Harrison is getting a whole lot healthier! If you're looking for a terrific new workout or a neighborhood place to take a cycling or yoga class, the new TotalFusion studios has you covered.
 
Conveniently located in the Harrison Mall (near  Key Food and right next door to Joli Salon & Spa) and just steps away from the Harrison Metro North train station, TotalFusion offers a unique selection of classes such as combo cycle/yoga, combo cycle/weight training, and rhythm (think Zumba but better and much more fun!) as well as traditional classes like Barre, cycle, yoga, dance (hip hop) and more. For a complete list of classes visit www.totalfusionstudios/classes/.
 
TotalFusion’s classes, created by their founders leading cardiologist, Dr. Dima Teitelman and anesthesiologist and pain management expert Dr. Allen Coopersmith, were designed with a specific goal in mind: to create a better workout that is fun and improves members' physical and mental health. Many of TotalFusion's classes combine elements of various exercises to create new and better workouts that you cannot experience anywhere else. Studies have shown that the benefits of an intense workout that focuses on a singular activity can often peak after 30 minutes, and switching to a different activity for the next 20-30 minutes (for example, cycle to weight training) will maximize results. Expect a great workout and a great time each time you workout with them.
 
TotalFusion offers the complete experience. The studio itself is beautifully decorated, the amenities are free (towel service and bottled water to name a few) and there is plenty of parking. Men's and women's showers allow commuters to work out, shower and head to the office, a great way to start the day.
 
If you're still on the fence, every new customer gets 3 FREE CLASSES to sample their various classes.

You can visit their website at www.totalfusionstudios.com to register and schedule your classes.

Today I saw a younger version of my mothering self. While in a waiting room I watched and listened as a young mother tried to help her son with his math homework. She patiently tried to explain the concepts to him. He would nod and agree and five minutes later forget. She repeated the rules to him and you could feel the frustration she was trying to refrain from. I didn’t just understand her I was her.

As I watched her with her three sons I admired her patience, discipline and all round good mothering skills.  We talked, compared notes and related on every level on the challenges of parenting. 

I thought to myself is this how I look and reflect as a mother to others? Does anyone notice my patience and tireless effort? And do people see me as anything close to this amazing young mother I observed?

I think all mothers wonder: what do I look to the outside world? Am I just a frazzled crazy mother with maple syrup in my hair. Do they only see the tired mom who stands in the super market aisle thinking why am I here.

In my opinion mothering is not a job but really an instinct and my visit to the zoo this week confirmed that. I watched a mother gorilla take care of her baby. I observed how she lovingly  carried it on her back and held him in her arms protectively as he slept. Watching this you realize you are not taught to be a mother you just are.  And while we all have our own style, techniques, values and yes tactics at the core we are all the same. A common core I would say but that has become a phrase that makes all mothers cringe.  None of us are perfect, no one can do it all and no mother ever feels like she did not mess up.

At the end of the day (and at 3 AM) all moms just want to know they did a good job and that we did not fail as we sometimes feel we do. We want to be looked at with respect for all that we do and all the sacrifices we make for our children.

A little praise (and yes a COMPLIMENT) is sometimes needed whether it be a smile from a knowing elderly person on the street or a “wow you have a lot of patience” from the women behind the cash.

And the moment someone tells you have really good kids well that’s your bonus prize. When you hear all those positive things it is well worth the 4 weeks it took you to patiently explain to your 6 year old why zero times anything is always zero.
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And just like math sometimes motherhood is hard to compute while other times it all just adds up…

Visit our Community Calendar to see upcoming events and classes at Sprout Wellness.

Motherhood can only best be described as a circus. Mothers are the acrobats, tightrope walkers, jugglers and of course the ring leaders. We deal with clowns, monkeys and the lions on a daily basis and sometimes we are the lions. And yet just like the elephants we work for peanuts.
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Juggler
Mothers can juggle anything: work, kids, dinner, laundry, homework, appointments, car pool, school, after school, meetings, cooking, bedtime… The list is endless and on a really rough day we can juggle fire.

