Welcome to the 5th installment of Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas, whether they be entrepreneurs, avid volunteers, stay at home moms, moms who have closet talents, authors, media professionals, politicians, professors, etc. Read on for today’s interview with Heather Kempskie, editor of P&K magazine and first time book author. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!

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Heather Kempskie, Editor, P&K magazine & book author

Christine: Tell us a little bit about your background Heather. My understanding is that you started off right after college in journalism, then left for the world of PR, and now you’re back to journalism. What inspired the changes from journalism to PR and back?

Heather: I landed my first real-life reporting job straight out of college covering Holliston for The TAB Newspapers. I got my feet wet covering small town government but soon desired a corporate PR job and all the perks that came with it (like a decent salary!). I quickly learned that I was most happy when I was promoting a service I truly believed in and really enjoyed my roles as a spokesperson for the American Red Cross as well as North Shore Medical Center in Salem. Bottom line, I was always jealous of the reporters I worked with. I wanted to be the one writing the stories, not pitching them. I was lucky to be hired as the editor of P&K. Nearly 13 years after beginning my career, I’m back in the same newspaper office I started in (but with a way cooler title!)

Christine: Editorships often times can be strictly managerial but you do a lot of writing at P&K (and elsewhere, which we’ll get to in a minute). Do you have any tips on how you effectively compartmentalize your different roles?

Heather: Writing is my passion. You couldn’t keep me away from it if you tried. I also love meeting new people and conveying their story, challenges and triumphs through the printed word. It helps me stay connected to the communities and people I serve. As editor, I certainly “manage” the process by assigning stories and editing copy but I also work closely with my freelancers – we talk about concepts, explore the angles and hopefully arrive with an end product that makes our readers feel empowered and inspired. To me the two roles of editor and writer blend naturally.

Christine: And do you feel like your parenting experience has informed the way you manage your staff at P&K? What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the job?

Heather: Becoming a parent prepares you for just about anything in life. I thought I could multi-task before but now I’ve entered turbo-mode. I guess the most important skill is the ability to work well with other parents – my “staff” is actually comprised of freelancers – moms and dads who have a passion for parenting topics and a background in communications. There is a profound (yet unspoken) understanding of our daily demands. I laugh whenever any one of them call and actually apologize because their child is making noise in the background. If I don’t get that, nobody will!

My favorite part? I’m not lying when I say I love just about everything! I get the biggest thrill when I’m on deadline and we start putting together the pages of the publication. It’s incredible to see the combined work of freelancers, myself, the design and art departments come together in a product that will be available to hundreds of families throughout greater Boston.

Least favorite? Man, that’s a tough one. I’d say that some mornings are tougher than others when it comes to heading to work for the day and saying goodbye to my children. I’m lucky, though, because my job comes with a lot of flexibility. The other night I attended the opening reception for the BIG BUGS event at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, and like most events relevant to P&K, it was for the whole family. I was working but I got to enjoy the night with my kids too!

Christine: You have two adorable kids -- where were you at professionally when your children arrived? I’m always interested in hearing how people decide on length of maternity leave, balancing child care when returning to work, etc. Can you tell us about your working mom journey?

Heather: When my son was born five years ago, I had almost every intention of returning to work but after a difficulty recovery - including surgery - I decided to stay at home with my son and loved every minute of it. I took on some freelancing work including writing for P&K magazine. Two years later, my daughter joined the family. I was eager to continue freelancing but a few of the jobs I had fell through. I remember sitting in our basement when a message arrived in my inbox. The editor of P&K was leaving. I applied for the job that day! I wasn’t quite ready to be back in an office 40 hours a week so I thankfully was able to negotiate flexible hours. I always tell other moms re-entering the workforce to be creative and resourceful. Women have an innate ability to make schedules work. I’m hoping that we continue to see more employers supporting working moms to find that work/life balance.

Christine: You have an identical twin with whom you co-authored a new book, The Siblings' Busy Book. First, congrats on publishing your first book! How was it working with your sister on this project?

Heather: Lisa and I have always had an uncanny ability to balance each other off. Where she is relaxed, I’m a bit neurotic. Where she is creative, I’m practical. Once we had the idea for this book, we easily took on the tasks that suited our different skills and passions. Lisa, who has a Masters in Creative Education, began writing activities and I started putting together our book proposal and marketing plan. We had plenty of late night sessions editing each activity. We laughed a lot. Never fought. And always recognized how fortunate we were that some publisher had given us a shot at a lifelong dream.

Christine: I’m really impressed by the way your book takes each of 200 activity ideas and includes variations for baby, toddler, preschooler, and school age kids to illustrate how siblings can engage in the same themed activities in different ways. This must have been a huge amount of work! How long did it take for you and your sister to put these ideas to paper? And to your knowledge, is this the first book of its kind on the market?

Heather: From concept to publication, it was a three-year journey. We took advantage of naptimes and weekends when our husbands were around to watch the kids. Lisa and I live next door to each other so we saved time on travel! Originally our idea was to create an activity book for babies and toddler siblings. Meadowbrook Press asked us to expand it to include preschoolers and school-age children. We relied on Lisa’s experience as a teacher, our fellow parents and even our own kids for ideas. We also held several sibling workshops with local parents and their children so that we could test our activities. The activities in the book are all kid-approved! We’ve always joked that we really wrote 600 activities because we had to write instructions for four differentage groups for each activity! And yes, we’re proud of the fact that this is the first book of its kind.

