A Y Member and Parent

I’m Wendy, a full-time working mother of 2 young boys, ages 2 and 3. I joined the Carroll County Family Center Y about a year ago. I was so out of shape that I couldn’t keep up with the instructor using the light weights, and now I can complete all the reps with the maximum weights available! Maybe now I can keep up with the kids…maybe!

This week ‘s Body Sculpt class was fun! It was nice being able to relieve some stress from work and build strength all at all the same time. It’s great to see people encouraging each other to up their weights and hear updates on everyone’s family—kids coming home from college, plans for the weekend, etc. I starting running again (first time since last October), and it made me realize maybe I shouldn’t have skipped all those months in between! At least I did it for longer than I expected, and I did catch up on some great tunes stored on my cell phone that I hadn’t heard in ages!

My older son attends the Chipmunks preschool program in Finksburg (his second year), and my younger son can’t wait to start next year to be just like his big brother. This week at school my son got invited to a birthday party for one of his friends at preschool. He’s so excited to go bounce around with his friends! The other day he asked me if I would play “Cat in the Hat” with him. I had no clue what he was talking about until he started tapping me and his brother on the head and saying, “Cat. Cat. Hat!” I guess I was the “goose” since I had to chase him around a circle. I love reliving childhood days! And remember Mr. Yuck? Apparently he’s still around since he told me that he couldn’t take any medicine unless he asks me first. I’d say we had another great week at Chipmunks!

Posted by Wendy Smith-Wilczynski, Y Member and Preschooler Parent, Carroll County

Early Bird Gets the Worm

I worked at the front desk yesterday and boy were we busy! Besides the normal questions and assistance given with check-in and selling memberships we were very busy selling camp. Yesterday was the last day for our “early bird” special with summer camp. Parents were lined up with their papers and wanting to register their kids for camp. It was especially nice to hear parents share information on how much their kids enjoyed camp last year and how much they like that we have all the information out so early in the year.

I have always tended towards being a “last minute” person and because of that miss out on specials that are offered for being early. I was impressed with how many people came in and were prepared with their summer ahead. One member and I did get laughing because she was still debating which weeks to enroll her child in camp and which weeks she thought they may do some other summertime activities. I felt like I was looking at myself in the mirror. That seems to be me – if I can catch the special – I will always be the one standing there working out the last minute details. Anyway, what a crazy day. I’m sure we will get many more parents registering their kids for camp, but was impressed with the patience that all had as we helped work-out the details of each family.

Posted by Peggy Curet, Member Services Representative, Carroll County Family Center Y

What is your idea of Family Time?

Family Time can mean many things to many different people. To some, it is going to the movies at an exurbanite rate of $10/per person, to some it could mean going on an afternoon picnic. While to others, it could mean going on that long awaited vacation.

At the Y of Central MD, we put a new meaning to the words Family Time. Have you ever thought of working out with your children? I recently had both my 10 and 11 year old attend the Teen Strength Training at the Perry Hall Y and they were more than excited to say the least. They got to learn how to properly use the equipment, what proper gym etiquette is and even learned some anatomy that they did not know. They even got their own Fitlinx I.D. and can go work on the strength training machines without any assistance. They really feel like Big Kids now.

It’s interesting too. Now, when I ask “what do you want to do for Family Time”, they pack up their bags and say “Let’s head to the gym.”

Posted by Shelley Drasal, Member Services Representative, Perry Hall Family Center Y