Category Archives: Chicago Mom Tip

Enchanted Railroad

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Enchanted Trains

This morning we went to check out the Enchanted Railroad exhibit at the Morton Arboretum.

Since we discovered this place, I’ve found it much more kid friendly than the Chicago Botanical Gardens. So I was pretty excited to see how their train exhibits would compare.

Surprisingly, the Chicago Botanical Gardens has a much better train exhibit.

Still, these trains managed to hold the kids attention for a good 30 minutes. Afterwards, we went to the Children’s Garden in search for gnomes. They hid 15 all around the garden and Jack found them faster than we did. Gave me the first taste of what it’s like to be the old, slow person of the family!

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Sittercity

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Last month there was a Groupon? or was it Family Finds? Plum District? (I can’t remember which coupon company it was, there are so many nowadays!) for Sittercity.

I had heard of the company before but never thought to use it since we hardly ever use sitters. But with the arrive of the twins looming, I know I need help.

So when I saw the coupon, which was half off a one month subscription for Sittercity (full price is $35 a month), I jumped on it.

I posted an add for summer help and got over 30 responses. It was amazing how many capable people responded! I wonder if this is what internet dating is like. Kind of overwhelming. So much choice, very hard to narrow it down to just one.

For so many years my girlfriends and I were scrounging for sitters. I can think of at least three times we missed events because we couldn’t find a single person to babysit for us! I’ll never have that problem again.

Not only did a find a great summer helper, but also a boat load of back ups as well.

I highly suggest it if you need to up your arsenal of sitters. Just paying for one month you could get enough numbers of capable people to last you years!

 

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Zoo Lights

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Zoo Lights, Lincoln Park Zoo

Last night we decided to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo for their annual Zoo Lights.

It was unusually warm which made it very pleasant to be outside. Unfortunately everyone else had the same idea as us. Or maybe it was because it was opening night. Either way it was packed. A big open space with lots of exits, huge crowds and darkness are a lethal combo for a mom of young kids. I spend a lot of time screaming at them to stay close. I didn’t care if I looked like the crazy mom who yells. I wanted to see my kids at all times!!!

Roya and Ben riding the Train

The kids didn’t seem to mind. As long as they all had each other (we trolled around with 7 boys, ages 1 – 6 for most of the evening) they were happy. Mom tip: I finally told them to form a train. They held onto each other’s shoulders and shouted ‘choo-choo’ and ‘all-aboard’. It kept them all together which was a great relief to me.

The actual zoo lights are free but if you park in the lot it will cost you $17 for the first 3 hours. It’s pretty amazing what they’ve done and I highly suggest going down for a look. They run November 25–27, then again from December 2–4 and 9–11. Finally they open nightly starting December 16–January 1 (Closed Dec. 24 & 25).

Besides walking around to see the lights, you can also see ice carvings, do holiday crafts, see Santa and also see some animals. Lots of the indoor exhibits are open, as well as the train and carousel. The food kiosks like popcorn truck are open too.

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Hidden Little Gems

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Vacationing in Boracay, Phillipines

An old friend of mine from Hong Kong, Philip Hofmeyr, recently started a facebook app called Hidden Little Gems. The tag line is “discover places to eat, drink, stay & play from your friends”. I love this idea of having people ‘in the know’ telling you the great little secrets of their cities. Since I know first hand how fun and adventurous Phil and his buddies are, I completely trust the content. To give you some idea of the Asia crazy I lived through in my 8 years abroad, check out the picture above. A group of us went vacationing in Boracay, Phillipines. For some reason we all decided to dress alike. The boys chose bikinis! They were a real hit at all the bars that night. If this picture isn’t an endorsement for how fun loving Phil and his friends are, then maybe stick something traditional like Fodor’s.

I posted my first list last week. Unfortunately, my stay at home pregnant mom status doesn’t quite match the party animal person I was back in Asia. I’m not looking for the latest hot spots anymore! I noticed my old roommate from Hong Kong’s list was titled ‘Best Places to Kiss in Paris‘. My how we’ve gone in different directions in life!

I was trying to think of something I searched for in the past on the internet that isn’t really there for the city of Chicago. I decided on Best Museums for Kids in Chicago. As the weather gets colder and colder, I’m constantly racking my brains for places to take the kids in the winter. Last year we had almost every single museum membership available. This year we paired it down to the ones most friendly for kids. Hope you enjoy them (you can click on the link “Best Museums for Kids in Chicago” to view.)

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Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

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For years my girlfriends and I have frequented the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum during the winter months. This little known gem in the city is never crowded. The kids can run around like mad for a few hours for a lot less money than most ‘pay to play’ spaces in the city.

Ben in the Colon Crawl. Eww.

Most of my girlfriends have memberships. A family membership is only $60 a year and you get free coat check along with some other benefits. I didn’t bother with the membership, instead I use my Children’s Museum Membership card to get 1/2 of the admission price. Adult full price is $9, kids 3-12 are $6 and kids under 3 are free. So when I go with just Ben it’s only $4.50. On Thursdays it’s free for Illinois residents.

