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And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Coochicoos features photos of the new line of children's furniture for Small Paul designed by Eric Pfieffer. Healthy Bump reviews The Diaper Clutch by Kristen Lemoine of AB Baby Boutique. MomFinds showcases their favorite products to help move your toddler from diapers to big-kid pants in no time. One Chic Mama reviews Deceptively Delicious
No visit to the Boston Public Garden is complete without a photo op with the Make Way for Ducklings
“Robert McCloskey’s gentle Make Way for Ducklings
To commemorate and recognize the enduring appeal of McCloskey’s story, the City of Boston in 1987 installed in the Public Garden a bronze and cobblestone statue of Mrs. Mallard and her eight charges, a statue which is now beloved and featured in innumerable family photo albums. On Saturday, September 29th, the bronze ducks will celebrate their 20th birthday, with a public party from 10:00am-1:00pm in the Public Garden. Featuring music, face-painting, magic, and Boston Mayor Tom Menino, the event will be an opportunity to reconnect with all that is beautiful and special about McCloskey’s vision of life, love, friendship, and family in an urban environment.”
This summer I found myself in need of cake, and lots of it, and a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa became my go-to cake for a crowd. Listed as serving 20-24 people, I found that this cake easily serves 30 or so (and our family and friends are not shy about dessert). I made this cake four times over the past two months, most recently for Laurel’s color party (shown; click all images to enlarge). Here are execution and variation tips, and photo examples.
A big sheet cake may seem intimidating, but this recipe is easy to knock together if you have a standing mixer, and it will feed more people for the same effort as making a 9-inch layer cake. You will need the following items (in addition to ingredients), all of which should be available from a party store that sells cake decorating supplies:
The Cake:
I originally found this cake recipe via a Flag Cake feature in Martha Stewart magazine from 2001. I’m not sure whether Martha and the Contessa had a falling out, but the original recipe no longer is on Martha’s site (but an adaptation under Martha’s name is…hmmm). The recipe now on the Barefoot Contessa site is the same (click here for a printable screenshot), with three exceptions: 1) she leaves out the zest of one lemon; 2) she uses 6 extra large eggs instead 6 large eggs; and 3) she reduces the sour cream from 1¼ cup to 1 cup. It won’t matter whether you go with 6 extra large eggs vs. 6 large eggs + the extra ¼ cup sour cream (it’s basically liquid equivalence) but I would definitely suggest adding back the zest of one lemon (mix it in at the step where you beat together the wet ingredients). People loved the sour cream/lemon flavor of the cake.
Variation #1
I first made the flag cake, which was easy to put together and absolutely gorgeous. The only problem was that I did not have the cooling rack, cake board, or box (plus I was somewhat concerned about my ability to flip the cake out of the pan) so I left the cake in the pan and just pulled it out of the oven 5 minutes earlier (so the edges wouldn’t burn). Our friends didn't complain.
Variation #2
I next made this cake for a baby shower I hosted; again, the cake was incredibly easy and beautiful. I piped the entire cake, which I find to be the easiest and prettiest way to frost a cake because you don’t have to worry about uneven areas or crumbs breaking through. Piping does use more frosting though, and I just had enough frosting to cover the whole thing. Next time I would add an additional 1/3 or 1/2 to the frosting recipe to provide some breathing room.
I used a dozen small Gerber’s (selected because they are pretty and since the blooms are big) to make a crown at the center of the cake (shown). The circle of flowers was about 6 inches across. I first pressed a bowl of that width lightly on top of the cake to create a guide. Then I cut the Gerber stems short (about 3-4 inches), wrapped a little plastic wrap around each exposed stem end (paranoia...), and formed the outside ring first, then angled the next round of flowers up for the second layer, finishing with just one or two on the top - covering all gaps with the petal placement. People went CRAZY over this cake at the shower.
Variation #3
The next two times I made this cake were for kid’s birthdays; the first as a gift to some friends who were throwing a giant first birthday party and were fretting the baked goods angle, and then for Laurel’s color party. I wasn’t sure how I was going to decorate other than that I wanted to ice flat (i.e., not pipe) and probably use food coloring, so I doubled the frosting recipe in both cases to give me plenty of margin for error. I needed this for the first cake; I ended up being horrible at free hand lettering and kept having to scrape off and dump frosting. I finally just iced the cake flat, piped the borders, and piped a star monogram. It looked simple and cute, and the kids all wanted pieces that had part of the yellow star on it.
