Ice Cream for Dinner

June 4, 2020

ice cream for dinner - Boston Moms

Last night we had ice cream for dinner.

There was no reason for it. Nothing to celebrate, nothing to lament. Just no solid dinner plan, and a Facebook ad for make-your-own-sundae kits at a local ice cream shop that caught my attention.

So, we didn’t say anything to the kids, and at dinner time we set down a different flavor for each person, with a myriad of toppings in the center. There was shrieking, laughter, and giddy, unabashed joy. We piled on far too many toppings and drowned our ice cream in every kind of sauce imaginable.

It was messy, unhealthy, and totally against the rules.

And last night, it didn’t matter.

Last night, hot fudge was our vegetable.

Maybe this makes me not so great at adulting. Maybe it makes me really great at it. Who knows.

Last night, we put aside heavy thoughts and seriousness. We forgot about school work and laundry. We abandoned normal.

We were just happy. And it was good.

Summer Camp (at Home) with Code Wiz

Deanna Greenstein

June 3, 2020

Boston Moms is thrilled to work alongside Code Wiz Arlington to bring you this information. While this content is sponsored, the experiences and opinions are all our own.

Summertime brings many wonderful things. Beautiful weather, free time, and my kids’ favorite — summer camp. Each year, they look forward to a week or two of spending their days exploring exciting activities with new friends, learning new things, and just having fun.

COVID-19 has certainly thrown a wrench in those plans. For the safety of all, our typical camp is no longer opening this summer, and this mama has been left wondering what to do! Sure, we will all enjoy an old-fashioned, laid-back summer at home, but I wanted to find something special for my kids to do. Something fun for them to look forward to, and an activity to break up our long days.

But, how do you do that without leaving home?

Code Wiz in Arlington is our answer! When I first stumbled upon their website, I was intrigued by the dozens of course offerings and summer camp options, many for kids as young as 7 years old! From Minecraft to Roblox, classes based on many of the games my kids spend their days playing popped up on the screen.

What better way to learn about coding than by integrating it with something you already love?

My older boys (ages 12 and 14) looked at the website and squealed with excitement at the prospect of creating their own apps and animations. My (not-very-computer-literate) mom brain thought a coding class sounded a bit boring, so I was thrilled to see there was a free trial class to see what it was all about before committing to a full week of camp!

My 12-year-old son, Ashton, met with his CodeWiz Coach, Jada, via Zoom for the hour-long class. Jada asked us some questions to gain knowledge about my son’s coding background (which was absolutely none!) and explained that she would be guiding him through a game called Code Combat, where he would complete missions using the Python language. Together, with the aid of screen sharing and voice guidance, Jada guided Ashton through creating algorithms to make his game character move through missions. Arrows appeared on the screen to let him know where to begin typing, and a split screen provided a clear view of what effects the codes he was typing were having on the game characters in real time. To his delight, game characters earned badges as he learned new skills, and he was thrilled to see his achievements on the screen.

The class was self-paced and allowed my son the freedom to experiment and to make mistakes. As he got stuck, Jada patiently talked him through figuring out where he went wrong, and she let him work out how to fix errors on his own. As he gained knowledge, more complex skills were added for him to achieve.

At the end of our hour, he lamented that it had gone by way too fast!

From the mom point of view, I was amazed at how much he learned in just an hour! Seeing him so excited to learn new skills was a wonderful experience. Watching him gain knowledge about coding certainly makes this mama feel less guilty about the amount of screen time the kids are getting lately!

We are eagerly looking forward to our “new normal” summer camp at Code Wiz Arlington — all from home!

Code Wiz Arlington offers year-round, highly personalized tech classes with rolling enrollments AND summer camp options. Try a free, no-obligation trial class so you can see if the class is a good fit for your child. Mention BOSTON MOMS when you sign up HERE, and you’ll receive half off your first month’s no-obligation membership or 10% off any June summer camp!

To the Moms of Kids with Special Needs :: Pandemic Edition

Chelsey Weaver

June 3, 2020

To the moms of kids with special medical needs, I see you. I see you in this quarantine, trying to hold it all together.

I see your fear while you hug your little ones closer and closer every day, as the apprehension of the future looms above you. I hear your prayers to whatever higher power you believe in, because I say them too. “Please, just let us get through this unharmed.”

