« April 2006 | Main | June 2006 »
May 31, 2006
Beyond Pink & Blue
TONIGHT, May 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. is a town-hall-style community event, "Beyond Pink & Blue," for parents and educators who want to discuss what we can do to minimize the effects of gender stereotypes - including bullying, teasing, and low self-esteem.
The free discussion takes place at the Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Ave.) in suburban MD, and is sponsored by the DC-based nonprofit advocacy organization Children as They Are.
Speakers include Jaime Grant, program director of Leadership for a Changing World at the Advocacy Institute; Taneika Taylor, program director of Children as They Are; and Catherine Tuerk, co-director of the Outreach Program for Children with Gender-Variant Behaviors and Their Families at Children's National Medical Center.
For more info, call 202.462.6610 or send email to cata (at) childrenastheyare (dot) org.
Posted by Sarah at 9:49 AM
May 30, 2006
All-Ages Reading of a French Classic
Are you a bilingual or multilingual family who speaks French? One of the fabulous bookstores who has stocked DC BABY, Candida's in NW DC (1541 14th St. NW), will host a French reading of the classic book Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupery this Saturday, June 3 at 5 p.m.
Native French speaker Jean-Daniel Chablais will be reading Le Petit Prince - one of my favorite stories of all time - to an audience of children and adults alike. This is a book that teaches us how to live, whether we're 3 or 93. And hearing it read in the French will be tres magnifique!
Free and open to the public. For more info, call Candida's at 202.667.4811 or visit their website.
Posted by Sarah at 9:25 PM
May 29, 2006
Groovy Tunes Under the Stars
Mark your calendar for the evening of Saturday, June 10! It's the First Annual Concert Under the Stars benefit for Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool.
They've called in the big guns for entertainment - SteveSongs (a.k.a. Parents' Choice Gold Award winner Steve Roslonek) and his cool band. The concert starts at 6 p.m. at the Lubber Run Amphitheatre in Arlington (N. Columbus St. and 2nd St. N.).
Tix are $13 in advance or $15 at the door. Or, if you have more than one child you can purchase for the whole family with a discount: $35 in advance or $40 at the door.
You can buy tickets online at www.aucpva.org/fundraising/concert. For tickets purchased online, there will be no actual hard copies mailed to you. Just print out a copy of your receipt and transaction ID to use for entry to the show.
In the event of rain, the show will still go on - only the venue will change.
For more info, call 703.362.0168 or send email to kgracemcgwier (at) comcast (dot) net.
Posted by Sarah at 9:14 PM
May 26, 2006
Three-Day Weekend Watch: Family Bike Ride, Blues Traveling, & Everybody Loves a Parade
There's a lot going on this Memorial Day weekend. Here are my picks:
The 2006 Arlington Community Bike Ride on Saturday will be a blast if the weather cooperates - all you need is a baby seat or child buggy on your bike, and you're good to go. (Older children are also welcoem to ride their own bikes!) The noncompetitive, family-friendly event has a shortened nine-mile course for families, which leads riders through Arlington County's trails. At the end of the road: bluegrass music, a children's bike safety demosntration, and a "Best Bike and Helmet" contest. The Family Ride begins at 8:30 a.m., and you can register on-site for $20. Kids under age 13 ride for free.
On Sunday, it's the annual Hometown Holidays event in Rockville from 2 to 10 p.m. at Rockville Town Center. There will be a carousel and moonbounce for the kids, plus The Bob Brown Puppet Show and an Elvis impersonator. Loads of live music from local bands and headliner Blues Traveler, shopping, a flower/garden show, and Taste of Rockville restaurant booths. Heads up: There will be a ticket charge for some of the activities, including the children's rides.
If you've read this blog more than once, you already know that I'm a big fan of parades as "destinations" with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. (Luckily, DC has parades aplenty!) They're free; they're outdoors where noise, movement, and mess are part of the fun; and you can come and go as you please. Plus, nobody loves a spectacle more than young children. So check out the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, starting at 12 noon at the corner of Third and Madison Sts. NW, moving north to Pennsylvania Ave. It goes one block on Penn and then merges onto Constitution Ave., ending at 15th St. NW. You got yer patriotic floats, yer military guys and gals strutting their stuff in uniform, yer balloons, yer brass bands. What more could a tyke want?
