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By Deanna Duff

Once upon a time, comic books chronicled the adventures of characters like Superman or Archie and were read by wide-eyed kids. In recent decades, however, comics have gained prestige, new and longer narrative forms, and adult audiences. Through June 9, B.C.'s Vancouver Art Gallery is highlighting this journey with an exhibit titled Art Spiegelman: CO-MIX: A Retrospective of Comics, Graphics and Scraps, the first-ever retrospective of one of the most influential figures in comics.

Spiegelman's work — particularly Maus, the Pulitzer-Prize-winning series detailing his father’s WWII experiences as a Holocaust survivor — is often credited with helping comic art gain mainstream recognition. The exhibit includes more than 400 drawings, sketches, studies and panels relating to not only Maus, but Spiegelman's early underground work from the 1970s, as well as more recent comics and illustrations.

While much of CO-MIX is more suitable for teens and adults (with some mature content, sexual themes and strong language), some of the show's sections, such as “Kids Comics,” are specifically family-friendly. The gallery's robust family programs (see below) can help kids and parents explore the most appropriate aspects of Spiegelman's work. (Make a weekend of it in Vancouver using ParentMap's "48 Hours" itinerary as a guide.)

The first section of the exhibit, "Topps Candy," features work dating from Spiegelman’s early professional career, when he began drawing for Topps Candy Company. Kids will enjoy the nearly floor-to-ceiling display of "Garbage Pail Kids" and "Wacky Package" trading cards, stickers and memorabilia.

The two sections devoted to Maus are arguably the show’s centerpiece. Visitors can study some of the earliest sketches of Maus (from 1978) and track the work’s evolution. Black-and-white photos of Spiegelman and his mother are displayed alongside the cartoon renderings (with little, furry mice scattered throughout the glass cases). For budding artists, it may offer insight into how reality can be creatively interpreted.

Spring is when we liven up our gardens and yards. How about rejuvenating our love lives? Sociologist and sexologist Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D. will address this topic in her talk, “Let’s Get Intimate! How to Balance Life, Love and Your Growing Family” at two BabyMap events which will be held at Seattle Children’s Theatre, 5:30 p.m. May 15; and at Bellevue College, 10 a.m. May 18.

Schwartz recently shared some secrets about what makes some couples happier than others. To hear more, watch Schwartz on KING 5 (on KONG, channel 6) 8:15 a.m. May 6.

In the book you wrote with Chrisanna Northrup and James Witte, The Normal Bar, you talk about balance in family life, but more importantly balance in a relationship. What do you mean by that?

Couples need to focus not just on giving children everything they think they need, but also on what their partner needs. Remember, that mother or father of your child is also your friend and your lover. You have to figure out a way to keep that relationship relevant.

When you as a relationship and sex expert “peek behind the relationship curtain” as you put it, what do you see?

From new research, we see the importance of affection. These can be even small acts — holding hands, spontaneous kisses, backrubs, for instance. It’s surprising how few parents take get-away vacations. We found only one-fourth do that, and it is so important to a relationship. In fact, 80 percent of the couples who describe themselves as “extremely happy” go on date nights, date lunches or the like.

Editor's Note: Mónica Guzmán is a columnist for The Seattle Times and Northwest tech news site GeekWire and a community strategist for startups and media. She emcees Ignite Seattle, a grab-bag community fueled speaker series, and dissects media tech trends on PBS MediaShift’s Mediatwits podcast. Eight and half months ago, Monica became a first-time mother to her baby boy, Julian. In honor of ParentMap's upcoming BabyMap events, Monica answered some of our questions and shared some of her new motherhood memories with you.

As a first-time mom, what was the most surprising change in your life?

Before I became a mom, I was scared that I would miss so much: The freedom I had to do things on my own time, on my own terms, without a baby to care for.

After I became a mom, the changes were definitely there. No leaving the house without a diaper bag and a baby, no following friends we met for dinner to a bar, because we have to relieve the babysitter, and almost no going to the movies. At least, nowhere near as much as we used to.

The surprising thing is how little I actually miss being able to easily do this stuff. My son is so fascinating, so fun to watch grow, that those other things — going to the movies? — it just doesn't mean what it used to mean to me.

What else changed for you and your partner?

Another surprising change: Before I became a mom I was convinced that the baby would explode our precariously balanced, extraordinarily busy lives. Now we look at the baby, playing with his toys, look at each other and go, 'what the heck did we do with all that time we had before?'

Instead of disrupting our lives, baby's schedule — his naps, his bedtime, his waking up, like clockwork, right around 8 a.m. — has ordered them. We plan ahead more. We have more of a routine than we ever did. Plus, by some miracle we're getting lots done (he works full-time, I work part-time, plus extracurriculars) with plenty of time left over to play with our son. We don't understand how it happened, but it did.

Lastly, and this is the scariest thing — it hurts how much I love my son. The first time he got sick — vomiting and a fever — I didn't shower. I didn't dress. I barely ate. It killed me to see him in pain. There is a thing alive now that needs me and needs his dad so, so much that it's terrifying to think, what if we mess up?

