April 2013 baystateparent Magazine

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APRIL 2013

baystateparent Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

FREE

LEGOLAND® DEBUTS IN THE NORTHEAST THIS SPRING

HOPING FOR TOO MUCH? Fragile X Drug Trial Proves Beneficial TRUST YOUR GUT Link Between Your Child’s Behavior and Diet

oh baby!

NURSERY MUST HAVES • TRENDY T-SHIRTS DEAREST ABBY, ONE MOTHER’S TRIBUTE

Voted Best Parenting Publication in North America 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012

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Cornerstone Academy Educating all learners in grades K-6

An elementary preparatory school that celebrates the individual. Tours April 9th & 23rd at 9:00 a.m. Visit our website to schedule a tour

Spring is a time for change! If you have been unhappy with your child’s education, make a change now. Send your children to Cornerstone Academy and watch them bloom! ✿ Offering Transitional Kindergarten and full day Kindergarten through Grade 6th curriculum.

✿ Highly qualified faculty trained to adapt curriculum to your child’s ability.

✿ Small classes, individual attention.

✿ Intellectually enriching environment.

✿ Solid academic foundation complemented by art, Spanish, music and physical fitness.

✿ State of the art technology utilized in all classrooms.

5 Oak Avenue • Northboro, MA 01532 • 508-351-9976 www.cornerstoneacademy.org BAYSTATEPARENT 3

Come Learn. Come Play. 20th Annual

Saturday, April 27 10 am – 3 pm Solomon Pond Mall, Marlborough Admission is FREE!! Join us for this event to help children learn about health and safety with fun and interactive booths. Teddy bears and stuffed dolls are welcome to come with their owners for a physical exam.

Enjoy Interactive Booths on Health and Safety Games ★ Entertainment

Sponsored by:

For more information, please visit www.umassmemorial.org/teddybear 4 APRIL2013

Blossom Station Child Care Center “Daily Discoveries, Endless Possibilities�

e s e d a . t . . n . w W a o r l a tch it G P

"If you are planning for a year, sow rice; If you are planning for a decade, plant trees; If you are planning for a lifetime, educate children." Chinese Proverb

222 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720

978-266-2779 www.BlossomStation.com BAYSTATEPARENT 5

our special guest Nariyah Shy/Neice Gennis Tillman 2 weeks old Dorchester

11

Captured by paulaswift.com

table

LET’S ROLL: LEGOLAND

Lego lovers everywhere will love taking a spin down to the new Legoland opening this spring.

32

42

BA BA BLING BABY

Check out these hip fashions with our pint-size models.

ART & SCIENCE MEET AT THE HIVE

Kids can enjoy a unique camp this summer at a 30-acre sculpture park at deCordova Museum.

the of the home

APRIL 2013 • VOLUME 17 • NUMBER 12

in every issue 7 WELCOME 8 GUESTBOOK 10 JUNKDRAWERS

11 LET’S ROLL: Legoland Heads to the Northeast This Spring! 16 30 35 35 35

oh baby 26 28 30

advertising directories

MUST HAVE NURSERY SUPPLIES AND TRENDS DEAREST ABBY CAPTURED: Baby Faces

32 FUN FASHIONS FOR THE WEE ONES 33 34

NICVIEW THE ONE THING YOU’RE NOT PREPARED FOR, BUT SHOULD BE

CAPTURED: Baby Faces

APRIL’S CHILD CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

First Signs of Spring, April 5-7 Step Back in Time, April 12-14 School Vacation, April 14-19 Homesteading Weekend, April 19-21 Spring Family Farm Day April 22 Cooking with Kids, April 26-28 Connect with Nature, May 3-5 Mother’s Day Weekend, May 10-12

13

WHY SHE RUNS: The Women’s Running Boom – and How It Is Making Moms Healthier and Happier

14

TRUSTING YOUR GUT: Making the Connections Between Children’s Behavior and Their Diet

42 ART AND SCIENCE MEET AT THE HIVE 46

HOPING FOR TOO MUCH?

Your year-round farm family vacation resort.

Call us to reserve! 1-800-242-6495

Less than 2 hours from Boston!

Indoor Pool Farm Animals Hay Jumping Arts-n-Crafts Baby Animals 6 APRIL2013

BULLETIN BOARD CAMP LISTINGS ADVERTISING INDEX

POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE AND LOTS MORE OF OUR SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY

something special

Egg Collecting Cow Milking Pony Rides Children’s Activities Hiking

Family Farm Vacations

PARTY PLANNER

sneak peek MAY

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

FINALLY FOREVER

48 50 50 54

voted

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in North America

Local Media Association

Welcome When I was pregnant with my first son, I spent night after night searching the Internet for information about how to care for a baby. I had never held a newborn before, so I gathered stacks of checklists, advice columns and helpful-looking information about how to take proper care of babies. As a friend witnessed my quest, she cautioned me that there was no owner’s manual out there for the unique individual I was carrying. But I really wanted one to help me deal with the unknown. After my son Thomas was born after a non-story book delivery and recovery, I spent every day taking my cues from him. When he cried, I fed him, and learned what his hungry cry sounded like. I watched his waking and sleeping moments, observing the subtle facial expressions that distinguished deep sleep from that stirring squirminess that signaled he was on the edge of waking. Every expression, movement and sound was an adventure into discovery. He was such a calm baby, that I spent much of our time together reading to him (for a time I was unsure what else to do, but it seems to have turned my son into an avid reader). When I wasn’t

reading to him, I was skimming books about him to make sure I was doing alright – and I was! When my son Derek was born a little more than three years later, I figured I had learned so much that I was prepared. As other mothers of more than one child already knew, no two children are alike. I should have taken a clue from the pregnancy, which was lot harder and made me sick almost every day. We found out the gender so I could plan. And I remember my husband saying, “Another boy, we already have one of those. We’ll know exactly what to do.” I think he jinxed us. Derek was a calm, quiet baby. I suspect, however, that he spent his infant plotting how to spend his toddlerhood. Parenting him was and is a joyful experience. It’s been a joy to parent him, but no stack of advice columns or parenting books help with him. While Thomas would listen when we said, “no,” Derek used to pretend I wasn’t talking to him or that, “no” didn’t apply to him. To this day, he’s a leader for sure and wants to control most situations. It hasn’t been, nor do I expect it will become a by-the-book adventure raising him. In this issue, we share tips about the less complex aspect of parenting. We provide advice on furnishing your baby’s nursery and helping you decide what you need if you are pregnant. The sky is the limit as to what you can buy and what people say you need, but we pare it down to the essentials. Laura Richards, a mother of four, shares her experience of becoming a mother for the last time after turning 40. She faced different challenges than when she had her other children. She also shares with us the special joys of watching her older boys bond with her newborn son and how they have become wonderful helpers to her. A Northborough mom shares her story about how her baby died at 20 weeks old, due to a rare genetic disorder. Her mom, Aimee Bachman shares how her family faced this tragedy and how they are grieving and healing. Her story is inspiring. JD Bailey, a mother of daughters, reaches out to help other mothers by sharing her experience with postpartum depression. She writes a blog where she trusts us with

her triumphs and tribulations over and through depression in hopes that other women won’t feel shame and will help others with their stories. April is also autism awareness month, and as we all learn more about children with autism, Melissa Welin, of Cambridge, shares her story of caring for her son who has been diagnosed with Fragile X, a condition that can lead to autism. She writes about her experience with a drug trial that her son was a part of – and tells us about some major medical breakthroughs in the study of autism. We also feature the new NICView cameras that have been installed at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester’s NICU -- the largest NICU in the state. The cameras give parents and families the gift of watching their babies online from work or any place around the world. Harkening to the old adage, “You are what you eat,” Pam Formosa and Karen McCarthy provide us with managing our family’s well-being by eating healthy foods and tell us how some food choices can alter children’s behavior. Seems like the old adage really is true. We also treat you to one of our most adventurous photo shoots. We invited nine babies and toddlers to our studio to show off Ba Ba Bling Baby’s spring fashions, including hip and cool t-shirts that can be customized for any child (even special occasions). It was a lot of fun having the babies around. They loved getting their pictures taken! I hope you enjoy our baby issue for 2013 – it has been fun to reminisce about those special years in my children’s lives. And don’t forget to email me what you think of the issue at editor@baystateparent.com.

Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families

baystateparent publisher KIRK DAVIS

editor JENNIFER LUCARELLI 508-749-3166 x 251 editor@baystateparent.com

creative director PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-749-3166 x 351 baystateparent@holdenlandmark.com

promotions JENNIFER ANTKOWIAK 508-269-1728 jemsa2@charter.net

graphic designer STEPHANIE MALLARD 508-749-3166 x 351 srenaud@holdenlandmark.com

account executive EMILY LAVOIE 774-364-4178 emily@baystateparent.com account executive NELLIE LIMA 774-229-6272 nellie@baystateparent.com account executive SHELLEY CAVOLI 508-641-5702 shelley@baystateparent.com

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bspADvantage account executive HEATHER JUHASCIK 508-450-9718 heather@baystateparent.com contributing writers AIMEE BACHMAN JD BAILEY JUDITH BOYKO PAM FORMOSA KAREN MCCARTHY TRISH RESKE LAURA RICHARDS AMANDA ROBERGE MELISSA WELIN

copy editor BRYAN ETHIER photographers STEVEN KING JESSICA MILLARD PAULA SWIFT presidents KIRK and LAURIE DAVIS

baystateparent 101 Water St., Worcester, MA 01604

Jennifer Lucarelli, editor

MEET THE COVER MODEL

Nariyah Shy/Neice Gennis Tillman

508-749-3166 www.baystateparent.com campguide.baystateparent.com www.massfieldtrips.com baystateparent Inc. is published monthly with a main office at 101 Water Street, Worcester, MA 01604 508-749-3166 Fax 508-749-3165 It is distributed free of charge throughout Massachusetts. www.baystateparent.com • info@baystateparent.com

AGE 2 WEEKS OLD, DORCHESTER Tell us about what the photo shoot was like: It was nice, it was good. She didn’t cry much – she was sleeping most of the time. It was peaceful and quiet and easier than I thought it would be. Introduce bsp readers to Nariyah: She wasn’t that fussy – she likes to eat and she smiles a lot. She sleeps a lot of the time. She doesn’t like sleeping by herself and she is a pretty healthy baby.

What has being Nariyah’s mom taught you? Patience and that every child has a different personality. When you are pregnant and you try to figure out what your kids is going to be like by watching other babies, you really can’t. You have to learn to deal with that child your own way. And you can’t take advice from others because every baby is not the same.

Massachusetts' premier magazine for families has earned more than 170 national and regional awards since 2004, including 37 in 2012: 18 Parenting Media Awards 16 New England Newspaper Press Association Awards Including Best Parenting Publication in North America 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012

Captured by Paula Swift Photography. paulaswift.com BAYSTATEPARENT 7

L L O N R OW N E

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So much more than piano lessons! Our complete MUSIC program (ages 4 1/2 to 8) includes: Piano Singing Harmony Rhythm

Worcester

Guitar Note Reading Ear Training Composition

Recorder Ensemble Playing Music Theory Percussion

Westborough

Making Musi Last a LIFETIME! 508-898-3888

childrensmusicacademy.org

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GUESTBOOK My family wanted to say thank you to the baystateparent and Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts for the tickets to last weekend’s performance of Clifford the Big Red Dog. The whole family enjoyed the show, especially since there was lots of singing and dancing. My youngest, Elgin, just turned 4, loved it the most. He watched the whole thing very interested in everything. Then, he talked about it for hours afterward. “The Clifford Show was about friendship,� was his main message. He was adorable. I’ve attached a picture of him during intermission. It was a great time and a wonderful time for the family, and we are so happy to have such great resources available to us. Thank you, Cristen Abrams Worcester I would like to send a warm thank you for the tickets to Clifford the Big Red Dog at the Hanover Theater. My children are 4 and 6 and enjoyed the show immensely. It was wonderful to see them engaged and interacting with the characters in the theater company. The show made for a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Sincerely, Julie Bellerose Holden baystateparent would like to give a special thanks Hanover Theatre for donating three family four packs of tickets for the

Clifford performance. To donate tickets, email editor@baystateparent.com. So excited about the article!!!! Thanks again!!!!! I feel famous :) Jessica Walsh Jessica Walsh Photography Editor’s Note: Jessica Walsh Photography was featured in the JunkDrawers section in March 2013. During the recent snowstorms, our readers shared some of their boredom buster ideas for kids. Here’s a few from our Facebook page: We just made paper airplanes and decorated them using the Marker Airbrush & stencils. They are zooming around the family room now. Kristin Guenther Graffeo Cleaning and organizing, reading, drawing and art projects. Joy Olaes Surprenant I spent some time reading your magazine and admiring your cover model, my niece!!! Edna Hyder To join the conversation and hear about the latest baystateparent news, visit facebook.com/baystateparent.

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Infant (from 12 wks) • Toddler • Preschool Pre-Kindergarten • Full Day Kindergarten

WINNERS: Family four-packs of tickets to Natalie MacMaster & Band: Wendy VanderBrug, Woburn Carol Marino, North Andover

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Family four-pack of tickets to SteveSongs concert: Jennifer Fitzgerald, Gardner

Upcoming giveaways include DVDs to the latest movie releases, tickets to local shows and local products. To learn more about the giveaways, visit baystateparent.com/giveaways. Editor’s Note: Submitted letters to the editor should include your name, email address, phone number and town. Please email letters to editor@baystateparent.com by April 15.

BAYSTATEPARENT 9

JUNK DRAWERS A LITTLE LIT OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT

FOR BABY able through Fay Street Studio’s Etsy shop, faystreetstudio.etsy.com. In addition to invitations, Diane also designs popular matching paper goods including cupcake toppers, favor tags, banners, drink stirrers, and table decorations. Diane’s work is also available at unique gift shops including Le Gourmet Jardin in Westford, Sarida in Roslindale and Serendipity in Hudson.

STITCHED WITH LOVE Though her mom showed her how to knit when she was a kid, Michelle Sears of Wrentham gave up the Barbie blanket she was working on in favor of exploring the forest by her home in Vermont. She picked it up again in her 20s when she wanted to knit her cat, Cunningham, a mouse toy from a kit she found at Target. That time it stuck. Michelle began knitting with a fury and churning out more items than people she knew to give them to. She started an Etsy shop: mesears.etsy. com to help find homes for all the items she was making (and as an excuse to buy more yarn!). Michelle loves getting to know her customers and creating perfect items for them. By supporting handmade, her customers are not only getting a great item, they’re also getting all the well wishes and hopes she can weave in.

BANGLE BABY BRACELETS Frosted Willow’s signature personalized monogram bangles combined with pink or blue stone bangles, birth date keepsake bangles and name bangles make great custom gift sets for all mothers and area hit at baby showers. They are also an elegant way to show how proud you are to be a parent. Specializing in a broad range of dainty, delicate and memorable bangle bracelets to mix and match, Framingham Jewelry Designer Katrin Lerman offers styles that range from fun and trendy animal, ocean & nature themed arm candy to simple and truly classic pieces including custom anniversary & wedding date bangles for that special bridal piece. To find out more, visit frostedwillow.com.

Q&A

Fay Street Studio is the colorful and carefree collection of invitations, stationery, and art prints by graphic designer and illustrator Diane Ferris. A native of Westford, Diane graduated from Syracuse University and currently lives in Hudson. Fay Street Studio first debuted at Worcester’s stART On The Street, Central Massachusetts’ largest art, music, and performance festival. After receiving positive feedback at stART, Diane decided to showcase her work on Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade art. Charming baby shower invitations, modern wedding invitation suites, and unique personalized stationery sets are all avail-

What are some remedies for diaper rash? Most babies will get diaper rash at some time. Their bottoms are in frequent contact with moisture, bacteria and ammonia, and there is rubbing from the diaper. Many rashes can be treated by the following: • Change diapers frequently. The most important thing is to keep the area dry and clean. Check diapers often, every hour if your baby has a rash, and change as needed. Check at least once during the night. • Gentle cleaning: frequent and vigorous washing with soap can strip the baby’s tender skin of the natural protective barrier. Wash gently, but thoroughly, including the skin folds. Do not use diaper wipes if your child has a rash as they can burn and increase the irritation. • You can sit the baby in a basin or tub of lukewarm water for several minutes with each diaper change. • Pat dry or leave diapers off for a while. Let the skin air dry or pat very gently with a very soft cloth or paper towel. A hair dryer set to cool can also be used. Leave the skin open to the air as much as possible. • Fasten diapers loosely and do not use airtight rubber pants. If you use disposable diapers, it can help to punch holes in them to let air in. • Skin protection: petroleum jelly (Vaseline) provides a good protective coating, even on sore, reddened skin and is easily cleaned. A number of other ointments are available commercially. - Boston Children’s Hospital

BUILDING BLOCKS Woodgroove, of Boston, makes personalized, laser-engraved wood blocks for all ages and occasions. The personalized wood block is a hand crafted 2” solid maple cube - sanded smooth, without any harmful finishes and is made in the USA. Their most popular product is the Classic Baby Block, personalized with newborn birth information, such as name, e, initials, birth date, time, weight and length. It makes a very unique and cherished keepsake gift. Other blocks include gifts for teachers, coworkers, those celebrating a milestone birth- day or anniversary, etc. All blocks ship within a few days, packaged in a cute gift box with optional gift message. Free shipping! For more information, visit www.woodgroove.com.

Junkdrawers strives to highlight the products, people and places of Massachusetts. Have an idea? Email editor@baystateparent.com. 10 APRIL2013

LET’SROLL

LEGOLAND

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HEADS TO THE NORTHEAST THIS SPRING!

