Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Any good walking trails near you? I had a summer baby with my first,
    and would often put him in a Snugli and go walking 1-2 miles, early or
    mid morning when it wasn't too hot. Great way to get a bit of sun and
    lose some weight.
    

    You could try the Billerica Boy's Club.  It's got lots of tennis
    courts, baseball fields, basketball courts.  There is also an indoor
    pool and I think there is an outdoor pool as well.  There might even be a
    playground.  I don't think you have to join in order to use the
    facilities, although I'm not sure about that.  I've played tennis there
    with no problem.  There were always lots of people around.  Have fun.
    
                                              Tracy

    Thanks so far.  Keep the ideas coming.  I'm going to look into
    everything.  
    
    Nancy

    Any lakes in your area?  My twins were born in April and that summer I
    took them to the lake all the time.  I would bring their playpen and
    find a spot where I could sit in the sun and they could be in the
    shade.  By the end of the summer I could take a lounge chair and sit
    in the water with both of them on my lab and they would splash in the
    water.
    

    
    If your due in April your kinda going to be limited to some of the
    things you can do the first few months. But you could certainly
    take the baby to the local YMCA, there's one in Lowell and Woburn where
    they have baby swimming classes, or go swiming at Silver Lake in 
    Wilmington on rte 38. Billerica has a nice new playground in back of
    the Purity in the center of town that has baby swings and adult swings,
    and tons of other stuff.
    
    
    

    Does Silver Lake have a beach?  I've never heard of it before.  Do you
    have to become a member to use its facilities?
    
    I have considered going to Walden Pond too.  That's only about a 20
    minute drive for me.
    
    What about things like mother and infant playgroups that some of the
    hospitals have?  Has anyone attended anything like this?  Are they
    worthwhile?
    
    Thanks again.
    
    Nancy

    
    Yep, Silver Lake has a beach. Last year they has to charge something
    like $2.00 per visit, or $15 or so per family.

    Regarding swimming lessons at the YMCA.  I've checked into it already
    and your baby has to be 6 months old before they'll take him/her.
    Shane will be starting a week from Saturday! :-)
                                                
    Lori B.

    There is a great beach/lake in Bedford near the VA on Springs Road
    also Great Brook State Park in Carlisle and it is great fun to wander
    with a stroller in both Concord and Lexington centers.
    

    
    Nancy,
    I am due in April as well--and am thinking the same thoughts you are!
    
    I had Hannah in June, and found the summer months to literally, just
    fly by.  April will probably be a big blur.  You probably won't get
    into the "swing of life" until mid-late May. 
    
    Chelmsford is next to Billrica, isn't it?  I'd look into a pool club
    there.  Or are there any pool clubs in Billrica?  You might want to
    stay as close to home as possible--get to meet people in your area who
    have newborns or young children.  I met one of my closest friends in
    childbirth class.  Turns out we live 7 houses from eachother and our
    daughters ended up being born within 1 week of eachother.  Our
    daughters are "best friends," and our husbands get along great to boot.  
    So do get to know people in your childbirth class.
    
    The best advice I can give you is to meet people with young children
    who live as close to you as possible.  Getting together with other
    adults during the day is a lifesaver.
    
    This summer, I plan to relax by the pool (if possible), take a
    vacation, do a lot of socializing during the day, and spend a lot of
    time with my pre-schooler.
    
    Also, if you plan on breastfeeding, La Leche meetings are a good place
    to network.
    
    There are town beaches in Westford, Littleton, Carlysle, Acton, etc. 
    But those beaches tend to be rather cliquish (sp?)--people socialize
    with people they know.  You might want to see what's doing in Billrica.
    
    Bonnie
    
    
    
    

    Thanks Bonnie.  Unfortunately, Billerica is not a happening kind of
    place when it comes to summer fun.  I haven't been able to locate pool
    clubs in any of the towns surrounding Billerica.  
    
    I hope I do meet some people in childbirth class.  I do have a friend
    who just had a baby 2 days ago, and she'll be off from work too, but
    she lives in Harvard, MA, so that's somewhat of a haul on a regular
    basis.
    
    LaLeche League might be a good thing also.  I'll check into that. 
    Unfortunately, my building and neighborhood are horrible for meeting
    people.  We've been living in our building or 1 1/2 years now.  NO one
    socializes.  A lot of the people are either much older or else they
    work all day long.  There are only 3 children in the entire building,
    and they are also older.
    
    I think I heard that there is a tennis/pool club in WEstford. I might
    look into that.
    
    By the way, are you related to someone named Nina Polakoff from
    Connecticut?
    
    Nancy

There is a place in Burlington - Burlington Swim and Tennis.  They 
give first preference to residents, then to people in neighboring 
towns.  I have no idea whether they are full or not now - we dropped 
our membership four years ago when we moved away.  

It is a summer only club so getting a phone number might be tricky.
You would have to contact one of the club officers directly.  If
you want to pursue it send me mail.

