5 Super Boston-Area Summer Splash Parks — and How to Find More

June 17, 2015

My daughter and I have checked out quite a few Boston area local spray/splash parks over the last few summers. A roundup of our top local picks as well as a few local lists to find others are included below. Please share your local favorites in the comments. We are always looking for new fun spots!

Beaver Brook Reservation (Trapelo Road, Belmont MA): Features large spray area with concrete surface and large cool rocks with multiple jets of various spray heights. Full sun on the spray deck (one end has shaded seating) so bring your sun hats, water shoes, and sunglasses. My girl loves to come armed with buckets to fill up. There is a covered / shaded picnic area and a sand covered playground with swings, slide, etc. We don’t often hit the playground since it is very sunny and we prefer to bring our dollars and grab a popsicle from the ice cream truck frequently parked nearby. Parking on street in surrounding area does get crowded, so earlier and weekdays are best. Clean and fun. Open Daily May 24 – Sep 1 from 9:30am – 7pm.

Filippello (Domenick) Park (Arlington Street, Watertown MA): Small and full-sun spray park with a variety of sprayers. You can also check out the playing fields with nearby tot lot and sunny playground. The area also boasts picnic tables and restrooms (a bonus). Easy street parking and a lot on nearby Grove St. Sprinklers are user activated. The park is a short drive from a great soft-serve ice cream / pizza spot (Celebrity). Water is on Memorial Day to Labor Day from Dawn to Dusk.

Frog Pond Spray Park (Boston, MA): The iconic downtown gem. Large shallow spray pool with picnic area, cafe, super busy playground and the nearby carousel, not to mention the splendid public garden and Common. I wish it opened earlier in the summer. Head in to the City and make a day of it! Walkable from the Green Line MBTA stop at Park Street or Arlington. Water is on July 1st – Labor Day.

Reverend Thomas Williams Park (Cedar St, Cambridge, MA): A great little find. Small asphalt spray area that is user-operated. Part shade/part sun. Next to a shady fenced playground with seats for picnics, basketball court and large swing area. There are often community owned plastic buckets, riding toys, and other items that will entertain the under 5 set. An easy walk from Mass. Ave (parking and busses). We often combine a visit here with a trip to Verna’s Donuts. Eat the sugar and burn the sugar! Win-win. For a map see the link below to City of Cambridge Water Play locations. Water is on Memorial Day to Labor Day. Park hours are generally dawn to dusk.

Fitch Spray Park (14 Ash Street – Waltham, MA): Opened in 2012 this is a relatively new park. Good spray area with variety of features. I love the umbrella shaded seats and there is a area just for toddlers. Water is on late June through August and hours are usually 10am-7pm weekdays and 12pm – 5pm weekends.

Here are some other great online sites for finding local pools, spray decks and such. Many of the local parks also have reviews on Yelp that can provide helpful tips and tricks for families wondering whether to visit or not.

City of Cambridge Waterplay Map

Boston Central Spray Parks & Pools Site

Playground Hunt

Where do you love to play in the spray?

Dads are Amazing {From a Dad}

Boston Moms

June 16, 2015

“Top 10 Places in New England for Kids”

”The Best Art Projects for Your Little One”

“What to Serve Your Toddler for Dinner”

These are parenting blog posts we have all read, all of which have some great ideas. I have noticed something very common throughout them-they are all geared towards Mom.

Where is Dad? Is he off the hook? Is he too busy working his 9-5 to make parenting decisions or be involved?

This isn’t the 1950’s anymore. The days of Don Draper coming home with a few cocktails in him and expecting a roast on the table are over.

Let me back up a little. I am a Dad to two girls, a 3 year-old and a bouncing baby girl born this past April. I consider myself to be a pretty good dad. I love my girls, spend a lot of time with them and am a pretty integral part of the parenting process. My wife and I are a team. I will fully admit that my wife does the “heavy lifting” when it comes to being a parent. She makes sure the girls have clothes to wear, food to eat….you know, the essentials. She is amazing and I couldn’t imagine having to parent without her. But when it comes to playing, disciplining, changing, feeding, bathing, waking etc., we are a team.