Families with a love of building with the iconic LEGOÂŽ brick and plans for traveling to the New York City and Lower Hudson Valley area this year will have a new destination to add to their itineraries, as LEGOLANDÂŽ Discovery Center Westchester opened in March in Yonkers, NY, less than 30 minutes north of New York City and accessible by public transportation. This new $12 million, 32,300 square-foot indoor attraction will feature more than 3 million LEGO bricks and is an ideal destination for children

to explore their creativity in a fun and educational environment. Geared towards children ages 3-10 and their families, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester features a range of educational and interactive experiences, including hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, LEGO building classes led by Master Model Builders and two LEGO amusement rides; birthday party rooms and a cafĂŠ offering healthy, hot and cold snacks and meals; and MINILAND the venue s signature re-creation of landmark

Can you think of ONE REASON why their FIRST COMPUTER shouldn’t be a SEMI-NEW computer*?

locations and buildings throughout Westchester County and New York City, made out of more than 1 million LEGO bricks. Tickets are available online and offer a variety of different options for single, group and annual ticket purchases, striking an ideal balance of value and flexibility. In addition, for meticulous vacation planners who like to have every last detail in place well in advance, single visit tickets for both children and adults are available at a considerable discount prior to March

27. Prices for both will be adjusted to their regular prices. Pre-booking perks include exclusive special rate ticket prices, priority entry to the attraction and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester s best price guarantee. To purchase tickets and annual passes, or stay up-to-date on the latest information, visit LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter. com/Westchester/. For group sales call 866-243-0770. Follow them at facebook. com/LDCWestchester and twitter.com/ LDCWestchester.

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July 8th - July 26th

2 -12 including recent high school graduates • 5 days! Mon.-Fri. • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Camp show performances on July 27th & 28th

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DISCOUNT AVAILABLE NOW! TAKE $50 OFF CAMP ENROLLMENT FEE UNTIL APRIL 15TH

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Announcing 2013 camp shows soon!

Check website for updates.

Past shows unclude:

For all information, call 978-602-6288 or register online at

wachusetttheatre.com

12 APRIL2013

why

SHE RUNS: The Women’s Running Boom -

and how it is making moms

healthier and happier BY

W

hen Susan Smith, of Westborough, decided to try running as an alternative to her gym workouts in the spring of 2011, she wasn’t sure what to expect. The fitness director at her gym had been taking a group of women out for short runs to introduce them to the sport. “One day I said, ‘What the heck, I’m just going to go out and try it,’” Susan says. “We did about a mile of walking and running, and I really enjoyed it. That was the beginning.” Those beginning steps began a journey for Susan that took her from being a nonrunner to completing her first 5K in July 2011, to the Tufts 10K in October 2011, the Disney Princess Half-marathon in January 2012, and — most impressively —the 2012 Boston Marathon. Susan’s journey may be unusual: not many women go from complete non-runners to marathoners in less than a year. But her interest in running and enjoyment of the physical and psychological benefits is shared by women, as more and more are lacing up their shoes and embracing the sport.

The Second Running Boom:

Girls Rule It’s been called the “Second Running Boom” and it’s still booming – especially with women. According to Running USA, there were over 7 million female road race finishers in 2011 – a record high. In fact, more women than men can be found at most start lines (55% vs. 25% in 1990). Jog bras are outnumbering jockstraps, from 5K races to marathons. This is in stark contrast to the first running boom of the 1970s, when less than 20% of finishers were women.

Clearly, females are reshaping the face of running.

Running Benefits

to Women

50% Vanity,

50% Sanity Deb Hurowitz, of Framingham, mom to two young children, Max, 6, and Sophia, 4, says that running has helped her regain confidence in her body, which translates into improved confidence in life. A social worker by profession, Hurowitz counsels

The Rise of

Women-Only Races The explosion of women-only races is a reflection of female footrace surge. Running USA reports that there were more than 200 “women-only” events in the U.S. last year (95% female participation or higher). Some notable women-only races are the Nike Women’s Half-marathon, the Disney Princess Half-marathon, the Divas Halfmarathon Series, and the Boston-based Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women, one of the largest women-only 10K in the nation. “There’s definitely a unique camaraderie about women-only races,” Smith says. “Even though we may not all know each other personally, at some level we do know each other. We all have busy lives and we’ve all put a lot of effort to get to the start line. The energy is amazing.”

trish reske

So why are women taking to the roads in record numbers? The answer is multifaceted. “Running is a major calorie burner,” says ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, Registered Dietitian, and Long-time Runner Chrissy Carroll from Mansfield. “A lot of women use running as a way to get in shape — to lose weight or tone up.” Moms wanting to shed the baby fat find that running especially suits their busy schedules. “I can put my kids on the bus and go out the door and run. That’s definitely extremely appealing,” says Smith, mom of Shanyna, 11, and Aaron, 9. The health benefits of running don’t stop at the scale. Running has been shown to help lower blood pressure, maximize lung capacity, reduce risk of heart disease, stop osteoporosis, strengthen the immune system, improve sleep and reduce the risk of breast cancer. “Running —along with other forms of exercise—also helps to decrease the risk of anxiety and depression and can improve self-confidence,” Carroll says.

to running accept where they are and take small steps to reach their fitness goals. “Many women struggle with endurance at the beginning of a running routine - they’ll try to go all out and run 2 or 3 miles having never done it before and then feel frustrated when they get a mile in and their heart is racing and breath is rapid,” she says. Carroll recommends following Cool Running’s Couch-to-5K ® Running Plan (www.coolrunning.com) and/or connecting with other women via social networks of running groups. She also organizes her own Couch-to-5K” Meetup group (www.meetup. com), in addition to coaching women on a one-on-one basis.

moms through her business, “Mommy but Still Me” to rediscover their identity after the baby years. “Running is something where I can get a little bit of time on my own. It’s just a little bit of a break. Moms need this space, and what better way to get space than through running?” she says. Smith agrees. “My kids have their activities and their goals, and I see this as something that is for me, that I enjoy doing and makes me feel good,” she says. “Someone said, ‘I run 50% for vanity and 50%for sanity.’ I can relate to that.”

A Greater Goal While running can be an individual form of exercise, many moms aim to complete a race distance, with 5K races being the most popular. For Hurowitz, that goal began with just a few steps. She never thought that running was for her. “I was the kid on the soccer field who would run some laps, and say, ‘I’m done.’ I had bad knees, I had no stamina, I didn’t know how to breathe. I thought it wasn’t for me,” she says. But now, as part of her broader fitness goal of completing a 10-12 mile “Tough Mudder” obstacle run in May, she has slowly – and surely – built up her stamina through running. She uses a mobile app on her iPhone that takes her through a slow, steady increase in endurance, one step at a time, while she’s out walking/running. Carroll recommends that women new

Change Your Mind,

Take a Step If the benefits of running are so farreaching, what keeps moms from trying out the sport? Carroll says it can be a perception problem. “You’ve probably told yourself reasons why you shouldn’t run – ‘I’ve never been a runner. It’s too hard. I’m not fast. I’d come in last in a race. I’m embarrassed about the way I look.’ Why don’t you shift that mental outlook and start telling yourself the reason you can run?” she says. Making time is another factor for busy moms. Chrissy counters that moms are accomplished masters at time management. You can figure out a way to include a few 30-minute sessions each week. Focus on why you can do this, and you’ll be a runner in no time, Carroll says. It’s about just taking that first step. “You can do anything. But you have to take it one step at a time,” Hurowitz says. “Last year if you had said that I would be running a 5K, I would not have believed it.” “People are much stronger than they realize that they are. They just have to start. Not expect it to be perfect. Just start,” Smith says. Trish Reske is an awarding-winning freelance writer, runner, mom and personal coach for women interested in running any distance from a 5K to marathon. You can read more at www.trishreske.com or contact her at treske@nowspeed.com BAYSTATEPARENT 13

TRUSTING YOUR GUT BY

pam formosa and karen mccarthy

Making the Connections Between Children’s Behavior and Their Diet.

Is

your child moody, anxious or having trouble focusing? Do you find yourself wondering if this will be a “good” day or a “bad” day? Are meal times stressful due to food refusal and negotiating? Have you ever wondered why your child keeps getting sick? Does your child look pale or tired all the time? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you are not alone. Parents these days are juggling so many factors to their daily lives that it is a wonder they have the time to figure out what to do for your children. Kelly Dorfman, author of What is Eating Your Child, addresses the concept that diets are contributing to these problems. Dorfman believes that most nutritional problems fall into two areas: That something being consumed is irritating or that something in the body is missing. This in turn is contributing to our children’s anxiety, stomach aches, headaches, constipation, reflux, eczema and picky eating. She also believes that parents can make a huge impact by understanding these ideas. Over the last five years, as local practitioners, Pam Formosa, a pediatric occupational therapist, and Karen McCarthy, a naturopathic doctor and manual therapist, have seen dramatic increases in the complexity of these children coming into their practices. “My clients were progressing more slowly in the neurodevelopmental work and their inconsistent responses were concerning,” Pam says. “Out of necessity, I researched what factors may be contributing to this increase.” Through this process, much research was found about how diet sensitivities and deficiencies may influence a child’s behavior and learning success. Connections have been found between autism and gluten and dairy sensitivities as well as deficiencies in Omega 3’s with children labeled as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There continues to be much controversy on this topic, but with the alarming increase in the 14 APRIL2013

diagnosis of ADHD and autism and the incredible use of drugs with our children, Pam believes this area must be looked at further. This research led Pam to collaborate with Karen. Like Pam, Karen has also seen the dramatic increase in what we would once have called “simple” childhood complaints. These complaints like stomach aches and occasional earaches have snowballed into daily chronic pain and life stressors. Issues such as anxiety not only affect the child but the entire family and even the work place. Parents have to make choices if their child is too “sick” to attend school, requiring a parent to miss work to be with that child. But are these children are “sick” or are they deficient in vital nutrients? Is what you are seeing an allergy? Is this a real behavior problem or a diet issue? Parents know their children better than anyone else and need to get back to trusting their own innate wisdom. Parents need to realize that there is something that can be done as well as hope for change. These health issues are indicative of deeper issues that can be dramatically changed and in some situations, eliminated by simply changing the diet. Karen uses nutritional education and manual therapy techniques to support clients with health issues. Karen’s practice works to address these problems by starting off with having the client fill out a food diary. Educating the family and child on what can be changed, added or eliminated, is part of the work. Karen then incorporates bodywork such as cranial sacral therapy, visceral manipulation, lymph drainage and allergy clearing to support these changes. Sometimes a small change can have huge results. In families with multiple children, health concerns or deficiencies can be present in siblings. Sibling may express health issues in a different way and parents may not be as concerned or know that it is the same issue. In many situations, parents themselves have the same issue as the child but have learned to work with it or have adjusted their lives around the problem. Karen and Pam’s team approach for

families and their children provides help immediately. Through nutritional changes and body work from Karen to working with Pam’s Brain Gym® and reflex integration program, the children began to move quickly towards positive change in sensory integration issues and developmental delays that were significantly interfering with their emotional, physical and cognitive growth. The kids also became more open to using the movement-based strategies and tools at home to help them to maximize their potential. Integrating these strategies beyond the home to arenas such as the classroom, sports and basic life activities is a normal progression. Pam and Karen have designed a new workshop called Trust Your Gut to meet this growing community need. This workshop has taken information from Dorfman’s book and is bringing it to a new level. Trust Your Gut was created to help parents and educators become better nutritional detectives and help their children and students. This workshop is addressing the difference between food allergies, intolerances and deficiencies that can cause anxiety, sleep issues and learning challenges. In addition to learning what nutritional challenges may be contributing to their child’s struggles, this workshop supports parents and educators to become better nutritional detectives by learning and applying seven essential questions. This workshop also incorporates Brain Gym® as a way to help integrate the information and work through emotions that can surface while delving into this sensitive and overwhelming subject. For more information, contact Pam Formosa at 508 478-5164, pamformosa@ aol.com, www.pathwaystoleanringsuccess. com or contact Karen McCarthy at 508528-2214, balancepoint@karenmccarthy. com, www.karenmccarthy.com. Pamela Formosa and Karen McCarthy are from Franklin and Hopedale. Formosa is a pediatric occupational therapist and McCarthy is a naturopathic doctor and manual therapist.

★

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Overnight Packages including room and four-water park passes for duration of stay!

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Hours of Operation Monday-Thursday – Closed • Friday 4pm-9pm Saturday 10am-9pm • Sunday 10am-7pm Full Day Passes $30 per person Twilight Passes (4-9pm, Sundays 3-7pm) $20 per person (Ages 23 months and younger are free with a ticketed adult) All those wishing to enter the park must purchase a ticket! Limited day passes available. Please purchase online to guarantee access.

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OH, THE

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! - dr. seuss

PLACES YOU’LL

photo courtesy of the boston opera house

GO

photo courtesy of the higgins armory

photo courtesy of stevesongs

GO SING: SteveSongs is performing at the Mary Rowlandson Elementary School, Lancaster, on Friday, April 5. 16 APRIL2013

photo courtesy of old sturbridge village

GO DANCE: Sleeping Beauty will be performed at the Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston, on Wednesday, April 3.

GO KNIGHTS: Come listen to stories about knights at the CastleKids story hour at the Higgins Armory, 100 Barber Ave., Worcester, on Wednesday, April 3.

4. GO PATRIOTIC: Celebrate Patriot’s Day at Old Sturbridge Village, in Sturbridge, on Monday, April 15.

OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the mini-van, please confirm your destination. Although we’ve done our best to assure accuracy at press time, things can and do change… A Adult C Child Y Youth M Member NM Non-Member PP Per Person

2TUESDAY Les Misérables. The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, Les Misérables, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking

do some chores on the farm and go adventuring in some new nooks and crannies around the sanctuary. You’ll hear stories and songs of spring days. This program is designed for one adult and one child. Additional friends, siblings, or backpack babies are not appropriate for this class. Programs include time indoors, as well as outside, and will run rain or shine; please come dressed comfortably for our outdoor adventures! A $58m/$69nm, C $58m/$69nm. Registration is required. Call 781-259-2200. massaudubon.org.

ONGOING A Raisin in the Sun. Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston. In a crowded apartment in Chicago’s South Side, each member of a struggling African-American family yearns for a different version of a better life. An impending and sizeable insurance payment could be the key. Hansberry’s groundbreaking 1959 classic drama is an inspiring and fiercely moving portrait of people whose dreams are constantly deferred. Ongoing through April 7. Tickets start at $25. huntingtontheatre.org.

1MONDAY Discovering Nature as a Preschooler. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massassoit Rd., Worcester. This six-week series of nature classes is designed for young children ages 4 to 5, unaccompanied by a parent. Each week brings a new focus, but they’ll always begin indoors with games, activities or crafts and then explore the great outdoors on Broad Meadow Brook’s clearly marked trails. This is a wonderful opportunity for young children to learn about nature and meet other children, in a safe, caring environment. C $100m/$125nm. Registration is required. Call 508-753-6087. massaudubon.org.

ONGOING Think Big: Giant Puppet Construction and Performance. Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St., Brookline. Learn how to build your own larger-than-life puppet in this fun and empowering class. Participants will be learn techniques for designing and constructing giant puppets from simple materials such as cardboard, papier mache, fabric and recycled objects. Topics will include large-scale designing, flat-to-3D building, cardboard fabrication, strong papier mache, painting, transportation planning, and puppet manipulation. Participants will each complete their own giant puppet, and will have opportunities to perform with Puppet Showplace Theatre in various community art events throughout the year. Weekly 6:30 to 9 p.m. through April 15. puppetshowplace.org. FREE ONGOING Children Across America Read and Sing. 39 Exchange St., Milford. Come join in for a fun-filled hour of stories, songs, and crafts at Children Across America. This is a free program for children between the ages of 2 to 5 year olds and their parents. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 508-933-8915 or visit childrenacrossamerica.org.

photo courtesy of the hanover theatre

Art & Seek: a drop in toddler program. Museum of American Bird Art, 963 Washington St., Canton. A drop-in program for 2-5 year olds and an adult. Each week is a different theme and will include a story, an activity and an art project. 10 to 11 a.m. Registration is not required. massaudubon.org. Family Explorations. Drumlin Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. Spring is here! Let’s go exploring! When will the bluebirds and bobolinks return to make their nests? Which animals will have babies during this season? Do the sheep like their new haircuts? Find out as you meet different animals - both farm and wild - and participate in a variety of hands-on and outdoor activities. Bring your curiosity and excitement as we wander through the farm and the sanctuary. All ages are welcome, though oldest child must be at least 2 years old. Up to three adults per adult. Backpack babies (under 12 months and carried in a backpack or sling) are welcome and free of charge. A $72m/$87nm, C $72m/$87nm. Registration is required. massaudubon.org.

Swan Lake will be performed at the Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester, on Friday, April 19. box office records wherever it goes. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?” “One Day More,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “Master Of The House” and many more. Tickets start at $50. thehanovertheatre.org. Tales and Trails. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Let your imagination be carried to new places as you learn about the stories of spring. Listen to tales of farm animals and then delight in visiting some of the new spring arrivals on the farm. Hear why the opossum’s tail is bare and then meet an opossum. Visit with farm friends that moo, baa, cluck and grunt! Meet some native wild animals that dig or fly, and go exploring to see if you can spy places where they might live. Combine your love of stories and sense of adventure as we discover the wonders of Drumlin Farm in the spring. Suitable for children 3-7. A $72m/$87nm, C $72m/$87nm. Registration is required. Call 781-259-2200. massaudubon.org. ONGOING Hand in Hand. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Spring is here! Enjoy the magic of planting a seed in the garden and watching it grow. Listen for the chatter of birds back from their winter adventures. Check out the sheep’s spring haircuts. Are the pigs digging in the dirt? Are the turtles out on the pond? Hand in hand you’ll visit with woodland and farm animals. We’ll

glorious score by Tchaikovsky, and choreography after Marius Petipa, The Sleeping Beauty has been enchanting audiences of all ages for over a century. But more than the tale of a princess, spell and a kiss, The Sleeping Beauty is a tour de force of classical dancing, with brilliant solo choreography and ensemble pageantry. This grand-scale production, with sets and costumes by David Walker, spotlights the accomplishments of the entire Company. Ongoing through April 7. bostonballet.org.

