Scalzi Park for Summer

I love the new improvements at Scalzi: the walking path, the two new playgrounds, and the great splash pad pictured here. I only wish there was more seating at each of the two playgrounds. Each playground only has one bench that fits five adults. Definitely not enough! Still there's lots of shade between the two playgrounds for picnic blankets. I love Scalzi!

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Cove Beach: Free Rent

I am only slightly amused by the lifeguard's-view-blocking cabana some family has erected at Cove Island. Or maybe they live there? Looks about the same size as my college dorm room. I'm guessing this is NOT on the "stuff that's ok at Cove" list- essentially, putting up a small house on the beach to block everyone else's view. Ah well, anything goes at Cove.

As long as a grown man isn't attacking a child who gets in the way of his roller blading, I probably shouldn't complain. Maybe the lifeguard told them they could use it as long as they keep all the curtains open, and keep it an open structure. I suppose that's fair.

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Advocate Photo Blog Making News! Darien Girls' Lacrosse Coach Suspended

I am constantly talking about how awesome the Advocate's photoblog In Sight is.  I don't mean to be repetitive, but there's an interesting discussion happening right now about the photos that Bob Luckey posted of the Darien girls' lacrosse coach grabbing her goalie's helmet and appearing to shove her backwards. The discussion at In Sight gets into pressures of high school sports, parents' expectations... it's something anyone who's been through school, or who has kids, can relate to. Go take a look!  

I don't know anything about the coach or her team, but I do think:

- It's great to open a dialogue about how we expect our kids to be treated.  I think that's what Bob Luckey meant to do, and I commend him.  

- I would not want any adult to put their hands on my kid like that, even if they were on a high-pressure, high-performing team.  

- Adults who work with children have a responsibility to hold themselves, each day and each minute, to the highest behavior standards they can manage.

- Everyone makes mistakes, and mistakes vary in degrees of seriousness.  

- A pattern of mistakes is a problem.   

I just saw in the paper (how ironic that I'm calling it a "paper" and I read it online) that the coach is suspended for the rest of the season but can return in 2013.  Wow.  

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Stamford Sinkhole... Impressive!

A reader (thanks BD!!!) sent me photos of a rather terrifying sinkhole on Fifth Street just east of Bedford. I have to assume someone's tire went into this, because how else would it get that deep before someone noticed it... This really freaks me out.

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Birth Talk! Midwives, VBACs, Nancy Wainer in CT/NY

I went to a very enjoyable event last night: the opening of my birth educator's new studio! I have raved before about Cynthia Overgard's Hypnobirthing of CT- both she and her birth class are an invaluable source of information, inspiration and support.  Cynthia's new studio in Westport is spacious (and gorgeous) so she can more easily accomodate classes and events... AND it's across from the Whole Foods.  Does it get any better than that?

The keynote speaker at the event was Nancy Wainer, the midwife and author who coined the term "VBAC" and works passionately to prevent unnecessary c-sections.  Nancy had many kind words to say about Cynthia and her work with mothers who want to have the most peaceful births possible.  It was such a pleasure to hear an experienced midwife speak about the many misconceptions about birth, such as women being (disturbingly commonly) told that their pelvis is too narrow for their baby.  (Hello, the pelvis expands in labor! And the baby's head smushes because the skull bones aren't fused yet. What's more likely to slow labor is your baby being in the wrong position so their head can't smush and descend as effectively- a midwife can tell you simple things you can do to get your baby in the best position before labor starts.)  Can you tell I'm a fan of midwives?
  

Nancy Wainer is also speaking tonight at ICAN of Westchester.  ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) is dedicated to improving maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary c-sections, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting VBACS.

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