L to R: Lisa, Jake (in lap), Noah, Brooke, Heather & Kyle (in lap)

Christine: You have dedicated enormous effort to the topic of siblings, are a parent of two kids two years apart, and are an identical twin. I’m curious about where you stand on the having kids close vs. having them far apart debate.

Heather: Listen, I’m a firm believer in realizing that in many cases you don’t get a say of how far your children will be born apart. But if we could all plan it to our liking, I would say that little of sibling relationships has to do with how close or far apart in age they are. It depends on your children’s personalities and your parenting style. My favorite book is Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. In it, they conclude that parents can set the stage for sibling harmony simply on how they react to sibling behavior and squabbles. In the first 10 pages, they give practical tips you can apply right away in your own family. As close as Lisa and I are, we definitely went through stages of, well let’s say, discord. It’s natural. Siblings are the longest relationship anyone of us will ever have. Longer than our parents and longer than our spouse. We learn how to compromise, share, negotiate and express ourselves. Our book is based on the concept that siblings who play together and create happy memories build bonds that last a lifetime.

Christine: I understand that some of your favorite pastimes are reading and hiking. What’s your favorite book pick this summer, and do you have any favorite family-friendly local hiking spots to recommend?

Heather: During a recent vacation to the Cape, I picked up a book from the resort library Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark. It’s an interesting family mystery that doesn’t require too much thought. In my opinion, it’s the perfect summer pick.

My husband I love being outdoors. Before kids, you’d find us hiking or biking every weekend. The kids have warmed up to this ritual but last year we found the ticket to get the kids excited about the experience. Letterboxing! It’s a popular family activity where participants search for hidden stamps and ink pads contained in small weatherproof plastic boxes within public places such as a park or hiking trail. You go to a Web site like www.letterboxing.org to get clues on where to search for Letterboxes in your area (there are more than 30,000 of these hidden nationwide). You can track which ones you’ve found and some even contain small prizes. My kids are more than motivated if there’s a prize at the end of the hike.

Christine: It’s also my understanding that you appeared in a McDonald’s commercial when you were a kid. How did that come about? Did they give you free Happy Meals after the shoot?

Heather: My dad worked on the corporate side of McDonald’s when we were kids. We were very cool kids because of that. When we were younger, he’d bring home buckets of happy meal toys. When we were in college, we’d always have tons of gift cards from there and treat our college buddies to a Big Mac or whatever. I remember we got a crisp dollar bill for our efforts but unfortunately, no movie deal offers!

Christine: And finally, what’s your favorite thing about being a Boston mama?

Heather: Oh, my gosh, what is there not to love? We have the best of all possible worlds. A gorgeous city full of classic family excursions such as the Swan Boats or the Children’s Museum plus some more current hip stuff like Baby Loves Disco (swank Boston night clubs opening during the day for toddlers to dance and parents to socialize) and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Then we’ve got the greater Boston area with each town brimming full of their own parks, playgrounds and kid-friendly seasonal activities. I love bringing my kids to the same places I enjoyed with my family, such as Capron Park Zoo or the Aquarium. As far as BostonMamas.com – it’s hip and fun and reminds us women that we’re always cool at heart! Thanks for all you do!

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For more from Heather & Lisa, visit their site.

Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured!

Welcome to the 4th installment of Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas, whether they be entrepreneurs, avid volunteers, stay at home moms, moms who have closet talents, authors, media professionals, politicians, professors, etc. Read on for today’s interview with Jennifer Crowley, the inspirational mother behind Cian’s Cause, which she founded shortly after losing her son Cian to Neuroblastoma. Then consider nominating yourself or a friend.

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Jennifer Crowley, Founder, Cian’s Cause

Christine: Jennifer, before we get started, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your son Cian. And thank you for taking the time to share your story with our readers.

Jennifer: You are quite welcome – and thank you for the opportunity to talk about Cian and the disease that took him from us.

Christine: Your son was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when he was only 5 months old. Can you describe this form of cancer – its origin and prognosis - in a nutshell?

Jennifer: Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor cancer in infants and children. The disease typically originates in the abdomen, either in the adrenal glands (located just above the kidney in back of the upper abdomen) or around the spinal cord. There are approximately 650 cases of Neuroblastoma diagnosed in the United States each year, with two-years being the average age of diagnosis. The causes of Neuroblastoma are not completely known; however, less than two percent of all cases are thought to be hereditary.

Neuroblastoma is commonly fatal; the long-term survival rate for children with high-risk Neuroblastoma, which accounts for most cases, is less than 40 percent.

Christine: Reading the story of your son’s symptoms (black eye, vomiting, lethargy) cropping up out of nowhere gave me chills. As you received various misdiagnoses (ear infection, hand, foot, and mouth disease) what was going through your mind as possible alternative explanations? And how on earth did you stay calm in the face of these mysterious symptoms?

Jennifer: Cian was our first-born and his first five months of life were incredibly healthy ones. Until the week he fell ill, he had been a happy, thriving baby. Given that so many different providers diagnosed him with benign conditions, it never crossed our mind to be overly anxious. We were first time parents - we were naïve. We trusted the medical professionals we were seeking help from and expected whatever was wrong with our baby would be resolved. You tell yourself, we live in Boston and have access to the best minds that medicine has to offer – you don’t really believe that a shiny new baby could have a condition that is essentially terminal. We had plane tickets to Ireland to spend time with my husband’s family the week Cian got sick – I knew we’d have to postpone, but I never thought for a minute we wouldn’t be going. Ignorance is bliss…

Christine: When you finally were sent to Children’s Hospital in Boston for Cian’s neurosurgery, unbeknownst to you, the Department of Social Services was en route to meet you to investigate child abuse concerns. I can only imagine the anger and hurt you must have experienced; how did you cope with and recover from these allegations?