Where Are the Wild Things? Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Under logs, deep in ponds, over in the meadow ... that’s where the wild things are! They run, crawl, jump and wiggle...and have horns, eyes, antennae and all sorts of legs. Join in on the hunt for the wild mini-beasts and meet someone who likes to eat them. Then you’ll hear the story Where the Wild things Are By Maurice Sendak. All ages welcome; up to three children per adult. “Backpack babies” (under 12 months and carried in a backpack or sling) are welcome free of charge, but please mention these participants when registering. 3:30 to 5 p.m. A $11m/$13nm, C $11m/$13nm. Registration is required. Call 781-259-2200. massaudubon.org. ONGOING Some Book! Some Art!: Selected Drawings by Garth Williams for Charlotte’s Web. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. Charlotte’s Web, by acclaimed author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams, is one of the masterpieces of twentiethcentury children’s literature. White’s elegant prose and Williams’s exquisite drawings form a spirited dialogue that constitutes a conversation of substance and style. Come see this rare exhibition. Ongoing through April 21. Call 413-658-1100. carlemuseum.org.

3WEDNESDAY ONGOING The Sleeping Beauty. The Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston. With its scenario drawn from the stories of Perrault, a

Big Apple Circus, Legendarium. City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston. Enter the intimate Big Top circus of years gone by, where the World’s Greatest Circus Artists perform spectacular feats and no one sits more than 50 feet from the ring! See the hijinks of hilarious clowns, magnificent horses and playful pooches, soaring aerialists, flawless jugglers, astounding acrobats and a contortionist with a backbone flexible as an archer’s bow! With an affable Ringmaster as your guide, watch as an amazing inventor spins in a giant steel hoop and a fearless funambulist astonishes the onlooker! The performance runs two hours, including one intermission. Tickets start at $25. bigapplecircus.org. Preschool & Toddler Wednesdays. Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Enjoy a story, meet a live animal and get creative with a supervised craft activity - all geared especially for little ones aged 3 and under. These preschool and toddler programs are very popular and space is limited. So, while they are free with admission, tickets are issued at the Ticket & Information Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. 10:30 to 11 a.m. A $14, C $8 (2-18), $10 Seniors. Free for members. For more information, call 508-929-2700 or visit ecotarium.org. Coyote Club Wednesday Howlers Session 3. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Rd., Belmont. Come outside and play! Recent studies suggest that today’s children suffer from “nature deficit disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods) caused from lack of interaction with the natural world. This afterschool program will counteract this tendency by helping children expend pent up energy, become familiar with the sanctuary and notice seasonal changes. There will be no set topic, the curriculum will be determined by what is actually happening on the property at the time of the program. Join the Club! Suitable for children 5-6 years old. 3:30 to 5 p.m. C$14m/$17nm. Registration is required. Call 617-489-5050 or visit massaudubon.org. ONGOING The Art of Eric Carle: Feathers, Fins and Fur. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. Eric Carle’s love of nature is legendary. To recognize this passion, the Carle is organizing a selective survey of works exploring his interest in animals. On view will be a host of animals who have populated his books. In addition to finished collages, there will be preliminary works including pencil studies that underscore Carle’s meticulous study of his subject. For more information call 413-658-1100 or visit carlemuseum.org.

BAYSTATEPARENT 17

OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO ONGOING CastleKids StoryHour. Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Ave., Worcester. From damsels in distress to mighty dragons, join in on the first Wednesday of every month and hear tales of adventure, from well-known fairy tales to modern picture books in the setting of our medieval Great Hall. Great for ages 3 to 5. A $12 with one child, $8 m. Includes admission, program with craft related to the story and a snack. For more information call 508853-6015 or visit higgins.org.

Carrot Salesman is the original story of a doorto-door carrot salesrabbit who is not very good at his job. But through his unsuccessful efforts to sell carrots to elephants, jellyfish, moles and robots, he discovers a way to help all of the animals. It is performed with colorful two-dimensional table-top puppets and fun audience interaction. This show is recommended for ages 3 and up. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information call 617-731-6400 or visit puppetshowplace.org.

Spellbound Dance Company. Citi Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston. This is the U.S. debut tour for Spellbound Dance Company, Italy’s leading contemporary dance ensemble. Program will include Lost for Words and Downshifting by Mauro Astolfi. Tickets start at $60. For more information, visit celebrityseries.org. Winter’s Farmers’ Market. Cordage Park, 10 Cordage Park Circle (rear lower mills), North

4THURSDAY

La Bohéme. The Boston Conservatory Theater, 31 Hemenway St., Boston. Amid the great swirl of the bohemian lifestyle in Paris, youthful dreamers are drawn to the creative pulse of the city and find themselves at the mercy of life’s harsh realities. Written by Giacomo Puccini. Conducted by Andrew Altenbach. Directed by Johnathon Pape. Tickets start at $25. bostonconservatory.edu. Budding Scientists: Solutions, Mixtures and Suspensions. Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Curious little explorers conduct simple, safe, science and nature experiments in the Ecotarium’s Budding Scientists program. Held on the first Thursday of every month, you and your child will learn basic scientific principles while having fun with hands-on activities. There are two identical sessions each month. Please pick up a ticket for your session at the Information Desk when you arrive at the museum. Limited to first 10 adult-child pairs per session. 10:15 a.m. or 11 a.m. Free with museum admission. A $14 and C $8. For more information call 508-929-2700 or visit ecotarium.org. The Carrot Salesman by Brad Sur. Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St., Brookline. The

photo courtesy of the hanover theatre

ONGOING A New Brain. BCA Plaza Theatre, 527 Tremont St., Boston. This engaging and fast-paced musical by William Finn (Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) recounts the sudden illness and subsequent personal transformation of composer Gordon Schwinn: Schwinn, a frustrated musician trapped in an unsatisfying job writing songs for a children’s tv show, suffers a sudden life-threatening brain disorder which requires that he undergo an emergency surgery to try to save him. The tumultuous, comical and surreal ordeal that engulfs Gordon and those closest to him -his mother, partner and publicist -- teaches everyone, especially Gordon, something profound about what is truly important in life, and in love. Ongoing through April 6. Tickets start at $35. moonboxproductions.org.

Come see Les Miserables at the Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester, on Tuesday, April 2.

5FRIDAY Wacky Woodcocks. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St. (Route 16), Natick. Looks like a shorebird, but where’s the ocean? These bizarre birds are woodcocks! They look like shorebirds, but are native to the woods at Broadmoor. Every spring, woodcocks court, filling the last hours of daylight with spectacular aerial displays. Watch and listen as they rocket up 300 feet, then call loudly as they zigzag during their dive back towards earth. Pre-registration required. A $12m/$15nm. massaudubon.org.

Plymouth. Visit this new winter farmers’ market held Fridays through April. Sponsored by Explore Historic Plymouth Inc., the Plymouth Winter Farmers’ Market is the only non-profit market in town that provides the community with direct access to fresh, wholesome, locally grown foods. Weekly events, activities for children and community tables lend to the ambiance of the markets and highlight this beautiful and Historic Cordage Park venue. For more information call 508631-5150 or visit plymouthfarmersmarket.org. All Girl Scout Night at Battleship Cove. Battleship Cove, 5 Water St., Fall River. Attention all Girl Scout Leaders! Come and experience a

special overnight program designed just for you. The program includes knot-tying class, storytelling hour, and vintage movies. For more information call 508678-1100 x 101 or visit battleshipcove.org. ONGOING ABCs of Science. Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. Visit the Children’s Museum in Easton for the ABCs of Science on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. From Aeronautics to Zoetropes, this class will introduce the fascinating world of science to curious toddlers. They will be able to explore different words each week and learn more about science with each visit! ABCs of Science does not require registration and is free with paid admission to the museum. This program does not run during school vacation weeks. For more information, call 508-230-3789 or visit childrensmuseumineaston.org. ONGOING Circle of Moms: We Are All in this Together. Community Action Family Center, 90 Federal St., Greenfield. Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential drop-in group for mothers of infants and babies who are experiencing a challenging postpartum time. Expectant mothers welcome. Feel heard, valued, understood, nurtured and energized. Free childcare up to 4 years old. Runs year-round except during December, February and April school vacation weeks. Call for transportation support. This program is funded by Clinical and Support Options and Baystate Franklin Medical Center with the support of MotherWoman, Community Action and Pioneer Women’s Health. 10 a.m. to noon. For more information call 413-774-1000 or visit motherwoman.org. Gypsy. Weston Town Hall, Weston. Gypsy is a musical fable based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee that focuses on her relationship with her mother Rose, the ultimate “stagemom.” It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose while she raises two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of making it in show business. The score by Broadway Veteran Jule Styne and the then “newcomer” Stephen Sondheim includes some of today’s best known musical theater standards such as “Let Me Entertain You,” “All I Need Is the Girl” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” among many others. Gypsy is a musical spectacular that is not to be missed. For more information, call 781-893-9883 or visit westonfriendly.org. SteveSongs Live in Concert. The Mary Rowlandson Elementary School, Lancaster. The Imago School is proud to present SteveSongs, with Mr. Steve, from PBS Kids and The Sillies! 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. With his quirky lyrics and acoustic instrumentals, Mr. Steve - winner of two Parent’s Choice GOLD Awards - is sure to entertain listeners of all ages. At the end of the show, get your chance to meet Steve in person!

Egg Collecting Cow Milking Pony Rides Children’s Activities Hiking

Family Farm Vacations

Engaging New Exhibit for Children & Families 6 Ã ÌÊEÊ i>À Ê L ÕÌÊ,ÕÃÃ > Ê ÀÌÊEÊ Õ ÌÕÀiÊUÊ À Õ«ÃÊ V ÕÀ>}i` Begins May 18th with a Family Day Celebration, 9 AM - 3 PM

First Signs of Spring, April 5-7 Step Back in Time, April 12-14 School Vacation, April 14-19 Homesteading Weekend, April 19-21 Spring Family Farm Day April 22 Cooking with Kids, April 26-28 Connect with Nature, May 3-5 Mother’s Day Weekend, May 10-12

Your year-round farm family vacation resort.

Call us to reserve! 1-800-242-6495

Less than 2 hours from Boston!

978.598.5000 18 APRIL2013

www.museumofrussianicons.org

Indoor Pool Farm Animals Hay Jumping Arts-n-Crafts Baby Animals

OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO

Bring the kids and enjoy a fun filled hour of song and dance. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door (children under 2 years old are free). For more information, visit stevesongs.com.

9TUESDAY

6SATURDAY

FREE KidsBuild! 2013. BSA Space (Boston), 290 Congress St., Boston. Picture a large-scale model of a fictional city grid. Add hundreds of children and their families, choosing sites and building structures within zoning limitations spelled out by their building permit. After a building review, the children architects are issued a certificate of occupancy by a building inspector. It’s architecture. It’s construction. It’s design. It’s children learning and having fun, with architects as their guides. Recommended for children 5 and older. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, visit kidsbuild.org. Boy Scout Day. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Way, Sturbridge. Boy Scout Day is for Boy Scouts of all ages (friends and family members, too!) who are interested in learning more about New England’s past (please note: Girl Scout Day is on April 13). This Boy Scout Day is all about conservation - then and now! Take part in an orienteering course led by the Sturbridge Boy Scouts and join the Warren Boy Scouts for knot tying activities. Explore the everyday lives of boys and men of the early 19th century through demonstrations, storytelling and performances. Visit the animals and the costumed Villagers throughout the Countryside and the Center Village. Watch firearm demonstrations, take part in knot tying activities, scavenger hunts and more! Register in advance for hands-on studios and workshops that meet Cub and Boy Scout requirements - including our new Belt Loop studios!  If time permits, consider making a quick craft in the Hands-on Crafts Center ($5-10 per activity - first come, first served; some age and safety restrictions apply). For more information, visit osv.org.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN GET THE

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photo courtesy of the eric carle museum

Kids’ Shows: Eric Herman. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Eric Herman is fast becoming a household name in the kids’ music world. Eric’s music videos, including the viral hit, “The Elephant Song,� have become hugely popular online, with over 30 million views on YouTube, and his award-winning songs have been heard nationally on PBS Kids, The Today Show, Fox & Friends, XM Radio and in the Warner Bros. film, Life as We Know It. Eric’s family show is bursting with comedy, creativity, audience participation and outrageously fun songs that will have kids dancing from limb to limb, smiling from ear to ear and laughing from nose to foot! Recommended for ages 3+. A $10, C $8. For more information visit coolidge.org.

Don’t miss Feathers, Fins and Furs at the Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst, on Wednesday, April 3.

7SUNDAY

selection of dinosaurs and creatures that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago! 1 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $15. zeiterion.org.

Wild about Reptiles. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St. (Route 16), Natick. Come meet some of the species of reptiles found around Broadmoor. Can turtles really leave their shells like they do in the cartoons? Are snakes really slimy? Find out for yourself as you meet baby turtles and snakes up close! Learn more about their wonderful scaly friends and take a short walk to see more reptiles in the wild. Pre-registration recommended. Online registration available. A $11m/$13nm, C $6m/$8nm. massaudubon.org.

8MONDAY

Dinosaur Petting Zoo. New Bedford YMCA, 25 South Water St., New Bedford. THE Z Off-site at the New Bedford YMCA Earth’s awesome prehistoric creatures, from cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, live in a petting zoo like no other! These ancient life-like dinosaurs come to life in an eye-popping display in this fun, educational and imaginative performance that will thrill and delight audiences of all ages. Experience an amazing

Look Listen Touch. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. The museum will offer Look Listen Touch, a guide for young children to explore the museum’s New England forests, in the Zofnass Family Gallery. Pick-up the exploration flyer at the front desk or in the gallery and learn how to help your child experience nature in a multi-sensory way. Sit on the bench beneath the wolf; shut your eyes and listen. Do you hear the sounds of a bird singing, a woodpecker tapping, a frog croaking? How many different colors can you see in the feathers of one bird? Do animal and insect babies look like their parents? Look Listen Touch is free with museum admission. Download the poster to share with others. A $12, C $8, $10 Seniors, free for Harvard ID holders & children under 3. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information call 617-495-3045 or visit hmnh.harvard.edu.

ONGOING DinoTracks. Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. The hunt for dinosaurs begins at the Ecotarium! Step into their footprints, hear and feel their footsteps and come face-to-face with some of the dinosaurs who made them. DinoTracks starts where scientists first began studying dinosaurs (at their feet). Focusing on fossil discoveries, the exhibit engages visitors of all ages in trying out hands-on scientific study methods and getting down on the ground to put their new skills to work. DinoTracks is a please-touch exhibit presented in three languages: English, Spanish and French. A $14, C $8, $10 seniors and students with ID. For more information, call 508-929-2700 or visit ecotarium.org. ONGOING MOPS Princeton Meeting. 182 Brooks Station Rd., Princeton. Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) begins our new evening meeting format the second Tuesday of each month from 6:308:30 p.m. If you are interested in fun and friendship, please join in as they celebrate motherhood with others who are balancing the joys and challenges of raising young children. For more information, email aharvey1977@yahoo.com.

10WEDNESDAY 21st Annual Waltham Food & Wine Festival. Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, Westin Waltham Hotel, 70 Third Ave., Waltham. Hosted at the luxurious Waltham Westin Hotel, over 500 attendees will sip champagne while placing bids at the silent auction and trying their luck in the raffle. Waltham’s most popular restaurants offer samples of their delicious cuisine, all complemented by a wide range of fine wines chosen and served by the sommeliers of Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors. Guests will enjoy performances by the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra while admiring exhibits from the Museum and art from local up and coming artists. Tickets start at $45. 6 to 9 p.m. crmi.org/events/food-wine-festival/ Rambles in Pilgrimland: Tourist Memories of the Old Colony Town. Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St., Plymouth. James W. Baker, Plymouth Historian and Guest Curator of “I’ve Been Thereâ€? Technological advances in travel made tourist visits to Plymouth much easier by the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries. Join Jim Baker as he reviews the changes which brought new visitors to Plymouth and the tangible memories they took home. Free with museum admission. 10 a.m. pilgrimhallmuseum.org.

HYPNOSIS WORKS!

