You know its time to get out of your neighborhood when you can't remember the last time you used your Metrocard...

Me (excited) and baby boy (mildly amused) in the water sculpture at Pier 1 at BK Bridge Park.

  Last weekend we had a mini adventure in Dumbo at Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Leaving my comfortable little 'hood for large public gathering areas (on weekends, no less..) usually gives me mild heart palpitations but sometimes I just gotta get out and see what all the fuss is about (or so I tell myself) ! Sometimes it's easy to forget that we live in one big, amazing city with everything at our finger tips. I highly recommend visiting the areas near Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park (off the F @ York Street station). The water sculpture was so much fun, kids and adults screamed with pleasure as the unpredictably timed sprays of water shot up from the ground. It was truly a joyous relief from the heat. Also, there where shaded paths to follow that lead to a gorgeous view of the water and plenty of benches for sharing a snack or nursing. The playground at Pier 1 is perfect for crawlers and kids under two. Here is a link to all the playgrounds at Brooklyn Bridge Park. 

  Just be aware there are no elevators at the York Street stop and a good amount of stairs, so be prepared to do a little schlepping. The smoothest, stroller friendly route is: walk down Jay Street towards the water and take a left on Front Street. Walk down Front Street until you get to Old Fulton Street (about 5 blocks), take a right and you'll be in the main part of the action. They are restrooms, food vendors and even a water bottle filling station right in that area.

 We easily spent most of the day there as there was lots to see and do, and even managed to have a cold drink at The Bridges on Water Street once the baby fell asleep. They were cool with us bringing the stroller inside and even had highchairs.

 We never made it to the pop-up pool, but I have heard good things. Mommy Poppins has some great tips and a few pics.  

Here's the pool schedule and the list of rules/guidelines. 

I hope everyone enjoys these last days of summer!

A little help is all we need sometimes...

    In many ways, being a stay at home mom is the toughest job I've ever had. I don't think anyone can be fully prepared for how having a child changes your life. Whether it's the physical toll it takes to give birth or breast feed after a c-section or the mental stamina of trying to function on little bits sleep day after day - the challenges are real, physical and like nothing you've encountered before. Sometimes you have to wonder, how does anyone do this and not go a little crazy? Well, the truth is, I think we do. I recently received an email from childbirth class instructor and postpartum doula Caitlin FitzGordon and it really hit home for me. She talked about the need for self care for mothers and the dangers of depletion. 

"I still have to be vigilant about keeping my tank full and finding ways to not slip into depletion mode. Yes, at 7 and 9 my kids are not as demanding on me physically (I'm not carrying them everywhere and I'm not breastfeeding) but I am hyper aware of their needs. I have to be careful to not let my default be to tend to them first." 

 Her words rang true to me, especially now. I wanted to share her very simple list of warning signs of

Another glamorous day as a new mom.

depletion and some quick fixes as well as long term tools for coping. I am printing this list out for myself and putting it somewhere I can look at frequently. I also wanted to share an article that Caitlin made me aware of that discusses Postnatal Depletion. It was very heartening to read, not because I was looking to diagnose myself but because it makes the point that self-sacrifice (even for our precious, unbelievably amazing children) can have very serious consequences. I share the view that our society is not supportive of this fact. How many moms have I heard complain of intense back and shoulder pain (usually post c-section) and after some physical therapy just end up living with it with no real solution? As one doctor shrugged, "Yeah, it just goes with the territory.." Sure, but not super helpful medical advice and what about the fact that living in pain for long periods of time can cause depression? According to mainstream media the number one thing on your To Do list after having a child is: Losing That Baby Weight! What about eating and hydrating enough to sustain yourself, resting, asking for help from family and friends, or being gentle with yourself about body issues? Now that's a 'To Do' list. I was in a Yoga class once and before we got into a pose using props the teacher said "Take your time and set yourself up well". I try to think of this phrase as it relates to many parts of my life, this idea that you should give yourself a good, solid foundation before attempting something new or daunting, even something as simple as making dinner! Taking the time to breath, look at what you can use to support you and giving yourself the gift of a solid seat. I will be using this section of the blog to discuss this further, offer ideas and resources to keep depletion at bay. As we head into Fall, a time of introspection and change, let's set ourselves up well. 

Thursdays are the new awesome! 

For the month of August the Carousel in Prospect Park is FREE for kids under 12 on Thursdays from 12:00 Noon - 6:00 PM. However (I learned this the hard way...) adults are NOT FREE! So bring $2 (per ride) for yourself if your little one needs you to go with them or if they are under 42" tall. There are restrooms nearby as well as a snack cart with water and ice cream (you know, the essentials). The Carousel is about a 25 minute walk from the Southern most part of the park walking north on East Drive.

Also happening on Thursdays: Nature Exploration at the Audubon Center with various events from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM ~ FREE~

Enjoying the giant fish pillows at Animal Encounter

We attended the Animal Encounter which starts at 4:00 PM on Thursdays. The space is great with restrooms and a water fountain downstairs (convenient stroller parking!) and a wonderful animal filled room upstairs, a nice play area and there were even volunteers playing nature themed board games with older children. There's a nice bench for parents to rest their weary legs and still keep an eye on the little ones in the play area. This event seemed perfect for kids of all ages. Who doesn't want to feed a snapping turtle at a safe distance? Kids 2-7 would get the most out of this experience. Although the play space is perfect for crawlers. Just a warning to the easily grossed out, they do feed a snake a frozen mouse. Yum and wow. The feeding of the animals doesn't last very long, but I felt the trip was worth it as it was free, educational, exciting and the volunteers were great with the kids. Families lingered in the space afterwards enjoying the animals and the play area. 

Here's the full Thursday schedule for Nature Exploration: 

Discovery Pack, 12–4 pm: The Prospect Park Alliance invites you to get inspired by nature with our new Discovery Packs, a ready-to-go kits filled with nature activities for families.

Nature's Helpers, 1-2 pm: Did you know that trees help trees? After learning how mulch protects tree roots, spend time spreading wood chips around trees.

Bird Nerds Game Hour, 2–3 pm: Test your knowledge of birds in this fun, mildly competitive hour of puzzles, Bingo, card games, and more!

Nature on the Go!, 3 pm: An Alliance Naturalist will lead children and families to areas near the Audubon Center, where you can learn about the nature that is all around us and participate in a Citizen Science project.

Animal Encounter, 4 pm: Curious as to how Snappy the turtle got her name? Want to watch the snake gobble a mouse? Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection and even assist in an actual feeding.

Here's a map: Audubon Center at the Boathouse.

A VERY similar line up of events also happens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at varying times. Check out Prospect Park's Website for a full schedule: 

Welcome!

Hi everyone! I hope you will find this blog helpful and fun. Here I will be doing my best to keep up with all the latest kiddie happenings in our great neighborhood (and maybe sometimes, if something sounds SUPER fun in another neighborhood, I'll be sure to share!). My goal is to try to inform parents and caregivers of low cost and/or FREE casual activities we can all enjoy. Please be aware that many venues do have last minute cancellations so if you really want to be 100% sure something is happening, please call or email the venue/organization. Otherwise, being flexible and spontaneous can be a great lesson for our kids, right? If you have an event you would like me to list on the google calendar or as a featured post, please feel free to contact me. Together we'll keep these kids singing, playing, learning and laughing!