 by: Linda Bartosik
...and living in Sandwich! If you are the mom of a child who is artistic and/or loves to write, this post is for you. Have you checked out the Splatter Art School yet? It's a hidden gem on Quaker Meeting House Road. One morning a colorful sign caught my as I was driving to Mashpee. It said Splatter Art School. Mmm...it sounded interesting. When I arrived home I checked out the website and was amazed at the art opportunities offered for grade school children. There are numerous art classes, as well as open studio times where children can come and create. Last week I stopped in to see the studio. It's adorable and completely stocked with every art material imaginable. The room is big, bright and beckoning. THIS is a place for children to explore and create. If you have a child that loves to write, come meet me on my iTeach website. Click on the Young Authors Workshops and see what kids can do. I will be holding a class here in Sandwich the week of July 22. I can take up to six students grades K-5. Email me at iTeach@lindabartosik.com for more info. The arts for children are definitely alive here in Sandwich. Every child is an artist and an author with a story to tell. Check out these two websites for creative fun for your child. Welcome summer on Cape Cod!
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 By Nicole Chiello Swimming is an activity that is loved by children of all ages. As summer approaches, it’s important to think about being safe in the water and at the beach. If you are a parent or guardian, being at the water with your children can be a fun, but stressful time. There are definitely some things you need to think about before you venture to the pool (or beach!) What are some general things I should remember when I am at the water with my children? · Please remember that are large misconceptions when it comes to drowning. It can happen in an instant, and people who are drowning can’t call for help in most cases, as they are trying to breathe. Not all people who are drowning will yell, or wave their hands, or bob up and down in the water. · Supervision is the #1 priority when water is involved! Children need to be supervised at all times when they are around water of any kind. A good rule of thumb is to remember that children under 5 should be only an arm’s length away from an adult. If you need to leave for whatever reason, make sure your child is with you – do not leave them even for a minute – because less then a minute is all it takes for a dangerous situation to occur. · Set rules from the start – and stick to them! If you are at the beach, and you tell them not to go past their knees, have a consequence ready when they do. They are going to test you and if you cave, they are going to continue to test! Set the rules from the get go, and talk about them before you even get there. · The American Red Cross advocates for the buddy system – even if you are supervising your children, make sure they are always with someone else in the water. · A flotation device does not replace proper supervision. Just because your child has a life vest on, or tube, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have to supervise them. Nothing replaces the proper supervision of an adult. · If you own a pool, please abide by all rules and laws about owning one, including fencing, securing, and covering. Please make sure the cover is secure whenever it is not in use. Also, make sure toys are not floating in the pool when there is no one around – colorful toys are often hard to resist for small children and they might unknowingly try to grab them and fall.  How can I educate myself on proper beach and water safety? - All caregivers and families should take a basic CPR class so they will be prepared in an emergency situation. This is a very simple way for all caregivers to protect their families and know what to do when an emergency situation arises. - Enroll yourself and your child in a swim class. Classes are great because a child is there, learning how to swim and getting excited about the water – and at the same time, you and your child are learning about water safety and about how to be safe at all times. It’s a great tool to teach your kids about water safety without them even knowing it. :) What do I do in an emergency situation? - Check the water first if you own a pool. If you notice your child is missing, check there quickly first, as time is precious if something has happened to your child in the water. - Call 911. Always have a phone handy when you are near the water. - If you own a pool, make sure you have all of the emergency equipment on hand and ready. You shouldn’t have to look, or go far, for anything you might need quickly. Nicole Chiello is an Education Specialist at The Children’s Workshop. She received a BA in Elementary Education and Psychology from URI. Nicole has been with the team for four years. Before being a director, she was a school-age coordinator, as well as a substitute for the Public Schools. Her favorite thing about working with children is the guarantee   For and Against The Stranger Summer Safety Tips, Part 2 by Tracy Lamperti, LMHC, BCETS What to do if a stranger approaches you. While it is ok for a child to approach a stranger for help (see below), it is not ok for an adult to approach a child for help. A child should be taught; 1. They should stay farther away from a stranger than the stranger’s reach, 2. It is ok to back away from a stranger and it is ok to say “NO” to a stranger, 3. Never go to a person that they don’t know who is calling them over. A stranger with wrong intentions may ask a child if they want to see the puppy in their car, or some candy, or “I know your dad, can you give him something for me.” 4. Never to give out information about themselves to someone they don’t know, such as, “What is your name?” “Do you live in this town?” “Isn’t your mom’s name …..?” People with wrong intentions are testing all the time. They know they can’t get what they want from some, but not all children, so they have to do a lot of testing in ways that seem like “normal” interactions to find the one that will take the bait. They might try the same