Do Yourself a Favor :: Outsource Your Mosquito and Tick Control!

April 17, 2020

This post was sponsored by Pure Solutions, but the opinions are all our own. Boston Moms is proud to feature companies that we truly use ourselves in these sponsored posts, and we encourage you to seek their services, too!

With everything going on in our world right now, it’s easy to forget about all the good coming our way soon. Long days spent in the backyard. The happy screeches of sweaty kids dirty from a day of rolling in the grass, running through a sprinkler, or diving into a pool. Nights spent with a beverage in hand on the deck or patio. It all sounds so lovely, right?

Until you remember: mosquitoes and ticks. Ugh.

As parents, we have a long list of things to worry about. We are chiefly responsible for the safety of our families, and we work every day to ensure that our children are safe and well taken care of. This includes doing our best to keep them safe from mosquitoes and ticks.

Last summer, we avoided having dinner on our deck several times because of the nasty mosquitoes in our backyard and the fear of contracting EEE, which had been found in a mosquito in a body of water nearby. When we WERE outside, we doused ourselves in bug spray, draped a mosquito tent over wherever we were sitting, and even had a special stroller mosquito covering for when we brought our infant outside! I vowed then that we wouldn’t let bugs get in the way of the best season in Boston ever again. This year, I’m using Pure Solutions.

Our baby covered in a mosquito net. Yikes!

Pure Solutions is a family-owned and -operated business that provides organic lawn care and natural tick and mosquito control solutions to local families. Pure Solutions does not use any harmful or toxic chemicals in any of their services, all products are National Organic Program compliant, and all treatments are safe for children, pets, and the environment. After learning all of this, I requested a proposal and scheduled my first treatment right away.

After scheduling my treatment, I received a text confirming the day a representative from Pure Solutions would be at my house for a no-contact spraying. The morning of our treatment, a gentleman waved at me through my window and got to work! He quickly and efficiently sprayed our front and backyard, making sure to carefully cover the entire property. When he was finished, he waved goodbye and left! It could not have been any easier.

Afterward, there was no odor or film leftover. I was not nervous to have my kids play outside a few hours after our yard was sprayed, because I knew the ingredients were safe AND there truly was no evidence of the spray on the yard! My husband, who is a do-it-yourself kind of guy, was pleasantly surprised and asked when they’d be back again for a follow-up treatment!

The best part is that there is no work on my part — they show up and get it done! And while it is a little early for the “unruly” levels of mosquitoes buzzing in my ear, I will be doing an update in a future post to let you know how noticeable the impact of the treatment is.

With all the uncertainty right now, we are all spending a lot more time at home. That means a lot more playtime in the yard and more exposure to ticks and mosquitoes. Give yourself peace of mind by outsourcing your tick and mosquito control. Right now Pure Solutions is offering our followers a FREE ORGANIC TICK AND MOSQUITO TREATMENT so that you can try them yourselves. Request yours, and a free proposal here.

Let’s Debunk Date Night :: Tips for At-Home Time with Your Spouse

Courtney Medlin

April 16, 2020

Before my son was born, my husband and I loved to work out at the gym together in the evening and then spend our post-workout hours doing pretty much whatever we wanted. Pop out for a drink? Sure! Grab takeout on the way home from the gym? Absolutely! (No matter how counterproductive the takeout might be to our workout.) Every night was date night!

Now, our workouts — and our date nights — take more scheduling. Who is working out first? Whose turn is it with our son? How well stocked are our adult drink supplies? Is it worth it to create a special dinner at home when we’ve already done dinner with our son?

Date night is definitely different these days.

But my husband and I love making time for each other after our son is in bed. One of the ways we do this is by planning special dinners at home that we can enjoy (in peace) post-bedtime. We do enjoy dinner with our son, but sometimes we snack with him while he eats dinner and save our main meal for later. Sure, it’s not really a “date” — but it’s more than a weeknight dinner.

And it doesn’t even require that much planning — for us, it’s often a text a couple hours before our work days end asking what we want to eat that night. Here are a few favorites on our list that can elevate any weeknight dinner.

