Family Time

  • Peaceful, easy feelings
    It was a few mornings ago when Deb and I were getting ready to go to work, packing lunches, finding clothes for the girls to wear — the usual…
  • Adventures with PhenomeMom: July 17
    It happened so fast. Moving, that is. And we’re doing it. Knee-deep in boxes, piles of laundry and the contents of that closet we…
  • The truth from the kid
    Kids say the darndest things ... darn them. In recent months, as various friends have celebrated birthdays, my children have been surprised on…
  • Guest stress
    It’s July, which means it’s crunch time. The guests are coming — weekend after weekend until August. I should have realized summer…
  • Library activities in Westbrook
    Now that the kids are out of school, you’ve got to find ways to entertain them. Sure, you can go with the old tried and true method of simply…
  • The cartoon watch
    When you boil it right down, one of our most important roles as a parent is civilizing and indoctrinating the children we raise. Our job really is to…
  • Adventures with PhenomeMom: June 26
    Some of my fondest memories growing up are of family camping. We didn’t go anywhere special. Hell, there wasn’t even a lake or an ocean…
  • Panic at the grocery store
    I shouldn’t be allowed to shop when I’m hungry. Not only does it make me twice as likely to snarl at checkout lines that move at the…
  • Survival of the fittest
    The past six months have been the hardest of my parenting life. Conjunctivitis, asthma, flu, colds and viruses have taken a toll on my family. Lauren…
  • Birthing bonus
    “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.’’ — John H. Kennell, MD Birth is transformational. Not only…
Story Archive »

FOR FAMILY EVENTS, GO TO WWW.RAISINGMAINE.COM

ADVENTURES WITH PHENOMEMOM
Amy Martin finds activities fun for both her and 9 year-old daughter.
Contact her at amartin@themaineswitch.com.

Rock Band
Chocolate Lovers Fling
3 movies in a day?
Volunteering to feel like a stuffy, sneezy, cat-hating jerk
Nap time under a dinosaur sky
Grooming the next violin prodigy for Merrill Auditorium
Spending time with unlikely role models
A plan of attack for that awful toilet rim
A story for writers and cat lovers
and native krumping
The miracle of life
The best birthday ever
Making waves with local mothers
Adventures with PhenomeMom … and Internet porn?
When the kid's away…
Touring the city — duck style
Swimming in spontaneity
An education in Pride
Raw fish is OK, as long as it's dead.
Art and Double-dipping.
Spider-man 3 and the Whoppee
Radio Oh-pra
Shop 'til … you beat up Grandma
Belly Dancing


A FINE BALANCE
Belinda Ray is a home-schooling mother and freelance writer.
Contact her at beezle@maine.rr.com.

Shower the people…
Alternative learning
Plow Watch
Traditional trek
Un-boxed
Extra undies
No hands!
What goes around…
Underage audience
Tales of backfat
Getting married!
Mom on the run
People pleasing mom
Mom the inventor
Hurry up and wait
An American duty
A mom is a mom
Being neighborly?
Peace and quiet
Nature vs. nurture
Getting away from it all.
Brady Bunch returns
Tighty-whiteys and growing boys
Smut for kids?


THE TRAVELING CIRCUS
Jennifer Hazard lives and writes in Yarmouth.
Contact her at hazard_family@yahoo.com.

To watch or…
Only the lonely
Anything but boring
Rise and shine
Parenting 101
Flying solo
Travel spa
First family trip
Waiting for Will
The hospital bag
All Daddy, all the time
Call me irresponsible
Saying good-bye to Jake
Mourning the Maclaren
Battle of the band

DAD'S VIEW
Brian Clark is the father of twin girls and is program manager for the STRONG Fathers Network, which supports men in their efforts to be skilled, active and strong parents. It is funded by York County Community Action Corp., and The U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. Brian's views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of YCCAC.

Maine families in need
Adrift with books
A night at the museum …

LIBRARY GUIDE

Baxter Memorial Library
839-5031
71 South street, Gorham
www.baxterlibrary.com
TUE 9:30 am, Preschool Story time
THU 9:30 am, Baby and Me
THU 10 am, Toddler Time

Burbank Branch Library
774-4229
377 Stevens Avenue, Portland
http://portlandlibrary.com/locations/burbank.htm
WED 9:30 am & 10:30 am, Toddlers
FRI 10 am, Preschoolers

Dyer Library
283-3861
371Main Street, Saco
www.saco.museum.org/library/index.shtml
TUE 10 am, Story and Craft Time, ages 3-5
THU 10 am, Story Time, babies up to 2 1/2

Gray Town Public Library
657-4110
5 Hancock Street, Gray
www.gray.lib.me.us
TUE 10 am, Preschool Story Time
WED 10 am, Preschool Story Time
FRI 10 am, Toddler Story Time

Katahdin Kids
883-1511
628 US Route One, Scarborough
www.katahadinkids.com
Tuesdays 9:30 am – 10:15 am, Craft/Play, Story time

Falmouth Memorial Library
781-2351
5 Lunt Road, Falmouth
www.falmouth.lib.me.us
MON 1pm, Preschool Stories
TUE 10 am, Preschool Stories
THU 10 am, Books and Babies
FRI 10 am & 11 am, Books and Babies

