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Click Here 40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, February 6, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 1, 2004 It’s not for girls only: Faire hits hard issues By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune Nearly 200 laughing and sometimes embarrassed adolescent girls and their parents packed the Smullin Center at Rogue Valley Medical Center Saturday for the ninth-annual Parent and Daughter Faire. Hosted by Planned Parenthood, the fair is geared toward giving pre-teens age 9-12 and a caring adult a chance to communicate on important issues about growing up — even those topics considered taboo. When the Planned Parenthood teen theater troupe took to the stage squealing and whispering words like "puberty" and "periods," for example, the audience got a serious case of the giggles and oh-my-goshes. The theater act served as an ice breaker to mini-sessions that included "Managing the Mirror Fears," "Periods, Pimples and Puberty," "You’re Beautiful ... Naturally," "Friendship, Fun and Games" and "Partner Yoga." The theater troupe’s fearless leader, Miss No-Making-Fun-Of-Anybody-Else-Girl, appeared in dozens of scenarios in which pre-teens faced emotional and physical changes and had a hard time figuring things out. Advertisement The skit not only had the girls laughing but sometimes burying their faces in a parent’s arm from embarrassment. Paulette Wodehouse of Medford, who rounded up 11-year-old daughter Shannon and a carload of her friends, found the performance refreshing. "I like the way it put a positive spin on how everybody is different," said Wodehouse. "At this age, they’ve already encountered the friendship issues, so basically my daughter and all her friends came together to see what it was all about." "I thought it was great," said Shannon. "I didn’t know that there would be a play. I thought it was really funny the way they talked about everything." Gold Hill residents Joe and Stacy Morretti attended the event with three daughters, including 9-year-old Payton, 11-year-old Samantha and 3-year-old Jacie, who tagged along for moral support. "I was so impressed with those kids on stage," said Joe Morretti. "I was, like, so not looking forward to coming here today," he admitted. "But they (the troupe) made the trip for me. Those kids are so talented. I couldn’t believe it. They took a lot of the tension out of it, like it’s all normal, which they should because it is. It was just a great way to bring all those things up without making everyone feel weird." Theater troupe performer Jake Miner, a 17-year-old from Ashland, said the event helps pre-teen girls see both girl and guy viewpoints. "I really enjoyed it. I think that it really helps to explain what the other side is feeling so everyone realizes they’re still normal," Jake said. Briana Miller of Central Point said she wished more young girls could attend such an event. "It’s really good because this is a really hard time to grow up," said the 17-year-old. "I wish I had something like this when I was their age. I think more parents should bring their kids to something like this so they can figure out how to talk about things. It makes everything they have to go through seem not so scary." Next Faire on Feb. 28 A second Parent and Daughter Faire will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Feb. 28 on the campus of Southern Oregon University. For information, contact Planned Parenthood education coordinator Maggie Sullivan at 770-3331. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times