Come out to Hunter Cattle September 29th from 10am to 2pm to set up as a vendor or just enjoy local goodies at this free event! This is a great opportunity to meet local farmers and learn about backyard homesteading! Bring the family and enjoy the farm.

The Burger Barn will be open! Prices range from $5-$10.

Photographing children is Alison Epps passion and something that she truly believes should be done often during their first fleeting years of life.

Alison, owner of Alison Epps Photography in Savannah, absolutely loves capturing their sweet innocence and hilarious expressions that need to be documented before they grow up too fast.

Professional photographs of your new baby and child will forever preserve those delicate and precious moments that you cherish.

Alison has collected so many wonderful and creative props over the years. Allowing moms to choose from these props adds uniqueness and fun to their child’s session. Not to mention the props are ADORABLE!

Alison’s props include hats and headbands, angel wings, vintage wagon, a french bathtub, teddy bears and matching hats, ornate gypsy background (with matching romper and headband for 6mo-3yr), and a variety of beautiful baskets.

And moms, you are encouraged to bring your own props and ideas as well.

Some of our favorite pictures of children are not of forced poses and smiles. Alison thinks it’s important to encourage an environment where little ones are free to play and run and jump and laugh. Allowing this freedom gives Alison the chance to photograph the expression of your child’s personality…..plus…. it’s really FUN!!!

Not only will she capture wonderful portraits of your child but they will have a great time and memorable experience together.

Please “like” Alison Epps Photography on Facebook here to stay connected about updates & specials.

What all is included in an Alison Epps Photography newborn or child’s portrait session?

On location shoots
A large variety of timeless props
1-2 hours of photography
In-person portrait ordering session
Retouching of proofs

Alison Epps Photography, 912-349-9971, www.alisonepps.com,  email alison@alisonepps.com , On Facebook here Alison Epps Photography is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

In anticipation of the Seventh Annual Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk & Family Festival in Forsyth Park on Oct. 6, we asked local parents of children with Down syndrome what the general public needs to know about the condition.

You can read many of their responses in my Savannah Morning News column by clicking here. Unfortunately, not all the helpful responses made it into the article. So below are some additional responses from two strong Savannah advocates for children with Down syndrome.

Pediatrician Ben Spitalnick of Pediatric Associates of Savannah

Dr. Ben Spitalnick of Pediatric Associates of Savannah is the pediatrician for many local children with Down syndrome. Dr. Ben is also a Board Member of the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society. He shared the following tips for what everyone should know about children with Down syndrome:

1) Virtually all of a child’s medical complications from Down syndrome can be handled by the medical community right here in Savannah

2) Children with Down syndrome do better when included in mainstream situations such as classrooms, not when isolated with only special needs children

3) Most children with Down syndrome have talents and skills people don’t expect, so consider the term “differently-abled” (I like diff-abled) instead of “disabled”.

4) Down syndrome can occur in any family, regardless of health and age of the parent. There are more children with Down syndrome born to younger parents than older parents.

5) Virtually all of the care your baby will need the first year, is routine newborn baby care. Concentrate on being a parent and family with a new baby, not on the features of Down syndrome.

Candy Bogardus, President of Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society

Candy Bogardus has three children with her husband, John, including their daughter, Lainey, 7, who has Down syndrome. Candy shared the following tips for what everyone should know about children with Down syndrome:

1. Embrace the adventure that comes with having a child with Down syndrome. There is never a dull moment, and they will always teach you something!!

2. Early Intervention is key. Lainey was in Speech Therapy through Babies Can’t Wait at 8 weeks of age. Those early visits made a phenomenal difference in her oral motor development.

3. Enjoy each and every milestone to the fullest–no matter when they reach it!! Don’t rush it!

4. Remember that ALL children have special needs!!

5. The parents of children with Down syndrome don’t place limits on them so why should anyone else! The sky’s the limit! Just let them be like everybody else and they will surprise you!!

6. Inclusion in all aspects of school, community, and life is very important. They will make a difference in every life they touch!

7. Even though you feel like all you do is go to therapy, the short term and long term benefits are well worth it!

8. Never be afraid to ask questions! Join a family support group- it’s a great way for you to learn from other parents and for your child to learn from other children!