Cheese plate

Once upon a time we went on a day date to a restaurant that had a delicious cheese board appetizer. Now, we build them at home! We keep staples on hand that are always on our cheese plates, like honey goat cheese and camembert. We also enjoy seeing what Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have that’s new to try. If you’ve never built one at home, hostess queens Ina Garten and Martha Stewert have easy guides to build your own at home.

Sushi

Sushi has a special place in our hearts. One of our favorite date spots is Seiyo. We once went there on a February evening and sat at a window table to watch as the first flakes of a snowstorm began to fall. We live on the South Shore now and don’t always have it in us to battle the traffic in town, so sushi date night at home is always fun (even if our view is Netflix).

Champagne and French fries

Did you know that fries are a delicious pairing to bubbly? We almost always have a bottle of bubbly in our home, whether it’s champagne, prosecco, or a plain sparkling wine (we prefer extra dry). So picking up fries from a local restaurant is an easy and quick treat!

Life is complicated. Date night doesn’t have to be! Cheers!

*And for an elevated date night at home, check out these Valentine’s Day-inspired ideas!

A Note to My (Other) Kids During Social Distancing

Sarah Casimiro

April 15, 2020

Long before I had my children, I had “my kids” — aka, my students. While giving birth and raising my girls is an entirely different experience, I still care tremendously for my kids. For the past 17 years, anywhere from 100 to 120 students per year, ranging in age from 15 to 19, have passed through my classroom. And even though I love my days at home with my girls, I miss my kids. I miss my classroom. I miss our discussions. I miss hearing their stories, their excuses, and their excitement.

During this time of mandatory school closings and social distancing, I miss my kids. A lot.

To my sophomores:

I know how relieved some of you are to have this break from learning. School is full of responsibility, stress, and a ridiculous amount of work for you guys. Your schedules are full of advanced and honors classes, with hours upon hours of homework each night.

I hope you are using this time to decompress, to catch up, and to be present and at peace with yourselves. I hope you are reading a book (and not necessarily “Lord of the Flies“). I hope you are FaceTiming with friends. I hope you are listening to and heeding the advice of doctors, scientists, and your parents in an effort to quell the spread of this virus. I hope you are finally sleeping.

To my seniors:

I know how happy some of you were with the news of two weeks off. I know you wished for more snow days this year, and this extended break felt like a reward for only having received one. Seniors don’t have to make up snow days, while the rest of us do, and you felt a little angry with winter for not being more giving with its snow. But I have a feeling you are realizing this isn’t the kind of time off you wanted. I have a feeling you are now worried about all the things this time off means: no final spring sports season, no senior trip, no prom, and even worse, no graduation.

My dear seniors… I don’t have the words to console you if this becomes our reality. All I can do is ask you to maintain your distance from each other. Stay home and away from others. Help stop the spread. If you can do this, there is a possibility that some of your senior year can be salvaged. But if it can’t, at least you’ll still have each other and your loved ones. You may have to mourn the end of your final year in high school, but the mourning can stop there. Please. Listen. Spend time with your family. Be nice to each other. Be patient (this is a lesson that will come in handy in the future). Stay healthy and safe.

To the parents of my students:

I miss your kids — I really do. Even the quiet ones. Even the sassy ones. I miss seeing their faces each day, gauging how they feel when they walk in my classroom. I miss discussing literature with them, from the superficial, “Yeah, Pip is a jerk!” (“Great Expectations,” Charles Dickens) to the more thoughtful, “Dennis is able to battle both his father’s demons and his own by confronting them in a PacMan-like way,” (“Level Up,” Gene Luen Yang).

I miss hearing about their daily adventures and their college acceptances. I miss telling them about my girls and my attempts to reacquaint myself with yoga. I miss them. Please keep them safe and do your best to enforce social distancing. I know they are teenagers and they know everything. Most of them are social creatures by nature. Remind them that the quickest way to get back to “normal” is to follow social distancing requirements for as long as they are in place.

I missed my job when I’d only been away from it for a week. And now, after four? I can’t describe it. But, I’m patiently waiting, confined at home with two little ones, to return to my classroom, my students, and my daily routine. I’ll continue this wait, for as long as necessary, to ensure a healthy and safe environment for me and my kids. Safe wishes to you all, and don’t forget: We are in this together, even though we are apart.

There Is No Playbook

Kat Cornetta

April 14, 2020

Twenty-nine years ago, my family woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of glass popping.

