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LEX CANIS THE
The Month of May: Then and Now
Whenever I see that May is coming up, I usually get a little excited. I will be honest, May has always been one of my favorite months. Besides May Day, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day, I look forward to great weather and longer days. As a kid growing up in Montana, May meant that the gloom of winter and heavy rain of April — with the possibility of snow — was finally over or coming to an end. May also marked the end of the school year and the official start of summer. May was that near-perfect month with school winding down. Everyone seemed happier, there was great weather, and the hard ranch work of summer was still weeks away. It was exciting and fun. I looked forward to summer, even though it meant that I’d be out working on the ranch with rigorous rules and responsibilities. Every year, since we were a little older, Dad would let my brothers and me do a little more than we attempted the previous summer. However, those issues seemed so far away as we enjoyed May. I remember the month starting out with May Day. In school, we would make the May Day baskets and bring them home to give to our moms. After school, my brothers and I had about a quarter-mile walk between the bus stop and our house. We walked home, then would veer off into the fields and start picking
wildflowers, putting them in our baskets. She would see us and just watch while we fought over the best flowers — each of us wanted to have the best basket for our mom. As a young boy, Mother’s Day was an exciting time, and we were eager to impress our mom by making her breakfast in bed. As I think back upon those special meals, maybe we were more excited about them than she was. We would wake up early in the morning and make this huge breakfast that was created with love, but which failed in its execution. We would take our creation into the bedroom, and Mom would put on a smile, genuinely thanking us while slowly eating parts of each item on the tray. We had the good intention of not wanting her to cook, but we would make quite a mess of the kitchen. I’m sure when she got out of bed and walked into the kitchen, it probably looked like a war zone. But like any loving mother, she never once complained. When comparing my memories of May as a kid to my memories of the month as an adult, May is still that ideal month for me. It has this almost Christmas-like sense of anticipation in the air all month long. Now, minus the tornadoes, May is almost a perfect month in Oklahoma — not too hot and not too cold. Things are starting
to dry out, but the struggles of another hot Oklahoma summer haven’t hit us yet. It’s one of the best times of year to play tennis, and we can play nearly every day of the week without it being miserably hot or cold. My wife Estelle is out there playing in a half- dozen leagues right now and having a great time. May also brings perfect Oklahoma evenings for grilling or spending time outside with family and friends. Start thinking about your summer plans now. Let the excitement and anticipation of those plans build through May, and let this be the year you do something you have always wanted to do but never seem to find the time for. Take a real three-day weekend over the Memorial Day holiday, and do something amazing. Stop what you are doing, book that vacation, and let May be the kickoff to summer it has always been for me. After you get back from your amazing vacation, don’t forget to send in your photos to DefendingTulsa@gmail.com so that we can feature one of our favorite vacation submissions from our readers in an upcoming issue. - Lee Berlin
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Berlin Law Firm • DefendingTulsa.com
Advanced Social Media Is Something to Worry About The Dangers of Kik Messenger With all of the new social media options available, it’s important to keep in mind the safety of children who use social media apps. Teens and younger kids can use these apps with very little supervision. The further we advance in social media, the more vulnerable we become, and we need to be aware of that. Kik messaging, also called “Kik,” is one of these apps to watch out for. Kik is a messaging app that offers more anonymity than regular texting. While many messenger apps use phone numbers as identifiers, Kik users can create usernames that are more difficult to trace. Because of this increased anonymity, Kik has become such a popular sexting platform that the app’s name is now synonymous with the practice. The main function of the app is to create one-on-one chats, group chats (with up to 49 other users), anonymous chats, and promoted chats that enable you to send messages, pictures, videos, and GIFs. This allows users to chat and to follow different brands in music, entertainment, and more. Kik also offers internal apps through its browser to encourage users to remain within the app itself. These internal apps include sticker apps, meme generators, games, and dating-style apps such as Match & Chat and Flirt! They work in a way similar to Tinder, matching users by factors such as age and gender. What’s worrying about this process is the ease with which a user can chat to other users of any age group. For example, users can choose to chat with teen users. Besides the potential risks from using Kik’s dating-style apps, there are other dangers to watch out for. These can include cyberbullying, viewing or sharing inappropriate content, and chatting with strangers — all of which are easily done through Kik. To help avoid these problems, rules should be put into place to keep your child safe. Only share data with people you trust in real life, block/report unwanted contacts, think before you click, and report any inappropriate messages to a trusted adult. As with other social networking and messaging apps, users must be at least 13 to register for Kik. If your child is under 13 and has made an account, the app encourages a deactivation request by contacting their website. Parents need to be aware of the apps on their children’s phones. While there are all sorts of apps out there, this one requires constant vigilance.