I see the doctors appointments you’re avoiding, even though they’re necessary. The virtual visits you’re simultaneously thankful for and tired of, and the hours of phone calls necessary to get them covered by insurance. I see the aftermath of your child’s sensory dysregulation, loss of routine, meltdowns, and confusion written all over your face.

I feel your heart stop with every cough, sneeze, and wheeze.

I see the panic in your eyes when you watch people walk around carelessly, without masks or gloves. I hear you patiently explain one, two, and three more times why social distancing, proper sanitation, and flattening the curve are so important. I watch as you glance at your amazing kid while you’re talking, as if to secretly remind the other person that the life of the tiny human standing next to you matters. I hear your silent cries of frustration, because the child you created and love dearly depends on others being careful.

I see you in the wee hours of the morning, trying desperately to cram in a whole workday because it’s impossible to balance your kiddo’s needs and the demands of your job. I recognize your guilt for showering one moment longer just to have a solitary minute to yourself.

My dear moms, I wish I could give you the relief you so desperately seek.

I wish I could calm the fears in your heart and tell you it will all be OK.

I see the grief in your eyes as you watch your child regress without the medical care and therapies they’ve grown accustomed to, and I hear your worries that the time to regain what has been lost is ticking away slowly. I understand the hard choice of keeping your child back a year, because the deficits will be too deep. I know your worries about the return to school in the fall, the projected “second wave” of the virus, and the anticipation of having to continue “distance learning” indefinitely.

As your head hits your pillow at the end of the night, I know the tears you will cry. I know the looming depression that is knocking on your door, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to wreak some havoc. I recognize the emergency anti-anxiety medication that has now become even more necessary than it used to be. I know why your eyes glaze over when you think about doing it all again tomorrow, because your heart is just so tired. I feel the guilt of feeling that way, because you’re also so unbelievably thankful that your baby survived another day intact, and you GET to do it again tomorrow. The dichotomy is weighing on your soul.

I understand, precious mamas, your worry that this will never truly go away — that you will feel uncertain and fearful forever.

I see you look at your sweet child for one extra second as they fall asleep and wonder if anything will ever feel “the same” again, or if this glimpse of how fleeting life can truly be will become our new normal. How will we ever feel carefree again?

Please, my dear mamas, know you are not alone in spirit even though the weight of your responsibilities is crushing. Remember that you are stronger than you could ever imagine, that when the world makes you walk through fire for your child you don’t balk for a single second. Honor your ability to make beauty from the ashes.

You can do this.

Please know that if you ever feel truly helpless, there are people here to help. Contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255.

Anti-Racism Starts at Home

Shannon Gibson

June 2, 2020

I am a white woman raising white children with my white husband in our predominantly white New England town. I was born in the south, raised in the west, moved back to the south, and now reside in the north. No matter where I have lived in this country, I have never considered myself a racist. For a long time I thought that was enough.

It’s not.

People of color are talking. They have been talking. They are exhausted from talking. Many of us, myself included, have not been listening. I didn’t think their message was for me, because “I am not a racist.” I wasn’t getting it. Their message is exactly for “non-racist” white people like me. It is a call to move past complacency and to be totally anti-racist. I am finally listening, and here is what I am learning.

Our black community is tired. Tired of racist acts against their people, obviously, but they are tired of so much more. They are tired of our hashtags, our social media posts, our running with Ahmaud, and our apologies. Without action, all these gestures bear no fruit. And that is what is desperately needed — change.

As Danielle Coke so beautifully illustrates, change starts from the inside and works its way out. First within each of us individually. Next with how we raise our children and talk about race at home. And then, we change humanity.

Within myself, I have to recognize my privilege. It was my privilege that allowed me to turn a deaf ear to the cries of another race for so many years. It has been my privilege to sit safely in front of my TV with my husband at night instead of fighting for the justice and rights of my people. When a Netflix documentary or a book on racism begins to make me feel too distraught, it is my privilege to be able to walk away from the content that people of color live with daily. It is my privilege to freely name my children knowing their names will not affect their likelihood of getting called in for a job interview one day. It is my privilege to dress them in any clothes I want, because their blonde hair and blue eyes pose no outward threat. It is my privilege to never have to talk to my son about what to do when he is pulled over for a speeding ticket someday. It is my privilege to not have to fear that my daughter’s word will not be enough should she ever need to defend herself.

