Archives for October 2019

Wanna hear something ironic? I work for a parenting magazine, and a huge part of my job is finding fun stuff for people to do with their kids and then sharing the great stuff I find with the Staten Island community. I love my job, but I spend so much time looking for fun stuff for other people to do with their kids that sometimes it takes me away from me doing fun stuff with my own kids.

I did the stay-at-home-mom thing for a long time, and believe me, it certainly had its share of ups and downs. But now that I’m working, it’s occurred to me that I never realized just how much of myself I was available to give to my children when I was literally always available. We could pick up and go whenever and wherever we wanted. There were no schedules to coordinate, no deadlines looming, no emails to answer first. If we wanted to go to the park, off we went. If we were low on groceries, to the supermarket we’d go. If we were bored in the house, we’d go for a walk. We were together all the time and they loved it. And I did like it. Well, kind of. As any Stay-at-Home-Mom will tell you, being around the kids 24/7 is extremely draining. There are no breaks, no real help from anyone else. It’s all on you to keep those kids happy around the clock, which is no simple task.

So when the opportunity arose for me to take a job wherein I could keep a flexible schedule and often work from home, well, mentally and financially speaking, turning it down was never an option.

While I’m very familiar with stay-at-home-mom depression, I’m fairly new to this working mom guilt. And, boy, is it a something else entirely. When I tell people I work from home, I think they picture this utopian ideal where I’m simultaneously baking cookies, overseeing fun craft projects, and emailing my boss all in perfect unison. How lucky I must be to accomplish so many tasks at once!

Well, in fact, I do accomplish all of these things at once. But perfection it is not. Allow me to set the scene for you.

It’s 3:30pm on any given weekday. My son is working on his math homework, that vile math homework book open in front of him. He’s crying a little because he doesn’t understand how to solve 15-7 by “making a ten” first. Quite frankly, neither do I, and I’m about to start crying with him. At the very same moment, my three-year-old daughter is climbing on my back, shoving her Princess Sofia floor puzzle in my face and begging me to help her finish it. I glance over at the clock and see that if I don’t start dinner soon, I’ll have hunger meltdowns thrown into the mix. So I get up and head to the fridge to start cooking.

I wash and chop and slice and prep while my son reads his “book buddy” to me, hoping he’s actually reading what it says and not just making up random sentences to avoid thinking. My daughter lingers dangerously over the cutting board, narrowly missing my razor-sharp knife with her tiny fingers as she tries to reorganize the veggies in a futile attempt to “help” me cook. I pause for a quick minute to check my work email, remembering something I’d forgotten to do earlier. I see that I have 15 new emails and realize that the thing I’d forgotten to do has since spiraled into a whole new problem, and I then absentmindedly spend another 20 “quick minutes” attempting to rectify it.

Suddenly I hear the sizzle of hot liquid hitting the stove and I see my potatoes boiling over, which is my reminder to check the oven and find that I’ve overcooked the hell out of the chicken. I look up to find Princess Sofia puzzle pieces and sliced vegetables strewn about the living room— my daughter’s passive aggressive way of displaying her resentment for my ignoring her. My son hands me his homework to check and I try to explain that “We bilted a snwmn” is spelled incorrectly, which immediately prompts a tantrum because, according to him, it IS spelled correctly and I’m the MEANEST MOM EVER and he just wants to go play video games but I WON’T LET HIM even though his homework is DONE!

And then my night shift-working husband emerges from hibernation, complaining about us all making too much noise and waking him up, and demanding to know why the house smells like burnt chicken.

Fast forward a few hours: dinner is over, baths are done, husband’s off to work, kids are tucked in bed. And me? I’m on the couch, laptop open, fingers flying over the keyboard, finally able to get some work done.

The funny thing is that I’m actually lucky. I’m fortunate to be home from work in enough time to make dinner and oversee homework and spend some time together as a family, as hectic as it regularly is. A lot of parents don’t return home from work until well after the kids are sleeping. And as chaotic as the afternoons with my family are, it’s a whole different struggle when you don’t even get to see your kids during the day at all.

The part I hate most is when my daughter looks at me with her heart-meltingly innocent, baby blue eyes and asks, “Mommy, can you play with me?” and I have to say no because I have work to finish. Or when my son’s school sends home a note about another school fair and I try to move heaven and earth to make it there, every single time, because I never want to let him down. Or when I’m up very late, typing away into the wee hours of the night, and I wake up like a sleep-deprived Oscar the Grouch the next morning, ready to bite the head off of anyone who dares ask me for plain Cheerios after I’ve already poured milk on a whole bowl of the honey-nut ones.

