I&#39;m Tara, an editor at Newsday, mom of two and lead writer of the Working Moms newsletter. I&#39;ve been juggling my career and motherhood for more than a decade now &mdash; some days more successfully than others.

Juggling all the responsibilities feels to only have gotten harder for working moms as costs continue to climb, kids&#39; schedules get even more demanding and work follows us wherever we go.

Each Wednesday, this newsletter takes on the challenges that are unique to working moms on Long Island. It&#39;s a judgment-free place for us to vent, find solutions, build a community, share insights, hacks, wins and, yes, failures.

Sign up and see previous editions of the newsletter below.

Long Island

Working Moms

WORKINGMOMSNEWSLETTER_GRID

Tara Conry

<a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Lauren Alongi, of Oceanside, doing back-to-school shopping at DII Deals &amp; Discounts in North Bellmore." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/74521e50-1b56-4259-ace9-b30abc0fa96f" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/74521e50-1b56-4259-ace9-b30abc0fa96f', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/74521e50-1b56-4259-ace9-b30abc0fa96f"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/74521e50-1b56-4259-ace9-b30abc0fa96f/OBJ15082195_1908?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Lauren Alongi, of Oceanside, doing back-to-school shopping at DII Deals &amp; Discounts in North Bellmore.</a> 
I don't like to think about back-to-school shopping until at least Aug. 1. 
When my kids' school sends home a flier each spring asking if I'd like to purchase the PTA's supply&nbsp;kit for the following school&nbsp;year, I always toss it in the trash. 
It's not prudent. It would save me time and most likely money to buy it, but I don't want to start thinking about gearing up for the next school year before the current one is even over. 
Call me old fashioned, but this feels like a late summer activity. As a kid I always found picking out a cute puppy&nbsp;folder or fancy Trapper Keeper binder helped distract from the&nbsp;disappointment that summer was ending and school was starting up again&nbsp;— at least a little.&nbsp; 
But it might be time to rethink my approach. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/back-to-school-shopping-consumers-prices-iooe5muw">More than 60% of parents in a recent survey</a> said they were starting back-to-school shopping by early July, because they are concerned about affordability. 
Most big retailers like Target and Walmart start rolling out their&nbsp;annual big promotions in late June, so you might miss the sales and also be facing limited inventory&nbsp;by waiting until the end of summer.&nbsp; 
<h2>More coffee? Yes, please.</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="A chai latte at the new Moksha Cafe in Northport." data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/ef52cc63-164c-40f4-89dc-ecb32365a451" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/ef52cc63-164c-40f4-89dc-ecb32365a451', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/ef52cc63-164c-40f4-89dc-ecb32365a451"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/ef52cc63-164c-40f4-89dc-ecb32365a451/IMG_9856.jpg?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">A chai latte at the new Moksha Cafe in Northport.</a> 
The first cup of coffee I barely remember drinking. I'm usually making it with bleary&nbsp;eyes.&nbsp;It's the one that gets me&nbsp;through the morning chaos with my kids. The second cup is for sipping while I start working. And the third — usually an iced cold brew —&nbsp;I'll&nbsp;pick up&nbsp;on my way to work. 
It's a great time to be a coffee addict though. More and more shops have been popping up on Long Island in the last year. Here are <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/long-island-coffee-shop-cafe-openings-vbntzv9b">12 new spots to try</a>. 
And&nbsp;to offset the<a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/coffee-shops-beans-raising-prices-hs3suit0"> rising price of coffee beans</a>, some shops are getting creative, offering <a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/coffee-shops-beans-raising-prices-hs3suit0">combo deals like this one&nbsp;</a>that&nbsp;pairs&nbsp;Pilates class with a latte for $25.&nbsp; 
<h2>Practical screen time and social media&nbsp;tips</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="My son has screen time limits on his iPad but I'm often approving his requests to extend his time, especially if I'm busy working." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="Mugshot" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/5ec8a436-88a9-4820-93ad-8369b3cbf64c" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/5ec8a436-88a9-4820-93ad-8369b3cbf64c', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/5ec8a436-88a9-4820-93ad-8369b3cbf64c"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/5ec8a436-88a9-4820-93ad-8369b3cbf64c/5b43f1e7350a6265e14291db9e28a6c22f3fed79.jpg?f=Mugshot&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">My son has screen time limits on his iPad but I'm often approving his requests to extend his time, especially if I'm busy working.</a> 
When it comes to regulating my kids' screen time, I'm admittedly all over the place. Sometimes my time limits are strict. Other times — especially if I'm trying to get work done or it's a long car ride&nbsp;— I'll keep approving my son's requests for more time or hand my daughter my phone to keep her distracted. 
I've gone back and forth over which apps they are allowed to use.&nbsp; 
It really is a balancing act, one our parents didn't have to navigate and the frontier keeps changing.&nbsp; 
That's why I appreciated <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/working-moms/working-moms-long-island-vpzu104m">these&nbsp;practical tips</a> for managing&nbsp;screen time, access to social media, AI and digital overload from experts at Newsday's recent Working Moms Summit. If you missed this and other sessions,&nbsp;you can watch the <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/working-moms/working-moms-summit-video-sessions-f8csznie">video replays here</a>. 
<h2>What else we're talking about</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Some of the topics we're discussing on the Long Island Moms Instagram." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="Feature" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/c2fe22be-9c10-483d-8270-59990cb4ec59" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/c2fe22be-9c10-483d-8270-59990cb4ec59', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/c2fe22be-9c10-483d-8270-59990cb4ec59"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/c2fe22be-9c10-483d-8270-59990cb4ec59/59cad1bc04004c2d6e5008f5b8814d12bf84bedb.jpg?f=Feature&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Some of the topics we're discussing on the Long Island Moms Instagram.</a> 
From navigating childcare costs and going rates for the tooth fairy to finding jobs for teens and guides to fun local spots, these are just some of the topics we're exploring through our&nbsp;Long Island Moms <a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1283960740611012">Facebook</a> communities. Follow to join the conversation and stay&nbsp;connected. You can also email&nbsp;me at workingmoms@newsday.com.