Enjoy a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!
Posted by Sarah at 10:03 AM
May 25, 2006
Free Play on Memorial Day, Thanks to Jonah's Treehouse
In lieu of its regularly scheduled classes, the fabulous Jonah's Treehouse in DC will be hosting a FREE Open Play on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The play session is open to the public, at no cost - you don't have to be enrolled currently in Jonah's Treehouse programs. Children age five and younger are welcome, and there must be one adult per child in attendance to help supervise.
Jonah's Treehouse is a wonderful indoor play space for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, located on Wisconsin Ave. in Glover Park (a.k.a. "Upper Georgetown"), NW DC. Founder and DC mama Vicki Gersten hosted the DC BABY Book Launch Party there, and the kids had a blast!
Posted by Sarah at 1:42 PM
May 24, 2006
Have a New Baby? Wanna be on Channel 9 News Tomorrow?
Thanks to local mama and baby sign language instructor Laura Rozier for sharing this Wednesday-evening announcement with us. Laura writes:
"I received a call from a reporter at Channel 9 News. . .They are doing some testing of new baby products on tomorrow's show [Thursday, May 25], and are in a last-minute search for some moms with babies who are in the 0-6 month range. They will test out and try out some of the latest products being showcased, like diaper bags, etc. If you're interested, contact the producer, whose name is Amy: 202.895.5557."
Posted by Sarah at 7:25 PM
May 23, 2006
DC Sure Could Use a Baby Buggy
Don't get me wrong - It really irks me when New Yawkers get superior and pretentious about all things NYC, as if the Big Apple is IT. (This sort of thing especially grates on the nerves of Washingtonians and other upper-East-Coasters, it's true.) Nevertheless, the truth is that Manhattanites frequently have the creative vision, connections, and funding to make great things happen - especially when it comes to children in need. I see no reason why we can't learn from, and replicate, their successes here in DC.
Case in point: Baby Buggy, an NYC nonprofit organization. Founded in 2001 by Jessica Seinfeld (yep, Jerry's wife), Baby Buggy played an important role in helping New York families in the weeks and months after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Its mantra: Love. Recycled.
Baby Buggy assists the more than 500,000 babies and children living in poverty in all five of NYC's burroughs with donated, gently used gear, furniture, toys, clothing, and other products. Families who have outgrown their goodies can donate them and share the wealth. Items are delivered to social service agencies who work with families in each of the burroughs, and then distributed to families.
Relying on a strong volunteer network and a modest but hardworking staff, Baby Buggy schedules pick-ups for donated items, sorting them at the organization's loft space before distribution. They do a Crib Drive, Diaper Drives, and homelessness prevention and outreach with families. Their Family Preservation Program, in cooperation with the Admin. of Children's Services, has delivered over 46,000 needed items to 415 NYC families struggling to keep their children out of foster care.
Baby Buggy has also partnered with NYC Head Start teachers to reach kids who might otherwise slip through the cracks. They have a strong fundraising campaign for cash donations, a corporate matching program, and big sponsorships from Johnson & Johnson and the like.
Considering the recent news about the social problems plaguing pregnant women, babies, and children in Washington, DC, Baby Buggy could be a model for us to work toward. And how many times have I seen queries posted on the various DC parenting listservs along the lines of "Where on earth can/should I donate these baby things that I don't need anymore??"
DC parents have the stuff. And DC parents are ready and willing to share it. All we need is a group of dedicated, experienced, passionate DC mamas and daddies to get connected and get the ball rolling! Could it be you?
P.S. - Thanks to reader and local mama Bette for sending this great suggestion: "DC Freecycle is an excellent resource. We received almost all our baby gear from there. As [our child] outgrows stuff and it still in good shape, we repost on Freecycle and give to someone else." You can join the DC Freecycle list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycledc.
Posted by Sarah at 11:48 AM
May 21, 2006
DC's Babymaking Report Card: We're Flunking Out!
Did you know? Fit Pregnancy magazine has funded a research report on the best and worst cities in America for having a baby. They assign an overall ranking to each city and then break down the evalution based on several criteria: affordability, risk, birth options, stroller access, breastfeeding support, hospitals, child care, safety, and fertility.