9. Every child is fearfully and wonderfully made by God for His purpose!! God does not make mistakes!

2012 Buddy Walk
Saturday, October 6, 2012, in Forsyth Park
www.ldssga.org
Savannah’s Paula Deen will be the Grand Marshal leading walk participants in the 1-mile fundraising event. The Buddy Walk Program welcomes participants of all ages and abilities. Bring your carriage, strollers, wheelchairs, little red wagons and pets.
Contact: 912-728-8505 (John or Candy Bogardus)
Register online here or the day of the walk.
Registration on Buddy Walk day begins at 8:30 AM
Opening Ceremonies begin at 10 AM
Walk begins at 10:30 AM
Free Family Festival in Forsyth Park from 11 AM – 2 PM

One of our favorite annual Fall events, the Halloween Hike at Oatland Wildlife Center in Savannah, is set for Oct. 19 & 20 2012.

It’s a fun, safe, not-so-scary event for little trick-or-treaters.

TIME: 5-8:30 PM Oct. 19 & 20 2012

Walk with your trickster down our friendly forest trail to meet and gather goodies from our friendly animal characters.

Let Mother Earth show you the way and sit with Mother Goose as she tells her favorite rhymes. Face painting, spooky crafts, and many more monstrous activities await your arrival. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Details here.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212 Driving directions here.

Bee there or Bee Square!

The Tybee Island Spelling Bee benefiting Tybee Island Maritime Academy (sponsored by Tybee Island Residents and Property Owners Association) is set for Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 6:30pm at the Tybee Island Gym.

Admission: $5 for adults and $1 for children under 14. There will be a “Bee-stro” cafe that will open at 5:30pm. Local restaurants have generously donated a variety of sandwiches, wings, etc. available for a modest donation! Please plan to attend this evening of fun and cheer on the spellers!

Tybee Island Maritime Academy will be a charter school operated by a governing board, approved by the Savannah-Chatham County Public School Board and the Georgia Board of Education. Charter Schools are independent, tuition-free, public schools that operate under a performance contract with the local school district and the state of Georgia.

The school will be located at 714 Lovell Avenue, Tybee Island, GA 31328. The site includes classrooms for up to 300 students, a cafeteria/gymnasium and a multi-purpose room. The school will also plan to use additional resources such as: The Tybee Island Library, the U.S. Coast Guard Station, the Tybee Island Lighthouse Station.

The school’s tentative opening date is August, 2013.

Bee there or Bee Square!

The Tybee Island Spelling Bee benefiting Tybee Island Maritime Academy (sponsored by Tybee Island Residents and Property Owners Association) is set for Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 6:30pm at the Tybee Island Gym.

Admission: $5 for adults and $1 for children under 14. There will be a “Bee-stro” cafe that will open at 5:30pm. Local restaurants have generously donated a variety of sandwiches, wings, etc. available for a modest donation! Please plan to attend this evening of fun and cheer on the spellers!

Tybee Island Maritime Academy will be a charter school operated by a governing board, approved by the Savannah-Chatham County Public School Board and the Georgia Board of Education. Charter Schools are independent, tuition-free, public schools that operate under a performance contract with the local school district and the state of Georgia.

The school will be located at 714 Lovell Avenue, Tybee Island, GA 31328. The site includes classrooms for up to 300 students, a cafeteria/gymnasium and a multi-purpose room. The school will also plan to use additional resources such as: The Tybee Island Library, the U.S. Coast Guard Station, the Tybee Island Lighthouse Station.

The school’s tentative opening date is August, 2013.

Come out to Hunter Cattle Co. farm on September 29th from 10am to 2pm to set up as a vendor or just enjoy local goodies at this free event!

This is a great opportunity to meet local farmers and learn about backyard homesteading! Bring the family and enjoy the farm.

The Burger Barn will be open. Prices range from $5-$10.

Hunter Cattle Co., 934 Driggers Road, Brooklet, Ga., 30415, www.huntercattle.com

Looking for a new career that might jive better with your mommy schedule?