For Laurel’s color cake I had thought of piping the rainbow (because this is the easiest decorating technique for me) but by late the night before the party I was exhausted and didn’t have the energy to change tips that many times. Luckily, I had picked up a container of Wilton’s nonpareil sprinkles (one container with 6 compartments, each with a different rainbow color). I flat iced the cake, shook out the sprinkles into rainbow form, and finished by piping the borders to cover up the ends of the rainbow. The kids went berserk over this cake and, again, all wanted pieces that had rainbow colors on it (except for Laurel, whose primary objective was a piece with edging = maximum frosting).
*One final note: turning the cake out was actually very easy. The first time I was nervous about the cake sticking and breaking in half so I buttered the pan, lined the bottom of the cake pan with wax paper (or use parchment), then buttered and floured the pan. (Once you turn the cake out, peel off the wax or parchment). The second time I actually was out of wax paper so I just buttered and floured heavily to prevent sticking and it worked fine.
Enjoy this fabulous cake! And make sure you add back the lemon zest!
It’s no secret that Baby Loves Disco is one of the toughest tickets in town (more dates are forthcoming), and if you managed to get tickets to this Sunday’s party, drop by and say hello! I’ll be serving as a judge for BLD’s Best Little Dancer in America contest, which will rock Boston and 11 other regional parties this weekend.
And since you were wondering... want to win 4 tickets to the coveted 9/30 Boston event? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “Baby Loves Disco” in the subject) and tell us which charity will benefit from the event. We'll draw one winner from the correct responders.
Being a parent often means being at a loss for words when it comes to tough topics, no matter what your kid’s age is. For parents of teens, Amy Cody sent us a great article written by one of her interns; the content offers parents advice for how to navigate the rocky adolescent communication road:
“Whoever says adolescence is the best time of your life doesn’t remember being a teenager and/or doesn’t know one. Adolescence is rocky and scary and hard. It’s a time full of “firsts” and all the excitement but also the pressure that comes with that. Most parents of adolescents feel fear. Fear for their child’s safety and development, fear of the choices they’ll have to make by themselves and, often times, fear of their child’s mood swings and sudden distancing. This is the first time in your child’s life that she/he is going out on their own, spending more time away from you than with you, and starting to question everything you say while trusting their friends over you. Adolescence is an awkward time, in between childhood and adulthood, a time when the teen wants to be independent but isn’t quite ready to be. Adolescents often experience what my mother calls the “superman” complex, which drove me crazy when I was a teen but which I understand better now. It describes the concept that teens feel their actions have no consequences and that the rules don’t apply to them. I know you’ve all heard this a thousand times before, but this is perfectly normal. These days there is a lot of information about how dangerous this can be and all the horrific ways that events during adolescence can ruin people’s lives and self-esteem. As I said, adolescence is incredibly hard and scary, but everyone goes through it, and most of us come out okay. It’s very important to understand that as you’ve raised your child, you’ve given him or her morals and values and raised him or her to be self-assured and strong. This does not all go flying out the window on his or her 13th birthday. Even though hormones come into play, in conjunction with the media, peers and everything else, your child is still the person he or she was before adolescence. Now, your child is just struggling to find who he or she wants to be independent from anyone else. They’re dealing with all the “firsts” and how they want to be seen in the world by people besides you, and testing their own boundaries at the same time.
