Job Alert: Awesome Creative Assistant!

Friends, it’s time to kick off a new chapter in Boston Mamas history. My beloved editorial assistant Kris-Ann needs to hang up her spurs (sob!) so I’m looking for a replacement! I am renaming the position to Creative Assistant because while the role will be rooted in editorial, I’d like the job to encompass other elements moving forward, which I think will be awesome and fun! Please read the job Q&A below to see if this is a fit for you, and if so, apply!

What is involved in the position of Creative Assistant?

I am looking for someone to be my right-hand woman at Boston Mamas, and also potentially for other projects I’m working on outside of Boston Mamas. The Creative Assistant’s work would be rooted in editorial (e.g., curating event listings, developing the editorial calendar, doing online research for editorial, writing copy, periodic clerical work) so attention to detail, strong writing skills, and a love for content is a must. I’m also looking for someone with a stylish aesthetic eye to create simple graphics (e.g., Pinterest graphics for blog posts) and who is also interested in working as an assistant on other multimedia projects (e.g., video, audio).

Do I need to live in Boston?

Not necessarily. This is a telecommuting position (Kris-Ann and I have worked together for two years and have never met in person!). However, the applicant must have a love for and knowledge of Boston that helps fuel curation of the two event roundups each week. Also, there may be opportunity for additional add-on projects with me that would require local access, so living near me would be a plus (but not a deal breaker if you are awesome in other ways!).

How many hours are you looking for?

At the moment, 5-10 hours per week, telecommuting and on your own time with the opportunity for additional add-on projects.

When does the job start?

ASAP! Kris-Ann graciously will help transition her replacement, but she is looking to move on soon to tend to other life matters!

What qualities would make a great fit for this role?

Do you love the internet and multimedia content? Do you respond to emails in a timely manner? Are you attentive to details? Do you work efficiently? Can you use Google docs? Do you love being creative? Are you interested in learning new things? Do you want flexible employment?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, then please apply!

What will make my application rise to the top?

Be authentic and tell me who you are, what you are passionate about, and why you want to work with me! The more skills you already have, the likelier you are to land on the short list, but given that I learned everything in this industry on my own, I’m also a believer in the quick study who is eager to learn! So make a case for yourself in the application!

So, what's it like working with you?

I like to think that I'm a good boss! I work full-time and have a husband and two children so I know all about the modern parenting juggle. And I was raised believing in the powers of a strong work ethic and excellent manners so I strive to manage well and kindly and with appropriate boundaries! And while I totally get that sometimes life throws curveballs, in general, I expect deadlines to be met, work to be of excellent quality, and conscientiousness when it comes to tracking hours and such.

Logistically speaking, I communicate almost entirely via e-mail and Google docs. I barely use the phone as is, so rest assured that I will never call you in the middle of the night demanding anything!

What is the compensation structure?

This is an hourly, contract position, in which you would track your hours and submit an invoice each month and I would send you a 1099 at tax time. I will review compensation with the final short listed candidates.

Does this sound awesome to you? I hope so! If so, please APPLY HERE! Or share with anyone else you think might fit the job description!

Web (Admin)Comment
Weekly Blueprint

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! We had family in town so I ended up being very much offline and in the sunshine and wow, it was amazing! It's fun to play tour guide and I especially love how it's so easy to experience the city and nature, depending on which direction you want to go. Meanwhile, the forecast is calling for a beautiful week! Get out and enjoy these event picks via the Weekly Blueprint.

May 5: An ASD-friendly afternoon at the museum. (Acton)

May 5: A baseball and book bonanza! (Wellesley)

May 5: Learn how to talk to your kids about marijuana. (Boston)

May 6: Explore the deCordova for FREE. (Lincoln)

May 6: Take a spring walk through Gore Estate during story time. (Waltham)

May 7: Boston Calling downtown block parties are back. (Boston)

May 7: Fun, fashion and friends. Time to INDULGE. (Chestnut Hill)

May 7: Youth baseball and softball players, coaches, fans, and families get FREE admission to The Art of Baseball. (Concord)

May 8: Design and create a special Mother's Day card, including making the paper. (Acton)

May 8: Celebrate mothers and support Room to Grow. (Boston)

