WEEKEND WARRIORS: August 1-3

TGIF, mamas.  If you're looking to get out of town this weekend, you can head pretty much in any direction from Portland to find some fun happenings....Clark County Fair,Pickathon, 38th Annual Great Oregon Steam Up, Wilsonville Fun in the Park, and for you Dead Heads out there, we'll see you at the family friendly Jerry Garcia birthday party out at Edgefield. Of course there isn't exactly a shortage of distractions around town though either--check out the uM Calendar for much more than just what you see below.

Friday

Story & a Stroll: Enjoy a short guided walk that involves education about salmon. Targets kids 3-6, rain or shine. Pre-registration required. Tryon Creek State Park, 10:00-11:00 pm.

School Supply Drive  Enjoy free music and treats while you help Schoolhouse Supplies collect school supplies for those in need. Jamison Square. 11:00-1:00 pm.

Mayor's Tailgate Party:  Free watermelons, cantaloupes, and potatoes, plus a seed-spitting contest between Hermiston and Portland city officials?  This we've got to see...Pioneer Courthouse Square.  11:30 am.

Columbia Pool Fun Day: It's an afternoon of water fun, including splash, diving, and throwing contests as well as musical kick boards. $3.50 adults, $2 youth, kids under 2 are free. Columbia Pool (7701 N Chautauqua),  2:10-3:50 pm.

Free First Friday Nights: Kids get in free to the Portland Children's Museum from 5:00-8:00 pm. It's survival of the fittest with BIG games and BIG fun at the Dinosaur Revolution exhibit!  Exercise those dino-sized muscles as you scale the rock-climbing wall. 5:00-8:00 pm.

Fernhill Park Outdoor Concerts: The Grupo Antifaz (regional Mexican) plays from 6:30-8:00 pm, hands-on art activities for kids start at 6:00 pm.

Saturday

Kids in the Pearl Summer Block Party: A dance party, live petting zoo, Children's Museum hands-on activities, a puppet show by Penny's Puppets, children's fashion show and more.  Jamison Square.  10:00 am.

Iranian Festival:  Iranian and Kurdish music, dance, and kids activities.  PSU South Park Blocks.10:00 am-6:00 pm.

Freemont Fest:  Carriage rides, a parade, face painting, food, music, and more.  Also look for the Oregon Center for Environmental Health's free mercury thermometer exchange.  Festivities are centered around the 41st and Freemont intersection  and kickoff at 10:00 am.

O Bon: This Japanese "gathering of joy" commemorates ancestry with entertainment (Portland Taiko), children's area, food, and temple talks.  All are welcome to join in the Obon dancing (6:30). Oregon Buddhist Temple (3720 SE 34th), 4:00-9:00 pm.

Zampoñas (Pan Pipes): Kids will learn to sand, cork, and then strap five pvc pipes together to create a zampoñas or pan pipe so they can learn to play a simple musical piece.  St. Johns Library (7510 N Charleston). 2:00-4:00 pm.

Central Library Block Party: Balloons, face painting, crafts and Summer Reading goodies, plus Captain Bogg & Salty's pirate jigs, galloping rock and mermaid lullabies (2:00). FREE, noon-4:00 pm.

Sunday

McCoy Park Outdoor Concerts: Stephanie Schneiderman Band (indy pop) and hands-on art activities for kids.  FREE, 6:00 pm. 

$2 Sunday at OMSI:  If you're looking to get out of the sun, the first Sunday of every month, OMSI is only $2 per person.

Tryon Creek Music in the Forest:  Come hear  music performed by the Puddin' River Jazz Band. FREE, Tryon Creek State Park, 2:00 pm.

Laundry Days Part II - The Drying Rack

Since we've been talking laundry recently, I thought I'd capitalize on the local expertise! 

I actually like doing laundry. There.  The cat is out of the bag.  And I like hanging it out to dry in the summer months even more.  Perhaps it's the slow, methodical process of it all.  Or maybe it's how my 2-YO squirts it with water when it's almost dry.  No, I think it's the way the kids arrange the clothes on the rack.   They love to do it, and can't quite seem to grasp the concept that if you pile (multiple) items on top of each other - while space saving - they just won't dry! 

Anyway.  I'm in the market for a BIG FANCY outdoor drying rack.  Like the kind they have in Australia.  The kind you can stick in the patio table where the umbrella's supposed to go.  BIG.  Like these.  And before I make this enormous and very sexy purchase, I need advice from those who already made the leap.  'Cause I want to get the right one.  The perfect one.  For cheap (natch).  Help!  Do you have one of these fold up thingys?  Where'd you get it?  Do you like it?  Do tell.

Buying Shoes: How much would you spend on kids shoes?

My son is fixated on getting a new pair of shoes. Though not any pair, specifically running shoes. He's been asking for them for months and as we embark on the start of a new school year, it is appropriate that he gets a new pair seeing how he has outgrown his sturdy hiking shoes and seeing how this may be the beginning of a new school year ritual.  While there was a good discussion on tips on buying shoes and those with wide feet, I'm really curious as to how much you would spend on a pair of shoes for a 5 year old? Also, any suggestions for shoes for someone with flat feet (which means that his ankles will have a tendency to rub against the inside of his shoe)?

What's on your iPod?

We recently had some friends over and after playing the ecclectic mix of songs from John Denver to Sarah McLachlan to Justin Timberlake (it keeps me young) from our iTunes playlist, a friend said, "Alright, I have to draw the line at Celine Dion."  I felt a bit embarassed. But of course it's on the playlist since it was my son's favorite song as a result of his several month long obsession with the Titanic.  After all, music is much a part of our identities, and I felt in that one instant that bit of embarassment felt in adolescence for being perceived as "uncool".  I'm curious, what are you listening to these days?  Have your tastes changed?  Are there artists or songs you'll rarely fess up to liking or we all grown up and beyond caring if we are no longer "cool"?

Tips & Tricks: Job Searching for a Mama of a 2-year old

Sometimes, we will be afforded the time to contemplate our re-entry into the workforce, but - other times - we will need to job-search a bit more vigorously to find a new job.  An urbanMama recently emailed to see if the rest of the urbanMamas community had any tips and tricks to share:

Are there any mamas who've been laid off recently?  If so, any advice on scoring a new job? I've found that now that I'm home with my 2-year-old every day, I am not networking, job-searching thoroughly, or available on short notice for interviews. Even a phone interview went sideways when the person called too early and I took the call at the zoo (not a move I recommend!) I also withdrew as a finalist for a job due to their resistance to a 4-day workweek. <sigh>

Laundry: Do you drown in it?

