WAM Newsletter
Summer Edition 2017
Letter from the WAM President
Summer is here…
The months off of school certainly invite more chaos into the house but I am setting an intention to see that in a positive light; that there will more opportunities for spontaneity! I am going to try and embrace the lack of routine and structure this summer. I invite you to help me by bringing back the FLASH outing! This activity doesn’t make it on to the WAM calendar for the month. That is because you just figured 20 minutes ago the reason why some animals eat their young, and you need an outing STAT! Please post on the Facebook page and/or email the listserv wheatonareamoms@yahoogroups.com to let everyone know where you are headed (park, library, splash pad/fountain, nature center) so we can meet up!
Our kids know how to live life in the moment, so let’s take a lesson from them. I am going to try and push myself to not just live vicariously through my fun-loving, free spirited children this summer but to jump right in there too. Let’s take a popsicle for ourselves, ditch our shoes and get in the sandbox, run laughing through the sprinkler. Hey, that sounds like an awesome FLASH outing right there!
Claire Barry
Mom to Sylvia & Hazel
WAM President
DIRT Challenge
We Need You!
Looking for a way to get more involved in WAM? Interested in joining the board or asking questions about the positions? Email Claire (cisbarry@gmail.com) if you are interested but not sure about what you could do. There are lots of ways to help: Smart Sacks, parties, Preschool Fair, or hosting a new member event.
WAM Board Members 2016-17
WAM Board meetings are the 2nd Tuesday every month at 7:30pm in the Starbucks at Target at Wheaton Mall - everyone is welcome to come discuss the direction WAM is headed.
Secretary- Kate Spigler katespigler@hotmail.com
President- Claire Barry cisbarry@gmail.com
Treasurer- Brianna Schnaar brischnaar@gmail.com
Website- Carrie Swann carrie.swann@gmail.com
Helping Hands & Smart Sacks- Elise Colella Lee ecolella@gmail.com
Playgroups- Katya Tregub-Emrick katya.tregub@gmail.com
Newsletter- Amy Gliptis wamnewsletter2017@gmail.com
Membership- Sarah Jacobs sarahrjacobs@gmail.com
Service- Sheree Marambio sheree.marambio@gmail.com
Activities- Theresa Manthripragada empressterri@yahoo.com
WAM Annual Party 2017
Another great WAM Annual Party is in the books. Thanks to all who came out and brought food and treats. And a special thanks to the organizers, Sarah and Nayara, especially since there was another large party at the park at the same time. Everyone was flexible and had a great time despite being hit with a couple squirt guns.
We enjoyed pizza, popsicles, fruit, veggies, juice boxes, bubbles and sidewalk chalk. Not to mention the toddler friendly playground at MLK Park. The weather was great and everyone had fun playing and eating. Some families even had their car seats checked by Officer Steve.
Summer Bucket List, Tips and Family Destinations
We asked our fellow WAMmies on Facebook and via email for their summer bucket lists. What are the fun things that will fill your days until September? See below for some great ideas. Also some travel tips and family friendly destinations.
Kimberly S. M.: Takoma Park splash park is a favorite of ours.
Sheree M.: I want to have a stream splash playdate. Any ideas for places and how to prepare? There's a trail across the street from Wheaton Stables that has a promising-looking stream but I've never done this before with kids.
Katya T.: Just pack a change of clothes and one towel. Large ziploc bag. Shoes like keens. We usually go in our swim trunks straight to Paint Branch. Let's try to plan a playdate by us when it's bit warmer!
Katya T.: Pick your own berries/stone fruit trips, Ellicott city
Elise L.: Smithsonian folklife festival (circus arts should be fun this year), the summer installation at the National Building Museum (hive!), and I have been really impressed with and highly recommend the free kids art program at the National Gallery -- though the name is different this year -- Art Investigators.
Ashley D.: My 5-year-old likes to earn Junior Park Ranger badges at National Park Service sites (and my 2-year-old likes to tag along), so we'll try to fill out the activity guides and get a few more badges this summer. Tons of options in our area! In the past we have done Glen Echo Park, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and Fort McHenry (in Baltimore). This summer I'd like to do the C&O Canal Park and Oxon Hill Park. And even though there are plenty of splash pads near Wheaton, I think Yards Park is worth the trip into DC at least once over the summer. Let the kids wade in the fountains and then get ice cream from Ice Cream Jubilee one block away and sit on the boardwalk to watch the boats on the river.
Kate S.: I actually want to go to the new Harriet Tubman visitor center. Also, make
ice cream, strawberry shortcake, s'mores by fire (not gas stove), use the sprinkler... haven't made my list yet.
