By Cheryl Bac
E-mail Cheryl Bac
About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons incl...
(More)About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons including Chicago and Boston. Exercise is an integral part of my life. I hope to one day go back to long distance running and tackle the New York City Marathon. Right now I run after my one year old son. Although I am a stay-at-home mom, we are rarely "at home." My mom also stayed at home with my brother and me. She warned me that, although rewarding, it can be isolating. So, with her help, I learned the importance of getting out into the community and meeting other mothers. On the rare occasion when I am at home and have a hand or two free, I squeeze in time to scrapbook. As a new mom, many challenges are thrown my way. I hope my opinions, triumphs, and struggles help experienced parents reminisce, new parents cope, and parents-to-be get an honest glimpse of what the first years of motherhood can entail.
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Recently a few new parents have asked me for recommendations on how to entertain their little ones. Some already go to gym classes, storytimes, yoga classes, and swimming lessons. They don't want their babies to be bored.
A few weeks ago I took our kids to Mitchell Park. My older kids were running around and playing in the water spray area while baby and I watched. During our outing I had a flashback to when my oldest was a baby and I was trying to meet other parents that lived close by. Many of the parents in one group had older toddlers so we sometimes met up at a water spray park or playground. As a baby, our son enjoyed these outings where he could just sit and watch the older kids run around and play.
I think the next time someone asks me for baby entertainment ideas, I'll suggest a toddler or two. As a new parent it's easy to get stuck in baby-only classes and activities. Older kids can be loud, chaotic, energetic, clumsy and spread germs. However, sometimes at these mixed-aged play dates, everything works out. The babies are entertained by the older kids, the older kids love having the babies' attention and the parents get a chance to relax, talk and enjoy each other's company.