If only doing laundry were child's play, but unfortunately it's my least favorite chore.  No matter how hard I try, the laundry situation can spiral quickly out of control especially with dirty little boys who rarely will make it through the day with nary a stain on their clothes.  On top of this, there's the extra laundry created by the adults who sweat especially in the summer because of the daily bike commute or exercise. Let's also not forget the nighttime accidents that occur on top of towels for baths, showers and swimming. Yes, not everything worn once needs to be be thrown in the wash, but few items pass the "smell" test which leaves little that can be worn more than once without being offensive.

Alright, it's time to air your dirty laundry.  We want to know how you stay on top of laundry.  How do you avoid moving piles of clean clothes from the bed, back to the laundry basket, and then to the floor several times before they get folded?  How do you avoid having piles of clean clothes dispersed all over the house that never make it to drawers or closets? Do you have any strategies for not having laundry take over your lives? Have you found any way to make it less of a chore to do laundry? Photo credit: cafemama.com

Distribute Flyers with Parents for Paid Leave

While our group of activist parents is growing (yeah!), we dreamed up an 'it takes a village' scheme to spread the word about our group  - (hopefully) with your help.  We've talked before about ways to volunteer with your kids in tow, so here's a golden opportunity.  And the weather's perfect for a leisurely stroll...with a purpose!

Simply download this one-page flyer about Parents for Paid Leave and deliver it to  your favorite coffee shop and doorsteps in your neighborhood.  Or someone else's!  Always wanted to take a walk around NW 23rd but never found a reason?  Love Sellwood but don't live there?  Perfect.  Print a few (dozen!) of these flyers, distribute them to friends, family, coworkers, the office kitchen, your neighbors' front door, wherever you like.  An easy - and possibly even fun - way to be part of a real grassroots campaign.  It really does take a village, and we hope you'll be part of ours!  'Cause mamas, we need all the help we can get.  Not to be dramatic or anything, but this is gonna be a serious fight. 

And if you just so happen to be game for more, email us or join us at Urban Grind NE for our monthly 2nd Saturday planning session (next one on 8.9.08).  If nothing else, join our mailing list.  Really.  That alone is critical to our success, mamas, because a big mailing list means lotsa supporters which speaks volumes to the powers that be.

Download parents_for_paid_leave_flyer.doc

Alert: Time for Safety Talks

Since last Thursday, I have now received this email five different times from different circles of Portland parents.  We have used the occassion to remind ourselves and our children about our safety talk.  Here is the email that came directly from the mama who recounted the scenario:

I want to share with all of you something that happened with my 4 & 6yr old boys at Wilshire Park this past Tuesday, July 22nd.  Please take this information and share it with everyone you know.

Everyone was having a good time running around and I was visiting with friends.  I was lucky enough to look up just as my two boys were walking out of the park with a man we did not know.  To make a long story short, the man asked my older son what his brothers name was and then said, 'Come on Max, follow me.'  I confronted the man and was able to provide a good description of him on my 911 call because of it.  The police called me as they were questioning him and informed me that 'He has a history of this sort of thing dating back to 1999.'  The officer made sure this individual knows they are not welcome in the park and he told all the other parents to please call 911 if they ever see him there again.  Turns out he also lives a ways down our street, NE Skidmore and I believe the lower 50's.  As you know, Wilshire is on Skidmore between 33rd & 37th.

Here's his description...

• MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE**He has long to the waist length dreadlocks mostly grey, but some dark.
• No taller than 5'10'
• Olive skinned caucasian or perhaps greek, middle eastern with dark eyes, possibly glasses
• Age anywhere between 38-48, hard to tell possibly older
• Slight build in weight
• Told boys he was a football player (they were playing football), he was wearing a retro 70's like orange cotton football jersey, camoflauge pants
• Had a 9 or 10 yr old heavy set caucasian child with him that looked like a girl (long hair. almost mullet style) but was actually a boy who engaged my children to play football with him.  This is the child of one of his housemates.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH EVERYONE AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL 911 & REPORT SEEING HIM PARTICULARLY IF HE IS IN A PLACE FREQUENTED BY CHILDREN! We were lucky this time.  Please help keep this person from being able to attempt this again.

Seeking Hospital Midwife: Glucola not required.

We recently received an email from a mama, new to Portland, who has a specific request for her natural hospital childbirth experience:

I am looking for a Midwife that delivers in Hospitals that does not require the Glucola drinking for the glucose tolerance test. I am hoping to find one that is open to using the jelly beans or a specific meal instead. I know there are great birth center and homebirth Midwives that do this, but I was hoping someone might be able to reccommend a Hospital Midwife that does also. After 3 horrible experiences with the Glucola, I am hoping to avoid it this time.

Menu Labels: Should we know what we're ordering?

The other day, we went to one of our favorite chains - Burgerville.  I usually cannot order a thing from fast food joints.  On this day, however, I was famished from all the biking, running, and berry-picking that summer weekends bring.  I needed to eat.  In a hurry at the counter, I chose a Tillamook Cheeseburger.

Once the tray was set in front of me, I wondered if I made the right choice.  I asked my girls to go to the counter to ask for "information on nutritional facts."  I told them to repeat the request, to make sure they could say "nutritional facts".  They came back to report that the nutritional facts were on the back of that paper placemat on the tray.

Sure enough, on the back of the paper placemat, there was almost all the nutritional data on all the menu items. ...

Continue reading "Menu Labels: Should we know what we're ordering?"

What do you do when two is enough? The big V?

We've talked forever about our decision to go with an IUD for our preferred method of birth control, with well over a 100 comments and going.  We have an urbanFamily looking into the big "V", a vasectomy, and seeks your doc suggestions in and around Portland:

Our family is looking at the big V this year for my husband. I'm looking for doctor recommendations.

Any more tips, tricks, or advice?  It's always welcome.

I oughta record that!

Nothing new in the fact that kids say some amazingly funny stuff.  It's also nothing new that I have yet to record any of it, despite the fact that people remind me to with amazing regularity.  So today, when a few greats were uttered in the backyard, I wondered: if I post them on uM, does that count as recording them?  Can my children use a blog as their mother's scrapbook (since I so ain't creating my own)?  Time will tell, I guess.   Regardless of how history (and my kids!) treats all this blogging stuff, I am compelled to share these two from my 2-YO daughter (sadly my 5-YO doesn't generate nearly as many):

• While watering the garden with a hose: 'Mama, it sounds like pee-pee.'  'Yeah,' I said, 'like when Daddy and your brother pee-pee.'  'No,' she replied, 'like the plants are pee-peeing.'  Never even crossed my mind.
• While eating watermelon outside with my 2-YO after my husband and son had both fallen asleep inside the house: 'Shhh, Mama, we have to be quiet with our teeth because Daddy and brother are sleeping.'  Those noisy teeth, waking everyone up again.