I love that I love my job. I don’t know how many people can say that and mean it, but I love having a job I enjoy, a job I’m proud to do. And financially speaking, I really love that I can finally start putting some money away to buy my family’s first home. Or our first trip to Disney. Or maybe even start up a college fund (well, after I’m done paying for my own college loans). As stressed as I feel most of the time, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m sacrificing a lot, I know. But I do believe that in the end, it’s worth it.

I just wish it wouldn’t feel like my kids are the ones making the biggest sacrifice. Hopefully someday they’ll understand why.

By Jeannine Cintron, a Staten Island mom of two. Read her blog at www.HighchairsandHeadaches.com.

Read Next | Find Great After School Programs in Staten Island

For a woman battling cancer, a day at the spa is probably the last thing on her mind. But it might be the break she needs, if just for a day.

That’s why Debbie Sestokas and Peggy Matzen started the Diva for a Day Foundation, a program that works with individual salons to sponsor a full day of spa pampering for women who need it most, free of charge. Each “Diva” receives the royal treatment on her special day, complete with the works: a manicure, pedicure, facial, massage, blow-out, and makeup application. Divas are even greeted with a fresh bouquet of flowers and a photographer to commemorate the occasion.

Debbie and Peggy are cancer survivors themselves, so their compassion for these women is deep-rooted. “When someone is dealing with cancer, it is so all-consuming,” Debbie said. “We wanted to give these women a little escape from it all; a day to forget about doctors’ appointments and treatments, a day to feel special.”

The Maya Angelou quote scrawled atop their website seems to sums it up well: “Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”

A rainbow indeed. In the six years since hosting its very first Diva in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, the organization has managed to partner with over 50 salons nationwide and helped to brighten the day of over 600 Divas thus far (and counting). According to Peggy, when a request is made for a Diva in a new location, the foundation will make an effort to seek out nearby salons willing to sponsor her – an undertaking which has helped them cater to women with cancer in 26 states to date.

Peggy says the number of nominated Divas in Staten Island is high, where word seemed to spread quickly about the foundation and the generosity of its partnering salons. The Island accommodates more Divas than any single town, where there are three participating salons thus far.

A.F. Bennett is one of the Diva for a Day participating salons, and they couldn’t be more delighted to team up with such a wonderful foundation. “The experience has been breathtaking,” says A.F. Bennett owner Frank Bennett. “Cancer can make a woman feel robbed of her beauty physically and outwardly, but it can also rob her of her inner beauty as well. We get the chance to turn that around and make her feel beautiful both inside and out. To take her spirits and heighten them to feel beautiful again – it’s priceless.”

Do you have a loved one battling cancer, someone who truly deserves the royal treatment? To qualify as a Diva for a Day, a nominee must be recently diagnosed, currently in treatment, or no more than six months past the completion of their treatment. Click here to visit the Diva for a Day website, where you can link to a nomination form and to see a list of participating salons in our area.

Read Next | Learn about All the Best Pre-school or Daycare Centers on Staten Island
 

Summer school recess will be here before you know it. Make sure you’re prepared for camp and other recreational programs.

Many families spend winter figuring out how to chase away cabin fever and endure frigid temperatures until spring and summer mercifully return. Parents thinking ahead to swimming pools and days lounging on the beach can put their daydreams to practical use by planning ahead for their youngsters’ summer vacations.

Youth recreational programs and summer camps can bridge the gap in care between the end of school and the day when classes resume. Due in part to high demand, parents who want to place their kids in summer rec programs or summer camps should being vetting such programs and camps well in advance of summer. The following are a handful of tips for moms and dads who want their kids to have fun and fulfilling summers.

· Ask for recommendations. Speak with fellow parents and trusted friends about where they send their children. Personal recommendations can be very helpful, providing firsthand insight into a particular camp or program. Schedule appointments to visit camps that fall within your budget. Take your son or daughter along so he or she can get a sense of what camp will be like.

· Explore all options. Camps come in more flavors than ever before. Certain camps may be faith-based ministries while others may focus on particular sports. Band camps and art camps may appeal to creative kids. Also, there are plenty of general-interest camps that offer various activities without narrowing in on any particular one. Parents may need to choose between a sleepaway camp or day camps, depending on which camp experience they want for their children.