When Your Teen Wants to Start Dating Parents often feel pretty antsy when their teens want to date. It’s fun and exciting for the teen, but there are plenty of reasons for parents to worry. But don’t feel hopeless in this situation. Take the initiative to let your child know you’re there for them. Below are a few tips that can help keep your teen safe while respecting their individuality. COMMUNICATION Open communication between you and your teen can help immensely. When your teen expresses an interest in dating, sit down and talk with them about it in a comfortable environment. It may be a little awkward, but letting your child know they can talk to you about dating will help them feel more at ease. Let your teen know they can always come to you, even if they have something unpleasant or uncomfortable to share. RULES ON DATING When your teen starts to date, there’s nothing wrong with setting up a few rules. Putting an age restriction and a curfew in place is a good start. Come up with a time that both you and your teen can agree on. Deciding when your teen should date is a bit more complicated. If you believe your teen shows signs of maturity and you’re comfortable letting them date, now is a good time to start a conversation about it. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teens should be allowed to have one-on-one dates sometime after the age of 16. Dr. Ron Eager, a pediatrician at Denver Health Medical Center, points out that there is an enormous difference between a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old in terms of life experience and maturity levels. APPROPRIATE DATE SPOTS If your teen seems unsure of where to go on a date, suggest some places you feel comfortable with. This is a good way to encourage safe and age-appropriate activities that both individuals can enjoy. Some possibilities include the zoo, a movie, dinner, bowling, ice skating, go-karting, or an amusement park. These kinds of activities encourage a comfortable, fun environment that may help ease nerves for both you and your teen. Creating a comfortable parent-child relationship that encourages a teen to turn to you for help and guidance is the first step toward keeping them as safe as you can.
2 Berlin Law Firm • 918-770-0172
We’ve Moved!
Berlin Law Firm has changed locations!
Due to the new additions of our staff, we quickly realized that we needed more office space to accommodate our growing needs.
Therefore, when considering and searching for the perfect location, our first thought was of our clients and their convenience.
Our New Office address is:
In our quest to find the right office space we realized that we have enjoyed being located in the Park Place Business Complex, and our clients are familiar with that location.
8516 E. 101st Street, Suite A
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
That is why we chose to stay within the same Park Place Business Complex.
You can’t miss us. We are located on the northwest corner of the business complex.
Though we haven’t gone very far, it has been a successful move across the parking lot from our old office, which has provided more convenient parking for our clients and more space for our staff. It’s a win-win situation.
Inspired Be
Grilled Skirt Steak With Asparagus
Ingredients • 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak
Inspired by Food Network
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound asparagus
• Grated pecorino Romano cheese
Directions
1. Heat grill to high. Season room-temperature steak with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon oil. Any oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, will work.
2. Trim bottom inch of asparagus. Season with salt, pepper, and remainder of oil.
3. Cut steak into four portions and grill for 3–5 minutes per side, depending on desired doneness. Skirt steak is thin and will cook quickly. 4. Let steak rest for 10 minutes. While it’s resting, grill asparagus for 6 minutes, turning once.
5. Sprinkle cheese and crushed red pepper on asparagus. Serve alongside steak.
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Berlin Law Firm • DefendingTulsa.com
NEW ADDRESS 8516 E. 101st Street, Suite A Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
We didn’t go far. We are still located in the Park Place Business Complex, directly across the parking lot from our old office.
WE HAVE MOVED
8516 E. 101st Street, Suite A Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
Phone: 918-770-0172 DefendingTulsa.com
Inside This Issue
Then and Now Page 1
When Your Teen Wants to Start Dating Advanced Social Media Is Something to Worry About Page 2
We’ve Moved! Page 3
Enrich Your Vacation Buy Local When You’re Abroad
FOOD Why have a cheeseburger from a fast- food chain when you can try a local favorite? A great way to start is by asking your taxi driver or hotel concierge about their favorite place to eat. You’ll discover new foods and flavor combinations, and the locally owned restaurant is sure to appreciate your business! ART Just as your town probably has local artisans who produce unique and interesting work, the same is true for your vacation destination. Anyone can get a gift shop bauble that was mass-produced somewhere else. Take the time to peruse market stalls and craft fairs while you travel. It can lead you to some truly
The virtues of buying locally sourced food and supporting small businesses have been widely extolled. But we rarely think to apply the same practices when we travel. Many Americans spring for all-inclusive packages when planning their next summer vacation, but doing so means they’ll miss out on some of the best aspects of the culture they’re visiting. Part of the joy of traveling is having new experiences you can’t have at home. Whether you’re in another state or another country, you owe it to yourself to seek out the unique aspects of that location. But to find the character and quirks of your destination, you’ll have to explore beyond the hotel lobby.
special souvenirs, and you’ll support the arts and traditions of the region!
PEOPLE While you’re out sampling local restaurants and exploring local markets, you’ll meet plenty of local people. Don’t be afraid to strike up a friendly conversation. You can make new friends around the globe and learn about their unique experiences. One of the most enriching experiences in life is meeting new people and gaining new perspectives.
MEMORIES Treasured memories are the best
souvenir you can bring home from any vacation. So you owe it to yourself to get out and explore!
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