We honestly love raising our children here in Brooklyn. I’ve always loved being a city girl – and now I absolutely love being a city mom!! There’s so much to do here, so many interesting people to meet. I think it’s impossible to be bored. Being able to experience the diverse culture and get to know the talented individuals in our community is wonderful…sharing it with my children makes it that much more fun.
Becoming a mom is a life changing experience…an incredibly awesome experience, but, man, it isn’t easy. When I think back to those first couple months, it’s all a blur. Everything was new and I was just trying to get through one day at a time. I can’t really remember even leaving the apartment much. It was a cold February in 2011. Then one day I saw a woman carrying her baby in the same baby wrap we used. I basically ran over to her, stuck out my hand, and shouted “Hi, I’m Jackie!” Luckily, I didn’t scare her and she told me about the Yahoo Parent List Serve. It’s an online community of people in our neighborhood who also have children. That was the moment everything changed. I went home and immediately signed up.
Just to illustrate how populated Brooklyn is…our main group formed an even smaller group with the incredibly specific name of FortGreeneMomsFebtoApril. That’s only three months of births in just our specific neighborhood of Brooklyn and we had 34 members. That right there is why I love Brooklyn and the internet. We were all living only blocks from each other, but without the internet I’m pretty certain we wouldn’t have ever met. Those women I met in that group are some of my closest friends today! They have helped define how I experienced and continue to experience motherhood.
I recently heard about this new website, SkipKid, and I’m so excited to pass it along to everyone. I’m not sure if the woman in her baby wrap knows how she changed my Brooklyn Mom experience. I hope sharing this information helps some of you enjoy your Brooklyn Parent experience even more! Whether it helps you connect with your community, discover a class, or make a new friend, I think this site can make your life a little bit easier.
The concept of the site is genius. I would have definitely used it in my early momma days and I just started using it now – even with a busier schedule. SkipKid is a website that lists events, classes, and play dates in Brooklyn, but here’s the genius part --- you can filter the events by neighborhood!
Many people don’t know how big Brooklyn actually is. If it was its own independent city, it would be the fourth most populated city in The United States. When we tell someone we live in Brooklyn it seems like almost everyone replies with, “Oh, my cousin lives in Brooklyn” or “My mom grew up in Brooklyn” or “My dad’s best friend’s daughter lives there.” It is wonderful to feel the connection and definitely gives a sense of pride. However, when you are looking for things to do in the city, it’s not as great when you put the location in Google Maps and it’s a 45 minute subway ride away! Don’t get me wrong, I am always up for an adventure and my kids love taking the subway into the city to try out a new playground! There were so many occasions when I just needed to get out of our apartment and wanted to go somewhere close. That’s where SkipKid helps out.
The site was started by two Brooklyn moms, Denise Triana & Callie Wright, who all too often came across a “local activity” on the internet only to find it was too far away or, even worse, the information they found was outdated. They’d show up somewhere and the sing-a-long would be canceled or the venue would be closed. Denise says SkipKid is the perfect example of the saying “Necessity is the mother of invention…” It is the site they wish they had when their children were younger. They know it is helping many moms, dads, and caregivers plan their day.
Currently the site is maintained the best way possible: by these two women doing the legwork for you. They spend hours upon hours searching the internet, contacting venues and performers, and snapping photos of fliers posted throughout Brooklyn. They are essentially doing what you would be doing if you had the time but, let’s face it, for most of us there just isn’t time.
Events for SkipKid are posted a week in advance, so it’s perfect for those of you who like to plan out your entire week on Sunday evening. It’s also a great last minute resource for those days you wake up and have no idea what to do. A quick search and you’ll have options to choose from. Denise & Callie have helped make one of the best aspects of living in Brooklyn more accessible. If you’d prefer to have the latest updates emailed directly to you, you can sign up for SkipKid’s mailing list. Plus, be sure to check out their blog to find out more details and reviews about certain activities.
If you are a Brooklyn Parent I hope using SkipKid makes your life a little easier. I’d love to hear what you think of it. I believe this website could be the start to some amazing experiences. How awesome is the internet? Knowing what is happening in your own backyard can be difficult when you’re spending all your time taking care of your baby. SkipKid makes it easier and from there the possibilities are endless…a new class to enjoy with your little one, a community event that interests you or, who knows, maybe a new friend. I truly credit the woman in the baby wrap to opening my eyes to see Brooklyn as the home for our family, my life as a mother, and the community I absolutely love. I can see SkipKid being that impactful to others and I hope you will help spread the word.