This is the way it is supposed to be, right? Many of my friends are fathers as well, and they all seem to be pretty active in their kids’ lives. Why is there this perception out there that fathers are “secondary” parents? The topic of dads “babysitting” their kids has been brought up a lot recently. Do you know what the definition of “babysit” is? “To look after a child or children while the parents are away.” I am a parent. I don’t get to pick and choose when it is time to be responsible because I’m male. I can babysit your kids. I can probably even manage to babysit your dog. It’s impossible for me to babysit my kid. I am just being a parent, a responsibility I took on about 9 months before my child entered into this world.

My goal in contributing to this blog is to be a voice for all the great dads out there. Maybe I can somehow even inspire some dads to take a more active interest in parenting? I applaud dads like Ashton Kutcher (Did you ever think those words would ever be spoken?) who backed a campaign to put changing tables in Men’s Rooms in public places. I can’t count how many times I had to send my wife to change my daughter’s diaper because there wasn’t a changing table in the Men’s Room.

Every day I learn different things about being a parent. Just as my kids are growing up, I am growing as a parent. My oldest daughter was “Mommy Obsessed” for her first two years. While I spent plenty of time with her and loved her the best I could, she just preferred Mom. It was a phase, everyone told me (as I sulked in the corner) and it turns out they were right. About the time we learned we were expecting child #2, my girl turned her affection to me! It was almost as if the universe told her that Mommy’s attention would soon be divided with the pregnancy and the newborn, so it’s Daddy-time. While I felt bad that my wife wasn’t getting all the love she used to, I was on cloud nine. I was my daughter’s “buddy” (as she calls me) and we have grown so close. The amount of joy I get by teaching her my favorite songs and jokes is endless.

I encourage all the dads out there to re-experience the joys of childhood and grow with their kids.

Andrew Gelles is the proud father of two girls, one welcomed in August 2011 and the other born in April 2015. He has been married to his wife Jessica since July 2008. Andrew is a Boston-lifer. Born in Boston, raised in Newton, educated at UMass Amherst (which is as far away from Boston as he has ever lived) and now resides in Natick.

Andrew has been in the Sporting Goods business since 2000 and is a Boston sports fanatic (especially the Red Sox and Patriots). He enjoys playing golf, great food, music, movies, the beach and spending as much time as possible with his family and friends.

Tick Talk: Stay Safe

Amy Deutsch

June 15, 2015

Not just gross-looking, but often disease carriers.

I’m going to admit it: I don’t like bugs.

Sure, I put on a brave front. My kids don’t know that I shudder inside as I squish the spiders, even when they make that crunchy sound. There’s a few bugs that aren’t so bad, like grasshoppers and ladybugs. And I know that bees are essential for our food chain so I try not to flinch when they get near me. Oh, and I’ve definitely gotten up close and personal with worms to show them to my kids–a great way to inspire a sense of wonder. But bug bugs–like cockroaches and beetles and flies–those are super gross, in my humble opinion.

When I lived in New York City, one of my biggest fears was bedbugs. But now that we’ve moved to the suburbs and the kids are spending more time outside, I have a new fear: ticks.

Growing up, ticks weren’t so bad. I don’t think I ever had one, though our dog certainly did. But the diseases that ticks carry have gotten worse over the past 25 years or so. According to Melinda Wenner Moyer’s recent article on Slate, we are all in serious trouble if we don’t take the danger of ticks seriously. It’s not just Lyme disease anymore (which, though treatable, is often misdiagnosed and can have serious, lingering side effects for many people.) Other diseases include anaplasmosis and babesiosis, both of which can also be hard to diagnose. And the worst of all: powassan virus which is a viral infection that we haven’t yet figured out how to treat and can result in hospitalization and death.

So what can you do?

1. Preemptively treat your shoes and clothes

Moyer recommends a pesticide called permethrin which you spray on your shoes until they are saturated, and then let them dry. (Yes, I’m sure that many of you aren’t fans of pesticides. Personally, I would prefer a pesticide over the side effects of tick-borne diseases, but check the research and make your own decision.) You can also treat your clothes this way [here’s a short video to show you how] which will keep ticks away for 5-6 washes.

2. Check for ticks daily

Ticks love warm bodies, and they especially love cracks and crevices. Ticks can be tiny so you really need to be thorough when checking. I’m talking thorough. Armpits, elbows, backs of knees, genitals, butt crack. If it’s warm, that’s where ticks want to be.

