I really need this reminder this week as our schedule gets more added into as the weeks go by. Our summer sojourn is over…now we are full speed ahead with a homeschooling schedule, field trips, meetings and events that promote The Bradley Method…and add in the preparation and support for the two classes of wonderful families we are honored to work with this Fall session…I will be soft and gentle. I have to be in order to facilitate the trust and respect I want to have with my children.
I am so glad to be back in the area to take advantage of all the wonderful support groups the Phoenix area has to offer. Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Attachment Parenting International meeting in Chandler. The topic was “Feeding with Love and Respect”, based on that principle of attachment parenting.
Here are some of the ideas presented by Amanda, the API leader:
She made an interesting point that I had not thought about: when we start solids, we literally start moving our child away from us. Up to this point, all their food has come from mother and/or in proximity to a care giver. Once they start being fed solids, children are usually set in a chair away from us. It is not unusual for children to crave closeness and want to eat in your lap, which is exactly what Otter wants to do more often than not, especially when we are eating out.
Now I get it – she is in a strange place around people she knows are not in our family, eating a meal. Mealtimes for her are usually at home, around our table, with people we know – no wonder a restaurant makes her want to be close to mama!! I will totally embrace her instead of hesitating to give her my lap space when we are supposed to be “eating out”. It is totally appropriate for her to find comfort in my lap, because that has been and still is her “safe space”. She knows she is loved and safe when she is in my embrace.
Amanda also talked about weaning…she did say that AP teaches to offer breastmilk first (up to a year-old), and then to offer solid food. There may come a point when baby totally bypasses you and goes straight to the table. That is okay, too; it is honoring the child who does not want breastmilk at that instant.
We also had the pleasure of hearing Blue Russ share her perspective on food with the group. Here are some interesting statistics she shared:
90% of the food in grocery stores is processed
If you think about it, we are advertised to almost every waking moment by billboard signs, computer banner ads, television ads and the radio.
She encouraged us to let go of any guilt that we have associated with our food choices, and instead, look at the choices we are making and accepting them as the choices that work for us in this time and space. She reminded us that our children learn about food from us – they taste the flavors delivered in our breastmilk, they watch the choices we make, they learn our rhythm of life. If we want them to learn healthy habits, then we have to live the habits we want them to learn. Among them, to let go of any shame, guilt, blame and stress that we feel about food.
We have all been there – we are in a rush, we need to go, and we make the choice to go through the drive-through instead of feeding the food we “should” be eating. One mama had a great perspective to share: she tried to remember it was more important to feed herself than go hungry, and that the opportunity to make a better choice existed in the future.
Blue invited us to look at the connections between our lifestyle, stressors, and our choices. Could we see any correlations? If we wanted to make changes, she encouraged us to look again at this day – just today. What was one thing we could do, what decision would we make, to support the choices for a healthier lifestyle?
Here are some of the time-saving ideas shared in the group to help us eat well when we all feel the crunch of time:
We also talked a little about how we prepare food. One mama does Reiki over it before preparing/eating. I shared that I say a prayer for God to bless our minds, our bodies and our souls with the food he has provided for us before I make a meal (especially when the meal is a gift to another recipient). Basically, the idea was to prepare food with intention, because that is also part of feeding with love and respect…pouring our love into every action, including meal preparation, that will directly or indirectly be affecting our children.
In the Mexican tradition, we have a saying that if we are angry when we are preparing a meal, our food will be spicier. Do you have any traditional beliefs about food in your family? How about time-saving tips? Any thoughts to share on the topic?
Did you catch these pictures yesterday?
Otter could not get enough of this friendly little snake, called a Rosy Boa. I felt a little better knowing that this was a snake who had already reached it’s full size. It took everything in me to get close to take pictures…OMGosh my skin was crawling and my tummy was doing flips and still, I wanted to contain my scream and encourage my children in their safe exploration.
It turns out that I learned this fear…did you know that we are only born with two fears? We are born with the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises…makes sense that those are built into our DNA as survival mechanisms. Everything else we are afraid of, we learned to be afraid of.
I tucked this little factoid away in my management days…I was always looking to learn new information about how to inspire people. Now I have four wonderful people who I want to inspire to live life to the fullest…and I have to set my own fears aside so that they can explore, learn and grow in their world. I did tell them how brave I thought they were to be petting so many snakes (there were three there and they touched all three of them!!!)
