I know many, many moms who have experienced breastfeeding woes, so I feel gratitude every day that nursing has worked out so easily and so well for me and my girls. In honor of tomorrow's kick off of World Breastfeeding Week, I wanted to share a roundup of 14 helpful posts (including one that's actually handy post-nursing) for breastfeeding moms; most are from my feeding and nursing archive, of which there are many more articles if you wish to peruse! Whether you've nursed your baby for one day or one or more years, you've given your baby a great gift. Go mamas!

1. Investigating gear? Here's a pump primer.

2. How to balance nursing and pumping in the early months.

3. Advice for handling formula obsessed relatives (be sure to read the comments too; lots of great suggestions there).

4. A way to keep track of nursing frequency and side.

5. Hands down (or should I say hands free?), the best nursing purchase I've made this go around.

6. A great resource for new moms, including tips on breastfeeding.

7. A recent guest post I shared at Bravado's blog, including 5 tips for active breastfeeding moms.

8. I'm already thinking ahead a month or two to when I start introducing Violet to solids (e.g., mixing breastmilk with a little cereal) and will be using this resource a lot.

9. One of my Stonyfield columns on infusing calcium into your diet -- especially important for nursing mamas!

10. No joke, I have been living in these nursing tanks since Violet was born.

11. Tips for handling biting during breastfeeding.

12. How to handle breastfeeding when returning to work.

13. The dad factor and breastfeeding.

14. And what to do once you're done with your nipple cream.

Image credit: World Breastfeeding Week

Posted by Christine Koh on 31 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Feeding & Nursing; Gear; Mama in the Workplace; Pregnancy & Postpartum
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This week has been crazy so I'm behind on sifting through my calendar pitches. However, I wanted to share two events that have been on my radar for some time now. Indie artist collective Boston Handmade (how awesome is this Zen monkey?) will host a marketplace in Union Square tomorrow, and the Lowell Folk Festival runs today through the weekend. We've taken Laurel in years past and it's a terrific event. Happy weekend!

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local; Retail
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Today, Sheri continues our Curbing the Summer Slump series with fun ideas to engage your kids in social studies:

Boston is an amazing place full of historical experiences to explore. The first colonists began to rebel again England, and the American Revolution started right in our backyard. Even if you aren't ready for the full history end of it, social studies boil down to the study of the communities in which we live. This summer you can experience so much historically and socially with your kids while enjoying the outdoors. Here are my top picks for learning experiences to engage and expand your child's mind this summer -- both in and out of the city, as well as in your own neighborhood.

Freedom Trail. Enjoy an afternoon in downtown Boston with your family walking the 2.5 mile red brick marked Freedom Trail. Grab lunch and picnic near the Frog Pond playground and wading pool after you finish the walking path. The Freedom Trail is full of history and you see the sights of the first Revolutionaries, the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere's house, and the meeting house where Patriots met in secret. You can print your own map at the Freedom Trail website. This activity is best for upper elementary age children for comprehension, but enjoyable for the stroller bound as well, especially if your journey ends at the Frog Pond playground.

Duck Boat Tours. The famous Boston Duck Tours are fun for all ages. This is a guided tour of the major Boston sites leading to the American Revolution and is great for those who prefer the fun, engaging tour guides. If you pay close attention and can answer the questions correctly, you may even get to drive the boat once in the harbor! You can board the Ducks at three locations: Prudential Center, the Science Museum, or the New England Aquarium. Admission can get a bit expensive (yes, they even charge for infants), but with a group of 20+ you can get discounted rates.

Minuteman Trail & the Minuteman National Historical Park. Feel like hiking and experiencing a bit of history through the eyes of famous Concord authors? You and your family should check out the Minuteman National Park daily ranger programs that run until October. Visit the site where the first shot of the American Revolution was fired -- also known as the shot heard around the world! The park offers many activities throughout the summer, such as reenactments, storytelling, musical performances, and guided tours.

Salem. Not for the very young or easily spooked, Salem is home to the history of the witch trials of the 1690's, when innocent colonists were accused of witchcraft. Salem is a great day trip, approximately 30 minutes north of Boston. There are several attractions to explore such as the Pirate Museum, Salem Witch Museum, House of Seven Gables, the 3D Haunted Museum (high-tech and history combine), Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery (think of a wax museum of spooky famous characters), witch trial reenactment, and witch's dungeon, as well as many craftsman shops and often street performers during the summer.

And in your community... For those who may not be ready for the above agendas, explore your local community spots that are terrific for little learners. The best spots for little ones are your local fire department, police station, post office, farmer's markets, and local farms. As you explore these locations, talk about the jobs that each offer and how each serve the community. Each site creates unique and fun learning experiences!

Have questions or suggestions? Please share in the comments below!

Image credit: purchased stock image via 123RF.

Posted by Christine Koh on 28 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Particularly given how hot it's been this summer, when I need to head out for meetings or events, I love the concept of the sleek ponytail -- in which you make a ponytail, wrap a piece of hair from the ponytail around the elastic, and bobby pin the hair wrap into place. However, my hair is thick and super straight, which makes pinning difficult; not to mention that I've always found it hard to see whether things look even in the back.

A few weeks ago I bought this ponytail wrap at Sephora and it has proven a super quick hair fix. Simply loop the wrap as you would a regular ponytail elastic (taking care to remember to face it so that it ends hair side on top) and you're done. A sleek and polished looking ponytail in seconds!

