of board games, Settlers has become something of a cultural phenomenon in recent years. In the game, each of the four (or up to six with an inexpensive expansion) players represents a settler establishing colonies in a fictional new land, represented by a series of colored hexagonal tiles. Throughout the course of the game, you’ll take turns rolling dice in

order to collect different types of resources, which you can then spend to build settlements, cities, and roads. It sounds and looks fairly com- plicated, but you and your family should be able to pick it up in a single round (which usually lasts an hour or two). We can assure you, there’s a reason this game has sold over 22 million copies worldwide. TICKET TO RIDE You don’t have to love trains to be obsessed with this country-spanning strategic adventure. Each player is tries to establish as many train lines between American cities as they can be- fore the game ends. The system is deceptively simple, consisting mostly of matching colored cards to their corresponding train lines on the board, which makes it incredibly easy to learn. But the strategy involved ensures that each game is a completely different beast. Break out your tiny plastic trains and start your trek across the country!

CARCASSONNE In this game, each of the two to five players takes turns flipping over tiles and playing them to develop the ancient town of Carcassonne. You can direct your workers to develop the fields, guard the roads, or inhabit the cities, and each activity earns you points. Every board ends up completely different as you place tiles and expand the playing area, which is what makes this game so endlessly enjoyable.

SLOW COOKER R A S P B E R R Y W H I T E H O T C H O C O L A T E

There’s nothing like curling up under a blanket with a warm mug and a novel that finally came out in paperback. Break out the slow cooker and let the sweet aroma waft through your living room as your start Chapter 1.

INGREDIENTS

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1 cup white chocolate chips

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2 tablespoons powdered sugar

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup

&

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2 cups heavy cream, divided

3 cups milk (any variety will do)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. 3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.

Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

5953 Wescott Rd. Columbia, SC 29212 803-781-5225 Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.drpitner.com

INSIDE

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What Mistakes Will You Make?

A Trip Can Change Your Child’s Life Should I Buy Fido a Toothbrush? A Better Class of Board Game Warm Up With Some Hot Cocoa

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Local Events

Kick Off 2018 With Fun! NEW YEAR, NEW MEMORIES

Main Street ICE Where: Boyd Plaza, corner of Main and Hampton St., Columbia, South Carolina When: Nov. 23, 2017, through Jan. 15, 2018 Admission: $8–10 for adults, $5–8 for kids 12 and under Website: columbiasc.net/parks-recreation/ programs-activities/special-events Have you visited Columbia’s magical winter wonderland yet? Main Street ICE will soon close the curtain on its sixth season, but there’s still plenty of time to bring the whole family out for a day on the ice. It doesn’t matter if you’re competing for Olympic gold or strapping on skates for the first time — everyone is welcome to participate in this Columbia tradition!

Midlands Heart Ball Where: South Carolina State Fairgrounds, Cantey Building, Columbia When: Friday, Jan. 19; 7 p.m. Admission: Visit website for tickets Website: facebook.com/MidlandsAHA/ Last year, generous souls across our community raised over $300,000 in support of theAmerican Heart Association. These donations provided the funding for over $123 million in research and programs across the country.You’re invited to join the efforts this year at the annual Midlands Heart Ball. Dress to impress for this black-tie event and help raise funds to fight heart disease and stroke. Enjoy dinner, dancing, and live silent auctions at this fun philanthropic affair.

Valentine’s Cinema: ‘Sabrina’ Where: HarbisonTheatre at Midlands Technical College, Irmo When: Saturday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. Admission: $17 Website: harbisontheatre.org

It’s comedy, drama, and Hollywood royalty in this gem from theGoldenAge of cinema. Humphrey Bogart andWilliamHolden star as brothers who both fall in love with the charming Sabrina, played byAudrey Hepburn. Is there any way for all three of them to find happily ever after? StartValentine’s Day early with this delightful story of love and duty. Don’t forget to arrive early and enjoy desserts, champagne, and dancing before the film.

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