On a side note, I was so glad to hear the presenter tell the children that even if they thought the snake was friendly, never to touch or attempt to pet a snake in the wild. We will be driving that lesson home since we have a “pet” snake at our summer house. It’s actually a king snake that burrows near our home, and I am happy to let him have his space since he eats rattlesnakes.
They could tell I was afraid. After thinking about it, I really need to come up with an answer besides, “I don’t like snakes.” I am teaching them fear and prejudice with that answer. While I know some fears are probably considered “healthy fears”, I do not want to teach them one that hinders their exploration or respect for other living creatures. I was thinking I can say something like, “Snakes make me feel uncomfortable. Mommy is so glad to see you exploring, though. I think you are so brave. Thank you for showing me I do not have to be afraid.”
So, another parenting lesson learned and filed away for our next Animal Encounter experience. We will be going back next month, so I will have a chance to get it right!
What do you think? Do you have any fears that you do or do not want to teach your children? How do you handle those situations??
My heart catches in my throat just about every time I look at Otter these days. She is two weeks away from turning two!! Even more amazing, big brother NIght Owl is turning six a couple of days before her birthday, Charger just turned four, and Puma is marching along to her ninth birthday. She has already started counting down until her 16th birthday so she can drive.
S.T.O.P. growing!!!! Please.
I think it is hitting me harder, because just about now would be the time I would be pregnant if we were still growing our family. I am still processing the idea that I will never be pregnant again; I will never be a part of that miracle of creation. It’s a big one for me because it was an amazing experience – the pregnancy, the movements, the births…the babies.
And yet, I am thrilled to see them grow. We are out of the baby phase – we have four children now. They are all learning, growing, exploring new skills and new vocabulary. I am watching Puma’s writing take off and seeing her internalize and use her math skills in all kinds of applications; Night Owl is really learning to read; Charger is so excited to be doing school this year; and Otter – she just loves life.
Her new favorite thing is stacking things up and jumping off. May God have mercy on us and send us his Angels to help us. Really. I want to protect her and yet I know she has to figure out this hard surface thing on her own. I hope and pray she doesn’t break anything, and in the meantime, I try to sneak in a pillow here and there to break the fall. We encourage her to stack things with us so that we do them on the tumbling mats and there is some supervision and protection while she explores her boundaries.
I treasure our nights when we are back to just our snuggly children, and I can still cradle them like when they were my babies. We can finally say we almost have a bedtime routine. We take our Juice Plus+ and fish oils, everyone brushes their teeth, and then we read out loud before the kiddos pick out “the movie”. Lately, we barely even make it to the movie – you guessed it…Night Owl is the only one who is still awake. Yeah for less screen time for most of them.
I have noticed that I don’t sing to the children as much as I used to sing to Puma when she was a baby. I am trying to be mindful to do more singing. Can you help me out? What are some of your favorite lullabies or night songs?
I am so excited to announce the Healthy Happy Baby Expo coming up next Saturday, September 21, 2013. We sat down with organizer Kim Swayman, owner of the Healthy Baby, Happy Earth store in Glendale, AZ. Please read our interview with her over on Sweet Pea Birth‘s today.
Although it is billed as a “Baby Expo”, there will be plenty there for parents of older children. Along with the usual fare of Breastfeeding Q&A, babywearing, and car seat safety, some of the other sessions are:
Check out the complete listing at the event website, http://www.healthyhappybabyexpo.com. I just got a note from Kim that the Comfort Measures Class offered by my colleague is full, and we are adding a second session. It is definitely a great idea to pre-register for these free classes, save your seat, and get the most out of your day!!
Will we see you there? We will be there in the afternoon after we teach our Bradley™ “Next” class. Leave me a comment and let me know if we should look for you.
We spend our summer months in a small town in the Rim Country of Arizona. Going up there, I have a lot of help with packing and with the kiddos – “many hands make light work”. It is fun – we are all looking forward to the cool pines, the summer house, the time in the green surroundings and the afternoon rains. The energy rides high and moving is a dream.
We arrive – we unpack – life is amazing. As a parent, I have less pressure. We do a summer schedule for school, so there is more time for writing during the day and more sleep. There are no alarm clocks. Instead of appointments and classes every day we do one thing a two days a week: horseback riding. More time in the beauty of creation and watching our children enjoy something and working together. Once a month, we go to Lego club. Farmer’s Market on Saturdays where we run into friends from town and “lowlanders” that summer like us.