FACT: The American Society of Reproductive Medicine reported that over, 6.1 million American women and their partners experience difficulties in conceiving a child. Studies have shown that including hypnotherapy in their (ART) treatments can double their success rate! HYPNOBIRTHING The goal of using Hypnosis for infertility and a HypnoBirthingŽ program is to be able to conceive and have a healthy, birth that is natural, free of drugs or medical intervention. During these classes both the mother and birthing companion learn everything from breathing techniques to ways to induce labor naturally! HYPNOSIS: Is the same state of altered conscious awareness we enter daily when our brainwave activity slows down to a frequency called “alpha,� which we pass through on the way to and from sleep. In this supportive environment you can remove pockets of pain, unleash anxiety and rid your mind of old fear based blockages. Reconnect with your mind and body, learn to sleep better, and improve belief systems. Hypnotherapy is the solution for healthy childbearing because it is a safe, natural, and a nonchemical approach. Restore your body’s natural health and your own inner qualities and strength for a natural conception and the use of HypnoBirthingŽ for more calm, relaxed deliveries. Make an appointment today, your Family is waiting! www.thebodymaintenanceplace.com The Body Maintenance Place Lisa Evans 781-963-2901 990 Pleasant St., Brockton

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OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO Homeschool Wednesdays at the Higgins Armory. Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Ave., Worcester. Homeschool Wednesdays are the perfect way to make learning medieval history engaging and fun! Go deeper. Explore the Higgins Armory extensive collection of arms and armor from around the world through programs designed to complement home based learning for ages 5 and up. Participants enjoy discounted admission to the museum, an auditorium show and a workshop. There is no need to preregister for these programs. Admission: $7 per person (includes admission, show, and story time). Ages 3 and under are FREE. Workshop: $5 per project. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 508-8536015 or visit higgins.org.

many television credits range from series, mini-series and talk shows to movies and specials. Join in for an evening of her unique observations on current events and a wide variety of topics that are on her mind. Tickets start at $58. For more information, call the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469). Rockport Music presents: Livingston Taylor. Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main St., Rockport. From upbeat storytelling to touching ballads, Livingston Taylor is known for his ability

everyone. Meet the baby animals (especially the lambs!), watch musket demonstrations and visit the OSV Crafts Center - open daily. Activities include making a tin candleholder, dipping candles or other projects. The week is filled with activities, games and demonstrations by the village’s costumed interpreters. Ongoing through Sunday, April 21, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. osv.org. Girl Scout Day. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. Learn about the

photo courtesy of the big apple circus

11THURSDAY

Aesop’s Fables. Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St., Brookline. Three amazing Aesop’s Fables! Join WonderSpark Puppets (New York City, NY) as they present their hilarious spin on these timeless moral stories. This highly interactive performance includes ‘The Lion and the Mouse,’ ‘The Ant and The Grasshopper’ and the ‘Tortoise and the Hare.’ Along the way, we also learn the four seasons, the power of kindness, and good sportsmanship. Recommended for ages 2-6. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. puppetshowplace.org. FREE Parent Support Group in Worcester. 51 Union St., 3rd Floor; Suite 308, Worcester. This is a free and confidential parent support group where you can meet other parents and caregivers that understand the struggles and victories of raising challenging kids who may have emotional, behavioral or mental health needs. Parents meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information call 508-767-9725 or visit ppal.net.

12FRIDAY An Evening with Whoopi Goldberg. The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Generously sponsored by Southbridge Savings Bank, Whoopi Goldberg is known throughout the world for her accomplishments as a performer, author, producer and humanitarian. She is one of an elite group of artists who have won Grammy, Academy, Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony awards. Her films include “The Color Purple,” “Ghost,” “Sister Act,” “The Lion King” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and her 20 APRIL2013

15MONDAY ONGOING Hunt the Rats onboard USS MASSACHUSETTS. Battleship Cove, 5 Water St., Fall River. During school vacation week visit Battleship Cove and see if you can find all the hidden adorable stuffed rats and enter to win a special prize. Also scheduled are fun-filled educational workshops for the entire family and special guests appearances and entertainment. For more information, call 508678-1100 or visit battleshipcove.org.

ONGOING Montachusett Mothers of Multiples Group Monthly Social. Our Lady of the Lake Church, 1400 Main St., Leominster. The Montachusett Mothers of Multiples (MMOM) club provides educational, social and emotional support to mothers and expectant mothers of multiples in our local area. Please send an email to info@ montymoms.org if planning to attend for the first in case there is a change in time or location. For more information, visit montymoms.org.

ONGOING Original Sewing & Quilt Expo. DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. Three fantastic days of shopping, classes, being with new friends and doing what you love. Hundreds of quilts on display, fashion shows, free stage presentations and so much more. Prices: General Admission is $10 per day at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Pre-register for five or more classes and your general admission is free! Classes are $19 per session on-site. Hours are Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information or to register for classes, please visit sewingexpo. com/WorcesterMA.aspx.

presents the tale of Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to grow up. Join Peter as he takes Wendy, John and Michael Darling on the greatest adventure any siblings have ever had! Peter whisks the children off to Neverland where they meet the lost boys, Tinker Bell and Princess Tiger Lily. Together, they wage fierce battles against the evil Captain Hook and his band of pirates. Will Peter Pan return the Darling children safely to their home? Tickets start at $22. For more information, call 978-462-7336 or visit firehouse.org.

Join in the fun at the Big AppleCircus, Legendarium, City Hall Plaza, Boston, on Wednesday, April 3. to take audiences on a musical journey whether singing his top-forty hit “I’ll Come Running” or other favorites. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres, including folk, pop, gospel, and jazz. Livingston has performed with such major artists as Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett, and Jethro Tull, and continues to perform regularly. Currently a professor at Berklee College of Music, he shares his performance knowledge and experiences with the next generation of young artists. Additionally, he has a new book Stage Performance scheduled to release this Fall. Tickets start at $28. For more information, visit rockportmusic.org/jazz-world/4-12-13.html. Circle of Moms: We Are All In This Together. Community Action Family Center, 90 Federal St., Greenfield. Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential drop-in group for mothers of infants and babies who are experiencing a challenging postpartum time. Expectant mothers welcome. Feel heard, valued, understood, nurtured and energized. Free childcare up to four years old. Call for transportation support. This program is funded by Clinical and Support Options and Baystate Franklin Medical Center with the support of MotherWoman, Community Action and Pioneer Women’s Health. MotherWoman trained facilitators. 10 a.m. to noon. For more information call 413-774-1000, ext. 2048 or visit motherwoman.org.

13SATURDAY ONGOING April School Vacation Week. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. April school vacation features a wide range of crafts and outdoor activities for

women and girls of the 1830s through storytelling, demonstrations and hands-on activities. Get to know the women of the past who have made a difference in our future! Visit the minister’s daughter as she practices botanical watercolors, learn about the home remedies outlined in “The Family Nurse” by Lydia Marie Child. And, take time to visit with Sarah Margru (portrayed by Tammy Denease), the first African to graduate from college in America after gaining her freedom through a victory in the United States legal system. This year’s Girl Scout Day promises to be fun and educational! osv.org. Bows to Broadswords! The Arms of Robin Hood. Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Ave., Worcester. Hang on to your gold! Robin Hood, along with his Merry Men, are taking over the Higgins on April 21st. Will you join his band of outlaws? Or are you more of a Sheriff’s man? 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.For more information, visit higgins.org.

14SUNDAY Kids’ Shows: Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock is a multi-media performance of live music, animated illustrations and storytelling. Since his creation by Morgan Taylor in 2005, Gustafer Yellowgold has become an international phenomenon, acclaimed by The New York Times, which described Gustafer as “A cross between Yellow Submarine and Dr. Seuss.” Recommended for ages 3+. A $10, C $8. For more information, visit coolidge.org. Peter Pan. Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport. Methuen Ballet Ensemble

Patriots Day. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. Old Sturbridge Village celebrates the role New England patriots played in the nation’s birth with musket demonstrations and fife and drum music. “Meet” a Minuteman and a Loyalist and learn about the differences in their uniforms and beliefs. Learn how to march with the militia using the official 1776 drill manual. 9:30 to 5 pm. For more information, visit osv.org. April Kids Week. Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St., Plymouth. Pilgrim Hall Museum presents daily afternoon nature programs every weekday afternoon at 2 p.m. - with LIVE animals and hands on activities! Brenner Family Magic, Soule Homestead, South Shore Natural Science Center, and the Thornton Burgess Society will all present programs during the week. Check our web site for the specific schedule. We will also have Treasure Hunts available all day long. Children are admitted free and must be accompanied by an adult. Museum members and Plymouth residents receive complimentary admission. For more information, visit pilgramhallmuseum.org.

16TUESDAY ONGOING Earth Week: April School Vaction Activities. Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. With a focus on human exploration in space, Earth Week includes lots of interactive spacethemed activities and planetarium shows. Earth Week culminates with the museum’s Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 19, with half price admission. A $14, C $8 (2-18), $10 Seniors. For more information, call 508-929-2738 or visit ecotarium.org. Mom’s Rock! Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. Moms—and grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and others—are amazing and spectacular! Dig through our collection of paper in different sizes, shapes and colors to collage an image that shows one of the many ways in which they rock. Take your artwork home with a special message for mom about staying healthy and strong. Sponsored by Hologic, Inc. 10 a.m. For more information, visit discoverymuseums.org.

17WEDNESDAY ONGOING Free April School Vacation Program. The Mary Baker Eddy Library, 200 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. This program includes a week of free activities for youths that highlight the theme of the library’s exhibits as well as educates children and their families about incorporating inspirational ideas in

their everyday lives. During this program, hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, tours of the Mapparium, and admission to the Library are free for visitors ages 17 and under. Daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, April 19. For more information, call 617-4507000 or visit mbelibrary.org/programs.

OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO

photo courtesy of the children’s museum in easton

ONGOING MotherWoman Postpartum Support Group. Midwifery Care of Holyoke, 230 Maple St., Holyoke. Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential drop-in support group for mothers of infants and babies up to one year old. Expectant mothers welcome. Runs year-round. For more information, call 413-536-7385 or visit motherwoman.org.

18THURSDAY ONGOING Craftboston Spring Show and Preview Party 2013. Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston. Craftboston Spring Show Information Comprised of 200 exhibitors, Craftboston Spring is a highly regarded, must-attend event for artists, collectors, and craft enthusiasts. Entertaining and educational, Craftboston Spring features work by emerging artists from leading schools and universities, an artist mentor program, a craft book seller, a lecture series, tours for special interest groups, and informational booths promoting nonprofit craft organizations. Ongoing through Sunday April 21. C $7.50, $13 SAC Members, $15 Seniors. For more information, call 617-266-1810 or visit craftboston.org. Peep Science Adventures: Rolling Down a Tube Track. Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. How far can you make an object roll down a tube track? What happens if you try to make it longer or faster? Explore these questions by

Come join the fun at the ABCs of Science at the Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton, on Friday, April 5. helping us build a track to get a ball rolling! 10 a.m. For more information, visit discoverymuseums.org.

19FRIDAY Paula Poundstone. The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston. By the mid-90’s, Poundstone had shifted her performances from comedy clubs to performing arts centers and theatres where her interactions with the crowd became the stuff of legend. In 1996, Paula taped her second hour

special for HBO, Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard – the first time that elite university has ever allowed its name to be used in the title of a television show. The Boston Globe also said about Paula, “You know Poundstone’s a great comic the way you know any fine performer when you see one—there’s a disarming ease in her craft, an immediate sense that she’s so quick on her feet you need never worry about the possibility of something going wrong.� Tickets start at $22. For more information, visit thewilburtheatre.com/shows.

FREE & ONGOING The PJ LibraryŽ Bagels and Books Drop-in Group. Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, 1112 Main St., Hingham. Treat yourself and your child to a fun weekly activity in a welcoming and relaxed environment. Grab a bagel, hear a story and meet other parents while your children socialize and have fun. Ongoing on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact south@jccgb.org or 781-795-0510. Swan Lake. The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Returning to the Worcester stage with this wonderful production of the classic ballet of all time, the Russian company that first performed at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts to a nearly sold out audience. Tickets start at $41. For more information, visit thehanovertheatre.org. Earth Day Celebration. Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. The EcoTarium’s Earth Day Celebration is one of Worcester’s most popular Earth Day traditions. Everyone enjoys half price admission, plus lots of indoor and outdoor Earth-friendly activities, including green vendors, food vendors, animal programs, musical entertainment, train rides, planetarium shows, and the EcoTarium’s beautiful trails, ponds, and woods that are bursting with new life. Since admission is half price, coupons and discounts do not apply on Earth Day. 5 p.m. A $7, C $4, $5 Seniors. For more information call 508-9292700 or visit ecotarium.org.

20SATURDAY Kids’ Shows: Davey the Clown. Coolidge Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Davey the

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OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO Clown is a physical comedian, juggler, unicyclist and accordionist. Davey’s show includes juggling, amazing magic, incredible unicycling (on a 6-foot unicycle!), wacky antics, balloon sculpture, audience participation and a rubber chicken! Plus accordion music, and a parade with volunteers from the audience! One hour of entertainment that will keep kids (and adults) convulsed - with laughter. Recommended for ages 2+. C $8, A $10. coolidge.org.

your artwork home with a special message for mom about staying healthy and strong. Sponsored by Hologic, Inc. 10 a.m. For more information, visit discoverymuseums.org.

24WEDNESDAY Farm Folklore. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Explore spring through the stories of farm and forest. A different

in Conference Room D, Northampton. The monthly bereavement meeting provides a safe space for families who have lost a baby during pregnancy, birth or shortly after birth to connect and share about their experience. Group members are also welcome to come just to listen to others’ stories so that they can be supported by the knowledge that they are not alone. The group believes nobody should suffer their loss alone. Monthly, every fourth Wednesday through Dec. 12. For more information, call 413-529-1610 or visit motherwoman.org.

Fiddler on the Roof. Symphony Hall, 304 Court St., Springfield. “Fiddler on the Roof,” based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its humor, warmth and honesty. The universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. Tickets start at $27.50. 7 p.m. For more information, call 413-788-7033 or visit bit.ly/XbGL1Q.

Polliwogs and Frogs. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Explore spring with your 2 year old. Listen for spring music in the trees and peek in a pond to see if the frog polliwogs have hatched. Dig in the garden dirt and plant some seeds. Check under a fluffy hen for an egg, and feel the soft wool of the sheep. Each week will bring a special adventure to share and talk about all week long. This program is designed for one adult with one child. No backpack babies or other siblings, please, with the exception of twins, who pay an additional half of the regular fee. A $58m/$69nm, C $58m/$69nm. Registration is required. Call 781-2592200 or visit massaudubon.org. Farmers’ Helpers. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Pull on your farm gear and join in with afternoon chores on the farm. You will feed the sheep and goats their afternoon hay and watch the lambs and kids frolic in the pastures. The chickens need their grain and eggs should be collected. The pony needs grooming to help him shed his winter coat and it is time to plant the garden. There are always lots of jobs to do on the farm during the spring. No backpack babies. A $72m/ $87nm, C $72m/$87nm. Registration is required. For more information, call 781-259-2200 or visit massaudubon.org. Mom’s Rock! Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. Moms—and grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and others—are amazing and spectacular! Dig through our collection of paper in different sizes, shapes and colors to collage an image that shows one of the many ways in which they rock. Take 22 APRIL2013

photo courtesy of old sturbridge village

22MONDAY

23TUESDAY

26FRIDAY Redbacks and Leadbacks. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Rd., Belmont. The Redback salamander is the most common amphibian at habitat... when you can find one! You’ll study their life cycle, behavior, and anatomy. Using collected data, you’ll make predictions as to their population numbers. C $66m/$82nm. Registration is required. For more information, call 617-489-5050 or visit massaudubon.org.

21SUNDAY

Discovering Nature as a Preschooler. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massassoit Rd., Worcester. This six-week series of nature classes is designed for young children ages 4 to 5 unaccompanied by a parent. Each week brings a new focus, but we’ll always begin indoors with games, activities, or crafts, and then explore the great outdoors on Broad Meadow Brook’s clearly marked trails. This is a wonderful opportunity for young children to learn about nature and meet other children, in a safe, caring environment. Registration is required. C $100m/$125nm. For more information, call 508-753-6087 or visit massaudubon.org.

FUNdraiser. A.S.R.H.S. Auditorium, 141 Washington St., Ayer. Jimmy Tingle’s American Dream, an Arts Fundraiser, will play at the Ayer-Shirley Regional High School Auditorium on April 26th, 2013 at 7:00pm. Admission is FREE to Ayer/Shirley RegionStudents. Tickets start at $20. For information, call 978-7722545 or email AyerShirleyDrama@gmail.com.

Don’t miss out on the April School Vacation Week activities at Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge, starting on Saturday, April 13. animal will star in our story each week. After our story and visit with the star animal, we will go out exploring. We will also play games, sing songs and do some crafts that tie in with our weekly theme. A $48m/$58nm, C $48m/$58nm. All ages welcome, up to three children per adult. Registration is required. For more information, call 781-259-2200 or visit massaudubon.org. Drumlin Detectives. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Grab a magnifier and let’s go! Check under the forest’s fallen logs for salamanders and roly-polys. Look for turtles basking by the pond and dip a net in to see what a turtle might find to eat. Meet some wild animals that live in fields and forests. Do some chores with the farm animals. Each week you will explore in a different direction as you become nature detectives around the farm, fields, and forests. C $120m/$144nm. Registration is required. For more information, call 781-259-2200 or visit massaudubon.org. ONGOING Infancy to Independence. St. Matthew’s Church 435 Central St., West Acton. I to I is a nonprofit, cooperative play program for toddlers and preschoolers. A typical day consists of unstructured play time, a craft, circle time, snack time, and a parent discussion. There are no paid staff members and each parent participates in helping to run the semester. I to I is designed to be a pre-preschool, introducing children ages 1-4 to the structure and expectations of that experience but with a parent there to help them through it. 9 to 11:30 a.m. Ongoing through May 21. For more information, call 978-266-2842 or visit itoi-ma.org. Empty Arms Bereavement for Infant & Pregnancy Loss. Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Support Group for Parents with children who have emotional disturbances. 118 Central St., Waltham. Are you the parent or caregiver of a child or young adult with behavioral or mental health issues? Are you feeling alone and isolated? Are you overwhelmed by dealing with ‘the system,’ paperwork and phone calls, or just ‘burned out’? Do you know how to access medical, mental health or special education services for your child? Do you just need to talk to other parents & caregivers who understand? Our free confidential support group is for you. First and third Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. For more information, call 781-891-0555, Ext. 34 or visit waysideyouth.org.