Ice-covered tree branches were piercing the small windowpanes of our porch. The moment I looked out my bedroom window, I saw two large branches fall to the street below. Ice was raining down from the sky. A minute later, we heard a giant branch from the tree in our yard strike the roof — and soon, other branches followed.

I soon noticed the room was getting colder, and my parents realized the same. Our power was out. Our heat was off. The entire street was in the same boat, and the ice continued to fall.

Twenty-nine years ago, everything my mom knew about parenting two young girls was challenged as we faced what was essentially an ice hurricane. Our area would go two weeks without power. Schools were closed for the same length of time, some even longer. We couldn’t leave our houses, as house doors and car doors were frozen shut, front stairs were encased in ice, and 18-inch icicles hung from our roof over our back door.

Even though my hometown is known for its epic snowstorms, nothing could have prepared my mom for that moment. Snow can be shoveled. Ice cannot. What do you do when you’re watching trees fall onto power lines, see your car covered in ice, have no heat, and realize your home is in danger… and you have two little girls inside?

There was no playbook for that. No parenting book, no hand-me-down advice. My parents were facing a once-in-a-lifetime situation and had to just do the next right thing for us.

I keep coming back to that these days. Just like there was no playbook for my mom and dad in March of 1991, there is no playbook for me during this spring of 2020. This coronavirus pandemic is far worse than that ice storm, but both brought an initial shock and anxiety.

To use a favorite football term, in situations like this we have to go no-huddle, making quick decisions in the pocket and hoping they work out. No one drew up a play years ago for parenting in this particular situation. We have to be nimble and resilient and make the best decision we can at any moment.

That is honestly the only thing you can do. You can’t panic, or you’ll be sent scrambling to nowhere and become overwhelmed — in football, it’s by linemen; in crisis, it’s by the uncertainty of the situation.

Years after that ice storm that paralyzed our city, my sister checked out a video documentary about it from the library. My mom looked at it and shuddered. “I don’t want to watch that,” she said. “That was the scariest and worst time of my life.”

We had no idea my mom felt that way. To us, the ice storm had been hard, but we had gotten through. My parents made decisions that kept us safe, and they never let on that they were panicked.

But they were. They were taking it hour by hour, trying to figure out what the next move was that would keep us safe. Now I know what they must have felt. And while I don’t have a pandemic playbook, I do have the knowledge that if I take each step with my children’s safety and wellness in mind, I’ll be doing the best I can.

Meet a Boston Mom :: Juli McDonald, WBZ

Meghan Block

April 13, 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 Juli McDonald for this “Meet a Boston Mom Monday!” You may recognize Juli’s face from your favorite news channel. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Juli is a new mom and a reporter for WBZ-TV. She balances a demanding career with crazy hours, a young son, and a husband who works as a state trooper. Join us in celebrating Juli and the important contributions she makes at home and at work!

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

Full Name: Juli McDonald
Occupation: General assignment reporter, WBZ-TV
Children: A son, Tommy, who just turned one
Hometown: Norwood, MA
Favorite local restaurant: Town Spa Pizza in Stoughton
Favorite local business or brand: Castle Island Brewing in Norwood

Tell us a bit about your work/job: I am a general assignment reporter working weekday evenings 3–11 p.m. I never know where my job will take me each day (down the Cape, New Hampshire, a tragedy, or a happy story). Like most reporters, I love a good “people” story, and I enjoy my job most when I’m interviewing kids or individuals with special needs. Having an autistic brother has made me a very compassionate storyteller. The hours are tough; my husband and I are two passing ships working opposite shifts — but we save a lot on child care! Sad stories have become harder to cover since becoming a mom. I really make it my goal to write sensitively and keep in mind that the “subjects” in my story mean a lot to someone.

What is the one thing that surprised you the most about motherhood? How involved the process of leaving the house would become — haha!

What is one piece of advice you’d offer another working mom? Put the phone down — advice I am trying to follow myself!

What is one way you take care of yourself? I’d have to say retail therapy. Packages on the front steps just give me the feels.

Is there anything else we should know about you or your work? My first TV job was in Bismarck, North Dakota. That is my go-to fun fact. I moved there right out of school when I was 21 and worked there for two years. I met wonderful, kind people and made some of my happiest memories. It was a true adventure! I have even been back to visit.