Can you share a LOL kid saying from this summer, and give us all a chuckle this Monday morning?  Plus, do tell if you've got a tricky system for actually recording or remembering them.  I'm open to it even if I know deep down it just ain't gonna happen - the recording and the remembering, that is.  But the best part is the joy I get in chuckling to myself when they say such great stuff so very earnestly.   Truly a joy of parenting.

Celery & cream cheese? Mmm, mmm, good.

Today I busted out this snack-from-the-past for a little post-nap pick-me-up (not my nap, unfortunately).  As I spread the cream cheese into the little celery U, then cut them into tidy little bites, all I could think was how very much of our own  childhood we repeat  - for better or for worse.  Introducing my daughter to this tasty treat is in and of itself no big deal.  Who really cares what we're snacking on late on a summer afternoon, anyway.  But what struck me was that when at a loss for my own individual idea, the first thing I did was delve into the familiarity of my own past. 

Of course this could just lead to a wacky snack, but there's potential for something far greater.  Generational everything is a possibility, right?  From bad/good eating habits to racism to education aspirations and far, far beyond.  It's big stuff, and I, the parent, am setting the tone.  Yikes.  Now that's food for thought. 

So, before I try that cream cheese & olive sandwich on my kids (it's true, I did), I better think whether falling back on my own childhood experiences (and tastes) has a positive or negative impact on them and (gulp) future generations.  So aside from my late-in-the-game realization that the past ain't always good for the future (duh), what I really wanna know is whether you draw on any bizarre, potentially offensive snacks from your past when feeding your kids.    Cottage cheese & catsup, anyone???

Visiting Portland: a single ma with a 1 & 4 yr old

We urbanMamas just love to help people plan their visits to Portland.  Here is a Seattle mama coming into town soon, and wants your advice on the following:

We are staying at the Red Lion Convention Center. (Single mom & 5 y.o. plus me & my brood; we hotwired and got the room for $54, word!)  Some things we want to do include definitely hitting up the Children's Museum (son hearts dinosaurs), curious about an easy walk/hike in the area (see your site has resources, excellent), exploring the Pearl District (Powell's, Jamison Square, Sip & Kranz).

 

According to Google Maps from our hotel to Jamison Square it's only 1.4 miles (!) but is it a walkable 1.4, or too busy (I have an excellent street warrior-like double)?  Not sure how realistic MAX is when schlepping 2 kiddos, you know?  Are our destinations walkable? Or drive & park somewhere & walk? Not sure about strollers on MAX.

WEEKEND WARRIORS: July 25-27

Friday

Ladybug Walk: A guided 60 minute walk around Council Crest Park for preschoolers, no registration necessary, $2 per child. 10:00-11:30 am

Story & a Stroll: Enjoy a short guided walk that involves education about Native American Stories. Targets kids 3-6, rain or shine. Pre-registration required. Tryon Creek State Park, 10:00-11:00 pm.

Puppet Stock: Join Penny's Puppets and Mudeye Puppets for a puppet show extravaganza.  $3 per child. $5 adult. Moxie Rx (N. Mississippi and N. Shaver), 10:00 am.

Saturday

New Seasons Benefit Barbecue: Get a steaming hot dog, all the fixings, cole slaw, a handful of crunchy chips and an ice-cold drink for only $6.00, all proceeds to the Oregon Humane Society. Saturday and Sunday, 12:00-4:00 pm.

Ferret Out A Friend: You might not know what you were missing if you skipped the 7th Annual Ferret Awareness Day at the Oregon Humane Society (1067 NE Columbia Blvd). The event includes a raffle, themed photo op for you and your pet, free vet exams, auction of unique ferret items, new and used ferret supplies.  Just in case you were considering one as a pet! 1:00-5:00 pm.

Division Street Fair: Kick off this neighborhood event with parade (accompanied by a marching band, no less), and then follow up with kid crafts, music, lego exhibit, and other fun. Parade leaves from 50th and Division and starts at 10:45 am.

Catch the Reading Bug!: Ventriloquist dummy Rudy O’Riley has accidentally been turned into a bug! It will be up to the audience, along with the help of Barney-the-Bookworm, Sammy The Friendly Mind-Reading Spider and Peek-A-Boo the Bunny, to figure out how reading and books can turn Rudy back into a little boy. FREE. Albina Library (3605 NE 15th), 11:00 am.

Crafty Mamas: Local crafty mamas selling locally made, high-quality crafted items. Milagros, 11:00 am-3:00 pm.Milagros, 11:00-3:00 pm.

Tour de Coops: Join the lovely folks from Growing Gardens on a tour of 18 chicken coops, designed to educate Portland chicken lovers on urban chicken keeping and provide ideas for new and creative ways to house chickens in your backyard.  The bicycle tour leaves from People's co-op at 12:30. Tour booklets are $5/person, $10 carload, $3/bicycle. 11:00-3:00 pm.

Little Kids Jamboree Join Lorna Miller as she entertains adults and kids with music, rhythm, and movement.  $5 per family. Mississippi Pizza (3552 N. Mississippi), 4:00 pm

Sunday

Smoothie Tasting:  Smoothies make a great breakfast for kids on the go (as we heard earlier this week), come try out some additions that might be new to you (flax, rice, whey, hemp and soy proteins). Saturday and Sunday, New Seasons, all locations.  11:00 am-4:00 pm.

Kilowatt Ours: Filmmaker Jeff Barrie takes viewers on a journey from the coal mines of West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida, as he discovers solutions to America's energy related problems.  FREE, Bagdad Theater, 6:00 pm.

14th Annual Columbia Slough Regatta: Join the largest one-day paddling event in Oregon. Bring your own watercraft or make a reservation for a free canoe or kayak rental. You’ll also enjoy educational booths, t-shirts, snacks and beverages. FREE. Advance registration required, call Katie at 503-281-1132 or send e-mail to katie.meckes@columbiaslough.org. 9:00-1:00.

Willy Wonka & th Chocolate Factory: Join the folks from New Moon Productions for this FREE outdoor musical adaption of Roald Dahl's famous story, performed by youth from their summer camp.  Washington Park Amphitheater.  Saturday and Sunday, noon.

Flying Solo: Unaccompanied Minors

My nieces (ages 11 and 12) came out for a recent visit.  They flew from the Midwest to Portland unaccompanied on their second solo flight sans parent or family.  When I asked them how their flight was on the way out, it was the typical 'tween "boring" response.  On their return flight, I navigated the process, helped them check in and filled out the required paperwork and waited with them at their gate until their flight took off.  Waiting to fly unaccompanied were three other kids, a pair of siblings probably older then them and another boy, aged 10.  Being far from our family, it's always been our intent to have our kids spend an extended stint with family out-of-state.  The question though, at what age have / would you let your child(ren) fly unaccompanied?  The youngest that's allowed is 5 years old, far younger than my own comfort level.  So far, from my nieces experience, they encountered few problems and my sister would certainly allow them do it again.