· Inquire about camp schedules. While many camps are flexible, day camps do not have the same level of flexibility as after-school programs. Arrangements will need to be made if care is required after regular camp hours. Speak with camp staff to see which types of after-hours programs, if any, are available.

· Determine your camp budget. As varied as program offerings may be, camps also can vary greatly with regard to cost. Government-run camps may be less expensive than those offered by private companies. Day camps typically cost less than those that provide room and board. Find out if a particular organization subsidizes a portion of camp costs. Scouting programs often have a dedicated camp and may offer affordable options for scouts. Martial arts schools and dance centers frequently offer camp schedules.

If camp seems out of reach, look into local summer recreation programs at parks or schools. Such programs may not be as extensive as those offered by camps, but they can quell kids’ boredom and keep children occupied during the day.

In addition to camp, remember to plan for some free days so children can just enjoy some downtime. Such days can break up the monotony of a routine and provide kids and families time to relax together. Be sure to check Staten Island Parent’s Family Calendar in print and online for tons of fun events for you to do with the kids!

Summer recreation may be far off, but it is never too early to start making summer plans, including finding camps and other activities for kids.

CLICK HERE to see our Camps & Summer Program Directory!

The sudden outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil earlier this year has expectant parents everywhere on edge. The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that poses the greatest risk to pregnant women, as it can cause a severe birth defect known as microcephaly.  Here’s what you need to know:

How does it spread? The Zika virus is known to  spread via infected mosquitoes, carrying it from person to person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still determining whether it can also be spread through urine or saliva, but it may be found in semen. Men who have traveled to an affected area should abstain from sex with pregnant women.

What are the symptoms? Symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, headache rash, and conjunctivitis (pink eye), lasting for 2-7 days. Unfortunately, only 1 in 5 people will have symptoms, and 80% of cases will go undiagnosed. There is currently no known vaccine or treatment.

What is microcephaly? Microcephaly is a birth defect resulting in an abnormally small head associated with incomplete brain development. There is substantial evidence to show a link between the Zika virus and microcephaly, although other possible causes for the sudden rise in babies with this particular birth defect in Zika-affected areas are still under investigation.

Which areas are affected? Prior to 2015, Zika virus outbreaks were reported in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Currently, the large number of cases in Brazil has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency. Many other countries around the world have been affected as well. While some cases have been discovered in the United States, they have all be associated with travel this far. Click here to link to a chart from the CDC displaying the most affected areas.

Is it safe to travel? Pregnant women in all trimesters should not travel to any area affected by the Zika virus. Those who have traveled to such an area should be tested within two to 12 weeks, regardless of whether symptoms have occurred.

If you have a kid who’s really into dinosaurs, you know that just saying they “like” them is not merely enough. My son, for example, was completely and totally obsessed with dinosaurs for at least three years of his life. I think it started the very moment he laid his tiny toddler eyes on his very first T-Rex. It must have been love at first sight. And from then on, it was all he would ever talk about and think about. We had all the books, toys, stuffed animals, movies, TV shows, clothes, EVERYTHING. It was just dinosaurs, dinosaurs, dinosaurs for his entire toddlerhood and beyond.

Now that he’s a big boy of six whole years, he’s moved on quite a bit. Video game characters seem to be all the rage these days, but I know his prehistoric pals will always have a special place in his heart. And I can’t even believe what I’m about to say, but I actually kind of miss those dinosaur days. He drove me a little insane sometimes, but looking back it was pretty adorable.

If your little T-Rex head is, or was, anything like mine used to be, then you’ll relate to most (if not all) of these things:

