Need vs. Choose | Japan Festival | Art Week
First, we're getting good number of signups for the Chinese Summer School, just opened this week. We only have about 1/3 of the seats left for the 1st week and 1/2 for the 2nd week.
And the Cambridge Parents Summit on May 12 is going well too, we already have 115 RSVPs and almost half are Parents of Color. Be sure to RSVP if you're planning to come, especially if you need childcare. (Big thanks on Creole & Spanish flyer translation help, Maria & FMA. :)
Also, this Sunday Memorial Drive is closed for biking, rollerblading. A bunch of us bike school graduates and friends are planning to go at 3pm. Hope to see you! :)
Last week, a friend was in town and gave me some great insights on how to talk to self in a more helpful way.
I don't know about you, but as a working mom a lot of my inner dialogue is about how I NEED to do things: I need to finish this pile of work, I need to get back to so-and-so, I need to remember to sign kids up. I need to stop drinking Diet Coke. I need to tell my husband to eat healthier. (O and he also needs to exercise more. :)
It's a long list and well, it can be exhausting. :(
My friend talked to me about being kind to myself. So when I say I “need” to do something, to pause and think more about why. After all, besides the fact of life and death, there's nothing I really need to do. :)
Take the issue of my daily Diet Coke habit, my friend suggested it'll be helpful to understand why I'd like to stop and what I enjoy about it.
Okay: I know Diet Coke is not healthy; it leaches calcium from my bones. Since my mom has borderline osteoperosis, losing calcium is probably not a good thing for my body. Yes, and my friend added that artificial sweetener can ironically make us gain weight.
And what do I like about the drink? Well it's refreshing, and I feel I'm already eating pretty healthy, maybe can cut myself some slack.
My friend suggested that once aware of the deeper motivations, it might open me up to the possibility that it's less about what I need to do, and more what I CHOOSE to do. While appreciating the drink feels refreshing, I can choose to forgo it in a conscious decision for my own health.
And if I relapse and do end up drinking one? No need to beat myself up again. I can just accept that sometimes refreshment wins but I can still choose differently next time. :) I also thought about, if I really want a cold drink, I could just drink some sparkling water.
A pretty simple mindset change right? And yet, it feels easier, because it doesn't have all the weight of what I must do, and how I'm not doing what I'm supposed to do, and feeling disappointed in myself, and my lack of discipline.
So for a week now, it's been no Diet Coke for me, and not even sparkling water! :)
Weekend Events
A fun family event! Boston International Cat Show presenting its' 2nd Annual Show. Cats and Kittens pussy-footing aroun...
Saturday, 9:30am - Sun., The Simoni Ice Arena, Cambridge 
The Boston Kids Comics Fest is a free daylong festival that invites children, parents/guardians, educators and libraria...
Saturday, 10am, Bethel Youth Center, Jamaica Plain 
Storytime & Craft Activity with Longy Han
Calling All Coop Kids! Join us for a very special Storytime & Craft Activity with Author Longy Han (Harvard Ed.M. ‘17)...
Saturday, 11am, Harvard Coop, Cambridge 
Harvard ARTS FIRST Festival: Make Art
Everyone is an artist at ARTS FIRST! On The Plaza Ancient Impressions Use clay press molds inspired by figurativ...
Saturday, 1pm, Harvard University Harvard Square Cambridge 
Boston Sailing Center's Annual Open House
Enjoy the best view of Boston! Each boat (ranging in length from twenty-four to forty feet) will be captained by one of...
Saturday, 1pm - Sun., Boston Sailing Center 
Festival is on Sunday, with food tasting on Saturday. Join us for regular booths, food booths, workshop, stage perfo...
Saturday, 1pm - Sun., Boston Common
Kids, Bugs, Art: City Nature Challenge 2018
The Boston Area City Nature Challenge includes three STEAM events in Cambridge for families and kids 4 and up, all call...
Saturday, 1:30pm - Sun., Cambridge 
The Becca Pizzi 5K celebrates Becca as a Two Time World Marathon Challenge Champion! A few weeks ago, Becca completed ...
Sunday, 9am, Belmont High School Track - 297 Concord Avenue Belmont 
Enjoy family-friendly art-making activities, musical performances, and fresh flowers! Events How Does Your Garden G...
Sunday, 10am, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 
Memorial Drive Sunday Closed just for Biking
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) closes Memorial Drive in Cambridge between Western Av...
Sunday, 11am, Cambridge 
Community Conversations: Identity and Diversity
How do we encourage all students to take pride in their identities? An event open to Putnam Avenue Upper School (PAUS)...
Tuesday, 5:30pm, PAUS 102 Putnam Ave - enter through Kinnaird Street door 
Annually attended by over 150,000 people, the 35th annual MayFair will feature… Live Music, Dance, and Street Perf...
Sunday 5/06, 12pm, Harvard Square 
Cambridge Parents will be holding a one-day summit on Saturday May 12. We hope to connect parents to discuss issues on ...
Saturday 5/12, 9:30am, Fletcher Maynard Academy 