3. If you find ticks, remove them

Last summer we spent a weekend in upstate New York with a bunch of friends, and did nightly tick checks. Thank goodness we did, because one of the 5-year-olds had a tick in each armpit. (Let me tell you that pulling small ticks out of the armpits of a screaming kindergartener was one of the most stressful experiences of my life!) But it’s so important. The best way to remove a tick is with tweezers. Disinfect with alcohol, grasp as much of the tick’s body as possible and pull out with a slightly upward motion. Do your best to get as much of the tick out as possible, but luckily the head and mouth parts do not continue to transmit disease after being removed from the body. Here’s a great how-to video from the University of Rhode Island’s Tick Encounter Center if you want a little extra help.

This is important for your health and your family’s health. A great resource to read more is at URI’s Tick Encounter Center, and UMASS-Amherst even has a center where you can mail them your tick and they’ll identify it for you. And of course the Centers for Disease Control website is the best place to check for information about tick-borne diseases.

Stay smart, stay safe, and check for ticks daily!

10 Favorite Boston-Area Spots to Soak Up the Great Outdoors!

Anelise Tubinis

June 14, 2015

When my family of four was exploring cities and towns where we may want to buy a home last year, we were quite literally all over the map. Between my husband and I, apart and together, we have spent time living in Boston, Watertown, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge and finally Watertown again for a five year stint in the condo we bought just after our first daughter was born.

After the arrival of our second daughter in 2012, we knew that it was time for a bigger space, a lack of single family homes in Watertown that were available and met our criteria made it clear early on in the process that we would be moving elsewhere. Truthfully, neither of us wanted to stray too far from the city.

Neither of us are Massachusetts natives and what brought us here was the draw of Boston. We wanted our kids to grow up experiencing Boston and all that it has to offer on a regular basis and not as a special pilgrimage that happens a few times a year. We also, however wanted a yard of some sort, tree lined streets and access to beautiful natural. A huge part of why we ended up choosing Melrose over several other towns was because we loved that we could leave our house and be in Boston in 20 minutes, but we could also easily access some other gorgeous quieter places that feel about a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

I grew up in a city but I still spent a tremendous amount of time outdoors, collecting bugs, climbing trees, and generally getting covered in dirt. To be clear, our family will not be going camping anytime soon (our idea of roughing it when traveling is a hotel or motel with no air conditioning). Just because at the end of the day, I like to fall asleep in a nice, cushy bed doesn’t mean that I don’t love being outdoors with my kids every chance I get. Especially after the endless winter that we all just endured. With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite local outdoor locations to visit with my family.

The theme among all of these spots is that there is no agenda–there is no playground or specific thing that you “have” to do. These are just the places where we go ‘sploring, as my oldest used to say. (That’s exploring for the rest of us.) Sure, bring some snacks and bug spray but let the kids lead the way and let the day take you where it may. We’ve been making a thing of going out to explore places like this since both kids were babies so it’s something that they genuinely love and it’s a nice way to break up all of the playground trips, structured activities and organized sports that kids are involved in every week. There’s so much research that shows that kids (and adults) need time outdoors and that one major benefit of outdoor play is that it is so often self directed. Chances are that unlike taking them to a chaotic and overcrowded museum or zoo on a Saturday, this kind of activity might bring your own blood pressure down in the process too.

Ten spots where you can explore the great outdoors

1. Habitat, Belmont (deifnitely buggy here so bring some spray!)

2. Fresh Pond Reservation, Cambridge

3. Minuteman National Park, Bedford

4. Broadmoor reservation Natick

5. Breakheart reservation, Parking in both Saugus and Wakefield

6. Wright Locke Farm, Winchester

7. Arnold Arboretum, Boston

8. Walden Pond, Concord

9. Middlesex Fells, (Parking in Medford, Stoneham, Winchester)

10. Elm Bank, Wellesley

What are some of your favorite places to explore without an agenda?

Overcoming Anxiety for (Another) C-Section

Erin Bouthiette

June 12, 2015

It has been 4 solid years since we have had a newborn. Most families I know had children relatively close, within 1-3 years of each other, so I was not surprised when we realized that we had become the outlier. Trying for #2 came with a lot of anxiety. We didn’t have the easiest birth of our first son. To say the least, it was a total disaster.