I was interested to see that the comments about this product (on the Sephora site) are pretty varied. I did see a few strands of breakage after the first few uses but the wrap still looks great -- I would simply recommend handling the ponytail holder with care (i.e., keeping stretching and twisting to a minimum). Also, with black hair, color selection is a no brainer, but I'd also recommend going to the store to see if the color matches for brown and blonde work for you instead of purchasing online.

Posted by Christine Koh on 27 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health
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Today, Jennifer shares two book recommendations from local neuroscientist turned author Lisa Genova:

At first "back-of-the-book-jacket" glance, the topics of local author Lisa Genova's first two novels may seem on the heavy side for beachside reading, but trust me, you won't be able to put them down. Lisa -- who happens to have a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard -- does an amazing job of literally getting inside the heads of her characters to tell their compelling stories.

Her first novel, Still Alice, is a beautiful and heartwarming (yes, heartwarming) portrayal of Alice, a Harvard professor in her early 50's who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. As an active volunteer with the MA/NH chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, I can tell you that this book goes a long way in educating people on this disease. And this novel is so unique in that it's from the perspective of Alice. You come to learn and understand what it's like inside her world. But even if you've never had personal experience with this often misunderstood disease, it's a great read and a wonderful story about hope, acceptance, and how we choose to live our lives.

Lisa's second book, Left Neglected, tells the story of Sarah, a high-powered exec and mother of three on the fast track to burning out. One day her life is changed forever when she suffers a devastating head injury in a car accident, leaving her with a unique and bizarre neurological condition called "left neglect." With the left side of her world essentially erased, we share in Sarah's recovery as she struggles to figure out her new world, while she begins to understand what she may have been missing from her old.

I really enjoyed these books and am looking forward to Genova's third novel, Love Anthony, which is scheduled to come out in 2013. Happy reading!

Posted by Christine Koh on 26 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups
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Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Janelle via Twitter. Janelle asked me for some ideas for unique baby shower gifts. Having enjoyed a baby shower for Violet earlier this year and given my minimalist tendencies, my preference definitely leans towards practical, but sometimes practical also equals unique! Here are some of my favorite ideas -- spanning practical and pretty.

Hi Janelle,

Thanks for your query, which I couldn't answer through Twitter because my response would never fit in 140 characters! Here are some of my favorite ideas for unique baby shower gifts, in no particular order.

1. When we were expecting my first daughter Laurel, my in-laws knew we wanted to go with cloth diapering and gifted us with a cloth diaper service for 6 months. It was the perfect gift for this eco-friendly mom-to-be who didn't want to worry about more laundry (beyond little onesies and things)!

2. When I was on my pseudo-maternity leave, my friend Amy Turn Sharp wrote a lovely guest post sharing her four favorite baby things; I think the organic baby rattles she recommended are really unique. (And yay for supporting indie businesses!)

3. The nested birthstone rings from Luna & Stella make for a really pretty gift. What I love is that you can continue to add on rings if/when you expand your family.

4. While I was pregnant with Violet, I made a belly cast with one of the belly cast kits from Belly Vita and Laurel painted it. The cast sits on our dining room cabinets and we get comments on it constantly; it's a really special way to commemorate pregnancy.

5. I'm a big fan of usable gifts and I love the soaps and other delights at Abe's Market and Soaptopia. They'd be lovely in a little self care basket.

6. And speaking of baskets, I think a gift basket loaded with children's books would be a fantastic gift for an expecting mom. You can see Boston Mamas book picks here, and also, my friend Gabrielle of Design Mom recently posted a wonderful list of her top 50 picture books (she has 6 kids so she speaks from experience!).

7. We've been getting a ton of use out our Oshi Mat with baby Violet. It's a different sort of pick than a typical play gym mat and I love that it's smaller and less of an eyesore too! The mat also is eco-friendly and comes with a travel bag -- it came in handy this weekend when we were visiting family who are well out of the baby zone.

8. My friend Gretchen Rubin made an excellent case for having professional photographs taken of your newborn. If your friend is local, there are lots of wonderful photographers (all mamas!) in my Boston Mamas mamapreneur business network. Otherwise, look up family photographers where your friend lives and get her a gift certificate to go towards a photo session.

9. When a friend of mine was coping with cancer treatment, another friend coordinated weekly dinner drop offs via Lotsa Helping Hands. I think coordinating a group of friends/family for dinner drop offs would be a fantastic and unique gift for a new mom. We were immensely grateful for dinner drop offs after Violet was born.

10. Also in the services department, a gift certificate for a house cleaning would be fantastic. Because the last thing a new mom wants to do is chase dust bunnies.

11. I'm a designer so perhaps I'm a bit biased, but I love personalized thank you cards. If you want to go the extra mile, include a package of stamps and a nice pen so your friend has all of her correspondence needs in one place when she's writing her thank you cards.

12. Never underestimate the power of a gift certificate for a mani/pedi or general spa treatment. I received a couple of these at my baby shower and it has been fantastic cashing them in!

13. I think a Moses basket makes for a really special gift. I gifted a girlfriend with a higher end model several years ago, but another thoughtful alternative would be to get a less expensive model (the one pictured at the above link is only $30) and load it with something like diapers. Super cute, special, and functional.

14. Finally, I will say that for my second daughter, a girlfriend hosted a secondhand baby shower for me, which was just fantastically eco-friendly and saved us tons of money. And one of the super awesome generous gifts? A hand me down jogging stroller. Perfect for this running mama.