It is an amazing gift for our family.
Summer is over and now we are gearing up for life back in our hometown. Hello, moving day.
Wednesday I felt the complete opposite of “idyllic”. I was feeling perfection pressure because we have friends coming up to use the house this weekend. I wanted the drawers perfect and the cabinets perfect and the beds perfect. Because perfect is. I was feeling time pressure because I overslept. I had planned to spend “perfecting” before the kiddos woke up. That was gone because I woke up late, and besides, I wanted to get down here in time to have our nanny help us unpack. As if that wasn’t enough on my plate, I was rushing to make it back in time for our afternoon appointments at 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. I was feeling parenting pressure – could I really have them watch television all morning while I packed? Why are my children using their hands hurtfully today? Why isn’t this “gentle parenting” thing working on the day when I need it the most??
I kept it all inside for about four hours. And then I Y.E.L.L.E.D. The top-of-my-lungs why are you people driving me crazy yell. I hate myself. I wonder how yelling can be any different than hitting when it is that kind of yelling.
So I own it. I tell them I am sorry. I can’t ask for forgiveness yet…I have to earn that. I ask them if that was the Crazy Mommy. I ask if we can all make different choices. Then I ask if I can yell in a fun way because I still feel like I need to yell. So I start saying everything with a funnier yell. I blow off some steam. We all start laughing and have a great lunch together.
Sweet Pea Kids (AZ) and I had one more meal at our favorite diner. Daddy s too big to sit at the counter – they were thrilled to eat there that day and did pretty well with the “spin-ny stoos”.
I still feel a pit in my stomach. I Y.E.L.L.E.D. at these beautiful little people entrusted to my care. I scared them. I wounded them a little and lost their trust – how much, time will tell. I hate myself. I hate that part of me that yells. I can’t be proud of the fact that I don’t spank them because yelling is not any better.
I forgot one very important thing that day: If I was feeling pressure as an adult, how could I forget that these little people are also feeling? I talk about newborns adjusting to life outside of the womb to our students. How could I forget about my own children? Yes, they are talking. However, they don’t tell me, “Mommy, I feel…can you help me?” because as parents we do not model that. (Note to self: start talking/ processing out loud some more.)
Looking back, their behavior was absolutely understandable. One of our children is devastated because we have our house for sale. As much as we love our summer home and our summer town, we are pragmatic. It can’t be reasonable to keep up two households for three months of use per year – an 8-year old can’t possibly “get” that – all she knows is that she is hurt and angry about the decision because she will miss her summer friends. Another child can’t understand that his favorite things are coming with him and he keeps unpacking them, and can’t understand why I am still putting them back in their place to make the move. Our youngest just wants to nurse because she can feel turmoil (and as it turns out, I just saw a new tooth yesterday).
I forgot them. I didn’t listen to the words they weren’t saying. So as much as I would rather forget that Wednesday happened, I can’t. I have to remember. I have to do better next time. I owe it to them.
Has anyone else been there? How do you handle it? How do you do better for next time?
Toddler nursing…anyone who nurses a toddler has stories. The crazy positions. The angry demands. The moments of stillness. The immunity boosts. The crazy positions. The nipple twiddling!
Twiddling!! Enough to drive a saint crazy!!
Why do we do it? Personally, as we have added children, breastfeeding gives the nursling(s) and I a moment to connect. While I have to think about one-on-one time and plan for it with the older children, the time to breastfeed is spontaneous and it happens without much thought. It allows me a minute to breathe in the midst of a busy day, and to just hold and enjoy our child.
Here is a sample of what happened within a three-minute span this morning…
Traditional cradle…all is well…
Wait a minute…let me see what it tastes like on this side…oh, it’s the same…
…might as well pause for a picture then…
Start over on this side…
Wait a minute…let me see what it tastes like on this side…oh, it’s the same…
What if I sit on the table…can I nurse in this position?? (She was actually nursing a second before I snapped this picture)
…and then she jumped off my lap and was into the next adventure of the day.
