Mommy-Magazine-MM75-Jan-Feb-2018

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mommy® magazine Bring On The New Year Perfect Parenting Resolutions Climbing the Outdoor Elevator (again and again and again) Shamrock Park and Nature Center In this issue: • Birth Stories • Preschool Foodies • Social Development for Babies Secrets to a Spontaneous Family Getaway Rock Out! The Sound and the (Four-Year-Old) Fury at Music Compound Where DO Babies Come From, Daddy? Timing the Big Talk Your Family’s Local Survival Guide Jan/Feb 2018

mommy®

magazine

Bring On

The New

Year

Perfect

Parenting

Resolutions

Climbing the Outdoor Elevator

(again and again and again)

Shamrock Park

and Nature Center

In this issue:

• Birth Stories

• Preschool Foodies

• Social Development

for Babies

Secrets to a

Spontaneous

Family

Getaway

Rock Out!

The Sound and the

(Four-Year-Old) Fury at

Music Compound

Where DO

Babies Come

From, Daddy?

Timing the Big Talk

Your Family’s Local Survival Guide

Jan/Feb 2018

Welcome to the Club

send us a photo and info about your baby

(up to 1 year old) to:

birth@mommy-magazine.com

Seager James Anthony Blackwell

Born June 1st 2017

Weighed 6lb. 15oz. 20.25in long.

Welcomed by his joyful parents and

proud big brother Maverick

Ziggy Michael Carlson

Born August 10, 2017

He was welcomed by his loving parents

Shaun and Jen Carlson and his big siblings

Arabella, Dillon, and Declan

Your baby's

birth story,

IN PRINT!

Where your faith is just as

important as your SAT scores.

From the moment you step onto our campus, you’re welcomed

into a nurturing and positive learning environment. Fully

accredited, our challenging, comprehensive curriculum is

interwoven with Biblical truth and values of honor, character,

integrity, self-discipline, diversity, and kindness.

Experience a school Committed to Christ & Academic Excellence.

OPEN HOUSE

January 25th | 6:30-8:00pm

An Exceptional Christ-centered Education • Pre-K through 12th Grade

5415 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota, FL 34232 • SarasotaChristian.org

941-371-6481 ext. 238

Let's talk about birth, baby.

Long labor, short labor,

C-section, or adoption?

Hospital, birth center, at

home, or in a taxi?

Every mom has at least one

good story about it! Let us

know if you're willing to be

interviewed:

birth@mommy-magazine.com

Layne Elizabeth Hall

Born June 24, 2017

Welcomed by parents David and Kaleigh Hall

2 mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine

mommy magazine ®

mail@mommy-magazine.com

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Sara Malone, Editor-In-Chief

Amy Shepherd Dow, Editor

Kathryn Coleman, Office Manager

Raven Greulich, Calendar Administrator

Jason Kimble, Copy Editing

Ciera Coleman, Graphic Design

& Photo Editor

Katie Jones, Marketing & Social Media

This Issue's Columnists and Contributors:

Joseph Brunetti

Kara Chalmers

Chelsea Clarkson

Elaine Glickman

Stephanie Knight

Erika Kohne

Printed by Sun Coast Press

Fiona Galloway Long

Beth Luberecki

Rob McLain

Ashley Murphy

Charli Nimz

Rawley Ryckman

Ryan Stanley

For advertising information:

sales@mommy-magazine.com

Mission Statement

mommy ® is a bimonthly magazine written by,

for, and about local moms in the greater Sarasota

area. mommy ® strives to achieve a balance

between useful information and entertaining

content. Dubbed Your Family's Local Survival Guide,

mommy ® provides mothers of children (birth-10)

with guides to area parks, eateries, stores, and

family events. mommy ® is written to serve as

the local reading alternative to family magazines

that are produced for a larger regional/national

audience. mommy ® contains views and opinions

from across the parenting spectrum. These views

do not necessarily reflect those of the Corporation.

We will consider the work of freelance writers, article

ideas, as well as anecdotes or personal stories related

to parenting in the greater Sarasota/Bradenton area.

All submissions become sole property of mommy

magazine ® . If selected for

publication, all submissions will be

edited for length, clarity, and/or taste

without notification and may be

republished in any format, including

online, in perpetuity.

Mommy, Corp.

1661 Ringling Blvd, #758 Sarasota FL 34230

voice or fax: (941) 404-8860

mail@mommy-magazine.com

Want to see your children in the magazine?

Send photos of your cute kids to:

photos@mommy-magazine.com

mommy

Your Family's Local Survival Guide

magazine

January/February 2018 Volume Thirteen, Issue Three

2 Welcome to the Club

4 Special Events

in January and February

Pages 4-6, 10, 12-14, 16

7 From the Editor

9 Birth Stories

Lindsay Marchisello

11 Mothering, Honestly

2018 Resolutions

by Chelsea Clarkson

13 That Awkward Mom-ent

Cartoon by Ciera Coleman

15 Daddy

Big Talk, Mister

by Rob McLain

17 Forty Carrots

Family Center’s

Parenting Pointers

Social Development

by Katie Schaeffer

18 Teacher Feature

Rachel Chappell

Tatum Ridge Elementary

On this issue's cover:

Baby Oceana, 8 months old,

watching her big brothers

Luca, 5, Miciel, 9, and Kian, 7

frolic with Mom Shelly

and Dad Daniel

on Siesta Key,

December 2017.

20 Morals & Manners

Elaine Glickman

22 Weekly & Ongoing

Events in January

and February

Pages 22-24, 28-30,

32-33, 37, 39

25 Are We There Yet?

Ashley Murphy reviews

Music Compound

26 Extraordinary Parenting

Beth Luberecki interviews

Carolyn Hoffman

31 Preschool Foodies

Food Art!

by Charli Nimz

34 Park Reviews

Joe Brunetti visits Longwood

Park and Shamrock Park

36 Fit Mommy

Robyn Miller

38 Birth Stories

Rebekah Greer

®

This issue's cover photography by:

Leave Earth clean for our children.

Please recycle your free copy of

mommy ® after you have read

it from cover to cover.

Reproduction in part or in whole without written

permission is prohibited.

mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine 3

Special Events

January 1 to February 28, 2018

Have a family-friendly event

you'd like to list here?

Send your info to

calendar@

mommy-magazine.com.

Deadline for event

submissions is the 10th of

the month prior to print.

(It's also a good idea to

verify event and weather

info online before heading

out with your kiddos.)

January

Jules, 2

Blueberi Photography

Sea Debris: Awareness Through

Art at Mote Marine. New exhibit

showing daily through June 15,

2018. The ocean is our treasure,

so why is it getting trashed? Find

out and learn how to help at “Sea

Debris.” Visitors meet Greta the

Great White Shark, Natasha the

Turtle and other huge, marineinspired

sculptures made of debris

gathered from Oregon’s coast and

transformed into art by the project

“Washed Ashore. Sculptures up to

15 ft long and 8 ft high. Mote.org.

1 Severe Weather Awareness

Week Poster Contest. Grades

K-5. Deadline 2/9. Complete

rules: FloridaDisaster.org/SWAW.