I hope these ideas are helpful Janelle -- I'd love to hear what you decide on for a gift!

Image credit: Stuart Miles via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have a question for Christine? Drop her a line! And of course feel free to comment in if you have recommendations beyond those made above.

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Dear Boston Mamas; Gifts & Paper; Home; Pregnancy & Postpartum; Web (Admin)
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Today, ten bloggers -- including my incredibly talented friends Jennifer James, Cooper Munroe, Emily McKhann, Lindsay Maines, Karen Walrond, and Jyl Pattee -- will begin their journey to Kenya via ONE, a nonprofit that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease through public awareness and political advocacy campaigns. These bloggers will share reports that will undoubtedly instill us all with gratitude for the small and large things in our lives. I'm honored to be a volunteer partner in the ONE Moms movement, and through this role I'll share here and/or on Twitter or Facebook about what's happening in Kenya.

Meanwhile, I encourage you all to join the movement and sign up to be a ONE Mom (or Dad!). The goal is to get 10,000 parents to join the movement to end extreme poverty. There's no money ask here; joining (just enter your name, email, and zip code in the right sidebar here...it literally takes less than a minute of your time) simply adds your voice to the call to preserve funding for education, health, and agricultural initiatives in impoverished regions.

If you want to keep tabs on ONE beyond what I'll share over the next week, you can follow along at the ONE blog and via the ONE Twitter account and #ONEMoms feed.

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Good Deeds
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Oh. my. swelter. Stay hydrated, apply sunscreen, and enjoy these weekend picks:

1. Every year the March for Babies reminds me that I want to spend more time hanging out down on the Esplanade. This weekend you can do just that via Sunday Fun in the Park.

2. The Hyde Park ARTSCENE reminds me of the block parties of my youth.

3. The north shore is always worth a visit...this weekend you could make the Manchester Arts Festival your destination.

4. Or a little closer in, the Salem CultureFest has a full roster of interesting activities.

5. If you need to beat the heat this weekend, consider hoop dancing and a sing/dance-along at Barefoot Books in Concord.

And the + above these five picks: yesterday a follower on Twitter asked me about indoor activity recommendations, given the recent temperatures. Here's a post that offers a range of ideas for indoor fun around town. Enjoy!

Image credit: The Esplanade Association

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today, Sheri continues our Curbing the Summer Slump series (be sure to check out her first post on reading) with fun activities to engage your child in math, spanning preschool/kindergarten to fifth grade:

We're almost halfway through the summer break and there's no better time to brush up on those math skills. Here are some age-appropriate activities that will wake up your child's mathematical mind while engaging them in fun ways.

Beads/macaroni jewelry. Buy a box of elbow macaroni or ziti and some food coloring. Dye uncooked pasta in different colors and once dry have your child sort them by color into bowls. Give a string and a pattern such as ABA (green, yellow, green) on a card and show your child the first sequence. Ask them to string the rest repeating the pattern. For a challenge, give a pattern such as ABBC (green, red, red, blue) and see if they can repeat it.

Number jump. Break out the sidewalk chalk and write the digits 0-9 randomly, about jumping distance from each other in a circle or other shape. Call out a number, turn a card, or roll a set of dice. Have your child jump to the called out number as fast as they can. Repeat with other numbers. This can also be done with a beanbag or water bomb toss for variety.

Egg carton addition. Save an empty egg carton for this activity. Write the numbers 1, 2, 3 inside each egg cup (one number in each). Place 2 buttons or other small objects into the carton and close the box. Have your child shake the carton. Open and have them add the numbers using objects (e.g., beans, marbles, etc.) to count out. For example, if the buttons landed in a 2 and a 3, your child would count out 2 objects and then add 3 more and count all of them together. You can make the numbers more challenging or add a third button to the carton. Using manipulatives is important at this age so that your child can see the process of addition. Finger counting is not the best way for children to count as they can rely too heavily on it. It is better to use objects and have them count on by adding the second number.

Eating fractions. Cut fruit into sections and have your child talk about what fraction they have eaten, and what fraction is left. You can slice an apple and have your child spread different toppings, such as peanut butter, honey, Nutella, cream cheese etc. Talk about the fraction represented by each topping for the total apple. This activity is not limited to fruit and can be adapted to almost any food. Easy, quick math talks can be powerful learning opportunities.

Race to $1. Using a handful or two of coins, place all coins into a paper bag. Have your child roll one die and take that number of coins from the bag. Count the coins and write down the amount. The second player takes the same turn. Repeat the dice roll and coin grab, adding the amount to the first. The winner is the first player to reach or pass $1. This activity can be adjusted using only certain coins (nickels and pennies, nickels and dimes, etc.) or changing the amount the kids race towards.

Card games. Playing cards can be used for so many math activities. Your child can play addition or multiplication war by flipping two cards instead of one. Whoever has the larger sum or product wins that round. So toss a pack of cards into your beach or pool bag and play a quick round of math war while relaxing in the shade of your umbrella.

Back to school shopping spree. Give your child a back to school clothing or supplies catalog (your mail will be full of them in the next few weeks!). Give your child a budget that they need to stay within (e.g., they cannot go over $200). Have them "shop" in the catalog, listing items to be purchased and adding the totals. They will need to subtract from their total budget to make each additional purchase to be sure they have enough. Make sure your child is lining up the decimal points when adding and subtracting so that the place values are lined up. Using graph paper is a great help when using decimals.