Acrobat
A mom truly must be flexible at all times both physically and mentally. We can contort our bodies into any position for our kids (and sometimes for our husbands). Did you lose something under the bed, need something high up on the shelf, bottle fell under the seat of the car? We can also carry groceries, two kids, a purse and the car keys all at the same time. Milton Berle had once said “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?”

Tightrope walker
We are always walking a very thin line in order to keep our lives and kids in balance. We know how to keep everything and everyone from falling off the tight rope. In fact, we are not only the tightrope walkers but the safety net as well.

Clowns and Monkeys
Oh the clowns or should I say our husbands? And men in general. But that’s all I am going to say about that. There is no doubt that our kids are the monkeys. They get into everything but always make us laugh and yes are very cute.

Freaks…
What mothers feel like at the end of the day. After bedtime it is always best to avoid looking at yourself in the mirror. We have glitter glue in our hair, maple syrup on our shirts, marker stains on our hands, and crumbs in our pockets. Step right up folks and see the crazy lady polish off a bottle of wine.
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Yes, motherhood is truly a three ring circus but it is also the greatest show on earth….

​The Spring Market is very busy in Westchester.  Low mortgage rates and low inventory for starter homes makes for a very aggressive playing field.  Check out these helpful tips!

Get Your Financing In Place
​In order to submit a bid on a home you need to show proof of funds.  If you don’t intend to use a mortgage you still need to show that you have money in your financial account to pay for the home.
 
If you need a mortgage, you must be Pre-approved to submit a bid for a home.  This is different from Pre-qualified.  Pre-approval takes some time so plan accordingly if you want to buy.  Shop around for the best rate.

Before and After
Have an open mind when looking at homes.  Walls can be painted to a color of your choice and outdated wallpaper can be removed.  Updating kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures can be an easy fix versus gutting an entire room. The Before and After home television shows make renovating look easy, but envision the simple changes for your home.  Remember- you can knock down walls, renovate rooms but you can’t change the location. 

Home Inspections
A real estate agent is not a licensed home inspector.  Never sign a contract without having the home inspected first to avoid surprises when you take ownership.  A qualified inspector should let you know about the basics such as; electric, longevity of appliances, roof, and water issues.

Be Pro-Active
Westchester is having a busy Spring market.  Homes that are priced in the low end, needing very little work are moving fast.  Highest and Best offers are becoming the norm for these homes.  Don’t sit on the fence if you want to buy- make your offer.

Why Use a Real Estate Agent
Real estate listings are readily accessible on line.   But working with an agent guarantees that as the client, your best interests will be represented.
 
Going to Public Open Houses are a great way to explore the area but remember-   the Listing Agent for the home always has the seller’s best interest in mind first.  Find an agent you feel comfortable with, who is knowledgeable of the area you are seeking, and is committed to finding you the right home in your price range.

Kindergarten has evolved over the last several years.   Half days and naptime are essentially a thing of the past. With these changes, many parents are concerned about how to prepare their child for the first day of Kindergarten and the academic challenges ahead. Keep in mind that many of your child’s prerequisite skills have already been developed through play, nursery school and an enriched home environment.

Here are some additional steps you can take to further develop those skills and to make sure that your child’s first big step will be a successful one.

Fine Motor Skills:
Building your child’s hand strength is an important step to prepare them for writing, cutting and pasting activities.

• When your child is engaged in a writing/coloring activity, always provide different size pencils, markers and crayons. Try to encourage an age appropriate tripod (3 finger) grip. This allows the child to write more efficiently and will increase their endurance.
• Have manipulatives like Play-Doh and kinetic sand available for them to manipulate and build hand strength.
• Have them string large and small beads and build with different Lego shapes and sizes. Encourage them to follow patterns and sequences. This will help build eye hand coordination as well.
• Let your child use scissors to cut along lines on paper, cardboard and even chunks of play-doh. It may be surprising, but cutting is a skill they are expected to have already acquired upon entering Kindergarten.