List two women who inspire you (can be local or celebrity): My mom, Colleen, a longtime ER nurse, special needs mom, and devout Catholic; and probably Kate Middleton, because #goals.

You can read more about Juli McDonald here. Follow her at @julimcdonald on Twitter or @julimcdonaldwbz on Instagram.

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.

Thriving with Routine :: Tips for Maintaining a Family Schedule

Meredith Bazirgan

April 13, 2020

We’ve all been at home with our families for weeks now, and there’s no end in sight yet. Our family has found that with a basic routine, we can thrive! (Or something like that.)

Our daily routine has helped us maintain a sense of structure. Also, creativity loves constraint! I’m teaching my kiddos about responsibility and the importance of a daily routine, but also about flexibility and the element of surprise. As long as we’re getting our daily chores done (make the beds, clean up, brush our teeth), there’s always room for spontaneity and fun!

Here is a sample of our daily routine.

6:30–8 a.m. :: Wake up, eat breakfast, mommy workout, chores
8–9 a.m. :: Outdoor play
9–10 a.m. :: Write thank-you notes, math problems, LEGO builds, draw
11–3 p.m. :: Mommy goes to work; Daddy’s back!
11–12 p.m. :: PLAY WITH DADDY!
12–1 p.m. :: Lunch
1–2 p.m. :: Quiet time, books, quiet play
2–3 p.m. :: Creative time — Lunch Doodle with Mo Willems, clay art, create
3–4 p.m. :: MOMMY BACK! Outdoor play — walk in local woods
4–5 :: TV TIME!!!
5–6 p.m. :: Dinner — help cook and clean up
6–7 p.m. :: 3-year-old bedtime
7–8 p.m. :: 7-year-old bedtime

Hot tips:

*To break up the day, or to cover when we’re both working, we sometimes do a surprise picnic — by the TV (this sometimes involves a movie).

*Theme days are super fun! We’ve had a pajama day where we also did dinner for lunch. Or breakfast for dinner. Or both.

*Making outdoor time last as long as possible has also been helpful, whenever possible…I’ve seen some fun ideas with sidewalk chalk — use tape to create geometric shapes and patterns, color the shapes in, remove the tape, and VOILA! A beautiful creation

*There are also a number of online experiences. The Cincinnati zoo does a tour with their hippos that is pretty amazing. We also love the Frozen ride at Disney.

*We have had fun using a globe to pick out places we want to travel to someday — and then learning about them.

This is not an easy time. One thing that has helped is watching Glennon Doyle’s live storytimes on Instagram. The way she explains has been helpful. There’s also a Wow in the World Podcast where Mindy and Guy Raz do an introduction that explains the coronavirus really well and simply for kiddos. We loved that one! It’s the one about bees and vomit. I don’t want to end on that word, so I’ll say please give yourselves a healthy dose of grace and love and joy when it lasts….

Confessions of a Homeschool Flop

Deanna Greenstein

April 10, 2020

Things I have learned during the first few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic:

I like leaving my house.
My cats are annoyed that I am invading their living space.
I am not meant to be a homeschooler.
Like, really not meant to be a homeschooler.
For realz though.

I was a teacher before I had kids. I’m a teacher and the director of education at a local church. I drive a school bus for our city. I love kids in general. I think my own kids are pretty great, and I love hanging out with them.

But this sudden jolt into crisis education? Holy WOW, I am not cut out for this. I am pretty sure most of us parents aren’t.

I thought about that color-coded Pinterest schedule thing other moms were using for about .7 seconds before realizing my kids probably wouldn’t follow a schedule if they saw their mom flopped across the couch crying about having to follow it. And so, our “Home School Flop” schedule was born.

Morning-ish

The kids drag themselves out of bed whenever they are done sleeping. After wandering around for awhile whining about being hungry, they remember there is food hidden in the cabinets and fridge. They eat all the food, leaving only dried cranberries and the heels of bread.

The Wild Kratts educate the little ones while I attempt to clean up from the morning feeding frenzy and get in a few hours of work. The teen-children glue tablets to their faces and speak in gamer terms that I only pretend to understand. The girl-child signs into Messenger Kids and giggles for 36 straight hours over video chat with other girl-children from her class. The cat gives me the evil side-eye, and I am pretty sure I just heard his voice reverberate in my brain telling me to go walk the dog and not come back until the streetlights come on. The dog eats a couch cushion.