Geometric amusement park. Print out geometric polyhedron nets (flattened shapes) for your child to build. Using the built 3D shapes, have your child design an amusement park or town with the shapes. Shapes should be colored and designed before building 3 dimensionally so planning the park or town first is important. Shapes can be glued down to poster board or an empty box for display.

Travel navigator. Give your child the map and a highlighter on your next road trip. Have them highlight and calculate the trip as you go, figuring out how far is left so that you can be the one asking "Are we there yet?"

Whatever activity you choose, the fact that you are engaging your child in mathematical thinking is key! Talking about math concepts is equally valuable and can happen anywhere you go this summer as you notice geometric shapes around you, calculate admission costs, count endlessly, estimate elapsed time, and measure favorite recipes. Math is all around us so take advantage and share the experiences with your child this summer.

Have questions or suggestions? Please share in the comments below!

Image credit: purchased stock image via 123RF.

Posted by Christine Koh on 21 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Development & Behavior
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Through the Mom's the Word on Dinner conversation series I'm part of via Momversation, it's become clear that dinnertime often involves either battles or bonding for families; to that effect, you can check out a recent video and conversation on how dinner is best characterized in your house. Meanwhile, this conversation thread got me thinking and I wanted to share 5 ways to diffuse mealtime battles. These strategies have been really effective for us and I hope they are helpful to you! If you have other tips, feel free to share in the comments here or over at the video post.

1. Present a united front and be consistent. If you have a parenting partner, present a united front, and whether you're parenting solo or in tandem, be consistent. This concept is often raised from a discipline standpoint and I think the same goes for food too, whether it relates to manners, how much of and what you expect your child to eat or try, etc. Battles will ensue between parent and child and parent and parent if one grownup feels relegated to the bad guy role and if you're inconsistent on approach.

2. Shop with your child. I hear from a lot of parents that they don't like taking their kids to the grocery store because it takes longer or they end up with lots of unwanted items in their cart. However, I've found that I really like taking Laurel (and Violet too, actually -- I babywear her and she seems utterly fascinated by the change of scenery and all of the things to look at) with me. Sometimes I'll task Laurel with checking items off the grocery list or ask for her help bagging and selecting items or running the peanut butter or coffee grinding machine -- she loves all of these little jobs and they occupy her, thus preventing the "Can we get this and this and this?" questions. And when we're in the produce section, I ask Laurel if there are new vegetables or fruits that she'd like to try, to encourage her towards new whole foods. Finally, if you'd like to avoid the temptations of the regular grocery store (i.e., the junk food aisles), hit the farmer's market together. Giving your child the autonomy to pick out some items will help them be excited about eating and diffuse battles.

3. Enlist your mini sous chef. Regular readers know that I'm a proponent of cooking with kids. Stock your kitchen with kid-friendly cooking tools and enlist your little helper. Laurel is always more excited about eating things that she has helped make, thus avoiding mealtime battles. Also, getting savvy in the kitchen has inspired her to cook us dinner on more than one occasion!

4. Get feedback but don't be a short order cook. I find that mealtime battles often center around parents presenting food and kids not wanting to eat it. We have always tried to work towards having Laurel eat whatever we're eating, but during toddlerhood that was definitely more challenging. Early on we got in the habit of getting input from Laurel about what to eat for dinner (then not falling into the short order cook trap of making her a million other things) and we've found that getting her feedback increases the odds that she'll eat what we make, and has also resulted in cool things like vegetarian week (yes, the girl who used to refuse vegetables inspired vegetarian week!) and better meal planning in general.

5. Remain calm. I know it can be hard to remain calm when you're feeling annoyed and frustrated, but Jon and I always find that battles are more quickly diffused when we don't become entrenched in the drama. Just take a deep breath (step away if you need to) and return once you feel more distanced from the emotion.

If you have additional tips I'd love to hear them! Share them with the community in the comments below or over at the video post.

Image credit: Carlos Porto via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Feeding & Nursing; Momversation; Web (Admin)
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Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Jen via Facebook:

Hi Christine, I just had my third little boy. He is a joy. Although I successfully breast-fed my first two sons, I was not successful in getting my second son to use a bottle (which led me to be resentful towards the end), so I have taken your advice and started my baby on a bottle at three weeks. I was wondering about how often you pump and provide bottles to keep up your supply and still be able to nurse? I've forgotten how I managed with my first son.

Hi Jen,

Congratulations on your third son!

I hope everything -- including bottle feeding -- is going well! Having experienced major bottle battles with Laurel (the parents did not emerge as the winners there...) it is such a huge relief that Violet takes the bottle since it means others can experience the joy of feeding her and connecting with her in that way and also so I'm not so constrained time-wise when I'm out.

I'm happy to provide some 101 on pumping. First, I should say that I'm not pumping to maintain a full day supply. If you're back in the office it's generally a tradeoff to replace nursing with pumping. At present, I'm pumping enough so I can have enough for a bottle (or maybe two) each day + gradually banking in the freezer for emergencies and some upcoming travel that I have planned. But in general, I follow the below protocol and the milk supply balance has worked out great. Pumping was trickier at the beginning, after my milk supply came in (um, rather aggressively!) and I'll address that below, but after about 4 weeks, the supply balance leveled off, which has been lovely.

TIMING LOGISTICS:

When. In general, if you're only going to pump once a day, I recommend pumping in the morning, when your supply is highest. For me this also works out well because Violet usually sleeps through the night so I tend to wake up feeling very full and I like to exercise in the morning (it's good to pump before exercise to prevent leakage/discomfort).