question with 20 children before they get the one who will come over to see the puppy. Then they try a level two test. Experts conducted tests using a “lost puppy” technique to lure Small children who have been taught to never go with a stranger. To the amazement of the parents (who were looking on and knew their child was part of a test), the technique was very successful. Once they throw the bait, they hook the child and then set the hook. They lure the child farther away with each strategy. What to do if you get lost. Almost every adult has a story about getting lost as a child, either themselves or someone they know, whether it was a crowded area, an area with racks higher than themselves, or somewhere else. When children have been given instructions and a chance to practice, if this unfortunate event happens they will be less afraid and better able to take the best next step. Step 1 - The first thing a child should do when they realize that the adult they are with is not in sight, is to take a few breaths while they calmly scan as far as they can see in all directions while standing in one spot. Step 2 - Children should be taught to know what to look for in a helping person. The safest people to ask for help from are; (1) someone behind a desk or using a cash register; (2) someone wearing a uniform or name tag; (3) an adult with children; (4) a person who looks “old” in a child’s opinion. Finding a helping person should be done from the spot where you are. Children should not go wandering looking for their parent or a helping person. Step 3 – Children should say, “My mom (or whoever they were with) is lost, will you please find her for me.” Or, “I need help finding my mom.” Children should be taught NOT to leave the area with anyone. The parent will retrace their steps looking for the child, and the child cannot be sure the helping person is safe. Step 4 – Children should be able to recite their parent’s phone number and address as well as their parent’s first and last name. Have a wonderful and safe summer, whether you are staying here on beautiful Cape Cod or traveling! Please see www.tracylamperti.com for more information about working with children and families or specifically  CAPE COD MEMORY MAKERS Explore the Town of Falmouth author Joan Walsh will appear at Falmouth Arts Alive, a free 3-day celebration of the arts in Falmouth and the Upper Cape, on Sunday, June 23, from 11:20 am to 12:20.
Children may paint a seashell, talk about their favorite place to visit in Falmouth, and receive an official CAPE COD MEMORY BUTTON with the purchase of their book.  By: Gary M. DellaPosta, CPA Certain financial debts from your past may affect your current federal tax refund. The law allows the use of part or all of your federal tax refund to pay other federal or state debts that you owe. Here are six facts that you should know about tax refund 'offsets.' 1. A tax refund offset generally means that the U.S. Treasury has reduced your federal tax refund to pay for certain unpaid debts. 2. The Treasury Department's Financial Management Service (FMS) is the agency that issues tax refunds and conducts the Treasury Offset Program. 3. If you have unpaid debts, such as overdue child support, state income tax or student loans, FMS may apply part or all of your tax refund to pay that debt. 4. You will receive a notice from FMS if an offset occurs. The notice will include the original tax refund amount and your offset amount. It will also include the agency receiving the offset payment and that agency's contact information. 5. If you believe that you do not owe the debt or you want to dispute the amount taken from your refund, you should contact the agency that received the offset amount, not the IRS or FMS. 6. If you filed a joint tax return, you may be entitled to part or all of the refund offset. This rule applies if your spouse is solely responsible for the debt. If you need to request your part of a refund, you can file Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, for you. Gary DellaPosta is a CPA and founder of the firm: Gary M DellaPosta, CPA's & Business Advisors. A graduate of Bryant  Come enjoy a night under the stars in Hidden Hollow and help fund our
educational programs for children. There will be a beer tasting, compliments of Cape Cod Beer, delicious food and live music from the Adam Hofmann Revival band. Leave the kids at home and join us for lively music, scrumptious food, tasty beer and good company! Plus, add a hanging star with your child’s name (or your name!) to our decorations on party night. Your $10 will get a shiny star that will be “twinkling” at Hidden Hollow on June 14th. All proceeds benefit educational programming in Hidden Hollow. http://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/ai1ec_event/hidden-hollow-under-the-stars/?instance_id=88940 By: Maurene Merritt, RN Truly, we are so fortunate to have an experience in life that gives us still another opportunity to test the very one in us that believed that we can do or be anything, and if in that moment we have someone courageous enough, committed enough, clear enough to let nothing, absolutely nothing prevent us from the challenge, then such a moment is a blessed event that is a gift to both the giver and the receiver, because in order for the teacher to provide such alchemy, she herself in that moment will need to remember her own strength seen by her own teacher, when all else failed her. Chandra articulated beautifully how powerful such a connection can be. She gave up several times in the midst of pushing, exhausted, the words barely audible beyond her eyes sunken in the tears of despair, and the beads of sweat formed on her brow, "I can't do this anymore", and even asked her physician to take her baby boy out of her body as he descended closer to her vaginal opening. I was able to reconnect with Chandra the next day and inquired about her experience. She said, "I was so unprepared for the pushing stage. I felt confident for the first stage, working like it was an extension of my daily yoga practice, holding steady to the breath with each contraction. But I had no idea how hard pushing was going to be. By far, it's the hardest thing I've ever done".  