1 Mangrove School of Sarasota

Homeschool Enrichment. Now

Enrolling for Spring. Call to learn

more about our homeschool

enrichment offerings through Gr

6. 6210 Crestwood Ave. 927-3711

or www.MangroveSarasota.com.

2 Get Slimed and Glow in the

Dark at North Sarasota Library.

1-3pm. We will be making slime

and glow-in-the-dark bottles. Join

us for some ooey-gooey fun!

2 Teen Bad Movie Night at

Shannon Staub Library. 6pm.

Because who doesn’t love to

watch and make fun of a terrible

movie with friends? Popcorn will

be provided! For grades 6-12.

4675 Career Lane, North Port.

2 Free Backstage Tour of The

Sarasota Ballet. 9:30am. FSU

Center for the Performing Arts.

To reserve your spot: 225-9899 or

friends@sarasotaballet.org.

2 Winter Camp: Arts & Bots

at Glazer Museum. Jan 2-5.

Find where art and technology

meet! Code an Ozobot, paint with

Sphero the sphere-shaped robot,

and much more! glazermuseum.

org/camps.

3 Open Lab in the Creation

Station at Selby Library.

10:30am. Come use our Adobe/

Mac software and sewing

machines on your own personal

projects. Time slots are filled on

a first-come-first-serve basis.

Sclibs.net.

3 Teen Gaming Club at North

Sarasota Library. 3-4pm. Join us

for an afternoon of games, X-box,

Wii, more! Sclibs.net.

3 Girls Who Code at Shannon

Staub Library. 5:30pm. For girls

in grades 6-12. Pre-registration

and a weekly commitment on

every Wednesday evening from

January-May required. Contact

Toni Salvatore at tsalvato@scgov.

net for more details!

3 Teen Tech: Coding Games at

Jacaranda Library. 6pm. Join us

for the Hour of Code with a twist!

We will have computers set up

with some of our favorite coding

sites as well as some hands-on

coding bots. Sclibs.net.

4 Teen Wacom Workshop. 6pm.

Learn how to make digital art! For

grades 6-12. Sclibs.net.

4 MOPS-Mothers of

Preschoolers of Sarasota at

Pine Shores. Jan. 4 & 18, 9:30-

11:30am. At our monthly MOPS

meeting, your preschooler will have

fun playing in our nursery while

we meet to support each other

through conversation and learning

together. mopsinternational.org or

“MOPS of Sarasota” on FB.

4 Little Sprouts Club at Selby

Gardens. Selby.org

4 Video Gaming at Selby

Library. 4-6pm. Drop in and play

games on PlayStation and Wii.

Recommended for ages 11-18.

Sclibs.net.

5 Sand Volleyball at Bee Ridge

Park. 8am-9pm. Ages 10 and up.

Free. Open play on five lighted

courts. For details call 941-316-

1330. Scgov.net.

5 National Bird Day with Jim

Hoover. 10am-4pm. Visit all the

birds who live there temporarily

while they recover from injuries.

Save Our Seabirds, 1708 Ken

Thompson Pkwy. 388-3010 or

admin@saveourseabirds.org.

5 Primary Readers- Early

Edition at Gulf Gate Library.

2:30pm. Ages 5-7. K-2nd graders

make a great leap into the world

of independent reading. To

encourage this we look at different

series each month in a fun way

with activities and discussion.

Snacks served. Reserve your

space and get your book early.

Sclibs.net.

5 Parents Night Out at ESJ

Branch YMCA. 1st and 3rd

Fridays, 6-10pm. Ages 1-12. $25

members, $35 non-members.

Sibling discount. Parents enjoy

kid-free time while your children

have a blast in a safe, caring,

fun environment. Games, crafts,

movies, and pizza! Registration

required. Thesarasotay.org.

5 Woodmere Park Community

Sale. 8am-1pm. Free admission

for shoppers. Scgov.net.

5 i-Ready Lab at North Sarasota

Library. 10am. Practice your

reading and math on i-Ready or

IXL. Bring your account login info.

Headphones provided. Sclibs.net.

5 Lego Club: Stop Motion

Animation at North Sarasota

Library. 2-3pm. Join us for a stop

motion animation workshop. Make

a movie out of your Lego creations!

Ages 7 and up. Registration

recommended. Sclibs.net.

5 Mangrove School of Sarasota

- Forest Kindergarten. Begins

January 5th. Nature Immersion for

ages 3-6. 941-927-3711 or www.

MangroveSarasota.com.

6 Venice Antiques Show. Jan

6-7, 10am, $7 admission. Venice

Community Center.

6 Nathan Benderson Park

Movie Night. Moana! 4:30pm.

For more information see the

monthly events calendar at

nathanbendersonpark.org or

contact info@sanca.us.

6 Family Game Day- Featuring

Giant Twister at Shannon Staub

Library. 11am. A variety of board

games and one “life sized” board

game featured each month.

Sclibs.net.

6 Tween STEM Club at

Jacaranda Library. 11am. Ages

7-12. New topic each month

related to Science, Engineering,

Technology, or Math! Registration

required; light snack served.

September’s topic: Farewell to

Cassini—The Grand Finale with

special guest, NASA Ambassador,

Linda Stein!

6 Adulting 101 at North Port

Library. 1:30pm. Ages 13-22,

monthly themes range from

getting a job to maintaining your

car. Call for details 861-1307.

Sclibs.net.

6 Annual Orchids Expo. Jan

6-7, 10am-5pm. Adults $5, under

8 free. Interact with growers,

attend seminars, purchase

orchids or just enjoy the beauty of

thousands of orchids on display.

Sarasota Municipal Auditorium.

Sarasotaorchidsociety.org.

6 Annual Health Expo at

Robarts Arena. Doors open

8am. Free. 90+ vendor booths.

foodporiumfanclub.com

6 Baby Care Basics Course.

9am-12pm. $15. Registration

required: 782-2229 or visit the

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

website.

6 Coquina Beach Winter Fest.

Jan 6-7, 10am-4:30pm. 2650

Gulf Drive S, Bradenton Beach

Sunsetboulevardpromotions.

6 Starlite Puppets at Selby

Gardens “Little Sprouts Club”

11 am Free for members/ regular

admission price for non-members.

Starlite Puppets is dedicated

to sharing the art of storytelling

with puppetry and live music.

We believe that puppetry is for

everyone--the young and the

young at heart! We love to inspire

magic, creativity, delight and

wonder. Selby.org or 366.5731.

6 Scrapbooking Fun. $15.

9am-4pm. Paper crafting

workshops include scrapbook

layouts, card making, and special

projects. Participants may bring

their own supplies and/or purchase

supplies from instructor. Lunch

provided.Community Education

Center, 4940 Pan American Blvd,

North Port. Cityofnorthport.com.

7 Andrew Monroe Memorial

Scholarship 5K Run/Walk. Siesta

Key Beach. Andrewmonroe.com.

7 SUP & Surf Teen Waterman

Training. Sundays 9:30am on

Lido Key. 1/7-2/11. For ages

11-18, who want more time out

on the water learning stand up

paddleboarding, surfing and water

safety. Surfitusa.com.