Jennifer: I honestly have not recovered from the allegation – veiled as it was. To sit in an ambulance (we were being transported from a community hospital to Children’s – the docs at the community hospital levied the abuse suspicion) in rush hour traffic thinking, could this be? Had I hired someone [our nanny] who was responsible for potential brain damage in my first and only child? Words can’t describe what that felt like. We were catatonic. And then to get to Children’s and not exactly be welcomed with open arms – to be questioned by a social worker – to sit in near silence for hours on end while asking myself – will Cian be taken away from us? Will the police be called? When I reflect over the whole experience – even with Cian dying – the real trauma lies in the diagnosis process. We have since received apologies from the providers involved in the initial misdiagnosis and understand Cian’s case was subsequently presented to all ER docs at Children’s to help educate about the disease – those actions help to some degree – but a lot of harm was done that day, particularly in the community hospital. To illustrate - at Cian’s autopsy meeting, I actually asked if there were signs of abuse. It was still in my head. We now have another son who is almost one and I have not been able to send him to daycare. Suffice it to say, I have a lot more healing to do and certainly feel very untrusting of doctors these days, with the exception of our new pediatrician who is simply wonderful and exceptionally compassionate.

Christine: And similarly, how have you coped with/recovered from the fact that 6 clinicians didn’t catch Cian’s mysterious “raccoon eye” symptom [shown in the fading stages in photo above] - a hallmark sign of Neuroblastoma?

Jennifer: Not exactly over that either… which is why I wanted to found a group to spread awareness. I think back to my first pregnancy, with Cian, and how I poured over every book and magazine available to me. I read articles on SIDS, shaken baby syndrome, first aid, etc… and think if I had only read one thing about raccoon eye, saw a picture of it… I would like to think I would have recalled the article and urged the doctors to rule out the disease or take a closer look at his eye, which no one seemed very interested in until a misinterpretation of a head CT scan (tumor as trauma) and chest x-ray (bone marrow disease as healing fractures) led doctors down one path, even though his irregular blood test results and enlarged liver were not explainable under the abuse diagnosis.

So many times we were told how doctors are trained that, “when you hear hoof beats, think horses not zebras.” Talk about cold comfort. I realize that a pediatrician may go his or her entire clinical life and not see one single case of Neuroblastoma, but how a clinician can mistake a child who is ICU-bound as one that has a mere ear infection is simply beyond me. What I have come to learn is that the eyes are like a window to the brain – so many brain-related ailments in children manifest themselves through the eyes – discoloration, drooping, crossing, and so on.

Christine: You created Cian’s Cause to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of Neuroblastoma. When did you start the organization? What are the primary ways people can help this organization? And how do you raise awareness both at the local and professional levels?

Jennifer: I created Cian’s Cause only months after losing Cian. I had all this anger and energy and no other way to channel it. I felt as if I lost my standing, my identity, as a mother. I have a background in healthcare and PR so it felt natural to put my skills to good use and try to raise awareness amongst new parents that the disease is out there and what the symptoms are. Basically I don’t want anyone else to go through what we did – which, once I shared it with other Neuroblastoma families, I learned wasn’t all that unusual.

The primary way people can support Cian’s Cause are to tell Cian’s story to new parents, to doctors - to educate about the disease. I also urge new moms not to be afraid to ask family doctors or pediatricians what they know about it or what their experience is with rarer childhood afflictions. At this point I haven’t started the professional outreach to doctors yet, but do intend to with a little funding.

Christine: We first learned about you from one of your friends, whose family has raised money in honor of your son via participating in Alex's Lemonade Stand Lemonade Days. Is Cian’s Cause connected to Alex's Lemonade Stand (an organization started by a girl who suffered from Neuroblastoma) in a formal way?

Jennifer: No, the two groups are not formally connected, though in sort of a spiritual sense, I do feel connected to Alex’s parents given that she also died from Neuroblastoma. They have raised millions for pediatric cancer research – it’s really a tremendous organization. For people who want to support research efforts aimed at kids with cancer – which are drastically under-funded by the government and largely ignored by drug companies given the relatively small market – Alex’s is a great group since they are 100 percent focused on childhood cancers, even those beyond Neuroblastoma. Groups like the American Cancer Society and other well-known (and local) cancer charities tend to direct only miniscule amounts of funding towards pediatric cancer – their defense is that the learnings from adult cancer research will impact new treatments for childhood forms – and this is simply not true given the vast differences in the genesis’ of cancers depending on age and cell biology.

Christine: Your friend/nominator said that just after your son died, you said that having Cian was the best thing that ever happened to you and your husband. And that you wanted Cian's friends to remember that life is meant to be lived. Your strength is so admirable. How do you maintain such a positive perspective? And how do you shore yourself up on the inevitable hard days?

Jennifer: A lot of 2007 seems like a dream. It’s hard to describe how a bereaved parent picks him or herself up everyday and functions as part of society. I think for my husband and myself, there was a lot of denial involved, some therapy, and the support of friends. Whatever positive energy I put forth, it’s all from Cian. He’s always with me. I spent every single day of his life with him – he was a very special child and I can’t help but think he was ours for a reason. I had never spent time in a children’s hospital before his diagnosis and then we basically moved in to one of the most renowned ones for several weeks. Talk about a ridiculously eye-opening experience. I never once asked myself, ‘why me’ or ‘why him’ because in that environment, you are surrounded by families facing struggles. The pain you see on faces in the cafeteria or in the elevator – the afflictions you see that you never knew existed – it really knocks you.