1. You’ve learned that there is no such thing as a brontosaurus, and apparently there never was. Yup, your science teacher was dead wrong. Nowadays it’s all about the brachiosaurus.
2. You notice that Dino Dan is clearly on some very powerful hallucinogens, but we’re supposed to just accept it and watch the show anyway, no questions asked.
3. Your visit to the Museum of Natural History starts on the fourth floor, where all the cool dinosaur bones are. Don’t kid yourselves into thinking you came to see anything else (except maybe the giant blue whale- he’s pretty cool).
4. You are way better at correctly pronouncing loooooong dinosaur names than you ever thought, thanks to the little lesson in phonetics under each name. At this point, there is nothing you can’t properly sound out. Micropachycephalosaurus? Epidexipteryx? Xinjiangovenator? Bring it on.
5. You can never have too many dinosaur encyclopedias. And no, there is no limit to how many pages you’ll be asked to read every night.
6. Shopping for kids clothes in a store with not even a single dinosaur tee shirt in sight is a complete waste of time.
7. You will happily pay an inexcusable amount of money for any article of clothing with a really cool-looking T-Rex on it.
8. Three years old is not at all too young to watch Jurassic Park for the first time.
9. Barney does NOT count as a dinosaur. Never has, never will.
10. There is no storage bin spacious enough for your child’s vast toy dinosaur collection. And every time you attempt to close the lid, there’s at least one tail sticking out somewhere preventing you from doing so. Better luck next time.
11. People like to say it’s just a “childhood phase”, which you find hilarious. What kind of “phase” lasts at least THREE YEARS?? We prefer the term “healthy obsession”.
12. Your child learned the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore before he knew his ABC’s.
13. You saved money on Halloween costumes, because he (or she!) just wants to be T-Rex every year.
14. Playing “pretend” has taken on a whole new meaning in your house; there are days that your child won’t answer to anything but “T-Rex”, and you occasionally have to explain to random strangers why your child is roaring very loudly at them for no reason.
15. You wonder if the dinosaur obsession might continue beyond childhood, and your little one will might even someday choose a career in paleontology. And then you can’t help but think of Ross from Friends.

Is there any view more breathtaking than the twinkle of glowing holiday lights? Kick off your yuletide celebrations this season with a Christmas Tree or Menorah Lighting Ceremony here on Staten Island. Bring your whole family and bask in the bright lights together!

Christmas Lights & Music Display
December 1 – Jan 10, 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm everyday (11:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
279 Edgegrove Avenue
Enjoy a festive light show synchronized to Christmas music, feel the magic with an animated Santa projection, and donate to a wonderful cause — 100% of donations will benefit the Patient Free-Care Fund at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which helps current patients with financial difficulty afford their medical care.

Victory Boulevard Merchant’s Association Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
5-7pm
Alfonso’s Bakery Shoppe – 1899 Victory Boulevard
(718) 273-8802
Bring unwrapped toys to benefit Toys for Tots and Rolling Thunder Toy Run.

Tree Lighting at the Stone House
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
6-8:30pm
The Stone House at Clove Lakes – 1150 Clove Road
(718) 442-3600
Featuring a local choir, hot apple cider, and specialty flavored hot chocolates. Guests are welcome to stay for dinner before, during, and after the tree lighting.

Borough Hall Tree Lighting
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
6:30pm
Borough Hall – 10 Richmond Terrace
(718) 816-2300
Borough President James S. Oddo will light the Borough Hall Christmas Tree and the community is invited to attend. The event will take place on the plaza at Borough Hall.

Tree Lighting at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
6pm
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park – In Midtown Manhattan, between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
The Tree Lighting Skate-tacular is a holiday tale about a very special family on the night before Christmas, written for Bryant Park by New York playwright Jon Caren. The show features music from Big Band Holidays, a new album by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The public can skate to live music curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center after the tree is lit.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
7-9pm
Rockefeller Plaza – between West 48th and West 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan
(212) 332-6868
The Annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting will feature live televised performances by musical artists and will be viewed by millions of people across the world.

New Dorp Lane Christmas Tree Lighting
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
6-8pm
(718) 477-1400 ext 827
9th Street and New Dorp Lane
Christmas Caroling and Santa Claus, costume characters, hot chocolate and desserts from Piece-A-Cake, and raffles and coupons from local merchants.

Forest Avenue Business Improvement District Holiday Stroll
Thursday, December 3, 2015
4-6pm
Along Forest Avenue between Hart Blvd. and Broadway
(718) 816-4775
There will be music, refreshments, sales, raffles, carolers, and holiday treats for all to enjoy. Enjoy the festivities and support small businesses. Don’t be surprised to find Santa strolling along with you.

Richmond Valley Merchants Association Holiday Tree Lighting
Thursday, December 3, 2015
6-8pm
Sonic/Intoxx Fitness Parking lot – 148 Page Avenue
(718) 477-1400 x 828
The Event will feature a toy drive so bring an unwrapped toy for boys and girls ages 1-14 to be donated to Catholic Charities. The night will also include bouncy houses, music, DJ, Santa Claus, dancers, refreshments and carolers! Please plan to arrive a little early for the festivities.

Staten Island Mall Tree Lighting
Friday, December 4, 2015
Time TBA
Staten Island Mall – 2655 Richmond Ave.
(718) 370-3623
Staten Island Mall will host a holiday celebration for the community, complete with Santa, a tree lighting and toy drive. The annual Santa Parade will return next year.