How long. During my hospital stay with Violet I needed to pump to produce extra milk for Vi while she was undergoing jaundice treatment. The nurse told me to pump 15 minutes, no more. For some reason that time recommendation really stuck in my head as awesome, particularly since I had some awful days pumping for Laurel, where I'd pump for half an hour or more and get very little (meaning, I spent a lot of time, didn't get much, and was totally bummed out). So, I pump for 15 minutes only per session, unless I'm super-productive (see next point). If I have low producing days, I don't worry about it -- just disconnect and move on with my day!

Negotiating morning timing, Scenario #1. If I wake up around 6 or 7 am and Violet is still asleep, I pump right away (i.e., before feeding Violet). I usually will get 5+ ounces per side in 10 minutes and it feels rather victorious because the bottles are full and I've finished 5 minutes earlier! Also, I use this hands-free pumping bustier so I can have my hands free to triage e-mail on my phone, comb Laurel's hair, or what have you. Then whenever Violet wakes up (usually by 8 or 9am) I feed her. If she doesn't seem satiated after one side (with both Laurel and Violet, they were both done after one side per feeding) due to the previous pumping, I'll top her up on the other side.

Negotiating morning timing, Scenario #2. If Violet is awake by 6 or 7am (i.e., when I get up), I'll feed her first (on one side) and then pump not too long after after. (If I'm alone with her, I'll put her in her bouncy chair and chat with her while I pump.) This means that I get one full bottle and one not so full bottle. Or sometimes the supply surprises me and the output on both sides is the same, even having nursed not too long ago.

Negotiating morning timing, Scenario #3. As I mentioned, Violet usually sleeps through the night (a huge gift, I know), but there are periodic nights where she'll get up -- usually if she poops herself awake or something. If this is the case, Jon changes her and I nurse her back to sleep (I side lie in the bed and we both conk out quickly). If I have nursed once or twice at night and wake up not feeling super full and have a good supply in the fridge (+ the supply in the freezer), I don't sweat it and skip a day of pumping. It's nice to get a break.

MILK STORAGE:

Following a query on animal education birthday parties, reader Melinda wrote in to share feedback on Lil' Folk Farm in Holliston. Thanks, Melinda!

"Lil' Folk Farm was AMAZING. We arrived to real horseshoes that the kids painted. Once everyone was there, we went downstairs to their barn and the kids ran around with bunnies, goats, chickens and sheep. They were very tame and allowed the kids to pet, feed and brush them. The kids went wild. Then we went outside for pony rides, and finally we had cake and a pinata, all in two hours. It was great and the kids loved it."

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Kid's Parties; Local
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As social an animal as I am, I have to admit that I get a little squirrely when faced with the prospect of the "first date" parental chit chat associated with Laurel's playdates with new friends. This week I shared thoughts about playdate drop offs when you don't know the parents. The video is embedded below (it's just over one minute) and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic...whether you agree or disagree with my approach, what age feels right to you for drop offs, etc. Hop on over and share your thoughts at Momversation or feel free to comment in below!

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Momversation; Web (Admin)
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The forecast for the weekend looks sunny and hot -- perfect, in my opinion, for lapping up soft serve ice cream while enjoying any one of these 8 fun weekend picks:

1. I've commented before that there's always something cool happening in Somerville. This evening and tomorrow it's the ArtBeat arts festival.

2. I love this free programming that inspires families to get fit (and enjoy a boat ride) together.

3. Boston rocks for hosting cool cultural festivals; this weekend consider the Boston African Festival and Festival Betances.

4. I've heard so many lovely things about Lynn Woods, and tomorrow they're having a Kids' Day. Yay for kids!

5. And not too far from Lynn, the Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival is underway and runs through the weekend.

6. For families west of the city, consider the Green River Festival. (I'd love to take Laurel on a hot air balloon ride!)

7. The Barnstable County Fair kicks off on the Cape this weekend (and runs until July 23). I suspect my first stop would be the cute sea lions.

8. I'm going to resist making a joke about sandwiches and SandwichFest. Just go have fun already.

Image credit: ArtBeat

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today, Sheri kicks off our Curbing the Summer Slump series with some tips to keep up your child's reading skills this summer:

Studies suggest that children who read as few as six books over the summer maintain the level of reading skills they achieved during the preceding school year. Reading more books leads to even greater success. When children are provided with 10 to 20 self-selected children's books at the end of the regular school year, as many as 50 percent not only maintain their skills, but actually make reading gains. So here is what you can do to be proactive in the reading rally:

Join your local library summer reading initiatives. Most libraries have a summer reading program and if they don't, get vocal and get one started. Join and then commit to going to the library, checking out books, and reading! Establish one morning or day a week that is your library day. The day you go to return books, find new ones and collect the program stamps that libraries offer toward prizes. The stickers and stamps are very motivating and the library is usually buzzing in the summer months. Take advantage of the rainy days or the air conditioning to go more than once. Pack a lunch and picnic on the library lawn with your stack of new books. If your child was sent home with a summer reading list, super, but also don't feel limited to what is on the list. Explore the possibilities of finding new favorites, reread old favorites, try a book on tape or CD, share a book together, and/or start a book group for parents and kids.

