“Surviving The Holidays” – Expert Commentary From University of Alabama Faculty

CHRISTMAS SONGS – Dr. James Salem, professor of American studies, 205/348-5940, jsalem@tenhoor.as.ua.edu From “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to “White Christmas,” some Christmas songs are truly American. Salem can discuss these inherently American tunes, their history and the singers who made them famous.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD -Jan Brakefield, consumer scientist, 205/348-8132, jbrakefi@ches.ua.edu says keep track of all your credit cards and debit cards and make sure they are in a safe place. She suggests making copies of the front and back of all your credit/debit cards and keeping those in a secure file at home in case any are lost or stolen.

DEPRESSION – Dr. Forrest Scogin, director of graduate studies and professor of psychology, 348-1924 (o), 349-5627 (h), fscogin@gp.as.ua.edu, can talk about the holiday blues, reasons why the blues sometimes occur, and the differences between the blues and depression. One of Scogin’s areas of expertise is depression therapy.

EATING – Stephanie Wilkins, Clinical Nutritionist, 205/348-4949, swilkins@sa.ua.edu How can you make it through all those holiday parties without a big weight gain? Wilkins says moderation is the key to enjoying holiday feasts. “Thanksgiving and Christmas only come once a year, so enjoy them. Eat the foods you want, just do it in moderation and then try to cut back after the New Year,” she advises. Eating in moderation is just one tip on Wilkins’ “Top 10 List of How to Survive the Holidays.”

ECLIPSE – Dr. William C. Keel, professor of astronomy, 205/348-1641, keel@bildad.astr.ua.edu That’s not Santa crossing over the sun on Christmas Day, it’s the moon. That’s right, there will be a partial solar eclipse on Dec. 25. For a story on the eclipse, including what kids should NOT do with that new telescope they just got for Christmas, contact Keel. The astronomy department is also hosting a safe viewing of the eclipse on the UA campus.

FAMILY HOLIDAY TRADITIONS — Dr. Nick Stinnett, UA Professor of Family Studies, 205/348-7864, 205/339-2386, nstinne1@ches.ua.edu Whether family holiday traditions run from the conventional to the unique, Stinnett says they all have the same result — giving you a stronger closer relationship. He also says these traditions are important for children because it helps them develop a sense of family identity.

GETTING ALONG WITH FAMILY -Dr. Nick Stinnett, UA Professor of Family Studies, 205/348-7864, 339-2386, nstinne1@ches.ua.edu Expectations of a picture-perfect family gathering could be a setup for disappointment or disaster, especially during the holiday season, says Stinnett. A family doesn’t have to prove itself by always having a good time together, says Stinnett, author of “Fantastic Families,” and the previous best seller “Secrets of Strong Families.” “A family doesn’t prove itself by always having a good time together. Everybody — even your worst enemy — is willing to have a good time with you. For that you don’t need a family. We really need our family most when things are rough and tough. Then we need a family because no stranger will come to our rescue.”

INTERNET SHOPPING/FRAUD – Dr. Milla Boschung, professor of consumer sciences, 205/348-6150, 348-8722, mboschun@ches.ua.edu Anyone can create a flashy website or send what appears to be a friendly e-mail message, making it difficult to identify fraud, says Boschung. Furthermore, the Internet and online services make it easier than ever to reach more potential customers — or victims. This holiday season, Boschung advises people to be careful where you do business in cyberspace. “Do business with companies you know and trust,” she says.

KIDS PRESENTS — Carmen Hudson, assistant professor of child development, 205/348-8149, 348-6158, chudson@ches.ua.edu How much is too much? What does too many presents do to the psyche of a child? What about children whose parents do not have the means to indulge them? Hudson can offer expert commentary on this subject.

KWANZAA – Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, director of UA’s African American studies program, 205/348-6339, amilcar@bama.ua.edu An expert on African American history and culture, Shabazz can discuss Kwanzaa, its meaning and history, as well as its traditions and common ways of celebrating.

RETAIL SALES — Dr. Robert Robicheaux, professor of retail marketing and director of the Hess Institute for Retailing Development, 205/348-8919, rrobiche@cba.ua.edu What’s the holiday retail shopping outlook? What items will be hot for the holidays? Which retailers are in, which retailers are out, who will score big, who will suffer? Why is the holiday shopping season so insufferably long? Robicheaux has his finger on the holiday shopping pulse.

SHOPPING -Jan Brakefield, consumer scientist, 205/348-8132, jbrakefi@ches.ua.edu When it comes to avoiding holiday shopping burnout, looks like Santa’s got the right idea with that list of his. Brakefield says making a list and sticking to it ensures both a stress-free shopping experience and happy gift recipients. Making a list is just one of Brakefield’s annual “Top Ten List of Ways to Avoid Shopping Burnout.” Other tips include invoking a cash-only policy and not shopping when you’re tired.

TRAVEL – Dr. David Brown, director of the computing and information division of the University Transportation Center in UA’s College of Engineering, 205/348-1660, shares these recommendations to make holiday travel safer: travel during daylight, especially in bad weather; do not drink and drive, and do not use the roads during times when you know others might be driving drunk; always wear your restraints; drive with the flow of traffic, and do not exceed the speed limit; and get your Christmas shopping done early to the avoid the Dec. 24 rush.

WAITING FOR SANTA – Carmen Hudson, assistant professor of child development, 205/348-8149, 348-6158, chudson@ches.ua.edu For children, the wait for Christmas and Santa is hard to bear. And now that retailers seem to make the holiday shopping season longer every year, it’s getting more difficult for both children and parents. Hudson can talk about children and patience as well as offer some tips for handling the wait for Santa.