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Putting off back-to-school shopping may hurt your wallet

AIAudio - Putting off back-to-school shopping may hurt your wallet


<a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Long Island theme parks have rolled out a variety of season passes that just may help make summer fun more affordable. " data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-f="Landscape 16:9" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/b91d1145-5718-46ae-af42-e7b60047971f" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/b91d1145-5718-46ae-af42-e7b60047971f', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/b91d1145-5718-46ae-af42-e7b60047971f"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/b91d1145-5718-46ae-af42-e7b60047971f/TOMF5816.jpg?f=Landscape%2016%3A9&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Long Island theme parks have rolled out a variety of season passes that just may help make summer fun more affordable. </a> 
Right around dinner time on a weekday. 
That was the sweet spot to beat the ride lines at Adventureland. 
With Newsday’s office less than three&nbsp;miles from the Farmingdale amusement park, I’d meet my husband and son over there after I&nbsp;finished working and enjoy the park at sunset with fewer crowds than on the weekends. 
That’s when we had season passes and a few visits like this to the park — even if they only lasted a couple hours —&nbsp;would make it worth the money. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Back in 2019 when we had season passes to Adventureland, I'd meet my husband and son at the park after work and we'd enjoy all the rides with minimal lines." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="Preview 4:3" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/38331c9e-d371-4bc7-a641-9e6d1ca8910e" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/38331c9e-d371-4bc7-a641-9e6d1ca8910e', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/38331c9e-d371-4bc7-a641-9e6d1ca8910e"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/38331c9e-d371-4bc7-a641-9e6d1ca8910e/photo.jpeg?f=Preview%204%3A3&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Back in 2019 when we had season passes to Adventureland, I'd meet my husband and son at the park after work and we'd enjoy all the rides with minimal lines.</a> 
Our schedules are busier now, so the pass doesn't make sense for us, but to help determine if you could save money over time by&nbsp;being a season pass holder at popular Long Island attractions, Newsday did the work. 
We looked into&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsday.com/travel/long-island-theme-parks-season-passes-ylee1am2">season passes at seven top local parks</a> — their costs, any stipulations, perks and how many times you'd need to visit to make them&nbsp;pay off. 
<h2>First they banned phones. Now tablets and laptops?</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="A third grade student uses AI on an iPad at John Street Elementary School in Franklin Square." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/6148e461-78db-4024-bcc9-a2a98f6867d8" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/6148e461-78db-4024-bcc9-a2a98f6867d8', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/6148e461-78db-4024-bcc9-a2a98f6867d8"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/6148e461-78db-4024-bcc9-a2a98f6867d8/OBJ15077258_111284?w=400&amp;q=0.3">A third grade student uses AI on an iPad at John Street Elementary School in Franklin Square.</a> 
Heading into last school year, the talk was over how New York State was going to roll out and enforce its ban on cellphones in schools. But now, state education leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul say reductions in screen time on devices like laptops and tablets that are used in the classroom could be their next focus. 
The state's largest teachers union is also pushing for developmentally appropriate limits on screen time and artificial intelligence in schools statewide, including a ban on the use of one-on-one devices for most students in pre-K&nbsp;through second grade. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/hochul-cellphones-screen-time-xin6fi2q">See how this could impact your children</a>. 
<h2>Take advantage of $1 LIRR rides</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Ava Rose Grace, of Hempstead, rides the antique carousel at Mitchell Park in Greenport.
" data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/40b44a25-83bf-409c-8f56-ececb89cb7db" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/40b44a25-83bf-409c-8f56-ececb89cb7db', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/40b44a25-83bf-409c-8f56-ececb89cb7db"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/40b44a25-83bf-409c-8f56-ececb89cb7db/TRLIRRPASS260722-1676.jpg?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Ava Rose Grace, of Hempstead, rides the antique carousel at Mitchell Park in Greenport. </a> 
A buck can't buy you much these days. But if your kids are between the ages of 5 and 17, they&nbsp;can&nbsp;ride the Long Island Rail Road alongside a fare-paying adult for just $1&nbsp;round-trip, every day of the week. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/travel/family-fare-lirr-budget-friendly-kmg02g28">The deal</a> is good for up to four kids. (Children under 5 always ride free.) 
I plan to take advantage of the deal next week when I take my kids to visit a friend in the city for an outing that includes a trip to Bluey's House inside the Camp NYC store.&nbsp; 
But you don't have to leave Long Island to use this offer. We've created budget-friendly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsday.com/travel/family-fare-lirr-budget-friendly-kmg02g28">itineraries for three kid-friendly and&nbsp;walkable local communities</a> to spend the day in via the LIRR. Whether you're looking to have a beach day, ride a historic carousel or visit a museum, all are within a short walk from a train station. You can have a full day out for less than what most families spend on a single stop at an amusement park, plus no car, gas or parking hassles. 
<h2>Connect with more LI Moms</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Follow Long Island Moms on Instagram.
" data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/b4dfcd9b-d62c-46da-8363-63841ad490a1" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/b4dfcd9b-d62c-46da-8363-63841ad490a1', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/b4dfcd9b-d62c-46da-8363-63841ad490a1"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/b4dfcd9b-d62c-46da-8363-63841ad490a1/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%2010.10.28%E2%80%AFAM.png?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Follow Long Island Moms on Instagram. </a> 
Our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms">new Long Island Moms Instagram </a>and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1283960740611012">Facebook</a> communities are growing. Follow to stay connected to more stories, tips and other local moms. And as always, share your thoughts with me at&nbsp;workingmoms@newsday.com.

