AMC Tag

21 Apr

Published on April 21, 2016 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  Ozzie was waking up. His four-year old eyes looked at his Grandfather’s blue bottle sitting on a white shelf by his window. He loved looking at this bottle every morning. As the morning light passed through it, he realized there was another bit of blue on the white wall opposite the bottle. “Ozzie,” his little brother Davey called, “Come here.” Ozzie left his blue images and ran to Davey’s room just down the hall. Davey sat in his...

28 Mar

Published on March 28, 2016 in Mom of the Week, Mom Of The Week News by

Jean Kinkead Martine (Remy's Grandmother, Anne’s mother) Anyone who has ever been involved in going from a large, unwieldy ménage to something more in keeping with a diminished household knows there is a surfeit of opinion on the subject and little consensus. Then, once the move is actually made, there is ongoing commentary. Last week I received a letter from a distant classmate who had caught up with our news through the grapevine. “I do hope,...

24 Mar

Published on March 24, 2016 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  In case you missed, Children Teaching Parents, Part 1 Sam was excited, knowing Nick and his parents were coming over. He had been gathering little sticks since early morning so that he and Nick could add onto their houses the second he arrived. Julie was working on a small pastel of trees while Philip swept the sunny terrace. “It will be so nice to have Nick over,” Sam said to his mother. “I hope his parents are...

21 Mar

Published on March 21, 2016 in House & Travel by

The agenda for tomorrow night's (March 22nd) Planning & Zoning meeting will no longer include the possible demolition of the The White House on Steamboat Road. This is the second time the meeting has been postponed which we can only hope is good news. This topic will now reappear on April 19th's agenda. Thank you again to all of you who submitted letters to us supporting the preservation of this beautiful building built in 1827. If...

17 Mar

Published on March 17, 2016 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  Sam and Nick were four-year-old best friends. Life with each other was all they knew and that was just fine. Sam’s mother and father were Julie and Philip, slightly older parents who felt so lucky to have Sam. Julie was a landscape artist and Philip was a veterinarian. They loved time together and marveled at their little boy’s openheartedness. Nick’s father, Ron was a rather serious insurance salesman. His wife Lois had recently found a part...

05 Mar

Published on March 5, 2016 in House & Travel by

The beautiful sun-catching apartments that the whole town adores have been deemed unworthy of sharing their silent beauty with all boaters and for sure Island Beach Boat passengers. It is scary to think of this change because it symbolizes something enormously sad. To ignore this feels irresponsible. These are historic gems. Their architecture reveals a former way of living. The people who live in them now still love keeping this way alive. Imagining what these...

04 Feb

Published on February 4, 2016 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  Savannah Burke was cleaning up the oatmeal that her four-year-old son Jackson had spilled on the floor. Just then a feeling of something wet and cold made her touch the back of her white sweater. It was milk. She looked up and saw her son grinning as he put the glass on the table. As she reached for some more paper towels. Jackson said with a little laugh, “Too bad. More work for Mommy.” Just then...

07 Jan

Published on January 7, 2016 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  “Things just shouldn’t be so hard, Paul. You’re the kid and I’m your father. You get in the car when you are asked to and that’s that.” Russ’ voice was exasperated. Paul climbed into the jeep and tried to buckle his car seat. “That’s more like it. Try harder. You’re four now, or did you forget?” Paul’s hands were suddenly putty and he couldn’t get the metal things in their slots. Russ yanked open the back door of the...

22 Nov

Published on November 22, 2015 in Cool Other Stuff by

Putnam Indian Field School teacher and Party with Moms Managing Partner Anne Martine Cook continues to share her love of life and fun with very young children and their parents. She was honored by staff and parents for 40 years of inspired teaching during the recent PIFS Auction at the Round Hill Club. [caption id="attachment_6652" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Dawn Israel, President of the Board of Trustees with Anne.[/caption] Photos taken by Fairfield County Look see all their beautiful...

05 Nov

Published on November 5, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  Patty Lawson looked through the wide doorway between her kitchen and family room at her little boy playing on the floor. She felt like the only mother alive. The enormous love she had for her ten month old and her life as his mother made her feel incredibly fortunate. Listening to his bits of Donald Duck language made cleaning the messy kitchen almost pleasurable. Patty was older than many first time mothers. She had been surprised...