25THURSDAY ONGOING Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. Come experience a magical Disney fantasy on ice! Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney Pixar’s Cars race across the ice. Dive into The Little Mermaid’s enchanting undersea kingdom and enter the mystical world of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and the Disney Fairies as they reveal the magic that lies within! The toys are back in town with heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever! Ongoing through April 28. Tickets start at $16. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com. Ayer-Shirley Youth Drama Brings Celebrity Comedian Jimmy Tingle to Ayer for Arts

Preschool Story Hour-Ducks. Wachusett Meadow Wildfire Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. Come enjoy an hour of fun with your youngster, focusing on nature. We’ll read a book, do a craft, and go for a walk. Registration is required. A $5m/$7nm, C $2m/$3nm. For more information, call 978-4642712 or visit massaudubon.org. Homeschool Programs at Wachusett MeadowLet’s Bake Some Rolls and Learn About Yeast. Wachusett Meadow Wildfire Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. Why does yeast raise flour? What is it? What are some other rising agents? Learn where flour comes from. You’ll see how vinegar and baking soda act. 1 to 3 p.m. Registration is required. For more information, call 978-464-2712 or visit massaudubon.org. Bringing Up Baby. Drumlin Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. Babies bouncing and wiggling, babies cheeping and baaing. Spring is definitely a time for babies. Visit the spring lambs and kids as they frolic with their mothers. Check out the fluffy chicks in the poultry house, and make a “bird’s nest helper” for some wild babies. Peek at some different babies from our vernal pool and in the garden, plant your own baby plant (a seed) to take home and care for. Enjoy a “baby” snack and make some baby crafts to take home. 3:30 to 5 p.m. A $13m/$16nm, C $13m/$16nm. For more information, call 781-259-2200 or massaudubon.org. Early Spring Sensory Adventure. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. A spring evening tantalizes all the senses. You can watch woodcocks spiraling high into the fading light and hear spring peepers chorusing from the wetlands, while the smell of moist earth permeates the air. Join in for an evening of outdoor exploration during which we will put all our senses to the test. You will listen for owls, look for beavers (and many other animals), and even touch a few amphibians! 7 to 8:30 p.m. A $7m/$9nm, C $6m/$7nm. Registration is required. For more information, call 978-887-9264 or massaudubon.org. Girl Scout Badge: Night Owls. Connecticut River Valley Sanctuaries, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton. Come to Arcadia for a night hike and earn most of the requirements for the “Night Owl “badge. Indoors you will learn a bit about nocturnal animals and create our own star chart as well as learn about “night vision.” Equipped with the knowledge, you will head outdoors on a hike without flashlights. You will listen to different night sounds, learn a few owl calls, see if you are able to distinguish colors in the dark, and of course play a game or two. Prior to going in you will have a “wintergreen party.” C $10m/$10nm. For more information, call 413584-3009 or visit massaudubon.org.

27SATURDAY Family Concert - A Cheefrul Earful. Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO) consists of 450 students, ages 6 to 18, from more than 120 communities of New England. The BYSO is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest youth orchestra programs. It is committed to creating a supportive and professional environment that fosters musical excellence, while making programs accessible to underserved communities. Tickets are $20. For more information visit BYSOweb.org. Frogs, Pollywogs & Fairies...Exploring the Vernal Pool. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Route 16, Natick. Discover some of the fantastic creatures that inhabit Broadmoor’s vernal pool. From frogs and tadpoles to fairy shrimp, explore what hides under the water and lives around this seasonal pool. A $11m/$13nm, C $6m/$8nm. Pre-registration required. For more information, visit massaudubon.org. FREE Children’s Opera: Mooch the Messy. The Boston Conservatory at Seully Hall, 8 The Fenway, 4th Floor, Boston. Mooch the Messy tells the story of Mooch, a rat from Boston, who learns about neatness and responsibility when his father comes for a visit. He also learns to be himself in a delightful mix of humor, music and fun. Noon. For more information, visit bostonconservatory.edu. ONGOING Schoolhouse Rock! Boston Children’s Theatre at Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont St., Boston. BCT rounds out the season with a musical beloved by teachers, schoolchildren,

their parents, and their grandparents. SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK! is an entertaining and educational journey into the worlds of multiplication, science, government and grammar. Plus, it’s fun! Featuring such memorable songs as “I’m Just A Bill,â€? “Conjunction Junction,â€? and “My Hero, Zero,â€? SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK! teaches kids how interesting learning can be. This show is a wonderful opportunity for parents to relive their childhood memories of Saturday morning television and for their children to experience the magic of SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK! for the very first time. Ongoing through May 5. Tickets start at $20. For more information, visit bostonchildrenstheatre.org. Youth Arts & Crafts Fair. Duxbury High School, 130 Saint George St., Duxbury. A refreshingly unique craft fair as it only has products made and created by youths ages 9-19. A great day to come support South Shore kids and teens who will be showcasing their talent and selling their items such as hair accessories, album art, photography, jewelry and more. Open to the public, no charge for shoppers. Entertainment, activities, giveaways plus food and beverages. For more information, call 781-291-1882 or visit duxburyartboosters.org.

28SUNDAY Kids’ Shows: Catskill Puppet Theatre presents The Town That Fought Hate. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Since 1979, John Potocnik and Carol Mandigo, co-founders of the Catskill Puppet Theater, have been touring internationally, enchanting young and old with their delightful musical productions. The Town That Fought Hate is based upon Janice Cohn’s award-winning children’s book, The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate. Both the book and the play recount

the true story of how people of all faiths and races came together in the town of Billings, Montana to successfully fight a group of haters threatening the town’s tiny Jewish population and other minorities during the Hanukkah / Christmas season of 1993. Recommended for ages 4+. A $10, C $8. For more information, visit coolidge.org. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Zeiterion Theatre, 684 Purchase St., New Bedford. Alexander can already tell - it’s going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day! Bring the whole family to laugh and sing along with Alexander’s misadventures in this hilarious musical, featuring book and lyrics by Judith Viorst, author of the best-selling classic book. Tickets are $10. 3 p.m. For more information, visit zeiterion.org.

29MONDAY Discovering Nature as a Preschooler. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massassoit Rd., Worcester. This six-week series of nature classes is designed for young children ages 4 to 5 unaccompanied by a parent. Each week brings a new focus, but we’ll always begin indoors with games, activities, or crafts, and then explore the great outdoors on Broad Meadow Brook’s clearly marked trails. This is a wonderful opportunity for young children to learn about nature and meet other children, in a safe, caring environment. Registration is required. C $100m/$125nm. For more information, call 508-753-6087 or visit massaudubon.org. Tales and Trails. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Let your imagination be carried to new places as you share the stories of spring. Listen to tales of farm animals, and then delight in visiting some of the new spring arrivals on the farm.

Hear why the opossum’s tail is bare, and then meet an opossum. Visit with farm friends that moo, baa, cluck and grunt! Meet some native wild animals that dig or fly, and go exploring to see if you can spy places where they might live. Combine your love of stories and sense of adventure as we discover the wonders of Drumlin Farm in the spring. Suitable for children 3-7. A $72m/$87nm, C $72m/$87nm. For more information, call 781-259-2200 or visit massaudubon.org.

30TUESDAY Homeschool: Warmth of the Sun/Morning Mr.Bluebird. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill St., Sharon. You will explore the many changes that take place as the seasons transition from winter to spring. Use your senses to explore amphibian activity during the warmer days of March, search for returning bird migrants in April, investigate Moose Hill’s vernal pools in May for signs of life and even conduct science experiments that help explain why the sun is as strong as it is this time of year. The possibilities are always endless at Moose Hill! C $20m/$25nm. Registration is required. Call 781-7845691 or visit massaudubon.org. Curious Explorers Session 2. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Rd., Belmont. Everything is new for 2 year olds - the melting snow is magical, squirrels are exciting, birdsong is amazing. Bring your little one out for a spring walk around Habitat and see the world through new eyes. 10 to 11 a.m. A $5m/$6nm, C $5m/$6nm. Registration is required. For more information, call 617-489-5050 or visit massaudubon.org.

Submit an Event, Fill out our form at baystateparent.com by April 5th.

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Katie is doing more than building and toppling blocks. She is also learning about physics, developing her motor skills, and expressing her imagination. 85 2 7 , 9,6 ,/ $35 86( +2 1 ( 3 2

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MUST HAVE NURSERY SUPPLIES & TRENDS DEAREST ABBY CAPTURED: BABY FACES FUN FASHIONS FOR THE WEE ONES NICVIEW THE ONE THING YOU’RE NOT PREPARED FOR, BUT SHOULD BE

oh baby!

photo courtesy of twinpearlphoto.com

BAYSTATEPARENT 25

OH,BABY!

Must Have and

NURSERY SUPPLIES BY

laura richards

If you’ve ever entered the well-known baby superstore, you’ve seen them. Bleary-eyed expectant parents schlepping through the aisles packed floor to ceiling with seemingly must-have baby products. As a soon to be mother of four, I considered myself a pro when it came to all things baby, but even I felt overwhelmed by all of the choices. Did I really need that special cup to rinse my baby’s head during his bath? Or that swaddling contraption with Velcro closures? In the seven years since my third child was born, the number and style of baby bottles multiplied along with the type of pacifiers and choices for formula and breast pumps. I entered the store feeling confident in the few supplies I needed and instead left empty handed and defeated along with the blearyeyed newbies. It’s then that the advice of my childbirth nurse educator from 11 years ago popped into my head, “The phone call made most frequently from the hospital labor and delivery floor isn’t to family, it’s is to furniture stores. People end up in the hospital when they least expect it. Remember that all you really need for your baby is a drawer from a dresser and a blanket to get started.” She had a point. Of course you need more than a drawer and a blanket, but many parents get caught up in a lot of unnecessary stuff. Here’s a quick list of some practical necessities to get your nursery supply list started: DIAPERS: It’s a given, but not every parent remembers this most basic item until they need one. Stash a package of diapers in the house just in case you end up with an early arrival. Newborn size is a safe bet. Have a stack of cloth (with covers) on hand if you’re going that route. SWADDLING BLANKET: And I don’t mean that newfangled swaddling thing that my 9 lbs. 4 oz. son fit in for like 2 seconds. I mean the old fashioned swaddling blanket. Usually a lightweight, cotton fabric (organic is ever better). They measure about 34 x 30 inches. Make sure you learn to swaddle your baby before you leave the hospital as this is one of the primary ways to soothe your newborn. Once you learn a basic swaddle technique it’s like riding a bike, and you’ll likely never forget. My almost 8 month old still has issues with flailing arms and likes a 26 APRIL2013

TRENDS

good swaddle to calm him into sleep. MOSES BASKET: Smaller than a port-acrib and more comfy than a car seat. With this you can keep a consistent place for baby to sleep when at grandma’s house or on vacation all without sacrificing space. You can move baby room to room with you too when he’s dozing or bring him outside to take a nap while you garden. It’s also a great place to store/display for stuffed animals or even magazines once you’re past the baby years. INFANT BATHTUB: You will be bathing your baby in your sink for longer than you think, but directly in the sink isn’t safe or comfy for a little one who can’t yet hold up his or her own head. And who keeps a pristinely clean kitchen sink at all times? A plastic infant tub is economical and allows baby to lie at an angle safe and secure (even over dirty dishes.) Just be sure to check water temperature and fill tub before baby is placed inside as water temperatures can vary while faucets are on and can easily scald baby with hot water or shock them with a moment of cold. OLIVE OIL: Forget the pricey diaper creams. My homebirth midwives said skip those and use pure olive oil. It soothes diaper rash and helps heal sore baby bottoms and better yet, it’s all natural. Check with your pediatrician first if your son has been circumcised. Good for chapped cheeks too. Keep a small spray bottle of it on your changing table. ZIPPERED SLEEPERS OR GOWNS: For easy diapers changes in the middle of the night opt for simple one-zip sleepers or gowns. Who wants to snap up a baby only to

find you’re off two snaps and have to start all over again? Who will be having a meltdown then? Also, if your baby is like mine, socks never stay on. Footed sleepers keep feet warm and no lost socks to hunt for at 2 a.m. Once the basic needs of baby are met then it’s time for the fun stuff: decorating the nursery. There are many trends for baby and magazines are a great place to see what’s hot. For some parents the big box baby stores give some ideas, but sometimes too many choices force no choice at all and leave you feeling overwhelmed. This is when a smaller retailer may be able to help. Some parents may even choose to work with a professional designer. Enter interior designer Pamela Reilly. Pam has been doing interior design for about 15 years and baby nurseries specifically for Bellini Baby (bellini.com) and Teen Furniture on Route 9 in Wellesley for almost six years. Her design firm is called BellaDecor. “I was hired exclusively by Bellini as the primary interior designer of baby nurseries and children’s rooms,” Pam says. “When clients come to our showroom and want help designing their nursery, I will spend a great deal of time with them asking questions pertinent to their needs. We discuss everything from color and design to crib and furniture style, linens, lighting, rugs, window treatments, etc. In most cases, I will actually visit the nursery space and lend my expertise for a complete design consultation often accompanied by my seamstress so she can measure for window treatments.” So what are the hot baby trends and colors happening in 2013? Pam says the most

popular colors right now are grey and white. She shares, “These are great neutral colors, because if you don’t know the sex of the baby, once it is born, you can choose the appropriate accent color. Bright pink and conversely navy blue both look beautiful with grey and white. Also convertible cribs are by far the biggest trend and will continue to be. It just makes sense to invest in a crib that it will convert to a toddler bed and then to a full size bed.” Nursery design isn’t typically very trendy and most parents follow their own style into their baby’s room whether it’s more contemporary or traditional. Pam shares that animal or jungle themes are always very popular as are nautical themes. White and espresso continue to be the most popular finishes for cribs and nursery furniture. Of all the requests Pam receives as a designer, the top three from parents looking to design their nursery are: 1. Designing crib linens and window treatments. 2. Choosing accessories for the walls. 3. Choosing the most comfortable glider! Just remember that no matter what your budget is, there is something for everyone as you plan your baby’s new space and needs. Laura Richards is the mother of four boys and two cats and resides in Framingham, MA with her husband. She blogs from her website modernmothering.com.

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OH,BABY!

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OH,BABY!

April 9, 2012

Dearest, Editor’s Note: These are excerpts from Aimee Bachman’s blog prayersforabby.blogspot.com. Abby was born on February 29, 2012 and was diagnosed with Campomelic Dysplasia. She lived for only 23 days.

28 APRIL2013

carley dudley

by Aimee Bachman

OH,BABY!

you remember our last talk the night before your surgery? I do so vividly. It amazes me really, and I will never forget it. I explained to you that you were going to have a very important surgery – a tracheostomy. I further explained to you that you needed it and that it would help you to breathe. I then told you whatever happens during your surgery was between you and God and that I will trust in Jesus. I sang my favorite lullaby to you, Silent Night. Then I kissed your forehead over and over and laid you down for the night. That was the last time I held you in my arms. Prior to the day of the surgery, I had such anxiety, mostly due to fear of the unknown. My worries were never ending it seemed. But the day of the surgery I felt such peace. As we walked in the NICU, we saw your tracheostomy supplies and a doll with a tracheostomy to show us what a baby would look like. I picked up that doll, and I wasn’t afraid. I was actually excited to be here finally – this was a chance to take you home. Before the doctors whisked you away, we had Father Bob come to your bedside to pray with us. I wept. I wept for joy. Joy that this was the beginning of you finally coming home! You left the NICU at 10:45 a.m., and you never returned. While I had peace those last hours of your life, your dad was like a wild beast! We switched roles that day. I am usually the impatient one, worried about everything while your dad worries about nothing... but not that time. He knew something wasn’t right when we weren’t receiving updates from the liaison nurse. I told him to relax, that everything was going to be okay. I wish I was right. Abby, never did it occur to me that you would chose eternal life over the life that I wanted for you. I wanted you to come home with a tracheostomy. I wanted you with me and your family. But God wanted you in his home with his holy family, and you chose perfectly. I am so proud of you Abby, so proud that you chose God. But, I have to admit, it is extremely difficult for me to comprehend all of this. My understanding and acceptance glides back and forth. I keep telling myself, “I don’t understand. I don’t get it.” With everything that I have been through, the initial diagnosis, the transfer of my care to Brigham and Women’s at 37 weeks, and then your arrival, all were wonderful successes. And then this? It makes no sense when I think of myself, but perfect sense when I think

Do

of you and how difficult it must have been for you to choose as you did. You brave little rosebud. I can’t imagine what it is like for any child to grow up with all of the complexities that Campomelic Dysplasia would invite. And here you were, given the chance to escape that! And you did. As I cry as the days go on, I try to remind myself, “She chose this.” Somehow, I believe that you knew what was happening even though you were only 3 weeks old. Somehow, you knew that your time on earth was limited. You had such a significant presence about you. As I look back on the day you left me, I imagine you entering the gates of heaven with song and dance and glory! I imagine that you went running straight into Jesus’ arms. It gives me joy and comfort knowing that you are in heaven. My baby, pure and free from sin. My baby, who I used to pray for morning, day and night...I now pray to. I miss you. I miss holding you. I miss singing to you. I miss smelling you. I miss everything about you.

Love, Your Mommy Thursday, February 28, 2013

Happy Birthday Well, the day is finally here! It is a blessed day! I am thankful to feel blessed. Grief is so unpredictable, and most days are taxing, but not today! One year ago, my baby was born into this world! I am flooded with wonderful memories, holding Abby, singing to her, amazed at her strength and perseverance! I remember the first time I laid eyes on her, and I couldn’t wait for the doctors to wrap things up so I could get to see her again! I was crawling out of my skin! To commemorate Abby on her special day, this morning we took the kids to IHOP for breakfast. We laughed and toasted to Abby. The kids were soooo cute! They miss Abby. They don’t mention it a lot, but I know that they do. We then headed off to the cemetery to sing Abby Happy Birthday! We were lucky to be able to even enter the cemetery, thanks to the all the rain. My neighbor is so wonderful to me. She makes beautiful boxes for Abby’s resting place. She did one for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and now her birthday! It makes my heart warm when she does this for

us and for thinking of Abby. I love Abby’s bling! After our visit with Abby, we dropped the kids off at school. I headed to see my therapist (much needed for someone like me after all I’ve been through) and then picked up Lily from my neighbor and went to visit my friend, Erica. Erica just had a baby girl a week and a half ago, and I’ve only seen a glimpse of her newest addition, Laura. As soon as I saw Erica with Laura, I stole Laura from her. It just felt right. It felt so good to smell and touch and feel a teeny tiny little soul – so perfect in every way. Some moms get so upset when holding a newborn or seeing a newborn around their circle of friends/ family. I have to admit, I have and do too. It just hurts so badly at times, wishing for something that we can never have, but not this time. This time was different. I could feel Abby with me holding this precious gift from God. The ability to hold her, I felt it was not of my own doing but of greater intervention. I felt peace and that felt good! The day is not over, but I’m sure we will continue our day to celebrate Abby and her sweet gentle self! To prepare and plan for Abby’s Remembrance Day Celebration, we are going to have a balloon release! I am so excited to do this, and I think this will be my favorite part of the day. To see the balloons floating into the sky reminds me of Abby’s spirit, floating and soaring wherever she wants to go. The world is her limit! We decided to go back to Balloons All Over in town. They took such great care of us for Abby’s wake/ funeral, we wanted to give back to them. Thank you to Balloons All Over, once again! My heart has been shattered into a thousand pieces. As a result of your generosity, two pieces of my heart have been mended together. It sure does feel good to have this mingled in between all of my sorrow.