Make the local bookstore your drop in and shop stop before a car trip or vacation. Allowing your child to shop for new books makes the excitement about reading even greater. Spend the time browsing authors your child enjoys, series that they have wanted to read, and recommendations of others. Self-selection is truly important when it comes to motivation to read. Just ask any child who has been given $10 to spend at the school book fair. There are so many books to choose from that they easily could create a personalized stack. Once your kids hit their purchasing limit, keep a list of other self-selected titles for the future.

Many parents are concerned about finding books at the right reading level for their kids. My advice to parents is to speak to yours child's teacher so you have an idea of where to guide them in the bookstore. But I never recommend telling a child a book is too hard. If it is a challenging book then you need to project excitement to read it together. Here is a quick guide for how students are taught to select "just right" books for their reading level in school.

Today, Sheri shares the inspiration behind a cool series we're kicking off on curbing the summer slump:

School is out for the summer and parents no doubt are gearing up (or are already geared up) for days filled with play dates, lazy afternoons at the beach, camp carpools, and pool parties. And while I love enjoying all of these things with my son, as a teacher, I'm also attuned to figuring out fun ways to help my son curb the summer academic slump. Teachers and kids work so hard to learn through the year -- and even a little upkeep will help prevent kids from losing ground academically during the two months out of the classroom.

As background: Statistics indicate that students who do not engage in enriching activities for the mind will lose a lot more than most parents think. All students experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. On average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills during the summer months. Reading can take a nose dive more than two levels in the two months out of the structured environment that school provides. These statistics are not as dependent upon socioeconomics or location as many might think. While there are many theories as to why the learning loss occurs, the summer slide is not one that parents should take lightly.

Starting today and over the coming weeks, I'll share enriching activities that you can easily implement this summer. Some may be familiar and some are hopefully new. These strategies are simple to implement and will make a difference for your child! If you've got questions or additional suggestions, feel free to share in the comments!

Sheri's 1st post: READING
Sheri's 2nd post: MATH
Sheri's 3rd post: SOCIAL STUDIES
Sheri's 4th post: WRITING
Sheri's 5th post: SCIENCE

Image credit: meepoohfoto via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (6) | Filed in Development & Behavior
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As many of you know, cancer -- or, rather, the ability to kick cancer to the curb, as my friend Sarah used to say -- has been on my mind. So I wanted to take a moment to encourage you all to contribute to a cool campaign that the American Cancer Society recently launched -- I love this campaign for hinging creativity to raising awareness about the fight against cancer. Through Create More Birthdays, people are encouraged to submit a video singing "Happy Birthday" (nothing fancy required -- just record and load!) and/or original art (photography or graphic, etc.) inspired by the progress being made against cancer.

I'm consulting with the ACS on this campaign so unfortunately I can't submit entries (I've channeled my design efforts for cancer here), but you totally should! The winning musical entry will be featured along with celebrities in the More Birthdays online gallery + a nationwide advertising campaign, and the winning artistic entry will be featured in a custom American Cancer Society card collection on TinyPrints.com. Super cool, no?

The deadline for submissions is July 24 and I hope you'll consider submitting an entry or two. As you can see from the below video (my lovely friend Kristen of Cool Mom Picks), it's quick and easy -- yet can be lovely and powerful -- to share your version of Happy Birthday. I wish you and your loved ones many, many birthdays to come.

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Good Deeds
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Today, Lindsey shares a favorite chapter book -- a great pick to encourage summer reading and inspire thinking about relationships and kindness before the school year starts:

The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, might be my favorite early chapter book. Ever. And that is saying something. Estes' book, written 65 years ago, remains salient and touching, her messages of friendship, kindness, and standing up for yourself as important as ever.

The Hundred Dresses tells the story of Wanda Petronski, a quiet, poor girl who walks to school from the wrong side of the tracks and -- wearing the same clean but shabby dress every single day -- sits by the door of the classroom. Peggy, the most popular girl in school, and Maddie, her eager-to-please sidekick, make fun of Wanda over and over again. They tease her by asking how many dresses she has at home, and she always replies that she has 100 dresses in her closet. The teasing goes on and on, until one day Wanda doesn't come to school.

Wanda is absent for several days, during which she wins a drawing contest in the classroom. In one of the book's few dated details, the contest was for which girl could design and draw the best dress, and which boy could design and draw the best motorboat. The teacher announces that Wanda has won, and displays 100 beautiful color drawings of dresses all around the classroom. Suddenly, shamed to quiet, Peggy and Maddie understand about the life of the imagination and feel terrible remorse when the teacher reads aloud a letter from Wanda's father, announcing that they are moving to another town and citing the teasing of his daughter as one reason.

Maddie is the beating heart of this book. She goes along with Peggy's teasing of Wanda, even though she knows that it is wrong. She is also poor, she tells us, and feared that if Peggy stopped making fun of Wanda she might turn her sights on her. At the end of The Hundred Dresses, the girls' teacher reads aloud a letter from Wanda, which tells where she has moved to and asks that one particular dress drawing be given to each of Peggy and Maddie for Christmas. She turns to those who had hurt her and offers them pure kindness. Wanda's gesture shows the power of kindness: Maddie vows to herself that she will never stand by and say nothing when someone hurts another again.

The author's daughter writes a preface to this book explaining her mother's personal ties to the story. This is a beautifully illustrated, simply and elegantly told tale whose message will resonate for all children. I highly recommend it.

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids
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If you're finding it challenging to get away and/or invest in events this summer, here's a fun way to celebrate staying put at zero cost (except, perhaps, for T fare). Kicking off tomorrow and running through September 1, Summer in the City features a fun roster of weekday family-friendly events covering music, dance, theatre, arts and crafts, and more. All events are free and open to the public and are based in Cambridge.

