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Visit P&K at the American Baby Faire March 29&30
Posted on March 24, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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The American Baby Faire will make its 16th visit to Massachusetts next weekend (March 29 & 30: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Please stop by the P&K booth #100 and step into our back yard with lots of opportunity for fun and interaction with local parenting experts.
Here’s what you’ll find:
Smile for the cover
Your child’s face deserves to be on a cover! We’ll take your photo and upload it to www.wickedlocalparents.com where you can download it free of charge by the Friday following the faire.
Ask the expert
P&K has assembled the area’s best experts and they’re ready to answer your questions! Get some one-on-one time with a lactation consultant, local pediatrician, vet and financial advisor!
Saturday, March 29
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Breastfeeding Advice
Linda Winslow, RN, BSN, IBCLC, is a lactation consultant at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where she has worked for 20 years. She was the first ever full-time lactation consultant hired at the hospital and will happily provide guidance and tips for nursing moms.
1 to 4 p.m.: Health Advice
P&K Medical Advisor Dr. Gwenn O’Keeffe is a pediatrician and mother of two from Wayland. She is also the chief editor of PediatricsNow.com. Get some one on one time with a seasoned pediatrician who can address prenatal health, newborn and baby care and tips on keeping your growing family healthy.
Sunday, March 30
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Financial Advice
Harold Simansky is the founder of Simansky Investments, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in Brookline and author of “College Costs How Much?! The Workbook to Help You Save for School.” He can provide some effective ways to handle and maximize your family’s finances.
1 to 5 p.m.: Pet Advice
P&K Family Pet Columnist Dr. Monica Mansfield is a small animal veterinarian at the Medway Animal Hospital and author of ’The Black Panties: Tales of Animal Mischief and Veterinary Intrigue.’ Got questions about introducing your baby to the family pet? She’ll be happy to share her best tips.
We’ll be raffling off lots of great prizes including:
A free sitting and $200 gift certificate to Portrait Simple. With studios at the Natick and Atrium malls, their talented photographers also provide many of P&K cover images.
Enter to win Langham Boston Hotel’s V.I.B. “Very Important Baby” Package
Do you need a change of scenery? Do you need to be pampered? Here’s your chance! Families with babies and small children can leave stress at home and stay at The Langham, Boston hotel where their V.I.B. Concierge ensures that Very Important Babies and Very Important Big Brothers and Sisters have the important necessities upon arrival – from pre-ordered baby food to unlimited Huggies to top-of-the-line Propoline for Babies products by APIVITA. One lucky winner will receive overnight accommodations which includes one load of V.I.B laundry, use of all indoor facilities, babysitting and much more! Winner will be notified within 48 hours after the faire ends on Sunday.
Pick up the April issue of P&K
This month, we’re arming you with P&K’s Rookie Guide to Parenting. It doesn’t just cover the universal topics of parenting but more of what you need to know about parenting in greater Boston – where you can go for support, for fun, for a break and more.
Breastfeeding Legislation
Posted on March 5, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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Here’s the OK news: Moms who choose to breastfeed in public are not breaking the law. Here’s the not OK news: There are no laws to protect their rights.
I breastfed both my children. I chose to do this in private. For starters, I wanted to be alone with my baby. I liked the silence, the solitude. I also knew it made other people uncomfortable. I’ll confess, before I had children of my own, I’d always feel awkward if a breastfeeding mom was in the vicinity. The other thing I resented slightly was when I was in the own home and felt obligated to leave company and miss out on social interaction.
That being said, I think a woman should be able to breastfeed her child when and where she desires to.
For a look at a local mom’s opinion, view a video clip at NECN.
His eyes
Posted on February 19, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
Filed Under Mom's World | 1 Comment
Recently, I took my son for his 5-year well visit and instead of walking out with a clean bill of health, I left carrying a slip with numbers for a pediatric eye specialist.
He failed his vision test. I was floored. He couldn’t make out the objects or the letters when his left eye was covered. The nurse thought that he may be tired. But when his right eye was covered he easily breezed through the visual quiz. On the way home, he confirmed, “Mom, I only have one good eye.”
A few days later, a pediatric eye doctor confirmed a diagnosis - amblyopia - more commonly known as lazy eye. The good news is that it can be corrected, the not to so great news is that treatment could include eye glasses or a patch.
What troubles me the most is that I didn’t know. I have never seen him squint or struggle to see. As it was explained to me - the brain can be lazy. Since birth, he has only see blurs or dots in that eye. If one eye sees clearly and the other sees a blur, the brain can inhibit (block, ignore, suppress) the eye with the blur. Since amblyopia usually occurs in one eye only, many parents and children are unaware of the condition.
Recent medical research has proven that amblyopia is successfully treated up to the age of 17. So our next stop will be a developmental eye specialist, next week
Remember to have your kids get regular eye checks. The earlier these conditions are caught the better.
Ideas for a Romantic Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 11, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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I know, I know. Romance? I must be kidding. How can parents expect to have a romantic life? We’re making it easy for you with 10 ideas on celebrating Valentine’s Day. Some ideas just take a little creativity while others take some well-spent cash.
First things first, though. Book your babysitter now. Valentine’s Day is Thursday so cash in some favors from neighbors or grandparents or check out P&K’s recommendations for finding a sitter in your neighborhood.
I hope my husband reads this entry because I’d really love to head to Langham Hotel is Boston to visit the most famous chocolate bar!