I'm sorry to report that Washington, DC doesn't get a stellar report card, earning one of the magazine's red-star "worst" ratings. Sadly, we rank 41 out of 50 for safe, healthy, affordable, and supportive places to have a baby! Clearly, we need remedial tutoring.
DC gets an "A" for our access to great hospitals and physicians. We get a "C-" for stroller access in public places and a "C" for our fertility laws and resources. However, in EVERY other category, Washington earns an "F" - or almost worse, the dreaded "F+." (Which is supposed to make us feel better, right, being just a smidgen above "totally sucky"?)
We get praise for having the second-most NICU beds in the nation (154 percent more than average), and the second-highest number of hi-risk pediatricians in the U.S. New parents also have plenty of public parks - DC has 69 percent more public parks than average, relative to population. And we've got more fertility doctors and ob/gyns than average.
The bad news, and what we really need to work on with our public officials and community leaders:
* The CDC reports very high infant mortality rates in the District.
* Seven percent of pregnant women in Washington get late or inadequate prenatal care - the 10th worst in the nation.
* Compared with the number of babies born, Washington has 58 percent fewer lactation consultants than average.
* According to the Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University, D.C. has one of the worst commutes of any city in the survey. It takes 51 percent longer to drive the same route during rush hour than in free-flowing traffic. That puts a lot more pressure on parents, especially related to child care and travel stress.
* Washington has 88 percent fewer miles of stroller-friendly public pathways and trails than average for cities in the survey.
* Only 2.2 percent of births here are attended by midwives. That's 71 percent lower than the average.
* Only 41 percent of Washington families own their own homes, a key measure of affordability. That's the SECOND LOWEST percentage in the nationwide survey.
Curious about which cities made the "top 10" best overall places to have a baby?
1- Portland, Oregon
2- Boston, Massachusetts
3- Minneapolis, Minnesota
4- San Francisco, California
5- Denver, Colorado
6- Seattle, Washington
7- Omaha, Nebraska
8- Charlotte, North Carolina
9- Colorado Springs, Colorado
10- Sacramento, California
Posted by Sarah at 1:45 PM
May 19, 2006
Weekend Watch, Part 2: Don't Miss May Fair at Turtle Park!
Thanks to reader and local mama Laura Arce Cloutier for letting me know about one more really cool weekend event I've got to share - It's the annual May Fair at Turtle Park in the AU Park neighborhood of NW DC! Set for tomorrow, Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As recommended in my book, Turtle Park is my absolute all-time favorite playground in the DC area. Not because it's grandiose or brand-new, but because I love its community feel, its big shade trees, its one-of-a-kind "sand pit" with the concrete turtle structures, its picnic tables and benches for weary adults, and the water-play area in summertime.
The May Fair will include pony rides, moonbounces, concessions, games, crafts, and a silent auction to benefit the ongoing improvement and upkeep of Turtle Park.
Never been to Turtle Park (a.k.a. Friendship Park, if you ask the official DC Dept. of Parks & Rec)? It's tucked away in a beautiful residential neighborhood at 45th St. & Van Ness NW. For a map, click here.
Posted by Sarah at 12:10 PM
May 18, 2006
Weekend Watch: Greeks in Spring, Dragon Boats on the Potomac, & Post-Mother's Day Pampering
Coupla picks for weekend to-dos:
One of my all-time favorite Washington traditions: Friday through Sunday it's the annual Spring Greek Festival in DC (at the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 36th & Mass Ave. NW) from 12 noon to 9 p.m. The best Greek food you'll find anywhere in the city, plus wine and beer for the mamas and daddies, live Greek music, dancing and entertainment, and a moonbounce and crafts/games for kids.
The annual DC Dragon Boat Festival is also this weekend, Saturday and Sunday all day at Rock Creek Park's Thompson Boathouse in Georgetown. It's free!
Sunday afternoon in Herndon, Marybeth Henry, NoVa mama and founder of the local WAHMFest events for work-at-home mothers, will be hosting a "Ladies' Day Out" fundraiser in Herndon for the American Cancer Society. Mamas only! Between 1 and 4 p.m. you can get pampering treatments to benefit the annual ACS WalkAmerica campaign, and you'll be eligible for several raffles and a door prize drawing. For more details, click here. You can also contact Marybeth directly with questions or to pre-register: wahmfest (at) juno (dot) com.