Black lives matter. Your instinct might be to counter that all lives matter. While it is true that all lives do matter, the point is that for centuries we have not been acting as if all lives matter. My white life has mattered more to society than my neighbor’s black life. My white life has not been targeted or threatened in any real way in 34 years. I doubt very many black lives can claim the same. If our petition is that all lives matter, we have to act like it.

It is not enough to raise our children in “non-racist” homes. Race must be a discussion that is had often. The history of racism must be taught, including what is left out of public school curriculum. Hard conversations about current events need to be explained. Our children need to understand their privilege, and furthermore, know how to use their privilege to stand in the gap for those without privilege — not just our black sisters and brothers, but our sisters and brothers of all races and cultures. If you feel unsure where to start these conversations with your children, start in some basic ways. Make sure people of all color are represented in your children’s books, toys, and TV time.

It occurred to me this week that my son or daughter could very well grow up to be a police officer. It was easy for me to quickly put away the idea that they would ever commit a crime as horrific as what we saw in the murder of George Floyd. But then another thought seeped in — what if they were one of the three other cops who stood by and did nothing.

It is not enough to teach my children that we are not racist. My children will be taught to be anti-racist — to defend, stand up for, and ally for black lives.

As we listen to, learn from, and grieve with our black community, we must also advocate for them. Where do the candidates on a local, state, and national level that you vote for stand on this issue? On social media, make sure you are following people who don’t look like you, and listen to what they are saying. Are you gaining knowledge from the voice of a person of color? Show your appreciation for their work by donating to their platform. Challenge your biases. Notice your privilege. Use your privilege to help those without.

You do not have to have all the answers — you won’t have all the answers. These conversations will be uncomfortable at times — it’s OK to be uncomfortable. Let your children know that you are learning along with them — be vulnerable with them. We cannot let our fear of saying the wrong thing keep us silent.

Starting Early Intervention During a Pandemic

Kat Cornetta

June 1, 2020

The two months leading up to the widespread stay-at-home advisories were a blur. I was working two jobs, with increased hours at both. It had been a hectic and chaotic start of the spring semester at my job supporting administrators at a local university, and after two years of stepping back from my freelance sports writing, it had ramped back up and I was writing for four publications regularly. Sadly, when I was home, my head wasn’t there at all.

The closure of my sons’ daycare in March made it all grind to a halt. Two days into staying home with them, it hit me. My youngest, then 17 months old, was no longer talking.

He hadn’t spoken much ever, occasionally saying, “Dada,” “Mama,” and “Marv” (the name of one of our cats, whom I named after former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy — yes, I know that’s a bit odd). But he wasn’t even saying any of that anymore. He wasn’t babbling. He was mostly silent. He cried when he wanted something, but he mostly just sat and played silently.

One night, after I put both my kids to bed, I asked my husband if he had noticed our toddler’s silence as well. He said yes, but it seemed to coincide with his two recent double ear infections, the latter of which he was still on antibiotics for. He was sure it would come back.

However, I couldn’t shake the thought that something was wrong. I reread a few developmental milestone checklists I had last looked at with my firstborn, and I realized my youngest was late on some things and had missed others. It wasn’t just speech — there were some small motor development steps as well.

Over that weekend, someone posted about Early Intervention services in one of the Facebook mom groups I follow. The poster mentioned that their toddler’s Early Intervention appointments were being moved online. It spurred me to start researching local Early Intervention services. At 10 p.m., I emailed the director of the nearest location explaining my worries about my son and asking if they were taking new clients.

By 7 a.m. the next day, I had an email back. Yes, services were still being offered, just via online sessions instead of at-home visits. And yes, I could enroll my son, and I wouldn’t even need a doctor’s referral. Two hours later I received a phone call from a coordinator who wanted to see if I had any questions. I was impressed at how quick it all was.

Within days, my son and I were sitting in front of my computer, Zoom conferencing with an intake coordinator, occupational therapist, and speech therapist. We did several developmental screenings, discussed his medical history, and set up insurance approvals and payments within just two Zoom appointments.