One of the big “firsts” that comes with adolescence and one that is one of the scariest for most parents, is sex. One thing that is necessary to understand right off the bat is that your teen is going to be exposed to sex and sexuality. This doesn’t mean they are necessarily engaging in sexual intercourse or even dating, but it means they probably know more than you think they do. They also are unbelievably curious and want to know more. However, learning more from you might be completely mortifying to them, especially if you make a big deal out of talking about sex with them. “The Talk” is no longer the way to go about it. This made more sense in the past when there wasn’t so much sex in the media and everywhere around them, and young people were more innocent and less exposed to outside influences. Now, kids have been seeing sexual images (no matter how good your parental controls are) since they were young, and have probably sought out answers from others before coming to you. Therefore, the best way to communicate with your teens about sexuality is starting from a young age (when they start asking questions) and continuously, in a comfortable fashion. This doesn’t mean the first time your child asks you where he comes from you sit him down and explain intercourse (because the answer to his question might be Minnesota!) It just means that you keep sexuality as a topic that your children feel comfortable discussing with you, and that you answer their questions as they come in the form of on ongoing dialogue. This will help children feel safer about coming to you with questions and confiding in you once they reach adolescence. Some of my favorite talks with my parents when I was a teenager were when they would tell me about stories from their own adolescence (making sure they were age appropriate, of course). I read my mother’s journals from when she was 14 when I was 14, and I found them fascinating. Your teens may act like they couldn’t be less interested in your life. However, chances are that having solid proof (such as stories or documents) showing you went through the same sort of things they are going through will get their attention. Tell them about your first kiss and how nervous you were, how embarrassing it was, etc. Funny or embarrassing stories help remind your kid that you were once their age too, and that the things that seemed mortifying to you at the time are funny now.
It’s also important to understand that there are going to be times when your teen isn’t going to want to confide in you, and you’re going to have to be okay with that. Chances are you’re not going to want to know some of it! The most important thing to remember is that adolescence is often scary and difficult, and your teen’s problems—although seemingly minute to you at times—are very real and important to him or her. The best thing you can do is listen to them and answer their questions honestly. It’s also very important to remember that sexuality during adolescence isn’t always as terrible as the media make it out to be and it very well might not be like that for your teen. There still are loving relationships in which sexual exploration is healthy and normal, and this can be very good for your teen and his or her development. “Firsts” don’t always have to be avoided; sometimes they are simply exciting and important for growth. So before deciding to take drastic measures with your teens to attempt to prevent them or protect them from the dangers of adolescence, talk to them. They’re the ultimate resource on what it’s like to be a teen in today’s world. If you approach them as someone who loves and cares about them and respects them as developing adults, as opposed to someone who’s trying to keep them children, you can help. And, even if it doesn’t seem like it, they are listening!
Here are some brief pointers on how to talk to your teens about sex:
Claudia Lux is a junior at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. She is concentrating on gender and sexuality studies and photography. Her primary focus is on female adolescent development, specifically in the realm of sexuality and sexual health. Claudia recently completed an internship in the education department at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and currently is studying abroad in the Netherlands for a year. The opinions and suggestions presented here are those of Claudia Lux, not necessarily those of PPLM.
Photo Credit: teenwire.com
The transition phase between “Hmm, pregnant?” and “Whoa, definitely pregnant!” (and vice versa) can be challenging in many ways. If you’re looking for a seamless way to hang onto your sense of style (and your pants), check out Jules’s report on an item that will endure use before, during, and after pregnancy - the Bella Band
“Now that I am four and a half months into my first pregnancy, I can begin to revel in the new bump that now is my stomach. Although my bump is beautiful and represents a new world of things to come, it also represents tight pants and ill-fitting clothes. My regular clothes are too small but most maternity clothes are much too big. Thankfully, for now, most everything else on my body is the same size, but my new waistline leaves me with no choice but to walk around the house with unbuttoned/unzipped pants; not exactly the look of beauty. What to do? Enter the Bella Band
The Bella Band
Want to win a 3-pack of Bella Bands? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “Bella Band” in the subject) and name one of the Bella Band style collections. We'll draw one winner from the correct responders; the winner will choose their size (assorted styles will be sent). Worldwide entrants welcome!
We recently contracted our first family cold of the season and in the miserable middle of it, Laurel and I found great fun and relief in California Baby’s Colds & Flu Bubble Bath
The herbal, biodegradable Colds & Flu bubble bath is scented with Douglas fir and eucalyptus that effectively cuts through congestion. Laurel and I spent our first moments in the tub (yes, I jumped right in to alleviate my symptoms, although I suppose I could have inhaled from the outside...) gratefully breathing in and out through our nose holes, and then she quickly forgot her cold and went crazy over the bubbles, both via the foam in the tub and with the included wand. She now wants bubbles at every bath and I plan on trying some of the other yummy aromatherapy scents. I’d just suggest pouring some of the mix into a small, handled plastic cup for your kid to hold during bubble blowing. Otherwise, you risk losing the whole 13 oz. bottle in the tub to giggly, slippery paws.
