Blog Posts by TownVibe

Most female book discussion groups follow a similar design. Everyone convenes at someone's sumptuous home for gossip and wine, the book discussed for at best 15 minutes before its time for a meal or snacks. Not so with a Katonah mother/daughter book group that meets on the second Sunday of every month as six moms and their young daughters talk about a book for over an hour, in depth and detail.

This past November the group read Jerry Spinelli's Crash, a coming-of-age YA novel about a cocky, bullying young boy named John "Crash" Coogan who undergoes a powerful transition transforming him into a sensitive young man. At Celeste Potash's home in mid December, amid cups of apple cider and coffee, as James Taylor softly crooned in the background, the youngest members of the group, most of them in fourth grade, offered a sophisticated and thoughtful dissection of the novel's storyline, its characters, the book's affect on them, and even the writing itself, under their mothers' watchful

Pam Nicholas launched her business, Izzi B's, and proved Plato's truism, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Her daughter, Isabella, affectionately known as Izzi B, had been diagnosed with an egg allergy right before her first birthday. While going through the shock and dismay that many parents may feel after receiving this diagnosis, Nicholas focused on her daughter's upcoming birthday party and set out to find the best egg-free cupcakes available.

Nicholas discovered that the cupcakes had either a dry, crumbly texture, an unappealing flavor, or in some cases, both. While learning to cope with her daughter's egg allergy and continuing her search for tasty options, she connected with other parents whose children had a variety of food allergies. They bonded over stories of raising their children in a world that isn't always receptive to their needs. All agreed some of the toughest times are birthday parties when cakes and other treats are served. "It's not easy to watch your

For ten years, Michelle Daniels packed lunches and kissed her children goodbye before they climbed onto the school bus. It was not until her eldest son, now 18-year-old Cameron, was a sophomore that she decided to educate him at home; the results of which were so positive that she followed suit with 11-year-old Justin and six-year-old Ann. "We love it so much, we can't imagine going back," says Daniels.

Homeschooling goes beyond academics at home. It's about being part of a broader community that nurtures all aspects of a child's life, she says. Many homeschool groups in and around Fairfield County create a social and scholastic network for the homeschooled student. Homeschool Day at local museums, parks, and ski mountains are just some of the ways homeschool children and their families grow, learn, and play in a cohesive and supportive environment. "You can register for lots of classes and programs just for homeschooled kids," explains Daniels. The Connecticut Homeschool Network is