*Please note, I am not currently updating the blog or accepting guest posts. Nevertheless, I hope you will find the past resource posts interesting and helpful.
Hey y’all! A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of being interviewed on my first podcast, the wonderful @familybrainpodcast 🔈Megan Gipson, LCSW, Ed.M, and I talked about all things family, organization, and well-being. The interview is now live! 😊 Hope you enjoy!
💚 Esha/Enriched Family
Read MoreMiss y’all! Enriched Family is here for you and your family. We will continue to provide resources and tips to support parents & families as we navigate our new normal in the short- and long-term. In addition, all Enriched Family services continue to be offered — remotely for now. Please reach out if I can help support you with time blocking your schedule; productivity coaching & strategies so you can still get your work done in this craziness; developing family schedules and systems; establishing work zones in your home; or general family organization.
As I know firsthand how hard it is for parents right now, Enriched Family is offering 25% off all services — the biggest discount we have ever offered — during the months of April and May 2020. For the special rate, services do not have to be used by the end of May 2020, just purchased (you could purchase a package of hours that would not expire until a year after the shelter-in-place order is lifted in the Austin area). Enriched Family also offers a free, 20-minute initial phone consultation to discuss matching your needs and priorities with our services. So please reach out and let’s talk about how I can help!
Read MoreMamas and papas, like so many of you, I am reeling these days. I want to say that I see you. It is SO hard to parent full time, not to mention work full time from home, while simultaneously worrying about one’s family, elders, neighbors, community, job, economy, and the world. Anxiety is running high these days. We are faced with some fairly insane and critical demands all at the same time. Our new normal is surreal and scary, but each day, we keep pushing.
The researcher and family coach in me wants to figure out how to help in some small way. In this issue, I focus on a consolidated list of available resources to help you and your family during this time. It’s not exhaustive, but it is pretty thorough. Think DIY cleaning supplies, workouts you can do at home, online learning and entertainment for kids, and mental health resources. I have focused largely on free resources, but of course there are a ton of online paid resources out there as well. In addition, this blog post also contains a compilation of ways you can help your community and a list of information and resources to get help if you need it.
Read MoreHappy March! I absolutely love Austin in the Spring. Get out there and enjoy our beautiful city with your family. Enriched Family's March 2020 Activities List has you covered with all sorts of fun ideas. As always, our monthly roundup of kids’ and family activities focuses on educational, cultural, and artistic delights in our community, with a special emphasis on both free and fee-based events.
A quick list of some of the free events this month include a number of summer camp and school fairs; Spanish demo classes at Mi Casa Es Tu Casa; Starry Nights at Girlstart; Explore UT; Career Fair for the Future; a Spring Family Film Series at the Domain Northside; a book signing & talk at BookPeople by the Dork Diaries series author and illustrator; UMLAUF’s Family Day; Laguna Gloria’s Second Saturdays are for Families; Creative Action Color Squad Community Paint Day; and the ABC Kite Fest.
Fee-based activities include the Sherwood Forest Faire; donation-based lactation support groups; a variety of craft and sewing workshops for kids and adults at Beehive Craft Studio; Science Mill Homeschool Day; Asian American Teen Career Day; a postpartum group hosted by Austin Doula Care & Lillian June Wellness; CPR, First Aid & AED Training; family-friendly events at The Hive; a variety of fun activities at Toybrary Austin; and a Drama-Free Discipline online workshop for parents. Finally, you could also enjoy a kid-friendly museum opening or performance at a number of venues around town.
Read MoreYep. Spring Break 2020 is just three weeks away! In an effort to make your life easier, I have compiled a list of camps offering sessions the week of March 16-20. While the list is not exhaustive, it provides quite a variety of options. I have focused in particular on including camps located in different areas in or near Austin, with a variety of price points. I have included both full-day camps as well as half-day camps and workshops. In addition, I have paid special attention to including camp options for little ones as well.
If you ever need help exploring the best camps for your kids, give Enriched Family a call. Enriched Family offers custom camp research, schedule planning, and can even register your kiddos for camp! I’m happy to help you figure out Spring Break, Summer Break, or the whole year of school break camps for your children! Let me be your other set of hands.
If you ever need help exploring the best camps for your kids, give Enriched Family a call. Enriched Family offers custom camp research, schedule planning, and can even register your kiddos for camp! I’m happy to help you figure out Spring Break, Summer Break, or the whole year of school break camps for your children!
Read MoreHappy February! Looking for some fun stuff to do in Austin with the kiddos? Enriched Family's February 2020 Activities List has you covered! As always, our monthly roundup of kids’ and family activities focuses on educational, cultural, and artistic delights in our community, with a special emphasis on both free and fee-based events. So get out there and enjoy some family exploration!
A quick list of some of the free events this month include a couple of summer camp fairs; the Austin Allies Fest; Black History Month Kid’s Day; Bullock Museum Homeschool Day; Creative Action Friend Fest; Girl Day at UT; I Love Idiomas so Much! Festival; DSACT-Rise School of Austin Resource Fair for the Young Child; Laguna Gloria’s Second Saturdays are for Families; Starry Nights at Girlstart; UMLAUF Family Day; and a workshop for parents on talking to children about racial issues and anti-racism. Fee-based activities include faerie tea parties; Baby Day at The Thinkery; a variety of craft and sewing workshops for kids and adults at Beehive Craft Studio; a parent-child movement and music class at Creative Action (pay as you can); infant massage classes offered by Baby Strokes; family-friendly events at The Hive; a variety of fun activities at Toybrary Austin; and a Nurtured Heart Approach training for parents. Finally, you could also enjoy a kid-friendly museum opening or performance at a number of venues around town.
Read MoreStrolling into the new year like….
Happy 2020 y’all! I hope you and your family enjoyed lots of fun and connection over the holiday break thus far. If the kids are driving you and each other crazy, that’s okay too. We've definitely had both in our house. If you are looking for some family activities in Austin in January, Enriched Family's January 2020 Activities List has you covered! As always, our monthly roundup of kids’ and family activities focuses on educational, cultural, and artistic delights in our community, with a special emphasis on both free and fee-based events. So get out there and have a little more fun family exploration before the kids go back to school!
Free events this month include lots of hands-on, family art activities at a variety of locations around town, including Creative Action, Dougherty Arts Center, Laguna Gloria, and UMLAUF Sculpture Garden. Your child can also attend a hip-hop dance workshop for kids at the George Washington Carver Museum or explore the Bullock Museum on HEB Free First Sunday (theme: Stylish) or enjoy a Vietnamese New Year Celebration (Tết Festival). There are also a number of family-friendly ways to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and serve the greater Austin community by volunteering on MLK Day. Fee-based activity options include a variety of craft and sewing workshops for kids and adults at Beehive Craft Studio; ice skating on the Whole Foods rooftop rink; a parent-child movement and music class at Creative Action (pay as you can); infant massage classes offered by Baby Strokes; family-friendly events at The Hive; and a variety of fun activities at Toybrary Austin. Finally, enjoy a kid-friendly museum opening or performance at a number of venues around town…
Hey all! I’d love to help you start off the new year feeling organized and ready to tackle your goals in the year ahead. Enriched Family is your go-to resource for personal, family, or small business organization, with specialized expertise in helping parents prioritize and manage their time in order to feel successful as individuals, parents, and professionals. I’d love to help you with goal planning, decluttering, systems creation, household division of labor, time management & productivity coaching, daily routine lists for kids, family resource research (camps, enrichment activities, schools…), and more! Whatever your organization needs, enjoy 15% off all Enriched Family services!* Discount is available in January and February only, so get on the Enriched Family calendar now!