As I’ve been trolling for fall shoes, I’ve come to realize that I have something of a case of foot claustrophobia. I want barely there and easy on/off (the latter being a mom essential actually), and I’m already lamenting the end of flip-flop season. With athletic footwear, however, there’s little choice but to lace up, and thanks to a review partnership with The Parent Bloggers Network and Ryka, I’ve had the chance to test a couple of pairs of Ryka sneakers and identify which ones do and do not make my feet hyperventilate, so to speak.
New to Ryka, I was pleased to check out their collection and see a variety of stylishly designed kicks for various fitness scenarios, and learn about their commitment to women’s health and wellness organizations across the country (they're giving away 50 pairs of shoes and tees every day through October, with a “matching shoe” philanthropy program). Of their fall collection, I ended up testing both the MC2 Walk and the MC2 Run.
Given that walking is my primary mode of fitness, my initial preference was to test the MC2 Walk, but due to said foot claustrophobia, I quickly found that these shoes were not going to work for me. While the design of the MC2 Walk is better than most goofy looking walking sneakers, the shoes still felt cumbersome (as I’ve found is typical with walking sneakers). More critically, I encountered my (again) typical problem with walking shoes; that the ultra-supportive construction doesn’t allow much give in the toe box, putting painful pressure on the bunion of one foot.
After consultation with a Ryka rep about the walking shoe’s fit points, I received the MC2 Run. And while I know it’s not advised to walk extensively in running shoes, I can and will walk anywhere in this treat for my claustrophobic feet. Supportive and comfortable yet blissfully lightweight, the mesh construction both allows feet to breathe and offers flexibility for variably shaped feet. I also found the styling to be both fashionable and unexpectedly functional; the darker grey tones offer a cool, urban edge and provided camouflage when Laurel spilled chocolate ice cream all over my feet. Now that’s a shoe that works for you.
This is, in web terms, old news, but I just heard this morning about the current (maddening) dispute between Harvard medical student Sophie Currier and the National Board of Medical Examiners, who rejected her request for additional break time during the 9-hour licensing exam in order to pump breast milk for her 4-month-old daughter (see Globe 9/21, NYT 9/10). Clearly, the board doesn’t include members who have suffered engorgement, leaking breasts, or the trying ritual of pumping, and they should be embarrassed by this outright lack of practical and physiological consideration for modern working mothers.
As new parents (and professionals who have served the applied and educational medical trenches), Jon and I relied on the web and The Baby Book
“During recent family travel, I was reminded of my favorite books of remedies. Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child
This book recently served me well as I investigated easy remedies for my six-year-old son Gabriel’s motion sickness. Our travel plans involved a two-hour drive and about 4 hours of flying time (not consecutive). This past spring, Gabriel had gotten sick on a long car ride, giving me flashbacks of my own childhood. As a kid I wasn’t even able to manage the drive to our cottage without taking medication. Usually, I slept through every trip, and missed the spectacular wildlife that surrounds my hometown. I was reluctant to assign Gabriel the same fate. We grudgingly bought our bottle of Gravol, but when Gabe learned that it might make him sleepy, he said that he wasn’t okay with taking a medication that did that. I can’t say that I blame him.
On the hunt for an alternative with fewer side effects, I came across Sea-Bands
The sea-band is based on the use of acupressure to treat the symptoms of motion sickness. I looked up motion sickness in my book and, sure enough, the alternative medicine recommendations made reference to acupressure. The spot that needs pressure to alleviate nausea is about 3 finger widths from the first crease in your wrist, on the inside of your arm. I had a brilliant idea; over the next week, Gabriel and I practiced how he could administer his own acupressure treatment. I helped him gauge how much pressure to apply, and where he should press. Ten seconds on one arm, ten seconds on the other. The day of the trip, I marked two X’s on the spots he should press if he needed to. At the very least, I thought, perhaps there would be a placebo effect. If he thought he had some control over whether he got sick or not, maybe he would be okay. (I still outfitted the car and carry-on luggage with plenty of Ziploc bags and wipes, just in case.)
