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Moms Council

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Moms Talk

What Are the Best Kid-Friendly Outdoor Places in JP?

Last week the JP Patch Moms Council talked about best indoor spots for children. This week they talk about where to go now that the weather is better.

[Editor's note: This "archive-edition" discussion originally ran in April. Next week we plan to return with a fresh topic: birthday parties (and those durn gift bags).] This week the JP Patch Moms Council talks about the best outdoor spots for children in our neighborhood. Add your own favorites in the comment section below. Erica Lewy: We’ll be going to the Lamartine playground more often now that the tire mulch has been removed I was totally overwhelmed when I started writing this. JP is so full of outdoor places, I can't believe how lucky we are to live in such a great part of the city. This winter almost made me forget how wonderful it was. I think I need to get warmer clothes so we can enjoy these places year round. SW CORRIDOR PARK …

In this Article:

Southwest Corridor Park, Mozart Playground, Alex's Chimis, and 7 more ›

Comment_arrow

Erica Lewy

4:19 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Thanks for posting about Franklin Park Stacy. I know a lot of people go there. I don't because I'm not as close so I'm glad you posted to add the things you love about it.   more ›

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Moms Talk

Jamaica Plain Moms Reflect on Father's Day

Each Wednesday the JP Patch Moms Council discusses a topic. Today it's Father's Day.

  • OPINION
  • Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Each Wednesday the JP Patch Moms Council discusses a topic. Today it's Father's Day. Please add your thoughts in the comment section below. Mary Hannon: The changing roles of Fathers — What is a father? Mine was a very different father than the one that my children have — and I’m grateful. We live in a time that has opened the door on what “fathers” look like. My father was absent a good portion of my early childhood; he was a career military man and went to Vietnam for 16 months in one stretch. My father had a mustache and when he shaved it off, I cried (he didn’t look like my father anymore). I only saw my father in the kitchen on Sundays making breakfast, otherwise I didn’t see him in the kitchen, until I was much older. My father was …

Nichole Jones

3:43 pm on Thursday, June 30, 2011

Dads are always welcome, but I think children need their moms more than dads. Children need their own space so that they can explore their talent and creativity. We, the parents should always stand beside to help those learning different things. We should teach them different subjects in different innovative ways so that they love to learn them. We should let them understand that homework is the …   more ›

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Moms Talk

Jamaica Plain Moms Give Advice on Babysitters

Each Wednesday the JP Patch Moms Council discusses a topic. Today it's babysitting. Add your thoughts in the comment section.

  • OPINION
  • Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Each Wednesday the JP Patch Moms Council discusses a topic. Today it's babysitting. Please add your thoughts in the comment section below. Erica Lewy: It's a bit nerve wracking to leave your child in the care of another person but at some point you have to trust that you've checked enough and asked enough questions. We had a wonderful stay at home mom who watched our daughter during her infant through young toddler years.  Our daughter had the company of a child close to her own age as well as the care of a warm, responsible and loving child care provider. When my daughter started preschool my parents (thanks mom and dad) graciously drove up from New York when Michael and I needed to do something, like go to a wedding or continue to work …

In this Article:

Erica Lewy (in West Roxbury Patch), Mary Hannon, Amy Abair, and 4 more ›

Comment_arrow

Mary Hannon

10:27 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011

Great Advice Candi... couldn't agree with you more. I was very flip, but honestly-- my first born didn't see a real babysitter until he was 9. We had family and we swapped with friends. We did a co-op. By the time our kids were 4 and 10 we left them with 15 year olds. Infants and toddlers are another story. Was SO glad we had a grandma near by for those important dates and those trips out of town…   more ›

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Moms Talk

JP Moms on How to Talk to Children About Death

Each week the JP Patch Moms Council discusses a parenting topic; your thoughts are welcome in the comment section.

This week's topic is: How do you talk to children about death? Phillipa Tawn: Children's grief does not always manifest itself in the ways we — as adults — might expect. My mother died of lung cancer two years ago. I received the phone call from the UK in the early hours of the morning and sat waiting for my children to wake up dreading breaking the news to them of the loss of their grandmother. However when I told my children, the eldest (then 8 years old) said “that is sad”, the youngest (aged 4) didn’t comment at all and the 6 year old said “Oh…..So what are we doing today mummy”?” And that was it. Not one of my three children cried or seemed to go through any sort of period of grief. Or so I thought… Over the next three months my …

In this Article:

Phillipa Tawn and Mary Hannon

Amy Abair

12:55 pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011

My dad died unexpectantly a month ago. Telling my 3 year old son was easy because he didn't know who my father was. They would see each other a handful of times each year. My husband and I started off trying to remind our son who "Bampi" was and we thought maybe he had some recognition to the name. We fielded one or two questions but then he looked up at us and said "who is Bampi?". We stopped at…   more ›

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Moms Talk

What are the Best Kid-Friendly Indoor Places in Jamaica Plain?

This week the Jamaica Plain Moms Council talks about their favorite kid-friendly indoor spots — next week we will do a Q&A about outdoor spots like all the great playgrounds and parks.