I asked her to identify what factors helped her to ultimately give birth to her baby the way she intended, all on her own, from start to finish. She said, "my physician's calm, steady presence" and "when I was at my wits end, I would look at you, and then push one more time, for you." It's what a good teacher does, she sees our strength sometimes before we can see it for ourselves. When we have lost all faith, she is there, like a loving, strict mother that is committed to taking our next step, just another staircase in our ascending, evolutionary need for growth. The teacher is an energetic connection, and can be anyone that you feel is vested in you, a nurse,childbirth educator, midwife, physician, husband or even your own mother. All that need happen is that an authentic, full connection be made. For me, it was my daughter's father that provided this invaluable, crucial role. Truly, it made the difference in my ability to conquer what I had given up on so long ago. It took another decade for me to cultivate enough of the strength that I had gained through childbirth to allow for a bigger, more powerful connection, one that helps me now to see pregnant/birthing women more and more in their true, energetic form. To give you an idea of how difficult second stage is and how valuable a teacher can be, consider the following: 1. Identify 3 of the most difficult experiences that you've had in your life. 2. Identify what factors helped you to endure and meet their challenges. Now multiply the level of difficulty of each experience by 10, maybe even 100 or 1000. If one of the factors that helped you to endure was support by family and/or friends, multiply it by the same factor.  If you welcome childbirth with an open heart and a positive mind, it's an experience that can reward you with the gift of what was one of Chandra's original intentions, to feel triumphant. Then comes the real challenge, will you put forth enough effort to keep your towering inferno of awe for yourself from cooling to a dancing, struggling tear shaped flame too deep in to grow? Or will you tend to yourself enough to provide for a gentle, soft breeze that will help sustain the flame to a steady, still white glow? All too often we are so absorbed in mothering that we fail to receive the fruits of our labor and they go unpicked and rot on the vein; and it's the very substance that can help us to remain confident and inspired to grow deeper in our understanding of how brightly lit up we all are. Consider that the experience of feeling triumphant is about as rare as how often it's sought after and in terms of priority belongs in the front row seat cozy up with mothering. Together, forever, in our hearts, Maurene In my next blog we'll look to the universal, developmental movement patterns to help give more power to our push. *reprinted with full permission from http://www.birthblessingsyoga.blogspot.com/ Maurene Merritt, RN is a holistic practitioner, teacher, and writer. She has an extensive background in holistic childbirth education including developing and teaching the first partnered yoga childbirth education program in a major Boston Medical center. Presently she is an employee of Falmouth Hospital where she serves as a maternity nurse and is active with the integrative medicine department. She also has a private practice where she calls herself CapeYogaGirl.  The Falmouth Rotary will hold its annual pancake breakfast Saturday, June 12 from 8am to noon at the Masonic Lodge on Main Street and Cape Cod Mommies is one of the Sponsors!
Tickets for the event are $6, are all you can eat and are available at the door. “Members of the armed services eat for free this year,” announced Rudy Hunter, breakfast chairman. “Rotary wants to honor those who serve our nation and this is just one small way to say thanks.” Rotary expects to raise more than $5000 for VIPS and other local charities from the proceeds from the pancake breakfast. “Advertising on breakfast place mats are sold out, and tickets sales are higher than last year. We fully expect to meet our $5,000 target.” Visit Falmouth Rotary for more information or check out their Facebook page for announcements involving scholarships, RYLA, fundraisers, guest speakers, and more!  By: Sung Bin
Now that we are on our official summer break from the little one's preschool, I have to admit I am a lithe terrified having to fill some of the extra time during the week. Even though my preschooler was only at the preschool coop two days a week, it was still enough for me to pack in as much "me" time for freelancing or errand running as possible solo. So, now that the scheduled playgroups and days at preschool are over I have been trying to decide whether to have a true summer vacation or to supplement our next few months by a sort of homeschooling with a lot of breaks for excursions and relaxation. A few sites I find inspiring gave me some great ideas for what to include in our summer of learning at home. Of course all or most of what I have in mind can change at the whim of my three and a half year old. I would follow her lead particularly if she ends up taking a strong interest in something or just wants to relish in playtime fun. Case in point, I started the week with some ideas from Weefolkart.com, a Waldorf inspired blog with free homeschool companion guides and nature based lesson plans. My daughter wanted to learn all about fairies so we decided to focus on fairies and butterflies instead for the week and spent most of the days in pretend play and puddle jumping. Weefolkart.com's book lists are exceptional and I have found some great books to work with. Another blog I really enjoy from a more Montessori based perspective is Carrotsareorange.com for hands on crafts and activity ideas. I don't know if schooling through the year is for everybody or if it's better to take a summer break for kids to enjoy but I also want to continue to nurture that natural curiosity and appetite for learning so I think I will give it a shot. What do other families do during the summer break? Do any of you continue lessons throughout the year? |
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