Letter Recognition:

• Have your child identify all 26 letters of the alphabet in both upper and lower case forms. Place magnets on the fridge in random order. See if your child can point to the letters as you name them and then ask your child to name the letters as you point to them. Have him/her organize the letters alphabetically. See if they can separate vowels from consonants. Have them find the letters to spell their own name.
• Make them aware of letters and words all around them by playing “I spy”. Today we are searching for the letter ‘S’. Let’s see if we can find 10 words that have an ‘S’ in them during our trip today.

Reading:

• Most of us exposed our children to reading when they were infants. We understood that literacy skills start early, as a young child is able to identify the front cover of a book, as well as the back cover and the pages. Now it’s time to familiarize your child with the authors and illustrators of their favorite books, explaining what those words mean.
• When you read to your child, provide a model by pointing to the words so your child will learn to read from the left to the right and from the top to the bottom.
• Nursery rhymes and Dr. Seuss books are especially wonderful because they teach rhyming in a fun way. Rhyming is an essential skill for reading, spelling and writing in later grades. You can make reading an interactive activity by leaving out words and letting your child fill in the rhyming words or phrases. They feel like they are already reading along with you. They may even like to “read” to a younger sibling

Writing:

• Have your child practice writing his/her name by copying your model. Then remove the model and have your child write his/her name independently. Begin with all uppercase letters and then move to the initial uppercase, followed by lowercase.
• Practice writing letters of the alphabet, again presenting a model and then removing the model when your child is ready. Keep in mind, it is best to teach your child the proper letter formation right from the beginning!
• Use different textures to make the writing experience multi-sensory and more fun! Write with shaving cream, use sandpaper or little carpet scraps. A white board and dry erase markers help pass the time on a long car ride. A sponge square and a chalkboard is also a fun way to practice letter formation.

Math: 

• Practice counting aloud with your child as you go about your day. Count the number of plates you need to set the table. How many cheerios are left on his/her plate? Use math words like “more” and “less” or “most” and “least” when you are making comparisons. During screen time use some hands on math apps.
• Look for numbers in your daily life – what number is your house? Can you find the number 7 in the grocery store? Let’s count out 4 apples. Use the numbers all around us so to teach counting and number recognition.
• Don’t forget to work on shapes, colors and size too. Most children already recognize shapes, colors and sizes independently, but help them generalize those skills by finding different shapes embedded in other objects. Reinforce colors by asking your child to be specific in a request, “would you like the little blue ball or the big red ball?”

Classroom Behavior: 
Becoming a member of the classroom community is not always an easy step for children.  According to kindergarten teacher, Julie Cappuccilli, it is important that “students be able to take turns, share, and work in a cooperative environment”.   Here are some additional steps you can take to help make the kindergarten transition easier.

• Practice building reading stamina and attention to task by reading longer stories and eventually increasing to chapter books. Some suggested titles can be found here: http://www.daddyread.com/earlyElem.html
• Increase the number of multi-step directions you expect your child to follow through games such as ‘Simon Says’ and by performing multi-step tasks around your house.   This will also facilitate independence e.g., “After you eat breakfast, please bring your plate to the sink, and wipe your face and hands.”
• Provide your child with social opportunities with peers.   Take your child to playgrounds, play-groups or classes. Use real life situations to discuss problem solving strategies, to find ways to deal with frustrations and to learn what it means to compromise. Help them to find the words to let a peer know that they hurt their feelings.

Remember, every child is different and every child develops at their own pace. Your child’s Kindergarten teacher understands that not every child will enter their classroom with the same set of skills. If your child does not have all of the skills outlined above, before he/she walks through the school doors, do not fret! With the guidance from their teachers and your continued support, these skills will emerge in their own time. Remember that your child is a butterfly.   She/he will develop at his/her own time with his/her own special qualities and strengths and you will always be there to guide them along their journey.


Danielle Meyer is the Founder of DEM Tutoring, an Academic Tutor & Certified Teacher. For more information and to begin your child’s tutoring please call: 917-697-5942 or email at: demtutoring@gmail.com.