Late morning (Is it still morning? How is it still morning?)

I wrangle five children to the table and tell them it is school work time.

The preschooler shrieks with joy after every letter he traces, then he races around the table to show everyone, fully expecting exuberant applause from each person. Twenty. Six. Times.
The first grader powers through an entire week’s worth of worksheets in under 20 minutes and then begs to read the new book we bought him. He finishes the book in an hour and then cries that the author has not written others to keep him occupied.
The fourth grader begs for help with math. I realize I have tapped out at third-grade math. I assure her I have a college education. We both cry. The seventh grader steps in to teach fourth-grade math. Thank goodness for older brothers.
The seventh grader attempts to negotiate his way out of his own work by pointing out that he has done MY work as the teacher. We have a standoff. He wins.
I have no idea what my eighth grader is doing for work. He explains it to me. I have no idea what my eighth grader is doing for work.

Feeding time

The children are appalled by their bread heel and dried cranberry sandwiches. I remind them that they ate six months’ worth of groceries for breakfast. They eat the chairs and then cry that they have nowhere to sit.

Post feeding time

On nice days, I shoo the children out the door. The dog digs holes. The children fall into the holes. The kids don’t come inside until they are covered in more dirt than the ground itself. They’re practically feral.

There have been approximately two nice days.

Sometime mid-afternoon

I yell something to the extent of “read something or your brain will turn to mush!” to indicate that it is time for reading.

The first grader grabs a pile of books and skips away. The dog eats one of the books. He cries. I yell at the dog. The dog cries. I promise the dog a walk later. I hear the cat meow something that distinctly sounds like the word Hallelujah.
The girl-child stops reading to tell me something every 17 words.
The eighth grader stops every three pages to re-tell everything that has happened in his book.
The seventh grader attempts to negotiate not reading an age-appropriate book by reading board books to the preschooler. We discuss a future in law. He tells me he will take the Bar exam right after he reads “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”
The preschooler gives me a dirty look and tells me he wants his brother to read the book to him, not me.
I pour another cup of coffee and hide from the children.

Late afternoon

I announce that it is time to clean, and the children disappear. I revel in the quiet and sit down with a cup of coffee. I realize I am stuck to the chair.

We play a rousing game of “Why is this sticky?” followed by the ever-popular “You need to put SOAP in the dishwasher/washing machine!” culminating in the crowd favorite “If I step on this toy one more time, I am going to feed it to the dog!” The dog looks optimistic.

Dinner

The children are thrilled that Daddy has finally come downstairs from work. He asks what we are eating for dinner. The cat yells “THE DOG!” We agree to call an exorcist for the cat once we are allowed to have visitors again.

After-dinner-but-still-not-bedtime

I run away with the dog. I have no idea what happens during this time.

Countdown to bedtime

There is some sort of family time. The kids usually smell less feral by this point, so I am pretty sure they were bathed while the dog and I were on our escape. I mean, our walk.

Bedtime

Glorious bedtime. Sometimes they sleep. Sometimes they don’t. As long as the electronics are off and it doesn’t sound like a frat party in there, I don’t care. There ain’t no set wake up time in Home School Flop House.

By the way, teachers? I love you. And I miss you.

Community Feature :: Rustic Marlin Offers Signs of Hope

Meghan Block

April 9, 2020

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has flipped our world upside down. The streets are quiet, businesses have temporarily shuttered, and we are desperate for hope and a promise of a better tomorrow. However, at Boston Moms we are focused on bringing a positive perspective whenever possible. When there is darkness, we always look for the light.

Boston Moms has been so impressed by the many ways in which people in our community have stepped up to make a difference during this tumultuous time, and we are excited to spotlight local business Rustic Marlin in this week’s community feature.

Rustic Marlin founders Melanie and Brian O’Neil started their Boston-area business in their garage in 2012 and now employ a talented team of over 30 designers, artists, and craftsmen. Their business, like most small businesses, has seen the immediate effects of the economic downturn associated with COVID-19. However, instead of hanging their heads in defeat, Melanie and Brian got creative.