08 Oct

Published on October 8, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  I was sitting at my desk when I heard my mother say, “There’s my Sealy.” “Hi, Mommy. I’m going to color a little,” I called to her. “Oh my beautiful Seal. Look at you!” Kate Barnes cooed, wrapping her baby girl in a big white towel. I realized my mother wasn’t talking to me, but to Julia, my eight-month old sister. She had always called me her Sealy when she dried me off after my bath. “Maybe she...

10 Sep

Published on September 10, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

With the very best intentions, mothers often take too long to say goodbye. Hoping to give a child that extra bit of tenderness, they instead inadvertently make things harder for their child and themselves. Trying to leave and actually leaving are very different. Here is a classic case. A mother walks her son Johnny into his school. Johnny is about to do something he wants to do, something he is very capable of doing. What can...

30 Jul

Published on July 30, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Reaching to shut off the alarm clock, John thought, “That was the shortest night of my life.” He was in a B & B in the state of Washington, a long way from his home on the East Coast. After a quick shower, he went to the desk to pay for his room. He grabbed coffee in a paper cup and said, “Thank you very much. I’ll see you again,” as he went out the big...

09 Jul

Published on July 9, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Dara and Dave Thompson had moved out of New York a month ago and settled in Lakewood, Connecticut with their children, Davey, 4, Teddy, 2 and Eva, four months. Dara wrote for a parenting magazine, now on a very reduced schedule. Dave worked for a small investment firm, which had just moved to Lakewood. Their new neighbors were considerably older and not really used to having young people on their street. Mary, recently widowed, a retired nursery school teacher,...

11 Jun

Published on June 11, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

“Carrie! Tommy! You aren’t sitting on a stone wall in your nice clothes, are you?” The children jumped down off the wall and looked at their clothes. “We’re still clean,” Tommy called. “Mommy is so weird. A stone wall is now like a monster,” Carrie said. Blanche heard her. “Really? If we’re going out for dinner, sitting on a wall is a pain. You now look grubby.” “We like the way we look. Can’t you?” asked Carrie. Blanche had had...

23 Apr

Published on April 23, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

There are many touching common threads that run through the experiences of very young children. One is their sudden infatuation with ordinary items they discover on the floor or on the ground. I am always intrigued and peacefully startled when a child becomes fascinated with a found object: a very old metal washer, a pretty rock, a tiny spring from a ballpoint pen, a small pointy stick, a pine cone, an orange bottle top. Each...

02 Apr

Published on April 2, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Charlie threw his coat into his cubby. Bridget, Charlie’s mother called into the room, “Hi all. Charlie will be bringing Finn home. See ya!” “Hi Charlie,” greeted Miss Carter, cheerfully. “Hi. Where’s Finn?” “He isn’t here yet. I have some new cars. Would you like to see them? ” “I want to see Finn. We’re having a play date today.” “Remember, try your hardest to not talk about your nice after school plan. Others might feel left out.”  “Oh,...

05 Mar

Published on March 5, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Sally and James were being extra quiet. They didn’t want their mother and father to know they were awake. It was Saturday and the children were planning to draw and make cards for their Grandmother whose birthday was coming up. Then they heard their father talking in the hall.   “Ginny, let’s make a quick breakfast and go right to the aquarium. After that, we can take the children to The Plunge. James really needs to...

05 Feb

Published on February 5, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Lizzy walked behind her mother as they approached the door of her nursery school. Just inside, the principal, Mrs. Carmichael was waiting to greet them. “Good morning Lizzy. Good morning Margaret. How are you today?” She put her hand out to Lizzy, but Lizzy ducked behind Margaret and looked down at the floor. “Good morning, Mrs. Carmichael,” Margaret smiled. “I think Lizzy is feeling a bit shy again today. Lizzy, will you shake hands? No? Okay, let’s...

22 Jan

Published on January 22, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

“Mommy, the birds’ nests are blowing a lot in the wind. I feel sorry for the birds.”  Marian and her son, Denny were driving to the Farnsworth’s for a simple supper. It was very windy. They both saw how much the branches were bending. “Oh dear Denny, birds know how to build their nests so they are perfect for them, wherever they live. I really think they will be fine.”  They pulled into the driveway and in seconds...