I have to say, a large part of our healing came from the fact that we were lucky enough to get pregnant again in early 2008 and welcomed another son, Padraig [shown above], in September 2007. He is how we get through the hard days. There are no words to describe how blessed we are to have him. When I think of him turning one in September, it feels like a miracle. He gave us the ability to feel joy again. He gave us our identity back.

Christine: Incredibly stressful events such as these typically strain other relationships. How do you and your husband John stay connected and positive about life after Cian?

Jennifer: The experience of Cian’s diagnosis, the demands of his treatment, and his subsequent death really bonded John and I. We experienced so many private moments with Cian – then when he was gone, it really was just the two of us. Not to make light of losing a child, but once the funeral is over, even your closest friends and loved ones often have no clue what to say to you (and I know, there isn’t exactly a manual written on the topic) so a lot of the time we just felt like, well, it’s really, really just the two of us now. Once I got pregnant, it gave us something else to focus on – I feel like the pregnancy really was a gift from above. And as I mentioned earlier, having another little boy to love and learn from is what keeps us positive and (mostly) functioning.

Christine: March and October (the months when your son was born, then succumbed to Neuroblastoma) must be so difficult – have you found ways to commemorate Cian’s life at these times that bring some sort of peace?

Jennifer: We actually haven’t found ways to commemorate his life – not just yet anyways. One of the really hard things about losing a baby is that there is so much unknown – we don’t know what his favorite game was or his favorite animal – so there is very little for us to draw on to celebrate him. I think we just aim to celebrate him everyday. In time Padraig will become a part of how we commemorate Cian’s life – singing happy birthday to him, sending him balloons – it is very important to us that Padraig ‘know’ his older brother. I can say the spring air – the way it feels and smells – will always remind me of Cian, what it was like to have him at home as a newborn. And the fall, well, it’s a tough time – with the leaves turning, the sun setting earlier – anyways, it’s just very symbolic of our loss.

Christine: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. Is there anything further you would like our readers to know about Neuroblastoma or Cian’s Cause?

Jennifer: Nothing comes to mind. But I’d like to say that if anyone, after reading this piece or visiting our website, has any feedback or thoughts on channels to promote the group or Neuroblastoma awareness, I’m all ears!

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Know an inspiring local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured.

Welcome to the 3rd installment of Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas, whether they be entrepreneurs, avid volunteers, stay at home moms, moms who have closet talents (e.g., community theatre, juggling, what have you…), authors, media professionals, politicians, professors, etc. Read on for today’s interview with Lauren Bellon, professional fundraiser turned yoga teacher, postpartum doula, and founder of Namaste Baby. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!

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Lauren Bellon, Founder, Namaste Baby

Christine: Tell us a little bit about yourself Lauren. I know that you're a first time mom turned yoga teacher and used to work at Simmons College. Let's start with the Simmons piece – what did you do for work there? Did you feel passionate about, or vaguely enjoy, the work? And I have to ask – was your work environment supportive of your life as a new working mom?

Lauren: For the past five years, I worked in higher education advancement (fundraising) - most recently at Simmons College, and before that at my alma mater, Tufts University. At Tufts I had worked as a major gifts officer, traveling the country to build relationships with alums and then ultimately seeking gifts of $100,000 or more. I actually moved to Simmons because the travel requirements of my role at Tufts just didn't feel like they would work for me once I became a mom. The role I took on at Simmons was in donor relations - essentially working with faculty and administrators to say thank you and demonstrate the impact of gifts donors have already made. During my pregnancy, it felt like my dream job. I can't say enough good things about the people I was working with and especially about my manager and the relationship we developed. My husband and I had everything worked out - he was going to be a full-time dad, and I was going to keep building my career. But after my ten-week maternity leave was up and I returned to work, everything just felt different. I had never factored in what a burden my nearly hour long commute from Arlington to Boston would be and didn't realize that Kai would go to sleep for the night around 6:30 every night, leaving me very little waking time with him. I never imagined it would take more than a month for Kai to decide to accept bottles from my husband - that was an excruciating experience for all three of us. And I never knew how heartbroken I would feel being away from him full-time. What began as ambivalence about the return to work quickly turned into an all out internal rebellion. I just knew that I couldn't keep doing what I as doing.

Christine: Now you're an Itsy Bitsy Yoga teacher. Were you always a yoga enthusiast? How challenging was the certification process? Did you work on certification while still at Simmons?