Read MoreWinter break is LONG. And 2+ weeks of unstructured time with kids can get a little crazy. For many parents, in order to balance work and family responsibilities (in addition to sanity), this means filling in the break with some fun camp options. As your extra set of hands, I have compiled a list of camps offering sessions during the winter break. In general, winter break camps tend to be a bit harder to find than summer break camps, especially for little ones, and often do not cover the full school break. I have focused on including camps in different areas in or near Austin (camps are organized by geographic location), with a variety of price points, a few options for littles, and camps that provide a range of coverage - from workshops to full week camps. I’ve also included co-working spaces with childcare and drop-in care options. Here’s to Happy Campers one and all!
Read MoreAustin during the holidays does not disappoint — the list of free holiday activities this month is quite extensive. Check out the wide variety of holiday events at local libraries around Austin; support local artisans and enjoy the Cherrywood Art Fair; listen to holiday-themed concerts put on by the Austin Symphony Orchestra; celebrate Christmas Family Night in Round Rock; be sure not to miss the Community First! Village of Lights & Advent Market; partake in the 25th annual Holiday Stroll in downtown Austin; enjoy a Winter Wonderland Community Festival; or participate in a variety of Hanukkah events.
Fee-based holiday events include the Trail of Lights (there are also free nights on 12/10-12/12 and 12/15-12/18); Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker, Breakfast with the Grinch!; CultureMap’s Rooftop Ice Skating Rink at Whole Foods Market; Luminations at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; a jazz tap Nutcracker — Of Mice & Music; screenings of The Muppet Christmas Carol @ The Bullock Museum; Thinkery Gingerbread Workshops; or catch a performance of The Christmas Carol, Holiday Heroes, or The Santaland Diaries…
Finally, if you are looking for ways to give back to our community this holiday season, check out this month’s highlighted resource: local charitable giving guides…
Read MoreGiving thanks to you! Enriched Family celebrates its 2nd birthday this month. After much brainstorming + dreaming + planning + scheming, Enriched Family was officially launched in November 2017. My aspiration was to support other busy, professional parents with all the things by drawing on my 20+ years of professional experience as a researcher and project manager. I wanted to help bring more peace and order to the joys and challenges of modern parenting by supporting parents with the information, tools, and systems they need to organize their families to thrive. I also wanted to solve my modern parenting problem of being a household of two professional parents who traveled a lot for work and had two little girls to care for and no family in town. Personally, I didn't want to travel for work and I desired much more flexibility and control over my schedule. Hence, Enriched Family was born…
Read MoreThe holidays are a wonderful time to find thoughtful gifts for our loved ones, but this time of year can also be overwhelming. With this thought in mind, I have created the second annual Enriched Family Holiday Gift Guide (for kids - up to tweens/teens). I’ve updated last year’s post and included some new ideas. I’m sure y’all already know the list of toys that your kids are clamoring for, so I have focused instead on educational and experience gifts, along with some great book ideas. I have tried to include gifts at a variety of price points. Please note, I have included links to Amazon (when available) simply for ease of finding and pricing the various gift ideas. Many of these gifts can be found locally as well. I have girls (ages 7 and 10), so some of the gift ideas are informed by their interests, but most suggestions would be great for both boys and girls.
Read MoreWe finally have cooler weather in Austin! Bundle up and get out there and enjoy our lovely city without sweating for a change. The list of free educational/cultural activities this month is quite varied and exciting. Check out Alt Ed Austin’s Festival of Learning; volunteer as a family at Generation SERVE’s annual event, Austin Families Give Back; participate in Children in Nature’s Workshop; enjoy the East Side Studio Tour with a family friendly event at Creative Action Community Art Sunday; visit the Artisans’ Market at Laura’s Library; explore astronomy with Starry Nights at Girlstart; support Austin’s young entrepreneurs at the Start-Up Kid’s Club Market; and enjoy Thinkery’s Community Night. There is free fun for everyone! Fee-based events include the Thinkery’s Gingerbread 1K Run; a night of coding at My Coding Place; Homeschool Day at the Science Mill; the We Are Girls Conference; and a variety of theatre and museum offerings. As always, this list is not exhaustive, but includes a sampling of events and activities that caught my eye that I wanted to highlight. Additional good sources for activity lists are included at the end of the post.