Although Otter is a very good eater, I will continue to nurse her until she is ready to stop nursing. I know she continues to receive immunities – the female body actually makes more for toddlers than it does for infants. There are days when all she wants to do is nurse: teething, growth spurt, upset tummy…my milk gives her some nutrition on those days. And there is my favorite reason: connection and comfort. I love looking down at her sweet face, knowing that for today, I am liquid love. This is why I put up with the craziness:
This face! Those eyes!!
and this…
…this is MotherBaby love…
As she nears her second birthday, I am making peace with the fact that my days as a breastfeeding mom are numbered. Maybe she will nurse as long as Charger has, maybe not. I am trying not to have expectations.
Here is where I have arrived: When she no longer wants breastmilk, I want to remember that she is not rejecting me and that it is not about me. Because for me, it is the end of a book, one that I treasure, one that I could probably read forever, although it ended up being much longer than I expected. To her, it will simply be the day when she is ready to move on to the next chapter.
P.S. If you need “real” reasons to tell your family about the benefits of toddler nursing…check out THIS page from KellyMom or check out THIS infographic from the Alpha Parent
What drives you crazy about toddler nursing? Why do you nurse your toddler?
me taking the 1,456th pictures of my son & I – can’t get enough of him!
Happy Thursday! Today I thought I would share some random thoughts about mama-hood that are always bouncing around my head. Specifically about stereotypes and being “that” mom.
The mom that always gets funny looks & sideways glances, at the park, at toddler classes, at the museum, at restaurants. I am definitely “that” mom.
“That” Mom whose child always has snot/drool/etc. on his face
T gets a runny nose with every set of teeth that come in, it has happened every single time since his first set at 5 ½ months. I know it is due to his teeth and sometimes even progresses to a cough. Read more about that here. I know he isn’t “sick” and I follow his cues on if we need to stay home, take it easy, or go about with our normal activities. In addition to that, I try really hard every day to respect my son’s body and space. I allow him to wipe his own face and recently his dad taught him to blow his nose, yes it is not as efficient as me holding him and doing a rough swoop to get everything but when/if it bothers him, he knows how to take care of it himself.
“That” Mom who is always super late
Living on a toddler‘s timetable is a foolproof way to never get anywhere even remotely on time. T likes to take his time: waking up, getting dressed, eating, going to the bathroom, going to sleep, walking, pretty much everything. He needs natural, organic transitions from one activity to the next and we have a much more harmonious relationship when I provide that. Both of us are happier and working together and it makes for much smoother, calmer days. Do I sometimes feel like my entire life is dictated by what a very small human feels or wants right then? Yes. Is it hard to deal with sometimes? Yes. But in reality, that is my life. Right now, my entire days revolve around facilitating my son’s journey; it is a very short period in what I hope to be a very long life for him, so yes, he most often decides when.
“That” Mom who always has stuff on her clothes
Yes, I am a mess everyday. I walk and bike where we need to go and am often sweaty. I always sit on the ground with my son and inevitably get grass, dirt, dew, you name it, on my clothes. My son is also a “nibbler”. He has food out all day long (and snacks when we are out and about) and alternates between playing and eating and checking in with me for a hug, kiss, pick up, nursing and whatever is on his hands always ends up on my shirt, pants, or in my hair. If it’s not that, it’s one of the above that is now a permanent stain. At a point in the future, parenting will be much more hands off, and maybe then I will manage to keep myself clean. I parallel it with the quote by Mary Randolph Carter that “A perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life”. My clothes are definitely representative of all the “living” we have done that day.
‘”That” Mom who treats her toddler “like a baby”
I wear my son in a front carry most places we go. I am almost always hugging him, cuddling him, kissing him, or just rubbing his back while he sits in my lap. He sleeps in our family bed for naps and nighttime. I nurse him whenever he wants and if he wants my attention or me close by, I give it to him. He amazes me almost daily with how much he knows, understands, comprehends, and observes for someone so young. He is definitely a little person of his own, and far from having the dependant nature of an infant that only knows being close to mama, breastfeeding, and touch, but he still enjoys those things, and in my opinion, at this point they are nothing but beneficial. He will grow up and be his own, independent being, but as of now he has only been on this earth for 17 months of what will hopefully be 100+ years. In the grand scheme of things, he is still a baby.
“That” Mom who is always talking about her child
Being a mama is my job right now, and I take it very seriously. So yes, I pretty much only talk about my work. And yes, I can tell you are not that interested but it’s my life and it is pretty all consuming for me. I also am just so obsessed with my son; he is the best.
