Kids need a safe place to play when it’s too cold, hot, or rainy to go to the park. Discovery City Children’s Museum in downtown Port Huron has met that need in a big way. The play area is set to have its Grand Opening on October 15th from noon to 6:00 p.m. Sneak Peeks […]
News
Our Favorite Part Of The Day
As much as I would love to take credit for the following wonderful idea, it was actually my husband who came up with it. A few months ago he came home from work with a beautiful leather-bound journal and a fancy pen. When I asked him what it was for, he said he wanted to […]
Navigating Postpartum
The postpartum period can be such an important time in your life as well as your baby’s and your family’s. As your body recovers, your hormones will be changing as well as your babyadjusting to the new world. This can be incredibly beautiful yet challenging. Preparing yourself during pregnancy for postpartum can be helpful. Nourishment […]
Prenatal Yoga
Body and Mind Taking care of your body and mind can be essential throughout your pregnancy. We need to take care of our body so it is healthy and prepared for childbirth. Our mind can be a powerful tool for achieving the desired birth with a clear mindset and little to no fear. Prenatal yoga […]
DanceAbilities Gives Everyone a Chance to Dance
Registration is open for MainStreet Dance Connection‘s DanceAbilities classes. The classes are designed for adults with mobility challenges, including those who use wheelchairs. The studio is located in Birchwood Mall and is fully accessible. The spring classes were a great success. You can read more about them here. Sign up for DanceAbilities here.
Picky Eater?
As a mother of an almost-three-year-old, I know a thing or two about picky eating. My one year old who once used to eat salmon, zucchini, and spinach like it was her job, now mainly seems to survive on oxygen and the occasional handful of goldfish. It is beyond frustrating. The nightly battle of “just […]
Why Do I Need Childbirth Education?
Childbirth education is simply education you receive on childbirth. Your education can range from books, films, in-person courses, or virtual courses. There are many great options. However, selecting the right course for you is important. There are many courses offered athospitals, birthing centers, and private one-on-one courses. Why bother with CBE? Childbirth education can be […]
Gentle Cesarean
Whether you are planning and scheduling a cesarean or it is a sudden change in plans, knowing you still have options can be incredibly helpful. While every hospital will have differentprocedures and protocols, you can still request different options from your care team.Depending on the reason you are having a cesarean can also change what […]
Late Summer Beach Guide
Wait a minute on the pumpkins, please. It’s still summer. Late August and early September are prime beach times. It might take a little longer for the days to heat up, but the water is warmer than it was back in June, and there is still fun to be had. So, here’s a late summer […]
Blue Water Martial Arts: Tradition of Quality Training and Community Outreach Continues
The tradition of quality training and community outreach continues with the newly independent Blue Water Martial Arts. The former PKSA Port Huron martial arts dojang (studio) has been a staple in the Blue Water Area since 2009, providing accessible and quality martial arts training for students of all ages. The name has now changed to […]
Doula Support For Birth Partners
More often than not, when we think of doulas we think of them supporting mothers. While this is true, doulas also can be an incredible support for birth partners as well. Birth can be an incredible experience and a doula can help ensure this is true for both the mother and birth partner. A birth […]
Breastfeeding – Nursing vs. Pumping
Every mother will have their preference on how to feed their baby. Some may choose to formula feed, some will nurse, some will pump and some will combination feed. Every mother’s journey will be different. Nursing is defined as when a mother latches her baby to the breast to feed them. Pumping can be defined […]
25 Years of Landmark Academy
Landmark Academy, in Kimball, Michigan, is celebrating 25 years of providing a supportive and innovative charter school experience for students in the Blue Water Area. To celebrate the 25-year milestone, Landmark Academy will be having an Anniversary Ribbon Cutting and Open House on Tuesday, September 10th at 2 pm. The community is invited to tour […]
Navigating the Fourth Trimester
Throughout your pregnancy, you probably became very familiar with weeks, dates, and trimesters. But one we don’t hear as much about is the fourth trimester. The fourth trimester is considered to be the immediate postpartum period. Some say it is considered to be the first 12 weeks after childbirth. This can be a beautiful, yet […]
Interview: The Benefits of Hypnobirthing
Shelby Vinson is a hypnobirthing instructor located in St. Clair County, Michigan and owner of SC Empowered Birth. I had the privilege of asking her some questions to further explain what hypnobirthing is and how mothers can benefit from this method. What is hypnobirthing? “Hypnobirthing is a childbirth method of reprogramming the mind to see […]
Baby Registry Tips
Necessities As you progress through your pregnancy it is easy to become overwhelmed with all of the latest baby gadgets and accessories. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, start with the necessities. What does a baby need the most? Diapers, nutrition, a place to sleep, clothes, and a car seat. Getting back to the basics is a […]
What is “The Golden Hour”?
