Announcing PMC Preschool Night!

The Petaluma Mothers' Club is happy to host our annual preschool night this January.  There will be about 20 preschools coming to share information about their schools and answer any questions that you might have. Children are welcome, and this is open to non-PMC members as well. There will be an activity room for children or you can make a reservation in the club one child care area for a fee. We will also have coffee, tea, and some snacks for everyone. Club one will also be giving everyone a pass for a free visit to the gym! Hope to see you there.

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What: Preschool Night
Who: Petaluma Mothers' Club
When: Wed Jan 19, 2011, 6-8 pm PST
Where: Club One
1201 Redwood Way, Petaluma,ca 94954

The Petaluma Mothers' Club invites you to our annual Fall Carnival!

Join us on October 24th from 11AM to 2:30PM at Kenilworth Jr. High School for our annual Fall Carnival and Costume Contest!  This event is always lots of fun for the entire family!  It is all about the kids, as we celebrate fall with plenty of games, a bounce house, live music, a bake sale and much more!  Please click on the flyer below for more details.

The PMC hosts our annual BBQ

This weekend we bid summer farewell, as we celebrated with a big, final PMC cookout.

Many adorable young children, played and danced together, while the grown-ups enjoyed some yummy food.

When the kids were not dancing around to the music of Tim Cain, they were playing on the playground or in the sandbox.  Thank you to the organizers and to everyone who brought something to share!

PMC Fieldtrip to Tara Firma Farms

The PMC recently toured Tara Firma Farms, a local farm growing chemical free produce and pasture fed, humanely treated pigs, cows and chickens.  Here are a few photos from this lovely Sunday afternoon.

The PMC is proud to offer at least one fieldtrip each month.  As a group we meet at an interesting location or do a fun activity together.  

Thank you for hosting us Tara Firma!  We love supporting local businesses.  

Photography by Erin Wrightsman.  

Fun Food Friday: Easy Popsicles

Summer is not over, here in Petaluma, as our recent weather indicates.  Popsicles are a fun and easy way to stay cool, and use up extra summer fruit.  Homemade popsicles are simple and healthy treats, and since you know each ingredient, you won't have to worry about your kids consuming chemical food dyes or corn syrup.

Simply blend your favorite fruit with some honey or a little sugar and freeze in a popsicle mold.  We like to layer different fruits in the mold along with yogurt for a rainbow effect.  Enjoy!

September President's Note

Even though my children are not in school yet, September always gives me that back-to-school feeling.  Suddenly, summer is over and it is time to pull out the sweaters, and boots, and go shopping for fresh desk supplies.  Teachers and students take center stage as class begins.

We all had teachers in our life that made a particular difference in our education.  They seemed to care a little more, speak with more enthusiasm, saw something in us that the other teachers didn’t notice.  They drew us out and helped us see the world a little differently.  Mrs. Bott was just that teacher for me.  Going to her class each day was like entering a special world.  She decorated the classroom seasonally, played beautiful music, and even shared special treats with us on certain occasions.  Most importantly, she was completely committed to her students, and she inspired us each day to enjoy learning.  Even though she was our 7^th grade English teacher, she found a way to be there on the day her “kids” graduated high school.   If you are a teacher, I’m sending you a very special thank you this month for inspiring and educating our children.  If you are a student, I wish you good luck, and hope you don’t have too many late nights of studying!

In honor of our new “semester,” the PMC is gearing up for our annual BBQ. We’ll be grilling up some good eats for you and your family as we bid farewell to summer with a big final cookout.  We would love to see you at this wonderful event, so forget about making dinner and doing the dishes, and let us cook for you!  We have several other great events lined up too, like the fieldtrip to Chileno Valley Ranch, and Safari West.  We’ll also have a special presentation on disaster preparedness that you won’t want to miss.  Please check our calendar to find the dates and times for all of our events.  