Cool Moms, Cool Planet in Seattle

Very cool.  Really.  This Seattle group has a really, uh, cool thing going.  Neighborhood by neighborhood, mom by mom, they aim to cool the planet.  Here's how they describe themselves:

CoolMom.org brings busy moms into the climate action network in three ways:  through education, lifestyle change, and by supporting policies that mitigate global climate change.  An important part of our work occurs at the grassroots level, with community-based activism in neighborhood CoolMom groups.  Local groups share ideas, take action, and have fun fighting climate change together!

CoolMom.org unites moms to build a better future for our children. CoolMom.org encourages sustainable living practices in how families live, learn, work and play.  We promote stewardship of the natural environment and seek to instill a conservation ethic in future generations.

I am often surprised by how many things are going on in Portland that I am completely and utterly unaware of - and not just dance clubs and other things from days gone by.  So before I say, how come we don't have something like this in Portland, I'll ask you!  Do we have anything like this in Portland?  If now, don't you think we should?

(Lack of) Retirement Benefits for SAHM & PT Parents

Since we're all a little distracted with all that's going on with the kids (and ourselves, if we're lucky!), it's hard to stop and think about retirement planning.  I mean, doesn't that come after college savings?  And now that I work P/T and get zero benefits (natch), retirement saving is more challenging since I have no access to the standard employer-sponsored saving tools - and those 'free' matching contributions (among other losses, like, say, health care).  Yes, there are tools for the rest of us (IRAs, of course), but they're new to me and require earning enough money to use them! 

How do you approach this issue in your family?  Got any ideas for better policies to improve our access to retirement savings - like social security, for example, which accrues only as you pay in through your employment income, so if you're not paying in (but your partner is), you're not adding to that benefit.  I'd say "bummer," but it's so. much. more. than. that.  Join this conversation over on Activistas.   

Mamas: how often do you shower?

We really got the conversation going earlier in the year when we affirmed our varied bathing schedules for the kids.  As I sit here unshowered, I realize that there are many days when I will skip the shower.  There can always be more dishes to be done, laundry to fold, food to make, that can trump the bathing ritual, which is a daily one for many.

How often do you mamas get around to showering?  Is it a must-do every day?  Do you skip it every once in a while?

What's for breakfast?

We've talked about what's for lunch and what's for dinner, but we haven't yet talked about what's for breakfast.  Allison emails:

How about some thoughts on breakfast foods for the kiddos that are healthy, yummy, easy, and/or portable?  I need some motivation and ideas to get out of the carb-heavy breakfast rut that we're currently in.

What are your standby nutrious easy fixes for busy mornings?

What's Up @ Activistas?

Over at Activistas we've been busy lately, even created a mailing list so you can get periodic updates of get togethers and important action opportunities.  Details & sign-up here.  No need to worry about us filling up your inbox, 'cause while we're long on ideas and inspiration, we're short on time.  You know how that goes.  But it's a great way to stay current - on the off, off chance you don't visit the site multiple times daily! 

Greeting friends: do you kiss, hug, or just wave "Hi"?

When I was growing up, I was told to greet all my parents' friends with a kiss.  Even if they weren't blood relatives, all of my parents' friends became my "uncles" and "aunties", and we addressed them as such.  In our culture, it had a lot to do with respect for our elders.

When our first daughter was born, we modeled the same thing nomenclature and practice: all our friends were her "uncles" and "aunties" and got a kiss on the cheek when greeting "hello" or "goodbye".  Perhaps by virtue that we now live further from many of our closest family friends, we find that we have nebulous greeting practices.  Most often, we greet friends with a nice wave and open arms, not necessarily a full-out hug.  Exchanging cheek kisses doesn't seem to be a practice among our friends here in Portland, and - although hugs are very welcome all around - it just seems like a bit much sometimes, even with our BFFs.

A few weeks ago, we saw many famiy friends at a mini-reunion.  Kisses to "aunties" and "uncles" were abundant.  I realized that I missed that intimacy, tradition and culture of greeting friends with a kiss.

In your family, do you greet friends with a kiss, hug, or a wave to say "HI"?  How do your kids greet their friends and yours?

Smoking at the Park: Would you ask them to stop/move?

Three weeks into July, we finally made it to a concert in the park.  We were all comfily situated on our blankets, our family and our family BFFs.  We had plenty of food and drink, and we were all happily listening to music.

It occurred to us that we had some neighboring picnickers who were smoking: due 11 o'clock and 2 o'clock, both sets within about 2 or 3 of our picnic position.  The 11-o'clockers were smoking from their picnic blanket.  The 2 o'clockers were a batch of standing viewers, who eventually moved.  As a former smoker, I am less bothered about the smoke near me.  As a mother, I am completely bothered by the smoke near children.

We know that our public playgrounds and Pioneer Courthouse Square are protected no-smoking areas, thanks to a Portland City Council measure that is about a year-old.  There are no rules or laws that prohibit smoking in our parks, to our knowledge.  Of course, there is common courtesy.

Have you encountered smokers in the park?  Have you used your words to ask them to kindly relocate?  Or, would you hang tight and perhaps relocate yourselves for a bit?

Parents for Paid Leave: Show Support & Get Updates

The local grassroots group Parents for Paid Leave is biggering itself this summer.  Truth is, numbers speak volumes to legislators, so they've set up an e-mail list that can count supporters.  And while you may get an update or two, there's no worry about filling up your inbox.  No time for that, mamas.   They're too busy strategizing and meeting with potential partners and state legislators.  Go, mamas!

So, if you support the idea of a paid family leave program in Oregon, step right up so we can show that there's a whole lot of us who think the time has finally come for paid leave.  We're pretty glad these mamas are working so hard on this.  Rumor has it new volunteers are VERY welcome. 

Sign up for the mailing list here.

Where can you find family BFFs?

We all know, mamas: raising a family takes a village.  The support around us can really help us get through the tough moments: when we are sick, working late, or just plain ol' tired.   Many of have moved here from afar with very little support in place.  All of us are parents, and we had to start somewhere when we - as new parents - started making other friends who were also new parents.  After five years of "family dating" and meeting new families, we know there are at least a couple of families out there who we can call on to watch our kids in a pinch or to hang out with late into the night (kids playing while parents banter).  We like to think we could ask them almost anything to help our family in a time of need.