Lauren: I'm actually just finishing up my certification process. I recently completed my community classes and expect to receive my certification shortly. I've practiced Ashtanga yoga for the past eight years at 02 Yoga in Somerville. But that's not how I came into contact with Itsy Bitsy Yoga®. Actually, when my husband and I realized that neither of us wanted to give up the time with Kai that full-time work required, we sort of threw up our hands and decided to let the universe guide us to a path that might work. We asked nearly everyone we knew for ideas, thinking that perhaps in a year or two of time, we could piece together some sort of business that would enable us to collaboratively earn the equivalent of at least one income while sharing our parenting and being home as much as possible. We were immediately flooded with really thoughtful and in some cases off-the-wall ideas from our friends and family. My friend Marissa actually suggested teaching IBY. She and her 2 1/2 year old daughter Tess have loved going to these classes, and she said their teacher at Together in Motion in Arlington was moving away. Marissa said she thought I would be a great teacher, that I had the right energy for it. I initially reacted with skepticism, thinking, "I'm not a yoga teacher...it takes forever to get trained as a yoga teacher!" For the heck of it, I went online, though, to Helen Garabedian's website (she's the creator of the program), and discovered that there was a training the very next weekend in Marlboro, MA. So it was Thursday night and the training began on Saturday. I looked at Bob and said, "You're going to think I'm crazy, but I think I should do this." Turned out that I didn't need to be trained as an adult yoga instructor to learn to teach these classes for babies and toddlers.

And I'm so glad I did!! I was blown away and inspired by the program. Helen has incredible depth of experience and training in infant development as well as in yoga, and with Itsy Bitsy Yoga® she created this incredible developmentally nutritious gift to parents and babies. It really helps parents meet their children where they are and appreciate them in so many ways. The babies and toddlers have a blast, and the classes really reinforce this amazing sense of their own bodies that still comes naturally at that age.

Seriously, I'm choking up just thinking about it. I was not a physically active kid, and for me, fitness and exercise were learned activities in adulthood. Yoga was sort of my gateway - it was the first practice that gave me permission to accept myself and appreciate my body and all it could do....it gave me the courage to take up running and face the emotions I had built up over time. I eventually finished the Boston Marathon, but when I started running with my husband (who has been a runner for most of his life), I couldn't finish a mile, and I would often have to run through a great deal of crying and upset and feelings of inadequacy. It sounds melodramatic, and well, it was. But that's the kind of baggage a lot of people carry about their bodies and movement from their childhoods. It's why I feel so blessed that I get to share Itsy Bitsy Yoga® with parents and their little ones...

Christine: Was it scary to make the leap from full-time salary to contract work? Or did you have one of those animal instinct moments and just run for the hills, like I did when I left academia?

Lauren: Oh good lord, yes, it's still scary. Because both of us are doing this. I'm teaching 12-15 hours a week of IBY, and also beginning to take on some postpartum doula work (at the suggestion of my own wonderful birth doula). My husband is starting an admissions consulting practice, working with high school students and their families to support them as they apply to colleges. That was another idea that came from one of our friends. The transition is definitely scary. We're not independently wealthy and we have a time frame of about a year to really make this work and develop our businesses enough to make up for neither of us working full-time.

But I would also classify it as you said - one of those animal instinct moments. Maybe more a series of those moments. As I said, we initially thought I'd continue to work at Simmons for a year or two more. I approached several facilities about teaching on Saturdays - none of them wanted Saturday classes, but it turned out that between classes I could teach during the week at Together in Motion, Isis Maternity, and Exhale Spa, I would have enough to make it feasible to leave my job immediately. It felt pretty surreal when I went to my first classes carrying a box containing beanie babies, stickers, and hula hoops and realized that I was "going to work." Although I have really enjoyed the work I've done in recent years, I think what I'm doing now - being a parent, teaching this program, supporting new parents as a postpartum doula, and hopefully soon through mindfulness groups for moms and dads - is much more my soul's work than anything I've done before.

Christine: What has been your favorite thing about working with moms and babies through yoga? And conversely, what's the most challenging thing?

Lauren: Hmmmm....I love so much about it. Seeing connections develop among new parents in the babies classes...hearing from moms that their toddlers talked about the class non-stop for the rest of the day or that they were doing yoga poses at home afterward. Reassuring parents of some of the younger toddlers that not only is it okay that their kids come in and out of the practice but that it's welcomed and expected. So often parents feel pressure to have their babes sit still to participate in an activity. That's anathema to this anathema to this program.

Most challenging...I teach three age groups: babies (3 weeks to pre-crawling), tots (crawling to 24 months), and tykes (21 months to 4 years old). The tots classes are by far the most challenging - but it's a fun challenge. There's a real range of developmental abilities in these classes, so I have to demonstrate to them all, and they're also a lot like little cavemen at that age. The tots definitely keep me on my toes!

Christine: You have a 6-month-old son – how does he respond to yoga classes? Do you bring him to classes with you as your demo partner?

Lauren: He loves it. Actually, he shared his first belly laugh with me while doing one of the poses! I use another of the poses to soothe him to sleep pretty frequently, several for calming him down if he's feeling fussy, others for bonding just because he gets so giggly and smiley when we do them. There are even a few poses for babies that help when they're struggling to pass gas or poop - they've been really helpful and relieving for him!

I don't use him as my demo partner in my babies classes, just because that would definitely take my focus away from the parents and babies attending, and it's important to me that I create the right kind of space for them and their practice. I have a life-like doll named Kaia who demos for me. My husband, however, often brings our son to my babies classes and Kai sometimes looks inquisitively at me, I think wondering what I'm doing with this other baby. They have a good time, though, and Bob (my husband) can give me really helpful feedback.

Christine: The mama who nominated you for feature said, "I admire Lauren's courage to try a whole new career while also learning the whole new role of motherhood." Do you have any tips to share on how you have juggled these two new roles?