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This family pass hack can save you $

AIAudio - This family pass hack can save you $


<a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Check out our list of 20 free summer activities on Long Island." data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/2d18423b-79fb-44fd-a0cd-cfe98f805201" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/2d18423b-79fb-44fd-a0cd-cfe98f805201', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/2d18423b-79fb-44fd-a0cd-cfe98f805201"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/2d18423b-79fb-44fd-a0cd-cfe98f805201/OBJ13987667_12688?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Check out our list of 20 free summer activities on Long Island.</a> 
The family getaway wasn't very planned out. It wasn't even a full day trip.&nbsp; 
There was dinner on the boardwalk. We&nbsp;briefly put our feet in the ocean, grabbed ice cream and my kids both ran around laughing on the playground in the sand as my husband and I admired a cotton-candy sky at sunset. None of us wanted to leave ... but we did have a 90-minute drive home. 
The site was Asbury Park, New Jersey, the latest random spot that my 10-year-old son's travel hockey "career" took us this past weekend. 
But it could have easily been Coney Island or even Jones Beach. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="We enjoyed a beautiful evening on the Asbury Park boardwalk Saturday, but we could have easily been doing the same activites at a beach closer to home." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="Preview 4:3" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/f7d29d5d-6126-4d06-9d71-acee860f8ae2" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/f7d29d5d-6126-4d06-9d71-acee860f8ae2', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/f7d29d5d-6126-4d06-9d71-acee860f8ae2"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/f7d29d5d-6126-4d06-9d71-acee860f8ae2/fdc026d185164dcdaa02f044f5b78ec590b74566.jpg?f=Preview%204%3A3&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">We enjoyed a beautiful evening on the Asbury Park boardwalk Saturday, but we could have easily been doing the same activities at a beach closer to home.</a> 
Sometimes as parents, we get caught up in planning — or feeling guilty that we haven't planned — some epic trip for the summer at Disney World or on&nbsp;some exotic island. 
Then, we take an impromptu day trip or even have a lazy day at home, and are reminded that sometimes simple can be great and memorable too. 
Newsday has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsday.com/travel/family-friendly-nyc-itinerary-cheap-bwljcs0r">three NYC&nbsp;itineraries</a> for families&nbsp;to try&nbsp;that won't break your budget and <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/save-on-summer-long-island-2026-free-activities-q3ygf8cd">guides to&nbsp;free fun</a>, including free&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/free-kids-concerts-long-island-parks-eyworeau">concerts for kids</a>&nbsp;at local parks.&nbsp; <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Take the LIRR to New York City for a family-friendly adventure and visit The Statue of Liberty.
" data-attr-credit="Getty Images" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/3a4f22db-8642-4010-b6aa-f8481c54cdfc" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/3a4f22db-8642-4010-b6aa-f8481c54cdfc', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/3a4f22db-8642-4010-b6aa-f8481c54cdfc"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/3a4f22db-8642-4010-b6aa-f8481c54cdfc/GettyImages-1499027075.jpg?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Take the LIRR to New York City for a family-friendly adventure and visit The Statue of Liberty. </a> 
<h2>Old tech is cool again</h2> 
Our little beach outing didn't start out so sweet. As we sat down to eat, my son gestured to me with his iPad, requesting I grant him some screen time.&nbsp; 
"Absolutely not," I said,&nbsp; 
"But then what am I going to do?" he pleaded. 
"Talk to your family. Look at the ocean, watch the seagulls flying overhead ... " 
There was pouting, but it was worth it because for the rest of the evening he forgot the device existed and plugged back into the real world. 
He tried seared tuna for the first time, played a trivia game that was on the back of the menu and happened to notice when some of his hockey teammates also surfaced on the boardwalk. 
I love <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/li-life/long-island-retro-records-technology-nsefg0a5">this new trend</a> in which some kids and teens are embracing less-connected devices, opting instead to listen to music and play games on the tech their parents or even grandparents grew up on. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Gennaro Vigliotti, 11, sifts through his vinyl record collection at his home in East Northport ." data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/476cb365-efff-4ebf-b2f6-7aaa0cc26172" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/476cb365-efff-4ebf-b2f6-7aaa0cc26172', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/476cb365-efff-4ebf-b2f6-7aaa0cc26172"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/476cb365-efff-4ebf-b2f6-7aaa0cc26172/OBJ15057114_17436?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Gennaro Vigliotti, 11, sifts through his vinyl record collection at his home in East Northport.</a> 
I wonder if my Walkman and Tamagotchi&nbsp;are still at my parents' house? 
<h2>Breaking down LI taxes</h2> 
Complaining about our high property taxes is about as Long Island as ordering a BEC or belting out the words to "Piano Man" on&nbsp;your drive home from&nbsp;the beach. 
But why are our taxes so high? Where does the money go? <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Wayne and Joan Breimann were among the Long Islanders who shared their property tax bills with Newsday." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/143a64c4-b229-4b5c-8cf9-56de0eeb3d04" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/143a64c4-b229-4b5c-8cf9-56de0eeb3d04', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/143a64c4-b229-4b5c-8cf9-56de0eeb3d04"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/143a64c4-b229-4b5c-8cf9-56de0eeb3d04/bzTAXES2605111.jpg?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Wayne and Joan Breimann were among the Long Islanders who shared their property tax bills with Newsday.</a> 
Newsday recently asked Long Islanders to share their tax bills with us. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/real-estate/long-island-property-taxes-why-so-high-dyhayzkz">See what we learned</a> about how those dollars are spent. 
<h2>Get more LI moms content</h2> 
Join our growing community of Long Island moms on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1283960740611012">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms">Instagram</a>, or reach me at&nbsp;workingmoms@newsday.com.