When we think about how we met these families and when we think about how close we've gotten with some of these families:

• One family, we met on craigslist.  We were looking for a nanny-share four years ago, and they posted an ad.  We invited their family over for a playdate, and the rest was history.  We ended up sharing the nanny that summer, but we've also shared many a memory since then.
• One family, we met on a yahoo-group.  The mamas met first, for a run.  After connection was made, the mamas planned another activity: papas and kids meet for coffee playdate while mamas go for a bike ride.  Now, the papas call one another more than the mamas.
• One family, we met through school.  About a week into first grade at our new school last year, we had an impromptu dinner on a Friday night at our house.  Kids played and we talked until probably 10-11pm.  Now, if we're up at their house that late, we opt to spend the night so we can watch movies & make breakfast together.
• One family, we met through email.  They were moving here to Portland and we had just moved a year before.  We shared thoughts on daycare.  Now, we share thoughts on relationships and home improvement contractors.

We all need the support from other families as we move onward with the challenges of rearing our little lovelies.  Do you have a family that you'd consider your family's "Best Friend(s) Forever"?  How'd you find them?

WEEKEND WARRIORS: July 18-20

A shout out to the mamas whose kiddos are vacationing without them this weekend (okay, yes, I'm green with envy). But for the rest of us, here's a smattering of extracurricular activities for the weekend. In case you're looking to get out of town, there is some festival fun to be had.  Check out the Robinhood Festival in Sherwood, da Vinci Days in Corvallis, the Portland Highland Games, and the Gorge Games out towards the Dalles.  Also, if you love garage sales, you've hit the jackpot this weekend with the Concordia, Sullivan's Gulch, and Brentwood Darlington neighborhoods all holding neighborhood garage sales.

Friday

Story & a Stroll: Enjoy a short guided walk that involves education about crayfish. Targets kids 3-6, rain or shine. Pre-registration required. Tryon Creek State Park, 10:00-11:00 pm.

Sand in the City: More than 450 tons of sand will be sculpted into giant sculptures before your very eyes. Friday through Sunday, 10 am-4:00 pm

Itty Bitty Beach Party: Water fun for the littlest pool goers (6 month-6 years, with parent). Includes a water parade, penny hunt, splash contest and more. $3.25 adults, $2.00 kids, under 2 free. Dishman Pool. 11:30-1:30 pm

Kidical Mass: Once again, kids and families will take over, uh share, the streets of downtown.  Meet at 6:00 at the BTA world headquarters (233 NW 5th Avenue)for bike decorations, safety reminders and chit chat, then leaving at 6:30, wind through downtown ending up at Ben & Jerry's at about 7:15 pm. 

Saturday

Itty Bitty Beach Party: A splashing good time for the 6 month-6 year old set (with parent), including a water parade, penny hunt, splash contest and more. $3.25 adults, $2.00 kids, under 2 free. Creston Pool  11:30-1:00 pm.

Downtown Street Fair: A celebration of the transit mall with a festival of music, sales, crafts, and food. 5th & 6th Avenues between SW Washington and Taylor.  11:30 am-8:00 pm.

South Tabor Neighborhood Festival: Music, crafts, games, clowns, food, and fun. Clinton Park (Woodward & SE 57th). 11:00-3:00 pm.

Gardens of Eatin': Join celebrity chefs for a feast of the senses and a bundle of tips for growing and eating beautiful, delicious, edible plants. Join local chefs from Nutshell, Nostrana, The Dundee Bistro and Nick's Italian Café to cook (and taste) a harvest of local organic foods you can grow yourself at home. Highlights include growing for the grill, unusual herbs, local berries, flower drinks and more. FREE, but advanced registration required (location provided at that time).  10:00 am-12:00 pm.

Sunday

McCoy Park Outdoor Concerts: Django’s Cadillac (hot swing) and hands-on art activities for kids,  6:00 pm. 

Midsummer Night at Lone Fir: Not to be confused with Doug Fir of course, this evening of live music and performances will share some interesting stories of those who are buried at this inner-city cemetery (SE Stark and 26th). Bring picnic and something to sit on.  Suitable for all ages, $15 per family. 5:00-8:00 pm.

Tryon Creek Music in the Forest:  Come hear  music performed by Millenium Woodwind Quintet. FREE, Tryon Creek State Park, 2:00 pm.

Activistas Summer Playdate ~ Friday 8.8.08

It's been too long since we've talked activism, hasn't it?  If you, too, are ready to talk about workplace (in)flexibility, the lack of pad family leave, or the plethora of toxic products on the shelves, join us to rant and figure out how to change it all.  'Cause over at Activstas, we actually think we can.  We might be crazy, but at least we're optimists.  Hope to see you  - and the kids - there.

Cutting Coupons in the Internet Era: Do You?

When I was in middle school I gave my Mom a 'coupon caddy' for her birthday.  Just what every mother wants (second best to the microwave bacon cooker my dad got her - eek).  Details: it was a beige felted coupon holder with dark brown animal pictures on it.  Oooohhh, so womanly.  But she used it.  And I used it.  Wondering what on earth I'm talking about?  A coupon organizer for the mom purse, of course.  We cut, we filed, we saved.  It was our frugal way. 

But in 2008, we Google, we print, we stuff in our purses and hope we find ourselves in the grocery store with the coupon when we need that item - tall order!  Time to resurrect the caddy, me thinks.   So it came full circle today when I opened the mailbox to find an envelope from my mom with a newspaper about CouponMom, aka Stephanie Nelson.  Ever visited?  The article says that some stores look down on internet coupons as fraudulent.  As a very online kinda mama, I'm wondering how this modern schtick really works.  Worth it?   The solution to our rising grocery costs???   I'm all ears, mamas, 'cause I've got coupon caddy on the brain.

To be free!: What to do when kids are away

Kate, an urbanMama of three boys (almost-6, almost-4, and a three-month old), has had a busy year, relocating to Portland, starting at new schools, and potty-training.  She emailed with a unique and an almost-enviable situation. 

I'm in need of some Portland-mama wisdom.  My two oldest boys left for NY for 2 weeks to visit their grandparents.  After sobbing all the way home from the airport, my husband and I got home and realized we didn't know what to do with ourselves.  Besides staying in bed and having sex, renting movies and reading books, we couldn't remember what we did in our pre-kid life.  (Granted, we still have the 3 month old with us, but going from 3 kids to 1 baby is--for us--almost like being child-free again.) 

It's funny, I always fantasized about having alone time again, and now I don't know what to do with myself.  The sex, movies and books can wait until nightfall--I want to take advantage of the wonderful summer weather?  What would other urbanMamas recommend doing in Portland, for someone who is new to the area and hasn't explored much beyond the kid-friendly parks and zoo?  We are on a budget, but not having to feed the kids for two weeks does give us some wiggle room--what are some favorite (vegetarian-friendly) restaurants, day trips, must-see Portland sights?  Help an (almost) kid-free mama find something to do!