I went into labor with high hopes of a vaginal birth and 15 hours later we were faced with dropping heart rates, internal monitoring and the need for an emergency c-section. After the birth, we were both faced with infection and my son had several instances of silent vomiting (yes, silent vomiting, so you cannot take your eyes off of him for 1 minute). Following the choking on amniotic fluid which made him a bluish grey for the first 24 hours, came days of struggling with nursing, trying to acclimate myself to motherhood, and caring for the baby and myself after surgery. My body was exhausted. My mind was exhausted.

Putting the scary labor story aside, the past 4 years has been the most life changing, wonderful adventure with our son. We have been able to care and grow together as a family, spending precious time with him. He has taught me to learn and grow with him. Wise beyond his years, my son has influenced my own personal goals to be the person I am today.

When we bought our new house in 2014, I thought it would be easy to try for #2. It took us 10 months and 1 chemical miscarriage to conceive. Now, 18 weeks into the pregnancy we are all getting really excited for the new addition to our family. My anxiety for the birth event this time around has not decreased

Some thoughts on overcoming my anxiety (or at least how I will try to get there…)

Yoga

Breathing and mentally preparing for major surgery. Most yoga prenatal classes are all about how to open the pelvis, etc. for natural childbirth. I will be using this method for exercise and mental preparation. There is a class in my building starting next week that I am going to try.

Faith

I am not a devout religious person, but I do believe in the power of prayer (to your favorite idol). It is another way to mentally say what your fears are, acknowledge how you will face them/play out potential scenarios, and ask for good energy to come your way.

Trust

I trust my doctor 100%. We luckily signed up with a high risk specialist because he was referred to me by my NP. Thankfully, he was able to make the game day decision to move forward with the most safe way to deliver my son. This time around, we have discussed how my previous situation was basically the worst case scenario, and the risks of VBAC. Together, we decided to take the route of a C-Section.

Support

This is one of the most important factors of easing my fears. I lean on my husband, parents and close friends to provide me with their real opinions and support with my situation. I talk regularly about how I am not very excited about having another C and they listen. It is a way to vent and work through fears.

Preparation

Leaning back on my days as an athlete, mental preparation is just as important as physical preparation. This takes time and practice, and I hope to get there sooner than later. Visualizing the day, how your body/mind will react, potential factors/risks, and then again visualizing a positive outcome by crossing the finish line.

What other steps would you take/have you taken to overcome a fear of childbirth?

The Key Ingredient to Meaningful Friendships

Tiffany M

June 11, 2015

In the last 10 years, I have moved from my hometown to go to college, again to begin my career, and yet again to join my husband as he went back to school. In that time, my mom also moved from my childhood home in Seattle to Los Angeles. So going back “home” is complicated to explain.

I also got married and started having kids before most of my friends, so many of us are not only distant in terms of proximity, but also in life stage. (Side note: I think it is incredibly important to have a diverse range of friends – we need to fill our lives with people from all walks and stages of life…if for no other reason than to keep it interesting!)

After moving so many times, I have maintained a few friendships in each place, but a recent conversation with my oldest and best friend opened my eyes to one aspect of what friendship really means, and why it can be so hard to maintain from a distance, or even just as a busy mom.

So, here it is…The Key Ingredient to Meaningful Friendships

She said

“Friendship is not about catching up and knowing each other, it is about actually spending time and experiencing new things with one another.”

Can you relate? I have really let those words sink in. I have thought about my friendships across the country and who I have put into each category.

It is challenging to have new meaningful experiences with long-distance friends, but it is possible. And, honestly, it doesn’t have to be hard. My girl in New Orleans and I have a standing date Mondays at 8pm to live-text about “The Bachelorette.” And, honestly, I feel closer to her than the gal I call once a month across the country to ask about her job and boyfriend.

Now, I do think it is important to maintain relationships regardless of depth – whether they are just catching-up friends or travel-to-meet-each-other-in-a-new-place-twice-a-year friends. Friendships, like any other relationship, will ebb and flow – they will change as life changes, so as much as is possible, keep all your friends as close as life allows at that point. More than anything, it is so wonderful to be known by people near or far, isn’t it?