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Kids don't need an expensive vacation. Try these options instead.

AIAudio - Kids don't need an expensive vacation. Try these options instead.


<a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Remy Cohen flies on the trapeze at Camp Kenwal in Melville.
" data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/f710146b-519f-4a84-9f62-1bca4ec273e9" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/f710146b-519f-4a84-9f62-1bca4ec273e9', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/f710146b-519f-4a84-9f62-1bca4ec273e9"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/f710146b-519f-4a84-9f62-1bca4ec273e9/obj15044873_111708?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Remy Cohen flies on the trapeze at Camp Kenwal in Melville. </a> 
"The sunscreen got in my eyes!"&nbsp; 
"I can't find my hat." 
"Don't forget your water bottles." 
That was the soundtrack in my house last Monday morning around 7 a.m. trying to get both kids ready for the first day of summer camp. Then, after snapping a&nbsp;quick photo of them,&nbsp;my husband, who works at the camp, loaded them in his car and they were off, the loudness replaced by silence. 
That quiet might upset some moms, and I get it. I've seen the&nbsp;"you only get 18 summers with your kids" TikToks,&nbsp;but as a busy working mom I've also come to accept that I can't entertain my children throughout the whole summer and be successful at my job too. Trying to do both usually results in my kids being disappointed or me being stressed out — or both. 
Luckily, I married a teacher who doesn't know how to take summers off,&nbsp;so my kids get to be entertained five days a week for about eight weeks without breaking our budget or blowing through all my PTO. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Some snapshots from my kids' first day of camp.
" data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/0833f74c-b52a-47ca-a9d1-bce877cbd6d8" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/0833f74c-b52a-47ca-a9d1-bce877cbd6d8', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/0833f74c-b52a-47ca-a9d1-bce877cbd6d8"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/0833f74c-b52a-47ca-a9d1-bce877cbd6d8/ab19969818a4d18731eab88d276fc8850e44e8ea.jpg?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Some snapshots from my kids' first day of camp. </a> 
If you are still looking for last-minute camp options, <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/long-island-camps-admission-ye63cz6l">we have you covered</a>. 
<h2>Help wanted: Finding summer jobs for teens</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Olivia Auerbach, 19, of Islip, right, and Mimi Hasty, 19, of Islip Terrace, work at Coyle's Ice Cream in Islip. Auerbach said she applied for summer jobs at several places before she was hired at Coyle's." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/d6231e34-0ede-4fcb-ac08-5e27a762e0d9" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/d6231e34-0ede-4fcb-ac08-5e27a762e0d9', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/d6231e34-0ede-4fcb-ac08-5e27a762e0d9"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/d6231e34-0ede-4fcb-ac08-5e27a762e0d9/obj15011457_111096?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Olivia Auerbach, 19, of Islip, right, and Mimi Hasty, 19, of Islip Terrace, work at Coyle's Ice Cream in Islip. Auerbach said she applied for summer jobs at several places before she was hired at Coyle's.</a> 
If your kids are older and working this summer, they should consider themselves lucky they were able to land a seasonal gig. 
As Newsday recently reported, employers on Long Island have cut back on hiring teens this summer, reflecting a nationwide trend in which businesses, such as ice cream shops, amusement parks, children's camps and stores&nbsp;that typically hire extra help during the season are instead operating with a leaner workforce. 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/teens-summer-jobs-employment-hiring-e5sd8ibm">See why</a>&nbsp;this summer is projected to be the toughest for youth employment in nearly 80 years. 
<h2>Squeeze in a moms getaway</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Unwind at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa in Rockaway Beach.
" data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/47812fc8-9ce0-4aec-9fbf-3030b7a9110e" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/47812fc8-9ce0-4aec-9fbf-3030b7a9110e', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/47812fc8-9ce0-4aec-9fbf-3030b7a9110e"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/47812fc8-9ce0-4aec-9fbf-3030b7a9110e/obj15045485_112108?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Unwind at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa in Rockaway Beach. </a> 
I usually have about an hour after my kids head out the door for camp before my workday starts, so I've been trying to use it on the one person who I tend to neglect during the busy school year: myself. I started running again. Just a mile or two, but it's something. 
I'm starting to see that the summer can be a great time to schedule in some "me" time, along with the "family time," too. 
While I always book a couple of short family vacations in July and August, <a href="https://www.newsday.com/travel/cheap-hotels-mom-getaways-h6bt9ld4">this&nbsp;list</a> is persuading me to consider a moms getaway, too. These Long Island-area hotels are close enough to book on a whim, but far enough to feel like a true reset, and certain days come with lower rates. 
You can schedule a solo night or grab some of your friends for a&nbsp;quick&nbsp;girls'&nbsp;trip — one that&nbsp;will actually make it out of the group chat.&nbsp; 
<h2>Join the conversation</h2> 
Share your thoughts with me and&nbsp;other Long Island moms by joining&nbsp;our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1283960740611012">new Facebook group</a>, follow us on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms">@longisland_moms</a> and let us know what more you’d like to see from this newsletter by emailing workingmoms@newsday.com.