The Summer, Parks, Fun, Sun is a good start, as well as digging up stuff on a daily basis on the urbanMamas calendar.  What things in specific do you think she should put on her list of things-to-do over the next two weeks?

Have you made plans for NNO 2008?

This year marks the 25th Anniversary for National Night Out, an evening designed to build community and:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

In years past, neighorhoods throughout Portland have celebrated National Night Out by organizing block parties, ice cream socials at the park, bike rides, group walks and just getting out and meeting our neighbors.

This just in from my neighborhood association:

The deadline to register your National Night Out party is coming up quickly! National Night Out parties can be planned for anytime between August 2nd and August 10th, although the great majority of the parties are planned for National Night Out itself on Tuesday, August 5th this year (always the first Tuesday in August). The website link for NNO information, party ideas and registration is www.portlandonline.com/oni/nno or you call register by phone at 503-823-4064. The deadline to register is July 22nd.

What are your plans for National Night Out?  What neighborhood activities have you participated in the past?  We're dying to come with great new ways to meet new neighbors: what are your suggestions?  A BBQ in the park?  Maybe a potluck in the neighbor's front yard?  A lemonade stand!  A neighborhood jam session on the sidewalk?  A dance party? 

I Heart Single Parents: Local Social Networking

We've talked here on uM about Facebooking. And honestly, when I saw that post way back in September 2007 I wasn't quite sure what Facebook really was.  So embarrassing!  We've also shared the unique challenges of single parenting and found ways to connect with others in the same shoes. 

So it all came together when we recently met the founder of an excellent (and local!  isn't everyone into local these days?) social networking site for single parents called I Heart Single Parents.  Facebook meets single parents - but better. 

The founders describe it as 'an online community for single parents to meet, chat and find support.'  It has a decidedly upbeat attitude, an "I'm here and I'm gonna love it" approach.  Have you checked it out?  If you visit, let us know what you think. 

Listen Up: Audio Documentaries on Birth & the Post-partum Experience in America

I watched The Business of Being Born earlier this year with loads of urbanMamas, and loved it.  Here's something similar, but different.   Thin Air Media has produced two audio documentaries - one on birth and another on the post-partum experience in America.  Check 'em out - you can download excerpts here.  If you love them, there's an opportunity to host a local Birth Tour of these documentaries through Thin Air Media.  Here's how they describe their 'tour' concept:

At the birth tour, we gather men, women and young people to listen to excerpts from the nationally distributed public radio documentary BIRTH and share ideas around this universal subject matter.

If they can have one in SF, Chicago, and NY, surely we can bring it to Stumptown?  Especially since our very own gDiapers is a sponsor.  Anyone???

Finding Kid Safe Products: Where to Turn??

We need sippy cups at our house.  Bad.  We have at least four kinds, none with the same lid, and most of the ones we used to own are chez grandma (so we don't have to fill our increasingly expensive luggage space with them on our next flight).  So the drawer is pretty bare and the mini jam jars  - while hard to break and pretty high on the eco-friendly scale - definitely don't have lids.  So.  This afternoon I am off to buy new, all matching sippy cups.  But where?  I never manage to get more creative than Babies R Us (ugh) for a serious selection of baby and kid gear. 

So I was pretty excited to learn that Safe Mama not only has a list of BPA-free sippy cups (my latest toxin worry), she now has an online store.  Huge selection in one place.  Have you visited?  Ordered?  Or, for the part of me that'd like to go local, can you recommend a Portland store with a wide selection of BPA-free sippy cups?  And I mean the ones that don't cost $15/pop.  I need the ones that we can hand out to the six kids over for a BBQ  and lose without going bankrupt.  Yup, the cheap ones.

Summer Concerts at Edgefield: Family-Friendly?

Why surely we have our lower-cost/free summer concerts throughout town (check out summer, parks, fun, sun, 2008), some mamas & papas are looking to other concerts.  Does anyone have experience bringing kids to a concert at the McMenamin's Edgefield?  An urbanMama emailed:

There's a band I would love to see coming to play the Edgefield this summer. My daughter is 4.5, and I've taken her to outdoor concerts at the park and the zoo before, which were obviously family friendly. We've had a great time, and I'd love to take her to this all-ages show at the Edgefield with me. Before I invest almost $50 for a ticket for her though (Thanks Ticketmaster!), could any other urbanMamas advise as to the family friendliness of the Edgefield shows? I've never been to one before, obviously. Do other people take their kids along to these? Did they have fun?

Cycling while pregnant: Have you?

There are mamas among us who love to bike, even while pregnant.  Shout outs to the urbanMama photographed here, at 8 months pregnant (photo credit to Jonathan Maus of bikeportland.org).  Colleen recently emailed, though, and would like to hear from all of you: Have you biked while pregnant?  Did you stop biking during pregnancy?

I bike to and from work each day (just under 6 miles each way) and it's a gift. I'm able to squeeze in some exercise without having to set aside time (read: w/o having to wake up even earlier than my two-year-old and/or sacrifice time spent with her) and by doing something that I have to do anyway (get to and from work). It also keeps me sane during the winter months.

We are now considering adding to our family, but I'm concerned about whether or not my daily bike ride would be ok while pregnant. Since finding time to exercise wasn't much of an issue pre-baby #1, and cycling to and from anywhere wasn't possible in the town in which we were living at the time, this is a new complication. And frankly, giving up this part of my life up, even for a short period of time, is potentially a real sanity breaker for me.

I expect this is something that I'd have to cover with my care provider, but I'm wondering what other cycling urbanMamas have done. If you continued to cycle, what was your experience like?  Did the shift in your center of gravity throw you off?  Did your belly get in the way of your legs while pedaling?  Did you get weird stares?

WEEKEND WARRIORS: July 11-13

It's finally summer mamas, and there's music (and pollen?) in the air. In fact, there are too many  concerts to list, even though we included a few to pick from.  Head on over to the Parks and Rec. website for a more comprehensive list.  So many fun things to do this weekend we couldn't fit in all our usual favorites (ladybug walks, Jr. Rangers, etc.).  So check out the urbanMamas calender for a slew of other weekend fun.

Friday

Columbia Pool Fun Day: It's an afternoon of water fun, including splash, diving, and throwing contests as well as musical kick boards. $3.50 adults, $2 youth, kids under 2 are free. Columbia Pool (7701 N Chautauqua),  2:10-3:50 pm.

Fernhill Park Outdoor Concerts: The LaRhonda Steele Band (soulful R & B) plays from 6:30-8:00 pm, hands-on art activities for kids start at 6:00 pm.