Image credit: Summer in the City

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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It's hard to believe that today is the 5th birthday of Boston Mamas. It's been an amazing journey -- thank you so much for being a part of it! And on that note...the last few years I have set up giveaways to celebrate the site's birthday, but this spring/summer I've been focusing on baby Violet and our family's adjustment (so, I haven't had time to reach out to giveaway vendors), plus I've been thinking about the site and how to shape it. Which is where you come in! Since you all contribute to the awesomeness of this community, I'd love to hear from you -- will you help me celebrate today's milestone and give me a little gift by completing this quick survey? It literally will only take 1-5 minutes of your time depending on how much you want to comment. Thank you so much in advance!

Image credit: Wrapables ice cream cone candles

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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I can hardly believe that school just let out for Laurel last week. It (happily) feels like we've been in summer mode for a while already! I hope you're all having a fantastic summer -- enjoy these 6 fun weekend picks:

1. You really don't need to twist my arm when it comes to sampling locally produced ice cream.

2. Hooray for the Greenway Open Market -- this new open-air crafts and art market opens tomorrow.

3. I can't remember what the percentage is, but I read somewhere that a startling number of women wear the wrong bra size. Tomorrow you can get fitted (and get a free bra!) via the (free!) Skinny Cow's Perfect Cup event at the Cyclorama.

4. If you and your kids are Harry Potter fans, the Harvard Museum of Natural History Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt kicks off tomorrow.

5. Enjoy a puppet show, arts and crafts, and discounted boat rides at ParkARTs' Summer Fun at the Pond in Jamaica Plain.

6. I love the idea of rocking some downward dog amidst the beauty of the deCordova Sculpture Park.

Image credit: Wilson Farm

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from a friend -- I know lots of new moms have the same question so I'm sharing here:

Dear Christine, I am asking all my friends who have had (or currently have again) newborns: what do you do with them all day? Sometimes I get really bored during the day; is that normal? Does he have to be learning all the time? Is it ok if he just sits there in his bouncer? Going out with a newborn in [my city] is tough! We go out once a day, but nothing too complicated that requires public transportation, not yet. I find myself saying...ok, what are we going to do next? [My son] is amazing...he has such a gentle and sweet demeanor. In the morning when he first gets up we spend about 20 minutes "talking" to each other, then he naps and I shower and we take it from there. Tuesdays are awesome because I go to this fantastic moms group -- just a few, quirky, non-judgmental, amazing women and our babies. We rotate houses and literally stay all day. It rocks.

Here are some thoughts and tips that I shared with my friend. If you've got additional ideas, please share below in the comments!

First, don't be too hard on yourself...it is completely normal to get bored. Newborns don't do a ton and it is possible to get your fill on staring at your baby for hours on end (and I say this as someone who spent a lot of hours gazing at my wee babies!). Many parents find life with little ones more exciting when the babies become more interactive. Even at 3+ months Violet has really "waken up" as a baby...she's so funny and interactive now.

Second, I am really anti-newborn enrichment propaganda. Remember that initially newborns can't even see very far, much less be enriched by videos or whatever. It's the basic contact with loved ones that will be enriching for them in the early months (and beyond).

Now, on to some basic action items...

1. It is awesome that you have a moms group -- keep that up! My first time around I had a lot of nearby friends having babies at the same time so I had my own built in moms group. This time around life is more dictated by Laurel's schedule so we're out and about quite a bit in that respect.

2. I highly recommend getting out and having one adventure a day. With Laurel I always felt really bummed out on the days where I realized that I hadn't left the house, yet couldn't remember what I had done all day. Some of the ways I suggest getting out include: doing on foot/stroller errands with the baby, visiting a cafe, power walking just for fun (and so you can eventually get into your regular clothes again!), seeing if you can find mom/baby friendly movie theatre hours, and meeting a friend for lunch.

3. Try something new where you can meet more new moms (e.g., mom/baby yoga, music together, etc.). When your son gets mobile and you can hit the local playground it will be easier to meet other families, but at the newborn stage it will be harder...hence, classes.

4. Check out your local library to see if there are singalongs and baby friendly programming.

5. My friends Heather and Whitney have a great site called Rookie Moms. They offer lots of fun ideas for adventures and things for new moms.

6. Consider pushing your boundaries a little. For example, try the stroller on public transport for a short distance. Or take your son out in a carrier instead. I love babywearing because it's so much less clunky to get around. Of course, it's better for short distance type things (especially in this heat!) -- use the carrier in the neighborhood or only go as far as you can comfortably tote a diaper or two and wipes in a small pack (so you aren't straining carrying too much stuff). You'll feel triumphant when you make it home after the adventure!

7. Do stuff at home. I take care of a lot of household matters babywearing Violet (e.g., tidying, laundry) or chatting with her while she's in her bouncer (e.g., prepping food). I've found it rather amazing that our house is more in order and we eat better with a baby around and it's because I incorporate Violet into all of these things that need to get done anyway. And all of that close time while babywearing, and all of the chit chat while she is in the bouncer is bonding!

Have a question for Christine? Drop her a line! And of course feel free to comment in if you have recommendations beyond those made above.

