Family

The sun is shining. The weather is getting warmer. You're finally emerging from winter hibernation and are starting to crave time outdoors. You're ready to embrace the spring and summer months but you're missing just one thing. Our friends at Bideawee have got you covered: pinterest.com/bideawee/new-puppies/

By Christopher A. Pape

We are big devotees of Curious Jane – a camp for girls. Here they teach empowerment and a positive self-image. I spoke with the creator, Samantha Razook Murphy, who told me of the many new developments.

By Ali Robertson

At Kids of Summer Sports Camp, experienced coaches encourage healthy competition among campers as they take part in baseball and basketball programs. The campers, ages 6 to 14, learn and practice the sports in a supportive, small group environment. Kicking off its eleventh year, the co-ed camp will offer sessions from June 18 to August 31. The camp runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and offers a late pick-up option. Round-trip transportation is also available to the camp’s location at the home fields on 106th Street in Riverside Park. From now until March 1, take advantage of the early registration discount. Discounts are available for both sibling and multiple-week registration, although one-week sessions are available.

By Narbeh Minassian

One of the most dreaded situations for all parents is that first separation from their child. Whether it is the first day at school, the first sleepover, or the first summer camp, parents and children alike can struggle and find it difficult to cope. However, this problem can be overcome with the right preparation.

By Margaret Hyde

My children are back in school, which means I am once again juggling everyone’s schedule and making sure that all the homework gets done. Each year my children come home at the beginning of school with homework that they are very excited to hand off to me. With at huge grin they say, “Mom, this is Mom homework.” It invariably reads something like “Please help us get to know your son or daughter by answering the following questions:

Exercise and nutrition frighten the toughest people. Intelligent, wealthy, thoughtful individuals fail with fitness and overall health. You see it everyday. Up and coming national political figures, popular singers, heads of large companies, even medical professionals and scientists. When it comes right down to it, many people don’t view exercise and good nutrition as a priority. They are focused on their jobs and making money, family issues, community development, etc. By ignoring health, they keep the scary monster in the closet.

By Dr. Jo Webber

When I grew up in London, England, from a young age, my mum would give me 50p to go to the corner shop and I could purchase comic books, candy and soda for myself. I only got my pocket money if I was (generally) well-behaved and did my chores. Sometimes aunts and uncles would also give me money for birthdays and other monumental events. My ability to spend the money was limited by my environment – just a couple of shops I could go to. There was no Internet.

By Eileen Wacker

I have four kids aged fourteen, fourteen, ten and nine years oldwho attend two different school campuses, and, I have a demanding job. My husband also has a demanding job, and since his “demanding” is bigger than mine, I man the front lines with help from“Kelli.”We approach the fall with sweet anticipation. Finally, the allure of “a back to school routine” is here.

By Eileen Wacker

We are now in the throes of back to school. I can now see I will survive summer vacation, but fall is at our doorsteps and all the pressures of balancing work, school, marriage and health come back to life. I face so many challenges as a married mom of four, trying to build a company. I’m having dreams of back to school nights, sports and activity sign-ups and orientations, electronics policing, earlier enforced bedtimes, and getting up and on time. Then we get into our routine. We just never have a drama-free week. Forgotten meds, wrong shirt on field trip day, wrong clothes/shoes for after school sports. It’s a constant game of cat and mouse.

By Margaret E. Hyde

Several years ago, my children’s school decided to ban nuts, yogurt and any products containing powdered cheese (like Pirate Booty) from school lunches prepared by the school or brought from home. My first reaction was outrage. Why should I have to change the lunches I make for my kids to protect a few children with allergies? The more I looked into the issue and talked to other moms I realized that what affected a few kids when I was growing up, has now become an epidemic of serious food allergies in children.