Lauren: We're still just getting started on this new life we've created, so I might have more to say about this down the road. I have, however, already learned that I need to make really clear boundaries between the work I'm doing and my parenting, as does my husband. With all that I'm doing right now (I'm also still temporarily doing some consulting for Simmons), my very flexible schedule and work could easily morph into 40 hours a week of work. I think it's especially tempting to feel like everything has to get done immediately when you're self-employed. So Bob and I split our days half and half. Most days Kai gets quality time with each of us, and each of us also has a chance to work and to get a few things done around the house. I'm learning to realize that it's okay to table items on my to do list until another day, and am making the time I spend with Kai sacred.

I feel good, though, that the work I'm doing actually makes a direct contribution to my own parenting as well. I've learned so much about infant development and new parents through this work already, and I'll only keep learning more. A couple of years ago I realized I was losing the kind of ambition I had initially had after college - a drive for traditional career success. I decided then that I wanted my mission to be learning how to love the people in my life as well as I could. I think that's why it's felt so right to transition out of a successful career, even while people have told me that I could be a leader in that field.

Christine: What would be your key piece of advice for moms thinking of making a similar jump?

Lauren: Invest everyone in the kind of life you want to create for yourself. Be courageous and follow your heart and your gut.

Christine: Your nominator said you share the role of caretaking with your husband. Does he also work out of home? If so, do you have particularly effective strategies for how your split your responsibilities and keep from stepping all over one another?

Lauren: I mentioned that we split our days. We also build in some family time for all three of us, but the independent time is really important. The incredible gift we received from my return to work is that Bob and Kai have developed their own patterns and routines. Unlike some dads, Bob doesn't get overwhelmed if Kai is having a hard day, and he reads his cues as well as I do. While we share the same basic style and philosophy of parenting, we definitely do things differently. I, especially, have had to learn to back off and realize that my way of doing things is just that - my way. It's what works for me and Kai, and something else might work better for Bob with him.

Everything...parenting, work, household tasks...it's all an ongoing conversation and negotiation. Sometimes we do step on each other's toes - we do our best to be forgiving of ourselves and one another, and to learn from those experiences for the next time.

Christine: What has surprised you most in your role as a new mom?

Lauren: I knew I would love Kai, but it runs so much deeper than I ever could have imagined without experiencing it. Before Kai was born, I harbored a lot of fear about the sacrifices I thought I might have to make. I worried I would see less of the people I love and that I wouldn't be able to pursue the random dreams that occur to me every so often. Turns out that fear was totally unfounded. If anything, I feel so much more driven to do what I love - next year I'm going to do an adult yoga teacher training - because it seems imperative that I give my son the gift of a mom who loves everything about her life. I want him to grow up knowing that he can create a life that feels good to him.

Christine: And finally, what's your favorite thing about being a Boston mama?

Lauren: All the other Boston mamas! There are just so many young families here. We already had a strong sense of community among our friends, but that community just keeps getting wider now that we're also parents.

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Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured!

Welcome to the 2nd installment of Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas, whether they be entrepreneurs, avid volunteers, stay at home moms, moms who have closet talents (e.g., community theatre, juggling, what have you…), authors, media professionals, politicians, professors, etc. Read on for today’s interview with Janie Katz-Christy, the Director of Green Streets Initiative. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!

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Janie Katz-Christy, Director, Green Streets Initiative

Christine: Tell us a little bit about yourself Janie. Have you always been a green advocate? Did you have an alternate path before launching Green Streets Initiative? Or is this a side venture in addition to parenting and other pursuits?

Janie: Thanks for asking, and encouraging me to think about this. I am an architect and have always been drawn both to ways of living lightly on the land and to having vibrant and livable cities and towns. As an architect, I studied, worked with, and taught about "passive solar" design. I have also worked as a gardener. I see Green Streets' effort as design, too, but on a much larger and more ephemeral level than architects typically deal with. And I think transportation is such a great area to address, because it's so easy to change and is such a win/win proposition. In terms of money, there's no cost, really, just savings.

I've been interested in bicycling since I was a teenager, after my mother (a New Jersey mama!) encouraged me to go on a six-week bike trip throughout New England when I was 13. I then did the same kind of hostelling trip in France and Switzerland at 15, and loved traveling by bike. In college in Ann Arbor, MI, it was a convenient and fun way to get around. Luckily, when I met my husband, Sam Christy, we discovered that we both loved biking as a form of everyday transportation as well as travel. When we had our second child, we had the tricycle pictured below built. I had found it frustrating that I was driving to take them to their exercise classes! The trike has been through many incarnations, from carrying a newborn in a click-in baby seat to having each of the kids on the trailer bike on back, to now being used for gardening. We've had it now for about 8 years, and it’s now our “car” since we gave up our one car last fall. And I should say that although I felt a bit deprived at first – ironically I was the holdout in our family – it’s been very liberating to be car-free.

Christine: Tell me more about the Walk/Ride Days on the last Friday of every month. What does "go, and wear, green," mean exactly? Do you have to wear the Walk/Ride shirt to participate?

Janie: The idea behind Walk/Ride Days is to have a citywide celebration that encourages people to use alternative transportation. We find that people feel more comfortable with trying new ways of transportation when it is part of a group effort and when it seems fun. Once they experience a new, more active way to get around, they often do so many times throughout the month. When we say "go green" and "wear green" it is simply means traveling without using a car (even just reducing use of cars by carpooling or walking a little!) and wearing something green. The "something green" does not have to be a Green Streets t-shirt, it can be anything! Just as long as it's green.

Green Streets started as a way to make the streets safer for cyclists, let others experience the fun of getting around by bike and other green means, build community, and reduce pollution.