Posted by Sarah at 4:38 PM
May 17, 2006
No Rest for the (Pregnant &) Weary
Anyone read John Kelly's May 11 Washington Post column, "Chivalry? Fat Chance on Metro"?
According to Kelly's (decidedly unscientific) research, pregnancy rarely gets you a seat on Washington's crowded metro trains. Your imminent maternity is more likely to get you shoved down the escalator by a fanny-packed tourist than to earn an ounce of empathy for your weary, puffy, overheated self.
To prep this column, Kelly trailed two expectant mamas on their daily metro commute and recounted what he observed. His findings? The two groups least likely to offer their seat to a pregnant woman are (1.) Twenty-something women, and (2.) White-collar professional men. The most chivalrous? Blue-collar working class men. (According to one theory, "That's because the laborer looks at you and sees his wife or his sister. The businessman looks at you and sees lost productivity.")
This is all very interesting, and John Kelly is trying to gather more data - however anectodal it may be - about preggo metro encounters. If you're willing to share your experiences with John and a few thousand Post readers, drop him a line: kellyj (at) washpost (dot) com.
Meanwhile, if - God forbid - you'll be pregnant this summer in Washington and riding the train, I suggest you gravitate toward the knights in shining blue-collar.
Posted by Sarah at 4:18 PM
May 16, 2006
More to DCUM Than Meets the Naked Eye
So by now most of you probably know about the famous/infamous DC Urban Moms Listserv, which has over 6,000 registered members from throughout the Washington area.
It's a great list, founded and maintained by a DC mom and her spouse - but some new members find themselves put off, or just plain overwhelmed, by the volume of daily mail generated by the list. And the occasional flame wars in which list members openly attack each othes' parenting philosophies, values, etc. (It can get ugly.)
Newcomers to the list often don't realize that you can subscribe to the "digest" format, which makes a huge difference in your mail volume. It will group the messages into digests and send you just 1-3 emails a day, instead of a bazillion. At the top of each digest email you'll see a numbered "table of contents." Then you can scan the subject lines and scroll down to the messages that interest you. Very handy!
Also, whether or not you're a member of the DCUM main listserv, you should know that they ALSO have several separate, auxiliary mailing lists for "special interest groups," as well as message boards at the website where you can look for childcare, start a playgroup, research summer camp programs, etc.
Check them out!
The DCUM Forums, including The Nanny and Babysitter Forum: http://dcurbanmom.com/forums
DCUM Events Listserv (a weekly digest of selected DC-area events for kids and families)
http://mailman.dcurbanmom.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/events-list
DCUM K12 Listserv (just for parents who have school-age children)
http://mailman.dcurbanmom.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/k12
DCUM Jobshare Listserv (for those who want to work outside the home on a modified schedule, a great way to find a job-share with another DC-area mama who works in your field)
http://mailman.dcurbanmom.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/jobshare
DCUM Off-Topic Listserv (there are a number of "no-no" topics and posting types on the main DCUM list. this separate list is for those questions not explicitly and directly related to parenting and children. for example: "Can anyone recommend a good, affordable plumber in Silver Spring, MD?")
http://mailman.dcurbanmom.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/off-topic
Posted by Sarah at 11:45 AM
May 15, 2006
Apple Seed Coming to Old Town
At Saturday's Beltway Babies event (which was lovely, BTW), I met the owners of a new specialty maternity, baby, and toddler boutique coming to Old Town Alexandria in July '06. As you can imagine, since this is my neighborhood I was thrilled at the news - It's great for all of us who live, work, play, or shop in this neck of the woods.
Here's the scoop: the adorably-named Apple Seed will be opening at 115 S. Columbus St. and will carry clothing for maternity, infants, and toddlers through size 2T, as well as many accessories, gifts, and gear. They're already planning ahead to host mama-friendly events - like educational guest speakers, book signings, demonstrations, that type of thing. They seem very committed to this venture and excited about being in Old Town. The grand opening is scheduled for early July.
If you have any questions or comments for the Apple Seed management in anticipation of their debut, you can drop them a line at: shop (at) appleseedboutique (dot) com.
Posted by Sarah at 10:38 AM
May 12, 2006
Mamapalooza
Thanks to reader/local mama/local author Devra Renner for reminding my overloaded mama brain that I really ought to announce MAMAPALOOZA rolling into town this weekend, on Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA.
Why? Because mamas rock.
Who? Well, since you asked:
Rocknoceros/music for kids
DillPickers/bluegrass
Nancy Dougherty/pop-rock
The Braeded Chord/acoustic folk
Patrice Moerman/rock singer-songwriter
Hot Flash/ rock
Elizabeth Lawrence/blues-rock-soul
Yvette Barnes/singer-songwriter
Jenkins Hollow/roots rock
Paula Monks/singer-songwriter
One Horse Town Band/alternative country
Sherelle Cary Smith/jazz singer-songwriter
Esmirelda & The Tidbits/rock
Tix are $10 at the door, and part of the proceeds go to the Alliance for Lupus Research. For more info, call Jammin' Java at 703.255.1566.
The inaugural Mamapalooza was held in 2002 at an NYC club. It was the creation of mother-of-four Joy Rose, who is the lead singer of a band aptly called Housewives on Prozac. This year Mamapalooza will go to Chicago, NYC, Nashville, DC, Hollywood, Raleigh, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Toronto, and over the pond to the U.K.
Rock on.
Posted by Sarah at 9:40 PM
Weekend Watch: Happy Mama's Day to You
Hopefully you mamas haven't been left in charge of orchestrating your own Special Day on Sunday, but just in case the itinerary is still up for grabs...
In addition to Saturday's Beltway Babies Brunch in Old Town (registration deadline has passed), there's another happening that will benefit a worthy, moms-and-babies-related cause: The Annual Mary's Center Mother's Day Brunch, Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lauriol Plaza near Dupont Circle (1835 18th St. NW - and FREE parking!).
A substantial portion of the cost of your family's bill for brunch goes to Mary's Center, to provide prenatal care for moms and medical, educational, and nutritional programs for their young children. The full Lauriol Plaza menu will be available, PLUS the traditional mimosas. (Yes!) There will also be some really nice door prizes given away, and a small gift for each mom who attends. NO reservations required. For more info, contact Priscilla Vasquez at Mary's Center: 202.420.7052. To see the Lauriol Plaza menu, click here. To learn more about this event and what Mary's Center does in the Washington community, click here.
On Sunday, the 14th, if we get nice weather my pick is the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, outdoors at Woodmont Triangle (Norfolk & Auburn Ave.) between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mamas can browse the art, but there will also be live entertainment, booths from some of Bethesda's yummy restaurants, and a crafts area for preschool+ -age children. FREE!
If your kiddos are age five+, I'd recommend the Improv Musical Children's Theater,
Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by Sarah at 9:54 AM
May 11, 2006
"Managing Conflict Between Preschoolers & Parents" in McLean
Thanks to reader Tracey, Kindermusik instructor and coordinator for the McLean section of the Safe Community Coalition, for sharing this announcement:
The Safe Community Coalition of McLean is sponsoring a free talk for parents on Thursday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the McLean Community Center. Dr. Carrie Hansen, a child and family counselor with the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement, will speak on the topic of "Managing Conflict Between Preschoolers & Parents."
For more info about the Coalition and its programs, click here. Safe Community Coalitions were founded in 1994, and virtually every community has one - thought most people don't know it! The McLean group has been recognized as one of the best in the nation.
Posted by Sarah at 2:46 PM
May 9, 2006
Working Moms = ALL Moms
Whether you're a mama who works inside the home, one who works outside the home, or one who juggles a delicate combination of both, I have juicy gems to share:
The latest in a series of must-read Washington Post online chats = Last Friday's session with Bill Coleman of Salary.com (who just released the 2006 results of their annual study on the financial value of "mom jobs"). Guess what? If paid, stay-at-home moms would earn an average of $134,121 annually as a fair wage for their vast range of domestic labor. Mothers who work outside the home would earn an average of $85,876 annually for the "mom job" portion of their work, in addition to their actual "work job" salary. (That's because research tells us that women entering the workforce full-time has not significantly shifted their gendered duties within the home.)