“That” Mom who never tells her child no
I was explaining “gentle hands” to T after he was hitting me the other week and another parent I was talking with commented, “Gentle hands? Does that actually work? Doesn’t he know what ‘no’ means?”
I choose to always explain why or how we do things with T. Regardless of whether or not it is most effective immediately, I believe it is the right way to interact with him and will yield the most positive behavioral results in the long run.
It has been a crazy journey thus far, but as of now I have really embraced what kind of mama I am. I find myself being less and less self conscious about all of the things above as time passes too. Mostly, it has been a lesson for me in not judging, not labeling, and not isolating myself because some people choose to do things differently. No matter what kind of mom I am, I am trying my hardest everyday and that is all that matters. Funny looks, comments, and my own insecurities aside, I try to remind myself of that as often as I can.
There is also no greater feeling than being surrounding by other mamas who support, uplift, and laugh with you no matter *what* kind of mom you are that day. Finding our tribe in Arizona was invaluable to me that first year, we are still working on finding our perfect place here in California <3
Share your thoughts with us! How do you see yourself in your role as mom? How do other people see you? Has being a mom made you less prone to judging others?? I love hearing other mamas stories and perspectives!
Babywearing on a hike
Music and dance
Play with your baby – does this look like wrestling to you?
Make faces with baby
Snuggle with nursling
Read to your nursling
Coaches with children
Steady uncertain legs
Comfort your nursling
Keep your nursling warm
To see coaches bonding with younger nurslings, visit Wordless Wednesday over at Sweet Pea Births
Looking for something to do with your family this week? Cassandra and I are posting events and classes in our respective geographic areas…look for us…maybe we will see you there!!
Disclaimer: A listing here does not imply endorsement by Sweet Pea Families or our families.
Please call ahead to ensure the event is happening as listed. We pull our events from many different sources and cannot guarantee accuracy. Looking for more baby-friendly events or breastfeeding support groups? Visit our listings at Sweet Pea Births.
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013
Splash Pad
Kids will love to splash around!
San Tan Village @ 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
2218 E Williams Field Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85295
480-282-9500
Free Baby Dance Class
Fun dance class for walkers through 2.5 years old – No charge.
USA Youth Fitness Center @ 9:00 am to 9:30 am
1530 S Gilbert Rd
Gilbert 85296
480-926-1480
Splash Playground
One-acre splash park as waterfalls that turn into streams. There is an “ocean”, toy whales, and a “sandy beach”
Cox Splash Playground @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Mill Ave & Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85282
480-350-8625
Family Storytime
Bring the family for stories, finger plays, music and rhyming activities
Arabian Library @ 6:30 – 7:00 pm
10215 E. McDowell Mountain Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-321-7323
CALIFORNIA
Summer Garden Potluck Picnic
Celebrate the summer with good food and jazz
Community Garden at Adult School @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
http://www.sustainablepg.org/events.php
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013
Spray Pad Fun
Cool water playground features a spray pad with snake head sprays and ground sprays.
Pecos Park @ 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
17010 S 48th St.
Phoenix (Ahwatukee), AZ 85048
602-262-6111
Tumbleweed Tots
This indoor play area is designed for children 5 years of age and under to play under parental/guardian supervision. This fun, safe and clean area will have plenty of toys, equipment and activities that are sure to keep the kids entertained. There is a maximum of four children per adult. Fee included in all TRC family passes.
Tumbleweed Rec Center @ 9am – 11am
745 E. Germann
Chandler AZ 85286
(480) 782-2900
Smart Play: Older Babies (6 months-12 months old)
Who knew there was actually a science to the most beneficial techniques to use when interacting with your baby to help their brain develop? In this class, participants will learn how play affects their child’s lifelong brain development, what toys/activities are best for their child at this age, and how to look at a toy and instantly see its developmental benefits. Babies welcome and encouraged!
These are some of the techniques Brie shared on Channel 3’s “Your Life A to Z” on her June 27th appearance! Class costs $10 per person or $12 per couple
Baby Town @ 9:30am-10:30am
3787 S. Gilbert Rd.
Gilbert, AZ
480-299-1154 or visit www.babybasics4u.com
Smart Play: Toddlers I (1 yr olds)
Who knew there was actually a science to the most beneficial techniques to use when interacting with your toddler to help their brain develop? In this class, participants will learn how play affects their child’s lifelong brain development, what toys/activities are best for their child at this age, and how to look at a toy and instantly see its developmental benefits. Toddlers welcome and encouraged!
