Many fond childhood memories I have of my mom involve time spent baking and crafting together, and her ability to know the right thing to say when I was having a bad day. Now that I am a mom, I can only imagine how busy she was back then, juggling life’s many responsibilities, and I suspect she was often hoping for a little time off.

One of my favorite gifts as a mother is the gift of time—I never seem to have enough on any given day—between the kids, school, chores, and work. So my wish list would start with a little pampering and be followed by something handmade by my kids (a tradition in our house) and then time spent with family as well as time all to myself.

My wish list:
• Sleep an hour later than usual
• Breakfast (made by someone else) on the porch (away from the kitchen and the dishes)
• The laundry washed and folded (the day before)
• A family adventure—maybe letterboxing
• Time for myself to take a walk, go for a bike ride, work in my garden, or read a book

Gift ideas…
• Something handmade by the kids such as a card, book, or photo (printed out NOT on the computer)
• Spa gift certificate for a massage, facial, or pedicure (Alayne White is devine)
• Gift certificate to The Mixing Table (great to go with a friend because you can visit and then leave with a week’s worth of prepared meals)
• Photo charm necklace from Planet Jill
• An iPhone, pre-loaded with music and all my contacts at my fingertips (I admit I am a geeky mom)

I invite all the moms to share their wish list in the comments below, and then press “email this post” to the person in charge of planning their Mother’s Day with a note attached that specifies your top picks on the list.

Moms are special (I know mine is). Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11.

There are lots of great events happening in the area during Rhode Island public and charter Spring School Vacation Week (April 14 – April 18, 2008). Parents of young children, who may not be in the school vacation rhythm yet, should be aware that many of their favorite Rhode Island hotspots will be busier than usual because of the special events planned for kids. Since it is not Massachusetts school vacation week, this is a great time to venture over the state lines for some less-crowded daytrips. Plan accordingly.

If you are already signed up for email and usually receive the Kidoinfo Weekend Picks, you should have received your School Vacation Guide in your inbox on Thursday. Already cleaned out your inbox? Find a copy the 2008 April School Vacation Guide here.

Not signed up? Click here to receive weekly email updates.

Photo courtesy of ASRI.

Whether or not you celebrate Passover, this Story of the Month is fun for kids of all ages — a mix of science, Jewish history and humor. And if you are looking for a good introduction to Passover for kids, The Family Haggadah by Ellen Schecter is a handy step-by-step guide to the rituals of the traditional Seder along with a dictionary of terms.

THE MEGA MATZAH (PDF)

By Mark Binder

Every year the village of Chelm celebrated a communal Pesach feast under the stars. A pot luck affair, each family contributed some portion of the meal.

Rabbi Kibbitz, the head rabbi, supplied the blessings. Mrs. Chaipul would bring her famous lead-ball knaidlach soup. Reb Cantor made gallons of kosher l’Pesach wine.

And Reb Stein, the baker, baked the matzah with the aid of his friend, Rabbi Yohon Abrahms, the schoolmaster.

This particular year, Reb Stein, took the notion to create the world’s largest matzah.

In the past, Czar Fyodor, The Not So Great, had commissioned an unleavened bread the size of a table top. London had once witnessed a hamotzi over a matzah as big as a horse cart. And, of course, in Jerusalem, the holy city, for centuries bakers had been developing a secret recipe that they claimed would permit them to rebuild the Temple completely out of matzah within a week, if the Messiah should ever come and call for it.

“Chelm is a small town,” Rabbi Abrahms warned. “What do we need with something so big?”

“Phooey,” said Reb Stein. “I will be written into the Gibberish Book of World Records.”

(more…)

Kidoinfo.com officially turns one today. Starting this site sometimes felt a little like having a baby—except this time I didn’t give birth to twins. First-time pregnancies often allow us time to spend reading, researching, and getting ready for the arrival of the new baby; once he or she is born, however, it’s a whole new world.

Before I launched Kidoinfo.com, I spent time reading, researching, and planning as well. I spent time writing and getting used to blogging (which explains why blog posts start in January 2007) and I talked with friends, families, and many parents about what they would like to see in a parenting website. Thanks to my husband, who devoted many hours of programming the site, and extended family members, who offered to babysit our sons, Kidoinfo.com was born last spring. Since that time (as with a baby’s first year), many changes have taken place and many people have helped me along the way. Kidoinfo.com becomes more relevant and useful the more people share their ideas and experience.

Thanks to all the fabulous people I have met because of the website, to my mom friends who have supported me in making this happen, and to all the amazing people (see list) who contribute their writing and expertise to make this site what it is. Thanks to the growing Kidoinfo community that keeps me inspired and keeps the website energized.

Stay tuned for plans to help celebrate! And as always, I welcome your comments and feedback.

Last year I wrote, It’s Easy Being Green, a list of things to learn and do in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. My favorite is taking your kids to the park in search of leprechauns.

Read a good book with your children first, like Leprechauns Never Lie by Lorna and Lecia Balian; then find a park near you and take a hike in search of these mischievous characters. If it’s a nice day and you don’t find any, you and your kids may still enjoy the walk looking for early signs of spring. Check our events calendar for local parades and other happenings.