Christine: I think it's marvelous that the Cambridge initiative has expanded to Somerville and Medford, and I see that you are spreading into Boston and Portland, Maine. Is there currently formal activity underway for expansion to other towns? Which ones? Are you finding that this growth is happening most prevalently in a particular way (e.g., being approached by a community member vs. directly contacting someone you know to be a coordinator)?

Janie: We are always looking for places to expand Green Streets to, but there is not a formal recruitment process currently underway. A large portion of the expansion is people in other towns contacting us and saying, "We want to get this going in our town. What can we do?" We have been lucky that Green Streets speaks for itself and is exciting and interesting to many people. We have seen that the strongest programs occur when there are community stakeholders taking an active interest in Green Streets. We are a small organization and so it helps when people in the community are willing to really take ownership of it. Some other communities that are working on getting the program up and running are Lexington and Belmont, and another city in Maine.

Christine: Publicity stunts are a popular way to get buzz going with a grassroots campaign like Green Streets. Have there been any particularly hilarious ones that Green Streets coordinators have launched? If so, can we check them out on YouTube?

Janie: I don't know that we have any "hilarious" publicity stunts. I did bike with Mayor Simmons of Cambridge on the back of my tandem bike on the coldest Walk/Ride Day in history last February. She was so proud of doing it that she took me to her next meeting and introduced me all around! Green Streets has also been involved in parades and festivals, from the Honk! Festival to some at schools. For last month's Walk/Ride Day last Friday, there was a police-escorted bike train that went from North Cambridge to central Cambridge to east Cambridge. People all over the city told us they saw it! Also Cambridge Montessori School recently held a beautiful "go green parade" complete with a conference bike (8 cyclists all pedaling while sitting in a circle, but going in one direction), lots of music, and popsicles! It was a great venue, where our children’s’ reflective vests sold like hotcakes!

People have stilted, unicycled, hula-hooped, scootered, skipped, jogged, and pogo-sticked to their destinations on Walk/Ride Days!

Christine: I love that your initiative encourages exercise. When I was a kid my elementary school was just within the bus belt so we walked the mile in each direction to and from school every day. These days I feel like more kids get driven to school -- is that true? What's your sense on the walk vs. car trend to school these days?

Janie: I agree that more kids are driven to school today than was true when most adults were growing up. I see it everyday when I bike or walk my kids to school. I think that it is due to multiple factors. Unfortunately many people feel that we are not living in a world where it is safe for children to walk to and from school on their own, and you can't argue with a parent that is simply concerned for the safety of their child. Many people also feel that driving is the fastest way to get from one place to another, even when they spend 5 minutes at a stoplight. That's one reason for the Walk/Ride Days - it provides an opportunity and a reason for people to try out walking, biking, or public transportation and will hopefully ease any concerns they previously held regarding alternative transportation.

Christine: Do you have an opinion on which towns are the most pedestrian/bike/stroller-friendly? And which towns need improvement? On the latter, how can folks in the community encourage improvement of pedestrian/bike/stroller-ability in their towns?

Janie: All communities have areas that are conducive to pedestrians and bikes and areas that are more of a challenge. The bike path through Somerville, Cambridge, and Arlington is great, but it presents its own set of challenges. When riding on it, you encounter everything from pedestrians to pets. You can't always tell where a dog is going to run or where a person is going to walk. Some bicyclists would prefer to ride on the road with cars rather than on a path where you have to navigate around the unexpected. In starting Green Streets, we hoped to build a market and a community of people who could request better service on many fronts - biking, pedestrian, and mass transit.

Christine: You're a mom of three. How do you juggle the demands of your work with parenting?

Janie: Good question. It helps to have friends and family who can help. And it's also great that my kids and husband are really into Green Streets. They all help to spread the word about it and are patient and involved when we are at weekend or evening events. The kids enjoy the evening meetings at our house when they can hang out with kids of other coordinators or volunteers. I know that the kids like being part of the Green Streets movement. But sometimes I do have to shop, cook, garden, play with my kids, pay bills, etc. It's hard to stop working on Green Streets because I find it so exciting, yet an almost infinitely huge project.

Having help from other Green Streets volunteers also gives me a break, and is a huge source of hands on and emotional help. Certainly, many hands make light(er!) work and a lot more fun. We've received small grants that have enabled Green Streets to hire a two wonderful interns over the past year who have been a joy to work with, and who have enabled me to better balance my life. Both of these young women are wise beyond their years, and bring wonderful perspectives to Green Streets.

I work on Green Streets more than full time, though my hours are very flexible - I sometimes work in the early hours of the morning or late at night, and pretty much constantly talk about it wherever I go. I do consciously have to turn myself "off" sometimes, just to be a regular person.

Christine: I can only assume your kids "get" the green revolution. Do you have any favorite simple tips to share with our readers on how to get kids involved in green practices?

Janie: It is amazing how much kids really grasp green practices, including in this case, green transportation. Can you imagine a child who would be opposed to the idea of riding their bike/scooter or rollerblading everywhere they need to go? When you describe to the kids the environmental impact of driving, they get it and want to do something about it. We have found that often, once the children try an active, green means of getting to school, they won't let their parents go any other way. Buses, biking, scootering, and walking are all fun for kids. Including other kids in your trip also helps. Also, combinations are great - taking scooters on buses can be a quick way to get where you need to go. Our kids are sometimes as fast on scooters as we are on bicycles.

