Every year my kids and I get that old fashioned panicky feeling about heading back to school.  Here are some tips we've tried the past few years, that might help you out if your house is as crazy as ours!

* Find a friend-- whether you're new to school or a returning student-- have a friend or two over. Reconnecting with old friends or making new ones will allow your child a friendly face to look forward to on their first day.

* Play games-- role play classroom activities-- make yourselves some funny name tags, practice letters, reading, writing, or arithmetic-- you'll be amazed at what's been forgotten over the summer. Don't let lessons get frustrating though-- keep it fun and funny (whatever they've forgotten will be covered again, it's too late to worry about it now!)

* Read books about going to school. Some of our favorites?

My First Day of Nursery School, Becky Edwards
I am NOT Going to School Today, Robbie Harris
The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn
Owen, Kevin Henkes
Kindergarten Rocks!, Katie Davis
Harry Gets Ready for School, Harriet Ziefert
Morris Goes to School, B. Wiseman
The First Graders from Mars series, Shana Corey
The Junie B. Jones series, Barbara Park
Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth, Alison McGhee
Ramona the Pest, Beverly Cleary
and of course,
If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura Numeroff.

* Sneak into the school if you can. Seeing their classroom, finding their name on their desk, and finding the bathroom closest to his/her classroom are all of great interest and comfort to little people!

 

How cool is this?  I noticed a fun tool, http://wordle.net, on a friend's blog, http://universityofbe.blogspot.com, you add any words you like and it turns them into a fun design-- add this to your scrapbook or photo album for a custom touch!

Well, I can't believe it, but we've just returned from a trip with the kids overseas and guess what?  It was fun!  Unbelievably they were wonderful-- wonderful on the plane ride, fabulously behaved while we were there (I mean MOST of the time anyway) and great adventurers.  We spent 4 days in London as a family, then another 5 days with both, yes, both at the same time, sets of grandparents.  An amazing time was had by all.  By the time they were sick of us, they were seeing new faces, and faces that wanted to spoil them rotten.  If you can bear your parents and/or in-laws, I highly suggest this for travel help! 

"Moving up" day arrived yesterday amid tears and drama....mostly mine of course...and the summer is suddenly here.  My babies are getting so damn big, it kills me.  Not sure what to do with myself now....so time for the Margheritas I guess.   This weekend, invite your friends over, go out with the kids, revel in the fact that you have no soccer or baseball practice, no school, no agenda...before the summer camps begin at least.  Make time for you, the husband, and the kids....and just think about the summers of your childhood-- even if you are just idealizing them in your head, try to get there-- see the endless possiblities, the play time, the dreaming, and the lazy afternoons just rolling around by the pool.  Gather the towels, the sunblock, and a book and head for the Westchester beaches or pools-- the public spots are the best source of fun-- gossip, gatherings, and giggles.

Enjoy and happy summer....

This has been the longest month of my life....at least since last June.  Every year June sneaks up on me and hits me over the head-- why I am still surprised by it, I can't imagine.  June is crazy-- the end of the year parties, "graduation" ceremonies from pre-schools, art shows, end of year picnics, awards ceremonies, and more take up my days and even my nights.  My kids are FRIED and ready for summer to start, I am so tired of looking at their empty lunchboxes waiting to be filled anew, and we seem to have been talking about summer vacation and the promise of fun for months now, with the time dargging by interminably.  Exhausting.

Two weeks and counting at our house.  If I have to pack another snack, I might freak out.  You should see the junk food that came home from the store today-- I have completely given in.  Anything easy, that will make them happy at some point during the day, and as much chocolate as I can find...and that's just to get me through the day...is in our closet.  Good luck to the poor teachers with all of these cranky, yet hopped up on sugar kids of mine.

Hang in there ladies and gents.  We're almost done.

I love my mother, and generally speaking, I think she did a pretty wonderful job raising me and my 5 siblings.  A few of them are a bit rough around the edges, but I can't get into that because they do happen to read my chatter...