Freeport Community library
865-3307
10 Library drive, Freeport
www.freeportlibrary.com
TUE 9:30 am – 10 am Toddlers
TUE 10 am – 10:30 am Preschoolers
WED 6:30 pm – 7 pm All ages

Libby Memorial Library
934-4351
27 Staples Street, Old Orchard Beach
www.ooblibrary.org
TUE 6:30 pm-7:30 pm, Bedtime Stories, all ages
THU 10:30 am-11:30 am, Preschool Story Time, ages 3 & 4
THU 3:30 pm-4:30 pm, After School Story Hour
FRI 10:30 am-11 am, Baby & Toddler Story Time
Last Tuesday of the month is family game night: 6:30 pm-7:30 pm

Merrill Memorial Library
846-4763
215 Main Street, Yarmouth
www.yarmouth.me.us (link to library)
THU 10:15 am – 11 am, 2 pm—2:45 pm, Preschool (ages 3-5)
FRI 10:30 am—11 am, 2 year olds (registration required)

Munjoy Branch Library
772-4581
195 North Street, Portland
SAT 9:30 am, Toddler Time

North Gorham Library
892-2575
2 Standish Neck Road, Gorham
WED 10 am, Babies and Toddlers
THU 9:30 am, Preschoolers

Peaks Island Branch Library
766-5540
129 Island Avenue, Peaks Island
http://portlandlibrary.com/locations/peaks.htm
WED 11 am, Nursery Rhyme Time for Infants & Toddlers
FRI 10:15 am, Preschool Story Time
FRI 11 am, Nursery Rhyme Time for Infants & Toddlers

Portland Public Library
871-1700
5 Monument Square, Portland
www.portlandlibrary.com
MON 10 am, Preschool Story Time, ages 3-5
WED 9:30 am, Finger Fun for Babies, ages 0-24 months
THU 4 pm, Finger Fun for Babies, ages 0-24 months
FRI 10 am, Tales for Twos

Prince Memorial Library
829-2215
266 Main Street, Cumberland
www.princememorial.lib.me.us
THU 9 am, Lapsit for Babies
THU 10 am, Story Time, ages 3-5
FRI 10 am, Toddler Time, ages 2-3

Riverton Branch Library
797-2915
1600 Forest Avenue, Portland
www.portlandlibrary.com/locations/riverton.htm
FRI 9:30 am, Toddler Time
FRI 10:30 am, Preschool Story Time

Reiche Branch Library
774-6871
166 Brackett Street, Portland
www.portlandlibrary.com/locations/reiche.htm
MON 10 am, Preschool Story Circle, ages 3-5
THU 4 pm, Story Time, ages 8+
THU 5:30 pm, Reiche Readers Round Table, ages 10+
ONGOING, Fold a Book for Peace, all ages

Scarborough Public Library
883-4723
48 Gorham Road, Scarborough
www.library.scarborough.me.us
MON 10:30 am, Toddler Time, ages 18 -36 months
TUE 10:30 am, Read to Me, ages 3-5
THU 10:30 am, Lapsit, ages birth-18 months
SAT 10:30 am, Kindertales, ages 3-7

South Portland Branch Library
775-1835
155 Wescott Road, South Portland
www.southportlandlibrary.com
TUE 10:30 am, Baby Story Time
WED 10:30 am, Toddler Story Time (ages 1& 2)
THU 10:30 am, Baby Story Time

South Portland Main Library
767-7660
482 Broadway, South Portland
www.southportlandlibrary.com
TUE 10:30 am, Baby Story Time, ages 0-18 months
FRI 10:30 am, Toddler Time, ages 1& 2
FRI 11 am, Preschool, ages 3-5

SPACE Gallery
828-5600
538 Congress Street, Portland
www.space538.org

Thomas Memorial Library
799-1720
6 Scott Dyer Road, Cape Elizabeth
www.capeelizabeth.com/library
THU 1 pm, Preschool Story Time, ages 3-5
FRI 9:30 am, Preschool Story Time, ages 3-5
SAT 10:30 am, Preschool & toddler Story Time, ages 1-5

Walker Memorial Library
854-0630
800 Main Street, Westbrook
www.westbrookmaine.com (click library link)
TUE 10:30 am, Children's Story Time, Children of All Ages
THU 10:30 am, Children's Story Time, Children of All Ages
SAT March 17th, Cookie Decoration, Children of All Ages

Warren Memorial Library
854-5891
479 Main Street, Westbrook
www.warren.lib.me.us
TUE 1 pm, Preschool Time, ages 3 1/2-5
WED 9:30 am, Babies & Books, ages 6-24 months
WED 10:30 am, Toddler Time, ages 2-3
WED 4 pm-5 pm, Warren Chess Kids

All Programs run until the end of May

Windham Public Library
892-1908
217 Windham Center Road, Windham
www.windham.lib.me.us
MON 10:30 am, Preschool Story Time
MON 1 pm, Preschool Story Time
TUE 10 am, Books & Babies, ages 6-24 months
THU 10 am, Preschool Story Time

Yarmouth Public Library
846-4763
215 Main Street, Yarmouth
http://www.yarmouth.me.us/
THU 10:15 am-11 am, 2 pm-2:45 pm, ages 3+
FRI 10:30 am-11 am, 2 year old story time (registration required)