Erica Lewy: Almost every time we take our daughter to El Oriental, they give her a little toy Get a haircut at Fresh Hair: Ask for Sophia! She's great with kids. Cuts cost $15. There's no bubbles or lollipops here (thank god). Her cuts are consistent, quick and of good quality. They have a booster seat for the large chair so your kids can sit up higher. They even have some kid's books in the waiting area. Curtis Hall has been closed for a while now but I'm eagerly awaiting it's reopening. I think it's supposed to reopen around October or November. We took swimming lessons there and when my daughter was a baby she used the gym in the winter for the play space. I'm ready to take swimming again with her.  We also love the flea market/tag sale…

In this Article:

Erica Lewy (in West Roxbury Patch), Fresh Hair, Curtis Hall Community Center, and 27 more ›

Comment_arrow

Deb Nam-Krane

3:44 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Danielle, that stinks that you've had bad service. I've never had that problem there- in fact they're usually pretty nice to me- but it might be the time of days I go (and I'm not a really frequent flyer there). I have had that issue with another place on Centre Street, across the street from JP Licks, not renowned for its speedy service either ;-)   more ›

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Moms Talk

Should You Vaccinate Your Child?

What are your thoughts about this week's parenting question?

Each week, our Moms Talk Q&A looks at questions and topics raised by local moms. Members of our JP Patch Moms Council will answer your questions and offer their thoughts. This week the panel invites discussion about vaccinations, including HPV, chicken pox and MMR.  Phillipa Tawn: I am puzzled, and angered, by parents in developed countries who deliberately opt out. My three children have had all the standard vaccinations. I feel that we are extremely privileged to live in an era and a part of the world in which advances in the field of medicine have reached the point where we can now prevent millions of deaths every year through immunization. As parents we are immensely lucky not to have to suffer the pain of losing our children to …

In this Article:

Phillipa Tawn, Deb Nam-Krane, and Mary Hannon

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Moms Talk

Co-sleeping: How Old is Too Old?

What are your thoughts about this week's parenting question?

Each week, our Moms Talk Q&A looks at questions and topics raised by local moms. Members of our JP Patch Moms Council will answer your questions and offer their thoughts. This week's question is about co-sleeping, which means letting your child sleep in the same bed with you. Phillipa Tawn: Nights with our first-born in our bed left me bruised, aching and utterly sleep deprived Co-sleeping is a sensitive and controversial issue to say the least. I have witnessed some pretty heated debates on this subject since becoming a parent. I would advise new parents to go with their gut feeling, find what works best for their own family and ignore the comments or criticisms of “well-meaning” friends and relatives. Personally, I am not a fan of co-…

In this Article:

Phillipa Tawn, Deb Nam-Krane, Casey Carey-Brown, and 3 more ›

Erica Lewy

2:30 pm on Thursday, March 17, 2011

When I was writing for this, my daughter and I got the stomach bug that is going around JP. The day this posted to the web, my daughter woke up super super cranky. After being awake for about 2 hours she started to cry and asked if she could take a nap in my bed, which she's NEVER done before. We lay in my bed and read stories. It was nice and cozy. She didn't fall asleep though. A few hours …   more ›

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Moms Talk

Kids and Pets

This week the JP Patch Moms Council discusses having children and pets.

  • OPINION
  • Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Each week, our Moms Talk Q&A looks at questions and topics raised by local moms. Members of our JP Patch Moms Council will answer your questions and offer their thoughts. This week's question is: If you have pets, are there any special techniques you have? For dogs, how do you teach your child to get along with dogs and vice versa? Casey Carey-Brown: We had to give our dog Fenway to another family I was asked to present this question because my beloved four year old shih tzu, Fenway, nipped at my daughter over the weekend and gave her a small bite that broke the skin. He is a wonderful dog that had never shown any aggression at all until our daughter started walking. We have another dog that is very nervous around people and children so we…

In this Article:

Casey Carey-Brown, MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center, Deb Nam-Krane, and 1 more ›

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Moms Talk

Diapers: Cloth or Disposable?

The JP Patch Moms Council weighs in on a vexing question.

Each week, our Moms Talk Q&A looks at questions and topics raised by local moms. Members of our JP Patch Moms Council will answer your questions and offer their thoughts. This week's question is about diapers: Cloth or disposable? Phillipa Tawn: US kids stay in diapers longer than French children Cloth versus disposable? A question debated by many new parents. As environmentally conscious parents we decided to opt for cloth diapers for our first born. We felt we were making a small contribution in not adding to the already huge number of disposable diapers that end up in landfills each year (somewhere in the order of 20 billion diapers per year in the US alone). However let’s face it — cloth diapers are inconvenient. They're bulky, less …

In this Article:

Phillipa Tawn, Deb Nam-Krane, Amy Abair, and 2 more ›

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Moms Talk

How Do You Raise Children to Be Healthy Eaters?

This week the JP Patch Moms Council tackles a huge question: food.

Each week, our Moms Talk Q&A looks at questions and topics raised by local moms. Members of our JP Patch Moms Council will answer your questions and offer their thoughts. This weeks question: At what age do you stop controlling every bite of food that goes into your child's mouth? How do you prepare children to make healthy food choices on their own? Mary Hannon: "Don't give in." I think the biggest mistake parents can make is catering to the child's list of "only foods," and worrying about them not eating enough if they don't like what you served.  Substitutions were not an option in our house.  You ate what was being served for dinner and we didn't "dumb down" the food for our toddlers.  If we were having chicken curry with mango …

In this Article:

Mary Hannon, Ghazal Fine Indian Cuisine, Deb Nam-Krane, and 3 more ›

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