Check out Armstrong’s College of Education’s Become a Teacher information session, intended to help jump-start a teaching career for bachelor’s degree holders in all stages of life.
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6-7p.m.
WHERE:
The Armstrong Center
13040 Abercorn St.
Savannah, Ga. 31419
CONTACT:
Greg Dziuban
Graduate Admission Coordinator, College of Education
912.344.2568
greg.dziuban@armstrong.edu
MORE INFORMATION:
For individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any major who want to become certified teachers, Armstrong’s College of Education can make that happen through the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) or post-baccalaureate, non-degree teacher certification programs.

Armstrong offers individuals the opportunity to become certified to teach in early childhood education (pre-school through fifth grade), middle grades education (fourth through eighth grade), special education and seven specific subject areas: art, biology, English, history, math, music and Spanish.

The Become a Teacher information session will address the paths to certification, the application process and financial aid. Attendees will be able to ask questions and receive individual attention.

Clear the body and mind – and have a fit pregnancy.
Check out a new pregnancy yoga class offered by Oh Baby! Fitness at Savannah Yoga Room on Wilmington Island. The class runs Sept. 19-24 2012 at 6:30 PM Wednesdays. $90 for six weeks.

Save 10% off full session by using discount code: SOUTHERNMAMAS when you register online at www.ohbabyfitness.com.

For more info or to register, click here.

Savannah Yoga Room is at 115 Charlotte Dr., Savannah 31410

Oh Baby! Fitness offers a variety of exercise programs in Savannah for new and expectant moms.

Mommy-and-me water exercise classes
Looking for a class where you can get fit, bond with your baby and make new friends? Register for H2O Baby! Mom and baby exercise classes: Oct 2-Nov. 6 11:30 AM Tuesdays at the Chatham County Aquatic Center . For more info or to register click here

Pregnancy Water aerobics
Oh Baby! Fitness will also offer Pregnancy Water Aerobics at Chatham County Aquatic Center Oct. 2-Nov. 6 at 12:15 PM Tuesdays.  For more info or to register click here.

Save 10% off full session by using discount code: SOUTHERNMAMAS when you register online at www.ohbabyfitness.com.

Chatham County Aquatic Center is at 7240 Sallie Mood Drive, Savannah.

Oh Baby! Fitness gives new and expectant moms a place to find support, make friends, get fit and bond with their babies. Oh Baby! Fitness programs allow Mom to get out of the house, get her body back in shape and spend time with baby.

To see what moms are saying about Oh Baby! Fitness programs, click here.

Oh Baby! Fitness,  www.ohbabyfitness.com, @ Chatham County Aquatic Center, (912) 652-6793 & Savannah Yoga Room,  (912) 898-0361 Oh Baby! Fitness is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Move over Pinterest.
The newest place to find fabulous creative tips and techniques when it comes to doing art with your kids is Scribble Art Studio’s new blog.

Check it out by clicking here to find drawing sheets for all ages, ideas for your kids’ art room at home, instructions for projects and more.

We are in awe of the two creatives behind Scribble Art Studio in Savannah (which offers children’s art classes & birthday parties) and this blog is sure to become our new go-to spot for ideas on how to stimulate kids’ imaginations even when they aren’t in art class.

Thanks, Scribble, for sharing your clever hints. Now if y’all can just impart some of your patience when teaching kids art.

For information about children’s art classes and birthday parties at Scribble Art Studio in Savannah, contact artist Carrie Christian at 912-323-0123 or email ScribbleArtStudio@hotmail.com  . Click here for more info. Scribble Art Studio is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Here’s a fun way to celebrate of this year’s Savannah Children’s Book Festival, set for Saturday Nov. 10 2012 in Forsyth Park: encourage your child to enter the Young Writers Contest 2012.

Live Oak Public Libraries is accepting entries for the annual Young Writers Contest, which is open to young writers in kindergarten through college. The submissions must include at least five words from books written by the 2012 Savannah Children’s Book Festival featured authors. Entry deadline is Friday, Oct. 21, 2012. For information on the festival’s featured authors, click here.

Poems may be about any topic and choose from a variety of styles including haiku, sonnet, acrostic, ballad, cinquain, quatrain and free form verse. Writers are encouraged to visit their favorite library branch and check out books on writing poetry. Winners will be announced on Fri., Oct. 26, 2012, on the library’s website, www.liveoakpl.org , and will be notified by phone, mail or email. The library will host a reception for the winners, their families and writing teachers at the Bull Street Library on Wed., Nov. 7, 2012, at 5 p.m.