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Last-minute summer camps and mom getaways

AIAudio - Last-minute summer camps and mom getaways


"You cannot be everywhere and you can't do everything. And that’s OK."&nbsp; 
That was one of the hard truths that was dropped during Newsday’s&nbsp;inaugural Working Moms Summit at&nbsp;a session held at our headquarters in Melville called, "<a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/working-moms/working-moms-long-island-ju49q893">Unfiltered: The truth about leadership, motherhood and making it work</a>." 
It sounds like common sense, but it’s something that us working moms have to continuously remind ourselves as we try to be devoted parents but also committed to our careers too. 
I told myself this last week when I made the decision to miss my son’s fifth grade picnic after rain moved it from a Monday, when I usually work remotely and have some flexibility with my schedule, to the middle of a Wednesday, when I had back-to-back meetings in the office that I could not miss. 
My son was graduating from elementary school and the emotional side of me didn’t want to miss a thing. My rational side kept telling me, "You’ve already taken personal days so you could be at his final field day and graduation ... and you spent last night chaperoning their dance" ... but I did have some mom guilt. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Keeping up with my graduating fifth grader — and all of his end-of-the-year events — while also balancing work demands was a challenge last month." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/e58a06ad-325b-4bf2-8682-2a1e421e07e1" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/e58a06ad-325b-4bf2-8682-2a1e421e07e1', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/e58a06ad-325b-4bf2-8682-2a1e421e07e1"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/e58a06ad-325b-4bf2-8682-2a1e421e07e1/725214301_10106936825433210_3131484070978646083_n.jpg?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Keeping up with my graduating fifth grader — and all of his end-of-the-year events — while also balancing work demands was a challenge last month.</a> 
Newsday’s sold-out event brought together experts and&nbsp;fellow working moms to tackle&nbsp;subjects such as the guilt many working moms struggle with and the invisible mental load, along with navigating the cost of living on Long Island, kids’ screen time and the physical and emotional changes brought on by perimenopause. 
More than 185 people attended, but if you weren’t able to make it, you can catch up by watching videos from all the sessions at <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/working-moms/working-moms-summit-video-sessions-f8csznie">Newsday.com/workingmoms</a>. Let us know what your favorite takeaway was from the event&nbsp;via Instagram or email. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Former &quot;Good Morning America&quot; co-anchor Joan Lunden, left, and NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano at Newsday's Working Moms Summit on June 3." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/7803adaa-954f-4b3d-b0f8-e48c5dab2675" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/7803adaa-954f-4b3d-b0f8-e48c5dab2675', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/7803adaa-954f-4b3d-b0f8-e48c5dab2675"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/7803adaa-954f-4b3d-b0f8-e48c5dab2675/liMOMS260606.jpg?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Former "Good Morning America" co-anchor Joan Lunden, left, and NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano at Newsday's Working Moms Summit on June 3.</a> 
<h2></h2> 
Your kid may be getting $1,000 on July 4 
If you have a child born after Jan. 1, 2025, the federal government has promised to give them each $1,000 on Saturday. 
That’s when the <a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/trump-accounts-savings-program-investing-w56t71wd">new Trump Accounts</a> go into effect. The program is supposed to present a new option for parents interested in saving for their children's college tuition and beyond. (Local employers must also decide whether to offer contributions as a new perk.) 
While the government is giving the $1,000 seed money to its youngest citizens, parents and other&nbsp;family members can contribute up to $5,000 and all U.S. citizen children under 18 with a valid Social Security number can create an account. 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/trump-accounts-what-to-know-t9sff1rw">Read our FAQ</a> to learn more.&nbsp; 
<h2>Ice cream on demand</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Caitlin Mann makes an ice cream delivery to Joanne Saccaro in Massapequa.
" data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/31ffbc0d-3d10-45ec-b419-2a7fe3b9d799" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/31ffbc0d-3d10-45ec-b419-2a7fe3b9d799', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/31ffbc0d-3d10-45ec-b419-2a7fe3b9d799"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/31ffbc0d-3d10-45ec-b419-2a7fe3b9d799/FDICUBERS260626.jpg?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Caitlin Mann makes an ice cream delivery to Joanne Saccaro in Massapequa. </a> 
We '80s and '90s kids remember a childhood where we had to wait for our cartoons to come on TV and only during certain times of the day. And we had to patiently hope and listen for the ice cream truck to come down our block. 
But our kids are growing up in an on-demand world, and that has extended to ice cream. 
Now, using our phones of course, you can summon an ice cream truck to come to you ... or even an ice cream boat if you’re out at sea or hanging dockside. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/manns-homemade-ice-cream-water-boat-bzxbjy46">See how it works</a>. 
<h2>We want to hear from you</h2> 
Join the conversation with other Long Island moms on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14fZj1sCnfR/">Facebook group</a>, follow us on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms">@longisland_moms</a> and let us know what more you’d like to see from his newsletter by emailing workingmoms@newsday.com.