Gabriel did not get sick on this trip. For the next trip, I will probably order some Sea-Bands; it’s a little easier, I think (although the idea of being allowed to write on himself with pen was attractive!). I’ll order a set for me too, because in trying to make sure he didn’t have a childhood full of “sick trips,” I forgot that I never outgrew my tendency to have motion sickness, and spent most of the flight home a little green. The boys had to spend the last 40 minutes of our flight with nothing to do because I couldn’t move to get them more activities out of their well-stocked travel bags. I guess there is a reason they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first.”
If I could free up one degree of craft freedom in my life, I would - hands down - take sewing lessons. And I just wish I lived close enough to LuckyStitches in Haydenville (just outside of Northampton), where New York trained artist Zanne Blair teaches everything from the basics (hems, zippers), to construction and embellishments (t-shirts, jeans, appliqué), to holiday 101 (costumes, tree skirts).
Lucky Western Mass mamas: want to win a $150 gift certificate towards classes at LuckyStitches? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “LuckyStitches” in the subject) and tell us what a LuckyStitches “sew-cial” is. We'll draw one winner from the correct responders.
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
MomFinds is giving away a Tiny Love Tropic Isle Activity Mat (shown), guaranteed to “take baby away” for hours of tropical back-lyin’ and tummy time fun. Healthy Bump considers the Plush Pad from Ah Goo Baby the Rolls Royce of portable diaper changing pads. Moms Buzz offers a downloadable table to help you learn the difference between allergies and colds. One Chic Mama begins their celebration of chic mamas from all walks of life. And Clever Parents features Jacob’s Cure, the organization that promotes research for and raises awareness about Canavan Disease.
I’m hard pressed not to pounce on any fresh baked treats that are set before me, but there truly is something uniquely cozy and comforting about cobbler (and no, it’s not just because you can rationalize the fruit intake). And while there's still some good summer produce available, try Jules's new cobbler recipe. No doubt it’ll make your weekend even sweeter.
"The only time I ever really crave fruit is in the summer, when berries are round and plump, peaches and nectarines leave their juices behind on your chin, and everywhere you turn, there are fruit salads and cobblers galore. As fall approaches and the last days of summer linger, I always begin to get excited about making cobblers. In cooler weather, I focus on apples, but while we still have fresh summer fruit, I take full advantage of the local, organic farms’ bright offerings. In my opinion, the best cobbler is one that displays the beauty of the fruit but also has plenty of the “cobbler-y” stuff: the buttery and sugar topping that for many of us really is the best part. Here is my recipe for a peach and raspberry cobbler, but no need to be wedded to these fruits; use whatever fruit looks good that day.
Ingredients:
1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Place sliced peaches, orange juice, and ¼ cup granulated sugar in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir gently for about 5 minutes, until sugar begins to dissolve and peaches begin to soften.
2. Remove peaches from heat and very gently stir in raspberries, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. Only stir until combined, as to not completely rupture the raspberries. Allow entire mixture to cool in refrigerator while you begin to make the topping.
3. In a Cuisinart, combine flour, light brown sugar, salt, and ½ cup granulated sugar. Pulse Cuisinart for a few seconds to incorporate dry ingredients. Slowly, pulse in cubed, chilled butter, about two tablespoons at a time until all butter is incorporated. The mixture should look like wet sand.
4. Remove cooled fruit mixture from fridge and, using a slotted spoon to omit most of the residual juice, layer entire mixture on bottom of baking dish. Using your hands, sprinkle all of topping mixture over fruit mixture. It may seem like a lot, but much of it will dissolve into the juices underneath.
5. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream."
Click here for the printable PDF of Jules's recipe.
