Downtown Silver Spring Will Receive Breast-Feeding Education

La Leche League of Silver Spring opens the door for discussion.

A public education program about breast-feeding will begin this weekend in downtown Silver Spring, as a result of a recent controversy over breast-feeding in public. On Aug. 9, a Washington, D.C., mother visiting downtown was asked to cover up or leave by a security guard after she was seen publicly breast-feeding her 11-month-old girl near the fountain. The security guard worked for Peterson Companies, the company that manages downtown Silver Spring. Peterson Companies’ Events Manager Lillian Buie apologized for the miscommunication and has partnered with La Leche League of Silver Spring to help facilitate the breast-feeding campaign. The first event is scheduled for Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Ellsworth Drive near the fountain in …

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Amber McCann

10:29 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011

A great event to share about breastfeeding!   more ›

Public Breast-Feeding Incident Sparks Controversy

A confrontation on Aug. 9 prompts the creation of a breast-feeding policy for downtown.

Downtown Silver Spring management has launched an initiative to educate customers and staff about breast-feeding after a mother was confronted about publicly feeding her baby last week. The new effort outlines steps by Peterson Companies’ management, including, educating its staff about the law, handing out copies of the breast-feeding law, setting up an informational booth over the next few Saturdays with La Leche League in Silver Spring and requiring security guards to carry copies of the law. The issue came to light on Aug. 9 when a Washington, D.C., mother was sitting near the fountain in the downtown plaza and her 11-month-old girl wanted milk. Jamie D. Smith tried to feed her baby discreetly. “A security guard, who was pretty nasty, …

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Mary Schmidt

1:07 pm on Monday, August 22, 2011

When you display your underwear, or your butt cheeks, you are making a statement, and that statement is: I am a slob, deal with it. I deal with it by thinking, yuck!   more ›

Wanted: A Few Great Moms and Dads

Patch needs your help!

We know it’s tough being a parent in the high-powered, constantly changing and demanding place that is the Washington metro region. And we want you to know how awed we are by the feats Colesville parents perform every day with your kids—from scheduling your commutes around daycare pickup times to preparing umpteen healthy-yet-delicious snacks to supporting children with special needs. But even the supermommies and superdaddies among us could use some help sometimes. Wouldn't it be great to have a place where you can share ideas with other people who are on the same bumpy, glorious, exhausting, fun-filled ride you’re on? So, very soon, we will start producing material from tips on how to keep the kiddos entertained in the dead of winter to …

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No Training Wheels Required

The Make Someone’s Day Project

This holiday season, I'm teaching my preschooler about gratitude through my actions, instead of my words.

I love this time of the year. I love the lights and decorations. I love the parties and the food. I love surprising friends and family with thoughtful gifts. What I don't love is how my child turns into the Gimme Monster. She wants every. single. toy. Little Miss S has been working on her wish list for Santa since Thanksgiving evening. She tasked her father with "mailing" the first letter she wrote. Now she's working on Wish List 2.0. Whenever she sees an exciting toy in Target or spies the Toys R' Us toy book that I attempted to recycle too many times, she adds another item on her list. Thankfully this list mainly exists in her head since she is only learning how to read and write. I'm sure I'm not the only parent whose kids turn into the…

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Parents' Place

Fun Fall Activities for Silver Spring Families

Summer isn't the only season that provides family fun.

Experiencing new things and making the most of family time doesn't have to end when summer does. Sure, the school year will bring more hectic schedules, homework and, soon, shorter days, but Silver Spring offers a lot of activities and places that make it easy for families to have some fun this fall. Here are just four ideas of things to do in the area. Be sure to share your ideas in the comments section. 1. Take a hike. Head to Wheaton Regional Park's Shorefield area, where 11 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails offer something for everyone. For those towing children in strollers, people using wheelchairs and cyclists, there's a 4-mile hard-surface trail. And there's plenty to do afterward. Pack a picnic, enjoy the lake, bring …

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