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Quieting that working mom guilt

AIAudio - Quieting that working mom guilt


I did everything right this time. 
I made sure we had cash in the house. I waited at least an hour to make sure my son was truly asleep. And now I’m army-crawling into his room so I can slip a $10 bill under his pillow. 
But my impersonations of the Tooth Fairy don’t always follow this script. 
There have been nights when we have to make emergency trips to an ATM because we have no cash on hand. 
And occasionally, my son has come to me the next morning, declaring, "She didn’t come!" 
That’s when I slip away, steal some cash from wherever I can find it — even if it’s my son’s own wallet — and tuck it under my shirt. Then I walk into his room with him, shake out his blankets, and with slight of hand —&nbsp;release the cash into the sheets. "It’s right there!" I say. "You just didn’t look hard enough." 
Hey, it works. 
But the biggest lesson I’ve learned&nbsp;regarding the Tooth Fairy, is be careful what you start. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="My son in 2021 when he lost his first tooth and then a year later when his first front tooth fell out at school." data-attr-credit="Tara Conry" data-attr-f="Mugshot" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/daac1c5c-bee5-4b19-8f0b-5d3784c41ce8" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/daac1c5c-bee5-4b19-8f0b-5d3784c41ce8', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/daac1c5c-bee5-4b19-8f0b-5d3784c41ce8"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/daac1c5c-bee5-4b19-8f0b-5d3784c41ce8/c35b8f610511e8e3d2f76b4e209fa79b86c93027.jpg?f=Mugshot&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">My son in 2021 when he lost his first tooth and then a year later when his first front tooth fell out at school.</a> 
When my son lost his first tooth, I gave him a $20 ... then another $20 for the next one ... this was in 2021, and my husband told me I was nuts to give him so much. After consulting another mom at the time, she said she only gave $5 for the first tooth and then more for molars. 
I readjusted and went down to $10. Sometimes it’s less if that’s all we have in the house. 
This week, we learned that some parents are giving as much as <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/tooth-fairy-rate-long-island-qxc90757">$60 a tooth.</a>&nbsp; 
What’s your Tooth Fairy strategy? 
<h2>Backlash to classroom tech</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Huntington seventh grader Katelynn Biancardo, 13, is among those on Long Island criticizing the i-Ready educational platform.
" data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/7a51569a-526b-4535-9313-0c7985d1143e" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/7a51569a-526b-4535-9313-0c7985d1143e', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/7a51569a-526b-4535-9313-0c7985d1143e"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/7a51569a-526b-4535-9313-0c7985d1143e/obj15017121_19468?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Huntington seventh grader Katelynn Biancardo, 13, is among those on Long Island criticizing the i-Ready educational platform. </a> 
We’re not a tech-free house. My 10-year-old son has an iPad, but with screen limits. We’ve held out on getting one for my youngest one. She’s six, but she does borrow my phone to play games and watch YouTube Kids. 
My stance on technology is that we live in a world where kids will need to know how to use it and we should try to develop healthy habits around it. 
Some parents are concerned with the amount of technology that’s being implemented in their kids’ classrooms, even as young as Kindergarten and particularly the use of the i-Ready diagnostic program, which my kids’ school also uses. 
Newsday this week looked at <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/iready-backlash-long-island-mcg7yhet">why some Long Island parents </a>want the program out of the classroom.&nbsp; 
<h2>Outdoor drop-in fitness classes</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Lea Esposito, of Manorville, with her daughter Ruby, is among a group of mothers taking part in the Stroller Strong Mamas exercise program started by fitness instructor Rachel Goodale. 
" data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/fdfd558a-fada-45de-bd6c-0298be4f2fee" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/fdfd558a-fada-45de-bd6c-0298be4f2fee', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/fdfd558a-fada-45de-bd6c-0298be4f2fee"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/fdfd558a-fada-45de-bd6c-0298be4f2fee/e5a7c320-3bcc-4cc5-96f0-b93ffd18a1a9?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Lea Esposito, of Manorville, with her daughter Ruby, is among a group of mothers taking part in the Stroller Strong Mamas exercise program started by fitness instructor Rachel Goodale. </a> 
This final stretch of school — between moving up ceremonies, half days, parties and a dance recital — has left me mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. But I’m hoping to do a reset once school ends and the kids are off to camp, to get back into a fitness routine. 
I love instructor-led classes, because I like being pushed to maximize the time I do&nbsp;have to work out. But I don’t love committing to an expensive fitness studio if I don’t know how often I’ll get there. That’s why I’m excited to try some of these <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/recreation/outdoor-workout-classes-cffpha78">drop-in classes</a>. Bonus: They&nbsp;are&nbsp;outdoors so on a beautiful day you don’t have to be stuck inside a gym. 
How’s your week going? 
Join the conversation with other Long Island moms on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1283960740611012">Facebook group</a>, follow us on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms">@longisland_moms</a> and let us know your thoughts on this week's stories and what more you’d like to see from this newsletter by emailing <a href="https://mailto:workingmoms@newsday.com">workingmoms@newsday.com</a>.