Memorial Day is upon us, and none to soon. I am cold, but hopeful. The boys are beyond tired of school and I am just sick of thinking of things to put in their lunch boxes! We're ready for summer fun, some warm weather would be nice, and swimming? I can almost feel it. If you are home for the long weekend, enjoy, if traveling, don't forget a sweater.... we may not be there quite yet. Either way, pack the kids up and do something new-- head to a different park, find a hiking trail -- check out the Westchester Land Trust web site, www.westchesterlandtrust.org, or www.westchestergov.com to find something suitable for the whole family. Or of course, you can try out our "Things to do" pages-- and rate them when you get back! Have a fantastic weekend! Gretchen

Yesterday, waiting through another cold and rainy spring day, the boys and I played a rousing game of Hide and Seek.  Generally I am averse to this sort of fun-- much happier to do an art project, read a book-- you know, the lazy mommy sort of activities...but the guilt of the last month's over-working was upon me and I must say what a fun time we had.  I can't say that they are particularly good at the game though.  Always hiding in the same spots, giggling profusely as I hunt them out and giving their spots away as eagerly as they can.  Nothing funnier.

Anyway, today's thought?  Play hide and seek.  A simple game for simple pleasures.  Don't forget to conclude the "find" with a little wrestle or tickle of course and lots of hugs. 

It is here!

I am in love, the new site is launched and I am giddy with excitement to see what you all think.  I hope that you will LOVE the forums, and find them a great source of support and information-- talk to each other and please, BE NICE.  This is not a certain city site if you know what I mean...

Be sure to enjoy the blogs too-- create your own and have fun -- write your friends, have the kids chat with grandmom, upload pictures, and share your experience!

Leave your comments and thoughts everywhere-- ratings, reviews, chat areas, baby lists, etc.  The more we share, the more the fun.  Tell your friends to join us, spread the word!!!

Have FUN!!!!!  I look forward to meeting you here, there and everywhere...

OMG!  It's gonna happen...

I have given birth again...this time not to a cute pink baby with perfect lips and a beautiful round head....but to a web site design, the effort of which has sucked the life out of me these past months more than any of my pregnancies ever did. 

The pain of dealing with web programmers & designers leaving me with my head spinning and a stomache ache comparable to a contraction.  I'll admit that I am a complete control freak and not being able to do this work when I wanted it, how I wanted it, the way I wanted it...to say the least left me crazed, insecure, and angry beyond belief.  I have never been so taken advantage of in my life and as a female person that's certainly saying something.  So, no thanks to Giles Communications in Purchase who dumped me half way through completion, I have crawled and scratched my way to LAUNCH.

Today though, I am basking in the promise of the new birth-- looking at my beautiful blogs, ads rotating through clean new pages, and forums just waiting to be chatted on....Tomorrow is the day...

delight.

Mother's Day comes every year and I promise myself that I will be better to the other Mothers in my life-- my mom, my sisters, in-laws, etc. and every year I totally drop the ball.  I can barely remember my own name these days, much less remember to find a gift or send something ahead of time.  It's nearly a disease how little I can plan ahead lately.  The memory is gone, the time flies, and I wake up yet another day past due on life and wonder what I am doing with the days that just slip by!

The only thing that gives me comfort is that I hear others complaining of similar problems.  Forgetting birthdays, appointments, or items on the to do list.  What is it about parenting that takes so much of your mental capacity away??

So, Happy Mother's Day to all my favorite ladies...a little late as usual-- do you find it endearing yet? 

Last night I had dinner with Sydney, Lucy, Charlie, Greta, and Henry's Moms.  I also had dinner with a playwright, a nurse, a novelist, a graphic designer, and a documentary producer.

I am often amazed by the women who surround me in my every day life here in Westchester, and I am more often amazed by the women who I look at as 'moms' and have no idea what else they do in their lives or have done in their lives.  The baby amnesia that takes over and also removes our identities some days makes me wonder what planet I have arrived on that I could possibly forget their many accomplishments and see them as only one part of their personalities-- the mom.

It just makes me pause.  Next time you're in the pick up line at nursery school, at the grocery store peering over a mountain of Pampers at the next woman in line, or at gymboree-- take a second look and remember to ask about something other than little betty's toilet training...you might be surprised to hear that she has a brain-- maybe a bit creaky, but there none-the-less.