By week three of our stay-at-home, my youngest and I started twice-weekly appointments with specialists over Zoom. My toddler didn’t get it at first and didn’t want to pay attention to the screen. But by the fourth week, it started to click. My son loved his speech therapist’s friendly cat, who liked to interrupt our appointments to headbutt her. He started to smile and giggle at his occupational therapist’s welcome song.

And not only did my toddler start to engage in his online visits, he started making progress. “Mama” and “Dada” came back. One of our early evaluations diagnosed him with low muscle tone, so we started working on balance and core strength by setting up pillow obstacle courses. Not only is it fun for all of us, it has helped his walking become much steadier. Overall, my toddler seems so much happier and spunkier.

But there are some drawbacks to starting our early intervention journey in this way. First, our approval for services is short-term, and we may have to redo portions of some of the lengthier evaluations once at-home visits can begin again. Also, having to juggle the 60- and 75-minute appointments when also trying to work full-time from home and taking care of two kids can be stressful. The work our occupational therapist can do is somewhat limited to whatever she can see via the video camera and what she can instruct me to try.

That said, I’m grateful I get to be so hands-on as we begin receiving services. If this wasn’t a stay-at-home, our therapists would be visiting my son at daycare, not at home. While I would be receiving regular reports, I would be somewhat disconnected from the process. My being present for our appointments allows me to be more deliberate in the follow-up and learn the background of each exercise or activity. I create goal flashcards after each appointment, and it creates a visual reminder for me to work the exercises for each into our playtime. I get to work one on one with him on these goals, and he gets to work on them without the sometimes-chaotic environment daycare can bring.

So far, Early Intervention has been a giant help for my son, and I’m looking forward to witnessing his further growth with our therapists’ assistance. These dedicated professionals have successfully pivoted their work within our current stay-at-home reality to the benefit of so many families.

My Sidewalk Running Is Not Going Well (Share the Road!)

Krystal Avila

May 29, 2020

Thrown into this new lifestyle, I am trying to listen to ALL the advice. Social distance, wash your hands, don’t hoard toilet paper, make a schedule, FaceTime with friends (and wine), and get some fresh air. For the past few weeks (when it’s not hailing, snowing, or raining), I have been making it a priority to get outside with my kids. We like to play in the backyard, but because we live in the city our backyard is not very big, and the balls my kids kick and throw are constantly going over the fence.

So, we like to take to the streets.

Both boys, 5 and 3, love the stroller and going fast. I am not a runner, but in trying to appease them (and my long-time goal of running a 10K) we go out for a run. Some days I take the single, others I am pushing the double stroller. Remember, they are 5 and 3 — that’s a lot to be pushing through the streets at a faster-than-walking pace (when I say run, I mean a jog with some walking included).

We have been exploring our city streets and running further than normal since we have unlimited time. However, I am finding it very hard to stay on the sidewalks. The sidewalks that are meant for walking do not comfortably fit my single, never mind my double jogger. At times, I am feeling unsafe on these jogs. The other day, while out with one of my boys — who was peacefully napping — I found myself slowing down and navigating around trees, potholes, trash barrels, and dog poop. It was frustrating. It was ruining my stride. And, to top it off, my son, who had been peacefully napping, was no longer napping!

So, what did I do? I ran in the street. I am sorry to the cars that had to share the road with me. Some of you were kind, polite, and went way around us. However, some cars were not so polite. I was, at times, nervous for myself and son. I tried to squeeze over, but with the more-than-normal amount of cars parked along the sides of the roads from everyone working from home (thank you), I was having a tough time. Eventually, I took my running back to the less-than-safe sidewalks.

We are in a pandemic. When you see a mom getting fresh air with her children, maybe the first time they’ve left the house in days, please leave room. Don’t creep in close, don’t get annoyed, and certainly don’t honk your horn. You never know who you’ll be waking up.

I will continue to run (jog) on the street, because the sidewalks are not stroller friendly. Please share the road with me. Thank you.

Macaroni and Cheese Showdown

Courtney Medlin

May 28, 2020

No matter the weather, comfort food is always in season.

I write this during quarantine, where I am 100% thankful for grocery delivery and online shopping. We’re all food fans in my family, and while we all have different tastes and cravings from time to time, one constant can’t be beat — macaroni and cheese!