Fun Food Friday: A Cute Fruit Caterpillar

PMC mom Jennifer Durst made this tasty fruit caterpillar for her adorable son, and clearly, he had fun eating it!  

Strawberries, kiwi and blueberries give an antioxidant boost, plus yogurt for all those beneficial bacteria, make this cute caterpillar a kids best friend (or a cold's worst enemy).  This caterpillar could also be made with banana instead of kiwi.

Fun Food Friday

Introducing Fun Food Friday!  Sometimes it is a challenge getting our kids to eat nutritious food, so we'll be featuring fun food ideas on Friday as inspiration for your own family meals.

This is a veggie sandwich that my daughter just loved.  She was delighted to see this silly face made out of vegetables, cheese, and bread.  It actually encouraged her to try avocado again.  When getting your kids to eat something new, try making it fun!

Do you have a fun food idea your kids like?  Please send your fun food idea, with a photo, to pmcpresident@petalumamothersclub.org and we may feature it here!

How To Advertise With The Petaluma Mothers' Club

By advertising your business in our 36 page newsletter, you will reach nearly 400 members each month.  Not only will you gain more business, you will help our club support more families in our community. 

Our advertising rates are very affordable, and putting an ad in the newsletter is simple. 

Click Here for the ad spec sheet.  This page includes pricing.

Email: pmcbusads@petalumamothersclub.org if you are interested in advertising with us, or to receive more information.  

The Petaluma Mothers' Club Sponsors the Petaluma Farmers' Market!

Through our charitable giving, the Petaluma Mothers' Club is proud to sponsor the new SNAP/EBT machine for the Petaluma Farmers' Market.  Because of our donation, families using food stamps will now be able to purchase locally produced fruits and vegetables.

Please stop by our booth at the Wednesday evening Farmers' Market to say hello to our volunteers, and learn more about the club.

The Petaluma Evening Farmers' Market

Wednesdays 4:30PM - 8PM

June 2 - September 1

in the Theatre District

(2nd Street between B & D Streets.)

Activities For Traveling With Kids

Traveling with children can be challenging.  Here are a few ideas for making car or airplane travel a bit more interesting.  

     

An assortment of travel games can be found at many toy stores and book shops.  This game is perfect for preschoolers and is based on the popular I Spy books.

Children usually love magnets.  Try bringing a metal board (you can even use a small cookie tray) and a variety of magnets along on your next car ride.  Letter magnets will help kids learn the alphabet.

A collection of small and light books, like the classic Little Miss and Mr books by Roger Hargreaves, will keep your children entertained and learning important lessons in an entertaining way.

Kids love activity books, and they are great for travel.  Sticker and coloring books can keep the kids entertained and are very portable.  

Happy Travels!

July 2010 President's Note

July marks the beginning of the new term for the PMC board of directors, and this means our club renewals are right around the corner.  I am so excited to be volunteering in the role of Board President this year.  It wasn’t something I planned, but without a doubt, something I am honored to do. 

Joining this club three years ago was one of the best things I have ever done.  Shortly after moving here, I heard it on the playground and from my real estate agent, that the PMC is a must for new moms, particularly if you are new to the area. 

After joining a playgroup I realized it wasn’t just my baby benefitting from meeting new people, I was getting so much out of it too.  Slowly, the other mothers and I have formed friendships that will last a lifetime.  Motherhood is rewarding, but challenging, and my PMC friends are going through the exact same thing I am.  We share and support each other in our personal triumphs, but also in our times of trouble. We have formed our own strong support system.

This is why the PMC exists.  We support each other through both the challenging parts of raising children, and the most rewarding parts.  You may be a PMC veteran, or you may be new to our club, but I hope that while you are out in our community you will spread the word about the support we provide, and the new friendships we are sharing.  Please keep a look out for your PMC club renewal information that will come this year directly to your email box.  We hope that you will continue to be a part of our growing membership!