8 Lego Club at Gulf Gate

Library. 4-6pm. Calling all LEGO

Enthusiasts. We have blocks of all

sizes and complexities; just bring

your imagination. Sclibs.net.

8 Read With the Dogs at Elsie

Quirk Library. 3:30pm. For

ages 5-11. Children are invited

to read with certified pet therapy

dogs from Suncoast Humane

Society. The program encourages

conversation and develops

reading and communication

skills. The dogs love the attention

and the kids love the interaction.

Sclibs.net.

8 Parent and Me Classes!

10 a.m. Susan Schwaid Early

Learning Center at Temple

Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Rd. Birth

through age 2 with caregiver. Call

for registration and pricing. Tots

from newborn through age 2 and

the adult caregivers who love them

are invited for play, songs and

fingerplays, storytime, movement,

bubbles, and more—all with a

Jewish and Hebrew twist. Classes

continue Mondays through Feb

5. For more information, please

email eviesrqwork@gmail.com.

9 Youth Opera Open House Jan

9 & 11, 5:30-7pm for ages 11-18

& Jan 13 10-10:45am (girls 8-10)

10:45-11:30am (boys 8-10)...

Informal sessions for singers

age 8-18. No prior experience

necessary. No need to bring a

prepared piece of music. Families

need only attend one session. To

reserve a seat: 366-8450 x249 or

youthopera@sarasotaopera.org.

9 Celery Fields Cleanup. 8am.

Meet in the Nature Center. 6893

Palmer Blvd, Sarasota. Visit

Sarasotaaudubon.org/events/ for

more information.

9 Read with the Dogs at North

Port Library. 6pm. Ages 5 and

up, younger if accompanied by a

caregiver. Children are invited to

read to certified pet therapy dogs

from Suncoast Humane Society.

Sclibs.net.

9 Free Concerts in Downtown

Venice. Centennial Park Gazebo.

3-5pm. Come enjoy live music

3-5pm Jan 9-10. Venicegov.com.

9 Teen Craft Night. 5:30pm.

Ages 12-18. Drop by to create

new crafts each month. Snacks

will be provided. Sclibs.net.

10 Fire Rescue Puppet Show

at Shannon Staub Library.

Children and families will receive

Fire Safety Education from the

North Port Fire Rescue with the

puppet troupe The Safety Bunch.

Sclibs.net.

10 Technology Playground

at North Port Library. 3-4pm.

Afterschool program for ages

8-18, use Snap Circuits, Little Bits,

Makey Makey, & more. Sclibs.net.

10 Full S.T.E.A.M Ahead at

Elsie Quirk Library. 3:30pm. For

ages 5-11. Explore fundamental

concepts of S.T.E.A.M. (Science,

Technology, Engineering, Art and

Math). Fun, engaging, hands on

learning. Registration limited to 15

participants. Sclibs.net.

10 Teen North Port Anime

Club. 5:30pm. View the best

of Japanese Animation, and

join a discussion group after.

Attendees choose materials

viewed. Discussion include

universal themes and cultural

differences. All rated PG-13/TV-14

or lower. Call for prospective titles

861-1304.

10 Looking Into the Crystal

Ball at Selby Library. 6pm.

Party inside the Selby Library

at our annual casual fundraiser

presented by Friends of the Selby

Public Library. $30 advance, $40

at door. Information: 861-1140 or

to charge tickets via phone. Also

visit www.selbylibraryfriends.org

to view past event highlights.

4 mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine

nftusahmwozbip

10 Teen Tech: Intro to 3D

Design at Jacaranda Library.

6pm. Learn how to design simple

3D objects online! Create and print

your own! Ages 11-18. Sclibs.net.

10 Gluten-Free Support

Group. 2nd Wednesdays each

month, 6:30-8pm. Meetings

are open to the public and

we encourage those newly

diagnosed, who need to follow a

gluten-free diet, to attend and to

bring their questions. LWRMC,

Conference Room 1. Contact,

Robert Suarez, 351-3086.

Sarasotaglutenfreesupport.org.

11 Manatee County Fair. Jan

11-22. Palmetto Fairgrounds,

1402 14 th Ave W. 722-1639 or

manateecountyfair.com.

11 Teen Arts & Crafts at

Shannon Staub Library. Create

your own work of art in the

Creation Station! For grades 6-12.

4675 Career Lane, North Port.

Sclibs.net.

11 Venice Fun in the Sun.

Jan 11-14. Festival of miniatures

at the Venezia, 425 US 41

Bypass N, Venice. For more info:

miniaturiaunlimited.com.

11 ROAR! Ringling Order of Art

Readers. Jan 11-12. 10:30am.

Family storytime engages toddlers

and preschoolers in activities that

connect art with early literacy. Drop

in program free with admission.

11 Infant CPR. 6:30 p.m. $15/

person, registration required.

Hands-on practice in proper

techniques of infant CPR based on

the latest AHA recommendations.

For parents, grandparents,

siblings and babysitters. LRMC.

Registration required: 782-2229.

11 Teen Room at North

Sarasota Library. 2:30pm. Teens

Grades 6-12 are welcome to hang

out, have snacks, play games,

and more. Sclibs.net.

12 Shabbat Family Services!

7:15pm. All ages. FREE.

Celebrate Shabbat in a joyful

family atmosphere! Rabbi Brenner

Glickman, Rabbi Michael Shefrin,

and the fantastic Family Shabbat

Band lead a service filled with

uplifting prayers, lively music, a

great story, and the opportunity

for every child to ascend the pulpit

for the Torah service and join

the hakafa – Torah procession –

throughout the sanctuary. Your

family will be warmly welcomed

- Shabbat Shalom! Temple

Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road.

For more information, please go

to www.sarasotatemple.org.

12 Gems, Jewelry, Beads.

10am-5pm. $5. Municipal

Auditorium. Frankcoxproductions.

12 Sarasota Bayfront

Boat Show. Jan 12-14. Free

Admission. Fri & Sat 10am-7pm

& Sun 12-5pm. Marina Jacks, 2

Marina Plaza. Facebook.com/

SarasotaYacht.

12 Feuding Friday at Morgan

Family Community Center.

5:30pm. Ages 13 & up. Survey

Says..... You and your friends are

going to love this game! Join us for

a fun, energetic and challenging

game of feud among your friends.

Fee: $3/residents; $4/nonresidents.

Cityofnorthport.com.

12 Parents’ Night Out at Pine

Shores Presbyterian Church.

6:30-8:30pm. Ages preschool

through Grade 5. Register at

pineshorespres.org. 780-5857.

13 F.I.S.H Project at Lemon Bay

Park. 9:30-11:30am. Using hand

and seine nets, you will search

shallow waters and seagrass

beds, observing, collecting, and

discussing the natural history

of some of the many interesting

fishes and other animals that

inhabit the bay. dzeilman@scgov.

net.