In fact, all of what we are doing at Green Streets is for the kids. Having schools involved means that my children's friends and contemporaries are trying out the kinds of transportation that we use on a regular basis. It's always great that other kids love Green Streets. My children are proud to be part of it -- though sometimes they'd like me to not stop so long to talk about it with strangers constantly!

Christine: OK, so I Google'd you and see that you've done a little family opera -- playing everything from an ant to an alien! Do you have formal music training? Are there any other hidden talents we ought to know about?

Janie: No, and no! The only hidden talent I might have is that I love planning and having parties... which is one of the reasons we created this monthly celebration!

Christine: And finally, what's your favorite thing about being a Boston mama?

Janie: Boston is a wonderful city to live in. I love it every time I cross or go along the Charles River, I love that rural areas like Lincoln and Concord are so nearby - and MBTA accessible! I love the mass transit options here, and I love that it feels like a big small town.

Unlike bicycling where, as long as there is a road you can ride, pedestrian safety is reliant on sidewalks. If you know of or live in an area that does not have adequate sidewalks and ramps, you can contact your city counselor or alderman and let them know. Or you can go to the city planning/development office and offer your suggestions.

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Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured!

I’m thrilled to announce a new component to the site: Boston Mamas Rock! We’ll be featuring interviews with fabulous local mamas, whether they be entrepreneurs, avid volunteers, stay at home moms who take care of a crazy number of kids, moms who have closet talents (e.g., community theatre, juggling, what have you…), authors, media professionals, politicians, professors, etc. Basically, folks with an interesting story to tell! So go ahead and nominate yourself or someone else! And I’m pleased to introduce our first featured mama: Susan Callahan, a “cookiepreneur” from Westford.

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Susan Callahan – Goodies Homemade Cookies & Treats

Christine: Tell us a little bit about yourself Susan. How did you spend your days before becoming a full fledged cookiepreneur? And now that you’ve arrived, do you have time for anything else?

Susan: I was a stay-at-home mom and baking was something I always did with my daughter, some constructive one-on-one time while her baby brothers napped. When the children were all in school full time I went back to work as an administrative assistant. As the kids grew and required less of my time, I took on more job responsibilities in different positions and ended up as an executive assistant/personal assistant for a CEO.

When my daughter, Julie, went off to college in 2002, she was one of four girls sharing the dorm room. I would send her and her roommates care packages that mainly consisted of store bought stuff. One time when she called to thank me for the latest package, she asked that the next time I send her something, would I please just send her some “goodies.” So, before I knew it, I was sending her cookies, and then the requests came in that I send her friends who were attending other schools cookies for their birthdays, or if they were having a difficult time, just a little pick-me-up. Before, I knew it, I was getting orders from family and friends. Then, I thought I should have at least a business card…

My cousin, who is a graphic designer, designed my business card using Goodies as the business name. When she showed me the proof, with the Goodies logo, I knew in an instant that I could do something with this design.

So, that’s how it all began.

Christine: Your cookies look amazing. Are these long time family recipes, or recipes you have developed over the years?

Susan: I wish I could take credit for the recipes, but they are not old family recipes, just ones that I have found over the years and tweaked a bit.

Christine: Do any of the cookies have a particular history or story associated with them? I’d love to know what inspired those deadly looking Chocolate Chip Reese’s Cup cookies.

Susan: The Chocolate Chip Reese’s Cup – well, who doesn’t like more chocolate chip and Reese’s???

Christine: I see that you basically bake to order – does this mean you are constantly tied to your kitchen? Or do you have helper elves?

Susan: Occasionally I have helper elves, but as the website states, orders must be in by 10:30 a.m. to be processed the same day, which allows me some flexibility.

Christine: Are you planning on getting your cookies in local stores, or do you ever hit the open market circuit? Basically, I’m wondering if there is a way to sample your cookies, but I’m not sure I trust myself to have an entire dozen or so in the house.

Susan: I’d love for my cookies to be sold in local stores, and am working on that. Until then, our cookies can be sampled at the following farmer’s markets this summer: on Tuesday’s in Lexington and Westford, on Wednesday’s in Wayland at Russell’s Farm, and Friday’s in Groton.

Christine: I see that your cookies can make it to New England destinations in a day. Do you ship outside of New England? Where has your farthest flung starving college student been from?

Susan: Our cookies are shipped all across the country. Students at the University of Arizona and Southern CA have enjoyed our cookies.

Christine: Your business had unexpected roots in simply wanting to send your daughter cookies while she was in college. How quickly did your hobby turn to a business?

Susan: For five years it was really just a hobby, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, as I became more and more disenchanted with my job as an executive assistant, I realized that I had developed quite a wonderful following, most of whom were repeat customers. And, I thought, what would happen if I actually worked at this like a business…and, here we are!

Christine: Do you have any advice for aspiring mamapreneurs?

Susan: My advice to other aspiring mamapreneurs is, as a mother, you already are working very hard, but if you are lucky enough to find something that you love to do, that you can claim as your own, do it!

Christine: Is your daughter out of college? Do you still send her cookies? Does she share your love of baking?

Susan: Julie graduated two years ago, is living and working in NYC, and, yes, she still loves to receive GOODIES. She does like to bake, but has lots of other things to do instead!

Christine: And I used to teach college kids, so of course I want to know, is there any data (self report or otherwise) about whether your cookies have improved exam scores?

Susan: One of my promotional postcards to parents of boarding students reads, “Send 24 Delicious Reasons to Choose Milk During Exams.” I’d like to think that GOODIES does in fact help kids do better on their exams!

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Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured!