By My Side neighborhood parenting group

OMG!! Can't believe I've neglected this blog for so long!!! time flies when you're having fun.

So, this is day 3 of the 90 degree weather and I'll try to get this done before my computer starts having a meltdown.

Playgroups have been growing by leaps and bounds!! (just got another call from a new family coming tomorrow that met us at the Shad Fest in the middle of writing this)

It is not unusual these days to have 15+ families in attendance.

Our parent lending library through PECC (Philadelphia Early Childhood Collaborative) has been open and available for about a month and a half now...business so far is very slow. It is at Atonement Church, 1542 E. Montgomery Ave

Our Parent Advisory Council has kicked back into gear somewhat...finding a time that works for everyone to meet is quite challenging but we'll keep at it. They held an egg-cellent Eater Egg Hunt fundraiser where I totally enjoyed being the Easter Bunny!! They raised about $600!! Way to go! They've also been so useful in cleaning toys and more!

Our Fishtown Branch of the Free Library stays open along with all other Libraries...we fought the good fight! Now, let's make sure everyone continues to use it!!

So, if it is April, it must mean big changes in store for the Parenting Program.....we are so aligned with the seasons!!

It was just about 2 years ago this month when we started talking about taking the program independent and this time last year, we were planning the move to Summerfield.

Due to some space issues at Summerfield and our incredible growth, we will be moving to Atonement Lutheran Church at 1542 E. Montgomery Ave before June 1st......aarrrggghhhhh....moving AGAIN! This will be the third time I have moved this program in 5 years and hopefully the last time for quite awhile (if ever!). It's kinda funny since, when I first started with the program while it was under The Preschool Project, we were at Atonement..so we'll be coming full circle!

Being at Atonement will give us our own permanent space with our own kitchen and bathrooms and open up innumerable possibilities to grow programs and our ability to fund ourselves...very exciting! We will be upstairs in the gym with lots of light...YEAH LIGHT!!! and the space is more than able to accomodate our large numbers comfortably.

We very much appreciate the folks at Summefield Church for the space and time we have spent there and now it's time to move on!

Well, meltdown is starting to occur so I will sign off for now! Stay tuned and I will try to do better at keeping up with this!