These are some of the techniques Brie shared on Channel 3’s “Your Life A to Z” on her June 27th appearance! Class costs $10 per person or $12 per couple
Baby Town @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
3787 S. Gilbert Rd.
Gilbert, AZ
480-299-1154 or visit www.babybasics4u.com
Pottery Barn Kids Story Time
Kids of all ages are invited to story time every Tuesday at 11:00 am. Members receive an official book club passport at their first story time, plus a special gift after attending five story times. To locate a store near you, click HERE
Store Near You @ 11:00 – 11:30 am
Chandler Fashion Center
3111 West Chandler Blvd
Chandler , AZ 85226
(480) 899-7155
Scottsdale Fashion Square
7014 e. Camelback Road
Scottsdale , AZ 85251
(480) 423-3813
Family Play Class
Free Preview of Gymboree’s School Skills Class. Helps build key social, emotional, and intellectual skills needed for school. Classes are offered throught the day. Call to register for one.
Gymboree Play & Music (Scottsdale) @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
7077 E. Bell Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85013
Family Storytime
Families can enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. For ages birth to five.
Acacia Library @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
750 E Townley Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85020
602-534-2468
Open Gym
Kids will enjoy playing and doing gymnastics at open gym. For ages 18 months to 12 years old. Cost is $7.00
USA Fitness Center @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
1530 S. Gilbert Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85296
480-926-1480
Free Movie
Kids can get out of the heat and enjoy a family-friendly movie rated PG or G.
Desert Sage Library @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
7602 W. Encanto Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85035
602-534-5276
Fish Feeding
Come see an 18,500 gallon freshwater aquarium that offers an up-close view of trophy-sized catfish, bass, striper and blue gill. Feeding includes an informative presentation about the fish. Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm and Tuesdays at 6:00 pm. Also, every day kids can help us feed the trout in our Trout Stream at 1:30pm.
Bass Pro Shop Trout Stream @ 1:30 pm
Bass Pro Shop Aquarium @ 6:00 pm
1133 N Dobson Rd
Mesa 85201
602-606-5600
La Leche League – Chandler
LLL is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. All women, especially pregnant and nursing mothers, are welcome to attend our meetings. To find a meeting in your area, visit http://www.lllofaz.org/
**Husbands Welcome**
Whole Foods @ 7:00 pm
2955 West Ray Road
Chandler, AZ 85224
(SE corner of Ray Rd & 101 Freeway)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013
Bird Watching
Check out interactive exhibits, an interpretive loop, and a children’s free play area with a water feature and monarch play structure. Visitors can check out a piar of binoculars and a bird guide and head into the habitat for bird watching. Free admission.
Rio Salado Audubon Center @ 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
3131 S. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85040
602-468-6470
Free Baby Dance Class
Fun dance class for walkers through 2.5 years old – No charge.
USA Youth Fitness Center @ 9:00 am to 9:30 am
1530 S Gilbert Rd
Gilbert 85296
480-926-1480
National Geographic Kids Club
The Chandler Fashion Center Kids Club is a great opportunity for your child to learn in a fun, interactive setting. Meet in the Gap wing near the Food Court now through mid-November!
This week’s theme: Clap your hands and stomp your feet. Feel the rhythm of the jungle beat.
Chandler Fashion Center @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
3111 W Chandler Blvd
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-812-8488
Music Time
Enjoy singing, simple instruments and movement with your child. For children 5 and under and their caregivers.
Bookmans Mesa @ 10:00 – 10:30 am
1056 S Country Club Dr
Mesa, AZ 85210
480-835-0505
Family Yoga
Midwives Rising! @ 10:00 am
531 E Lynwood St.
Phoenix, AZ
602-242-4446
Inn Mommies: Explorers Playgroup
Crawling children to four years old: This playgroup for moms and babies that are exploring their world. It is open to women that have given birth at home, at Babymoon Inn or in a hospital. Delight and stimulate your baby in this short yet action packed class full of music, movement, and rhymes for baby and mommy. You will be reminded of great songs and rhymes for baby and you may even learn a few new ones. Get to know other families during playtime that follows each class. Younger siblings are welcome in the Explorers group. For more info visit http://babymooninn.com/community/
Babymoon Inn @ 10:00 am
202 East Morris Drive
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 314-7755
Toddler Storytime
Toddlers and parents can enjoy stories, songs and games to help encourage emerging language skills. For children 24 months to 36 months old.
Burton Barr Library @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
1221 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-262-4636
Open Gym
Kids will enjoy playing and doing gymnastics at open gym. For ages 18 months to 12 years old. Cost is $7.00
USA Fitness Center @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
1530 S. Gilbert Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85296
480-926-1480
Stuffington Bear Factory Tour
Come see a working factory where America’s most loveable companion, the teddy bear, is manufactured. You will learn about the designing of the bears including how they are cut, sewn together, and stuffed with an up-close look at the manufacturing floor. The mini-tour lasts about 15 – 20 minutes and includes lots o f fun information about the history of Teddy Bears.
Stuffington Bear Factory @ 1:00 pm
2302 E. Thomas Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Art Appreciation
View the art at the Phoenix Art Museum and begin a lifelong appreciation of art with your little one – Free Admission this afternoon.
Phoenix Art Museum @ 3:00 – 9:00 pm
1625 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-256-7539
Agritopia Farmer’s Market
Specialty crops, food trucks, vendors, artisan food products
Agritopia @ 4:00 – 8:00 pm
13000 E Ray Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85296
480-988-1238
Phoenix Public Market
“our Open-Air Market is a natural gathering place that celebrates neighborhoods and the neighbors. It offers an eclectic high-quality mix of: Fresh in-season fruits and vegetables, produce, flowers, jams, baked goods, dried beans, free-range eggs and honey, live plants and unique local arts and crafts, tasty hot foods, music, and more.”
Open Air Market @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
721 N Central
Phoenix, AZ
Cloth Diaper 101
Cloth Diaper Show & Tell with Rachel
Midwives Rising! @ 6:30 pm
531 E Lynwood St.
Phoenix, AZ
602-242-4446
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Tumbleweed Tots
This indoor play area is designed for children 5 years of age and under to play under parental/guardian supervision. This fun, safe and clean area will have plenty of toys, equipment and activities that are sure to keep the kids entertained. There is a maximum of four children per adult. Fee included in all TRC family passes.
Tumbleweed Rec Center @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
745 E. Germann
Chandler AZ 85286
(480) 782-2900
Family Storytime
Bring the kids for stories, songs and fingerplays.
Palomino Library @ 10:00 – 10:30 am
12575 E Via Linda
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
480-312-7323
Open Gym
Kids will enjoy playing and doing gymnastics at open gym. For ages 18 months to 12 years old. Cost is $7.00
USA Fitness Center @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
1530 S. Gilbert Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85296
480-926-1480
Superstition Farmer’s Market
Dinner, shopping and fun at a working farm. Local and organic foods, grill for dinner, and a petting zoo.
Superstition Farm @ 4:30 – 7:30 pm
3440 S Hawes Rd
Mesa, AZ 85212
602-432-6865
Flashlight Tour
Sensory adventures where you will see, hear and feel the desert night: birds, tortoises, insects and night-blooming flowers. Please bring a flashlight and wear comfortable walking shoes – for families and children of all ages. $18/adult, $10/ 13-18 yo, $8/ 3-12 yo, free for 2 and under.
Desert Botanical Garden @ 7:00 pm
1201 N Galvin Pkwy
Phoenix, AZ 85008
480-941-1225
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013
Walk the Trails at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
The arboretum features more than 3,200 different desert plants and most can be seen along the 1.5 mile main trail. Enjoy the shade and beauty of a wide variety of trees. Cost is $9 for adults and $4.50 for children ages five to 12; free for kids under 5.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum @ 6:00 am – 3:00 pm
37615 W Highway 60
Superior, AZ 85273
520-689-2811
Aquatic Playground Splash Pad
Kids can cool off at this 8,500 square foot water park featuring ground geysers, cattail and nearly 30 different nozzles and buckets. Cost is $1.50 for adults, $.50 for ages 3-17; free for 2 and under
Aquatic Playground splash pad @ 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
83rd Ave & Berridge Lane
Glendale 85301
623-930-2820
Mesa Farmers Market
Come meet some great farming people and shop for locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Rendezvous Green @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
263 N Center St
Mesa 85201
623-848-1234
Music Together
Class Demo
Midwives Rising! @ 10:00 am
531 E Lynwood St.
Phoenix, AZ
602-242-4446
Babywearing Meeting
Back for another month at Scottsdale Fashion Square. This time it will be in an empty restaurant space that was formerly Marcella’s at the East end of the mall, near Barney’s. There is a double door facing Camelback Road (facing south) on the outside of the building. You will need to enter through those. 🙂
Stop by and check out our carrier library, bring a friend and learn how to use one you already have, or just come out to play and chat.
As always you can join BWIP at any meeting for only $30/year and enjoy great benefits such as being able to borrow a carrier from our library for up to a month at a time. One of the last meetings to “Join in June” and be entered into our carrier drawing.
Scottsdale Fashion Square (Barney’s entrance) @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
7014 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
Siblings! Class
Baby number 2 on the way? Don’t sweat it! In this workshop participants will get helpful tips on preparing siblings for a new baby as well as a discussion on how to get sibling to stop fighting and get along better. Class costs $11 per person or $13.50 per couple.
Baby Basics Office @ 10:00 – 11:00 am
5425 E. Bell Rd., Suite 142
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-299-1154 or visit www.babybasics4u.com
Storytime: Little Mouse by Alison Murray
Sometime the nickname Little Mouse just doesn’t seem to fit, like when you feel as brave as a lion or as loud as an elephant. Other times, it’s nice to be quiet and cozy, cuddly and dozy, especially when you’re snuggled up on Mommy’s lap.
Barnes & Noble @ 10:30 AM
Chandler Fashion Mall
3111 W. Chandler Blvd #2054
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-792-1312
Food Truck Friday
Phoenix Public Market @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
721 N Central
Phoenix, AZ
Free Outdoor Concert – Tempe
Bring the family out to enjoy great live music performed by a variety of musicians. Choose from two stages of entertainment. For more information click HERE
http://tempemarketplace.com/events/live-music/
Tempe Marketplace @ 7:00 pm
2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy
Tempe 85281
480-966-9338
Free Outdoor Concert – N. Phoenix/Scottsdale
Bring the family out to enjoy great live music performed by a variety of musicians. Choose from two stages of entertainment. For more information click HERE
Desert Ridge Marketplace @ 7:00 – 9:00 pm
21001 N Tatum Blvd
Phoenix 85050
480-513-7586
Free Concert: Chandler
¡FlaMÉXico! Mariachi Meets Flamenco is a musical reflection of two cultures forming a new vision. Arizona-born composer Chris Burton Jácome charged his project ¡FlaMÉXico! with finding, creating and celebrating the musical confluences of Spain’s Flamenco and México’s Mariachi.
No tickets required, all shows are FREE. All seating is first come, first served. Doors open at 6:30pm, and seating starts at 7pm. Suggested donations: $5/person, $10/family. More concert information here.
Chandler Center for the Arts @ 7:30 pm
250 N. Arizona Ave.
Chandler, AZ
CALIFORNIA
Celebrate the Outdoors
Throughout the month of August, MY Museum celebrates the outdoors with a special activity every Friday! Starry Night: Join us August 23rd for an afternoon with the stars!
For more information and admission prices, visit http://www.mymuseum.org/plan/calendar/
Monterey County Youth Museum @ 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
425 Washington Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Do you have an event you want to add to our list? We are happy to list your event in our weekly blog posts. Any event, class, support group or meeting that fits into our philosophy of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting will be considered for our listing. We reserve the right to decline requests that do not promote healthy families and peaceful parenting.
To submit your event:
Please follow this format (same as above). Anything that is not “copy-paste” ready may not be posted – it will depend on how much time I have between homeschooling and loving on four littles. If I don’t sleep, it seriously impedes my ability to be a peaceful mama, and that is not fun for anybody. Thank you for understanding!
Submit your event information to:
sweetpeafamilies {at} gmail {dot} com
Information to send me:
Event Name
Description & Cost
Location Name & Time
Address
Contact Phone Number
For more baby-friendly fun or breastfeeding support groups, visit our listing at Sweet Pea Births.
Please leave us a comment – it will be moderated and posted.
Disclaimer:
The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Cassandra Okamoto, Krystyna and Bruss Bowman, and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.