May’s a month of anticipation. Vacation is near and the number of fun things to do in Michigan is ramping up. And – whether you’re considering hedgehogs as pets, dealing with going back to work after baby or just wondering, ‘When’s Mother’s Day?’ – the May 2015 Metro Parent magazine is here for you and the kids.
Mother’s Day events and more for mom
We’re all about moms. But May amps things up! For starters, we dish nine neat mom cave ideas to help create a space just for you with tips from moms at two cool decor stores: West Elm Birmingham and the eclectic Leon and Lulu in Clawson.
Get ready to scrap some serious working mom guilt, too. A new long-term study finds the quality of time you spend with your kids matters more than quantity.
By the way, the answer to that question – “When’s Mother Day?” – is May 10. And when it comes to good Mother’s Day gifts, time together is tops! To help fill that time, check our May calendar of southeast Michigan events for fun like the Detroit comic con (aka Motor City Comic Con), Belle Isle Grand Prix 2015, Dinosauria Detroit Zoo, the Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade and Ann Arbor activities including a butterfly festival. We’ve also got the low-down on why biking with Slow Roll Detroit is a fantastic family activity.
Finally, we wrap up our three-part child care series with a look at how to deal with going back to work after baby. There can be a huge emotional toll when it comes to going back to work after baby is born. Get tips from moms who’ve been there.
Great parenting tips on a variety of topics
Is your kid begging for a turtle or tarantula? Help is on the way. We chatted up Lou’s Pet Shop in Grosse Pointe Woods for tips on exotic animals as pets. Whether it’s hedgehogs as pets, a sugar glider pet, pet snakes or rats as pets, find out the pros and cons – and best pets for kids.
(Hint: For less commitment, meet a critter from Eternal Hedgehogs of Oxford who now calls the Wyandotte library home – along with a gray tree frog at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum and a new baby horse at Carousel Acres in South Lyon.)
Ready to jump into the pool? Get a refresher on swimming safety for kids. Goldfish Swim School Birmingham offers tips on pool safety for children, life jackets for kids and more. And if you’ve got a kid who’s a bit uncoordinated, clumsy or klutzy, try Kids in Motion’s tips on occupational therapy exercises for kids and more.
Adventures in food, crafting and travel
Who wants veggie stuffed peppers? Try a recipe from The Clean Plate Shelby Township (run by the folks behind the Cacao Tree Cafe in Royal Oak).
If you know a newborn, this month’s craft is for you. Make custom onesies for each of the first 12 months of baby’s life for a fresh spin on those darling Facebook photos. Transform iron ons for baby onesies into great personalized baby gifts and keepsakes.
And if you just want to get away? Try the Enchanted Mountains in western New York. It makes our “good vacation spots” list for the great outdoors in Allegheny State Park – not to mention cool music festivals in New York state.
It’s all waiting for you in the May 2015 edition of Metro Parent. Don’t miss a single issue all year. Subscribe for FREE today!