ECONOMY 248.355.4000 iNSTITUI E Sensible Surgical Solutions OH, SISYPHUS! How Cool Are You? When being "liked" comes at the expense of sound parenting. By Rebecca Zusel ours is the house all the kids want to t hang out at after school. Your kids get L the same things their friends have be- cause you don't want them to feel "left out" (you want your kids to be cool). You're also not sure how you got stuck on this train! This high-speed Express to Aggravation doesn't take you (or your kids) to some- where good; at best, you'll stop at the Poorhouse Station. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how you got on, you just know it's time to exit. Perhaps this isn't the first time you've thought about changing things up, but you're not sure how to get started. The first step is: Ask yourself if you're try- ing too hard to be your child's friend versus focusing on being their parent. Don't be confused. You can hang out and have a good time with your kids; and, hope- fully, they have at least one or two friends to fill in the gaps. Your role as a parent is more serious. It's a job, whether you do it full time or part time. Here's one good suggestion on exiting the train: When your instinct says, "I should be saying 'no'to this," don't ignore it. Hello to some parents of high school seniors who recently welcomed their children home from a much-needed R&R during spring break — yeah, right. Let's be real. Those dancing, booze-cruis- ing, doing who-knows-what till ungodly hours of the morning returnees will next be the teens asking if they can have a "prom party"at your house. i AT THE BUNION INSTITUTE, we believe medicine, surgery and recovery are best performed‘when doctor and patient work together. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive,, customized and sensible surgical approach to correction of bunions. Dr. Randy Leff is a Board Certified foot surgeon with a focused interest in bunion repair and the dual goal of improvement in the look and feel of your feet. www.THE iNlOr INSTITUTE.com Dr. Randy Leff. Board Certified Foot Surgeon MICHFOOT@ME.COM Michigan Foot and Ankle Surgeons, P.C. 29201 Telegraph Rd. Suite 100 • Southfield, MI 48034 7‘-e RAYMANCET,i Sean* You, being the "cool" parent, know it's a bad idea but want to appease them (um ... mostly age 18, certainly not 21) and say "yes."This is called justifying. It's not OK to be your kid's friend and be cool here. Even under the best circumstances, some- thing always goes wrong. Too much drink- ing, bad behavior — you name it. And, don't say it's not your kid because sometimes it is. Come on, parents.They are going to have numerous opportunities to behave this way in the future. Let kids be kids — silly, loud, goofy and fun. Just know the limits. You can't control what other parents do, but you can control how your children are raised — and what behavior is expected in your home. Parenting is a tough gig, but every parent signed up for this. You have time to be a friend to your children when they're adults. And, guess what: When they're adults, they'll respect you more for being parents to them when they were growing up. Yep, being a parent is sometimes more an end-loaded reward. While they're young, they resent you for not being cool enough; when they're older, they sing your praises for raising them to be successful, productive members of society. Be the role model you want your children to respect; lead by example. How cool is that?! [7:7 REBECCA ZUSEL, LMSW, is a licensed clinical social worker. She and her husband, Matt, live in West Bloomfield with their three kids, ages 7,4 and 2. PROFESSIONALS MICHIGAN FILM SOURCE FROM PAGE 12 Raydiance is a 3rd generation family owned and operated company. With our 45 years of caring experience, we have invested, researched and perfected the most innovative hair loss solutions for any situation so we may lend a guiding hand to those who have lost their hair or who face the possibility of hair loss. needed while the industry works to build an infrastructure and a crew base in the state. She said every $1 dollar the state spends on incentives generates $6 in economic activ- ity. According to a recent analysis by the Detroit News, since the film incentives debuted two years ago Michigan has approved $368.2 million in tax rebates on $938.6 million in qualified spending. Currently, 43 projects, including movies, television shows, video games and music videos, are seeking a combined $129.3 million in incentives. Producers of the projects stated they would spend $324 million in the state and hire 14,562 people, including film extras, according to applications filed with the Michigan Film Office and obtained by the Detroit News through the Freedom of Information Act. Yet, the nearly $130 million being sought from producers is seven times the $17.9 million the Michigan Film Office says it has left to award. While the Legislature still must approve the governor's plan, the film office is operating under his $25 million target. What might be harder to quantify, Shane said, is the industry's impact on creative young people, many of them Jewish, who want to work in the film industry. She hopes the governor and Legislature will reach a middle ground that allows for the industry's survival. "If Snyder's proposal goes through, it will kill the industry in the state,"she said. "Those young people who were counting on Michigan having a film industry will be forced to move.",,, ,,, HERE AND NOW RENT A ROYAL FROM PAGE 12 5799 West Maple, Suite 167 West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322 248855-8845 537 W. Main St Brighton, MI 48116 810-220-8888. Hours: Mon — Fri 9-5pm Call today for your appointment or Visit us at our website: www.raydianceforwomen.com 14 May 2011 I RED THREAD through U-M Hillel. After graduation, she headed to New York, where she worked on the production end of The Producers before returning to Michigan, where she worked for Fenby Stein Entertainment, helping book wedding and event entertainment. For the last few years, she's focused on being a mom. "With two little girls and their friends playing princess all the time, I have mar- Mikki Frank, Cinderella made princess. veled at how the world of make-believe can transport them to such an amazing place," says Frank, who lives in West Bloomfield. As for her little guy, she says he"loves a good lullaby." Fortunately, she says, business is brisk enough that she has recruited six actors and sing- ers to create more availability, careful to vet others offering the same high-quality experi- ence that she prides her business on. "While more business is nice, the real payoff is the feedback we get from families," says Frank. "When we sing to a little girl, you have no idea the magic that shows on her face; it's the best part of the job."One might say it's a dream come true. Parties range from 30 minutes to 2 hours; $155-$355. Contact the Singing Princess at (248) 429-9521; thesingingprincess.com . www.redthreadmagazine.com