Macaroni pasta in itself is a pretty versatile pasta. You can eat it cold as macaroni salad, or hot with tomato sauce, or in, perhaps, its most delicious form — covered in cheese sauce. Baked, topped with breadcrumbs, cooked on the stovetop or even in the microwave, you can really make macaroni and cheese in a variety of ways.

In an effort to discover the best non-homemade mac and cheese, my family did a blind side-by-side taste test of five different kinds from five different brands.

Some were microwaved and some were cooked on the stovetop. I prepared each according to the directions on the packaging. My sink is now full, and I’m still hoping for Rosie the Jetson’s robot maid to be available on Amazon Prime. One macaroni and cheese I hope to test in the future but did not get to include is Trader Joe’s — the line to get in the store was wrapped around the building both times I attempted to just “run in.”

I didn’t label them during the tasting, although you could tell which one was Kraft (and that one was the last one sampled because I knew it would be a fan favorite). There wasn’t a sweep for winners, but there was a clear “loser.”

Here are the final rankings!

5. Banza Chickpea Mac & Cheese (Classic Cheddar)

Overall, no one liked it, and I don’t think it had anything to do with the chickpea pasta. The pasta itself cooked with the consistency of regular pasta. The issue was the cheese sauce. Even following the directions and adding the optional butter, something was off. The cheese flavor wasn’t really cheddar, and it was dry. I will, however, recommend regular Banza pasta, because that alone with the added sauce of your choice is a great swap for traditional pasta, with more protein and fiber.

4. Blake’s Farmhouse Mac & Cheese

Not the best, but not the worst. Some family members felt there wasn’t enough cheese or flavor in the sauce. This one can be made in the microwave or baked in the oven, and it has a breadcrumb topping.

3. Amy’s Macaroni and Cheese

The cheese sauce on this macaroni is rich and creamy. This one also is made in the microwave. The downside of any of the microwaved pasta is that the consistency of the pasta is a lot softer than if you make it fresh.

2. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

I was surprised this wasn’t #1. My stepdaughter would choose this over any homemade macaroni and cheese and has actually asked in restaurants if the kid option is Kraft. You really can’t go wrong with the blue box, and the deluxe is also a favorite in our home.

1. Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

The champion! The pasta is different because it’s a shell vs. a tubular, so the little shells scoop up the cheese sauce in every bite. The sauce on this one is flavorful but not too salty. This brand is made with organic wheat and 100% cheese. Their deluxe is also delicious!

There are so many quick macaroni and cheese options today, from regular elbow noodles to rice pasta to vegan cheese. What’s your go-to?

I Lied to My Kid About COVID-19

Deborah Anderson

May 27, 2020

It started out more as on omission of the truth.

Because my children are young, ages 4 and 1, and I’m blessed to be at home with them full time, it didn’t seem necessary to say anything. Even our son, who usually attended two mornings of preschool per week, didn’t seem to notice our change of pace at first. But when he finally realized he was spending WAY more time at home than usual, I decided to lie.

I lied to protect his innocence.

Like so many other parents, I believe I’m doing the right thing for my child. I choose to shelter my child at home without knowledge of the virus, because the alternative seems incredibly stressful and unnecessary for a child to hear.

At first it was a halfway decent answer — just a little white lie to buy me time to figure out what to say to my son about our world coming to a halt over a global pandemic. “Spring break” is what I called it. After that seemed to appease him, it became our simple, go-to answer, along with “spring cleaning.” “Everyone is taking time to rest after winter and prepare for summer,” we’d say.

And for all he could observe, it was true. We, like so many others, have been busy cleaning our home, working on long-avoided house projects, and clocking hours upon hours in the yard, landscaping and gardening. So spring break and spring cleaning have made sense to his young and developing mind.

Everything now seems like it is in limbo. We are all anxious to see how things progress, when we will feel safe again and things will resume and places reopen. If there will be a cure, a vaccine, an end. What I keep thinking is, If I don’t feel prepared to understand how life is changing, how can I expect my child to?

Parenting expert Kim John Payne encourages parents to act as filters to the adult world for their children. In his book “Simplicity Parenting” he states that children are unable to fully understand the context of our adult issues, and parents should reserve these conversations for times when children are not present. “Not only do they lack context for the information, they lack the foundation that childhood slowly provides. The foundation of years of relatively safe observation, interaction, and exploration. Too much information does not ‘prepare’ a child for a complicated world, it paralyzes them.” Payne goes on to encourage parents to ask themselves before sharing anything with their children, “Is it necessary?”

