Googling Motherhood


If you’re like me, you spend half your waking hours as a new mom online–specifically, doing Google searches. On any given day, I’ll search anything from “what causes bright green baby poop?” to “my 8-month old is standing in the crib screaming and won’t nap!” It’s amazing how much material is out there, and over the months my desperate search for answers has led me to hundreds of different baby-related sites and blogs. But there’s one place I keep ending up–The Berkeley Parents Network.  

It’s the website of a parent-run email forum based in Berkeley, California, and it features their most informative email discussions. It’s real parents offering their experiences, advice and opinions about parenting issues big and small, covering children of all ages but with the bulk of the material related to infants and toddlers. While expert advice–whether in the form of books or online–is definitely useful, I’ve found that hearing directly from other parents about what they’re going through is what helps me the most. And this site is one of the best resources I’ve found.

When I was looking to wean my son out of the swaddle, which he’d kick out of but at the same time couldn’t sleep without, I found their discussions on the topic informative. And now, when he is more interested in standing in his crib and screaming than sleeping, reading about other parents who’ve gone through the same thing makes it slightly more tolerable. The site is well organized–all the email discussions are categorized by topic–making it easy to browse. And the advice is mixed in with lots of support–just the thing a new mom like myself needs when she’s trolling the internet in the dark at 3:30am.

So, in the event that any moms or dads from Berkeley have ended up on this site in search of their own answers to pressing parenting concerns, a big thanks from the east coast for all your great advice!

 

Relevant Directory Listings

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Beth Sholom Day Camp

<p>Beth Sholom Day Camp, located in Roslyn Heights, NY is a Summer Camp for children aged 3-15 years old, serving Nassau & Queens. Their program encourages children to try new activities, build friendships and develop skills in a safe and nurturing environment. Activities include music, dance, drama, arts and crafts, karate, as well as outdoor sports, an adventure park, and pedal go-karts.  American Red Cross swim instruction is offered in their three heated pools. This summer, camp will be 8 weeks long with a scheduled start date of June 28th through August 22nd. A minimum of 4 weeks is required. For summer 2023, their program includes a hot Glatt Kosher lunch, an afternoon snack, door to door, air-conditioned bus transportation and New for 2023 - Towel Service!<br /> <br />BSDC offers full- and mini-day nursery programs. Fifth-eighth graders participate in a camp and trip program. They also have a C.I.T. program for 9th and 10th graders. Their camp staff implements an engaging curriculum, with intentional games as well as age-appropriate activities. Beth Sholom Day Camp pride themselves in their ability to know each child as an individual and facilitate positive relationships through team building and group activities. They are proud to offer a dynamic summer experience where children can play, learn, and grow.</p>

LeapUp Learning

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">At our Mandarin Chinese Immersion Day Camp we will take your kids on an exciting, imaginative journey to famous Chinese cities. History, geography, architecture, unique customs and traditions, food and more will be introduced to kids in an interactive, fun and immersive language environment. Age appropriate activities such as games, storytelling, art projects, music and theater, sports and cooking as well as special demonstrations or performances.</span></p>

Advantage Day Camps

<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; color: #000000;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">The activity never stops at Advantage Day Camps (ADC)! Campers ages 4 to 14 will enjoy a wide variety of sports, art, enrichment and experiences. And parents can relax, thanks to our complimentary early dropoff and late pickup.</span></p>