Happy Birthday to you.... Happy Birthday to you.... Happy Birthday Dear Abby.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!!!!

Hugs and Kisses, Love Mommy, Daddy and your sibs!!

BAYSTATEPARENT 29

OH,BABY!

CAPTURED

Baby

Faces

PRINCESS: Mckynlie Murphy, 6 months,

of Leominster loves dressing up and posing for the camera.

ALL SMILES: Harrison Buskell, of Upton, enjoys

s. graham photography

playing in the sand at the beach in Hawaii.

SNUGGLED UP: Ethan Thomas, 3 months old, of Templeton snuggles up in a basket with a blanket.

LIGHTING UP: Brooke Peasley, 5 months,

of Natick, lights up as she wakes up from her nap.

BRIGHT EYES: Juliet Lasorsa, 9 months,

SO CUTE: Gianna Bognanno, 10 months,

BUNDLED UP: Alyson Clare Dennehy, 5 months,

of Westminster, smiles for the camera.

of Bellingham, loves taking pictures.

of Worcester, is all bundled up during a recent storm.

30 APRIL2013

OH,BABY! shawna shenette photo

SO MUCH FUN: Charlotte Grace Henson, 22 months, of Sterling, enjoys getting her picture taken.

SNUG AS A BUG: Cameron France, 2 weeks, of Westminster, snuggles on a bookshelf during a recent photo shoot.

LIT UP: Cole Landry, 25 weeks, of Gardner, is all smiles for the camera.

ALL SMILES: Rylee Hotaling, 6 months, of West Boylston, poses for the camera.

LAID BACK: Carter Lindberg, 22 months, of Rutland, lounges on a bed.

SO CUTE: Maya Smith, 7 months, of Framingham, loves getting her picture taken.

CUTIE PIE: Wyatt Gabriel Blodgett, 6 1/2 weeks old, of Spencer, is all smiles.

HANGING OUT: Braydin Rogers, 10 months, of Worcester, loves hanging out.

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Oh baby,

FUN FASHIONS FOR THE WEE ONES! About four years ago, Sarah Warner of Boston started making unique fashion for babies and toddlers. It started with making some onesies for her sister’s baby shower. After friends and family saw her fashions, she started getting countless requests and a company was born. “We do hand-drawn t-shirts, graphic design and custom printing,” Warner says. “And now I have about 20 orders a day.” Warner has a full-time job at a financial company and heads Ba Ba Bling Baby on the side. “I love being creative and using bright colors in my design,” she says. “I’ve always been artistic and I love fashion.” To learn more, visit babablingbaby.com or their Etsy shop. Sarah Warner, owner Ba Ba Bling Baby.

Savannah Piscitelli, 8 ½ months, of Millbury, and Wyatt Reddell, 9 months, of Worcester.

Anna and Dominic Millward, 2 ½, of Douglas.

Preston D’Amato, 14 months, of Barre. 32 APRIL2013

Genevieve Wyllie, 10 months, of Bellingham, and Mason Soohoo, 20 months, of Lynn.

Elijah Lennon Joseph Cormier, 10 months, of Fitchburg, and Raven White, 1, of Fitchburg.

OH,BABY!

Nicview BY

amanda roberge

imee Stanley-Burke of Leominster has a bedtime ritual with her new baby, Everett Burke, who was born on Valentine’s Day. She watches him sleep for a bit and maybe talks to him or admires his little face. This time of connection, which happens like clockwork every evening at 9 p.m., gives her a renewed peace of mind as she gets ready to go to bed. Then she logs off. “It helps me sleep, knowing he is okay,” she says of her 10-week premature baby, who spends his days and nights at UMass Memorial Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Aimee spends as much time as she can next to his bassinet, like all the parents there who do what they can to make the best of their circumstances. But after a long day, when she returns home and is missing the feel of his skin and the comfort of his sheer proximity, that problem is easily solved by a program offered through the hospital dubbed Look At Me! which makes screen time at night a possibility – much like Skype or Facetime. The experience, part of a new technology called NICview, has been made available at six of the 49 stations at the NICU – which is one of the largest in the area. “We have received such positive feedback from the families who use this technology,” says UMass Memorial Neonatologist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Alan Picarillo, who has fiercely advocated getting the program established at the hospital and has been

A

delighted to see it come to fruition. Dr. Picarillo added that some families get creative with their use of NICview – whether hooking the system up to their large flatscreen television and having dinner each night with their baby or using their smartphone to keep their baby close to them wherever they go. Regardless of how each individual family chooses to utilize NICview, the experience – across the board – has been positive. So positive, he said, that they are hoping to expand the program to all 49 beds – no easy feat in an age where hospitals are barely meeting their operating costs. While each camera system costs a mere $1,200 – small change for a multi-million dollar budget – it is a non-essential expenditure and therefore the staff at the NICU has been grateful to have an outside interest step in to help. The NICview endeavor has been made possible by the Worcester County Network of Rotary Clubs, with Roy Balfour, who is a member of the Shrewsbury Rotary Club as well as a District 7910 assistant governor, at the helm. The Rotary Club approached UMass asking for suggestions about how they could help to meet some of the hospital’s non-emergency needs and was immediately taken with the NICview project. “What people don‘t realize is that this is one of the largest NICUs in the state and so even though it’s located in Worcester, it is serving dozens of communities,” Balfour says. But more importantly, he added,

almost everyone associated with the Rotary Club can identify with the struggles of parenthood even in the best of circumstances, not to mention the challenges in connecting with an infant from the confines of a heavily monitored and guarded hospital bassinet. “It is crucial to these babies and to their parents that they have the chance to bond from the start,” he said. “The Rotary Club quickly became invested in helping to make that happen.” While the club was able to buy the initial six cameras and their maintenance plans, it became clear that nearly every single one of the 49 families that calls the NICU home at any given time had a desire to participate in the program. The demand has been overwhelming. “We didn’t anticipate how popular this would be,” says Dr. Picarillo, who admits that he wasn’t entirely sure if the technology would be a passing novelty for a generation of people who are always looking for the next cool app. During the average stay of 23 days, the NICview technology allows parents to keep connected and in tune, and also to share that experience with family members. As part of the system, staff can monitor details about who is logging on, when and from where. According to Dr. Picarillo, there is a whole lot of baby-sharing happening thanks to the cameras. Log-ins, he adds, have happened not only from smartphones and iPads all over Massachusetts, but also from as far away as Afghanistan and a U.S. Naval ship in the Persian Gulf.

“It lets the whole family be involved,” he says, adding that the cameras have also been useful in allowing siblings to begin the bonding process – since children under 14 are not allowed visitation as a means of protecting the babies’ delicate immune systems. In order to complete the full upgrade for the entire NICU, Balfour and his peers have been hard at work soliciting donations from local businesses and humanitarians. Some rotary clubs have raised the funds to purchase cameras, and others have approached their business communities to get individual corporations and companies to donate a camera. Part of the draw for donors, he says, is small lines of text at the bottom of each screen letting families know who sponsored that particular camera. It’s not only a nice way to give credit where it is due, he says, but also to let those families know that the business cares about what is going on in their lives. “Everybody can relate to how helpless it must feel to not be able to bring your baby home,” he says. “There is an immediate connection that people feel there.” If you are interested in donating or fundraising to help bring cameras to the NICU, please contact Ray Balfour at romart@aol.com. Amanda Roberge is a Leominster-based freelance writer and mother of three children.

BAYSTATEPARENT 33

OH,BABY!

THE ONE THING

You’re Not Prepared For,

BUT SHOULD BE

The unwelcome surprise of postpartum depression can overwhelm a new mom. But a happy ending is likely—if you get help early on. BY

jd bailey

If you’re getting ready for a new baby, you’ve probably put a lot of thought into many details: the nursery, the birth plan, what to register for and even financial considerations. You likely pour over pregnancy and newborn books, taking it all in and trying to mentally prepare yourself for what’s coming. Getting ready to welcome a new life into the world is a truly joyous occasion. It’s positively thrilling, and you’re rightfully excited. But has the thought ever crossed your mind that once the baby is here, you may not be filled with joy? That you may be overwhelmingly sad, anxious and even angry? I know it never crossed my mind. But it happened to me. I suffered from postpartum depression with my second daughter, and it was a harrowing experience that took me completely by surprise. And more than four years later, I’m still dealing with its aftereffects. About five weeks after the birth of my daughter, Grace, I knew something wasn’t right. I was still not feeling like myself. Sure, I was exhausted, which was to be expected. But I was also down, anxious and even angry. I was snapping at everyone and flying off the handle at the smallest things. It was not something I experienced when my first child was born, but I was so tired I couldn’t figure out if I had the “baby blues” or something more serious. My husband could tell I wasn’t doing well and surprised me with a day at a local spa. I was thrilled. What a treat! Nails, facial, massage, and, for a few blissful hours,

no baby or toddler attached to me. Pure heaven. But when I came home, I could hear Grace crying the moment I walked into the house. She had been crying the entire time I was away because she was hungry and refused to take a bottle. I felt terrible, like I had abandoned my hungry child all day to selfishly go to a spa, but at the same time I resented her for making me feel guilty. From that day, I could feel a terrible rage building inside of me. I felt trapped by my colicky, non-sleeping, no-bottle-taking baby.

I felt sad, anxious and angry, morning, noon and night. And it was the anger that was most overwhelming to me. I was frustrated with my toddler, Anne, who was throwing tantrums constantly. And I was seriously questioning my decision to leave my full-time writing job to stay at home and take on the occasional freelance gig. I felt sad, anxious and angry, morning, noon and night. And it was the anger that was most overwhelming to me. I had no idea that such strong anger was a telltale symptom of postpartum depression. I had friends who had suffered from postpartum depression, but all of them had experienced deep sadness, anxiety and/or disinterest in life or their baby. No anger. Despite the fact that I had some definite warning signs, I didn’t call my doctor to discuss what was going on. I really thought I could just push through it, even though the symptoms had been dragging on for weeks

“HYPNO-MAMA” Achieve the birth you desire with hypnosis sessions. HYPNO-MAMA’S learn useful techniques of self-hypnosis to carry you and your baby from natural conception to a healthy birth.

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For private and group sessions contact Hypnotist Lisa Evans. 34 APRIL2013

and weeks. Then one night, Anne had a terrible tantrum in her room, and I lost it. I couldn’t control the words flying out of my mouth as I was enveloped in a bout of rage. I was angry at Anne, at Grace, at myself. I was exhausted, depressed and wanted to be anywhere but where I was at that moment. It was the most terrifying feeling I have ever experienced. The next day I called both my primary care doctor and my OB/GYN. They explained that I most certainly had postpartum

www.thebodymaintenanceplace.com • 781-963-2901 990 Pleasant St., Brockton MA Lisa Evans, NCLMT, Cht

depression, prescribed Zoloft and got me into therapy right away. I felt better within days. The sadness, the lack of interest in life and the anxiety all got better with the medication. I felt like me. Not high or strange or fuzzy (all things I feared would happen). I just felt like regular old me. Finally. But the anger inside me took more work to get under control. The Zoloft helped, but the therapy was what made it much, much better. My therapist taught me some coping mechanisms to help me get through the times when rage threatened to take over. And thanks to her tips and the Zoloft, I can now willingly walk away from a difficult situation, refocus and calm down. More than four years later, I’m still dealing

with depression. Most women I know who had postpartum depression recovered relatively quickly, but a few people I know are in the same boat as me. However, I am doing much, much better. I still need to take an antidepressant to feel like myself. But I am living a happy life. I handle everyday stresses in a normal way, I love being with my family and friends, and I enjoy my job. There is a lot of stigma associated with depression and medications, and I’m sure deep down, that’s why I hesitated to reach out for help. But I shouldn’t have waited. I could have felt a lot better, a lot faster if I had called my doctor much sooner. There is no shame in getting help if you have signs of postpartum depression. Even if you’re not sure if it’s the short-term “baby blues” or postpartum depression, don’t be afraid to call your doctor. She or he can help you determine what’s going on and the best course of action. I know that first phone call to my doctor was extremely hard for me to make. But being a mom means doing hard things. And sometimes the hardest thing is asking for the help you so desperately need. Remember, the faster you feel like yourself again, the more you’ll be able to enjoy those precious first months with your beautiful new baby. JD Bailey is the creator of HonestMom. com, where she writes about raising her young daughters and managing her depression. With real candor and a good dose of humor, JD blogs to connect with other moms, raise awareness about depression and create a space for women to both vent and laugh.

FINALLYFOREVER

brandi smith

MAKING a family

BY

brandi smith

On

Feb. 18, 2004, my husband at the time, landed in Okinawa, Japan, with his beautiful redheaded daughter. They had traveled more than 24 hours from the states to overseas

after he picked her up. She had been through a lot especially for a 3 year old. She moved in full-time, while her daddy went back to work whether it was going to a school or being deployed for a week or

APRIL’SCHILD

Brandie Ten-year-old Brandie is a bright, engaging Caucasian child who enjoys spending time with adults. She enjoys outdoor activities as well as making crafts and playing board games. Brandie also likes singing and dancing and hopes to take classes in the future. Brandie has just moved from a group home to a specialized foster home. She attends

CIRCLEOFFRIENDS Adoption in the Teen Years. Saturday, April 7, 2 to 3:30 p.m. 3815 Washington St., 2nd Floor, Jamaica Plain. Adolescent adoptees talk with their peers about their experiences, challenges and hopes and how adoption has influenced their lives. This is a 90-minute group lead by two experienced therapists from Adoption Associates in Newton. Cost is $15 per family. For more information, contact Lori Baeumler at

more at a time. We were a military family so when he brought her home, it was hard on everyone especially her. She was sort of thrown into a home with a woman and brother she knew nothing about and all of a sudden there were rules to follow. It was the hardest time in our lives that we had ever gone through, and at the same time I was dealing with my brother’s recent death. She knew no manners, and she knew no rules, the world was hers to rule alone. After about six months, I decided to bring her into therapy because I knew it had to be a shock for her. There were rules, being told no and time schedules. Our lives were flipped completely upside down. Taking a child on full-time whom is not yours is hard – you have to learn how to love them, and they learn how to love you back. Although in the beginning she was my stepdaughter, it was difficult because being a military family, dad was only home a few days every month and in her mind she was stuck with me, a stranger and a brother she was never sure about. Everyone around me thought I was losing my mind and that I was making everything up, from her yelling at me, throwing things at me, all the way to her running out of the house because something did not go her way. At this time we lived in Arizona with my husband at the time. His parents lived in Alaska while mine were in Texas, and we did not have family nearby to help us. I was on my own with my new toddler and baby. Years of therapy went by and the one thing I was told over and over is that she was an unattached child, a child who never had that bond that mothers and babies have. The therapist worked with us to help teach her and me how to form a bond now that she was nearly 5 years old and had a mind of her own. It took the first five years of raising her full time to get her to love me (most of the time) and even longer to trust me. We worked together 365 days a year for over five years, with her brother and new baby sister to make her feel like she was a part of this family. It was hard for her because she felt she needed to be by herself. I tried to get cooperation with both parents,

fourth grade in public school with supports. Brandie does well socially however, she is lagging behind academically and it has been determined her IQ is on the lower side. Brandie has several diagnoses for which she receives therapy. Brandie would do best in a two-parent family where she would be the youngest child. She needs parents who can be educational advocates for her. There is an open adoption agreement in place with her biological mother for two visits a year. Brandie also would like to maintain contact with her birth siblings.

617-587-1522 or email lbaeumler@mspcc.org. Walk-in Adoption Information Meeting. Tuesday, April 2, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) Springfield,140 High St., fifth floor, Springfield. For more information about the meeting, please call 413-452-3369. Boston Adoption Informational Meetings – DCF. Wednesday, April 3, 4 to 6 p.m. Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) Boston, 451

who adopted her, but one was too busy and the other did not want to let go yet. A stepparent adoption is a hard adoption to go through; we had to get consent from the biological parents. In April of 2011, her father came home from a deployment and realized deep in his heart that this was not the life for him. I was most upset because I knew deep in my heart that I would lose a child I loved deeply because of a mistake and choice an adult felt was something they needed to do. My stepdaughter was scared because after all these years she was attached to someone and was afraid to be ripped from that relationship and family that she called home. She had grown to need stability in her home – that is what kept her feet grounded. After four months of negotiating with her biological mother, going under investigation from the court, while in the middle of a divorce, her mother finally agreed to terms we both agreed to and signed her adoption over to me in August 2011. My daughter and I flew back up to Washington State in August 2011 and went to court with our lawyer, and on that day they granted me the rights to be her mother. A short seven months later, I was a single mother of four beautiful babies. It took a long time to realize that this is where God wanted me, and I would never want to change that for anything. Although we have our moments, I have never known love the way she can give it. I never knew patience until I met her. We went through trials you may never go through as a parent with your own biological children, but I love them all and she has been the best decision I have ever made and the hardest fight I have ever had to fight. She makes our lives crazy, long and beautiful, but sweet too. It is as if she was always ours from day one, our day one just happened to start when she was 3 years old nine years ago. Brandi Smith is a mother of four children, Mikeala, Jayden, Schyler and Alexander. They are the loves of her life.

