Montco Moms Turn to Facebook to Consign

Local mothers exchange childhood toys, clothing and accessories using social media.

Moms have to do it all. From getting the kids to soccer practice, to scheduling every doctor, dentist and eye appointment, from school homework to dance recitals, it just never ends. Moms over the years have developed some unique ways of organizing it all. Thankfully, with tools like smartphones, Google calendars, and alarmed reminders, there are multiple tricks of the trade these days. Some mothers in Montgomery County have found a way to even use social media to their advantage, too. With Facebook, some 502 moms have found a way to consign online. It can be difficult to get around to all the sales, find clothes and toys on a budget and make the family dollar stretch, but with Montgomery County Kids Online Yard Sale, the sale is always in…

• Photos (4)

Montco Mommy

Passing Down a Passion for Books

Montco Mommy's family has shared a box set of books for three generations now.

When I was little, I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read all of her books, and most days, I’d trade any of my modern day luxuries to be that little girl on the prairie. These days, when I’m sitting in thick Philadelphia traffic or watching my MacBook spin the “pinwheel of death,” I sometimes dream of the same thing. Sometimes, I wouldn’t mind giving up cable TV, electricity and laundry machines for the feeling of wide open spaces, working for the simplicity of survival and skipping out on all of our modern-day challenges. When I was little, my mom handed down her tattered and torn copies of all of Wilder’s books. She had a box set when she was a kid. I still remember the perfect penmanship scripted in pencil with her name on the …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Car Seat Check Hosted by County

Keep your family's smallest safest with help from Montco.

Do you have questions about car seats? It is hard to keep track of what age, weight, height or size your child needs to be to switch types of safety seats. From baby carriers, to booster seats, seats with backs and seats without, parents can have total confusion about which seat can keep your child safe. Thankfully, the county's Department of Health is here to help. Child safety seats save lives, but only when they are installed and used properly. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages one to thirteen according to crash data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Association. In 2011, nine children, from newborns to age 8, lost their lives in vehicle crashes in …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Every Day Can Be Earth Day: Plant the Seeds, Inspire Children

Encourage children to love the earth and all will bloom naturally. Here are some family activities you can do to foster environmentalism.

While April 22 was Earth Day, which is celebrated across the entire world, what can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? Love begins in the home and so does the love for our earth. If you teach your children to respect the earth on every level, they will continue to realize the global impact of environmentalism when they become adults. This is important for the sustainability of life as we know it.   Perhaps we can set off that spark in a child, making them want to learn more about the process and do more to help. If we've done our part, they might strive to become an environmentalist—professionally or at heart. Inspire children, plant the seeds early on, and they will flourish.  We all strive to do "acts of …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Thursday

Thursday, April 25 marks the 20th anniversary of National Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

Do you really want your children to understand what you do for a living? Whether you're a lawyer or a librarian, take them to work with you on Thursday. April 25 marks the 20th anniversary of national Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.  The annual event was first created for girls in 1993 by the Ms. Foundation For Women. The initial purpose of the day was to help increase self-esteem in young girls while exposing them to future career options. A decade later, boys started joining their parents at work on this day.  According to the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation, the purpose of the day is to empower children to plan for the future and to help them understand the value of a good education. Check out this Huffington …

• Photos (1)

Teaching Your Son To Fish ... So To Speak

Montco Mommy learns to let go, so her son might become a better man.

  I really cannot believe it. I mean, I know he is half his father’s child, too, but it astonishes me that my son somehow got zero of my obsessive compulsive genetics. I’m a pretty organized gal. I think I have to be. To do well in school, get great grades, participate in four sports and countless academic clubs and groups, I had to be as a kid. I worked hard then, and I work hard now. Instead of schlepping backpacks, notebooks and sports equipment, I schlep kids, their school bags, and, OK, still a lot of sporting equipment. To keep four people on track, from bills for the house, to dentist appointments, doctor’s visits to sports’ practices, the scheduling and organization is endless. Because I am so obsessive about it, it seems I’ve gone…

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Melissa Treacy

3:08 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Thank you, Rusty. I agree whole-heartedly. It is yet another balance to find with a child. Is he just "different" than others? And that's totally great. I'd actually prefer it! Does he just operate in a unique way? I'd hate to discourage that. But, as you said, I also need to be sure it is "working." And for him, it seems to, but disrupts others, so he has to find (along with mom lol) a good way …   more ›

Dads, Kids, Doughnuts, Ceramics ... What Could Go Wrong?

Local art studio offers a unique gift idea for mom.

Mother's Day is tough. It is typically up to dad and the kids to find something unique to give or to do for mom. This year, you have a little help from Busy Bee. The Audubon-based, paint-your-own pottery and arts studio, located at Pawlings and Egypt roads, has a tip. Drop dad a big hint and set up an appointment for him. On Saturday, April 27, "Dads and Doughnuts" day will be hosted at the business. From 8 to 11 a.m. dads and their children can come in to select a unique gift for the family matriarch. The families can dine on doughnuts while painting her a gift she'll cherish forever. With hand-prints, foot-prints and lettering, the ideas are endless. "We are opening early and serving donuts for dads to bring the kiddos in to make a …

• Photos (1)

'Shear' Fun at Peter Wentz Farmstead This Saturday

Join in on the fun at the annual shearing of the sheep at the historical farm in Worcester.

Bring the kids out to Peter Wentz Farmstead, a restored 18th Century Pennsylvania German historic site in nearby Worcester, this Saturday, April 13 for some hands-on, family-friendly and even educational fun at the annual shearing of the sheep. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farmers and period re-enactors will demonstrate what life was like on a Colonial-era Pennsylvania German farm. Farmers will be shearing sheep throughout the day and visitors will have a chance to help brush the wool before it heads to the spinners to be turned into yarn. Artisans and educators will also be on hand to teach visitors about the native Lenape culture, demonstrating woodworking and broom-making skills and showing off authentic tools of the …

• Photos (2)

Montco Mommy

I Love You, Alora ... But Go The 'F' To Sleep

Montco Mommy's blood pressure rises once per night, at least, when putting the smallest child to bed.

I'm not a very patient person, but since I've been a mother, I feel like I've grown some in that department. As a mom, you have to be patient. But, besides Philadelphia area traffic, the only other thing that I seem NOT to be able to control my famed red-headed temper about is my daughter going to bed. I'll admit it. We were spoiled first. My son was the quietest baby ever. He slept through the night by 10 weeks, and ever since has quietly gone to bed, peacefully, happily, and will even ask to go if it is getting too late. It seems just about EVERY night of my daughter's life, however, yes all five years of it, we've fought her to go to bed. We've gone through various stages with it. She used to sleep in a bassinet beside our bed, but …

•  7 Comments
• Videos (1)

Josette Miller

7:09 am on Monday, April 8, 2013

noo this is my sister favorite story and it puts me and my sister go strate to sleep soo ha and HA   more ›

Fairview Village Church Easter Egg Hunt and Block Party Scheduled for Saturday

Bring the kids for plenty of Easter fun this Saturday in Eagleville.

It's Easter time and that means hunting for Easter egg. Bring the family over to Fairview Village Church at 3044 West Germantown Pike in Eagleville on Saturday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to noon for their Easter Egg Hunt & Family Block Party. The free event will feature thousands of eggs for the Easter egg hunt, inflatable bouncers and carnival games, live music and even Lazer Tag for the older kids.   For more information about this and other Easter events at Fairview Village Church, visit their website at www.FairviewVillageChurch.com.  

• Photos (1)