The Best of the Rest of the Web: Kids Are Weird, Multitasking, and Work-Flex Benefits

From the April 2014 issues of NYMetroParents comes a selection of funny and thoughtful quotes about the benefits of flexible work options, women and multitasking, fussy eaters, and the wonderful weirdness of kids.

 

“Nothing gives me so much satisfaction as presenting my child with a carefully prepared and beautifully plated homemade dinner…. Until she covers it with ketchup.”

—a Scarsdale mom of two girls on her personal Facebook page, where she keeps her friends in stiches on the regular; if her comment strikes a chord, check out NYMetroParents’ tips for getting even the fussiest eaters to try new foods, at nymetroparents.com/picky-eater.

 

pink lip gloss“I know we all have responsibilities as wives, mothers, employees, friends, and daughters. I know we are often pulled in 12 directions at one time on any given day, and that we learned how to effectively multitask around the same time we started using lip gloss. But when did we become so adept at meeting other people’s needs that we virtually ignore our own?

—Rosemarie Coppola-Baldwin, a NYC-area lawyer and mom who resolved to stop putting everyone else first in the hopes of setting an example for her daughter that women can “be assertive while still being kind and responsible,” on her Mommy Vortex blog at rachelsimmons.com

 

“…flexible work options facilitate a productive process whereby people with lower stress and richer home lives perform better at work. (Indeed, a large body of research shows that using work-flex enhances job motivation and performance.)”

—Nanette Fondas (@NanetteFondas), mom of four and author of the book The Custom-Fit Workplace, in a post on The Harvard Business Review blogs entitled “After Your ‘Daddy Days’ End”; read it to see what happens after paternity leave—and to be surprised by all the compelling research she references

 

jeffrey brown comic about kids in bathroom

—panel from a funny new book by father-of-two Jeffrey Brown (jeffreybrowncomics.blogspot.com), Kids Are Weird And Other Observations from Parenthood (Chronicle); check it out for some madcap moments, including a few you may recognize but not automatically cop to (like the time your—umm, his—kid drew a bottle of wine with chalk on the sidewalk “because you like wine!”)

 

Twitter Talk @NYMetroParents

@RajdeepPaulus: If I wrote a story of teens who had to communicate without social media, would that be considered #historicalfiction? Just sayin… :) #FF

@NYMetroParents: Looking to find that work/parent
balance? Here are some tips to get you back on the job hunt! ht.ly/sL6fz

@dudetodad: I’m not sure who said, “don’t cry over spilled milk,” but they clearly didn’t see it happen 6 times in the same meal. Cry. #wisdomfordad

@RoomtoRead: New @UNICEF State of the World’s Children report emphasizes how data indicators can tell us about children’s lives. uni.cf/data

@mommyprayers: Thanks Catherine Newman, this needed saying=> @NYTMotherlode: Helmets: Because Their Thick Skulls Aren’t Thick Enough: nyti.ms/1bwF4Ed

@NayantaraS: Children’s lives and stories are important!
@brooklynhistory is archiving oral histories of kids in Brooklyn. More at bit.ly/1jqX6Qt

 

Relevant Directory Listings

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New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Summer Game Camp</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including –</p> <p dir="ltr">- Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch!</p> <p dir="ltr">- A digital campus!</p> <p dir="ltr">- Moderated chat hours!</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more!</p> <p dir="ltr">Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons & Dragons</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons & Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons & Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons & Dragons workshop! </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together!</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Dungeons & Dragons Junior</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons & Dragons games. Our Dungeons & Dragons Jr. game provides a D&D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons & Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&D so they can eventually move onto the main game.</p>

Steps on Broadway Youth Programs

<p class="m_6201101365486487057m_1751229968981391907gmail-m-6447730382188674378msonospacing" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For 40 years, the Youth Programs at the internationally celebrated Steps on Broadway have nurtured young dancers, ages 18 months to 18 years.  Whether seeking a fun dance experience or comprehensive pre-professional training, there is a program suited for everyone.  Classes include ballet, tap, jazz, theater dance, hip hop, contemporary, modern, pointe and more.  Taught by a faculty of internationally-recognized concert, ballet, Broadway and celebrated guest artists, every student is encouraged to discover their artistic uniqueness, deepen their passion for the art form, while growing as dancers and individuals. </span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Classes are offered throughout the academic year and summer.</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">First Steps (ages 18 mos – 5 yrs)</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Kids & Teens (ages 6-18 yrs)</span><u></u><u></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 10pt; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #5a5a5a;">Pre-Professional Program (ages 7-18 yrs, by audition only)</span></p>

A-Game Sports

<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">A-Game Sports is a premier provider of sports instruction and strength and conditioning for toddlers, children and adults. As an instructional and recreational youth sports facility, our goal is to make athletics a rewarding experience for all kids. A-Game Sports is located in New Rochelle, NY, and offers camps, lessons, customized programs for more than 10 sports and rental space for private events. A-Game Sports was founded in 2013 by two guys who decided that it was time to do what they truly love in life. Since then, we've made the ideology of fusing hard work and fun into a reality. Our dedicated staff of professional coaches share their enthusiasm with kids of all ages and skill levels that take part in our programs.</p> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"> </p> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">With turfed fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and flag football, batting cages and tunnels for baseball and softball, and various basketball programs, A-Game Sports is one of the premiere sports facilities for kids and adults of any age. Aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts will benefit from our many strength and conditioning programs, while children new to sports will learn skills and techniques within their chosen sport, all while having a great time and keeping the game fun.</p> </div>