So they launched the Signs of Hope initiative. And 100% of the profits from the line will be donated to employees of small businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 — Rustic Marlin’s own team included.

When we spoke to co-founder Melanie O’Neil earlier this week, she informed us that more than 2,000 signs have already been purchased — bringing in over $30,000 for their cause. This is certainly something to celebrate.

“The idea is to use the profits to assist ordinary people that just a few weeks ago had jobs within a small business but now their world has been turned upside down because the company they work at had to close,” co-founder Brian O’Neil said in a statement. “These employees are the lifeline of small businesses, and we know this all too well. We are trying to maximize the monies generated, and our goal is to buy gift cards at local restaurants and donate to employees to feed their family. We believe this is the best way to support as many small businesses as we can at one time.”

You may recognize these adorable signs you’ve seen hanging on doorknobs and wreaths around town. The uniformity of this show of support reminds us that we truly are all in this together.

Signs of Hope are currently available for purchase on Rustic Marlin’s website and several local outdoor 24/7 self-serve kiosks (with no human contact!):

Rustic Marlin Headquarters: 389 Columbia Rd., Hanover, Massachusetts
Redeye Coffee Roasters: 3 Otis Street, Hingham, Massachusetts
Work Local: 892 Plain Street, Marshfield, Massachusetts
Be Charmed: 70 North Street, Medfield, Massachusetts
Walsh Styling Beauty Bar: Gannett Rd., North Scituate, Massachusetts
Riva Restaurant: 116 Front St., Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts
Rock Paper Scissors. Fryberger Home: 1316 South St., Needham, Massachusetts

Signs of Hope is also accepting donations to further support the Signs of Hope initiative via Venmo to @signsofhope.

Rustic Marlin hopes that as a show of support, local residents will purchase signs and drop them off on the front porches of community members who are providing service on the front lines of this pandemic.

Initiatives like Rustic Marlin’s Signs of Hope kiosks are a bright light in these difficult times. We encourage you to purchase a sign for your own door and are proud to support Rustic Marlin as a partner in our community!

If you know a business or community organization that should be profiled in a Boston Moms community feature, please let us know! Please email [email protected], and we will be in touch.

It Is Better to Be Defined by Our Kindness than Our Fear

Kristen D

April 9, 2020

Many years ago, I knew a woman who had been homeless for a long season in her life. When she was in elementary school, living in the family car, her food for an entire day was one 25 cent bag of potato chips — and that was a good day.

Even 20 years later, as a well-employed adult who had graduated from an elite college, that sense of food insecurity still haunted her. I remember watching her ration out exactly seven almonds for her snack each day — so she would never run out. It gave her a sense of security, but it was no way to live. Even though she had plenty, she lived with a lot of fear.

Fast forward to today, when grocery store shelves are empty and Amazon is back-ordering and panic is steadily rising. And I’m reminded of my old friend. But, the truth is, I’m reminded of her because right now, I feel like her.

I feel like I need to “make sure we have enough.”

My generosity feels pinched, because “what if there’s not enough?!”

When my children ask for “second breakfast” like they always do, I want to say no, and ration our food “just in case.”

I might have even replanted my AeroGarden with salad greens “because you never know.”

Let me be clear: I am not equating the very real trauma of homelessness and long-term hunger with our current situation. There is no national food shortage — the supply chains are still functioning well.

But the fearful way we’re acting does not reflect our reality.

Fear and insecurity make us do crazy things — like buy ALL the toilet paper or 17,000 bottles of hand sanitizer — which in the moment may look like sanity; but it also has the potential to do a lot of harm when it comes at the expense of others. How many of our elderly or immuno-compromised neighbors have had to stand in long lines because we put our needs before theirs?

We are better than this, my friends. Fellow moms, we are used to loving selflessly, giving when we don’t think we have anything left, and caring even when we don’t want to. Now is the time for us to lead. Not (just) by how well prepared we are or how well we protect our own families (although both are important), but by how we love our neighbors.

Here are some practical (and safe) ideas that might give us a good start in choosing kindness, not fear:

Don’t go to the grocery store if you don’t need food. Don’t let panic drive your decision-making. Panic tends to propel panic, and we all know what chaos ensues when everyone runs to Market Basket at the same time for bottled water. Practice love of others and trust of others — and maybe let the poor grocery store employees breathe just a little bit.
Advocate for grocery and essential stores to make the first hour of business designated for the elderly or immunocompromised — when everything is freshly cleaned and not crowded. Help eliminate risks for others who are at higher risk than you.
Know what locations are offering free meals for at-risk school children who previously depended on breakfasts and lunches through their school — Boston Moms has assembled a list here. If there isn’t one in your area, advocate for one.
Consider “adopting” an older person, a single individual, or a single parent on your block or in your building to call or text whenever you do your shopping. Check in to make sure they’re staying sane. Check in to make sure they know they’re not alone, even when it feels lonely.
If you are financially able, continue paying any hourly wage help you usually hire, even if you are not currently using them, so that they are not faced with a financial gap. This pandemic will hit the lowest wage earners the hardest — and for them, food insecurity is often an actual issue.
Practice gratitude in all things. It resets our perspective and enables us to choose hope rather than fear or self-centeredness.

I think 2020 (and perhaps this decade) will be defined by the coronavirus pandemic. We don’t have much choice in that. But we do have a choice in how we respond, and how we respond will define who we as a people are.

Let’s choose kindness, not fear.

Zoom :: The New Night Out?

Krystal Avila

April 8, 2020

Have you Zoomed?

I have been Zooming all week. Staff meetings, department meetings, morning meetings, read alouds for my kids, a special “happy birthday” for my son, and my favorite — happy hour. Zoom happy hour has become a regular part of my day, when I carve out time to enjoy a drink (or more) and chat with friends.

During this isolating time, it is so important to keep social, and I have found Zoom to be my key to feeling some sort of normalcy. This week alone, I connected with high school friends, college friends, and family.

These calls have been vital to my week and help keep me sane and grounded each night.

Once we have put the kids to bed, hubby and I give ourselves a little time to make a cocktail or pour a glass of wine and then get comfy on the couch to start the call. We don’t always Zoom together. He was in bed early one night and I Zoomed pretty late with high school friends. We Zoom our families and friends together and separately and get to feel like we are out enjoying everyone’s company.

Zoom is also helping people connect to others they may not have usually picked up the phone to talk to. Whether it’s distance or time, Zoom doesn’t discriminate, and everyone can join. On a Zoom the other night, I gave some friends a tour of my condo. We’ve been friends since high school but don’t live close, and when I got up to get a refill, they asked for a tour. It actually felt like they were here with me!

Another important Zoom was with my aunt and cousins. My aunt currently works at one of the Boston hospitals and is having some very long days. We scheduled a Zoom, and it was so nice to see her and check in on her day. We discussed some family recipes, poked fun at my cousin’s gnocchi recipe that may have not gone so well, and had a laugh at my other cousin with the internet trouble. It really felt like we were all in the same living room together and alleviated some of the stress we are all feeling.

There are a number of platforms to connect with your friends and loved ones right now — try them out! It is so important that while we are socially distancing, we are still keeping social. Turn off the news, put down the phone, and stay present with your friends and family with a group call!

Cheers to You, Disney+

Courtney Medlin

April 7, 2020

Disney+ - Boston Moms I’m working from home, and daycare is closed. I feel like the Dr. Seuss character from “Green Eggs and Ham” working from the deck, from the chair, laptop here, and phone calls there.

The only reason I’m able to write this right now is Disney+.

When Disney+ first came out, there was no question of whether we would get it or not. Not only did it have Disney, Marvel, AND throwback shows and movies my husband and I grew up with (I’m looking at you, “Boy Meets World” and “Brink”), we loved the idea of having the Disney classics available for our son to watch.

My son is almost 2 and is at the point where he wants to know what everyone is doing and be a part of it. He colored at the table next to me this morning calling it “his work.” Let’s face it, though, a toddler can only color for so long.

That’s where Disney+ comes in.

We’ve watched the “Toy Story” collection and ALL the shorts so many times my husband jokes that if we ever saw analytics of who watches what, we’d be at the top of the list for Woody and Buzz.

So while we deal with social distancing and working remotely and keeping it together, I say thank you. Thank you, Disney+, for keeping me sane, entertaining my son, and giving us a feeling of nostalgia all at once!

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