Celebrate Shel Silverstein:  Remember Sister for Sale? Join performer Alleyoop! for some favorite poems & songs by Shel Silverstein, including: “Singing in the Kitchen, The Unicorn, The Monkey and the Elephant, Boa Constrictor,” and “Ricky Ticky Song.”  Midland Library (805 S.E. 122nd Ave), 2:00 pm.

Willy Wonka & th Chocolate Factory: Join the folks from New Moon Productions for this FREE outdoor musical adaption of Roald Dahl's famous story.  Washington Park Amphitheater, 6:30 pm.

Toy Trains Concert: This popular kid band covers Dan Zanes, Lisa Loeb and other childhood tunes as well as some Beatles, Tom Waits, REM, John Prine. Especially great for toddlers that love to bebop to the music. $5 per family. Mississippi Pizza (3552 N. Mississippi), 6-8 pm.

Saturday

Parents for Paid Leave: Connect with other parents interested in passing a family leave insurance program in Oregon in the 2009 legislative session.  Urban Grind NE, 9:30 to 11 AM.  Kids welcome.

PDX AirFair: Got a little one obsessed with airplanes (or a big one that is a nervous flier??), then the 1st Annual AirFair is for you. Interactive displays, including some interesting equipment, as well as food and music.  Free, but online registration required. PDX (upper roadway, MAX travel is encouraged). 10:00-3:00 pm.

Mississippi Street Fair: This benefit for the Boise-Eliot Elementary & Albina Youth Opportunity School has BBQ, tons of music, dunk tanks and more. FREE, N. Mississippi Avenue between Skidmore & Fremont.  10:00 am-7:00 pm.

Vote & Floats: We say it every time...gotta love New Seasons.  Come register to vote and get a free root beer float (free even if you're already registered). All locations, Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am-5:00 pm.

Bastille Day in the Pearl:  Even if you're not up on your French history, there's lots to love about this festival marking the storming of the Bastille Prison in 1789 (which kicked of the French Revolution)--wine, wine, and oh, yeah, other stuff too...a French market, lots of music, incredible food, and a "le jardin des enfants" (a children's area). Fencing demonstrations and the 4th Annual Portland Waiters Race round out the event. Jamison Square, 11:00 am-6:00 pm.

Lion Heart in Laurelhurst: This 5th annual fund raiser for the Oregon Chapter of the Children's Heart Foundation helps to support kids with congenital heart defects. The family festival  will have a marimba band, kid craft projects, toddler play area, bouncy houses, stilt walkers, balloon clowns, climbing wall, and lunch provided by Burgerville. $20 adults, $10/kids, age 3 and under are free.  Laurelhurst Park (SE 39th and SE Ankeny), 11:00 am-3:00 pm.

Where is Lilly the Catapilly?:  Everyone loves little Lilly the caterpillar, but one spring day loveable Lilly doesn’t show up to a tea party she was supposed to go to. That’s when her friends go to look for her. Enjoy this musical mystery and find out just what has happened to Lilly.  Presented by Penny's Puppets.  FREE, Albina Library (3605 N.E. 15th Ave.), 11:00 am.

A Multicultural Affair:  A festival for the whole family - featuring African, Asian, Latino, and Russian musical acts and delicious ethnic food.  A children's area will be set-up with activities, including Pancholin, the clown.  Come and enjoy w wonderful park setting with strolling Mariachi music while muching on tasty ethnic Treats!  Saturday, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  Hazelwood HydroPark, northside of 1017 NE 117th (between Holladay & Multnomah)

Rose City Park Outdoor Concerts:  Sassparilla (insurgent blues), 6:30 pm.

Sunday

Craft PDX: Join the folks from the Museum of Contemporary Craft for this FREE crafty block party.  With plenty of craft demonstrations and hands-on craft opportunities for the kids, plus music entertainment (ala Toy Trains, Little Sue, and others) and food, this is one block party you won't forget. North Park Blocks (NW 8th and Davis), 11:00 am-6:00 pm.

Tryon Creek Music in the Forest:  Come hear traditional Irish music performed by Innisfree.  FREE, Tryon Creek State Park, 2:00.

Itty Bitty Beach Party: Water fun for the younger crowd (under 6 years old) at Sellwood Pool (SE 7th and Miller). $3.50 adults, $2 youth, kids under 2 are free. 11:30-1:00 pm.

McCoy Park Outdoor Concerts: Rhythm Culture (reggae meets blues) and hands-on art activities for kids,  6:00 pm. 

How a mama chooses the perfect swimsuit

We waited a loooooong time for these sunny days to come, and now they're here!  There is no shortage of family swim at the local pool, splashing at fountains, or even an occassional excursion to the coast (if we have the gas money!). 

So, what do you wear?  For certain, most of the splashing activities only require our most comfy summer outfit of shorts/capris/skort with a tank/tee.  But, when we are going for full submersion, what is your attire?

Is your swimsuit years and years old?  Is it a newer number?  What styles are you finding more conducive, post-pregnancy?  Tankinis?  Wide-band two piece tops?  Boy shorts?  Skorts?  One piece with a wrap?  The options, the options!  Where can a mama go to find a suitable, affordable array items, to guarantee we'll find something to meet our needs?

How do you talk about your period with the kids?

Menstruating is just part of womanhood.  For a child, though, it can be a little foreign until we explain some part of it.  An urbanMama Pam emailed, wondering how/if you've addressed this reality with the kids?

I'm looking for advice/ideas on how to discuss menstruation with a 5-year-old boy. Is it too early to explain it to him? I try to be reasonably discrete with my "supplies" but of course he sees them and wonders what they are for. I tell him it's something for women's bodies, but I can tell he's wanting more info.

I'd love to hear how other moms have dealt with kids finding supplies or seeing blood in the toilet. Or explaining the little garbage can in public stalls after they opened it and looked inside (ugh!).

Yesterday at Fred Meyer we were walking to the parking lot and he found my bag of pads and held them up and asking loudly "mom, what are these for anyway?"

Visiting Portland: where to rent a babycarrier?

This is a unique question.  Let's help Eric and his visiting family find accomdoations for his time here:

My family will be visiting Oregon next month for the first time.  We have two kids, 3 and 6 years old.  Do you know of any place which rents babycarriers in Portland?  We plan to do a little hiking at Mt. St. Helens and the gorge.

Looking for some hikes in the area?  Check out:

• Get Yer Boots On - great family hikes in the Columbia Gorge
• Hike the Coast! - favorite jaunts on the Oregon Coast

If you feel like plugging your favorite Portland-area "kid-friendly" hiking trails, have at it!

Motherhood Manifesto: Scereen it this Thursday 7.10.08

If you haven't already seen The Motherhood Manifesto (think Moms Rising), good news!  We're getting together for another screening this Thursday 7.10.08 @ 7 PM to watch & discuss.  Read more and RSVP over on Activistas.  Hope to see you there!

