Planning a Beach Trip with your Preschooler

May 15, 2013 by bernhardsonbunch

It’s the most…wonderful time…of the yeaaaaar!

A bag of beach toys (with plenty of extras to share with new friends we meet there), and my trusty tote, packed with our supplies and ready for anything!

No, I’m not talking about Christmas, I’m referring to the fact that beach season is upon us! I’m a Connecticut girl through and through when it comes to our coast. When I lived in upstate NY for four years in college I felt landlocked. Four hours to the nearest ocean beach? Panic!

The beach is absolutely my favorite place to go, and I haven’t let having young kids change that in the least. Last year, I put together some tips for fun at the beach with babies and toddlers. Well, this summer, my oldest is nearly five (gulp!) and I have some new tips for the parents of preschool and early elementary school kids.  Read more...

Celebrating an Inspiring Mama

May 10, 2013 by bernhardsonbunch

Michelle and Tricia Brunton from gomom.me. Photo credit: Tracy Harvey Photography

Yesterday, I had the privilege of accompanying Michelle Noehren, CTWorkingMoms.com founder and all-around fabulous lady, to the Crystal Mall in Waterford, CT to watch her be named “2013 Most Inspiring Mom” at the mall’s awesome Mom’s Nite Out event. What a fantastic way to kick off Mother’s Day weekend! Yes, I said “weekend”. We moms deserve more than a day, alright?!

You see, we, the bloggers here at CTWorkingMoms.com, are constantly in awe of Michelle. Seriously. Not only does she put her heart and soul into raising her adorable two year old daughter and still manage to hold down a busy full time job, but she also runs this whole website on the side. Somehow. I’m secretly convinced she’s found a way to suspend time or something, because seriously? There are only so many hours in a day. Maybe she doesn’t sleep? I don’t know. I can’t explain it. But, I digress…  Read more...

An Ode to My Quirky Mom

May 8, 2013 by bernhardsonbunch

Here’s to you, Mom!

I don’t come from one of those Hallmark-y families. When Mother’s Day comes around each year, there are no sappy cards exchanged. In fact, when my brother’s kindergarten class made a “What Moms Do For Us” book, my brother’s page didn’t read “Moms bake us cookies” or “Moms take care of us when we’re sick”  like all the other kids’ pages did. Oh no. His page read “Moms go on diets then eat chocolate and go off their diets.” Yep. Kids say the darndest things…right?!

Thinking back, nothing about my mom was typical. She was, and is, a free spirit who marches to her own drum. My childhood was quirky and fun and not like anyone else’s. She didn’t drive a minivan, she hated baking cupcakes, and we never once had matchy-matchy mother-daughter dresses. But here are some of the much cooler things I did have as childhood memories with my mom…  Read more...

Bullies at the Park

May 1, 2013 by bernhardsonbunch

When the weather is nice, my kids and I spend a lot of time at the park. While my four year old is pretty self-sufficient and can play on his own, I spend most of my time trailing my almost two year old, keeping him from leaping off the high platform at the top of the slide, running into the moving swings, and darting into the parking lot traffic. To be honest, my older son plays on his own or with the other older kids most of the time. Recently, though, I happened to pass by the “big kid climber” area, chasing my non-stop toddler, when I overheard something.

“You’re not allowed up here. Go!” an older boy said as my son tried to go down the slide. This kid was probably 7 or 8, and he was saying this to my 4 year old, whom he’d never seen before. “Leave!!” he shouted. I hung back and watched. I wanted my son to say “Yes I am allowed here! Move!” or something assertive, but he just looked sad, turned around and left.  Read more...

My kids (almost) always behave in public, but act out at home…Ahhhh!

Apr 24, 2013 by bernhardsonbunch

I’m convinced my sons are hell-bent on making me think I am losing my mind. You see, they have apparently made some sort of pact that says something along the lines of this:

“We, as brothers, vow to show the outside world that we are sweet, loving, boys who listen to our mother and are polite, however, we vow to act like maniacs at home, for the sole purpose of making our poor, dear mother insane. This we do solemnly swear.”   Read more...