Another one of my favorite ideas is exchanging love letters. This doesn’t mean buying a card and signing your name, it means sharing in words some of your favorite memories and dreams for the future.
Sara Eberle, a Lexington mom who I always turn to when I need someone to write about funky trends or edgy, insightful pieces, happily took on the assignment for romantic V-day ideas. I’m also her featured guest on her new MommaJam site with the tag: Edgy, whimsical, honest, emotional, scary, wacky, wonderful. Your motherhood. Take a listen by clicking on Mommma Jam and finding Rock ‘N Roll Love Song CD podcast!
Before signing off, I have to admit that my husband and I didn’t actually follow the love letter exchange advice. We were in Target on Saturday night picking up some goodies for our other Valentines (5-year old son and 3-year-old daughter) when we walked by the card racks.
“Oh, I need to get you a card,” I said to my husband.
“Yeah, I need to get you one too.”
So there we stood side by side shuffling through husband and wife cards when my husband turned to me and said, “This is a good one.”
“You want me to read it now?”
“Yeah.”
“Ok, then you read this one.”
We did this impromptu exchange of cards. Some were sentimental, others were funny.
Once we were satisfied that we had conveyed our deepest love, we left the store…without buying any cards.
Tune into NECN on Monday morning
Posted on February 8, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
Filed Under P&K issue | Leave a Comment
Find out the best places to head on February vacation and get some tips on having a romantic Valentine’s Day by watching New England Cable News on Monday morning at 7:45 a.m.
All this and more as I discuss the February issue of Parents and Kids.
Storytime with Parents and Kids
Posted on February 6, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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Cinderella is an international sensation.
To a child, foreign countries can seem distant and mysterious. One way to break down the distance is by reading a familiar story set in another culture. The classic tale of Cinderella, retold in over 500 countries across the globe, is the perfect companion for such an adventure. Children love learning how their well-loved character interacts in another time and place.
We’ve made storytime easy. Just sit back and let us share the story of “Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella,” by Paul Fleischman via video. It’s a story that spanned centuries, changing to match its surroundings now has all its versions braided together into one global tale.
Time to Vote
Posted on February 5, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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“Do you know what tomorrow is, Kyle?”
“Valentine’s Day?”
“No.”
“Groundhog’s Day?”
“Nope. It’s Super Tuesday.”
And that’s how it began. My attempt to bring my 5-year-old son more into the political arena.
As our conversation continued, his questions surprised me. Yes, they were innocent but they were also relevant.
“Why are we at war?”
“Which president will win it?”
“You’re a girl so does that mean you are you voting for the girl (Clinton)?”
I tried to explain how we had to go into booths and vote for the person who we think should lead our country. I guess he thought you could write down any name.
“Mommy, I don’t want you to be president!”
“I’m not going to be, Kyle.”
“Could I?”
“Not until you’re much older…and I would most definately vote for you!”
So this morning he accompanied my husband and I to our voting location. He saw the booths, the ballot and he even got a sticker. Take time to talk to your kids about the election. P&K contributor Meredith O’Brien’s column “Kids, Let’s Talk Politics” will inspire you to do so.
Don’t forget its Groundhog’s Day
Posted on February 1, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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My kids love this holiday mainly because they disagree about it. My son wants winter to last forever - this is because in its cold hands it holds Christmas and his birthday, not to mention endless hot chocolate. My daughter can’t wait for spring’s arrival. She loves to be outside, playing, swimming and not be bogged down by lots of clothes.
So we’re waking up at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning to see what Phil is going to do. You can watch him live.
We are also hoping that we’ll hear back from a local 12-year-old that is traveling to Punxsutawney for the festivities.
I know we have enough to celebrate today - with the Superbowl and all - but you can have some fun with this holiday as well. There’s lot of fun online games and crafts to do.
Here’s to an early spring.
Dads: Watch the Superbowl with your daughter
Posted on January 30, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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Advice from Dads Read more
Living Through Your Kids
Posted on January 29, 2008 by Heather Kempskie
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Show and tell always makes me nervous. Oh, I’m not doing it. My 5-year-old son is. Tomorrow. The last Wednesday of the month is show and tell at his preschool and here it is again. This time I’m pushing an electronic gadget. I think the other kids would find his new Transformer mask pretty cool. You slip it over your head, turn it on and when you speak you sound like a Transformer. I can see the other kids right now - they’d be really impressed with it.
But as typical with my little guy - any idea I think is really cool, cannot be cool at all.
“No, mom. Not a good idea,” he says from the backseat of the car. “I think I may bring in my coloring book.”
“Whatever you decide is fine,” I say with my lips clamped.
My son is a lot like me. He’s sensitive, a bit of an introvert so my concerns are real. Let me be clear, I don’t feel he needs to impress his classmates. My fear is that he’ll have a bad show and tell experience (i.e. a child makes fun of his object, a teacher inadvertantly laughs) and in that moment he’ll be scarred for life. He’s 5 now. He is capable of long-term memory and I need to cram it with as many positive ones as I can.
(I’m fully aware that he also needs some negative experiences to learn and cope with life’s disappointments but that’s a bitter pill to swallow.)
He doesn’t know I feel this way. I only offer suggestions and once I know he is devoted to his idea, I offer nothing but support. I may try dismissing my idea for the Transformer Mask - pretend it’s suddenly uncool in my eyes. He might go for it then.
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