Busy, curious, and appropriately clumsy little hands typically create food messes of the alternately marvelous and maddening variety. For full coverage, check out Petite Violette’s fabulous food smocks. Constructed of vintage and modern coated cotton patterns (our fave is Blue Zoo, shown), these lightweight, easy to clean smocks are unique in extending all the way around the back. We can’t guarantee that your shirt will make it out of the meal unscathed, but these food (or art) smocks will help preserve your kid’s shirt beyond one meal.
Want to win a Petite Violette smock? Email us by midnight EST tonight and name another product that Petite Violette offers. We'll draw one winner from the correct responders (US entrants eligible).
And for those who’d like to shop now, Petite Violette is offering an exclusive deal for Boston Mamas readers. Use code BOSTONMAMAS at checkout to receive free shipping.
Whenever I have a tough day with my one kiddo, moms of multiples loom even more impressive in my mind. So I’m thrilled to introduce new guest contributor Heather, a fabulous Boston mama to a 4-year-old daughter and 8-month-old triplets. Among other things, Heather will offer content on parenting multiples; today, she writes on a terrific Massachusetts-based group that supports families of triplets+ across New England:
“I had never considered myself a 'support group' person, but when we discovered that we were expecting triplets, I felt a desperate need to communicate with other women who had been there, done that. There are many 'multiples' organizations available, and, after researching these groups, I felt that Triplets, Moms, and More was the right fit for us. I joined TMM and I can honestly say that it was the best decision. I was welcomed with open arms into this amazing group of families spanning diverse demographics (age, race, religion, socioeconomic, etc.) yet aligned by one important constant: we all have higher-order multiples (triplets or more). The support and advice I have received from my TMM friends over the past year has been priceless.
TMM is a Massachusetts-based support group for families and families-to-be of triplets, quads, and more. They are a multi-state support network, currently made up of several regional group locations throughout Massachusetts, with membership extending into New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine.
TMM provides opportunities for families to address the unique aspects of parenting higher-order multiples. Recognizing that the stress of parenting multiples can be overwhelming at times, TMM provides support, encouragement, information, and real-life advice to women and their families throughout pregnancy and post delivery via their Strive for 35® mentor program. Support activities, primarily organized by region, include monthly Mom's Night Out, Dad's Night Out, playgroups, and seasonal gatherings for the whole family. They also publish a monthly newsletter, filled with personal stories, pictures, medical information, helpful advice, and more. An on-line discussion also is available exclusively to TMM members. Triplets, Moms, and More also facilitates the passing along of clothing, equipment, etc., when a family has outgrown them.
I will be forever indebted to this exceptional group of men and women, and hope that someday I will be able to give back to this group as much as I have gained.”
Here’s a novel idea for some of your tired, outgrown baby clothing. Head to the Children’s Museum in Easton this Sunday (9/23, 11am - 4pm) for their Scarecrow Stomp fall family festival, where you can craft a spooky scarecrow to take home (CME provides the stuffing) and enjoy other fall crafts, games, and music. Admission includes the Scarecrow Stomp + entrance to the museum’s exhibits.
Want to win four tickets to the Scarecrow Stomp? Email us by midnight EST tonight and name another fun special event on CME’s schedule. We’ll draw one winner from the correct responders.
As convenient as chain coffee shops are, I won’t go anywhere near the baked goods, instead holding out for the nearest independent bakery where I can be pretty certain that “fresh baked” doesn’t mean that my treat was pulled out of the freezer earlier that morning (after spending who knows how long in transit from baked good headquarters). This afternoon, Kate writes on a lovely downtown spot to indulge both sweet and savory cravings:
“Many of us remember visiting old-fashioned bakeries as children - the smell of the frosting, the look of the display cases, the sound of butcher paper wrapping up treats that were colorful, sprinkled, and certain to make both your mouth water and your tummy ache. Most communities had their own local bakeries, and they were the go-to place for special occasion cakes, cookies for jobs well done, and last-minute party gifts. The city of Boston is now home to the modern version of just such a place, and it is a welcome addition for anyone with a sweet tooth or just a love of the sweet smell of baking. The Spotted Apron, located at the base of Cambridge Street near Massachusetts General Hospital, offers a soothing counterpoint to the hustle of Charles Circle, with creamy yellow walls, chairs, tables, and a counter along the window for people-watching. The menu offers a selection of sandwiches, empanadas, and salads, but the focus is really on the baked goods: mini-cakes (the carrot is especially terrific), cupcakes, a wide variety of cookies, scones, and muffins, all of which tempt the weary office-worker, hungry child, or two friends out for an evening. Visit The Spotted Apron, and remember everything that made childhood trips to the bakery such a treat.”
