By: Heather Desmond O’Neill Being a parent on Halloween is so very different than not being a parent on Halloween. Before kids, we would go to Halloween parties, dress up, consume adult beverages, and take turns getting up to answer the door to hand out candy. After kids, it’s so much better ….. well, excluding … More Enjoying Halloween With Kids
By: Mary Morris I love apple picking. I don’t know why, because I don’t really like camping or hiking or anything else like that. But visiting a farm is pretty cool, I think. And I like my kids to know that there is a place where food is grown; it doesn’t just miraculously appear at … More Apple Picking Etiquette
By: Rachel Ventura I’m a mother of two young children and I work part time from home. We have preschool, soccer, gymnastics, Early Intervention, play dates, birthday parties, and much, much more. We are busy! And I’m sure many, if not all, of you are as well! Sometimes I honestly think it’s a small miracle … More A Few Things That Help Keep Me Sane
By: Martianne Stanger Have you noticed how beautiful the autumn weather has been this year? Without doubt, our family has and we’ve been taking full advantage of it. This fall, I don’t think anyone would ask us the question that Janice posed here on the blog last summer, “Whatever Happened to Playing Outside?” For, as … More 5 Local Places to Enjoy Autumn Outside
By: Heather Desmond O’Neill When I was seventeen years old, a friend of mine told me that he needed to run an errand before we called it a night. The next day was his birthday and he needed to pick up some flowers for his mother. “You buy flowers for her on your birthday?” I asked … More A Birthday Tradition
By: Anne Marie Holloway I think the most stressful part of my day is the minivan ride. I’m serious. I know it sounds ludicrous. Yep, I know it’s totally nuts! I don’t even go very far each day, but I find I spend a lot of time in my car transporting my kiddos from home to … More Minivan Madness – Better Warn the Kiddos!
By: Janice Johnson-Plumer Last week we were watching the news and saw that a 34-year-old woman drove 300 miles from Connecticut with her 13-month-old daughter in the car all the way to Washington DC. According to the news, she had anxiety disorders in the past and thought the President had her placed on lockdown. She thought … More Who is Miriam Carey?
By: Sandra L. Churchill Recent encounters at playgrounds, grocery stores, and libraries have brought me into conversations with parents who work full-time, part-time, or as stay-at-home moms and dads. I frequently connect with homeschoolers, traditional schoolers, and private-schoolers. My teaching and playdates span accommodations for ADHD, gluten-free, and lactose-intolerance, and I observe discipline styles that … More Choosing Respect
By: Rachel Ventura I grew up in Whitman, where, in my opinion, the best wooden playground of all time resided. I remember when they built it. It was amazing. I can still remember the smell of the pebbles on the ground and feel my stomach turning when I think of the tire swing. As a … More A Huge Part Of My Childhood, Almost Extinct
By: Martianne Stanger That means it’s time to practice, “Stop, drop and roll,” and, “Stay low and go.” It’s also time to check alarms, review emergency escape plans, and give a little extra attention to fire safety awareness. While you’re at it, enjoy some family fun! At home or at school, you can try … More How Will You Enjoy Fire Safety Month?
Community Voices for Health 