Cover and Calendar Photos by

Blueberi Photography

blueberiphotography.com

13 Winnie the Pooh Tea Party.

2pm at The Children’s Garden

Join us on a grand adventure with

a scavenger hunt through 100

Acre Woods! Then we will have

a Tigger-ific time listening to a

beloved Pooh Tale, making a craft

and playing in the garden. When

your tummy gets rumbly enjoy a

yummy bumblebee cupcake and

cup of tea. It’s a party so bring your

favorite bear along to celebrate

too! This family fun tea party is

$10+tax with your admission fee to

the garden and garden members

is only $10+tax. You can call the

garden to make your reservation

or go online to our webpage

sarasotachildrensgarden.com

Space is limited for the event

so book now. Rain date will be

January 20th at 2pm!

13 Annual Anna Maria

Island-Fest Arts & Crafts

Show. Jan 13-14. 5801

Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

Sunsetboulevardpromotions.

13 IQuest at The South

Florida Museum. Kids Only! $5

reservation includes pizza and a

drink. Grades 6-8. Challenging

projects and games that inspire

out-of-the-box solutions to real

world problems. 746-4131.

13 Annual Ringling Bridge

Run. The 15th Annual Sarasota

YMCA Ringling Bridge Run

presented by CenterState Bank

is Sarasota’s premiere 4 mile

road race including a 1 Mile Fun

Run/Walk. All proceeds benefit

the Sarasota YMCA’s programs

supporting youth and families.

Start time for the 4 Mile Run/Walk

is at 7:30am and the 1 Mile Fun

Run/Walk begins at 8:30am. Arrive

early to avoid traffic and stay

late to enjoy our fun, post-race

family festival. sarasotaymca.org/

ringlingbridgerun.

13 Open House at Venice

Theatre. 10:30am-12pm.

Venicestage.com.

13 Sarasota Winter Fine Art

Festival. Downtown Sarasota

Jan 13-14. By JD Hamel Park.

Paragonartevents.com.

13 Bike, Swap, and Social. Start

out with a bike ride through North

Port Estates and end up at the

Mullen Center for food and a swap

meet. George Mullen Community

Center. Cityofnorthport.com.

13 Annual St Armands

Circle Ring of Fame Induction

Ceremony. Pre-ceremony

festivities begin at 1:15pm and

feature the Windjammers, a 60

piece circus band, conducted

by band leader Andrew Glover.

St. Armands Circle Park.

Starmandscircleassoc.com.

13 Paddington Storytime at

Sarasota Barnes and Noble.

11am. Join us for Storytime

featuring this beloved classic, in

theaters now.

13 Nokomis Barefoot

Beach Bazaar. 2nd Saturdays

10am-2pm. Live music, arts &

crafts, refreshments, educational

kids programs, all in a beautiful

beach atmosphere. 100 Casey

Key Rd, Nokomis (just over the

Albee Rd. bridge). For more info or

to register as a vendor: 861-5000

and ask for Aaron Carson or email

acarson@scgov.net.

13 Spanish Story Time at Elsie

Quirk Library. 10:30am. For ages

3 and up. Bilingual stories, songs,

and activities. Learn new words

and practice language skills. The

bilingual storytime is presented by

library volunteer Lourdes Fuller.

Everyone welcome! Sclibs.net.

13 Free Sensory Friendly

Bowling. 11am-12:30pm. For

children with autism. Free

admission and shoe rental.

Siblings welcome. Volunteers on

site. AMF Gulf Gate Lanes, 7221

S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. (813)

240-3044. Face-autism.org.

13 Skywatch at MOSI. 6:30pm.

Join our space experts to enjoy

an evening of space exploration

through MOSI’s telescopes.

SkyWatch stargazing events are

located in the parking lot by the

new MOSI entrance. Jan 13-

The winter sky bears the usual

suspects: Orion Nebula, Sirius,

Pleiades, Hyades, and a few

others. Mosi.org.

13 Celery Fields Walks. Join

some of our best birders on the

2nd Saturday of each month

from Nov- Apr as we explore

the great variety of habitats and

birds found in the Celery Fields.

Meet at the Nature Center at

8am. Celery Fields, 6893 Palmer

Blvd. For more information email:

dzeilman@scgov.net or visit

scgov.net.

13 Anna Maria Island

Privateers Thieves Market.

8am-3pm. Free admission. A

Pirate style flea market! 100’s of

Vendors, Treasures to be Found,

Food to be Eaten, Fresh Veggies

to be bought. Custom Handmade

Jewelry to Sharks Teeth on

a String, T-Shirts to Bikini’s,

Hamburgers & Hot Dogs, Golf

paraphernalia to Fishing Lures,

Nuts to Bolts, Antiques to Knock

offs, BBQ Brisket to Hot Links.

Hang with some Pirates, a 60ft.

Pirate Ship and it all happens

right on Coquina Beach, Anna

Maria Island. Amiprivateers.

memberlodge.org.

13 Temple Emanu-El Tot

Shabbat! 10:30 a.m. Especially

for families with kids up to age

6. FREE. Young Jewish and

interfaith families are warmly

invited to this Shabbat morning

celebration featuring outdoor

playtime, a bagel breakfast, craft,

and age-appropriate Shabbat

blessings, songs, and movement!

We’ll also focus on the blessings

of health and self-care with

some family yoga and a healthy

cooking project! The morning is

designed especially for families

with children up to age 6, but all

are welcome. Shabbat Shalom!

Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh

Rd. For more info or reservations:

379-1997.

13 Wreath’s Across America

with ChiChi-Okobee Society.

After the holiday season has

come to a close and the wreaths

that were laid start to fade and

lose their color volunteers will

be needed to assist with wreath

removal. Please consider joining

us for this effort as well so we can

keep our local Sarasota National

Cemetery as clean and polished

as it was prior to the wreath laying

festivities. Sarasotacar.org.

14 Peter and the Wolf. 6-8pm.

Manatee Performing Arts Center.

manateeplayers.com.

15 Little Clamshells at

Mangrove School of Sarasota.

Warmth and support for parents,

and a nurturing atmosphere of joy

and respect for young children.

Outdoor play, puppetry, bread

baking, simple seasonal crafts.

6210 Crestwood Ave, Sarasota.

Call to register: 941-927-3711 or

visitMangroveSarasota.com.

January

Blueberi Photography

Vedder, 1

15 Hip Hop Workshop with

Geena. Grades 5-8, 9-12 and

Adults. Explore the freedom

of Hip Hop dance with one of

VT’s favorite choreographers.

Venicestage.com.

15 Our World Project. 9am.

Second Chance Last Opportunity,

Inc.—a well-established youth

program in Newtown primarily

serving at-risk youth ages 5 to

13—hosts a “Our World” project

with youth, seeing their world

through a special lens. Youth

take pictures of their community

in the lower socioeconomic areas

of Sarasota County (District 70).

1933 Dr Martin Luther King Way.

360-8660 or secondchancelast

opportunity.org

continued on next page

rp

mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine 5

Special

Events

January

continued from

previous page

Blueberi Photography

Brielle, 5

15 MLK Day of Service

Project. Instead of taking a day

off for the MLK Jr. holiday we will

make it a day on with our Youth

Genealogy Program. Families

with school aged children are

welcome to visit this free half-day

event. Visit with members of our

C.A.R., lineage and genealogical

societies, children’s book authors,

artists and historical reenactors.

Family fun-filled function. Contact:

adrienne@sarasotacar.org.