Welcome, Baby The golden hour can be simply put as the uninterrupted hour following childbirth while the newborn lays on the mother’s chest with skin-to-skin contact. The golden hour can look different for many families. Some families may request delayed cord clamping, delaying newborn assessments, and delaying bathing the newborn. Every mom will have her […]
Making the Best of a C-Section
While many mamas dread the word “cesarean”, it is still a very real occurrence that moms face when giving birth. A cesarean section (otherwise known as c-section) is a surgical procedure done to birth a baby through an incision in the mother’s abdomen. Nearly a third of all births in the U.S. are c-sections. C-Sections […]
The Harbor Street Outreach Program Helps Youth and Families in Port Huron
Have you heard of the Harbor Street Outreach Program? The program is for St. Clair County youth aged 9 to 20 and their parents or guardians. The Program reaches out to youth and families in crisis, experiencing homelessness, and those in general need of services and help. Practical Help The center provides cleaning supplies, hygiene […]
Creating a Birth Plan
As you may know or are learning, when you find out you are pregnant you now have lots to plan for: from how you want your ideal pregnancy to look, your ideal birth, nursery theme, how you want to feed your baby and so much more. A major part we should be preparing for is […]
What is a Postpartum Doula?
Alright, mama, you did it! You’re home and relaxing with your sweet newborn baby. While we soak in our snuggles and recover, moms also have to adjust to the new normal. You now have a tiny baby depending on you 24/7. As you adjust to this new normal, your body recovers, your baby adjusts, your […]
What is a Birth Doula?
You just saw those two little lines appear on your pregnancy test. So many emotions can start to flood in, whether this was planned, a surprise, your first, or your 10th pregnancy. So many unknowns and emotions can come about from now through at least the next year. Many of us probably start googling recommended […]
My house is an absolute mess, but my family had the best weekend ever
My house is an absolute mess, but my family had the best weekend ever. This past week was one of the busiest of the year thus far. My youngest turned one year old and we hosted a huge party in our backyard. My best friend was in town from out of state and we spent […]
Don’t Let a Tick Bite Ruin Your Summer
Ticks are everywhere this year. Some tick bites can cause sickness. Preventing bites is the best way to stay safe. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommends the following prevention strategies: Prevent tick bites this season and stay safe As ticks live in grassy, brushy and wooded areas, individuals should walk in […]
Local Author Scott Beauchamp Encourages Writers
Have you ever thought about writing a book? Local dad and author, Scott Beauchamp, says to go for it. He should know, as he already has one book published and is working on a second. Beauchamp is the author of Another…Escaping Time, which is available on Amazon. The novel is suitable for young readers and […]
Meet Up and Eat Up Keeps Kids Fed Over Summer Break
Kids in Port Huron can get a free breakfast and lunch through the Meet Up & Eat Up program this summer. The federally funded program provides free food to kids aged 18 and under or up to age 26 for certain cases. The food is distributed four days per week on Mondays through Thursdays. Starting […]
Foster/Kinship Support Night Offers Rest and Resources
Foster parents and those providing kinship care for children are invited to a Foster/Kinship Support Night on Tuesday, April 16th, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at Blue Water Free Methodist/Harbor Impact Ministries. The event provides child care and offers resources for foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship care providers. Parents will have access to the many free […]
Spring Break Boredom Busters
For most families in the Blue Water Area, spring break is here. For those of us not traveling to somewhere warm, we still need ways to keep these kiddos entertained. Luckily, there are plenty of things to do right here in our hometown! Check out the entire BlueWaterParent.com Events Calendar for a full list of […]
Indoor Ideas for Young Children
Stuck inside? Summer is just around the corner. The warm weather is so close I can almost taste it! But then again, we live in Michigan, so we are due for at least one more snowstorm before the weather heats up for good. We are all getting stir-crazy! Until the beautiful warm weather returns- I […]
How to Help Someone With a Baby in the NICU
Have you or anyone you know ever had a baby in the NICU? Until about a year ago, I didn’t have much experience with the NICU. NICU stands for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I knew of a friend here or there who had a baby spend some time in the NICU, but I didn’t think […]
Have a Gun in the House? Lock it up.