Carrie Smetana

PMC President 2010/2011

June President's Note

How did I get so lucky? With three beautiful daughters and a husband who loves me, I have to remember to pinch myself sometimes. After having Raquel, I felt a bit of fear; specifically, I got scared about losing my husband. I think I might have even wondered about our life insurance policy. But this fear also didn’t come out of nowhere. Now with three kids, one of which is a newborn who I am literally attached too, I have begun to see just how much my husband does for our family. I need more help these days, and he has been right there helping away during these first few weeks of our new baby’s life.

Brent is a hands-on dad. He has never shied away from a poopy diaper (okay, maybe once); he makes meals, gives baths, and reads stories, just to name a few. I have to laugh because although he does things a little different than I do (for example at bath time, rinsing shampoo out of the girls can sometimes seem like water boarding rather than rinsing), the mere fact that my husband even takes the time to do regular bath time is wonderful. I’ve really had to let go of my control as a mother and let him do things as he thinks they should be done. On disciplining our children, however, we are definitely working towards consistently delivering the right messages to our kids and staying on the same page.

So this being the last President’s Note of my term, I’d like to publically thank my husband for being such an amazing father and husband. He has never shown me anything less than love and support throughout my presidency and throughout our life together thus far. He is the backbone of our family who works so hard for us during the day so that we can live the life we do. He then comes home at night to be “on” for his family. He is amazing. He loves Petaluma and he loves helping his community. This man earns his sleep for sure. Thank you Brent! I love you, and I thank you for being my partner in life and the father to our three angels.

To all the PMC Dads who have stood behind the wonderful women of the PMC, Happy Father’s Day! Thank you for coming to events and helping with set-up, take down, getting supplies, building our float for Butter & Eggs Day, being with the kids so she could be with us, etc., etc., etc.

Thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your President over the past year. I have enjoyed getting to know so many of you, and I feel so much appreciation to the moms and dads involved in our community. May you all have a wonderful summer with your children and families. Eat lots of watermelon, play in the sun, and enjoy your friends and neighbors. Peace.

Veronica Blaustein
PMC President

May President's Note

I just became a mother for the third time and aside from being a little more tired, I feel so blessed.  Motherhood was something I had dreamed of.  I had wanted to have children, and in the beginning when my husband and I started trying, I thought for a moment that I might not get that opportunity.  We had a difficult time conceiving at first, and now three beautiful girls later, I am glad that my dream has come true.

I seem to have a bit of amnesia with each child.  I couldn’t remember how the labor and delivery of my second child went as I was coming up on delivering my third.  I can’t remember how much or how little my newborn is supposed to sleep.  I wonder how different things would be if each little newbie was born with their own instruction manual.  But maybe that would take all of the fun out of getting to know them?

I do know that as I grow more and more in to my role as a mother, I feel more and more indebted to my own mom.  She continues to surprise me all these years later as she continues to mother all three of her adult children, be a wonderful “Nana” to my girls, as well as live her own life after the heartbreak of a painful separation from my father.

I know that my mother has done her absolute best in parenting me and my siblings and now that I have children of my own, I know that it is no easy feat parenting three kids.  I feel the criticisms of my teenage years melting away and compassion setting in.

I want to wish all the mothers in the PMC a very happy Mother’s Day.  What a wonderful life it is to be a mom.  I hope you will come celebrate motherhood with us at the upcoming PMC Spring Tea and Silent Auction on the 23^rd of May.

Veronica Blaustein

PMC President

Chemistry Project: Make your own slime

Kids love stirring and mixing, and playing with items that have unusual texture. That is why this fun experiment is right up their alley.  Besides all the mixing and measuring, children will have their very own slime to play with!  This polymer will mold to any container they put it in and can be stretched and oozed all over the place.  