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$60 a tooth? Plus, my go-to hack for when the fairy forgets

AIAudio - $60 a tooth? Plus, my go-to hack for when the fairy forgets


“Should we hold hands?” my husband asked as we exit the car and start walking through the diner parking lot. 
It’s 9:45 a.m. on a Friday. The kids were just dropped off at school and we have about an hour before we need to be back there to watch Field Day. 
He happened to have the day off. I decided to take a last-minute personal day. And this impromptu breakfast is the closest thing we have had to a date in months. 
With babysitting <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/babysitting-costs-long-island-qc0wkz9e">rates up to least $20 per hour</a> on Long Island, more if you are asking them to watch more than one kid, you steal whatever child-free time you can get.&nbsp; 
Factor that rate across a few hours and a simple dinner-and-a-movie date could cost you more than $100 before you even buy the tickets or order an appetizer. 
<h2>Childcare rivaling college tuition</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Meri Urena, with help from her mother, Jane Stewart, cares for her 1-year-old twins, Presley and Quinn, at her home in Amityville on May 28, 2026. Urena said the high cost of child care has made returning to full-time work financially unrealistic," data-attr-credit="Newsday" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/13a6de3f-ec90-4ef6-a7fb-dec9449bf9c6" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/13a6de3f-ec90-4ef6-a7fb-dec9449bf9c6', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/13a6de3f-ec90-4ef6-a7fb-dec9449bf9c6"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/13a6de3f-ec90-4ef6-a7fb-dec9449bf9c6/obj14992384_11252?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Meri Urena, with help from her mother, Jane Stewart, cares for her 1-year-old twins, Presley and Quinn, at her home in Amityville on May 28, 2026. Urena said the high cost of child care has made returning to full-time work financially unrealistic,</a> 
And babysitting is just the tip of the childcare costs. The <a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/wallet-watch/long-island-child-care-costs-o5kpi8hy">average annual cost of childcare</a> in New York is higher than every state except Massachusetts — and up to $16,000 for home-based operators and nearly $21,000 for center-cased providers.&nbsp; 
Here on Long Island, we’re seeing childcare expenses climb so high they actually rival the cost of a year’s tuition at a state university, a reality that’s pushing some parents to stall their career paths, cut back on shifts, or even step away from jobs entirely. 
<h2>Safer prom after parties</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="High school students attend Dawn Delirium, a post-prom party, in 2025.
" data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/5620da39-6bed-41a3-9115-55e51c38a60a" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/5620da39-6bed-41a3-9115-55e51c38a60a', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/5620da39-6bed-41a3-9115-55e51c38a60a"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/5620da39-6bed-41a3-9115-55e51c38a60a/OBJ14976866_1564?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">High school students attend Dawn Delirium, a post-prom party, in 2025. </a> 
If you’re the parent of a teen, maybe you’re wishing your biggest challenge was lining up an affordable sitter. With big kids heading off to proms and colleges, do you ever get used to them having less supervision? 
Some schools have a hack for keeping their students out of trouble on prom night: Enticing them to attend a <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/post-prom-events-long-island-dsn3p61e">school-sanctioned after-party</a> by raffling off thousands of dollars in impressive prizes. You can only win if you stay until the very end. 
The districts spend months fundraising for the post-prom extravaganzas and rely on parent volunteers, but it’s yet another example of how if we build a strong “village” we can solve some of our parenting concerns ... together. 
It’s our hope that through this newsletter we can apply this same mindset and energy into tackling some of the challenges facing working moms on Long Island. 
<h2>Join the conversation</h2> 
Join our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GqLRa5LCE/">Long Island Moms</a>&nbsp;Facebook group to stay connected, and follow us on Instagram at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms/">@longisland_moms</a>. 
And we'd also also like to hear from you — your questions, experiences, what you'd like to see from us — reach us at workingmoms@newsday.com. 
<h2>Something new to try</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Front Street Bakery's cake cups nod to the New York Knicks.
" data-attr-credit="" data-attr-f="3x2" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/423972c5-a0e4-4fe4-9311-75c6ddaefed8" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/423972c5-a0e4-4fe4-9311-75c6ddaefed8', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/423972c5-a0e4-4fe4-9311-75c6ddaefed8"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/423972c5-a0e4-4fe4-9311-75c6ddaefed8/IMG_6554.jpeg?f=3x2&amp;w=400&amp;q=0.3">Front Street Bakery's cake cups nod to the New York Knicks. </a> 
Between bed-parties, graduations and the Knicks, it seems like every other day we are looking for ways to celebrate school and team pride. The kids in my life are loving those <a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/dot-cakes-dotcups-long-island-bakery-trend-pbdh8cgb">viral "dot cakes.</a>" We’ve got a <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/dot-cakes-long-island-dwxbgqe">list of Long Island spots</a> making dupes that you won’t have to wait in line for.

