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.