-- Gretchen

 

By Lisa Smith, regionzkidz.com

February 14th has come to mean red and pink hearts, flowers, chocolates and Hallmark cards here in the US.  But, how did Valentine's Day become a day that we celebrate with our loved ones?  Valentine’s Day began as a saint’s day commemorating Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr.  The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the winged Cupid and the heart. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.  The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

We are all familiar with the US version of the Valentine’s Celebration – but how do other cultures celebrate the Holiday?

In the UK a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children.

In Wales many people celebrate St Dwynwen's Day on 25 January instead of, or as well as, St Valentine's Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.

In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name says, this day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.

In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" ("Valentine — first saint of spring"), as in some places, Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.

In Chinese culture, there is a counterpart to Valentine's Day, called "The Night of Sevens"; according to legend the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid meet in Heaven on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar.

To put a unique spin on Valentine’s Day try incorporating some of the other special traditions practiced by cultures around the world.

1.     Leave a present for your child on the doorstep from Jack Valentine

2.     Spend time with your friends and encourage your children to do the same.  Focus on fellowship more than the feelings of love.

3.     Plant flowers, trees or bushes in celebration of the coming of Spring

4.     Read the story of the Night of Sevens and discuss it with your children.

Please take a minute and consider that Valentine’s can be a fun and memorable day for children, families, parents and singles alike if we look at the Holiday through a different pair of eyes.

Lisa Smith has a BA in psychology, & is the Owner of Regionz Kidz (www.regionzkidz.com,) a multi-cultural infant and toddler clothing line with ethnically diverse characters and designs.  She publishes a blog on the Regionz Kidz website that features articles about cultural diversity and children & she is a guest blogger on several other websites and blogs relating to parenting and children’s issues.  She is also a monthly contributor to Educated Mommy Magazine.  You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

Nature-Friendly Living: Fight Climate Change in Your Backyard!

By Teatown Lake Reservation Environmental Educator Beth Rhines

 

 

Global climate change means big change for the local ecosystems that we have come to know well. Ponds, lakes, forests, swamps, streams, meadows and other ecosystems will most likely be altered as the plants and animals (including humans!) that live within them attempt to adapt to survive in a different climate. How much will the ecosystems on the earth change? There is no way to know for sure, especially since these changes and adaptations will take a long time to come to fruition. There are some short-term actions that we can take, though, that will help prevent global warming, preserve biodiversity and provide flexibility for the process of adaptation and change in the years to come. Here are some ideas of how to start:

 

1. Plant trees. By planting trees you are reducing greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air we breathe!
2. Recycle. When you recycle cans, bottles, paper and plastic and paper bags you are reducing the amount of trash in landfills and helps reduce the use of natural resources.
3. Buy Energy Star-labeled appliances. The advantage of using these products is two-fold: they’re less expensive to use for the consumer, and is more efficient for the environment.
4. Lower (or raise) the thermostat. If you lower the thermostat 3 degrees in the winter and raise it 3 degrees in the summer you are preventing carbon dioxide emissions considerably.
5. Inflate your tires. If you have to drive, pump up your car’s tires to improve gas mileage.
6. Clean clothes in cold water, then line dry. Washing and rinsing your clothes in colder water is just as effective as washing in warmer water, but cuts emissions into the environment.
7. Eat and drink from reusable plates/cups/utensils. Stop using disposable items and you will help the planet immensely.
8. Lower the hot water heater. Set the water heater to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Walk it, bike it or carpool it. The car is simply the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in this country. While it is often not feasible to get rid of your car, you can use it less.
10. Change you bulbs. Light bulbs marked as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) last 10 times longer than and use two-thirds less energy than incandescent bulbs while supplying the same amount of light.
11. Unplug it! When not using, unplug all chargers, electrical appliances, and turn off power strips.
12. Buy locally. Purchasing products locally grown and produced will cut down considerably on energy required to get your food to the markets.
13. Get involved. Take an active role in protecting and conserving watersheds in your area and leaving corridors for plant animal species by contacting your local government.

Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining, NY, is a private, non-profit 834-acre nature preserve and education center spanning Yorktown, Cortlandt and New Castle. The property has two lakes and 15 miles of hiking trails over woodlands, meadows, streams and marsh habitats. Teatown’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations.