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January 30, 2008
Dr. Rene Hackney launches new parenting advice blog
There's a new resource for parenting advice on the local scene - featuring tips and insights from Alexandria-based developmental psychologist and founder of Parenting Playgroups Dr. Rene Hackney!
Rene's new blog, Parenting Answers, will be frequently updated with research-based feedback on questions from real live parents.
Also check out Rene's new parenting videos on MonkeySee, and her Eight Weeks to Positive Discipline handbook, based on her popular Positive Discipline class and available for purchase on the Parenting Playgroups website.
Posted by Sarah at 3:48 PM
January 28, 2008
This Thursday: Free discussion on prenatal fitness & yoga
Thinking of becoming pregnant, or already pregnant? Vionna Jones (personal trainer, founder of Fit in DC, and Healthy Moms certified fitness professional) is hosting a FREE educational workshop on prenatal fitness and yoga this Thursday, January 31 from 8 to 9 p.m. at Noya Chiropractic (4708 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 101).
The workshop is geared toward both expectant moms and the professionals who serve them, addressing general questions about exercise, fitness, and yoga during pregnancy.
Space is limited, so you must RSVP in advance. Send email to: dranthony-at-noyachiropractic-dot-com or cal 202.237.1399.
Posted by Sarah at 7:37 PM
January 23, 2008
February 9: SteveSongs at Jammin' Java
Along with his full band and backup singers, The Sensational Sillies, local favorite SteveSongs will do two family concerts at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA on Saturday, February 9. Two shows: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tix are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Plenty of sing-along and dance party fun.
Jammin' Java is a lovely space for live music, kid-friendly, and they host a regular lineup of children's performers on both weekdays and weekends. To check out their complete schedule of events, click here. Or call Jammin' Java at 703.255.1566, ext. 8.
Posted by Sarah at 3:10 PM
January 21, 2008
"Go Dog, Go!" at the Adventure Theatre
One of our family's favorite children's stories, P.D. Eastman's - Go Dog, Go! - is now on stage at the newly-renovated Adventure Theatre in historic Glen Echo Park, suburban Maryland.
We've had great experiences taking our daughter to performances here, and it's fun to make a day of it, riding the vintage carousel and exploring the park.
Go Dog, Go! runs weekdays and weekends through February 24. Recommended for ages three+.
On Sunday, February 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Adventure Theatre will also host a community service Rescue Dog Adoption Day, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Humane Society's Mobile Adoption Unit. You and your kids can see and play with the four-legged friends, who will be stationed near the Adventure Theatre's entrance.
Posted by Sarah at 11:56 AM
January 16, 2008
February 23: Rock-n-Tot comes to Washington
Mark your calendar! Rock-n-Tot kicks off on Saturday, February 23 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the District.
The newest family event to hit DC, Rock-n-Tot is an afternoon dance party for kids (birth through age 12) and their parents or caregivers. The program was co-created by an Ohio mom and a Maryland mom, in an effort to provide a family-friendly event that would be fun for adults and kids alike.
Rock-n-Tot will be held on the fourth Saturday of each month from 2 to 5 p.m., beginning February 23. UltraBar (at 911 F St. NW) will be transformed into a kid-centric dance party, complete with a DJ spinning music (with clean lyrics), bubbles, egg shakers, and scarves… plus face painting, airbrush tattoo artists, complimentary massages and other services for the adults. And did I mention free juice boxes and kid snacks? Also: Gift bags and giveaways and a nursing zone/changing station.
Pre-walkers get in free. Everyone else is $15 per person.
For more info or to get your tix, go to www.rock-n-tot.com or send email to Liz at: rock.n.tot.dc-at-gmail-dot-com.
Posted by Sarah at 5:57 PM
January 14, 2008
Last chance to join Hola Baby winter session
There are still a few spots remaining in Hola Baby's next eight-week session, which begins January 21! Last chance to register before the weekday and weeekend classes are full.
As I wrote of this program in the January 1 DCB newsletter:
"I can give a five-star personal recommendation for this innovative early childhood enrichment program in Arlington - My husband and daughter have participated in several sessions over the past two years, and we love the curriculum, the playgroup-style atmosphere, and the energetic staff. Such a fun way to introduce your little one to the Spanish language, or to reinforce the existing bilingualism in your family. We love founder Maria Elena Giraldo Greene and Hola Baby!"
Posted by Sarah at 4:35 PM
January 9, 2008
Kidsinger Jim concert in Herndon
By popular demand, another Kidsinger Jim concert has been scheduled for Friday, January 18 at Wee Play in Herndon, VA. Doors will open at 2 p.m. for free play, followed by a 45-minute live performance beginning at 2:30.
The later 4 p.m. show is totally sold out, so don't delay if you want to snatch up tix to the 2:30. Reservations are required, and cost is $5 per person (for both kids and adults). To reserve your tickets, send email to: kathy-at-weeplayinfo-dot-com. Or call Wee Play at 703.870.7400.
Posted by Sarah at 1:57 PM
January 7, 2008
Best gifts for second-time parents
So here I am, 31 weeks into a particularly "challenging" pregnancy with my second child. Months of complications, illness, and bed rest have given me new perspective on the kinds of gifts and support that are most helpful to women in this situation - as well as those most useful to second-time expectant parents in general. Here's what I've learned about the best gifts:
1) A gift certificate to Let's Dish for their Dish & Dash option, in which the recipient orders meals online and selects a time to pick them up, freezer-ready. Colleagues from my husband's office recently gave us this gift, and it was heaven. It eliminated planning, list-making, grocery shopping, and cooking - as well as minimizing cleanup - for an entire week. And the food was very good, with both vegetarian and carnivore selections to choose from!
2) A house-cleaning session from a service of the family's choice. Some kind and gracious cousins gifted us with this last fall, when I was sick as a dog. They pre-paid some sessions for us and we set up the actual dates for the appointments to suit our needs. Lifting the burden of cleaning tasks on a 3-story townhouse when I was so ill, our daughter needed our attention, and we both had jobs to maintain was a true blessing. (And by the way, we had excellent service from Merry Maids' Alexandria branch. They did a great job on a house that is a pain to clean.)
3) A gift certificate toward hiring a birth doula and/or a postpartum doula. Especially for those who don't have family nearby (like us), doula support is a great idea. It doesn't come cheap and is in high demand in the DC area, so booking help well before you need it is ideal. A birth doula meets with the expectant parents a couple of times before the birth, getting to know you and your preferences and hopes for labor and delivery. She then stays with you throughout labor and delivery, until an hour or two after baby's born, providing experienced non-medical support and caregiving - i.e., the things your mother or sister would do for you if she could be there, like providing massage and comfort measures, providing encouragement and companionship with a gentle touch, and supporting dad, as well. A postpartum doula comes to your home in the early days and weeks after a birth, to help out with everything from baby care and household chores to giving the new mom breastfeeding tips - or just the coveted chance to take a shower or get sleep. There are many excellent doulas and doula agencies in the Washington metro area! This time around, my husband and I are investing in a labor doula and have hired Donna Winsor of Mother & Baby Matters (who came highly recommended from former client/local mama/childbirth educator Melody Kisor). I know Donna is going to make a positive difference in my experience of labor and birth.
4) Find out what brand and size of diapers and wipes the parents prefer, and place an order in bulk from one of the online suppliers, having it delivered to the family's home. Anyone who has had a baby in recent history remembers that the constant purchase of diapers and wipes takes over your life! It may not be the sexiest new-baby gift on earth, but it sure will be appreciated in the trenches.
5) The general rule is that an expectant mother - whether it's her first baby or her third - is going to focus all resources on the little one to come. It's just what we do - Part of the job description, and necessary. We systematically stock the clothes and gear for baby, clamor to get a nursery ready, and pay endless medical bills. We stress about time off work (whether unpaid or compensated) and extra childcare. Our tender loving care for ourselves ends up consisting of a selection of (inevitably expensive and dubiously fitting) nursing bras and breastpumps. But the truth is, our bodies and minds are taxed to the limit, needing and deserving more. So if you're invited to a baby shower, consider giving something that's just for her. My in-laws have given me two wonderful presents during this rough pregnancy - A gift certificate to an upscale maternity boutique and a gift certificate to a pampering day spa. I also really love the gift boxes of organic products from Earth Mama Angel Baby, which can be ordered online. For expectant and new mothers, check out their pregnancy products, labor support kit, postpartum kit, c-section recovery kit, and breastfeeding kit. Also their guided imagery and relaxation CDs for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Or consider sending flowers before the birth, as a late-pregnancy pick-me-up - which one of my clients and Noah's colleagues from the office have done at various times during my bed rest. A gift that helps a woman feel good in body and soul is worth a thousand onesies!
It's true that several of these ideas are big-tickets. We can't all afford to give such lavishness to our girlfriends, but they make excellent group-gifts when we pool our resources. And the helps that relieve everyday burdens - while costing little or nothing but your time - are also wonderful. Offering babysitting help for older children, or taking them for a few hours to a playground or on an ice cream outing. Bringing over a home-cooked meal or taking an extra carpool shift. These mean a lot. I know how grateful I have been for every kind gesture!
Posted by Sarah at 10:51 AM
January 3, 2008
Saving the DC Aquarium for our children (and children's children)
After more than 70 years tucked away at the Hoover building in downtown DC, it seems the small and charming National Aquarium - the perfect outing for little ones with short attention spans, who may be easily overwhelmed by the crowds, noise, and dark maze of the Baltimore aquarium - is in jeopardy.
Read more about the National Aquarium (one of DC's best kept secrets for families) and its current situation in today's Examiner story.
Posted by Sarah at 10:41 AM