websites, products, resources, and adventures for young families in Loudoun County and beyond

There are many reasons to do it, but I’ll let Susan of Toddler Planet tell you why.

At today’s Dulles Town Center performance, Mr. Knick Knack announced that next week will be his final Thursday morning at Jammin’ Java. I don’t see any confirmation on his website or Jammin’ Java’s site, so you can consider this a rumor for now…. but Peter heard what he heard and he heard it straight from Mr. Knick Knack, so it may be the end of an era.

Update: Still no updates on Mr. Knick Knack’s site, but the above appears to be true… Jammin’ Java now lists Oh Susannah! for the Thursday morning show. My preschool aged crew and I will schedule an early September field trip to check them out and report back.

Update #2 7/31/08:  Here’s the word from Mr. Knick Knack, as sent to his email list.

Things are moving in a good direction these days, but because of that, I’ve had to give up a long-loved weekly show to open up more room in my schedule for special events.  As many of you know, I have been performing weekly, and for many years, twice weekly, at Jammin’ Java in Vienna.    Last Thursday was the last of hundreds of shows I’ve done there.  Thank you to all of you who have come out to see me at Jammin’ Java over the years.  I have loved seeing all your smiling faces in the audience.  Many “firsts” have taken place there – even a few children took their first steps during some of those shows, and I was thrilled to be part of it.

I hope you will check out my website as time goes on to see where I will be performing.  In the meantime, with regard to other shows in Virginia, I’ll be at Reston Town Center on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. through mid-October, at the Tysons Silver Diner from 6-8 every Tuesday evening, at Dulles Town Center every 3rd Wednesday of the month, and, as always, at Tysons Corner Center every Friday at 11.  I look forward to continuing to see you at these venues.

Enjoy your summer!

Love,

Mr. Knick Knack

If co-sleeping, baby wearing, cloth diapering (CD), extended nursing, or gentle discipline (GD) are terms that ring a bell for you, and you are in Loudoun County, then the Leesburg attachment parenting meetup group might be a good fit for you.

This local group — the name says Leesburg, but there are members from all over the county — is still relatively new and definitely has room for more active members.

The Leesburg/ Ashburn Stay at Home Moms Meetup Group is fantastic. I have connected with wonderful mothers who I admire in all of the groups I have joined over the years, but never before did I see so many in the same group sharing with and supporting each other. There are moms of all ages and all parenting styles in this group and the group has a great energy…. active, friendly, and easy to jump into. Kudos to the dedicated (volunteer) organizer and the many active members and assistant organizers for all they have done and continue to do to keep this group’s momentum. I am so glad to have found you!

Meetup.com is a great resource.

If you are new to motherhood or just getting settled in a new neighborhood it is worth searching for groups in your area. Meetup is not just for moms… so if you are looking to connect with other aspects of your identity you may even find a non-mommy group.

If you already have a moms group and are looking for a way to infuse some new energy and use an existing internet resource to simplify the coordinating of details, tracking of RSVPs, and allow for folks who cannot make events due to work schedules, naptime, etc. to connect virtually without inbox clutter, meetup.com may be to tool for you. The message boards are simpler than most online forums, and you can set them so they are seen only by group members. At first glance, the cost to start a group looks steep, but if you succeed in getting folks to join you may be able to collect dues to offset the cost.

First, a note to friends and family: read nothing into this. Our life is full with two at the moment. We are still catching up on years of sleep deprivation. We are not pregnant!

Now that that’s over with… I have met a lot of beautiful three kid families lately. Awesome kids, stellar moms, great dynamics, etc. I just cannot imagine any of these families without the third kid in the same way that I cannot imagine my kids without each other or my life without either of them.  Every time I see a mom of three or more I am struck by how comfortable they are with the littlest. A part of me would love to take all I have learned since my blind jump into parenting and do it again with the confidence, experience, and maturity I have gained. The rest of me knows that every time I get a little cocky the next parenting challenge comes up to bite me in the behind and leave me humble for a while.

I have also watched the generation before me scramble to care for their aging parents over the past few years, and am starting to think that my Peter and I may be too much of a handful for our two kids when we hit old age. This is a dangerous argument though… as the conclusion is that  we need a dozen or so kids.

Anyway, during one of those moments I stumbled upon Havingthreekids.com (with a tagline of “A site for those who have three, want three, or fear three”) and actually laughed out loud while reading the first column posted by Jennifer Eyre White. In addition to the columns, her site offers a community forum and links to blogs and other resources.

GreenerLoudoun is a blog for all you local folks interested in greening your lives. It covers a wide range of topics — from information on reuse and recycling, to how our choices affect local wildlife, to educational events suitable for children. The blog is interspersed with fascinating photographs, as well.  Have a look!