Pregnancy Do-Overs


Pregnancy was a blur of joy, fear and excitement. I never knew what to expect from one day to the next. Still, I prepared so much for the arrival of my little bundle, I thought I knew what to expect once he came to town. Boy, was I mistaken! Knowing what I know now, here are five things I wish I could have told my pregnant self.

Sleep. I got a lot of rest during my pregnancy. I had zero energy, especially in the later months, so I had no choice. But what I didn’t anticipate was that following my labor and delivery, I would be running on 40 straight hours of no sleep! If I’d have known that, I would have spent my last few weeks of pregnancy lying in bed eating bon bons!

Go out. When you are very pregnant and subsequently, very large, you may not feel like much of a social butterfly. Some words to the wise: just go out! Go out on as many dates with your partner as you can. Sit at a table in a nice restaurant, chat and enjoy the good food and tranquility. Believe me, you won’t get a chance to do it peacefully for a long while.

Get a pedicure. You can’t really see your toes in the later months of pregnancy, so your feet often get neglected. Getting a pedicure isn’t only about looks though. It feels fantastic to have a foot massage during those last swollen weeks of pregnancy. Plus, when you are pushing, it will give you something pretty to look at.

Read. I’m talking about newspapers and books that are not baby-related. After baby comes, you will spend a lot of your “free time” pouring over the many parenting books you bought. I had no idea what was going on in the world for months after my son was born. I could tell you the state of his diaper on any given day, but the current state of the union was a mystery to me.

Cook. If you enjoy cooking, take this opportunity to make some of your favorite dishes. You know, the ones that you save for special occasions because they take too long to make on a weeknight. (You won’t be making these again for a while.) If you have time, do yourself a favor and make some freezer-friendly meals like lasagna, little chicken pot pies or pizza dough. During those first few sleep-deprived weeks, it’s nice to have some home-cooked food on hand.

 

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Bonjour Language Camps!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bonjour Language Camps in French, Mandarin & Spanish</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our focus is on immersive experiences – building confidence, friendship, and foreign language skills through engaging themes and activities. Each week your child will learn new words and phrases, and gain fluency in the language you choose. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Campers have 2–3 *additional* practice sessions per day in small groups to increase spoken fluency. Campers also delve into fun new themes, as well as makeovers of some tried-and-true favorites!</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All campers ages 3.5–11 are immersed in French, Mandarin, or Spanish, content-rich experiences, lots of outdoor time, and trips all over the city. We also offer add-on 1:1 language instruction and STEM lessons to combat summer slide. All language levels are welcome – our campers range from bilingual to beginner!</span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-12c5fef9-7fff-3b7c-4c11-bf7aa0550b78"></span></p>

The Churchill School Summer Program

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Churchill School Summer Program is a two-week program where students entering grades one to four will participate in literacy activities based on the Wilson Fundations Program and a variety of camp activities. By helping your child retain academic skills he/she will avoid the “summer slide” and begin the school year as a confident learner. Every morning students will begin their day with a Fundations lesson led by a member of the Churchill faculty and will participate in a full day of summer fun including:</span></p> <p> </p> <ul style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Noto Sans Symbols',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -17.25pt;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arts and Crafts</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Noto Sans Symbols',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -17.25pt;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sports</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Noto Sans Symbols',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -17.25pt;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mindfulness and Yoga</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Noto Sans Symbols',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -17.25pt;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Games</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Noto Sans Symbols',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -17.25pt;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily trips to the playground</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Noto Sans Symbols',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -17.25pt;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; color: #3a3a3a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so much more!</span></p> </li> </ul>

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts

<div>Surrounded by 140 acres of natural beauty, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts is the perfect place for your child to joyfully express their creativity. We offer 1, 4, and 8-week day camp programs for students K through 12. Classes are taught by exceptional educators and professional artists in music, art, theater, creative writing, chess, and more. Bus transportation is available from Long Island and NYC to our woodland campus in Wheatley Heights.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Scholarships</strong></div> <div><br />We believe that every student who wants to attend Usdan should be able to. Usdan has offered need-based scholarships since our opening in 1968 and on average 45% of our campers received some kind of scholarship. We welcome you to apply.</div> <p> </p>