So, after my conversation with my dear friend, I have decided to practice more intention with my friendships, especially the long distance ones. Whether a weekly FaceTime to scheme a friend’s new business plan or a quick text to say “I hope you don’t get pooped on today,” I will reach out in more meaningful ways. (Girlfriends, please keep me honest here.)

How about you? How have your friendships changed through moves or life changes? How about your concept of friendship?

Journey to Parenthood | Arriving Late to the Boston Moms Party

Rachel Silverman

June 8, 2015

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Becca Shimshak. We too connected through Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Infertility where Becca serves as the Executive Director. She and her husband Steve live in Needham, MA, where they are raising their twin daughters, Isabella Rose and Zoe Ann. This is Becca’s story of becoming a mom later than she expected and dealing with the various bumps along the way.

“Did you have twins the old fashioned way?” the clerk at the mall asked me when I was beaming about my two beautiful, healthy girls who were two months old.

“I had them the new fashioned way,” I smiled as I signed the receipt and walked back to my family who was waiting for me at the front of the store.

sYes, I have been blessed with twins thanks to phenomenal doctors, incredible persistence and a miracle that will always be beyond my comprehension. The era we live in is amazing and challenging all at the same time.

During some health challenges in my 20s, it was hard to see my friends grow their families and not be ready to do so myself. By my mid 30’s, I was physically healthy enough to have a child, but after six months of trying I was not seeing progress. Anyone over 35 is considered advanced maternal age, so my OB sent us to Boston IVF. As it turned out, I had an ovarian cyst and endometriosis that required surgery.

Then I got pregnant! We had a due date: May 2, 2014. Ecstatic, we started to take weekly belly pictures even though my stomach was flat.

On the Eve of Yom Kippur, we went for our seven week ultrasound. The nurse called us in and, sadly said there was not yet a heartbeat and a 50/50 shot that it was a miscarriage. Five days later, the miscarriage was confirmed. It was due to a common genetic abnormality. I celebrated that indeed I could get pregnant and my body naturally rejected that which was not healthy.

And yet, for someone who is so social and verbal, I felt speechless. I needed time to heal. My healing couldn’t happen until I realized that miscarriage was a true loss; a loss of my hopes and my dreams for a future. Before I could heal and generate new hope, I needed to grieve and mourn the loss of May 2nd, the prospect of motherhood at my fingertips. A wise friend said to me, give it six months. I had to bring myself back to life. After all, if I wasn’t loving life, how could I bring new life into this world?

Once I began to see that I was indeed strong enough to endure a miscarriage, I realized I was strong enough for IVF. When moving forward, I wanted to do it as effectively as possible – which meant PGD – pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. I had learned about it from a person I met through Mayyim Hayyim. PGD had not been on my radar, as we were not carriers of genetic abnormalities. I wanted to avoid years of miscarriages due to genetic abnormalities and most importantly, the difficult emotional and physical healing processes. I was skeptical about components like gender selection yet the focus for me was about achieving a healthy pregnancy.

I was fortunate that my first round of IVF was successful. I was pregnant with twins! Now we had a new due date to look forward to: November 2, 2014, six months to the day from my miscarriage due date. I promised myself that if I was blessed with twins I would advocate so others get support from the Jewish community as I did. My daughters Zoe and Isabella were born on October 14th and every day is a blessing, albeit the hardest job I have ever had!

I encourage others to share their story because we can learn from one another and in turn get closer to heal and fulfill our dreams.

Journey to Parenting is brought to you by Stork Ready. Stork Ready is conveniently located 15 miles north of Boston at 325 Main Street in North Reading. Offering a wide range of classes and support groups. Childbirth Education, Breastfeeding, Infant CPR, Newborn Essentials, Mommy and Baby Groups, Lactation and Postpartum Adjustment Support Groups. All in a relaxed homelike atmosphere. Their experienced staff are certified in many fields as well as work on labor and delivery & maternity units. Visit their website to see all that they offer.

If you have a story that you’d like to tell, please email me. We’re looking for guest posts of about 300-600 words long, accompanied by a couple of pictures.