We enjoyed it from my first pregnancy til Maggie was almost 4 and 
number 2 was born.  And the pools (one large and one kiddie) stayed 
open til 9 pm which meant we could go after work, too.  

Norma

    This is a little of the subject, so I'd ask folks to reply via mail so
    as not to interrupt this string :
    
    Has anyone actually gone to a "Y" for their infant swim classes?  My
    son is now 13 months, and I"d like to join both to spend some time with
    him, and to get him used to the water before boating season begins this
    year!
    
    If you have any personal experience, plese reply
    Sarah
    (DELNI::SCORMIER)

    
    Yep, My wife took our son to the Y for their baby swimming progam. He
    had a great time. When summer cam we put a pair of water wings on him
    at the beach and he had no problem with the water. Our next son we
    trained ourselves based on what we learned at the Y.
    

    
    Nancy,
    
    I have a cousin named Nina, but not Polakoff...Rumboldt!
    
    Anyway--yes, there is a Swim and Tennis Club in Westford--"Westford
    Swim and Tennis Club."  It's only open in the summer.  A neighbor of
    mine belongs--has for years--and she really likes it.
    
    I belong to "The Westford Regency Health Club," which has indoor
    raquetball, nautilus, and indoor pool, jacuzzi, steam, sauna, etc.  It
    also has free daycare, all day long.  When I go (I swim) and take
    Hannah, we say that she's "going to camp."  She likes going.  A lot of
    my neighbors and friends go there too--so I usually run into at least 1
    person I know when I go--but I can't say I've met anyone new while
    there.  People seem to go there to excercise--it's not a hangout type
    of place.  I usually "freeze" my membership over the summer months--I
    don't like to swim in indoor pools in the summer.
    
    Westford has a town beach.  So do Groton, Littleton, and Acton.  You
    might do well at one of those--but again, I don't know if you'll meet
    people or not.  They seem rather cliquish.
    
    Isn't there anything in Chelmsford?
    
    Regarding the question about infant swimming lessons--I had Hannah in
    them when she was a little over a year old.  We went to the "Y" in
    Nashua.  She HATED them.  She would SCREAM every time I put her in the
    water.  It was terrible.  Both her father and I are swimmers--and I was
    convinced that hating the water was going to be her rebellion.  It was
    8 weeks of torture--we'd go once a week and she'd cling onto me and
    wimper through most of the "lesson."  I have no criticism of the lesson
    itself.  I went with a neighbor and her similiar-age daughter--and my
    neighbors child LOVED it.  They used "bubbles" (that go on the back and
    srap across the abdomen) as the floatation device of choice.
    
    That summer, I bought "swimmies," the inflatable things that go on
    arms.  What a difference!  Hannah was "swimming" alone with those
    things from the second I put them on.  Last summer we started deflating
    them to get her used to floating on her own.  She loves water--loves
    swimming--loves the pool.  You wouldn't believe it's the same kid.
    
    So, yes, do start them swimming early if you want--but their reaction
    to the water is not necessarily indicative of how they will feel later
    on.
    
    Bonnie
    
    

    Thanks Bonnie.  I'm checking in to a few things (someone gave me a tip
    on a club in Burlington), and then the lake/beaches in Wilmington and
    Bedford.  
    
    I don't think the health club type places would be good for me.  I like
    to be outdoors, and am looking for a hang out, meet people type of
    place.  Thanks anyway.
    
    Nancy

    Nancy,
    
    Another suggestion which nobody mentioned -- what a GREAT time to start
    a garden!  Our city (Nashua) has public plots for a minimal fee.  Now
    is the time to check into it and reserve your spot.  You can plant
    vegetables or flowers, whatever you want; be outdoors with your
    baby; and be able to bring the outdoors into your condo.  Call your
    townhall, or a local townhall for information and enjoy the outdoors!
    
    Betty

    Betty,
    
    	Where are the public garden plots in Nashua?  I'd love
    	to have a garden, but there's so many rodents in our area
    	I'd just be spending lots of time to feed them!
    
    	Thanks!
    	Patty

Re: .18

There are some "public garden" plots in Greely Park off of Concord St. in
Nashua, near the horseshoe courts. 

			Steve

    First I'll confess it's been years and then some, but growing up our
    family frequented the Harold Parker State Forest, think it route 62 in
    either Andover or North Reading.  I recall a clean beach, clear water
    and lots of shaded areas for picnic and cookouts are allowed.  Close to
    your hometown, well that's all in what you consider "close"!
    
    We enrolled AJ in the Y swim lessons when he was just 3, the rule is
    six to thirty-six months.  He enjoyed it, but I did notice the children
    in the one to two year bracket really did protest the water, AJ did too
    during his second summer come to think of it.
    
    Just as a word of advise from my sister, if you do the "parent & me"
    lessons, be sure you're wearing a one piece suit, or men make sure your
    waist strings are tied *tight*, the kids tend to use your mid area as a good
    kicking off point.  My sister said she was almost bottomless several
    times!
    Lyn