16 Infant Feeding Support

Group. 11:30am-1pm. Jacaranda

Library, 4143 Woodmere Park

Blvd, Venice. Sclibs.net.

16 Let’s Get Crafty at North

Port Library. 5pm. Join us for

some crafty fun! Project TBD.

Sclibs.net.

16 Mad Science at Morgan

Family Center. K-6th grade. $5

drop-inJoin us as we learn about

fun science through some crazy

creations. Each class will offer

a new, exciting and interactive

experience. For more information,

please call (941) 429-3566.

Cityofnorthport.com.

17 Just Say, “YES!”

Improvisation at Venice Theatre.

Grades 3-4. Jan 17-Mar 7.

Wednesdays, 4:30pm. Students in

this beginning level improvisation

class will have lots of FUN! They

will build self confidence and

enhance their ability to think on

their feet. Venicestage.com.

17 WalkWise at North Sarasota

Library. 3-4pm. Tweens & teens.

Learn safety tips for pedestrians,

bicyclists, and drivers. Book bags/

backpacks and bicycle lights will

be handed out at the end of the

presentation. Sclibs.net.

17 Discovery Lab Playground

at North Port Library. 5:30pm.

Create something in our

technology playground! Use Snap

Circuits, Little Bits, Makey Makey,

and more in this STEAM-based

program for children and teens.

17 DIY Perler Beads and

Shrinky Dinks at Jacaranda

Library. Ages 10-18 and their

families. Join us each month to

create Perler Bead and Shrinky

Dink projects! From video game

characters to emojis, endless

possibilities! Sclibs.net.

17 Rec On Wheels at Blue

Ridge Park. 5-6pm. Free for

all ages. Parks & Recreation is

going out into the community

and encouraging kids to come

out and play! Different locatino

each month with a city vehicle

full of activities and games.

Child care not provided. Not

held during inclement weather.

Cityofnorthport.com.

17 Teen Game Night at Elsie

Quirk Library. 6:30pm. For ages

9-18. This is an open invitation for

teens and tweens. We provide the

gaming systems and games for

the Wii an Xbox 360; you bring

your friends and have a good time.

18 Snapshot Stories at Selby

Library. 5pm. Explore the art

of entertaining with two-minute

stories. Effective everyday stories

are fun to craft and surprisingly

useful in many situations: for

entertainment, giving a short talk

and attracting interest in your

ideas and passions. Bring a photo

for inspiration. No registration

is required for this free program

but please register for a reminder

call and to give us a heads up for

preparing refreshments.

18 Intro Sewing at Selby Library.

6pm. Learn the fundamentals

of sewing, from threading the

machine to finishing touches.

Make and take an item sewn by

you! Materials are provided, class

is free! Sclibs.net.

18 Teen Maker Studio at

Shannon Staub Library. 6pm.

An open block of time for a teen

takeover in the Creation Station.

Your tools include audio production

equipment, a 3D printer, Creative

Cloud software and much more!

Teen programs are recommended

for grades 6-12. Sclibs.net.

18 Teen Creative Writing Studio

at North Port Library. 1:30pm.

Our experts will help you sharpen

your creative writing skills. Take

advantage of our creative space

to write based on the workshop,

or on your own. Free workshops

will cover topics such as character

in fiction, imagery in poetry, and

voice in nonfiction. Open to teens

in grades 6-12. Sclibs.net.

18 Theatre Magic for K-1.

Thursdays 4-5pm, Jan 18 - Mar 8.

Venicestage.com.

19 Parents Night Out at Evalyn

Sadlier, Branch YMCA. Every 1st

and 3rd Friday, 6-10pm. Ages 1-12.

$25 members, $35 non-members.

Sibling discount. Parents, enjoy

some adult time and be assured

your children will have a blast in

a safe, caring, fun environment.

Kids enjoy games, crafts, movies,

and pizza! Registration required.

Thesarasotay.org.

19 Annual Sarasota Native

American Indian Festival.

Jan 19-21. Fri 9am-5pm, Sat

10am-6pm & Sun 10am-5pm.

$8 adult, $4 ages 6 - 12, 5 and

under are free. Experience the

culture and artistry of the of the

Native American people. Find

authentic, handmade, one-of-akind

fine arts and crafts, paintings,

pottery, jewelry, sculpture, bead

work and leather work along

with story telling, dance and

Native American food. Sarasota

Fairgrounds. For more info:

"Sarasota Native American Indian

Festival dot wordpress dot com"

or email Pobsrq@gmail.com.

19 Florida Pioneer Adventure

Camping. Jan 19-21. $65/ person

per night (youth 6-12 $45, youth

under 6 free). Camping, Tent,

Lighting, and meals included.

Activities Include: Tour of Crowley

Museum and Nature Center,

Visit to Tatum House, Blacksmith

Shop, Saw Mill, Old Schoolhouse,

Museum, and guided hiking

along the Children’s Discovery

Path (learn about native animals

and birds). 2pm-2pm each day.

Crowley Museum & Nature

Center, 16405 Myakka Rd.

Notaclueadventures.com or

813-789-0904.

19 Sarasota Art and Antiques

Show. Jan 19-21 Sarasota

Municipal Auditorium. $8.

Sarasotaartandantiques.com.

19 Gatsby Gala at VPAC. 7pm.

Benefit for Venice High School’s

Interclub Council. Roarin’ 20s

attire suggested. Gen admission

tickets $5. VIP $15. Retro

concessions available. Venice

Performing Arts Center.

19 Towles Court Art Walk.

5-9pm. Jan 19. Free. Live music,

demonstrations, and artist

receptions. Adams Ln, Sarasota

(West of 301). Towlescourt.com.

19 Hobo Campfire Cookfire at

The Florida Railroad Museum.

Jan 19, 20, 26 & 27. 6pm. Join

us for an old-fashioned Hobo

Campfire Cookout! Take our

diesel powered train to the Hobo

camp and enjoy hot dogs and

marshmallows roasted over the

open fire while sipping lemonade.

Fare includes round trip train

ticket plus food and drink at the

camp fire. The Party Caboose is

also available! frrm.org/Months/

hobo-campfire.

19 Annual Fine Arts and Crafts

Festival. Jan 19-21. Fri Night

Bandana Bash: Bandanas $10.

Admission ONLY $3 Saturday

& Sunday. Free entertainment

throughout the weekend plus

children’s play area. At the

Venice Airport Festival Grounds.

Venicenokomisrotary.org/art-fest.

20 Birth to Five: Words Alive!

At North Sarasota Library. 3pm.

Come to the North Sarasota

Library and enjoy a fun, interactive

storytime designed with young

children’s learning needs in mind!

Sclibs.net.

20 Movie Night at Temple Sinai.

5:30pm. Adults $10, Children $3.

Join in the family fun event! We

will be watching Monsters, Inc.

There will be a yummy Italian

dinner, fun monster themed

crafts, and popcorn to enjoy.

Bring pillows, blankets, sleeping

bags to snuggle-up and enjoy!

4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road,

Sarasota. For more info and to

reserve your spot, email laura@

templesinai-sarasota.org or call

Laura Freedman at 926.9462.

