HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

Last Friday one of my good friends and I took our kids to the New England Aquarium in Boston. Big day! Our first trip to Beantown. We drove in and took the T to Quincy Market and walked from there to the aquarium, taking in all the sights and street performances.

My friend has twin boys, who just turned five, and she wrangles them together like some sort of supermom character from the League of Justice. I on the other hand become frazzled and exasperated with one little girl. When I asked her how she gets her kids to cooperate she replied, “Oh, I just bribe them. Candy, toys, money … whatever works.” BRILLIANT! Why didn’t I think of that?

The next time I needed Persephone to cooperate, I gave it a try. “Honey, if you get dressed I’ll let you watch Zoobomafoo.” Being the gifted negotiator that she is (“You mean manipulator,” my mother clarifies), she says, “how about I get dressed after watching Zoobomafoo?” Then I say, “how about you get dressed and I let you eat your breakfast while watching Zoobomafoo.” And then she says, “can I wear my Cheetah suit?” At this point I can feel myself slowly rising toward exasperation. “Fine, you can wear your Cheetah suit.”

She gets dressed and somehow manages to “negotiate” the viewing of Disney’s Pocahontas rather than PBS’s Zoobomafoo. I make a Persephone Special (omelet with crushed pretzels and raisins – it was her idea) and hand it over to her. “I wanted pancakes!”

And it continues this way through a series of negotiations until I’m fussing and she’s whining … Now I understand why they say never negotiate with terrorist or children.

This weekend I’m taking Persephone camping at the Clearwater Music Festival. Jim has to work, so it’s just the two of us, along with thousands of other festival goers. Straight from the CMF, we’re headed to the Jersey shore to visit my parents and soak up the Boardwalk culture of Ocean City. All sorts of opportunities will be presented for Persephone to “challenge my authority.” To bribe or not to bribe? That is my week’s question.

If you have a family-friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, or would like to submit your event to the Hilltown Families calendar of Suggested Events, email Sienna at swildfield@juno.com. Comments are warmly welcomed!

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Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Friday – 06/15

5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Menu TBA. 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)

6:30pm – CONCERT – Easthampton Arts in the Park offers free concerts on Fridays in Easthampton, MA. Pulaski Park (on rotary near Old Town Hall) Bring lawn chairs. This week, “Four on the Floor.” [Families] (Free)

Saturday – 06/16

8am – MUSIC – While traveling around town, tune-in to WXOJ 103.3 FM in Northampton, MA, from 8-10am to hear fabulous family-friendly music on Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. [All ages] (Free)

9am – TAG SALE – Fundraiser for MotherWoman on the Amherst Town Common.

10am – FAMILY CONCERT – Ulysses S. Dee of the Deedle. Deedle. Dees! will be doing a solo set at Cup & Top at around 10am following a live performance on Spare the Rock. The full band will be at Artifacts 20th Century (28 N. Maple in Florence) at 6:00 in the evening. [Families] (Free)

11am – FAMILY CONCERT – Gustafer Yellowgold will be performing at Mass MoCA in North Adams, MA. Animation with live music. 413.662.2111 [Families] ($)

6pm – FAMILY CONCERT – Valley Free Radio’s Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child will be presenting the Deedle. Deedle. Dees! at Artifacts 20th Century in Florence, MA. It’s a benefit for Flywheel and public interest law scholarships, and you simply must attend. Click here for pdf flyer. [Families] ($)

Sunday – 06/17

FATHER’S DAY – Fathers ride free at the Trolley Museum when accompanied by a child of any age. Shelburne Falls, MA.