To read the transcript from "Working & Stay-at-Home Moms: What's Your Monetary Value?", click here. That's right, gals. Our at-home work as housekeeper, cook, laundress, facilities manager, chief executive officer, event planner, public relations manager, car service, secretary, psychologist, and day care teacher is worth a big pile of cash. (And that list assumes that you rarely or never do any of the "masculine" household chores like taking out the trash or working in the yard.) So where can I apply to get those two+ years of back-pay I have coming to me, exactly? I don't know about you, but my stay-at-home mama never told me how much vacuuming the stairs was really worth! For that matter, she never told me that if I became a hi-powered career woman, I'd probably still be in charge of domesticity and I'd probably still be the one vacuuming the stairs.
Scary that our national and global economies would collapse if mothers were explicitly compensated for what we do. And lurking between the lines of this conversation is the guilty reality that the women who do a good portion of this country's domestic labor - the child care workers, the maids, the janitors, the dishwashers and waitresses - are nowhere near compensated for the true value of their work. It's not just mothers who are cheated on this count, but also the thousands of women who help make our mothering manageable and tolerable, day in and day out.
Speaking of the sometimes prickly (but I think unnecessary) SAHM vs. WOHM "conversation," I love the fact that MomsRising.org founders Joan Blades and Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner have created an online petition asking the media to stop sensationalistic coverage of "mommy wars" and get to issues of substance that are affecting us all, wherever and however we work - affordable childcare of high quality, paid family leave, flex-schedules in the workplace, and fair pay for women who WOH. I've added their new book, The Motherhood Manifesto: What America's Moms Want - And What to Do About It, to my reading wish-list.
In the same vein, a soiree in NYC that might pique your interest (and not just because it's a good excuse to dash off on a girls' trip to the Big Apple) - Working Mother magazine is hosting a big event on Wednesday, June 7 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers (811 7th Ave., between 52nd and 53rd.) This "Working Mothers' Balance Seekers Town Hall" has an ungodly hefty registration price, but I love their concept. (They do, for the record, offer corporate package discounts to employers who want to send a group of women! But not for the self-employed.) They've lined up an impressive list of guest speakers, breakout sessions in a "peer group" format, panels of working mothers on various real-world topics, and - my favorite part - a cocktail party to end the day with networking and cosmos! It's an event model that I'd love to see us replicate - even bigger and better - here in DC. Any go-getter Washington mamas reading this who have event planning and PR savvy? Jump on it! I'll be there, with bells on.
Posted by Sarah at 3:03 PM
Event Previews: Beltway Babes, Charter School Fundraiser, & Rockin' Mother Goose
Three events this week that you might want to know about:
Today is the LAST CHANCE to register online for Saturday's Beltway Babies Mother's Day Weekend Brunch in Old Town Alexandria. The event is geared toward expectant and new mothers and includes brunch, a full lineup of guest speakers, exhibitors, activities, a play area for children under age five, and special pampering services. Funds raised from raffle ticket sales at the event will go to the DC chapter of the March of Dimes!
On Thursday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m., there will be a book event and fundraiser at William E. Doar, Jr. Public Charter School for the Performing Arts in DC (705 Edgewood St NE). Author Joanne Jacobs will be speaking and signing copies of her book, Our School: The Inspiring Story of Two Teachers, One Big Idea, & the School That Beat the Odds, which tells the story of Downtown College Prep, a Stand & Deliver charter high school in San Jose, California. Attendees are asked to donate a children's book to WEDJ School - Students and teachers have come up with a list of authors and titles they'd like to see in the school library, which is expanding as the school adds middle and high school classes this fall. A WEDJ musical troupe will also perform.
A little background: Founded in 2004, WEDJ school enrolls students from all over the city; 97 percent are black and 55 percent come from low-income families. Students take classes in music, dance, and theater, and perform in at least one public exhibition or performance each year. A longer school day and Saturday classes ensure enough time for academics and arts. The school is located in a former warehouse near the Rhode Island and Brookland-CUA metro stops.
