Heddi Nieuwsma

Lowell, MA

I am the mother of two lively boys¸ ages 4 years and 4 months.  Every day brings new joys and challenges, as well as our share of laughter and tears, as any parent knows.  While my general approach to motherhood is to trust my instincts, I can always use additional advice and support.

Beyond my parenting duties, I work part-time for the federal government (4 days per week).  In addition, I’m an active member of our local community organization, the Lower Highlands Neighborhood Group.   Like many parents, I struggle to find the right balance between work and family commitments.  Finally, if I can make time (and stay awake), I enjoy running along the Merrimack River, baking sweet treats for myself and others, reading fiction, and traveling to new places.

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Meredith McKay

Lowell, MA

I describe myself as an “Imperfect Mom raising a perfect child.”  I am a thirty-something first time Mom to my beautiful 22-month-old daughter, Mia.  I was born, raised and still residing in lovely Lowell.

I have loving parents who recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. Their wish of being Grandparents came true on September 10th and 12th, 2008. My older sister and I gave birth to our first daughters within 2 days of each other!

I received a Bachelors Degree in Communication from Boston University and have been working full-time for the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office since 2001. I enjoy going to work because it gives me a “break” from my full-time Mommy job. But nothing feels as good as walking into Mia’s daycare and watch her running towards me while squealing “Mommy” and giving me a big hug.

I have a messy house, I dress my daughter better than I dress myself, I’m always running late, I love trying diy projects, I over use exclamation points! and I’m a self proclaimed “over researcher”. I’m always on the lookout for anything that helps make life a little easier as I navigate my way through this unbelievable journey of Motherhood while juggling full-time work.. I look forward to sharing information on tips, products, places and anything else for kids and Moms and connecting with other Moms in the Merrimack Valley!

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Sabina Chen

Pelham, NH

I am a writer, foodie, community organizer, and a new mom at the ripe young age of 41.  I live in Pelham, NH, with my husband, Blake Clark, and our baby boy, Milo.  In addition to being a mom, I have held various day jobs, including teacher, grant-writer, waitress, events manager, professional graduate student, and executive director of a non-profit organization.  I have also spent a year living in the woods, in a log cabin without electricity or flush toilet.  I am a self-described Bohemian who has recently started to call the Merrimack Valley home.  Throughout my varied career and travels, I have found a home in writing and stories.  I believe in the power of stories to build and strengthen community.  I believe this even more since becoming a mom.

As a new mom, I am finding there is a barrage of research and conflicting information about raising a child.  It can be overwhelming.  But as an older mom, I’ve learned how to trust my gut and not worry too much about doing everything right.   While I confess to staying up late fretting over how to cloth diaper my baby (pre-fold? pocket?), my goal in parenting is to be present with Milo.  I invite readers to slap me whenever I lose sight of this goal.

You can read my blog at bookofevents.wordpress.com http://bookofevents.wordpress.com.

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Amy Dienta

Lowell, MA

Amy Dienta is a busy working wife and mother to a 7-year-old boy. Never knowing what she wanted to be when she grew up; she has gone to college for everything from nursing to being a daycare teacher, while raising her son. She recently received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Daniel Webster College. In what free time she has left; Amy enjoys going to the beach, art museums, concerts, zoos and all the great things that the Merrimack Valley has to offer. Having grown up in the area she finds herself taking her son to the same places she enjoyed as a child and letting him ride on the same horse outside of the grocery store that she rode on as a child.

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Tiffany MacKay

Dracut, MA

A little about me.  I am 31 and have been married since 2006 to a wonderful man named John.  In September of 2009 we welcomed our first child, Iain, into our loving and crazy family.   Our family consists of Iain, me, my husband and a goofy and lovable Goldendoodle named Denver (he is named after my hometown).  We also have a large extended family on my husband’s side.

Becoming a mom has been one of greatest highlights of my life and I cannot remember what life used to be like pre-kids.  Granted, I do get these hazy flashbacks of spa days, lounging around doing nothing, and spontaneously deciding to go away for the weekend; they seem to arrive when I am trying to figure out how to get my son, the dog, and all of the gear I seem to think I need for the day in the car- and my son has decided I can’t be out of his sight for more than a nanosecond.  Ahhh, those kid-less days, they were fantastic but there is nothing better to me now than seeing my little man give me a big gummy grin or watch him pull himself up to a stand and then realize he can’t figure out how to sit back down.  On top of being a mom I also work as a Sr. Business Analyst & Project Manager in the Planning Dept. for Lowell General Hospital.  In my free time (not that there is a lot of it these days) I love to read, write, ride my Harley, cook, bake, and just in general enjoy life to the fullest each day.  My philosophy on life is that I do not know what tomorrow will bring so I try my hardest to enjoy today and try not to have any should of, could of, would of, or if only moments in my life.

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