20 The 3rd Annual Sarasota

Seafood & Music Festival. Jan

20-21. Gulfstream and Main

near JD Hamel Park. General

admission is free. VIP Tent

admission TBD. Come enjoy

downtown Sarasota, great food

and drinks, and outstanding

live musical performances.

Seafoodfestivals.com.

20 Gasparilla Children’s

Extravaganza. 3:30-6pm. Don

an eye patch and peg leg for the

children’s parade, fun activities,

and “Piratechnic” fireworks

at this alcohol-free family

event. Bayshore Blvd, Tampa.

Gasparillapiratefest.com.

20 Art Club at Jacaranda

Library. 11am on 3rd Saturdays

each month. Arts and crafts

projects for ages 6-12. Each

month will feature a new project!

Registration is required, snacks

are provided. Sclibs.net.

20 Rock Painting with Rocking

941 at Shannon Staub Library.

11am. Explore the latest trend of

painting and hiding small rocks

as a way to brighten the day of

a stranger. Join us at the library

to make some rock creations

of your own. Rocks, paint, and

brushes will be provided while

supplies last. Program is for all

ages, children, teens, adults, and

families. Sclibs.net.

20 Teen Book Channel at

Shannon Staub Library. 11am.

Read YA books, review with

peers, and record a podcast!

Recommended for grades 6-12.

Sclibs.net.

20 3D Print a Hieroglyphic

Cartouche! Selby Library, 1pm. In

Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche

is an oval with a horizontal line

at one end, indicating that the

text enclosed is a royal name

(wikipedia.org). In this workshop

you will design your own 3D

printed cartouche to let everyone

know how royal you are!

20 Growing Up Wild at Selby

Gardens. 9am-1pm. Growing

Up WILD is an early childhood

education program that builds on

children’s sense of wonder about

nature and invites them to explore

wildlife and the world around them.

Provides an early foundation for

developing positive impressions

about the natural world and

lifelong social and academic

skills. This interactive, hands-on

workshop is designed for anyone

who works with children aged 3-7.

Selby.org.

20 Teen Basic Sexual Health and

Reproductive System at North

Port Library. 2pm. A program

designed for teens to learn about

the reproductive system, and the

prevention of sexually transmitted

diseases (including HIV). Teens

attending must be 18 or have

parental permission. For details

on content, please contact Marcus

Gilfert at (941) 861-1304. Sclibs.

net.

20 5K Zombie Run. Familyfriendly

and fun for all ages! The

choice is yours: Be a Runner

(human) and run from the

Zombies or be a Zombie and pull

the runner’s flags as they run

through your “Zombie Zone.” Try

to survive, if you can... Lose your

flags, and you can still finish the

course as a runner. Prepare for

walkers, runners, crawlers... and

some surprises. For more info:

the5kzombierun.com.

21 Barefoot Beach Bazaar at

Nokomis Beach Plaza. Jan 21.

The Bazaar begins at 4pm and

closes at sunset. Don’t miss this

unique opportunity to enjoy the

beauty of Nokomis Beach along

with unique arts and crafts crafted

by local artisans. Nokomis Beach

Plaza, 100 Casey Key Road,

Nokomis. 941-861-5000.

21 YMCA Open House. Jan. 21.

No Joiners fee all January. Try the

Y for free! Believe in yourself and

we’ll help you achieve it. Health

assessments, raffles, vendors,

fitness fun & Program information

and registration. Frank G. Berlin,

Sr. Branch, 8am - 1pm & Evalyn

Sadlier Jones Branch, 9am - 2pm.

Visit Sarasotaymca.com.

22 Florida Severe Weather

Awareness Week. Jan 22-26.

Severe Weather Awareness Week

is an opportunity for the Division

to collaborate with the elementary

schools throughout Florida to

educate students about all types

of severe weather that may occur.

Floridadisaster.org/SWAW.

22 Board Game Time at Selby

Library. 3:30pm. Drop in and play

a variety of board games including

Harry Potter Clue, Ticket to Ride,

Munchkin and more! Sclibs.net.

22 Wild Sarasota: Sensational

Sharks. As the next installment

in our monthly series, join our

Florida Sea Grant agent Armando

J. Ubeda to discover amazing

facts about the sharks that inhabit

our waters. Register early through

Eventbrite.com to reserve your

spot and receive notice of any

changes. 6700 Clark Road Twin

Lakes Park, Sarasota. For more

information, call 941-861-5000 or

email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu.

23 POV at North Port Library

Doc Nights: All the Difference.

6pm. Come join us for a screening

of the POV documentary All the

Difference. Adults and Teens are

both welcome to attend this event!

Sclibs.net.

continued on page 10

6 mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine

From the Editor

I

write to you at the last possible minute

from the snowy tundra of Canada, having

spent the last month or so trying to come

up with a topic for the January letter that

didn’t involve resolution-making or taking stock

of the past year. Fat chance of that.

I had wanted to come up with a fresh and dynamic

angle. There would be no clichéd “New Year,

New Me!” talk, no philosophizing about what

happened in 2017, no misty-eyed projection into

the year ahead. I wouldn’t

make a funny list of ten

resolutions or write a

screed against doing so at

all. Instead, I’d get on a

plane to Canada with my

kids and, if not entirely

leave behind work, loosen

my grip on anything and

everything having to do

with our lives in Florida.

And that, my friends, is

exactly what I want to

write about.

***

Listen, I’m not advocating

on behalf of shirking all responsibilities and

just up and running off to another country. Not

exactly. But I am suggesting that doing so, every

once in a while, might be just as instructive as

buckling down and getting s&*% done. And not

just for you, the mom, but for your kids, too.

We hatched this travel plan pretty late in the

game, in November, after an invitation from

another mom to stay in her family’s lodge in

Parry Sound for a week over the New Year. I

didn’t really think that much about how I’d pull

it off. Some opportunities, when presented, you

grab onto for dear life and ask questions later.

The last-minute nature of this plan meant we

all had to work together to get our ducks in a

If I could wish you

anything in 2018, it would

be that you get to run out

on your life at least once, if

only to look back on it

in deep appreciation

for what it is.

row so we could leave. Certain sacrifices had

to be made, and fast. Willa had to resign herself

to only being in two of her circus shows, rather

than all eight. Jude had to complete his Write-

A-Play submission before we left, rather than

agonizingly draw it out for the ten days left

of break after Christmas. I had to rustle up

the kind of winter gear required for subzero

temperatures and work 12-hour days to get

ahead of my deadlines. Everyone had something

to give up or work around, a lesson in flexibility

(detachment, too) that

our day-to-day life

doesn’t typically provide.

This was scheduling

and forethought, sure,

but scheduling and

forethought in service

of YOLO, an acronym

I never thought I’d use

for real but here we

are. The point is, we’ve

never really pulled our

weight like this before, a

scrappy little trio burning

the candle at both ends

for the big payoff later. I

promised them it would

be worth it, and they believed me.

***

What do we talk about when we talk about travel?