Boston, You’re My Home

Amy Deutsch

June 7, 2015

I like to call myself a Boston lifer. It’s a bit of an exaggeration though. It’s true that I was born here and grew up here (besides ages 4-7 which were spent in Connecticut). I went to college here and then a little while after that, I moved away for what I thought would be a couple of years. Two years quickly turned into twelve, but come on, who’s counting? What’s also true is that we moved back home last summer and I am so happy to be back.

Even after the worst winter in recorded history.

My taxi driver and I were talking about Boston the other day. He’s from Haiti and has been here for six years. I asked him why Boston was the city for him. He said, “There’s something for everyone in Boston!” And he’s right. It’s a great city. I loved growing up here and I’m thrilled to be raising my kids here. Taking my daughter on a field trip to the Aquarium this spring was a total flashback for me to my own field trips to the Aquarium as a kid. It’s pretty cool.

But not everything has been exactly how I expected.

Boston has changed.

I know, I know, it’s been twelve years. Of course cities change! Stores and restaurants move in and out, neighborhoods flip one way or another, street fairs and neighborhood art festivals pop up. But the last time I lived here, the Big Dig was just a giant hole in the ground (and a giant monetary disaster). Now there’s this whole beautiful central park thoroughfare in the middle of the city, with green spaces and fountains and even a carousel. It’s like Boston got a major facelift and I don’t always recognize it anymore (read: I get lost often). It’s pretty amazing how this city has evolved.

What I want to do in Boston has changed.

After all, I’m not a young single girl anymore who can stay out until all hours singing along at Jake Ivory’s piano bar (is that even around anymore?) My tastes have changed. I’ve discovered the wonderful Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline,taken the kids to Wilson Farm in Lexington and on the Swan Boats in the Public Garden. I know there’s so much more to discover. (Any suggestions?) Rediscovering Boston has been a great experience that I am excited to continue this summer.

My ability to be a sports fan has changed.

I didn’t realize how much of a Red Sox fan I was until I spent 12 years in Yankee country. Living in New York, I rarely ever wore Red Sox gear. It just wasn’t worth the dirty looks or the arguments that the bagel guys would start with me. Then I moved back home. And people wear Red Sox stuff ALL OF THE TIME. It’s like a uniform around here. On Opening Day, I put on my Sox shirt with pride. It was so great to wear the clothes of Red Sox Nation in Red Sox Nation. I can wear a Red Sox hat because I want to and it’s fashionable, not because my hair doesn’t look good. I can’t tell you how liberating that is!

And my age has changed.

I know that seems intuitive, but when you move away from home at a specific age, and only come home on vacations, it sometimes feels like everyone freezes in time. I kind of expected that everything would be the exact same as it was when I left. It’s not. I keep thinking that I will run into friends from high school or college all over the place, but I don’t. And the other day I suddenly realized why: it’s not that they don’t live here, or that they keep such different hours from me. It’s that they’re not 18 anymore, and neither am I. We just don’t recognize each other; I’m looking for the version that I used to know and none of us are exactly who we were in high school. (Thank goodness.)

No matter what, I’m happy to be back. Singing along to Red Sox on the radio (which, by the way, they play ALL THE TIME) with the windows down as I cruise through my old neighborhood makes me elated. It’s the simple things in life–friends, family, and hometown–that make me happy.

Boston, you’re my home.

The Jimmy Fund Girls

Susan Curley Burton

June 6, 2015

The doorbell rang and a group of four adorable girls were on the other side of my door selling cookies. They came in, introduced themselves, and asked if I wanted to donate money to the Jimmy Fund at Dana Farber. I invited the posse into my home and grabbed my wallet in a hurry.

My children were quietly doing their homework, but were instantly attracted to the sight of homemade cookies. Yet, I saw this as a golden opportunity! I began to pepper the girls with questions about what they were doing and why. I urged them to tell my kids about the work they were doing because this was an important lesson that just appeared on my doorstep. Truthfully, I considered myself very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I wanted to donate to the Jimmy Fund. I wanted to teach my children about volunteerism. I wanted to spread the word about the work four fourth grade girls from Melrose were doing.

Chores vs Cancer. That is the name of the group. It consists of Talya Hamberg, Megan Casey, Isabella Tenriero, and Miranda Faller. These young girls from the Horace Mann school in Melrose, MA were amazing. They gather together every Thursday for the Jimmy Fund. They bake cookies, work on a game plan to raise money and awareness. The girls walk around the neighborhood sharing information about The Jimmy Fund.