Image credit: Jonathan Fitch via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (4) | Filed in Dear Boston Mamas; Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Web (Admin)
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Ever since signing on last year as one of Gilt Groupe's inaugural Gilt-y Moms (a small advisory group), I've been more than a little addicted to their flash sale site, which is replete with stylish finds of all kinds. (Recent awesome women's purchase? A Kate Spade tote. One of their current awesome kids sales? Haba toys. New category I really need to try soon? Gilt Taste. And so on...) And right now Gilt Children is in the middle of a summer spectacular on their Facebook page, through which you can read and share summer tips and ideas. So far conversations have covered traditions and travel tips, and this week's theme is play dates. I've been picking up all sorts of handy nuggets of wisdom over the last couple of weeks!

Also cool? As part of my Giveaway Goodness series, and in connection with my role as a Gilt-y Mom and the Gilt Children summer spectacular, the kind folks at Gilt want to gift one of you fabulous readers with a $100 shopping credit. Check out the rules below to enter to win + a special shopping discount:

Rules:

Though it's been in operation since 1954, Story Land was not on my radar until a few years ago (probably because growing up, our immediate family of 9 didn't do vacations). And then it wasn't until a few weeks ago that we visited with Laurel. But we finally made it, and I'm thrilled to report that Story Land is a really sweet spot for families to enjoy together. Here are some thoughts about our trip, and why I recommend it for families in striking distance of the property:

General vibe. I took Laurel to a carnival last year (she was obsessed with the idea of riding a Ferris wheel) and both of us ended up overwhelmed by the lights, noise, pushy vendors, and general craziness. Story Land was a lovely and welcome contrast -- gentle and sweet with a vintage feel, likely due to the focus on classic children's stories (Humpty Dumpty, The Three Bears, etc.), related visual styling, and lack of excessive commercialism (save the fact that you have to exit Story Land through a gift/candy store). I don't think I saw a single blinking neon sign on the property and having the White Mountains as a backdrop to the park was really, really lovely. Story Land was perfect for Laurel (6.75 years old) and I'd say the sweet spot for the park is around 3-8 years old, though I did see some older kids there as well.

Scope. Given that Jon, Laurel, and I all tend to be "want to see everything" sort of people, I loved the accessible scope of Story Land. There are 21 rides (from gentle teacups to more heart thumping fare) plus other types of attractions and fun (e.g., circus show, barnyard animals, face painting). We spent several hours at Story Land, which was enough time for us to ride to our hearts content (sometimes several times, as was the case with the Bamboo Chutes and Polar Coaster) and have a quick lunch on the property. We didn't see every single thing, but we hit the main attractions that looked interesting to us and that Laurel had heard about as must-see from her friends.

Cost. Given that you could spend the better part of a day there, Story Land is a good deal; the admission rate is $27.99 per person (kids 2 and under go free), which covers entertainment in the park all day long (plus parking onsite and apparently stroller and pet kennel use). You can also exit the park and come back during the same day (get your hand stamped before you leave), which is fantastic if you'd like to eat elsewhere or head back to your lodging for nap time or whatever. If you're close enough to frequent the park regularly (or think you'll go at least 3 times during the season), definitely consider the $69.99 season pass.

Timing. Story Land operates daily through the summer and during the weekends in the fall. We visited on an overcast, misting day before school let out, which was perfect because it wasn't scorching hot and there were no lines. And even with a light drizzle at times, it wasn't so bad -- there were a lot of covered rides and indoor attractions (e.g., circus...though we missed the timing on seeing a show). According to the website, Story Land's peak traffic day is Saturday and the peak month is August so I'd recommend planning around those times if you hate waiting on lines as much as I do.

Baby friendliness. Obviously, I expected Story Land to be kid friendly, but I didn't do much advance research into how baby friendly the property was. I figured we'd be good to go with the stroller and Bjorn and that Jon and I would just take turns with the girls. I was pleased to find out that Story Land is indeed very baby friendly. As I mentioned, admission is free for babes 2 and under. Additionally, infant-friendly rides are clearly marked (it was nice to ride the pirate ship as a family, during which I Bjorn'd Violet), there's plenty of stroller parking at each ride (i.e., if you'd like to take baby with you on a ride), and although I'm happy to nurse wherever, it was nice that there were also a handful of "mama's rooms" scattered throughout the property. These rooms were equipped with changing tables (I hope the men's rooms also had changing tables, but I didn't check...) and rocking chairs for nursing. (Note: these rooms aren't plush -- they are sort of cabin-like, but it was nice that the space was carved out.)

Food. The only thing I wish I had scoped out in advance was food. Jon and I made the egregious error of not procuring coffee on our way in and I was tempted to ask the Old Lady in the Shoe if there was a barista on the property. Also, the food choices we found were limited (pizza, grilled cheese, etc.) for this salad-obsessed gal, but it's highly possible that we missed the latte and salad bars either because we didn't look hard enough or because the property wasn't in full swing for the season.

In a nutshell, we had a great time at Story Land. If you've got preschool/early elementary aged kids and want to treat them to a sweet amusement park experience without breaking the bank and inducing sensory overload, head to Story Land.

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (9) | Filed in Travel
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I hope you all have a fantastic holiday weekend! If you're looking to head out for some fun, I wanted to share a few links with you. Boston Central has a fantastic roundup of Massachusetts fireworks displays, handily organized by town so you can find a celebration near you. Boston Harborfest kicked off this week and runs through the weekend (yay for chowder!). And there's entertainment and family fun to be had at the New Bedford Summerfest (through the weekend) and Amesbury Days (through July 9). Enjoy!

Image credit: Boston Central

Posted by Christine Koh on 1 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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