Michigan’s new gun storage laws went into effect on February 13th and someone in the state has already been charged with first-degree child abuse, among other charges, for having a gun within reach of a child who shot herself with the gun. Lock it up. It’s pretty simple: if you have a gun, it needs […]
Flint is Fun with Sloan Museum, FIA, and More
Just about an hour’s drive from the Blue Water Area is the city of Flint. Flint has an impressive cultural center that houses the Sloan Museum and Longway Planetarium, the Flint Institute of Arts (FIA), the Flint Institute of Music, Applewood Farm, Flint Public Library, and FCC Academy. My family took a trip to the […]
Valentine Craft
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Two years ago my daughter brought home the cutest ladybug craft from daycare using her footprint. It was just about the cutest thing I’d ever seen, and every year since then I have decided to replicate it. Now I have these beautiful works of art that show just […]
Hoping to Go to College? FAFSA is Your Friend
1/24/24 What’s FAFSA? It’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and for those who are planning to go to college, or exploring available resources to make college a possibility, it has to get filled out. There is plenty of help available in the community for anyone struggling to get the form completed. What’s FAFSA? The […]
Choosing the Right Preschool
Originally published February 2024 Now is the time to start thinking about preschool for your child for next year. It might seem early, but Preschools begin planning now to set staff and rates for the next school year. You will start seeing Open Houses and preschool advertising in February and March. What should you look […]
Fun in Frozen Temps
Baby it’s COLD outside! Need some ways to pass the time, and feeling a little stir-crazy? Here’s a fun way to take advantage of these frozen temps with this fun winter activity. Colored ice blocks. Raid your kitchen cabinets for anything you can use to make different-shaped ice cubes. We used stainless steel bowls, muffin […]
Perks for 4th Graders
Being a fourth grader is pretty amazing. You are still a little kid, but you are grown up enough to do the things you are interested in and you are gaining a bit more independence than the younger kids. Thanks to two popular programs, 4th graders can also have free entry to National Parks and […]
2024 Goal: 1000 Hours Outside
Could you spend 1000 hours outside? With babies? One of the biggest challenges my family has decided to embark on for this new year is 1000 Hours Outside. This program is taking the social media world by storm and it is a challenge we are so excited to take on! If you’ve never heard of it […]
Family Goals for the New Year
Happy New Year, 2024! A new year always brings new goals and challenges. Most people make a New Year’s resolution. This year I decided to set goals for our family instead of just personal goals for myself. I was inspired by a podcast that I listen to to break them down month by month as […]
Starting New Holiday Traditions
The holiday season with young children is such a magical time. Exhausting, but magical nonetheless. This year, my daughters are 2 years old and 6 months old. In years past, we didn’t have many special Christmas traditions to do as a family, so this year I made it my goal to start some new traditions that […]
Give the Gift of Experiences
It’s December and that means everyone is on the hunt for the perfect Christmas gift. The problem nowadays is that there are SO. MANY. TOYS. Ask any mother of young children and she will probably tell you that she doesn’t have the space to add more toys to the already overflowing toy bins. Something that I started […]
Conquering Postpartum Depression
**Everyone’s postpartum journey looks different. When I was pregnant with my first, I thought I knew what to expect with postpartum. I had heard about the sleepless nights, the challenges of breastfeeding, and the baby blues. I thought I knew what was in store. But everyone always said “the moment you meet your baby face […]
Winter Reset for Your Home
There’s no denying that winter is on its way. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to get out the hats and gloves and be ready for wet boots by the door. We asked Erin MacNeill, interior designer and owner of Willow and Grove Interior Design, for her thoughts on transitioning to winter decor […]
Ways to Give Back
Looking for a way to spread some holiday cheer? There are many ways to help. We will be adding to this list as volunteer opportunities arise, so check back often. Send your outreach information to events@bluewaterparent.com. Help keep someone warm this winter! Between November 13 and December 16, trees will be set up at each […]
WIC Helps with Nutrition Expenses
Adding a new member to the family can include so many added costs. Diapers, formula, clothes: the list goes on. Thankfully, there are a ton of resources available to help, you just have to know where to look. See If You Qualify One of the most popular programs is WIC. WIC stands for Women, Infants, and […]
Get Kids Involved in Christmas Decorating
BlueWaterParent.com asked our advertising partner, Erin MacNeill, owner of Willow & Grove Interior Design, for some tips on holiday decorating with kids. MacNeill said, “Let them help! They often just want to be a part of it all, and will (likely) only want to hang a few bulbs on the family tree. I know mine […]
Get IN the Photo
Get in the photo. Not just take it. I said get IN the photo. As a mom of two little ones- my camera is constantly out. At the time of writing this, I currently have 11,823 photos in my camera roll- and my phone is alerting me that it’s out of storage. I have photos […]
Feeling Creative? Painted Toad has Options
The Painted Toad Art Studio in Marine City offers art experiences to meet your creative needs. The studio has family paint nights and offers private bookings, preschool art classes, homeschool art classes, and a youth art club. You can see the full schedule here. Click each graphic for more information. The Painted Toad Art Studio […]
Let’s Talk SLEEP
As a mom to two-under-two, sleep is a precious commodity around our house. I remember when my oldest was a newborn I would spend countless hours in the middle of the night Googling things like “how do I get my baby to sleep?” and “how much caffeine is it safe to consume a day?” Safe […]
What’s For Lunch?
It’s National School Lunch Week. Since 1962, there has been a focus on healthy school lunches for American schoolchildren. In Michigan, most parents don’t have to think about packing a lunch if they don’t want to. The 1.4 million children in Michigan public schools have access to free school lunches and breakfasts, starting this school […]