I know many Easter (or Spring) Bunnies bring chocolate, but what else does the bunny bring? Our boys each have a basket in their favorite color, and here is a list of what’s been tucked inside over the years:

Colored plastic eggs filled with goldfish, animal crackers,
or chocolate eggs
Rubber ducks and other bath toys
Teething rings
Bubble makers
Sidewalk chalk
Stickers
Flower seeds to plant inside or outside
Kids’ gardening gloves
Crayons, markers, or other art supplies
Fun pen
Notepad
Erasers
Ugly Doll or other adorable stuffed critter
Rubber stamps
Playdough
Matchbox cars
Marbles
Finger puppets
(more…)

There are lots of great events happening in the area during School Vacation Week (Feb. 15 - Feb. 24). Parents of young children, who may not be in the school vacation rhythm yet, should be aware that many of their favorite hotspots will be busier than usual because of the special events planned for kids. Plan accordingly.

If you are already signed up for email and usually receive the Kidoinfo Weekend Picks, check your inbox Thursday afternoon for this weeks’ special edition - the 2008 February School Vacation Guide.

Not signed up? Click here to receive your guide by email.

Pictured: Pumpernickel Puppets will be at the Providence Children’s Museum on Friday, February 22.

This important Chinese holiday celebrates the beginning of a New Year—this year being the Year of the Rat—according to the lunar calendar. It starts on a New Moon and ends with the lantern festival on the full moon about 15 days later. Although in some areas the lantern festival is on a weekend for convenience. Celebrations can last up to a month with big family gatherings, gift giving, the eating of symbolic foods and displays of festive decorations—all focused on bringing good luck for the new year and celebrating the coming of Spring.

Celebrate with your children
• Read about the holiday, Happy New Year! / Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts’ai! by Demi or Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
• Red is the symbol of fire and believed to drive away bad luck. Wear red clothes; decorate the house with red decorations.
• Make paper lanterns with construction paper.
• Make this colorful dragon mask and have a dragon parade.
• Make a chinese feast at home or order food from Lucky Garden on Smith Street.
• Learn more about Chinese culture, learn the language and attend some local events.
Visit Mei Mei and Me–a great local resource in Rhode Island.

Upcoming events to celebrate the New Year locally:
(more…)

After seeing the matchbox advent calendar on Kids Craft Weekly, I was reminded how as a child I used to love to decorate old matchboxes and use them to stash trinkets, notes, or treasures I had found.

I decided to adapt this idea and make little “love” boxes with my kids for our Valentine’s Day craft, but this simple project can easily be used throughout the year.

Supplies:
• empty matchboxes (10 boxes for $.89 at East Side Marketplace)
• glue stick and , craft glue
• ruler
• scissors
• paper, wrapping paper (I used origami paper – a multipack of forty 4 5/8” square sheets $1.99 at Utrecht on Wickenden Street)
• collage items - ribbons, stickers, sequins, glitter
• markers, crayons, paint and paintbrush
• treasures to place inside – candy, notes, charms, etc.

How-to:
To cover the matchbox with paper, you first need to measure the box. Use a small ruler to measure, mark your paper with a pencil line, and cut with scissors or use a paper cutter to quickly cut a number of sheets. (Cut the paper a little longer than the distance around the box so the paper sleeve will overlap when you glue it.)

My mini matchbox measures 3/8 “ H x 1.5” W x 2 1/16” L. I can get two strips (4 5/8” x 2 1/16”) from each origami sheet, leaving me a little strip I can also use later to cover the ends of the drawer.

Use glue stick to cover backside of paper with glue, wrap tightly around box, and allow to dry. (Test paper first to see if words from the matchbox show through. If so, paint the box first with craft paint and let dry.)

You can get as creative as you or your kids want. Paint the box drawer inside and out, line the drawer with paper or felt, and/or collage the outside of the box by gluing on ribbons, sequins, buttons, etc. with craft glue.

We filled our boxes with love notes and candy hearts, but the possibilities are endless – mini drawings, photos of the kids (nice gift for grandparents), shells, feathers, little toys, assorted baubles etc. This box also makes a fine Tooth Fairy Box – a place for your child’s lost tooth for under the pillow to await the Tooth Fairy, or as we do in our house, a place for my son to save all his lost teeth because he can’t bear to part with them.

Here is a link back to the valentine heart project I wrote about last year on Kidoinfo. Since the website had not yet officially launched, I doubt anyone saw this craft in time.

My boys and I also had the pleasure of joining our friends at Rag and Bone Studio for a book craft last winter. The kids made these adorable Valentine’s Day accordion books, which can easily be adapted to suit any holiday.

If you have great valentine project ideas, please click comments and share them with our readers.

Beautiful custom-made dresses and accessories by Smyth and Company will make any girl feel like a princess for the day. Have a dress designed by Mary Pat of Smyth and Company, and it will be made-to-order in Connecticut from an assortment of delicious fabrics and colors. These original handmade dresses and accessories are perfect for any special occasion – holidays, first communion, birthdays, weddings, or to outfit the flower girl. No wallflowers here.

Contact Smyth and Company:
phone: 860-379-2534
email: customerservice@smythandcompany.com
web: www.smythandcompany.com