May 8: A weekend of innovative and educational play activities kicks off. (Boston)

May 8: Art show and sale featuring local homeless and low-income artists. (Magnolia)

May 8: National Public Garden Day. (North Andover)

Image credit: Gore Place

Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome

You guys, May. I'm already digging it! Warmer temperatures (according to the forecast, 70+ degrees all next week!), I'm starting to see our hosta and peony plants push up through the ground, and it looks like all the flowering trees on our street are about to burst. WOO HOO! Meanwhile, I wanted to leave you with some reads and visuals that caught my eye this week. Enjoy this week's installment of Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome.

- One way you can help Nepal right now.

- How to attract female engineers.

- John Oliver's glorious Dr. Oz takedown.

- This is how fast America changes its mind.

- How to keep women with children out of the workforce.

- For a healthy heart, you may have to eat more cheese.

- Photo essay: images of empowerment.

- Let's all wax nostalgic with this musical tribute to 80's teen movies.

- What a collection of 250,000 Lego bricks looks like.

Image credit: Greek goddess dip via Pinterest

Weekend Roundup

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you're having a great week! I've still got a smile on my face after attending the first-ever open mic night at Laurel's school last night. It was so great to see both kids and grownups performing, including the debut of Laurel's band. Crazy fun! Meanwhile, are you excited for the weekend? If you're looking for something to do, here are 27 options, lovingly curated for your consideration. Have a wonderful weekend!

1. Opening day of the KEVA exhibit. (Acton)

2. A celebration of young children. (Ashland)

3. Join Project Bread and walk for hunger. (Boston)

4. A touching live performance looking to end the stigma of mental illness. (Boston)

5. Art show and sale featuring local homeless and low-income artists. (Boston)

6. Get jazzy in Boston all weekend long. (Boston)

7. A day to celebrate a rainbow of repair, reuse, and recycling. (Boston)

8. The final weekend for The Diary of Anne Frank children’s show. (Boston)

9. The Grand Parade of the 20th Century. (Boston)

10. Brewster, MA is blooming. (Brewster)

11. A trivia event for the whole family. (Cambridge)

12. BC is racing to educate. (Chestnut Hill)

13. Daytime bedtime stories and a vintage baseball game. (Concord)

14. It’s not quite May the 4th yet but celebrate Star Wars Day anyway. (Easton)

15. A spring farm festival. (Easton)

16. Patriot Place is painting its streets. (Foxborough)

17. South Shore International Film Festival. (Hingham)

18. It’s a great day to shear some sheep. (Hingham)

19. Grammy nominated The Pop Ups perform. (Natick)

20. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary student art show. (Natick)

21. Gently used clothes and gear sale. (Needham)

22. Smolak Farm opens for the season with FREE hay rides. (North Andover)

23. Spend the weekend immersed in poetry. (Salem)

24. Celebrate International Family Equality Day. (Somerville)

25. Support your community and this independent bookstore. (Wellesley)

26. Music MAYnia providing music for all. (Winchester)

27. A girls night out at the Ecotarium. (Worcester)

Image credit: Mass Audubon

Best of April 2015

Whoo boy, it's the last day of April! I'm not going to sugar coat it; following the bizarre trajectory of the first quarter of 2015, April offered many unexpected challenges (for me and for many of my loved ones too) and I'm eager to flip the page to May and have an awesome rest of the year (that's not too optimistic, right?)! However, it was a great month for content; catch up on back reading and enjoy this roundup via the Best of April! Happy almost May!

Cultural

Family Issues

Good Deeds

Shopping

Sports

Technology 

Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome

Image credit: 11 DIY protein bars via Pinterest 

Web (Admin)Comment
13 Ways to Learn About Swedish Culture

It's time to explore the world again! Remember the fun posts offering inspiration to learn about PolishBrazilian, and German culture? The fourth post in this editorial series with au pair agency Cultural Care Au Pair focuses on Sweden. Here are 13 ways to introduce your family to Swedish culture. And as with the other culture posts, for my readers outside of Massachusetts, there are a number of recommendations below that can be enjoyed from anywhere!