Thanks to DC BABY reader Kristina for tipping me off to this one! On Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC) is hosting "Celebrate Communication 2006" event for kids and families. Local sign language teacher Sara Franco - who receives a gold-star review from Kristina and family - will lead "Rockin' Mother Goose," where she signs, reads, and sings Mother Goose songs and stories. Sara's shows are at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. From 12 noon to 1 p.m., there will be a free demonstration Music Together class led by Linda Criscitello of Music Together Vienna, VA. There will be lots of other children's activities (face painting, games, crafts), food and drinks, booths and exhibits, demonstrations, hearing and vision screenings, artists and crafts, etc. The event is FREE and open to the public, and will be held at the George Mason University Center for the Arts (4400 University Dr. in Fairfax, VA).
Posted by Sarah at 9:47 AM
May 8, 2006
Forty-Something First-Time Mamas
There's a great new group for DC-area first-time mamas in their 40s. And they've been kind enough to share the scoop with me, so that I can pass it along to DC BABY readers.
The "40+ DC First-Time Moms" are women who ventured into motherhood after (or close to) turning 40. Most of them traveled, went to grad school, and concentrated on career in their 20s and 30s - Some got married later and waited to having a family. Whatever your story, if you are a forty-something first-time mama and you live anywhere in the DC metro area, you're welcome to join.
Their next scheduled event is a Coffee Hour set for Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Starbucks at Chevy Chase Pavilion. (There will be a baby bottle in the middle of the table to identify the group!)
They also have a listserv with over 100 members, as well as an online calendar of their happenings, to help members keep track of events. For more info or to request membership, please contact Cindy at: cmyles15 (at) comcast (dot) net.
Posted by Sarah at 10:34 AM
May 5, 2006
Not Your Mother's Consignment Sale
A brief but important p.s. to my Weekend Watch post from this morning:
As you may know, the annual Dani's Duds children's consignment sale is this weekend at the Dulles Expo Center in NoVa. This sale is HUGE and wildly popular - I featured it in the "shopping" chapter of my book.
While posting just to remind you that this is Dani's Duds weekend might be worthy on its own, I'm really here to give you a HEADS UP. Dani's Duds - apparently not for the faint of heart - now has an "R" rating.
Major policy change this year: NO children of any age are allowed inside the sale! This includes nursing infants. You heard me correctly: NO little people will be admitted!
"HUH?," you may ask. Word on the street is that at last year's Dani's Duds, two local mothers got into a fight so aggressive that a child was injured.
Talk about desperate housewives. Pathetique! But it's "get a sitter or skip the sale," I'm afraid.
Posted by Sarah at 3:22 PM
Weekend Watch: Carnival in Falls Church & Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
My favorite weekend picks:
On Saturday it's the Annual Garden Show & Carnival at Congressional Schools of Virginia. FREE and open to the public. (Small charge if you want to do carnival rides and fairway games - Tix to these activities available at the gate.)
The carnival includes a kiddie ferris wheel, a kiddie train, double slide, moonbounce, pony rides, a climbing wall, and a zip line. Also for kids: air-brush tattooos, games and races, and a dance party. There will be live entertainment, including demonstrations from Fit Kids and Jhoon Rhee, dancers, and storytellers. While you're there, you can stock up an spring flowers and plantings for your yard, with proceeds to benefit the school. Plus, the Fairfax Fire and Police will be on hand to answer parents' questions on fire safety, car seat safety and installation, as well offer child fingerprinting at NO CHARGE.
The garden show is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the carnival will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Congressional Schools is located at 3229 Sleepy Hollow Rd. in Falls Church, VA. They will be running continuous free shuttle buses from along Sleepy Hollow Road to the school. For more info, call 703.533.9711.
On Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., it's the National Cinco de Mayo Celebration at the outdoor Sylvan Theater on the Mall in DC (near 15th St. SW & Independence, close to the Washington Monument). There will be performances by the Maru Montero Dance Company, live Mariachi music, and great Mexican food available all afternoon. . . plus children's workshops where preschoolers and school-age kids can learn to make pinatas, hair braids, and Latin crafts. FREE and open to the public.
Enjoy!
Posted by Sarah at 9:38 AM
May 2, 2006
Mimi Carter Dishes on DC-Area Childcare
It was another interesting online chat at the Washington Post last Thursday, April 27. Local mama-author Mimi Carter, who wrote The Insider's Guide to Quality Childcare in Greater Washington back in 2000, took questions from local parents and discussed finding the right program for your little one.