We say, What an experience this will be for the

kids. We list off the benefits it offers them—an

appetite for adventure, an appreciation for other

cultures and ways, a dawning awareness that the

world is so much bigger than their small place

in it. But there’s a lot we don’t talk about, all

the stuff that isn’t rosy or embodied in a quote

we found by Mark Twain. The stuff that won’t

make it to social media or on a postcard, if we

write those.

When we got to Canada, there was about a 70

degree drop in temperature from Sarasota, which

Thousands of pounds,

deadly, and all over the ocean.

No, not sharks. Litter.

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mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine 7

GO

OVER 20% OF CHILDREN ARE OBESE.

ONE IN EVERY FOUR CHILDREN HAVE

NO FREE-TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

JOIN A YOUTH SPORT.

sarasotaymca.org/youthsports

was at a brisk 60 degrees. You can do the math.

There’s no way to prepare someone for that

kind of cold; it’s like trying to explain what it

feels like to float or break a finger or the concept

of fondue.

We drove at night two hours from Toronto airport

to the lodge. The windows were frozen over,

so you couldn’t really see anything. Jude went

in the other car, which stopped for donuts and

coffee. Later, the woman driving told me that

when they stopped, he bounded bare-handed out

of the car, ran to the first pile of snow he saw, and

plunged his hands in. “I couldn’t stop him; he

was too fast,” she said. He whipped around and

looked at her, his face contorted in pain. “No one

told me the snow would hurt,” he cried, holding

his hands aloft. The cold—snow especially, in

its angelic tufts—is a weird kind of betrayal. So

many lessons hidden in a trip like this.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, pardon

the pun. There are five other kids here, so

getting along with everyone is a goal you might

achieve on the last day of the trip. Maybe.

Some kids will happily pair off, discover they

have everything in common, and look back

on that trip to Canada when they were ten as

one of the crowning friendship achievements

of their lives. Others will find it simply not

possible to connect with the others, and this

becomes its own kind of achievement: how to

survive a week with people who merely tolerate

you. It’s a skill to master, playing by yourself

in the snow. Feeling too young for the group,

too enthusiastic, too out of step. Not having the

right apps on your phone or not having seen the

right movies—whatever it is, the realization that

you are not easily blended into the crowd, the

outsider, the interloper, the one who has no idea

how to pack a snowball, yet.

***

A funny thing happens when you leave behind

your life in favor of travel. It becomes shockingly

easy to let go. This may only be true in the case

of having your kids with you, otherwise, you’ll

feel tethered to wherever they are no matter

how far you go. Every night here my kids climb

into the bed with me, despite their lofty plans to

bunk in the kid’s room. And every night I sleep

dreamlessly, uninterruptedly. It doesn’t matter

if I wake up with a knee in my back or an arm

flopped over my face. The room is pitch black,

cold, quiet. I have nothing to worry about, as

what I would primarily worry about is right here,

and everything else I would worry about is too

far away for me to care. I don’t think we notice

how much pressure we’re under until we lift the

top of the bell jar and crawl out.

There are certain things you can’t see unless

you’re far away from them, in the snow globe

and not the bell jar. And I think it’s the same for

our kids. There’s no way to appreciate the lazy,

irreverent ease with which we can walk out the

front door barefoot in winter and chase the dog

around the lawn, until you’re somewhere where

that’s impossible. No way to understand you

don’t really sleep well in real life until you’re

somewhere where you do. No way to learn

how to miss something, let go of something,

feel less charged about something, be at peace

with something until you’ve bothered to put

some distance between that thing and you. It’s

not one of the top advantages we think about

when we think about how travel impacts our

kids, but it’s a big one.

Perspective—like explaining bitter cold—isn’t a

condition you can really understand until you’re

in the middle of having it.

***

Travel is a luxury and it don’t come easy. I

genuinely think you have to fight for it, and

then you have to keep fighting for it. You might

have to justify it to the following people: your

boss, your parents, the other parent, teachers, the

keepers of extracurricular activities, friends. But

it’s important that your kids see you fight certain

battles; this is one of them. And even in its worst

expression—inexplicable meltdowns, cars

getting stuck in the snow and everyone having

to push, a deadline you absolutely will not meet

given the spotty WiFi—it’s worth it. It’s worth

it because we need to know (and so do our kids)

that we can escape. There is always somewhere

else—and something else—that can relieve us of

our regular lives for a little while. It’s at least as

important as getting s&*% done. Maybe more.

If I could wish you anything in 2018, it would be

that you get to run out on your life at least once,

if only to look back on it in deep appreciation

for what it is.

Amy Shepherd Dow

8 mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine

Hospitials, Birth Centers, Home, or Taxis. Long Labors, Short

Labors, C-Section, or Adoption.

Lindsay Marchisello

Birth of Rowan Sterling and Ashton Lewis,

twins, 4 months old

Interviewed by Ryan Stanley

Twins! This wasn’t your first pregnancy,

but you certainly didn’t expect twins,

right?

This was my fourth pregnancy, and I thought

for sure this pregnancy and birth would be very

similar to my third pregnancy and birth. I was

very much looking forward to having another

wonderful home birth experience. Right away,

though, this pregnancy was different. I was

much more symptomatic than my previous

pregnancies, and I was showing earlier. I

assumed this was because my body knew what

it was doing and thought nothing of it. At around

20 weeks, my partner Josh and I went to our first

ultrasound. I was so excited to find out if we

were having a boy or a girl, but as soon as the

ultrasound tech scanned my belly she said, “Did

you know there’s two in here?!” I immediately

thought she was making a late April Fools’ joke,

but when I realized she wasn’t joking, I was both

ecstatic and scared. Josh was in shock!

We discovered that we were expecting two baby

boys, and that they were most likely fraternal.

With this knowledge came the realization that

a home birth, one that I was very much looking

forward to, was off the table. I cried knowing

that multiples cannot be birthed at home

according to Florida law. I would now have to

switch providers from my trusted midwife to

an OB. I would have to give birth in a hospital

and not in the comfort of my own home. I spent

quite a few weeks mourning the loss of my

home birth.

I eventually made peace with the loss of my

home birth, and resolved to make the best of the

situation. I found a provider who was willing to

deliver my babies vaginally so long as Baby A

was head down. I felt comfortable at least trying

to aim for vaginal birth instead of a C-section.

Fast forward to nearly the end of my pregnancy,

and it was discovered that both Baby A and

Baby B were breech, and Baby B

was bigger than Baby A. Both of

these things were of a concern for

the OB, and he informed me that we

would need to schedule a C-section.

I was afraid, but I embraced the

new experience and looked forward

to finally holding my babies in

my arms. I was scheduled for a

C-section at 38 weeks, 1 day.

I was the first one scheduled that

day, so we had to be at the hospital

at 4:00 a.m. I remember hardly

getting any sleep at night. I was a

mix of nervous and excited. Our

plan was to get some sleep, wake

up early, and drive to Sarasota

Memorial Hospital. Our lives

were about to change forever!

After being denied a home birth in

Florida, why did you choose SMH?

I chose SMH because they have a good NICU

should we have needed it for our twins.

How did Josh handle all of this?

He was very supportive and excited to meet his

babies. He was with me every step of the way

during my pregnancy and was there through the

whole C-section aside from when I was getting

the spinal. I remember that once he came back

in the room, he held my hand from that moment

on, which was very comforting because I

couldn’t feel my legs and started to feel very

scared.