*** VISIT ***

1. The Scandinavian Cultural Center in West Newton is a hub for Nordic cultural activities. The center hosts notable Scandinavian speakers, shows cultural movies, and is home to the Kaffestugan coffee shop where you can enjoy Scandinavian treats. The Center is also home to The Scandinavian Library where you can take Swedish language classes.

*** SING & DANCE ***

2. Are you a pop music fan? I was totally intrigued by Nolan Feeney's article Why Is Sweden So Good at Pop Music? (written in honor of Ace of Bace's 20th anniversary of The Sign).

3. Love dancing? See if you can pull of the Polska, a traditional Swedish dance. 

*** CELEBRATE ***

4. Mark your calendar for the Swedish Yuletide celebration December 5, 2015!

5. Also handy for getting festive in Swedish style around the holidays is A Swedish Christmas: Simple Scandanavian Crafts, Recipes, and Decorations.

*** SHOP ***

6. Enjoy Swedish and Scandinavian food at A Swedish Shop in West Bridgewater. The shop includes jewelry and traditional crafts to look through while visiting this little store.

7. From Swedish tea biscuits to troll and Viking trinkets, The Gift Chalet offers a wide array of Scandanavian gifts.

*** EAT & CRAFT ***

8. Shake up your breakfast with these tasty Swedish pancakes.

9. Make a Viking out of a toilet paper roll!

10. Get the whole family to make Swedish flags by sponge painting.

*** READ ***

11. Learn more about Sweden, Greenland, and other Nordic countries through D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet.

12. Ronia, the Robber's Daughter, by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, tells the story of Ronia, who lives with her father and a band of robbers in a castle in the woods. Follow her adventures as she befriends a rival robber’s son.

13. Another Astrid Lindgren classic is The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, a great story about a spunky nine-year-old girl who lives alone (with a monkey) in a wacky house.

So fun, right? Enjoy exploring Sweden and I'm excited to share more cultural educational material over the coming months. Also, if you are interested in learning more about au pair childcare, you can check out the Cultural Care Au Pair tables at one of these upcoming family-friendly cultural events: the International Festival in Hingham (May 2) and IFED – International Family Day in Somerville (May 3).

+ + + + +

Disclosure: This post reflects a sponsored editorial partnership with Cultural Care Au Pair. Cultural Care Au Pair is a leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 90,000 au pairs in American homes. Hosting an au pair offers many benefits, one of which includes the opportunity for your family to learn about another country's culture.

Image credits: 1) flag via Wikipedia; 2) compilation graphic by Christine Koh with images via linked sources above.

How to Talk to Kids About Pornography

As I mentioned in my post on how to help boys build better relationships, when I queried for top concerns about raising boys, there were lots of sex-related questions. I told you then that I wanted to get your questions answered, and I'm thrilled that former regular contributor Amy Cody (Parent Education Manager at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts) is generously returning to answer several of your questions over the coming months.

The first question is about pornography, obviously an issue given access (intentional or accidental) in this digital age. Below is the original question, followed by Amy's 6 key pieces of advice for talking to kids about pornography.

QUESTION: How do I handle porn, the constant viewing of which can lead to less respect for women as well as less skills with relating to women intimately?

ANSWER: Often in our Let’s Be Honest: Communication in Families That Keeps Kids Healthy parent education workshops, parents ask how they should respond when they discover that their adolescent has visited a pornography website. Gone are the days when kids waited for National Geographic to arrive in the mail to catch a glimpse of women's breasts or a man's penis! These days, sexual and erotic media messages flood our daily lives -- from late-night cable programming to x-rated sites and pop-up ads online to lingerie display windows at the mall to adult magazine covers at the newsstand. By middle school, many kids have either heard the words related to pornography, listened to the whispers of friends, or been exposed to a variety of images. For impressionable youth, pornography can complicate their often imperfect sexuality education.

So, how can we as parents handle our child's normal and age-appropriate curiosity in a safe way while sharing facts and our values around this topic? Here are 6 tips:

1. Remember that curiosity is normal. For many youth, an interest in sexually explicit magazines and websites reflects both their curiosity and a desire to do something "grown up." In addition, adolescents want to know what is normal, and they want to know if they are normal.