She is legally free for adoption. For more information on Brandie please contact Adoption Worker Holli Hill at (508) 929-2150. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in Worcester hosts monthly informational meetings for people wishing to learn more about the adoption process. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 8 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Please call (508)929-2143 for more detailed information about this meeting.

Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester. Learn how you can change the future of a child in need by becoming a foster or adoptive parent with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. For more information, call Marsha Donovan, LCSW, 617-989-9209. No registration is required. Foster Care/Adoption Informational Meetings. Tuesday, April 9, 6 to 7 p.m. Jordan’s Furniture, IMAX conference room, 50 Walkers Brook Dr., Reading. Please leave a message for Stephanie Frankel at 978-

557-2734 if you plan to attend. In the event that a meeting is cancelled, it will be posted on the Department of Children and Families website under massgov.org. Please check the website the day prior to the meeting for the most updated information. Foster Care/Adoption Informational Meetings. Monday, April 8, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Department of Children and Families, 121 Providence Street 3rd Floor, Worcester. Please contact Patricia Savelli at 508-9292143. Registration is not required. The event is free. BAYSTATEPARENT 35

AFRICAN DRUMMING FOR KIDS

SUMMER

CAMP

brought to you by:

DIRECTORY Give Your Child a Summer to Remember! CONCORD

summer

ACADEMY

camp

Coed Day Camp • Ages 3-15 • 20+ Camps One Location in Greater Boston

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36 APRIL2013

& Call or email for more information! 978.265.4345 | info@crocodilerivermusic.com 62 High Street, Clinton MA

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W H AT M A K E S U S U N I Q U E ? Our programs are intelligent fun! The themes, activities, crafts, classes and play are selected and designed to foster your child’s curiosity and interpersonal skills. CHE C K O U T O U R WE B S I T E O R C A L L 5 0 8 . 3 6 6 . 6 1 2 1 X 2 3 F O R YO U R OWN P E R S ONA L T O U R .

www.boroughsjcc.org

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Toddler programs (starts at 15 months) š š š š

New full-day program (2–5 day options) Age-appropriate learning and play Mid-day lunch and nap, all snacks included Special toddler playground space

Preschool (starts at 2.9 years) Pre-K (starts at 3.9 years) K Kids (age 5 years by April 1) š Afternoon enrichment programs until 5:30pm š Age-appropriate learning, play, and curriculum with in classroom technology š Early drop-off and 2–5 day options

BOROUGHS

JCC Preschool

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BAYSTATEPARENT 37

SUMMERCAMPDIRECTORY

MySpo rtsClu bs.com /Kids

+ Open House .&&Camp

ow for 4+ n r e t s i g e R save 5% weeks and

Sunday, April 7, 11am-1pm “A Taste of Camp!�

Free Show at 12:00 noon

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SAVE 5% on full weeks of camp*

Interactive show that teaches about the mystery, science and discovery of bubbles!

• Free hot dogs • Beach ball games in the indoor pool, bring swimsuit and towel

Full- and half-day camps for tots thru teens Flexible options, early/late care • Nonmembers are welcome Franklin Watertown

Lexington Wellesley

• Crafts • Camp ages 2 - 16

Lynnfield Newton Wellington Circle

*Valid through 5.1.13. Cannot be combined with any other Sports Clubs for Kids discount, and can only be applied to weekly or daily registrations paid in-full. Minimum purchase of 25 days per camper applies to qualify for daily discount. Activities vary by location.

• Meet the Directors • Tour our facility

Our camps offer action-packed programs that foster athletic skills, teamwork and healthy habits. Through sports, games and activities we create a safe, caring, noncompetitive environment ideal for learning and making friends.

Andover Waltham

• Free rafes including additional camp savings of $100 off your camp bill, savings on other JCC programs and giveaways

Free and open to the public Camp brochure online at worcesterjcc.org The JCC is open to all regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or economic condition. The Center is handicapped-accessible. Scholarships available.

Worcester JCC

633 Salisbury Street, Worcester Web: worcesterjcc.org Phone: 508.756.7109 • Fax: 508.754.3373

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SUMMERCAMPDIRECTORY

AFFORDABLE CAMP PROGRAMS STARTING AT $160/WEEK Day $405/week Overnight!

Day & Overnight Camp In North Central, Mass!

Offering a traditional summer camp experience for children aged 6-15 since 1941! Programs offered: Archery, Arts & Crafts, Barn, Boating, Dance, Low Ropes, Nature, Outdoor Living Skills, Sports, Swimming, Theater, Woodworking, and more! Log on to our website: www.campmiddlesex.com for more information! 4-H Camp Middlesex, 1031 Erickson Rd., Ashby, MA 01431 978-386-7704 • www.campmiddlesex.com

7/29-8/2 Cape Cod Academy Osterville

8/5-8/9 Fay School Southborough

7/22-7/26 Rocky Hill School East Greenwich

8/5-8/9 Bancroft School Worcester

8/12-8/16 Abundant Life School Wilmington

7/29-8/2 Wayland Community Center Wayland

Grow an enthusiasm for creation at Claytime

Summer 2013 Dream • Believe • Achieve

Gymnastics Learning Center

Dream Believe • Achieve “Building•the Pride Inside Since 1983â€?

Help Your Child Learning be Healthy and Fit! Gymnastics Center

• American Red Cross Swim lessons in our heated pools • “Gym & Swimâ€? Half and Full day camps • "Funtastic" Themed Camp weeks • Girls and Boys Gymnastics Lessons “Walkers and Up!â€?

508-792-1551 Great gift for Mother's Day! Visit Claytime for pottery painting, glass fusing, beading, mosaics, birthday parties and more. Be sure to visit Claytime during April school vacation!

paint your own pottery & bead studio Jgml] 1$ K`j]okZmjq F]pl lg O`al] ;alq =Ykl! !.)1"021&22.)

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FREE 7ULDO &ODVV Fall Programs New students only

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REGISTER y NOW SUMMER & FALL 2013

The Only Nationally Accredited edited ed Preschool in Shrewsbury! • Preschool Classes • Full-Day Year Round Care • Half And Full Day Kindergarten Programs

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508-792-3535 BAYSTATEPARENT 39

Harbor Discoveries Camps

Klever Kids Preschool Inc. Where Playing is Leaning

Summer Program

Register now!

Looking for something fun for your children to do this summer? Why not send them to Klever Kids! • Sign up for a week at a time • No Summer-Long Commitment • Part Day Or Full Day Enrollment • Themed Weekly Activities

• Snacks Included • Large Playgrounds to Explore • Separated Age Groups • Fun & Dedicated Teachers

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday • 7:30am-5:30pm

Klever Kids Preschool is a developmentally appropriate program for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years. It is licensed by the state of Masachusetts and The Department of Early Education and Care.

Harbor Discoveries Visit www.neaq.org/camps or call 617-973-5206.

Holly Dube Owner/Director 1055 West St. Gardner, MA 01440 978-630-2580

This camp complies with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and is licensed by the Board of Health.

SUMMER CAMPS

SUMMERCAMPDIRECTORY

New England Aquarium

40 APRIL2013

Our Most Popular Camps Summer Spotlight Theatre 2013 Sibling Discounts! Call for details. 2- 2 Week Camps - Daily Monday - Friday - Ages 7 - 14 years • 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

;OLH[YL *HTW 1\S` [O 1\S` [O ;OLH[YL *HTW (\N\Z[ [O (\N\Z[ [O An exciting program for children interested in all aspects of performing. Classes in singing, dancing, improvisation, costuming, set building, and more – with an opportunity for each student to step into the “spotlight” with two performances for family and friends.

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Summer Dance Intensive with Monica Lessard, Paula Meola & Danny Poland

Mini Dance Camps 2013 A Real Hit! $99 per camp! 2- 1 Week Camps • Daily Monday - Friday

Ages 4 - 9 years • 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. *HTW 0 1\S` [O ¶ [O *HTW 00 (\N\Z[ [O ¶ [O A fun filled camp where dancers try all kinds of dance, even Hip Hop! The mornings include crafts, dance games and improvisation and every Friday is "Bring a Buddy Day!"

SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVE FOR THE SERIOUS DANCER. >LLR 0! 1\S` UK 1\S` [O >LLR 00! 1\S` [O (\N\Z[ UK

50 Leominster Rd. • Sterling, MA 01564 • 978-422-6989 • office@paulameoladance.com • www.paulameoladance.com

“Inspired! Superb!... it’s hard not to be amazed” -The New York Times

ticket start a s t

$20

t s o m e Th e t a m i t in ! r e v e circus

1 6 r ow s of s e at i n g!

STUDENTS: Buy One, Get One Free. Use code: STUDENT (Offer good on select shows & seats. Must show student ID at box office.)

Mar. 26th thru May 12th at City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA

Special 10am Mother’s Day Brunch for the Whole Family! (limited availability)

bigapplecircus.org or 888-541-3750 #BigAppleCircus

BAYSTATEPARENT 41

SUMMERCAMPDIRECTORY

Play with us this summer at

STEP IN TIME Come Study the USA with us this Summer

We encourage independent theme based activities with numerous field trips and a swim program for Ages 6-12

Call today for summer camp info or yearly programs Infant • Toddler • Schoolage 508-865-0200

Step in Time is accreditied (NAEYC)

Route 146, 64 Worcester/Providence Turnpike, Sutton, MA

•

Over 16 years in business •

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Art & Science

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Situated just off a picturesque winding road in the back woods of Lincoln, deCordova Museum is home to a different kind of vibe in the art world – and even the youngest visitors get that. Unlike much of the planet, it’s a unique place where kids are free to roam and touch, participate and play. The 30-acre sculpture park has long been a part of expanding minds with its larger-than-life displays by non-traditional contemporary artists, but the time has come to tap into the next generation of free thinkers. For the first year, as part of an unusual effort to scale back on programming and focus solely on the museum’s mission of continuing to offer specific and meaningful educational outreach to the community, the staff at deCordova will oversee a kids’ summer program called “The Hive.� To be held in July, each of the four week’s themes – from “Art, Scientist, Citizen� to “Trees, Seeds and Bees� – invites kids to “make, investigate and discover� while doing what kids do best – have fun! The program, geared toward kids ages 7 – 14,

will mimic summer camp only in its hours and structure. But that is where the similarities end. “We are not just looking for those kids who consider themselves artists,â€? says Deputy Director of Learning and Development Julie Bernson. “We really are suited to the kid who likes taking apart old radios, the kids who build forts in the woods, the kid who likes to build things out of anything he can get his hands on.â€? Since this summer marks The Hive’s first year, it is somewhat difficult to describe, as much of the concept currently exists in theory only. The year-round staff, with the help of teen mentors and visiting artists, is buzzing with excitement as they await the moment when all of their ideas can be brought to life. But the program has the makings of something very special based on the amount of thought and planning that has gone into bringing the unique concept to the park. “The work that the kids will be doing is really about creating community‌and seeing everything that is responsible for what makes a community a caring, strong

HiSTo5y Lesson

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Discovery Adventures at Old Sturbridge Village, April 15-19, June 24-August 16 Ages 6-17 42 APRIL2013

Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA, 508-347-0285

Visit www.osv.org/camp

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and sustainable place,� Bernson adds. Working with resident artists as they play with a new kind of art experience known as social practice, the themed Hive program will be an adjunct and complimentary experience at the museum. Drawing from a pool of talented artists and academics, from Boston-based Artist Andi Sutton to Field Scientist Jane Marshing, kids involved with The Hive will find themselves participating in not only the specific projects affiliated with their theme, but also being a part of the greater deCordova community – interacting with staff, visitors and nature. As an example of how the process might unfold, Marshing is constructing an observation fort at the park this summer and will be working cooperatively within the park in helping people to begin to look at some of the areas where art and science meet. As far as how her work with The Hive might unfold, it is anticipated that she may be assisting kids with gathering scientific data through an artistic lens. But of course, the week will unfold according to the direction the kids choose to go with their art and learning, and the sky – if anything – is the limit. “We are excited about the possibilities, and we feel that this program is such a good match for deCordova,� says Kate Legg, who works as the museum’s manager of family and youth programs and will also function as the director of the Hive. “The fact that we typically have artists here installing their work will allow for unique

interactions for the kids with the artists and also the natural landscape.� Even more exciting, she adds, is the potential for all of these merging communities of people to work collaboratively as they pursue their art in a way that is interdisciplinary and dynamic. “Contained within their large group project, which will be unveiled to visitors and parents at the end of each week, are elements of history and science and engineering and design,� Legg says. “And what’s exciting is that while this large project is influenced by the kids, it is also driven by the art and the artists.� Unlike a traditional pedagogy, The Social Practice Model sees literacy as a key dimension of community regeneration and a part of the wider lifelong learning agenda. According to Wikipedia, such an approach recognizes that “learners are more likely to develop and retain knowledge, skills and understanding if they see them as relevant to their own problems and challenges.� Indeed, Legg and Bernson couldn’t agree more. It is the inspiration behind The Hive’s curriculum – which, admittedly, is intentionally not an actual curriculum. But you get the idea. “This idea of art and being a good citizen being tied together and ready for exploration – it’s a huge culture shift,� says Bernson. “But we believe in starting young – in having kids start to translate their experiences with participating in art into the world around them.� deCordova attracts more than 100,000

visitors from New England and tourists from around the world to its campus each year and enrolls approximately 2,000 students of all ages in its studio art program. Through its partnership with the Lincoln Nursery School, deCordova is currently the only art museum in the country to host an on-site preschool program. “We have some really exciting things happening here right now,� Bernson said of the Museum, whose history dates back to the 1950s. “There is a whole new energy in the park right now.� For more information about The Hive and other programs at deCordova, visit deCordova.org.

on Lake Quinsigamond at Regatta Point State Park Week long sessions starting June 17-August 23 8:45-4:30 Ages 9-16 years old* $239/week Register Online

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Traditional Camp activities include archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, kayaking, nature study, music, drama, sports, high and low ropes course, outdoor skills, and swim lessons. Specialty Camps include Flight, TV Production, Practical Physics, Farm Camp, Drama, Gymnastics, Fort Building, Robotics, Hip Hop, Horseback Riding and a new Arts and Crafts camp. Teen Leadership and Trip and Travel Programs. Busing, AM/PM extended day programs and ďŹ nancial assistance are available. Registered Nurse on site at all times. First Aid, CPR and EPI-pen trained staff.

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“My daughter took sailing lessons for the first time and now wants to go all summer. Next year she will attend Regatta Point more weeks. It was amazing how after one week she was able to take us sailing by herself.� – Parent of 2012 camper

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COME TO HORSE CAMP! How is CMS different than other summer programs? We are ALL HORSES, ALL DAY! Century Mill offers a hands-on, interactive approach to learning horsemanship that keeps kids and teens active and engaged. Whether you’re coming to the barn for the very ďŹ rst time, or have been riding for years, there is a CMS Summer Camp Program just for you.

Mass Audubon Nature Day Camps In Central MA Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary 414 Massasoit Rd. Worcester, MA 01604 Camp Director 508-753-6087 x 13 bmbrookcamp@massaudubon.org Serves Children Ages 4.5-16

Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary 113 Goodnow Rd. Princeton, MA 01541 Camp Director 978-464-2712 x 8703 wachusett@massaudubon.org Serves Children Ages 3.5-17

• A unique opportunity to learn about the natural world. • Meet new friends and have lots of fun! • Specialty sessions such as digital photography, teen adventure trip and woodworking. • Experienced sta who provide a safe, educational, and noncompetitive camp environment. • Small group nature study. • An experience that will last a lifetime!

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105 CMR 430.190: This camp has complied with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and is licensed by the local board of health.

Â? • Ę? "Ę&#x; Ę&#x;L 5 X ¸ Q Ę? NĘžĘ? L Ę&#x; [ Ę&#x; #Ęž Ę? Q ƒ Â? ? P L i< cabi Join Actors’ Shakespeare Project for a summer youth intensive to explore and perform Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Teens will form an ensemble and work daily with Shakespeare’s language, voice, movement, and stage combat with a faculty of ASP’s experienced teaching artists. The program is equally suited for students with no background in Shakespeare and those with full-blown Bard productions under their belt. For more information contact Michael Forden Walker at mfw@actorsshakespeareproject.org or 617–776–2200 x224

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recreation · music · art · science · theatre dŚĞ ZŝǀĞƌďĞŶĚ ^ĐŚŽŽů ŝƐ ĞĂƐŝůLJ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞ ĨƌŽŵ͗ EĂƟĐŬ͕ ŽǀĞƌ͕ ^ŚĞƌďŽƌŶ͕ tĞůůĞƐůĞLJ͕ EĞĞĚŚĂŵ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ŽƐƚŽŶ ĂƌĞĂƐ͘

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g n i p o H o o t for ? h c mu BY

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melissa welin

April of 2006, my son was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome. Any words that I use to describe that experience sound clichéd and trite. My husband, Eric, and I were “heartbroken,” “devastated” and “angry.” That was the just the surface though, below the emotions that were running riot through my head day and night was something much worse. It was as if the very heart of me had been ripped away. There was a great, yawning emptiness inside of me that I couldn’t even bear to look at, much less talk about. There were a few unfortunate souls who tried to tell me that having this part of me ripped away would leave room for something else to grow. I assume they survived the conversations, I’ve blocked most of that out. At some point during those early days I decided that we would have a cure before Caleb turned 8. We had to have a cure by the time he turned 8 or we would forever be stuck in this horrible world of Fragile X. Eight was so far away back then, surely it would happen. There was talk of a cure; there were treatments and exciting research just around the corner. I had no idea back then how slowly medical science moves and how quickly the years pass when you’re busy being the world to the most awesome little man alive. And then, in a blink of an eye, he was 8. He was 8, and he still had Fragile X. He was 8, he still had Fragile X, and we were happy. Eric and I had a new circle of friends - sisters and brothers really - who love Caleb, who love us, who encourage us when we struggle and who cheer us on when we inevitably succeed. And we return that love, encouragement and pride in their children. We claim them all as family, there’s no other word that fits. These are the people 46 APRIL2013

who I laugh and cry with, the people who know my deepest fears because they share them, the people who know my blazing joy at every inch we gain because they fight for every inch, too. It seems strange to me that while I was happy, I still had a seed of discontent deep inside. While it’s true that a seed of discontent is a vast improvement over the great, yawning emptiness of the early days, it’s still destructive. It was whispering in my head, “It’s almost too late. We’re never going to get away, we’re never going to wake up from this.” I decided to compromise with this little voice. If we signed Caleb up to participate in the latest drug trial, a Phase III study of Seaside Therapeutic’s STX209, it would just shut up. I can be very bossy. I was surprised though that making that call to start the drug trial was such torture. In order to take part in this study, which would look at the drug’s potential for treating social withdrawal for kids and adults with Fragile X Syndrome, we had to remove Caleb from his anxiety medication. Starting the anxiety medication had been a huge gift to us; it had allowed Caleb to interact with the world more easily. It had freed up some of his energy that he had been directing solely into surviving his days in our loud, bright, smelly world, for using language. Our non-verbal child was now chatty. And I was going to take away the one thing I knew helped him for months of... who knew. The study is a double-blind placebocontrolled study, so he would either receive a full dose, a 1/2 dose, a 1/4 dose or... nothing. We didn’t know what he would get, and we would never know what he had been on. The only way I was able to make that decision to go for it was hope. Hope that this would help him more than

the anxiety medication had, that this would help a whole lot of other kids that we love someday. I try so hard to not let myself hope for too much. I am the ultimate silver lining in a bad situation kind of girl, but I can only maintain that if I am prepared for and expecting the worst. Hoping and wanting good things is torture to me, the anxiety it generates is paralyzing.