Click here to read the transcript of the chat.
Among the questions Carter was asked to address: How early do you really have to start looking? Should I get on a waiting list at more than one center? What's THE most important criteria in a preschool program? Is Montessori superior? I hate daycares, I don't want an au pair living in our home, and I can't afford a nanny - what should I do? I hate the other parents at my child's preschool - what should I do? I heard that preschool damages the social skills of middle class children - can you respond to that?
Most folks just wanted free professional advice. But Carter was also asked when she'll be publishing a new edition of her book. The response: "No plans yet, as I have to work and pay bills, and writing books doesn't do that." (I year ya, Mimi.) FYI, if you're looking for Carter's guide to DC-area childcare and preschools, your best bet is one of Washington's used book stores. It is officially out of print!
Carter is the mother of two and lives in the DelRay neighborhood of Alexandria. She has managed early childhood education programs in DC and, more recently, developed the website EarlyReadersNow and the READ BABY READ list for the District of Columbia's Office of Early Childhood Development. She's also on the staff at Mindshare Interactive Campaigns' Washington office.
Posted by Sarah at 3:01 PM
May 1, 2006
Water-Babies
Swim season is almost here, and several of you have asked if I know of any swim classes tailored to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Here are the programs I'm aware of:
DC Jewish Community Center (you don't have to belong to the JCC to enroll in their classes) - The cost for the DCJCC swim classes is very affordable, even with the non-member rate. And though I can't speak from personal experience, I'm told that the water in their pool is nice and warm for the babies. (Sometimes it is bone-chilling at other DC-area indoor pools - I can vouch for that!) Their classes for parents/caregivers with babies start at age four mos.
The Lowell School in NW DC - Aquatics classes for kids ages three to 12.
The 17 District and suburban branches of the YMCA of Greater Washington offers a wide range of swim classes for all ages.
One of your best, most accessible and affordable options is your local Parks & Rec Center, operated through your city of residence. Some have indoor pool and some outdoor, but most offer something in the swim department for little ones. As a bonus, prices tend to be quite reasonable. Here are a few links to help you look up your local schedule:
Montgomery County Parks & Rec, Maryland
PG County Parks & Rec, Maryland
City of Arlington Parks & Rec, Virginia
City of Alexandria Rec Centers, Virginia
Fairfax County Parks & Recreation, Virginia
Do you know of another DC-area program offering swim classes for little ones? Drop me a line and I'll be happy to share on the blog.
Posted by Sarah at 10:12 PM
Baby Sign Language: New Classes for Rockville & Springfield
If you're in Rockville, MD or Springfield, VA there's a brand-spanking-new baby sign language class starting soon in your neighborhood:
Linda Stein, an instructor for the much-respected, locally-based Tiny Fingers program, will be teaching Baby & Me Sign Language classes at Mayorga Coffee in Rockville, MD, with sessions beginning in late May. The Baby & Me workshop will also be held in Gaithersburg, MD this spring (a condensed version for those who cannot attend a weekly session). Tiny Fingers' Baby & Me classes are appropriate for ages six months to three years, with a parent or caregiver in attendance. Classes are 45 minutes each and run for six weeks. Click here to register, or for more details, send email to Linda at: lbstein (at) hotmail (dot) com.
In addition to teaching classes for Tiny Fingers, Linda is a part-time trademark attorney at the U.S. Postal Service headquarters, where she has conducted ASL (American Sign Language) training. Linda was exposed to sign language at a young age when her older sister attended Rochester Institute of Technology, one of the largest deaf and hearing colleges in the country, which requires the hearing students to learn ASL. Once Linda had children, she decided to enroll in sign language classes and has reached the Level II Intermediate ASL level of expertise. She is the local mama of two signing kids!
In Springfield, VA, mother and family educator Laura Rozier, founder of Baby Signs with Laura, is gearing up for a new session, which runs May 17 through June 21. The 45-minute class meets Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. at the Community Covenant Church (no religious affiliation). The class is designed for ages six months to two years, with a parent or caregiver in attendance. For more info or to register online, click here. Laura also offers private instruction and one-time workshops for parents.
Posted by Sarah at 10:34 AM