By Allison Holm

For many families, a weekend trip to Lowe's is a year-round occurrence, and often an outing to look forward to. Our 3-year-old son loves to help his dad choose a new set of tools or pick out vegetable starters for our garden. We recently checked out the free Build & Grow workshop that Lowe's hosts on select Saturdays at 10 a.m. (check here for a schedule).

This hands-on, interactive workshop gives children the opportunity to build a simple wooden craft. They learn to follow directions, use a hammer (kid-sized hammers available!), and gain a sense of achievement. Even the youngest builders can take pride in their work (our preschooler was very proud of his masterpiece). Store employees are available to help the kids with the project, and parents are encouraged to assist as well.

We attended the workshop featuring the “Piranhahkeet Chomper” from the new movie, The Croods. Graham had a blast studying the directions with his dad, sorting out the pieces and hammering in the nails (thank goodness for the pint-sized hammer- no sore thumbs here!). There were about 25 kids total, and plenty of room and supplies for everyone.

After completing their craft, the little carpenters receive a project-themed iron-on patch to put on their apron and a certificate of merit, signed by the Lowe's employee. This was a huge hit for Graham. We spotted quite a few kids with multiple patches on their aprons, collected from previous workshops. Past crafts have included bird feeders, helicopters, race cars, treasure chests and trellis planters.

In these days of computers, iPads and video games, good, old-fashioned wood working (or any crafting for that matter), plays an important role in hands-on learning, encouraging problem-solving, creative thinking and conceptualization. Woodworking aids in the development of dexterity and hand-eye coordination, and rewards kids with tangible results that they can treasure. Kiddos learn to practice safety and as well as counting, measuring and problem-solving. They also learn the importance of following directions and the patience of creating something from start to finish.

Graham was so proud of his new-found carpentry skills, and still plays with his “chomper.” We will definitely return for more. Did we mention that it’s free?

If you go ...

Where/when: Build & Grow workshops are hosted at select Lowe's stores on select Saturdays at 10 a.m. (check here for a schedule). Projects can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on the level of craft and your child’s ability. Next one up, it looks like, is a Mother's Day gift workshop.

Age range: Workshops are recommended for kiddos grades 1-5 (although my 3-year-old got just as much out of it as the 7-year-old next to us).

Register: Pre-registration online is recommended but not required; you can also register in the store but many workshops fill up, so check to see that there is room. The first 50 kids to register and be present at the store will receive a craft kit, apron and goggles (which you can take home!).

About the author: A born and raised Seattle girl, Allison spent her “early years” satisfying her wanderlust and now lives in Kirkland with her husband, 3-year-old son and (most would say) too many pets. A freelance writer, serious coffee lover (who isn’t?) and jogging stroller enthusiast, Allison loves to get out and explore her city, especially through the eyes of her child. Find more of her stories on her blog, Seattle Travel Mom. She took all the photos for this article.

This post by Positive Discipline Trainer Casey O'Roarty is part of our Growing Character series on teaching children courage.

What is courage?

And how do we teach courage to our children, especially when we live in a world that reminds us painfully and all too regularly of the need for it?

These are the questions that I have been pondering over the last week, reeling in disbelief in the wake of the tragic events in Boston, wondering how something so awful could happen during an event that was meant to be such a celebration for so many people…

When my children heard about the bombing, we sat down and talked about it as a family and answered the questions they had about this unspeakably awful event.  It reminded me of the sadness we had to talk about last December, after the Newtown, CT shootings, and it pained me to know that my kids had to again think about such frightening things happening in our country.

While driving with my 10-year-old daughter a day or so later, the topic of the bombing came up again,  and I asked her how she was feeling about it.

“I feel so sad for all the people who were hurt.  I feel so sad for their families,” she shared.

Then I asked her what she thought about the people who were responsible.“I feel sad for them, too.  They must have had a really terrible life.”

There it was. No expression of hate, of anger, not even fear — just sadness.

By Patty Lazarus

An interesting side effect of publishing my memoir, March Into My Heart, is the number of people I have encountered who tell me about their own adoptions. People I have known or worked with for years have connections to adoption that I never knew about. Learning about their experiences is another gift I have received after adopting my own daughter. I recently had the pleasure of being introduced to Amara, a non-profit organization in Seattle, which works to provide “a home for every child.” Amara, which began 92 years ago as a small, neighborhood home for unwed mothers, now supports foster, adoptive, and birth parents to create stable, loving Amara picture homes for vulnerable children. Amara is admired and supported by some of the most generous sponsors/donors and families in Seattle.

The countless stories of children who have been helped by the efforts of Amara are stunning. Children as young as 2 years old have been in as many as four different foster homes in their short lives. Connecting children who have been orphaned, neglected, or abused to people who want to devote their lives to supporting and loving these children, Amara is making lives better for all involved. Couples who have not had the opportunity to have children of their own are becoming parents and discovering the joy that children can bring into a home. I was shown a video of one couple that has adopted seven foster children and are enjoying every minute of the crazy, but loving, household.

Another family working with Amara adopted three siblings from the foster care system who might have been placed in separate homes. Seventy percent of children in the foster care system have a sibling in foster care as well, but only 30% are placed together. That family of five is thriving and the parent shared, “People have said, ‘Wow they’re so blessed to have you,’ and I say ‘You don’t understand, we’re so blessed to have them!’ We are definitely the lucky ones.”