Sheree M. : Fairland Aquatics Center, White Oak Community Center, Wheaton Pool, Rio Washingtonian, Noyes, Brookside Gardens, Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton Regional Park. Farther afield: Constitutional Gardens Park in Gaithersburg, National Postal Museum, Building Museum lobby, Harpers Ferry: Toy Train Museum
Travel Tips and Family Friendly Destinations
Amy G.: My travel tip is snacks, snacks, snacks and more snacks. I drive to Lewes beach in Delaware a lot in the summer. It's about 2 and 1/2 hours away without traffic. I load up a couple snack traps so I can easily hand them back to my two-year-old and five-year-old. We also listen to their favorite songs on repeat. This year, I plan to try books on tape. I've heard the "Frog and Toad" series is good. Lewes is also a great beach town for little kids. It's on the bay so there are no waves. And the sandbar is lots of fun. There's a great historic downtown with cute shops, restaurants and an amazing toy shop call Kids' Ketch. Lewes is about ten minutes north of Rehoboth Beach, which is fun too. They have a boardwalk and rides, but it's more crowded than Lewes. I'm partial to Lewes cause I grew up there. Let me know if you have an questions.
Claire B.: We had a nice trip to Chincoteague. Rented bikes and a trailer and biked over to Assateague to the beach. Saw some wild ponies in the distance but also got to feed the ones penned across from our hotel - Refuge Inn. Thanks to Sarah M. for the recommendations!
Spotlight on Special Groups
WAM also has two book clubs that meet once a month. Both are about at capacity, but if you love to read and are interested in starting a new group contact Elise L. at ecolella@gmail.com. Elise is the president of one of the WAM book clubs and would be happy to help you get started. Sarah J. (sarahrjacobs@gmail.com) is interested in co-leading a new group.
Playgroup Fun
Kensington Food Truck Night
WAM had a great event at the Kensington Food Truck Night. If you missed the fun, check it out. Food Truck Night is the first and third Thursday of every month, between May and September in Old Town Kensington, on Armory Ave. This could be the perfect opportunity for a flash outing!
New Member Event
WAM Reviews - thumbs up or thumbs down from local parents
Urgent Care Reviews
MedStar PromptCare in Wheaton (11915 Georgia Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902)
Amy G.: I have been to MedStar PromptCare in Wheaton a couple of times (11915 Georgia Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902), (855) 546-1964). The first time, I went for my own broken finger. They were able to do x-rays, which was nice, but they gave me the wrong advice. They put my finger in a splint, but when I went to the orthopedic doc they referred me to, he said that was the wrong thing to do. It actually caused my finger to swell. The second time I took my daughter (she had a fever that kept going away and coming back). It was a Saturday afternoon and the wait was 2 hours long. We decided to go home instead of waiting. So overall my experience there hasn't been great, but it's in network so we keep trying. Our school nurse recommended The Right Care at the Right Time in Rockville (12220 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, 888-808-6483). She said she uses it for her kids and has had luck making appointments online.
Logan A. L.: Adding to this I took my 2 yr old there with a large cut on his head. They were super nice but wouldn't do stitches on a toddler. Made me go to the ER who was frustrated that an urgent care wouldn't do it. I believe the word "lazy" was used. :) Their unwillingness cost me a lot of extra $
Carrie A. S.: I used to recommend this MedStar but Hilary has had two bad experiences there. Once she sat waiting in the exam room in excruciating pain for far too long, only to be told they'd forgotten about her.
Jo Ann K.: We liked the doc we saw here, but it did seem like we waited a million years. That was awhile ago though, our current insurance isn't accepted.
Sheree M.: The Urgent Care (MedStar PromptCare Wheaton): We had used this urgent care twice before for my son's asthma and he was treated with a nebulizer, and then when that didn't work we would go to the E.R. For my under 1-year old, we took him straight to this urgent care and even though we spent 1 hour there, waiting, and then having his vitals checked, and then eventually seeing a physician, we were told that it would be best if he went straight to his pediatrician (which had opened by the time we were told this). Time was of the essence as this had to do with a baby and breathing, and I ended up storming out of there. I'm not going back.
Fast Track Urgent Care in Kensington (10540 Connecticut Ave, Kensington, MD 20895)
Kimberly S. M.: We went to the Fast Track Urgent Care in Kensington a couple times - they did x-ray on 2-year-old broken arm - very nice, they gave her a sling and talked to her about Daniel Tiger. They confirmed break and recommended to see pediatrician or specialist to go from there. I don't think we waited long either time we went (can't remember why we went the other time) https://www.fastrackmd.com/
Patient First on 16th St (8601 16th St, Silver Spring, MD 20910)
Allison N.: I've gone to the Patient First on 16th St a few times for minor issues like pink eye or a broken finger. My husband went there when he had the flu earlier this year. We've had a relatively short wait time and they were very thorough.