For complete guidelines, visit www.liveoakpl.org  or stop by any Live Oak Public Libraries branch for more information. The 9th annual Savannah Children’s Book Festival is presented by Live Oak Public Libraries and the City of Savannah with generous support from the Live Oak Public Libraries Foundation and Gulfstream Aerospace.

St. Andrew’s private school in Savannah is bringing nationally recognized author and speaker, Joe Bruzzese to campus. The program is set for October 9 and 10 beginning at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s School on Wilmington Island

The presentation is open to the public and reservations may be secured at www.saintschool.com .

Joe Bruzzese, author of A Parents’ Guide to the Middle School Years and parent education expert, speaks to parents across the United States offering practical and long term strategies for overcoming the struggles of the middle school years. Joe’s background in education includes a Master’s degree in addition to his former tenure as teacher in the middle school grades. Joe brings years of educational theory and practical experience to his work with families.

On Tues. Oct. 9, the program focuses on students’ needs in 5th and 6th grade; the Oct. 10 program provides more information for parents of 7th and 8th graders. However, the program is open to all adults. A $10 donation per adult is requested.

St. Andrew’s,  a private,independent school,  601 Penn Waller Road, Savannah,  31410, www.saintschool.com

Coach Val’s Tumblegym on Wilmington Is. is the spot for children’s classes and birthday parties.

Birthday Parties
Leave the ENTERTAINMENT and MESS to Coach Val’s Tumblegym, which offers Birthday Parties customized to fit your child’s interests and theme. Good for ages 2 to 8 years old. Details here.

Fall 2012 Classes Available:

Wiggle Worms: 30min classes ages walking – 2yrs This “Parent and Me class” is designed to incorporate the earliest aspects of physical fitness, enhance fine and gross motor skills, body awareness, and muscle coordination while promoting physical, mental and social development. Music, basic gymnastics movements, and games create a fun and healthy atmosphere for you and your child.

Grasshoppers: 45 min classes ages 2-3yrs This toddler class is open to children who enjoy having parents close by and are ready to learn to follow instructions from another adult. We ask parent/guardian to assist until their child is ready to participate on their own. This class continues to enhance your child’s fine and gross motor skills, social skills, strength and coordination through the activities and obstacle courses that emphasize eye-hand coordination, climbing, hanging, jumping, running, and rolling in a fun and safe environment.

Bumble Bees : 60 min classes ages 3-4yrs This class continues to enhance and challenge your child’s physical, social and cognitive development. Basic tumbling and gymnastics skills, ball handling skills and preschool concepts are taught. Group activities, teamwork, and fun theme-based curriculum keep your child engaged and excited to participate.

Fire flies: 60 min/week ages 4-6yrs This class is designed for children in Pre-K through Kindergarten. Concepts and themes are designed to introduce and reinforce age-appropriate physical, social and cognitive skills. Basic tumbling, gymnastics, and ball handling are worked through obstacle courses, group games, and teamwork.

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Dragon Flies: 60 min/week ages 6-8yrs This class is designed for children in First and Second grade. Concepts and themes are designed to challenge children using age-appropriate physical, social and cognitive skills. Basic tumbling, gymnastics, ball handling, and physical fitness skills are worked through obstacle courses, group games, and teamwork. .

See website here for schedule and rates. Registration online available by clicking here.

Inclusion class: Adult, child with special needs (ages 5 – 10), and siblings – Contact for more information.

FREE TRIAL CLASSES available. Unsure your child will participate? Want to see Coach Val in action before you commit to class time? Fill out our free trial form here and try out a class at no cost.

Mention you saw on SouthernMamas.com site, and annual registration fee of $25 will be waived.

Coach Val’s Tumblegym, 310 Johnny Mercer Blvd in the Wilmington Island Shopping Center, 912-268-6003, www.coachvals.com; On Facebook here. Coach Val’s Tumblegym is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Hilton Head Prep School presents an evening of music, food & environmental education. FREE and open to the public. Entertainment including bouncy houses & games, local food vendors and educational booths.

A popular Toddler Tuesday weekly nature program at Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah.