Describe the moment your babies

came into the world.

I couldn’t feel anything due to the spinal, and

unfortunately did not see my babies immediately

because the doctor was very focused on getting

both babies out. Before I knew

it, both babies were out and I

heard their cries. Josh took

a few pictures of their first

moments while I was getting

sewn up. When I finally got

to see them they were so

beautiful. I couldn’t wait to

hold them!!

What was the first

thing you said after

your babies were

born?

I didn’t say much. I only

remember wanting to get

sewn up as quickly as possible so that I could

hold and nurse and finally meet my babies.

If there is one thing you could go back

and change about your labor and birth,

what would it be?

I would have loved it if Florida law allowed

multiples to be birthed in a home setting, as my

home birth was a beautiful experience, and I

loved the peaceful way that my third child was

welcomed into this world.

What’s your best advice for pregnant

women as they prepare for labor and

birth?

It’s completely okay to plan your birth, and

totally normal to want things to turn out a

certain way, but, as I learned, you just never

know how things will turn out, so it’s a good

idea to prepare for the possibility that things

may not go as planned!

mommy magazine® January/February 2018 facebook.com/mommymagazine 9

Special

Events

January

continued from

page 6

Mia, 5

Blueberi Photography

23 Charlotte’s Web at Van

Wezel. 10am. Theatreworks’

production of Charlotte’s Web

is based on E.B. White’s loving

story of the friendship between

a pig named Wilbur and a little

gray spider named Charlotte. This

treasured tale, featuring mad-cap

and endearing farm animals,

explores bravery, selfless love,

and the true meaning of friendship.

Vanwezel.org.

23 Tween/Teen Writers’ Circle

at Selby Library. 6:15pm.

Explore new writing activities with

a published author and creative

writing instructor. Share your work

and get feedback. Sclibs.net.

24 Peanut Butter Blast at

UTC Mall. 10am-9pm. Calling

all peanut butter lovers! We will

be kicking off National Peanut

Butter Day with all things peanut

butter....Our Beautiful fountain

will be flowing peanut butter for

you to dip delicious items in.

Peanut butter combos include

cookies, cheesecakes, cake balls,

cupcakes, fudge! A peanut butter

lovers dream come true! Sweet

Doctors, 140 UTC Dr (inside mall).

922-2176 or sweet-doctors.com.

24 Lego Tournament at North

Port Library. 6-7pm. Come join in

the fun of this friendly competition

as you build something awesome

in one hour. LEGO provided by the

library; prizes by Friends of the

Library. Judging by participants,

observers and library staff.

24 Women In Power at Michael’s

on East. $75. 11:30am. For 36

years, our Sarasota-Manatee

Section has been honoring

powerful women in our community.

Do not miss the opportunity to

honor the four amazing 2018

Women in Power whose life

passions have exemplified the

NCJW mission. National Council

of Jewish Women, Sarasota-

Manatee Section. Visit facebook.

com/NCJWSarasotaManatee.

24 Sarasota Snowbird

Palooza. 10am-3pm. Free entry,

entertainment & activities. This

event offers everything from your

health & wellness including Free

Health Screenings to recreational

activities & entertainment.

Sarasota Square Mall. Facebook.

com/SnowbirdPalooza.

24 SISTERMom Mentorship

Training. 7:30am. Are you a

mom who gets it? Do you have a

heart to support and the love and

wisdom to listen? Then we need

YOU and your gifts as a SISTER

Mentor for New Mothers!! Come

learn more about SISTERing at

our Welcome and Introduction

meeting. 1958 Prospect St.,

Sarasota. Hosted by Postpartum

Society of Florida. (941) 301-8819

or postpartumflorida.org.

25 Sarasota Christian School

Open House. January 25,

6:30-8:00 p.m. For 57 years

SCS Pre-k through 12th grade

students have benefited from

highly educated instructors and

continued their education at the

finest colleges and universities

in the country. We invite all

prospective families to learn more

about our distinctive programs,

quality education and Christcentered

community. Visit us at

our open houses or contact our

Director of Admissions, Elizabeth

DiMartino, at 371-6481, ext. 238.

sarasotachristian.org.

25 Ghost Tour of Downtown

Sarasota. 7:45pm. A spirited

spin through downtown with our

bewitching ghost guide. Enjoy

stories of the supernatural and the

shenanigans of our beloved city,

from Sarasota’s bootlegging and

circus days to modern times. $25

per person. Reservations required

through TalentPoolSRQ.com.

25 An Evening for Healthy

Start. 6-9pm. A Unique Annual

Event to Benefit Sarasota’s

Pregnant Women, Infants, and

Young Children Featuring: Live

music by Brenda Watty of the

Marvelettes! Delicious food from

local restaurants beer, wine, & a

special cocktail, the BEST silent

auction & raffle in town & Face

painting by Art & Body Sarasota

and more! This year we are thrilled

to be back at our original location,

Sarasota Architectural Salvage.

Healthystartsarasota.org/events.

26 Masters of Illusion. 7pm.

America’s largest touring

magic show! Nothing beats the

experience of seeing a magic

show in person. Vanwezel.org.

26 Shred The Love Concert

and Silent Auction. 6-9pm. Music

Compound is excited to announce

a partnership with several local

students to present the first ever

Shred the Love Concert and

Silent Auction. Funds earned will

go toward purchasing ukuleles

and providing lessons for children

fighting cancer. Entire event is

being orchestrated and performed

by local high school students.

1751 Cattlemen Rd. 379-9100 or

contact@musiccompound.com.

26 Friday Night Live Concert.

7pm. Free. Bring a Lawn Chair!

Centennial Park Gazebo, Venice.

Venicegov.com.

26 Shabbat Alive! 7:15pm. Age

5+ recommended, all welcome.

FREE. Celebrate Shabbat with this

unique and exhilarating all-musical

Shabbat service! Shabbat Alive!

sets the traditional prayers to

upbeat, contemporary musical

arrangements, and will infuse

your soul with joy and inspiration!

A compelling and magnificent

worship experience for all.Temple

Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road.

Temple Emanu-El, 371-2788.

27 The 11th Annual Downtown

Venice Craft Festival. Jan 27 &

28 10am-5pm. 220 Miami Ave W.

Venice. Artfestival.com.

27 Oasis Annual Benefit

Concert and Fundraiser. 6pm.

Carol Sparrow and Randolph

Locke celebrate 17 years raising

funds and awareness for local

animal shelters! Four-legged

greeters, Silent Auction, raffles to

a sumptuous meal, the evening

is always fun and memorable!

351.1007. $75/person. Palm Aire

Country Club. info@palmaire.net.

27 Annual St. Armand’s Circle Art

Festival. Jan 27 & 28. 10am-5pm.

Starmandscircleassoc.com.

27 Free Sensory Friendly

Roller Skating for Children

with Autism. 10:30am-12;30pm.

Admission and skate rental is free,

inline skates are $3. Volunteers

on site. Stardust Skating Rink.

Mommy-Magazine-MM75-Jan-Feb-2018

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