Ingredients:

White Glue (Elmer’s)

Water

Food Coloring

Borax (laundry booster, found in the cleaning section of store)

In a cup, mix 1 cup of warm water with a tablespoon of borax.  In a separate bowl, mix equal parts of glue and water into a bowl and stir.  Stir in the food coloring of your choice.  Add the water/borax mixture into the glue at about a tablespoon at a time.  Watch your slime form!  

This can be stored in a plastic bag or bowl.

Butter & Egg Days Parade

Next weekend is Petaluma's largest event,  the Butter & Egg Days Parade.  Look for the PMC's handmade float and give us a cheer when you see us in the parade! 

Music For Kids

This is a video from one of our very own PMC members. She shared it with us today on our forum.



Music is a great way to connect with your child, especially if it is something both you and the kids can enjoy. You can rock out in the car on the way to school or the store, or have a dance party in the living room. Music can signal to your child that it is time to relax and get ready for bed, or that it is time to get up and an boogie!

Here are some other albums that we are enjoying around our house lately:

What Every New Mom Needs

Reality Check:  It isn’t like the glossy magazines!  Before becoming a mother you see all those pictures of new moms holding laughing babies.  Those women have perfectly styled hair, rosy glows, and impeccably ironed white shirts.  The reality is, you will feel lucky to get a shower in those first few days of parenthood.  All those onesies you spent hours folding and stacking in the drawer will soon be scattered about as you hurried to dress a baby that just had another diaper blow out.  So try to go easy on yourself as you embrace a new reality.  It might not look like the magazines, but there is still beauty in it.

Ask for Help:  No ‘super mom’ ever did it all on her own, and you shouldn’t either.  Being good to ourselves, and our family, means asking for help when we need it.  The PMC offers a wonderful service called Meals In A Pinch, which is just perfect for new moms.  Our wonderful volunteer moms will bring your family dinner for an entire week!  You might also consider asking your extended family for a hand around the house.  They can help with sweeping, mopping, dusting and cooking.  You might also consider hiring a housekeeper, at least for that first month or two after baby arrives.    

Join A Playgroup:  Playgroups aren’t just for babies.  In fact, until your kids are toddlers, they are more for the moms.  We need support, and there is nothing like talking to other moms going through the exact same thing to make you feel good.  You become comrades very quickly, and can share everything from messy house stories to new baby food ideas.  Stories of strangely colored baby poo become something to laugh about, rather than worry about. 

The PMC always has open playgroups, but consider starting your own if a current group doesn’t fit your schedule.

Comfortable Clothes:  In those first few weeks of motherhood, your old jeans still won’t fit.  Try having a few comfy, stretchy outfits available.  You might not make it out of the house much, but you will want to look attractive and feel comfortable when running to the grocery store, or to those first doctor appointments. 

A Good Baby Carrier:  While this is a personal choice, many moms are enjoying the option of carrying their baby and having their hands free.  There are many options when choosing your baby carrier, but if you think this might be something you will enjoy, try spending the extra money for one that will last.  Look for the best back support, and one that will hold your baby’s ever increasing weight. 

Rest:  At the heart of being a patient and happy mom is getting the rest we all need.  A new baby will wake you up multiple times a night, and feeling well rested may be your biggest new mom challenge.  Do what you can, even if it means staying in bed that whole first week, to get the rest you need.

The Petaluma Mothers’ Club doesn’t endorse any single theory or "right" way to parent, but exist to create an atmosphere of support and camaraderie so that each member may find what she needs to grow as a parent. We are a network of families supporting families.  Our online forum is a great way to ask questions, even anonymously, to get support and more satisfaction from being a parent.


Please leave a comment if you have any new mom suggestions!

Petaluma Mothers' Club Annual Egg Hunt

The PMC is so excited to be announcing that our Annual Egg Hunt will be held on April 3rd from 11AM to 2PM at the always gorgeous McNear Park.  This is going to be a great event for the entire family!  Organized by our fabulous volunteer moms, we will have crafts, a bake sale, the Easter Bunny, and of course Egg Hunts for the little ones.  So put on your bunny ears and hop on over to welcome spring at the sweetest Egg Hunt of the season!  

You can download the flyer from our website at:  www.petalumamothersclub.org

Time To Garden! Part 1

Nothing says springtime like getting outside and tending a garden. Now is the perfect time to begin planning what you would like to plant this year, and where you want to grow it. Children love to garden too, so perhaps this is the year they can help out. I don't think a garden needs to be big to be rewarding. A large pot brimming with plants feels like a great accomplishment.

If you would like to start some vegetables, first think about what you and your family would enjoy eating. Do you like juicy tomatoes, colorful carrots, or flavorful herbs? Would you like some flowers to brighten up a dark corner, or bring indoors for a bouquet? Children love to pick carrots straight from the garden, or marvel at how large a sunflower can grow.

We are so lucky here in Petaluma to have such an amazing growing season. We also have some of the best gardeners around! Check out the Seed Bank for great seeds, and visit Cottage Gardens for some great plants, or advice on what to grow. If you don't have a balcony, patio, or dirt of your own, try gardening at one of our community gardens, like the one at McNear Park.

Sunset Magazine has a great online resource for starting a vegetable garden.

There really is no end to gardening advice, and it can range from the practical to the superstitious. Try not to let all the tips and tricks get in the way of getting started. The best advice will be what you learn through trial and sometimes error.  

Emergency Preparedness Kit

In the obviously devastating aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake, I questioned my family’s preparedness should a disaster occur in Petaluma.  I thought I’d give a couple links to sites which help outline what you should have in an emergency kit.  I went to Target, Trader Joes and Grocery Outlet to get almost all my supplies.  For the same price or a bit more as buying a premade kit, you can get so many more of the items you need…

I also wanted to direct you to a fantastic local disaster preparedness network- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).  There are free trainings frequently scheduled through the local CERT and the Fire Department to train ordinary citizens in how to be of assistance in a major disaster when all typical rescue services are overwhelmed or cannot get to you.  I took this class last March and gained so much out of it in terms of how to prepare my own house and family and furthermore how to be of assistance in my community.

There is another round of classes being offered in March – for FREE – and I highly recommend attending.  The person to contact is Bill Hammerman at 762-6593, email whammer@petalumanet.org

One of the better overall preparedness manuals with checklists of what to put in your kit, how to prepare your home, creating an emergency plan, etc. is at http://www.cert-la.com/EmergPrepBooklet.pdf.

This is the one I have printed out in my kit and used to get my house organize.

How to Build Your Own Emergency Kit (not exhaustive by any means!)

SFGate checklist- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/earthquakes/archive/ready.dtl

LA CERTS- http://www.cert-la.com/EmergPrepBooklet.pdf

Pre-made emergency kits (I’ve never used any of these so if other’s have better/other suggestions, please send them)

www.Beprepared.com

www.costco.com

www.redcross.org

Happy preparing!

Guest post by Tauni Swenson.  Tauni is a board member of the Petaluma Mothers’ Club.  She is also helping to coordinate this years’ KidFest, an exhibition of local resources sponsored by the PMC and hosted by Sonoma Family Life magazine.

February President's Note

I have always wanted to volunteer in the community that I lived in.  It’s something that I feel helps keep me connected and a part of my community.  I also really enjoy helping others and giving back.

When I lived in another county and before I had kids, I volunteered to coach a girls’ soccer team.  I was coaching girls ages 6 and 61/2.  The hardest part about coaching besides trying to get little ones to play soccer instead of picking grass and doing cartwheels was dealing with the scrutiny of parents who couldn’t believe I was volunteering when I didn’t have a kid on the team.