Theme for Toddler Tuesday

At Toddler Tuesday, children & their parents/caretakers experience nature through themed activities including live animal encounters, wildlife nature walks, storytelling, songs, interactive finger-play & crafts.

Theme for December 18 Polar Express Party Toddlers come dressed in your comfy pajamas, it’s a Polar Express Party. You won’t want to miss the train to this Toddler Tuesday. We’ll dream of polar bears and caribou and their cold, frosty lands and take our play train set through the snow (the make- believe kind).

The group will be busy counting their cache as they pretend to be squirrels and mice, preparing for winter.   Don’t be squirrely and miss this OIWC Toddler Tuesday, the flying squirrels will be dropping by!

Oatland’s new naturalist Michelle Kelly will lead the sessions. Pre-registration required.

NEW TIME: One session 10:30-11:15 am. Pre-registration required. Call 395-1500

Toddler Tuesday Program Fees for 2012-2013: General: $5 per child $5 per adult Friends of Oatland Members: $5 per child, up to 2 adults FREE!

Program fee includes program and entrance to Oatland Island Wildlife Center and trails.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212

Driving directions here.

Part of The Savannah Ocean Exchange (SOE) – which celebrates our oceans with over 30 public events in September 2012.

International Ocean Connection Picnic in the Park

5 – 10 p.m. Sept 16, 2012 @ Forsyth Park
Admission: Free

As part of the Savannah Ocean Exchange – a community picnic with Flags and Music Hosted by the Army Band. Forsyth Park’s Band Shell lawn will be awash with colorful flags from all the many nationalities represented in Savannah. Each international club and organization is invited to post their flag and bring their instruments to play one song that best represents their nation’s connection to Our Ocean. Participants and listeners are invited to bring a picnic and seating for an early evening of international ocean-inspired music and festivities. The incomparable rousing sound of the Army Band will get your feet tapping and your heart pounding. The band will pay tribute to Our Ocean through their ocean-inspired music and to our armed forces with their crowd-pleasing medlies. After this stellar performance your step will have a little more “umph”, your smile will be broader and your heart a little prouder. Literature will be on hand to help you better understand how precious and fragile our world’s ocean is, and what you can do to become better stewards in protecting it. Free Admission, pack a picnic dinner and bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the evening!

At last tally, you’ve taken 2,502 pictures of your baby.

However, you can count on one hand the total number of images you’ve printed and framed.

Which is why the idea of a custom oil portrait of your child (or pet or loved one) is so appealing when it comes to rediscovering memories and moments that would otherwise be lost forever — no matter how small.

Oil portraits by Savannah artist Karen Bradley will wow you or the person to whom you are giving the custom portrait. She specializes in portaits by commission of children, pets and adults.

For more information, please email or call Karen Bradley at 912-507-7138 or kbillustration@mac.com

Karen Bradley, 912-507-7138, email kbillustration@mac.com, www.kbillustration.com, 3103 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31401, Karen Bradley is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Karen Bradley Drawing and Painting Classes for Ages 11 & older, 6 week classes, Fall 2012 schedule

Monday: Drawing the Self Portrait, Intermediate to Advanced $160
-A class in achieving the likeness of our own face through proportional measurement and volumetric form.
-Supplies: Artist’s choice

Tuesday: Intro to Pastels, Beginner to Intermediate $160
-A fundamentals class in basic drawing and composition utilizing the light to dark method of pastel drawing.
-Supplies: 4-6 pieces of Canson felt grey 11×14 pastel paper, 11×14 sketch pad or newsprint pad, set of monochromatic
brown nupastels, 1 black nupastel, 1 white nupastel, x-acto knife and blades (for sharpening)

Wednesday: Intro to Painting, Beginner to Intermediate $160
-A class in form painting using techniques oil painting to achieve a realistic painting of still life objects.
-Supplies: To be announced.