All the exhibits are either made for kids or are very kid friendly. They recently opened the ‘Eww, What’s Eating You?’ exhibit. We were all surprised to see Carrot Top hosting the videos. It was kind of gross in a fascinating way. I definitely plan to take Jack back to play the ‘Parasite Pinball’ game.

 

 

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Explore and Much More

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Poor second children.

With my first born I took tons of classes at Wiggle Worms, Gymboree, Language Stars, Lil Kickers and had endless play dates with kids his own age. With my second, nothing.

Just the other day I marveled at how much we’ve all changed as moms. I was at the park with a few of my seasoned mom friends. We all huddled together in a corner chatting while our kids glommed onto another mom or nanny who was playing hide and seek with her kids. Did we go help out? Nah. Must be a nanny, we thought. Who else would have that much energy?

We’ve gone from being the cheerleaders in high school to the stoners who hang out under the bleachers at football games.

Part of me feels no guilt. When my first born is at school I need to run errands and do housework. They can both do play dates together in the afternoon (albeit with kids my first born’s age and any other younger siblings they may have). Besides, he doesn’t know what he’s missing, right?

Part of me thanks I should make more of an effort. So today, after dropping Jack at school, I invited a friend along with a kid about Ben’s age to Explore and Much More.

Ben at Explore and Much More

I’ve been to quite a few ‘pay to play’ spaces in Chicago and this is one of my favorites. The layout is such that you never have a big, open space for kids to run and smack into each other. Or shove big rolling toys into other kids. And also unlike some other spaces there are loads of really great, smart toys for the kids to manipulate. There are not a lot of places for your kids to get lost. And it’s super clean. No moms walking around with hot coffee. The cost to play all day is $12 for the first kid, $9 for siblings. Adults are free. They are open during the week from 9-1, then 2-5. On the weekends if there are no parties they have open play as well. You can also get a discounted punch card if you want to go 10 times of more. Don’t forget your socks!

 

 

 

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Weisman Park

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My goodness this park has had a make-over since we last visited! Before it had sad structures and wood chips. Now it has a water splash area, a variety of play structures, and soft surface with the occasional bit of astroturf.

Playing House

Water Slide

The boys found plenty of uses for the different play structures, a few of them were quite creative. I’m sure none of the uses were the intended ones.

We enjoyed it so much we made another play date to meet here again before we even left. One word of warning if you are thinking of going – no washrooms. Be prepared to let your kids go on the nearest tree!

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Nothing can be Everything

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For all my talk of fun places to visit in Chicago, sometimes the best thing to do is go exploring all the wide open green spaces along the lakefront.

Gang of Four

Jack and Angus have gotten to an age where they make their own fun. From all my parenting books I’ve learned that free wheeling, creative play promotes executive function, the thing that later on teaches you self-regulation. Today they ‘shot’ dragonflies, pretended to put Ben in hot lava and turned Max into ice.

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Under Armour All American Baseball Game

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A little surprise perk of signing up for Lil Sluggers this summer were the free tickets to the Under Armour All American Baseball Game at Wrigley Field.

The Gang Sitting Right Behind Home Plate

This is a game played by the best high school players in America. And Canada. Besides us Lil Sluggers families, there were lots of scouts there watching the players.

Scouts with their Radar Guns

Because it was not crowded, we were able to run around the entire stadium. This kids loved this. It didn’t matter how many snacks we had, they were itching to check the place out.

Look How Close We Got to the Field!

Traditionally, after the game they let the kids on the field to run the bases. Since it rained most of the game they cancelled it. Now that I know about it, I’m definitely going to try to go next year. Running the bases at Wrigley is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I don’t want my kids to miss!

 

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Foster Beach

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“I guess the old grind ain’t so bad.” I thought as I sat on my beach blanket Tuesday morning with my good friend Pam.

Pam playing with Max in the Lake

We visited Foster Avenue Beach. It’s got a parking lot right out front where there is always parking for $1 and hour. It has the usual Chicago Beach accommodations, bathrooms, shower at the exit to wash off the sand, small concession stand. It also has a wheel chair accessible ramp where you can wheel your stroller right to the water’s edge. And very attentive life guards.

Once again, six kids, all boys.

It’s a great beach for families. The life guards were so attentive that they even reprimanded Jack for accidentally getting some mud in his water squirter. They also had me take off my kids life vest. Yep. You read it right. Apparently there is a rule in Illinois that if the life vest is not regulation you can’t wear it. I also had this problem at the Hidden Creek Aqua Park also.

Mom tip: If your kid is scared to swim getting a life vest is a great way for them to get over their fear. I can’t take credit for the idea, I stole it from my friend Kelly. Before the vests Jack wouldn’t enter the water and Ben would jump in without caution. After the vests and a few weeks of practice, both kids can swim without me holding them. Just make sure you get a regulation one, otherwise you’ll find yourself with a a two year old like a floppy fish, thinking he can float when he can’t!

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