2. Avoid a shaming response. If you find your adolescent's magazine under the bed or find them hunched over the computer screen in the dark, take a deep breath! Try not to make your child feel guilty or ashamed of their curiosity, which may hinder communication. 

3. View the situation as an opportunity to review your values. Though challenging, this is a great opportunity to review your values about sexually explicit material. Reflect on questions such as:

  • What do we think about erotica or pornography, and what messages are we comfortable giving our adolescent children about these materials?
  • How do we feel about the portrayal of women, or the portrayal of men in these publications?
  • Would we prefer to first explain this topic with our own values or wait until the alternative of having other adolescents introduce our child to sexually explicit materials?
  • Do the pictures and messages reflect the values we want to pass on to our child about intimate relationships?

4. Practice articulating your values. Once you’ve put words to your values, attitudes, feelings, and beliefs, communicate them to your kids. Practicing some wording can help! For example, your conversation might start with parts or all of something like: "I understand that you are curious about sex, bodies, love, and relationships. That's normal at your age. However, I find that these magazines and websites show unrealistic sexual behaviors and relationships. I feel that sex is an important part of a mature, intimate relationship. It is precious and should be valued, cared for, and acted on in a way that is respectful to yourself and the one you love. I think these images are often sexist and degrading to women as well as men. In real life, women and men do not have these types of perfect bodies.” You might want to add, “Not every person participates in these particular sexual acts, and I believe that safer sex, which is not usually present in these images, is a necessity. I'd be happy to share with you some books and information that I think will answer your questions."

5. Offer real alternatives. Encourage your kids to explore real portrayals of different shapes and sizes of male and female bodies through such books as The Joy of Sex, Our Bodies Ourselves, It's Perfectly Normal, or a human sexuality textbook, as well as photography or art works of natural, nude bodies. 

6. Be open. As adults, we may have our own uncomfortable feelings about pornography. However, forbidding these materials doesn't mean your adolescent won't see them. They may turn to friends, an older friend, or the Internet to get the information they are curious about. The important thing is to keep the communication lines open and to use this opportunity to share facts as well as express your values about sex and sexuality. Keep in mind that you are talking to your children because you care about their happiness and well-being!

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and expertise, Amy! If you want to learn more about how to make sexuality education easy, consider hosting a home talk as part of Planned Parenthood's Let’s Be Honest: Communication in Families That Keeps Kids Healthy parent education program. Contact parenteducation@pplm.org or call 617-616-1658 for more information. I have attended one of these home talks and it was fantastic!

Let's Meet in Boston!

I've long been a fan of Room to Grow's amazing work, and I'm delighted to be doing a Q&A with founder Julie Burns at their Celebrating Mothers Breakfast on May 8. This fundraising event will celebrate Room to Grow's incredible 10 years of helping families in need in Boston, and also honor the moms in the program who work so hard to create solid ground for their kids. Please support this amazing organization buy buying a ticket and joining us May 8, and of course come say hello -- I would love to meet you!

Weekly Blueprint

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a fantastic weekend and a great end to April vacation. Laurel had a wonderful, relaxed vacation week (guitars! bowling! jammies all day!) and yesterday, we all got to soak in the beauty of Ipswich while I ran the North Shore 10 Miler. Such a gorgeous, perfect day for a race, even though it didn't go 100% as I had hoped! I hope you have a great week on tap; let's kick it off with the Weekly Blueprint!

April 27: Learn the fine art of cheesemaking. (Sturbridge)

April 29: Capture the appearance of water in a flip book. (Lincoln)

April 30: Learn about all that plants need to grow and make your own terrarium. (Acton)

April 30: Get out for a hike with baby on board. (Sudbury)

May 1: Find out what it’s like to be a real scientist on a FREE Friday night at the Discovery Museums. (Acton)

May 1: Sing, dance and move to live music at the Jeff Jam dance party. (Boston)

May 1: A May Day moonlight hike. (Hadley)

May 1: See Rockport come alive at night. (Rockport)

May 1: Awaken your senses at Gore Place. (Waltham)

May 1 - 3: Spend the weekend immersed in poetry. (Salem)

Image credit: The Trustees of Reservations