Books on Family Fun in Portland

Of course the internet is a fantastic resource for finding out what's going on around town for the kids, places for serious family fun.  The uM calendar page is just one great place to get started.  But if you're offline, on a road trip, not near a computer (gasp!), what print resources do you love?  I have had Out and About Portland with Kids on the shelf for years, along with the Insiders' Guide Fun with the Family in Oregon: Hundreds of ideas for Day Trips with the Kids.  Do you even use books to find fun for the family?  If so, which ones do you love?  Why? 

Home Computer Help!

A week or two ago we talked about the best places to work from home when you're, uh, not at home.  Thanks to all for sharing some excellent spots and tricks of the trade.  So on a similar note, when we are actually working from home, we need all things technological to flow s-m-o-o-t-h-l-y.  Like really smoothly.  So all the equipment doesn't end up out the window in the back yard! 

How did you get it all set up, ready to work?  Know any great computer services that will come to your home and get it all working just the way it should?  That you would recommend?  'Cause this mama can't quite get the router working, among other things.  And before we see some serious frustration (and after five years of parenting small children I know what I'm capable of in the frustration department...), I need help!!! 

Sunscreen Safety & Effectiveness

I thought it was enough that I actually get sunscreen (aka sunscream to my 2 YO daughter) on the kids these days.  But apparently there's sunscreen and then there's sunscreen.  Like many products these days, some are safer than others - and in this case, more effective, too.  Read more about sunscreen safety and effectiveness and how to pick a good one over on Activistas. 

Mama Getaway: where would YOU go?

We spent the weekend with a few other very close family friends, all in different stages of their lives as parents.  Some were newer parents, some were conceiving of conceiving, one was pregnant, and another was parent to a 12-year old.  Our spouses took a morning to have an activity of their own, and they are also planning on participating in a very fun weekend excusion, sans families.  We, left manning the fort and entertaining the offspring, got to talking: we should plan a getaway of our own, mamas-only.

Will you dream with me?  If you could plan a getaway, to take time all to yourself away from the family, where would you go?  What would you do?  Just because I want to daydream, let's pretend we didn't have to worry about money or logistics.

WEEKEND WARRIORS: July 4-6

Happy Independence Day, Mamas!  If you're looking for a little more boom and bang than the backyard sparklers can provide, check out fireworks at Oaks Park, Waterfront Park, or PGE Park.  And as always. there's more weekend fun to be found over on the urbanMamas calendar.

Friday

Free First Friday Nights: Kids get in free to the Portland Children's Museum from 5:00-8:00 pm. In celebration of the 4th of July holiday, see a spectacular fire dancer and create shimmering flame-like dancing sticks with light-catching papers and colorful sequins and spangles. 5:00-8:00 pm.

Story & a Stroll: Enjoy a short guided walk that involves education about butterflies. Targets kids 3-6, rain or shine. Pre-registration required. Tryon Creek State Park, 10:00-11:00 pm.

Eastmoreland Children's Parade: The Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association’s annual 4^th of July Parade convenes at 11:00 a.m. in front of Duniway Elementary School located on SE Reed College Place between Rex and Lambert. The parade heads two blocks north on RCP to Bybee Blvd , and returns south to Duniway.

Ladd's Addition 4th of July Parade:  Anything with wheels or feet (well, almost) is welcome to participate in this Independence Day parade.  Excellent coffee is to be had at Palio, right on Ladd Circle! 11:00 am.

Jelly Jar Jam: Interactive kid (and parent!) musical entertainment.  Mississippi Pizza (3552 N Mississippi Ave.), 4:00.

Saturday

Ladybug Walk: A guided 60 minute walk around Forest Park (Newton Road, NW 53rd Avenue entrance)for preschoolers, no registration necessary, $2 per child. 10:00-11:30 am.

Ice Cream Tasting: I scream, you scream....got to love New Seasons!  All stores, Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am-5:00 pm.

Music in Action: Enjoy a high-energy blend of rhythmic, participatory, funny and interactive songs and stories with Rich Glauber. Belmont Library (1038 S.E. 39th Ave), 3:00-3:45.

Super Donkey Saves the Day: Join Penny's Puppet's for one of her always lively puppet shows.  Sunnyside Swap Shop-Co-op (3520 SE Yamhill), 3:00 pm.

Sunday

Whiskey Flats Brass Band: Come enjoy a 10 piece brass ensemble as they kick of the music in the forest series at Tryon Creek State Park. 2:00-3:00.

$2 Sunday at OMSI:  If you're looking to get out of the sun, the first Sunday of every month, OMSI is only $2 per person.

Portland Art Museum Family Day:  Adults aren't free (unless you're a member), but kids under 17 are!  Enjoy a docent-led, kid focused tour, story time, and an art project so kids make their own masterpiece. 12:30-3:00 pm.

Old enough for fireworks?

Okay, I admit it, I really want to take my kids to see fireworks tomorrow.  I love them (fireworks, that is!) and I know they would too (right?).  But with a 5 year old who wakes up at the crack of dawn regardless of what time he goes to bed and a 3 year old who is transitioning (and not so smoothly) out of naps, sleep in our household is a precious commodity these days, and not just for the parents.   Are you taking your kids to see any big bang fireworks?  Any concerns about the super late bedtime or tricks for making up the lost sleep?

All I want is mama!

In many households, there is a primary caretaker for the little ones in our lives, and that person is a mama.  In many other households, the primary caretaker is a papa, an auntie, a family friend.  There is a strong special bond that offen develops between mama and babe because of this role.  In many households, there are other caretakers beyond the primary one.  In many households, the secondary caretaker is a papa.  In many other households, the secondary caretakers is a mama, an cousin, a family friend. 

If there are two adults who are caretakers in your household, how have those dynamics played out with your littlest family members?  How have you strengthened the relationship among all, not just the mama?  An urbanMama emails:

I have a 3 month old daughter and have recently gone back to work part time. I work in the evenings, just 4 hours at a time. I've been taking my daughter to work with me, and after a couple hours when my husband gets off work he picks her up to take her home.  She is fine during the trip home, but as soon as they step into the front door she starts crying/screaming and continues to do so until she passes out or I come home (as soon as I hold her she starts to calm, nursing eases her completely).

Her Papa tries everything he can think of to cheer her; playing, distracting, rocking, patting, feeding her breastmilk from a bottle; but she is inconsolable. He has a theory - that her understanding of our home environment is that Home is Where Mama Is. (I work part-time from home as well, and am able to be with her all day.)

As a result, their alone time is stressful for both of them and discouraging to Papa. We worry that she's not able to be happy while alone with him and that we're introducing a Mama-Only attitude unintentionally.  We need to find some solace and a solution.  Has anybody had a similar experience?  What helped your family through it?