15 Jan

Published on January 15, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

“In the car, Patty. We’re late. I mean now. All that dawdling is going to cost you.” “You’re not the boss of me,” four-year old Patty squawked. “Wanna bet?” Patty tried to resist her father’s grasp. Jeb picked up his daughter, put her in her car seat, and snapped down its lock. “Getting the picture now, right Patty? I AM the boss of you.” Jeb got into his seat quickly. He looked in the rear view mirror. Patty was sticking...

04 Dec

Published on December 4, 2014 in Anne's Parenting Column by

“What are you doing in there, Colin?” Denise barked from the hallway. “That’s my room. Keep out.” “Oh Denise, I was just looking for you. Sorry.”  “Then call me. Sneaking into my room is wrong. What do you want?”  “I wanted to ask when Mommy’s coming back. I really wasn’t sneaking. I’m hungry.”  Denise was looking at her phone. “If it looks like sneaking, it is. No clue when your mother is coming back. She’s always later than she...

13 Nov

Published on November 13, 2014 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Betsy had been awake for a while when she heard “Whaaah!” coming from Charlie’s room. She threw on her pink terry cloth robe and went to the six-month old she took care of.  “There you are! Hi Charlie. How’s my adorable boy?” She picked Charlie up and held him tightly. Charlie snuggled into her robe.  “Let’s get you some breakfast.” Betsy warmed a bottle of Charlie’s mother, Lucy’s milk. Charlie was smiling and gurgling as he looked...

02 Oct

Published on October 2, 2014 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Becky was happy that her new classroom was sunny and the staff was so friendly.  She did have butterflies and yet she knew once her job actually began, she’d feel calmer.  On the Sunday night before the first day of school, her clothes were already out for the next day and she had packed her lunch.  She decided to go back over her class list to become familiar with the names of the children and...

18 Sep

Published on September 18, 2014 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Right after Labor Day, the teachers went in to school to prepare their classrooms. Becky was new to the faculty, having just moved to town from Maine. When it was time for lunch, she felt awkward joining the groups of obvious friends who gathered in several rooms for lunch. Leaving the pretty old building for a nearby park, she found a bench in the sun and opened her small brown paper bag. She was ravenous...

18 Apr

Published on April 18, 2013 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Denny was working on a painting. He loved vibrant colors and for someone so young, his color sense was matched only by his love of doing art. Friends and relatives always looked forward to receiving examples of his work. Denny would paint on anything -- plywood scraps, cardboard, shells and even stones. Once he painted them, they were gorgeous. Summer was ending and Denny knew he would be beginning kindergarten soon. He had loved nursery school...

11 Apr

Published on April 11, 2013 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Charlie awakened to his mother’s laugh. She was in his baby brother, Finn’s room. Charlie got out of his new bed. A month before Finn was born, Charlie’s mother and father had told him that he was ready for a “big boy bed.” “You’re such a big boy now, Charlie. You’re going to be a wonderful big brother. You will love your new room.” Charlie had been mixed on the idea. He loved his crib and his...

04 Apr

Published on April 4, 2013 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Lizzy was drawing at a small wooden table in the kitchen. She liked to work in what she called her “office,” to be near her mother, Margaret. Tape, a few bright markers, a small box of crayons, and white paper were her “office supplies.” Lizzy drew a heart that finally met her high standard and was on her second one when the phone rang. Margaret answered the call with her usual cheerful greeting. “Good morning!” There...

28 Mar

Published on March 28, 2013 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Alexa and Will Morgan were excited about the imminent arrival of their second child. Their three-year old daughter, Sunny was happy to become a big sister too. She was thrilled to think that she would soon be dressing the baby and carrying her around. Plans of sleeping in the same room and walking to school holding hands were already in her head. “I can’t wait to take our baby to the beach and eat some...

21 Mar

Published on March 21, 2013 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Jane Reynolds was driving quickly to get Jack to his soccer game. As the last red light turned green, Jane said, “Jack, today how about thinking about what you are doing on the field?” Jack was touching the slippery fabric of his soccer shorts with his fingers. He dreamily nodded at his mother in the rearview mirror. They arrived at the soccer field as children in a variety of colored shorts and team shirts were joining their...