Most of what I found online echoed this advice. The consensus amongst the Mayo Clinic, the CDC, and PBS is clear: Remain calm and reassuring, pay attention to what children may see or hear regarding the virus, practice safety with germs as a family, and provide them with age-appropriate information.

“Keeping your own anxiety in check is key,” wrote Jessica Grose in the New York Times. She encouraged gauging what your children know of the virus before telling them what you know, speaking to them about it at an age-appropriate level, encouraging good hygiene, and also remaining positive whenever possible. What stood out to me the most was a quote she included from Abi Gewirtz, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Minnesota: “If your child is under 6 and has not heard about the virus yet, you may not want to bring it up, as it may introduce unnecessary anxiety.”

So, yes, I’ve lied about the existence of the coronavirus to my child. And I’m proud of it.

It is my job as a parent to ensure my child’s safety and wellbeing. By staying home and practicing social distancing, I am keeping him safe. By avoiding telling him the ins and outs of the virus, as well as my own anxieties surrounding it, I am protecting his mental wellbeing.

I want my son to look back on this time and know nothing different. He was home. He was safe. He was loved. And we were happy.

He will eventually face hardships or experience difficult things in the world. And my hope is that when that day comes, the foundation and security of his happy childhood will provide the solid foundation to face those challenges. I’d rather he look back on this time of life and remember it fondly. We’ve spent more time resting instead of rushing. More time exploring on walks around our neighborhood instead of driving in our car for errands. More time gardening and baking instead of attending playdates and toddler tumbling.

It’s not all bad living a slower pace at home with our kids, and that’s important to remember as a parent leading a child through this strange phase of life. These are trying times for us all, but the best thing we can do for our children is to keep them home, in a safe and grounded environment, in order to prepare them for a strong future.

Celebrate Anyway

Shannon Gibson

May 26, 2020

celebrate May anyway - Boston Moms

A typical May is a month full of celebrations. May 2020 is by no means a typical month, given our world’s current pandemic status.

But we will celebrate anyway.

Graduations, birthdays, weddings, proms, holidays, and end-of-school chapters will still go on despite a super virus and social distancing.

In my family alone this month we’ve celebrated my brother’s college graduation, my cousin’s wedding (yes, this photo is of my daughter wearing her flower girl dress during the live-streamed wedding), my grandfather-in-law’s 92nd birthday, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and the end of my daughter’s first year of preschool. And we celebrate our teachers for the amazing educators they are, especially this year.

In a typical May, all of these events are planned and organized for us. We show up to the graduation and applaud our grad. We attend the beautifully planned wedding and wish our best to the happy couple. We share cake at the birthday parties, we bring flowers to the Mother’s Day lunch, we send a gift card with our student to school for their deserving teacher.

May 2020 does not accommodate those in-person gatherings. We have to think outside the box to celebrate this month’s milestones. It takes a little more effort this year. But we can do it, and we must do it.

It can be as simple as mailing a card. It can be as easy as emailing a gift card to the deserving recipient. It can be as wonderful as supporting a small business with your gift delivery.

Thoughtfulness does not have to be extravagant to get its point across. The point is, we have not forgotten all the celebrations May holds. Our celebrations look a lot different this year, but we will still show up for our people who have worked so hard and deserve the spotlight for their awesome accomplishments.

Congratulations to everyone with a special day this month. You are so worth celebrating.

We’re Physically Distant, but We Can Still Be Social :: A Boston Family’s Experience with Houseparty

Meghan Block

May 25, 2020

Boston Moms is thrilled to work alongside Houseparty to bring you this information. While this content is sponsored, the experiences and opinions are all our own.

I’ll admit it. When the news came that the kids would be out of school and my husband would be working from home for a while, I was almost, dare I say it? Happy! While our schedules would obviously be interrupted, the thought of having my family home and getting back to basics really did excite me.

Well, it’s been 10 weeks, and let’s just say… we’re bored!