4pm – CULTURAL DANCE – “Flamenco Aficion” at the Northampton Center for the Arts. This live performance of colorful and passionate flamenco music and dance will feature The Flamenco Studio, a collection of amateur dancers trained by Arrubla. 413.584.7327 [Families] ($)

Monday – 06/18

10am – PLAYDATE – Pulaski Park in Northampton, MA, next to the Academy of Music on Main Street. 10am-Noon. [Families] (Free)

6pm – OUTDOOR EDUCATION – Edible Wild Plants of MA presented by John Root from 6-7pm at the Philip’s Episcopal Church in Easthampton, MA. Reservations required. [Ages 8 & older] ($$)

Tuesday – 06/19

10am – PLAYDATE – Pulaski Park in Northampton, MA, next to the Academy of Music on Main Street. 10am-Noon. [Families] (Free)

10:30am – KIDS CONCERT – Dennis Caraher will be doing a performance for young kids at the Northampton Center for the Arts, an award-winning local singer songwriter whose performances are distinguished by his ability to engage both children and adults.. [Ages 5 & under] (Kids free/$)

6:30pm – GLUTEN FREE BAKING – Wholefoods in Hadley, MA, will be having a cooking class, The Chemistry of Gluten-Free Baking: The Hows and Whys Explained. 413.586.9932 [Parents] ($)

6:45pm – PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT – Meet at Cup & Top Café in Florence, MA, for an Art Salon. Simple creative writing & drawing exercises to bring out your creativity and to get “unstuck.” Materials provided. 413.584.8328 [Parents] ($)

7pm – Hilltown Family Variety Show – Tune-in between bath and bed time to the Hilltown Families very own radio show on WXOJ LP 103.3 FM, Valley Free Radio, out of Northampton, MA. www.valleyfreeradio.org [Families] (Free)

Wednesday – 06/20

10am – PLAYDATE – Look Park’s big playground & splash park in Florence, MA. See you there! 10am-Noon. [Families] ($)

10am – BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP – Free weekly breastfeeding support group from 10am-11:30am in Amherst, MA. Click here for more info. [Free]

6:30pm – DANCE PERFORMANCE – At Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, MA, bring the family for an informal outdoor setting to see artists from the Doris Duke Studios Theatre, emerging artists from all over the world, and The School at Jacob’s Pillow. 413.243.9919 [Families] (Free)

7:30pm – FAMILY THEATER – Come see King Lear as part of the Shakespeare Under the Stars in the meadow at the Hartsbrook School in Hadley, MA. [Family] ($)

Thursday – 06/21

10am – PLAYDATE – Look Park’s big playground & splash park in Florence, MA. See you there! 10am-Noon. [Families] ($)

1:30pm – HOME SCHOOL THURSDAYS – Meet at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA, to explore the museum while connecting with other home school families; visit the galleries, explore art-making in the Studio, books in the Reading library, and view a short film at 2:30pm. [Ages 5 & up] ($/Check out free pass from your local library)

4pm – YOUNG FARMERS – Young Farmers at Red Gate are invited to help a farmer feed animals, check for eggs and take care of other chores in Buckland, MA. Parents and younger siblings also welcome. [Ages 5 and older] (Free)

Friday – 06/22

10am – FAMILY PERFORMANCE – At Stanley Park in Westfield, MA – Puppet Man Dan’s Marvelous Marionette Medley from 10am-10:45am at the Beveridge Pavilion. [Families] (Free)

2pm – KIDSFEST – At Look Park in Florence, MA. A multicultural festival for children of all ages. Live music, bouncy house, carnival games, crafts, food, and much more. 413.582.9508 [Families] ($1)

5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Menu TBA. 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)

5pm – FUNDRAISER – The Hilltown Charter School is raising the funds to purchase a school bus and convert it to run on vegetable oil. 5pm-11pm at the New Gallery at Stone Soup concrete in Haydenville, MA. Live music, sushi, tapas and beverages. 413.582.0783. [Families] ($$$$)

5:30pm – COMMUNITY BARBECUE – Red Gate Farm in Buckland, MA, will be hosting a summer barbecue, a community event open to everyone. Food, friends & farm animals. Vegetarian fare available. (Families) ($)

6:30pm – CONCERT – Easthampton Arts in the Park offers free concerts on Fridays in Easthampton, MA. Pulaski Park (on rotary near Old Town Hall) Bring lawn chairs. This week, “Rustler Band.” [Families] (Free)

Anyday – Anytime

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