Annadale Tree Lighting
Friday, December 4, 2015
7-9pm
Annadale Park – On Annadale Road next to Richmond County Savings Bank
(718) 490-5023
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event will feature a train ride for the kids, candy, live musical performances, rides, Miss Caroline’s Dance Elite, DJ, and of course the arrival of Santa Claus including photo ops and candy canes!

New Brighton Holiday Stroll
Saturday, December 5, 2015
11am-5pm
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden – 1000 Richmond Terrace
(718) 447-2204
All galleries, museums and studios at Snug Harbor will be open from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The full day of festivities is scheduled to coincide with the New Brighton Holiday Stroll, which features a wide variety of activities, arts and crafts and all-round holiday cheer. Participants include the Unitarian Church of Staten Island, Staten Island Creative Community, Creative Photographers Guild and Christ Church New Brighton. Admission to both events is free.

Snug Harbor Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 5, 2015
11am-6pm
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden – 1000 Richmond Terrace,
(718) 425-3504
Will feature a holiday and culture shop with participation from Snug Harbor, the Noble Maritime Collection, Staten Island Museum, ArtLab and a tree lighting followed by a special concert.

Pleasant Plains, Princes Bay, and Richmond Valley Civic Association’s Annual Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Saturday, December 5, 2015
4:30pm
Winged Victory Statue – Intersection of Bloomingdale Road and Amboy Road
This fun, festive event will feature live entertainment, snacks and holiday cheer! This event is FREE and open to the public and sponsored by the Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association.

Richmond Town Tree Lighting
Sunday, December 6, 2015
11am-7pm
Historic Richmond Town – 441 Clarke Avenue
(718) 351-1611
We welcome you to share in the Christmas spirit, embracing Christmas present and Christmas Past. Experience nostalgia all through the Historic Village. Tree lighting is at 5PM

Colonial Christmas at The Conference House
Sunday, December 6, 2015
11pm-4pm (Grand Candle Lighting Illumination at 4:30pm)
The Conference House – 298 Satterlee Street
(718) 984-6046
Enjoy free hot apple cider and cookies. There will be home-baked goods made from 18th-century recipes; handmade crafts and gifts, organic soaps & candles by Tottenville Soap Company; a raffle drawing, and a grand candle-lighting illumination at 4:30PM.

COJO’s Annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Monday, December 7, 2015
6:30pm
Staten Island Mall (lower level by Sears) – 2655 Richmond Avenue
The Council of Jewish Organizations invites you, your friends and family, and the entire Jewish community of Staten Island to join their annual display of Jewish pride and unity.

Memorial Service & Tree Lighting Ceremony
Tuesday, December 8th & 9th 2015
8pm
Old Bermuda Inn- 301 Veterans Rd W.
(718) 948-7600
Hosted by Scalia Funeral Home, the service is designed to honor the memory of those who have gone. The trees are adorned with ornaments selected by the family members to hold a special memory. The ornaments serve as a symbol, that they are loved and not forgotten and that their memories live on.

Borough Hall Menorah Lighting
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
6pm
Borough Hall – 10 Richmond Terrace
(718) 816-2300
With the Council for Jewish Organizations of Staten Island.

3rd Annual Winter Wonderland at Mt. Loretto
Friday, December 11 & Saturday, December 12
5-10pm
Mount Loretto – 6581 Hylan Blvd.
718-981-3335
Free admission. Includes Christmas tree lighting, fireworks show, amusement rides, food/merchandise vendors, pictures with Santa, LED light show, pictures with Frozen’s Anna & Elsa, Christmas characters, pictures and more.

Saint Teresa Parish Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 12, 2015
5-7pm
Saint Teresa Church – 1634 Victory Boulevard
718-442-5412

Richmond Road Merchants Association Tree LIghting
Sunday, December 13, 2015
2-5pm
Santander Bank parking lot (Richmond Road & Liberty Avenue)
Includes Santa Claus, DJ, rides, and refreshments.

Westerleigh Park Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 19, 2015
6-8pm
Westerleigh Park – Willard Ave. & Springfield Ave.
westerleighpark@aol.com
Join us as we light the tree with a special guest Santa. There will be coffee, hot chocolate, and much more for the kids to enjoy. Sing a few carols and have some hot chocolate with us.

Saint Patrick’s Church Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Following 4pm Mass
Saint Patrick’s Church – 53 St Patricks Place
(718) 351-0044