I try so hard to not let myself hope for too much. Hoping and wanting good things is torture to me, the anxiety it generates is paralyzing. This is why when we began the STX209 trial, Eric and I agreed from the outset that Caleb was on the placebo. My heart nearly broke each day as I watched him so closely, despite that agreement, for any sign of improvement. What if he is on the full dose and it didn’t help him? That to me would be the worst

possible outcome. That would have killed the hope I have held in my heart since the diagnosis that we would find something to fix this, to make this better, to make him happier and more successful. During the trial we saw glimmers of improvement, increased eye contact, decreased anxiety, but I refused to let myself believe it. It wasn’t until Caleb’s last IEP meeting, when we heard his teachers and specialists confirming that they saw the same at school, that I actually allowed myself to believe he was on something. I still hoped fervently that it wasn’t a full dose because I want to keep that hope, that the glimmers would become so obvious that we couldn’t deny their existence, alive. Then we titrated down off the trial. It became clear immediately that Caleb had been on something. His anxiety shot through the roof, his emotions fluctuated wildly, and we were left with a child who was just flailing in every aspect of his life. He was out of control which, fortunately enough for us, meant tears and whining, but no aggression. We had known at the outset that if we completed this double-blind portion we would be allowed to join the open label extension trial in January. It would mean that the wondering would be over. We would know that he was getting the medication, and we would know how much. There was never any doubt in our minds that we were going to participate, this was the reward for taking such a huge risk. The start of that open label trial wasn’t a very happy process for us. Caleb still seemed to be struggling emotionally, and we didn’t see any improvements. We noticed that for 24 hours after we increased his dosage his emotions fluctuated wildly, his appetite would disappear, and he was incredibly

sleepy. He even fell asleep at school a few times. And still we saw nothing, not even glimmers. That fear that he wouldn’t respond to the medication resurfaced. I began to have doubts that he had really improved during the trial. I began to think we had fallen victim to the placebo effect and imagined it all. I began to think maybe we needed to stop the whole process, he had been so happy before we had taken him off the anxiety medication in the fall, and now we were just playing with his moods. It reignited all of those painful thoughts I had struggled with before agreeing to the trial in the first place. Thoughts of experimenting on my own child. Thoughts that I hadn’t truly loved him just as he was, that I was doing all of this for my own selfish benefit because I still couldn’t accept that I had a child with Fragile X, that this was our life for now and forever. Then I noticed a small something, it was the same small something that had let me know that the anxiety medication had been working oh so long ago. Caleb’s eye contact returned. He would engage us in play and, no matter how excited we all got, he maintained a consistent level of eye contact. When we ate dinner he would look straight at me when I spoke. Though my worries began to ease, I still wasn’t confident enough to voice that. Then in mid-February, nearly a month into the open label trial, I whispered to Eric as we were all playing on the big bed, “He’s looking at us,â€? and Eric agreed that he’d seen it too. I crushed that ridiculous little flutter of hope with the weight of my continued worries over his emotional struggles around medication increases, his loss of weight due to appetite suppression and his exhaustion at the end of each day. I find though that I can no longer deny that this medication is working. Too much has changed too quickly, too obviously, for me to continue. He is more independent in our routines, I can ask him to do something and it no longer matters how many steps are involved‌he will do it with virtually no prompting. The only prompting I find myself doing involves him getting distracted by what he’s watching on TV. It’s so very typical for his age that I can’t even really consider it prompting in the same sense. If I pause the movie or TV show, he will quickly finish what was asked of him. He takes initiative – I don’t have to ask him to do certain things anymore. If I tell

him it’s bedtime I don’t have to ask him to put on his pajamas, find Grabbit (his much loved security blanket) and get into bed‌ he will do all of that‌again with the minor distractions that you expect from an 8 year old who isn’t quite convinced I meant that it was bedtime right that very minute, he might grab a toy or a book but he’ll lay it aside and continue if I remind him that it’s bedtime. He is doing chores, willingly and without being asked. He has helped fold laundry, he loads and unloads the dishwasher, he will run around the house and pick up dirty dishes and put them in the sink. When we go grocery shopping, he will grab a basket and carry it until his arm nearly falls off. We tell him what we need, and he will grab it and put it in his basket. If we forget and grab it, he will choose his own and ignore whatever we picked up. His social skills are improved, after the last big storm we were outside with a big portion of our neighborhood cleaning up and he greeted everyone, some with handshakes and others with a “Hey ‘sup?â€? Many of those who were out there are virtual strangers to him but he never hid his face, he wandered freely amongst the houses while keeping an eye on Eric and me. At the grocery store the clerk remarked, “He must keep you laughing all the time,â€? based on Caleb’s greeting and obvious understanding of the entire process and his eagerness to help us all. His verbal skills are improved. He has more words, sentences, paragraphs. He tells us about things that happened, not just things they happen. He repeats everything; we have taken to calling him “The Echoâ€? which always earns us a quiet “echoâ€? from him. He’s planning. He found a Christmas catalog somewhere, found a Nerf gun that he wanted and asked for it. He knew where to get it “ToyRUs?â€? he would tell us what color it was to differentiate it from the others on the page. When Eric took him to ToysRUs to buy it, he wandered up and down the four different Nerf aisles until he found the exact gun that was in the catalog. While Eric scanned box by box looking for it he took a glance and immediately knew those were not it, some were close, but not it, and he kept looking. Oh, and, when he saw the catalog, he read “Nerfâ€? and pointed it out to us. I could go on and on but what I’m saying is that (except for those 24 hours after a dosage increase) he is calm, focused

and independent. His air of capability is remarkable, he has no doubt about what to do or how to do it. I watch him in awe these days. I’m not sure I can convey what it is like to see a child go from a toddler to a kid almost literally overnight. He is changing so quickly, so drastically, that the biggest risk here is that we will continue to baby him too much when he’s really OK on his own. Other than other FX parents who are on this trial, I’m not sure anyone will ever experience watching their child seemingly mature years in just weeks. And it’s not just us. Caleb’s teacher reports that he is increasingly independent at school as well. She can send him to the office alone, she waits for him at the top of the stair still but she doesn’t need to. When we drop him off at school he walks through the classroom door easily, often

with no prompting. After years of tears over this task, it’s magical. And when he’s ready to head out with his friends to start his day he’s right at the front leading the charge to the next class. Oh, and he’s at less than half the ultimate dosage still. I’m not sure I can even hope for too much at this point. He’s changing faster than I can dream new dreams. Melissa Welin is the mother of one son living in Cambridge. She and her husband, Eric, co-founded the Fragile X LINKS Group of Eastern Massachusetts in 2009 (fragilexma. org). LINKS groups are organized and run by parent volunteers to provide emotional and educational support for families and to support the mission of the National Fragile X Foundation. Melissa also blogs about living with Fragile X Syndrome on basicallyfx.com.

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Camp and Summer Programs Adventure Academy at MWCC Day Camp Mount Wachusett Community College 444 Green St., Gardner 978-630-9525 mwcc.edu/continuing Applewild Day Camp 120 Prospect St., Fitchburg 978-342-6053 applewild.org Bancroft School Summer Programs Day Camps, Sports Camps, Technology Camps 110 Shore Dr., Worcester 508-854-9241 bancroftschool.org Boroughs JCC Summer Program Day Camp: ages 15 mos-8 years 45 Oak St. Westborough 508-366-6121 boroughs jcc.org

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Boston Ballet School Specialty Camp BOSTON: 19 Clarendon St., Boston NEWTON: 863 Washington St., Newtonville NORTH SHORE: 40 Leggs Hill Rd., Marblehead 617-456-6333 bostonballet.org/schools Brimmer and May Summer Day and Specialty Programs 69 Middlesex Rd., Chestnut Hill 617-278-2350 brimmerandmaycamp.org Camp Birch Hill Overnight Co-Ed Camp 333C Birch Hill Rd., New Burnham, NH 603-969-0159 campbirchhill.com Camp Lowe Day Camp 132 Fort Pond Inn Road in Lancaster, MA 978-343-4847 www.montymca.org/camp-lowe

Central Rock Climbing Centers Day Camp 299 Barber Ave., Worcester 508-852-7625 centralrockgym.com Century Mill Stables Riding Camp Day/Specialty Camps 185 Century Mill Rd., Bolton 978-779-2934 centurymillstables.com The Children's Workshop Day Camp & Educational Programs: 6 Bellows Rd. Westborough Right Off Route 9 508-366-2148 Westborough@childrensworkshop.com 475 Winter St., Waltham In the Bertucci's Plaza 781-466-8640 Waltham@childrensworkshop.com 884 M Washington St., Norwood 781-769-2363 Norwood@childrensworkshop.com

444 Kelley Blvd., North Attleboro 508-643-3458 NAttleboro@childrensworkshop.com 1334 Fall River Ave., Seekonk 508-336-2677 Seekonk@childrensworkshop.com 536 MacArthur Blvd., Bourne 508-563-3400 Bourne@childrensworkshop.com 434 Route 134 South Dennis In the Cranberry Square Plaza 508-760-2772 SouthDennis@childrensworkshop.com childrensworkshop.com Concord Academy Day Camp 166 Main St., Concord 978-402-2284 concordacadacademysummer.org Dance It Up! Dance Camps 36 N Main St., North Grafton 508-839-1648 danceitup.com

Dexter Summer Camps Day and Specialty Camps 20 Newton St., Brookline 617-454-2725 dexter.org/summer EcoTarium Summer Discovery Camp Day Camp 222 Harington Way, Worcester 508-929-2701 ecotarium.org Everwood Day Camp Day Camp 125 Lakeview St., Sharon 781-694-5829 EverwoodDayCamp.com FAY Discovery Day Camp 48 Main St.,  Southborough 508-490-8247 fayschool.org/summer

Fenn Day Camp 516 Monument St., Concord 978-318-361 summerfenn.org Giguere Gymnastics Gymnastics, Dance, Kungfu, Trampoline Camps 148 Main St., Cherry Valley gigueregym.com 508-892-3797 Gymnastics Learning Center Field of Dreams Camp 1/2 & Full Day Gym and Swim Themed Camps 574 Lake St., Shrewsbury 508-792-1551 gymnasticslearningcenter.com

Continued on page 54

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INDEX Actors Shakespeare ......................................................... 44 Attorney Connors ............................................................ 21 Bancroft School .............................................................. 56 Behavioral Concepts Inc ................................................... 24 Big Apple Circus.............................................................. 41 Blossom Station ............................................................... 5 Body Maintenance Place ............................................. 19,34 Boston Sports Club ......................................................... 38 Boroughs JCC ................................................................. 37 Camp Middlesex ............................................................. 39 Century Mills Stables....................................................... 44 Childrens Garden/VNA..................................................... 27 Children’s Music Academy .................................................. 8 Clay Time ...................................................................... 39 CocoKey Water Resort ..................................................... 15 Concord Academy ........................................................... 36 Concord Museum ............................................................ 38 Consign My Closet .......................................................... 48 Consigment Sale .............................................................. 2 Cornerstone Academy ........................................................ 3 Crocodile River Music....................................................... 36 Cutie Patuties Children’s Consignment ................................ 55 Davis Farmland .............................................................. 15 Ecotarium ................................................................... 9,36 Fay School ............................................................... 21,38 First Unitarian Church ...................................................... 43 Girl Scout Camp ............................................................. 37 Gods Little Children ......................................................... 39 Higgins Armory Museum .................................................. 36 Inn at Easthill Farm......................................................... 18 Iparty............................................................................ 53 Klever Kids Preschool....................................................... 40 Learning Zone ................................................................ 31

Mass Audubon................................................................ 44 Metrowest YMCA ............................................................ 43 Museum of Russian Icons ................................................ 18 Music Together ............................................................... 53 Music Worcester ............................................................. 52 Nashoba Montessori........................................................ 47 New England Aquarium ................................................... 40 Next Generation Children’s Centers .................................... 24 Old Sturbridge Village...................................................... 42 Parenting Solutions ......................................................... 14 Paula Meola .................................................................. 40 Paula Swift .................................................................... 34 R&R Gymnastics ............................................................... 6 Regatta Point ................................................................. 43 Riverbend School ............................................................ 45 Roaming Railroad ............................................................. 6 Roche Bros .................................................................... 27 Salvadore Auto ............................................................... 23 Semi-used Computers ...................................................... 11 Shrewsbury Children’s Center ............................................. 8 Skribbles ....................................................................... 11 Step In Time .................................................................. 42 St. John’s High School..................................................... 43 Summer Fenn ................................................................ 42 Umass ............................................................................ 4 USA Chess Camp ............................................................ 39 Wachusett Theatre .......................................................... 12 Wheelock Family Theater................................................. 23 Women Earning Six Figures.............................................. 19 Worcester Academy of Music ............................................ 42 Worcester JCC ........................................................... 38,47 YMCA of Central Massachusetts ........................................ 37

CLASSIFIEDS Money Tight? Is your pay gone after paying the bills? Are you using credit to get by? It’s time to call the Budget Coach! Let’s get started working on a Budget today! TheBudgetCoachHelp.com or 508-792-9087

Camp and Summer Programs Continued from page 50 Hot Set! Video Production Day Camp 6 Harlow St., Worcester 508-757-8265 WorcesterThinkTank.com

Paula Meola Dance & Performing Arts, Inc. 50 Leominster Rd., Sterling 978 422-6989 paulameoladance.com

Sports Broadcasting Camp Day and Overnight Camps Emmanuel College 800-319-0884 playbyplaycamps.com

MetroWest YMCA Day Camp 45 East St., Hopkinton 508-435-9345 metrowestymca.org

The Performing Arts Connection Summer Workshops Day Camp 31 Union Ave., Sudbury 978-443-2400 performingartsconnection.com

Sterling Academy of Gymnastics Day Camp 15 Industrial Dr., Sterling 978-422-7655 sterlinggym.com

Old Sturbridge Village 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge 800-733-1830 osv.org Paula Meola Day Camps PMD Mini Dance Camp Day Camp Camp I: July 8th – July 12th Camp II: August 5th – August 9th Summer Spotlight Theatre Camp Monday - Friday 8:30-3:30 pm Camp I: July 8th-19th, Camp II: August 5th-16th PMD Summer Dance Intensive Week I: July 22nd – July 26th Week II: July 29th – August 2nd

Ramp Camp @ Rye AirďŹ eld Day & Overnight options 6 AirďŹ eld Dr., Rye, NH 603.964.2800 ryeairďŹ eld.com

Summer Youth Intensive Day Camp Charlestown Working Theater 442 Bunker Hill Ave., Charlestown 617-776-2200 x225 actorsshakespeareproject.org

Regatta Point Community Sailing Sailing & Boating Day Camp 50 Lake Ave., North Worcester 508-757-2140 regattapoint.org

Turn Back Time Day Camp 250 Marshall St., Paxton 978-760-3707 tbtinc.org

Riverbend School Summer Programs Day and Specialty Camps 6 Auburn St., S. Natick 508.655.7333 theriverbendschool.org

Wachusett Theatre Company Day Camp 486 Chandler St., Worcester 978-602-6288 wachusetttheatre.com

Whale Camp 610-399-1463 whalecamp.com Worcester JCC Day Camps, Sports Camps 633 Salisbury St., Worcester 508-756-7109 worcesterjcc.org Worcester Music Academy – Summer Music Programs Specialty - Music Camps 11 Irving St., Worcester 508-635-6900 worcestermusicacademy.com The Young Dancers' Summer Day Camp Classical Ballet and Specialty Dance classes 36 Harlow St., Worcester 508-791-3233 balletartsworcester.com YWCA Camp Wind-in-the-Pines Day Camp 89 Parker St., Leicester Before June 17th: 508-7672505 x3019 After June 17th: 508-892-9814 ywcacentralmass.org

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Dr. Ned Hallowell presents Learning and Childhood: Understanding the Issues and Meeting the Challenges April 16 | 7:00 PM Harrington Theatre Bancroft School Free & Open to the Public Space limited. Registration required. Contact: admission@bancroftschool.org

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