Did you know that the Jimmy Fund has a section on their website titled “Kids Conquer Cancer.” The website offers suggestions of events to help teach children about philanthropy. “Teach children and young adults the importance of philanthropy by participating in a fun fundraising event that supports patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. By participating in these events children are able to tap into their creativity, build self–confidence, and learn the importance of fundraising in the community.”

Chores vs Cancer was born as a way to conquer some personal events that had a big impact on each of the girls. There was a child in their small elementary school who became ill. But instead of just moving on to the next activity, these girls decided to do something positive. It was their idea to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. And they were very excited to do this! Collecting money for the Dana Farber was more important than helping one person.

I asked these spirited young women about the work they were doing. They told me they have been meeting since October, 2014. They started raking leaves, shoveling snow, and doing any kind of chore they could think of to make money. They made plans for a Bake Sale. They plan to offer their services as Mother’s Helpers too. They walk around their neighborhoods for a cause. They got involved!

Miranda, Talya, Isabella, and Megan told me they want people to know that they should do to help their community. They believe it is important to help the world be a better place. It is imperative to think about others, not just yourself. They believe that all it takes is a few minutes to give back. They recognize that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to do something nice for the world. The girls have learned that helping out is really fun, especially if they work together to make a difference.

“Kids need our help so they can get better.”

“Little kids can be inspired by us.”

“It doesn’t matter how much you donate. It matters that you try.”

Let me tell you how WISE these nine and ten year old girls are! They are forward thinking, selfless, considerate, and intelligent young women. Yet Isabella, Miranda, Megan, and Talya do not want attention for the volunteering they do. They took a difficult situation and made it into something special. And they do it with a smile and a whole lot of heart. I am inspired by them!

Here is what I want you to take away from this post:

Get involved.

Make a difference in your community.

Donate your time or your money.

Educate yourself and your family about ways to become a philanthropist.

What Do I Do With All This Artwork!?!

Alexandra Etscovitz

June 4, 2015

Are you overwhelmed with too many papers, paintings, collages, and more? It is a lot to deal with when you want a clean and organized house. As an art teacher, I hope students keep every last piece we worked so hard on. However, as a mother and an aspiring neat freak myself, I understand that creating a balance to manage both can be a dilemma.

As the proud family member you are, I’m sure you want to acknowledge and honor your child’s talents. Of course, choosing a piece to frame for the wall is the best way to do that. There is something so magical and confidence-boosting about seeing your own artwork framed! But for those who do not wish for their house to turn into a full-fledged museum, here are some other ways to celebrate your child’s creativity in a special way.

Choose a favorite and have it transferred to a canvas — it will instantly look professional.

Use your favorite online photo shop in fun ways:

Make a phone case with a favorite piece.
Make a calendar of your 12 favorite works.
Make fabulous notecards courtesy of your mini Picasso.
Make a big puzzle of your child’s art for the family to try to solve together.
Make a blanket or pillow. This is particularly stylish with an abstract piece of art — and not tacky! Need inspiration? Check out the fabulous style and home blog “Young House Love,” as they did here with a duvet cover designed by their daughter.

Create a gallery wall with clips or matching frames to make it more chic.

Colorful, bright, and you are instantly a Pinteresting mom.

Host a “one-man” or “one-woman” show.

Have friends and family over, serve some tea and cookies, and hang artwork on the walls. Guests can ask the artist (your child!) about how they made their work and which parts are his or her favorite and why!

Create a stuffed “animal.”

Such fun — artisans will make a personalized doll or stuffed “animal” of the artwork your child made! There are many artists to explore; check out Etsy for some good shops!

Create a piece of jewelry!

What a stylish way to show off your child’s talents! Send your child’s artwork to Formia Design (or another similar company) and they will help you design a piece of jewelry inspired by your child!

Social media time… there are amazing apps out there to archive your child’s art.

I like Art My Kid Made the most and use it with my daughter’s work. It’s so fast to just snap a photo and err… send it to a farm to enjoy the fresh air, we can say.

phone, upload graphic, kids made art — photo courtesy of Art My Kid Made

Make a photo collage.