The Spotted Apron, 326 Cambridge Street, Boston; Tel: 617-624-9700
Parents of kids under 5 who fear, are on the brink of, or feel trapped in the over-parenting frenzy must read Practical Wisdom for Parents: Demystifying the Preschool Years
Split into two sections - “school” and “home” - the authors/educators first walk parents through preschool options, the daily curriculum, separation anxiety, socialization, development, and the transition to kindergarten. They then cover an amazing range of “home” topics, such as routines, mealtimes, manners, family systems, discipline, morals and ethics, fostering independence, supporting play, talking about difficult topics, and family downtime. Throughout these sections, the book is replete with concrete tips and examples of how to handle various situations in a way that is supportive of your child while still – appropriately – being in charge. The authors also provide lists of recommended children’s books to help parents have conversations with their kids about various topics (e.g., starting school, friendship, feelings, self-esteem, manners, difficult topics).
Reading this book was aptly timed with Laurel’s transition to preschool this month and the departure of some of her friends, whose parents desired more “academically rigorous” preschool programs (truly, I still don’t even get what that really means for 3 year olds). It has made me sad to think of these kids hitting the fast track at age 3 and so I really took to heart, in particular, two statements presented by Schulman and Birnbaum. First, that a quality early childhood program can do a lot of things, but cannot guarantee a child’s success later in life, replace the importance of parents, or be a substitute for spending time with children (i.e., confidence and competence in kids is fostered through parental support and love, not a preschool that touts being Ivy League prep). Second, that the joys of our own childhoods - invariably “playing with my friends” not “learning French” - are the things that our own kids also will enjoy, learn from, and grow while doing.
Want to win a copy of Practical Wisdom for Parents
Laurel loves cuddling up for story time, and we were grateful to receive several wonderful birthday books to infuse new life into her library. Jon Muth’s Zen Shorts
I have yet to meet a mama who doesn’t grumble about the overwhelming nature of household minutia. And if your to-do list is getting the best of you, consider the creative concierge services of Lisa’s Hands of Time, where owner Lisa Schreider uses her resourcefulness and cheery energy to kick your shopping, errand running, and organizational needs to the curb so your time can be more happily spent. Overwhelmed moms will do well to hint or directly ask for a Hands of Time gift certificate, stat.
Want to win 2 hours of Lisa’s services ($100 value)? Email us by midnight EST tonight and name a specific service that Lisa offers that you desperately want help with. Also include the town you live in; entrants must live within the Greater Boston & Metro West areas (e.g., Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, Needham, Wellesley, etc.).
Before the weather turns frigid, I wanted to write a post about tie dyeing, the central activity of Laurel’s recent Color Party. I obsessed about this topic more than I’d care to admit because I wanted the activity to be fun, safe, and hopefully minimal in the mess department for both kids and parents. I’m thrilled that the activity worked out favorably on each of these counts; here are the tips to get your own groovy color party going.
You will need:
Preparing the dye:
Follow the instructions on the package, but in short, all you need to do is pour the dye package in the bowl, add 1 cup of salt (to help set the dye), and add hot tap water (by the time everyone started the process the water had cooled down to a safe temperature). I believe the package said to use only 2 cups of water per packet and I definitely used more than that – probably about 1 quart or more. This worked fine and produced lovely colors but next time around I’d probably not dilute as much since there was plenty of dye and the less water, the quicker and more vivid the color.
Also set aside a big bowl of water for the pre-soak process. Pre-soaking makes it easier to twist the tee and have it stay in place while you attach the rubber bands.
Dyeing the shirts:
Here are the instructions I included in the tie dye bags:
[**Note: I rinsed the tee then ran it through the dryer to set and it worked fine. I've since run the tee through the laundry with other clothes without a problem.]