Balancing the demands of two careers and the needs of three little kids has slowly eaten away at any of the blissful promise of what time together could feel like. I’m realizing now more than ever how much I relied on the social obligations that had grown to be such an important influence on how we raise our family: A random Saturday afternoon spent in the yard while my father-in-law helps my husband with a construction project. A trip to the park with friends. Sports practices, games, and a trip to the ice cream shop afterward. With all that on hold, there is an air of sadness in my house!

Enter Houseparty — the face-to-face social network!

Houseparty allows for groups to video chat on mobile or a desktop app. It’s incredibly easy to use and super intuitive — the user opens the app, and their friends receive a notification that they are now “in the house” and ready to chat. Friendship on Houseparty is by mutual agreement. Only people you have accepted as friends can join you when you open the app. Rooms can be locked or unlocked. It is safe and secure, and the perfect way to stay social even while we are physically distant!

To download the app, simply visit your app store and search for Houseparty. From there, you’ll create an account and will be given the option to identify phone contacts and Facebook friends who already have Houseparty accounts. When I created my account I was so surprised — many of my best friends already had accounts and had never told me! Better yet, even my grandparents had accounts! How had I missed out on all the fun until now? We connected instantly, and the rest was super easy to figure out.

My kids and I use Houseparty for general catch-up calls with our family and friends, but the best part is the games we play on the app. Have you ever had a video chat with live games being played? Have you ever done it with kids? It’s a riot! My boys are 7 and 4 and are able to understand and navigate the games pretty much on their own. Their favorites are Heads Up and Superhero Trivia! They love to play a quick game with their aunt, and it helps add a little silly to the middle of our hardest days stuck at home.

While we’re using Houseparty right now to connect with friends and family we’d typically see in person, we’ll absolutely continue to use it in the future. I love the idea that my grandparents will be able to play a game with my sons in real time, even when they’re living in Florida and we are here in Boston.

Download Houseparty today, and get in on the fun! And, if we’re friends in real life, add me! I’ll beat you in a game of Heads Up!

Meet a Boston Mom :: Alice Lewis, Alice’s Table

Meghan Block

May 25, 2020

Moms don’t get the recognition they deserve! As a business run BY local moms FOR local moms, Boston Moms is excited to showcase the hard work local moms are doing — both at home and in their professions.

Boston Moms is proud to feature Alice Lewis for this “Meet a Boston Mom Monday!” You may recognize Alice’s face from social media or Shark Tank. Alice is a new mom and the CEO and founder of Alice’s Table, which launched in September 2015 with the mission to empower women across the country to start their own creative floral arranging businesses.

Join us in celebrating Alice and the important contributions she makes at home and at work!

We asked Alice to share a bit about herself. Get to know her here!

Full name: Alice Lewis

Occupation/business name: Alice’s Table

Children: Eleanor, 9 months

Hometown: Chicago

Favorite local restaurant: Pastoral

Favorite local business or brand: Magic Beans

Tell us a bit about your work/job: I love my job! I get to work with amazing women and bring joy through flower arranging.

Want to know more about Alice’s Table?

“Alice’s Table hosts flower arranging workshops nationwide to bring women together to learn new skills and live a social and creative lifestyle. Its unique Event Exec program empowers women to launch their own events businesses and supports them with an innovative online platform and active community to help them be successful.

Our goal is to be the bright spot in the modern busy woman’s life — the thing she looks forward to at home and on the town. Modern women don’t have time to be Martha, they need lifestyle delivered.”

What is the one thing that surprised you the most about motherhood? That it is constantly changing; whenever you think you have finally gotten into a routine, something shifts. It is amazing to learn alongside your child.

What is one piece of advice you’d offer another working mom? There is no such thing as balance. You will always be racing from work to family and then back again. Try to enjoy the hustle!

What is one way you take care of yourself? Saturday nap times are my favorite! I light a candle, sit in bed, and read my book, alone!

List two other women who inspire you: My mom and Indra Nooyi (if you have not listened to her Aspen Institute talk about if women can have it all… it’s totally worth it).

You can read more about Alice Lewis here. Follow her at @alicelrlewis on Instagram, and for more information about her business, follow @alicestable!

Are you interested in being highlighted in a “Meet a Boston Mom” feature, or do you know someone who deserves this recognition? Let us know! Please email Meghan Block at [email protected] to discuss a feature.

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