Take a photo of each work of art that your child made this year, and then make a photo collage and frame that ONE piece for your home.

Your children will be so proud of themselves, and your enthusiasm is priceless. I also suggest you take some time to ask your children about the artwork they made. You could ask about materials, artists they studied, and which parts were challenging and which were fun. Let them share the joy they had making their art!

What Is a CSA and What Am I Doing?!

Heather Y

June 3, 2015

DAY SPA

One of the many benefits of living near Boston is access to top-class restaurants and healthy eating options. Many of our local restaurants are offering “farm-to-table” options, which got me thinking, “Why am I not doing this?” We are being encouraged to buy local and support farms — why not start at home?

I started the process of researching farm-to-table options and found the term “CSA.” CSA stands for community supported agriculture. CSA allows patrons to have direct access to high-quality, fresh produce grown locally by regional farmers. When you become a member of a CSA, you’re purchasing a “share” of vegetables from a regional farmer.

There are hundreds of options for us Massachusetts dwellers. A simple Google search can turn up what is available in your area — I found the Farm Fresh website helpful as well. Here are some things to consider when choosing your CSA.

Organic vs. chemical free vs. integrated pest management

Only you can make this decision regarding what fits your family. Organic is going to be more expensive, but this is an important quality to many folks. The hope with a CSA is that even if there are pesticides, they are using them very infrequently. The produce is farmed locally and doesn’t need to be transported, so it is sold during the crop’s peak.

Location

Depending on where you live, many CSAs now offer delivery for a nominal fee. Some still prefer you to pick up your share at their farm weekly. Some CSAs offer prearranged boxes, while some farms allow you to pick what you would like for your share.

How many people are you feeding?

Some shares are rather large, and depending on your household size it may be worth sharing with a neighbor or a friend. Ask the farm how large (usually measured in pounds) the share is and ask a friend to go in on the CSA with you!

Selection and growing season

With CSAs gaining popularity, there are tons of options. Veggie, veggie-fruit, meat, dairy, eggs, flowers… the list goes on and on! In New England, the typical CSA lasts around 20 weeks. Also, ask if there are “make-up” week options — if you are on vacation you don’t want your bounty going to waste. Or perhaps someone else could pick up your share in your absence.

Price

Price is a big determining factor. Shop around your local farms. Some CSAs also offer employment to defray the cost of your share. By volunteering a certain number of hours, it may cut down the cost for you!

We decided to dive in this summer and join our local CSA. My kids aren’t big on eating vegetables (unfortunately!) so I made sure our CSA is a combined veggie/fruit share. I also made sure our CSA allowed us to pick what we want in our box each week. My family and I will pick up our share on Thursday afternoons. My hope is to include the kids in picking our veggies/fruits, and by including them in the process it may increase their interest in what they eat (optimistic, I know!). I hope it will be a learning experience for both me and the kids.

Check back later this summer and I’ll let you know how the CSA is going!

Where do you love to play in the spray?

Where is Dad? Is he off the hook? Is he too busy working his 9-5 to make parenting decisions or be involved?

I encourage all the dads out there to re-experience the joys of childhood and grow with their kids.

I’m going to admit it: I don’t like bugs.

1. Preemptively treat your shoes and clothes

2. Check for ticks daily

3. If you find ticks, remove them

Stay smart, stay safe, and check for ticks daily!

Ten spots where you can explore the great outdoors

What are some of your favorite places to explore without an agenda?

Yoga

Faith

Trust

Support

Preparation

What other steps would you take/have you taken to overcome a fear of childbirth?

So, here it is…The Key Ingredient to Meaningful Friendships

How about you? How have your friendships changed through moves or life changes? How about your concept of friendship?

Top Ten Awkward Parenting / Pregnancy Questions

10. When are you going to have children?

9. Why don’t you have children? You would be such an awesome parent!

8. Are you pregnant?

7. Can I touch your stomach? (if they even ask…)

6. Are you going to have friends and family in the delivery room?

5. Are you planning to have a “natural childbirth?”

4. Your child doesn’t look like you at all!

3. Are you going to breastfeed the baby?

2. Are you still breastfeeding the baby?

1. When are you going to have another kid?