Final Notes:
Second (and subsequent) babies tend to get a bit overlooked goody-wise, which is why we dig the cute Baby Outfit & Sibling Tee gift boxes from Sofia Bean. Packaged in a sturdy, reusable signature box, playful designs (the 4 Dogs are a great choice) are embroidered on hats and onesies for baby (pants also are included) and screen printed on sibling tees. If this combo doesn’t suit, you can select individual pieces, choose from a variety of gift packages, or build your own box. Everyone wins; baby #2 finally gets some new duds, and baby #1 doesn’t feel left out.
Want to win this gift box from Sofia Bean? Email us by midnight EST tonight and name a non-clothing product that Sofia Bean carries. We'll draw one winner from the correct responders (US entrants eligible).
And for those who’d like to shop now, Sofia Bean is offering an exclusive deal for Boston Mamas readers. Use code BostonMamas15 to receive 15% off one order.
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Healthy Bump reviews SmartMom Jewelry’s "Teething Bling" (shown). One Chic Mama features the O, Yikes! Bag, which combines style with function to create a perfect bag for busy moms (and dads). Classy Mommy’s fantasy find is Table Five Design’s Cinderella Carriage bed. Moms’ Buzz showcases hot product picks for September.
Clever Parents tackles the question “Will my body ever be the same as it was before I got pregnant?” And MomFinds features the best tips, tricks and products to help send your little one off to dreamland.
As Jon and I adjust to juggling his new multi-site schedule and my work needs, one car, the never ending list of household errands (requiring said one car), and Laurel’s periodic resistance to heading to her new preschool room, it seems as if we spend an inordinate amount of time figuring out how many minutes it takes to do X, Y, or Z. And this morning’s realization that I’d do well to trade sitting-in-rush-hour minutes for much needed exercise was well timed with a blog blast our pals at The Parent Bloggers Network are running in conjunction with Ryka. All bloggers are invited to submit posts today (by midnight PST) about how you stay active with kids in the mix; randomly selected bloggers will win sneakers or an entire outfit (including sneakers) from Ryka (click here for details)!
I’ve written before on finding a reason to walk, but this morning offered a particularly good example of how, if you need to get from point A to point B while crossing the urban jungle during rush hour, you might as well walk. I needed to get to the periodontist, didn’t have the car, and figured that it would take about the same amount of time to walk the 3+ miles as it would to walk to and wait at the bus stop, sit in traffic, and make it from the bus terminal to the office (same goes for fighting traffic by car and circling for a parking space). So I tossed on my sneakers and it was pretty gratifying to hoof it past the traffic and arrive at my destination with a much clearer head and the decidedly pleasant (and infrequent) feeling of fatigued legs. Not to mention that I also knocked off a couple of quick errands at the bank and post office en route.
After my appointment, I planned on taking the bus home since traffic had cleared up and I needed to get back to work, but I decided to start walking until the next bus came along. I started brainstorming about some writing and design projects, and before I knew it I had made it all the way to my favorite smoothie stop about a half mile from home, and realized that no buses had even passed by in the 3 mile stretch I’d already covered (i.e., I would have spent all that walking time waiting at the grubby bus terminal).
I used to be very committed to hitting the gym regularly, but I – like most non-celebrity moms – have found it extremely difficult to work dedicated fitness time back into my life as a mom. So instead, I’ve focused on trying to cut myself some slack over a (far) less than rock solid body, and instead create healthful opportunities in the day to day, whether it’s foregoing the car to get Laurel to school or do errands, or doing stretches while Laurel and I play with toys on the rug or out at the park. And as lunatic as it may sound, given that I log a ridiculous amount of hours at my office or art desk, I’ll even push back my chair and hold long stretches or squats while I’m writing or editing or trimming paper for a design project. It may not be terribly mindful, but these days, I’ll take what I can get.
Little bookworms no doubt will delight in the Boston Globe Children's Book Festival at Copley Square tomorrow (Sat., Sept. 15) from 11am – 5pm. This free, rain or shine event is particularly well suited to kids up to 9-10 years old; the schedule includes readings and signings by children's authors and illustrators, performances, face painting, giveaways, and more.
I’ve always been a big list maker; there used to be satisfaction simply in jotting down the to-dos and seeing them ch