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Long Island Working Moms newsletter: Does this count as a date?

Does this count as a date?

AIAudio - Long Island Working Moms newsletter: Welcome to our community


"Did I brush my teeth today?" I wonder as I’m driving to work after another morning of getting my two kids out the door to school. 
I know my 10-year-old son brushed his. It was still dripping wet when I went into the bathroom to put the paste on my 5-year-old’s toothbrush. 
But in the whirlwind of making sure they were dressed — after my daughter changed her outfit twice — breakfast (Little Bites muffins), lunches packed, and everyone got out the door with backpacks, band instrument, field trip permission slip&nbsp;and correct Spirit Week hairstyle ... I can’t remember if I brushed my own teeth. 
There’s motherhood in a nutshell. 
If you’re a working mom, you know what it’s like to have already lived a full day before the 9 to 5 workday even starts. That’s why I stash a travel toothbrush in my glove compartment. 
And you also know that the ParentSquare, TeamSnap and other child-centric app notifications also follow you to the office — likely with an occasional call from the school nurse. 
After putting in a full day at work, maybe you somehow squeeze in hockey practice, homework, dance classes, dinner, baths and more before falling asleep to "your show" when you try to stay up that extra hour to steal some "me time." 
This newsletter is for you. You’ll hear from other Long Island working moms, like the three busy women profiled in <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/li-life/long-island-working-moms-kg8gd7m5">this week’s series</a>.&nbsp; 
But this isn’t just about being seen, it’s also about finding solutions to the unique problems facing working mothers living in one of the most expensive places to raise a family. 
As Newsday reported this week, Long Island parents pay an average of $24,000 for childcare, but we also <a href="https://www.newsday.com/business/mothers-young-children-leaving-workforce-q84ubnfw">found some ways</a> for families to get help with these costs. 
<h2>Long Island Working Moms Summit</h2> <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Joan Lunden, left, and Elisa DiStefano at Newsday's Working Moms Summit in Melville." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/b09ee506-1edd-4bb9-9a11-c2a63901dfe8" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/b09ee506-1edd-4bb9-9a11-c2a63901dfe8', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/b09ee506-1edd-4bb9-9a11-c2a63901dfe8"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/b09ee506-1edd-4bb9-9a11-c2a63901dfe8/liMOMS260605.jpg?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Joan Lunden, left, and Elisa DiStefano at Newsday's Working Moms Summit in Melville.</a> 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/working-moms/newsday-working-moms-summit-mrsv6akl">Newsday’s Working Moms Summit</a>&nbsp;on June 3 confronted several issues that working moms contend with every day — from coping with the mental load to real-life strategies to making finances work better to building a career that fits into your life. We’ll be sharing more from the event in this newsletter. 
<h2>Join the conversation</h2> 
We’re building a community you can come to when you get a minute to reflect, learn and maybe even laugh as we navigate this beautiful mess together.&nbsp; 
It’s about making sure we brush our teeth, too. 
We'd also like to hear from you — your questions, experiences, what you'd like to see from us — reach us at workingmoms@newsday.com. Join our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GqLRa5LCE/">Long Island Moms</a>&nbsp;Facebook group to stay connected, and follow us on Instagram at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/longisland_moms/">@longisland_moms</a>.

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Long Island Working Moms newsletter: Welcome to our community

Welcome to our LI Working Moms community

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