Finally, if you are having sleep challenges in your family, take a look at this month’s highlighted resource - the free, virtual summit: Better Sleep for Kids. I will absolutely be watching!
Read MoreMany public school districts around Austin now take a full-week for Fall/Thanksgiving Break, rather than the traditional two to three days. This includes, for example, Austin ISD, Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Leander ISD, and Round Rock ISD. For many parents, in order to balance work and family responsibilities, this means filling in the week with some camp options. In an effort to make your life easier, I have compiled a list of camps offering sessions during Thanksgiving week. In my experience, fall and winter break camps tend to be a bit harder to find, especially for little ones, and often do not cover the full school break. I have tried to include camps in different areas in or near Austin (camps are organized by geographic location), with a variety of price points, a few options for littles, and have focused on including camps that provide a range of coverage - from workshops to four-day camps. Here’s to Happy Campers one and all!
Read MoreOh, hello October! Is time moving super fast or am I just trying to keep up?! At a certain point I just had to stop and wrap up this blog post as October is one of those months in Austin when there are so many fun, family-friendly events happening. Get out there and enjoy the slightly cooler weather (predictions of 80-something degrees! I will gladly take it.) with your families. Hope Enriched Family's roundup of kid and family activities gives you lots of ideas to fill your family calendar.
Read MoreEnriched Family was recently featured in South Austin Moms’ “Meet-A-Mom”!
Read MoreHi friends! We are swinging into fall, even though it still feels like summer in Austin! Now that we've had a little time to ease into the new school year, you may be looking for some fun, family activities to do in Austin this month....Check out Enriched Family's roundup of kids and family activities…
Today, Labor Day, is Free Day of Yoga, at participating locations all across Austin. Take your family and enjoy some flow. Or participate in a Scavenger Hunt at the Science Mill. There are lots of fun, free activities this month. Be sure not to miss Austin Museum Day (free admission to participating Austin museums all day); plus a number of additional free museum family days at specific museums throughout the month (UMLAUF, Thinkery, Bullock Museum, et cetera); Austin Symphonic Band’s Fall Concert in the Park; Creative Action’s Community Art Sunday; Girlstart’s Starry Nights; the Mother Earth Day Festival; Sábados en Familia: Cultural Fun for Families, and quite a few free, family movie nights around town. Wonderful fee-based activities include Pioneer Farms’ Fall Homeschool Day, Zach Theatre performances of Jungalbook, and an Art Barn ATX Kids Night Out. And so much more! I hope you have fun planning and exploring with Enriched Family’s September Activities List! Please share the list with your friends.
Read MoreWe did it! Enriched Family is a 2019 Austin Birth Awards Nominee. Thank you so much and please vote one last time!
Read MoreHey y’all! With plenty of anticipation, it is time to shift back into school mode. Some of you have already made the initial transition. We start next week in our district. My girls are both excited and a tad nervous about beginning 4th and 2nd grades. I am happy to get back to regular schedules, but still have some work to do to get my kids and household organized to start the new school year off as smoothly as possible. To help support your family, I have created an updated and expanded post with back-to-school family organization tips. As always, use the ideas that seem like they would be helpful to you and your family, and disregard those that do not. And bear in mind, you do not have to finish all of your organizing before the first day of school. Prioritize the most important things for your family and then ease into the rest in August and September.
Read MoreHey all! It’s almost time for school to start back up. I’d love to help you and your family start off the new school year feeling organized and ready to embrace the year ahead. Check out the Enriched Family Back-to-School special & services. The discount is for August and September only, so get on the Enriched Family calendar now!
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