I’ve since had many other opportunities to volunteer and I must say that volunteering for the PMC has been my favorite.  It’s nice having a common bond with other mothers as well as having made friends to help me along in my parenting journey.  I love our events, mom’s nights out, socials, and getting this wonderful newsletter.  I’ve been involved in the PMC since before my 3 year old was born.  At that time I had no clue about becoming a mother (I’m still pretty clueless).  I received so much support from other women when I had to return to work after having a baby, I joined a great playgroup, got lots of tips on baby gear, gave away and received children’s items, etc.  Later I became an Event Coordinator and had a blast coordinating events with a great team of women, last year I served as VP, and this year as President.  I’m really enjoying myself so far, and I’m learning a lot in the process.  What is amazing to me is the dedication of so many members of our organization.  There are women I’ve met who are doing so much to volunteer not just with the PMC but other local organizations as well.  How inspiring!  How do they do it?

Although we have launched into 2010 and have a few months left in this term, we are always looking for mothers (and dads) who would like to get more involved with our club.  If you feel like you can do a little more this year, whether that be make a meal for a family who has just had a baby, or come to a board meeting to show support and say “hello,” I will be the first to welcome you and invite you to do so.  If you are interested in supporting other organizations locally, there are many that can use your support this year.  If I can be of any assistance connecting you, please let me know.  If you are doing your best with all you have on your plate right now, just keep on going, you’re doing great moms (& dads).

Happy Valentine’s Day & Happy Volunteering!

Have Fun spreading the love!

Veronica Blaustein

PMC President

Save Money On Your Next Grocery Bill

We always want to put fresh and healthy food on the table for our families, but with rising food prices, this may become more challenging.  The cost of groceries increased last year and the USDA expects this trend to continue.  By using proven strategies, you can see your grocery bill decline, and your cupboards fill up.

Meal Plan: One of the top ways to spend less at the store is to make a weekly meal plan.  A meal plan should include all meals and snacks for the family for an entire week.  Set aside time to pick out uncomplicated dinner recipes and compile your grocery list.   To maximize savings, use seasonal fruits and vegetables.  To quicken this step keep all your tested and family favorite recipes in one binder. 

Stick To Your List:  Studies show that the longer you are in a grocery store, the more money you will spend.  Bring a grocery list with you to the store and don’t get sidetracked.  Group like items together on the list to prevent backtracking through the store.  Keep a running grocery list on your refrigerator. When a family member uses the last of something, or you run low on an item, write that item on the list.  This will prevent you from making a second trip to the store.                          

  

Strategize:  Grocery stores use years of market research and customer buying patterns to lure you into spending more money.  Items at eye level are usually the most expensive, and just because something is on sale does not mean it is the cheapest. Beware of sale items at the end of an isle, manufactures often pay more for this space, and a less expensive brand may be available down the isle.  Try to purchase generic brands, and don’t be afraid to use coupons.  A coupon combined with a sale can yield big results!  Also, if an item is truly on sale, consider stocking up.

Track Prices:  Serious savers keep a price book. This means taking a notepad with you to the store and writing down your most frequently purchased items.  Write down the item, the brand, date, size, unit price, and store.  This may seem tedious at first, but soon you will find that you no longer have to write things down.  You will know where to go for the least expensive items, and you will be able to spot a good deal quickly.

Tips for Saving At Check Out:

• Compare price per ounce/unit.  This is the quickest way to tell what item costs less.  Often price per ounce is listed on the price tag.
• Only shop once per week
• Always make a meal plan, and stick to your grocery list.
• Use coupons combined with a sale
• Eat seasonal fruits and veggies

Babies Are Coming!

This documentary film by Thomas Balmes, features the first year in the lives of four babies from around the world. Look for the release of the film this April.

Melissa D'Arrabian's Quick Dinner Idea

Melissa D'Arrabian, the latest Food Network star, shows viewers how to cook her signature four step chicken. This looks like a real time saver in the kitchen! Mix chicken with aromatics, a liquid, and finish the sauce. These simple steps will have you coming up with your own twist on this easy dinner idea.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/melissa's-pilot/41704.html