Righttime Medical Care on Rockville Pike (12220 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852)
Sarah M.: Righttime Medical Care on Rockville Pike was friendly and they let you make appointments so you don't have to sit around in the waiting room with sick people.
Logan A. L.: We went here for our 2nd round of head stiches (ahh little boys) and they were awesome. It was even a Sunday morning. They were great with him and the doctor came out to check it and give the nurse instructions between patients so by the time we saw her, the 30 mins topical numbing cream had worked and she did quick stiches singing songs to my son as she worked.
Allison N.: I agree with the positive reviews for Righttime on Rockville Pike. I took my older son there so long ago that I don't remember what for. But I remember them being very helpful and quick. And the appointments were a big plus.
Briggs Chaney Walk-in Clinic (13823 Outlet Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20904)
Ashley D.: Avoid Briggs Chaney Urgent Care. We went twice. The first time treatment was fine but then we were billed twice and it took them forever to fix the error. The second time the doctor on call admitted she didn't actually know how to work the machine needed to check my husband's cornea for a scratch, so he left without getting examined...and then they tried to bill him anyway just for setting foot in the door, I guess. Never again!
The Minute Clinic at Target on Cherry Hill never has a long wait and has been good at dealing with minor illnesses
Although Minute Clinics aren't open 24/7.
Access Now (11406 Georgia Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902)
Carrie A. S.: Between the 5 of us, we've seen the doc at Access Now at University and Ga (by the 7-11) several times and been very happy. Dr Arora and the assistant are great--the assistant remembered me 6 weeks later and without the kids, and even recalled our last name. Definitely feels like small town service! I haven't been in with injuries yet, but for illness when the doc is closed or can't fit us in, they're outstanding.
Righttime Medical Care (20 University Blvd E, Silver Spring, MD 20901)
Jo Ann K.: We've been to the Right time urgent care in the Woodmoor plaza a couple times. They were great when Aidan had the flu - saw us quickly and did a flu test and got us out of there. Not so good the last time we were there - we thought Aidan might have strep - the quick test came back negative, but the doc we saw thought it was strep and highly encouraged antibiotics. The culture turned out he didn't have it.
No Urgent Care
Evelyn M. L.: I have historically been a fan of urgent care, I've loved the speed and efficiency. And the ability to walk in, be seen, and - depending on location - leave with the prescription I needed. BUT that has changed for me now. my 6 year old broke her arm on a Friday afternoon of a three day weekend - of course. I took her to a patient first facility in Alexandria. They were beyond terrible, put a horrific cast on her arm that caused some nerve damage that took her weeks to work through and may have caused permanent damage to her elbow. I have truly been haunted by it and my advice is...if it's possibly something bigger - call your pediatricians emergency line and talk it through with them. They'll either let you come to the office outside of regular hours or give you advice on where to go next. In my case I should have gone to children's hospital because they have a pediatric emergency room. There are several children's locations in this area, make sure you are going to one with the kind of facility that you need. Also, if you do go to urgent care, be aware that they frequently over prescribe antibiotics. Sometimes you need them, but sometimes that is total overkill. I always take the prescription, in case I don't improve soon after the appointment - but I don't always get it filled. And since they only see you every now and then, they don't see how often you've been seen for similar issues or how many times you've been given antibiotics - they may miss an underlying issue and basically just patching you up instead.
Helping Hands
WAM Service Projects
WAM's March service project helped us get started with spring cleaning and giving. We collected 36 bras for Support the Girls, a Wheaton non-profit, 1 large box of professional wear to A Wider Circle, and 7 formal dresses and a pair of heels for Becca's Closet which sets up prom shops for high schoolers.
In April, WAM collected and sent $258 worth of coupons to the Troopons program, which sends coupons for use by military families overseas. A scientific survey of Troopons found that over 60% of the military families served used Troopons several times each month, and the savings helped them financially. We also collected several items and a cash donation to create two care packages, but in July we will reach out again to gather even more items and make the care packages even more terrific and personalized before they're sent off.
For June, WAM volunteers (4 moms and their 8 children) roamed Veirs Mill Park to gather around 10 pounds of litter. Park clean-ups are always fun because little ones love finding trash and doing their part to clean up their beloved parks!
Looking forward, in July we will focus on troops care packages and reach out for new packages of hard candies, beef jerky, gum, breath mints, dried fruit and nuts, cards, letters, and photos, as well as small packs of unscented napkins and tampons.
WAM has been doing a great job of pitching in and helping others, thank you!!
March Service Project
May Refugee Service Project
June Service Project
New Members - Welcome!
We currently have 120 members plus 8 alumni, and 186 kids among us.
Wheaton Area Moms
Email: wheatonareasmoms@gmail.com
Website: http://www.wheatonareamoms.org/
Phone: 000000000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/234406673318785/