Thursday Drawing Methods, Beginner to Intermediate $160
– A fundamentals class in basic drawing and composition utilizing the subtraction method for creating tones. Students will
draw still life objects from direct observation using a wipe out technique to create a full range of tones for realistic threedimensional
drawing.
-Supplies: 1 jar of graphite powder kneeded eraser, pink pearl eraser (pencil-shaped), pad of 11×14 vellum bristol paper,
11×14 drawing board, 2 bulldog clips, 11×14 sketch pad or newsprint paper, graphite pencils HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, chamois cloth,
x-acto knife and blades (for sharpening)

To register for a class or private lessons, please email or call Karen Bradley at 912-507-7138 or kbillustration@mac.com

Karen Bradley Art Teacher, 912-507-7138, email kbillustration@mac.com, www.kbillustration.com, 3103 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31401, Karen Bradley is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Part of The Savannah Ocean Exchange (SOE) – which celebrates our oceans with over 30 public events in September 2012.

10 AM-4 PM Sept. 15-16.

Features a variety of exhibits of local ocean science partners. Visitors can pilot a ROV (remotely operated vehicle), hold a sea urchin, drive a robot or go nose to nose with a dolphin, a life-sized model that is.

Part of The Savannah Ocean Exchange (SOE) – which celebrates our oceans with over 30 public events in September 2012.

Children’s Pond Yacht Building is from 10 AM-1 PM Sat. Sept. 16

Young ship builders can build a balloon and/or sail-powered small boat and they will said it in a brand-new Ships of the Sea reflecting pool. For children ages 7-11. Children must be accompanied by a parent to attend/participate. Fee includes free museum entrance for parent & child and the boat kit. Children must be pre-registered by calling the Museum at 912-232-1511. Fee: $7.50 due at the beginning of the event.

Enjoy the coming Fall weather in a Mosquito Free Back Yard!

West West Nile Virus has been found in Chatham County and the best defense is The Mosquito Authority in Coastal Georgia.

One local “Lady” might say “Be Mosquito Free All Fall Ya’ll!!!”

The Mosquito Authority in Coastal Georgia will offer 50% off your first backyard mosquito treatment. Mention SouthernMamas.com to receive the discount!

If you decide to continue with regular yard treatments, The Mosquito Authority says, if you are bothered by mosquitoes in the three weeks between treatments, they will come back and re- treat free of charge.

The Mosquito Authority’s barrier spray treatment makes a tremendous difference in your quality of life in the yard, and they do it in a safe and effective way. Learn more about the service by clicking here.

Questions? Call The Mosquito Authority at 912-414-2681.

The Mosquito Authority, serving Coastal Georgia and The South Carolina Lowcountry PO Box 2153, Savannah, 31402, email justin@themosquitoauthority.com , 912-414-2681, www.bugsbite.com/coastal The Mosquito Authority is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

To register or more information, (912)665-4199 or email kate@ganeshasplace or Jaime@LittleLightsYoga.com

Ganesha’s Place, at the corner of Barnard & 40th St. @ 2323 Barnard St., 912-665-4199, http://ganeshasplace.com/ Ganesha’s Place is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

We asked for creative suggestions for parent involvement in the classroom & we got it, thanks to input from local teachers & parents. Check out the tips in the article here.

As parents, we all know we’re supposed to be volunteering in our kids’ classrooms as much as our schedules allow. The tricky part is coming up the time AND fun, creative things to do w/ kids during our volunteer time.

Here are some additional helpful tips from Savannah teacher Carolyn Perry on how parents can help out in your child’s classroom:

1. Be the class photographer/yearbooker, esp. in the younger grades where they may not get an annual or year book. I have had a mom who took pictures at all the field trips, assemblies, concerts, etc and some candid shots throughout the year and then she burned 25 copies of a windows movie magic movie she made. She made me a coffee cup with the pics & I still have it from that year.

2. Supplies- there is time, there is talent- and there is treasure. Gift cards to Dollar Tree? Super! Pick us up an extra box of tissues? Awesome! For lots of items, if you don’t buy it, I do.

3. Have time? Come in and read. Play a learning game with a few kids (maybe not your own, okay?). Help me with photocopying, filing, cleaning desks, dusting, etc. Yes, I do all of that too.

4. Did you see something really neat on Pinterest? Maybe I did too, maybe not, but either way- how about you make it for me? Fun poster? Make me one! I will love it. Great game you saw or Mother’s Day art and craft? Help me out by jumping right in and take on that project.

5. Phone a friend! Take on anyone of these projects with your friends. The more the merrier!

6. Join the PTA, it’s cheap and gives all the kids a voice.