As the title of her blog “On the Go Momma” suggests, Sylvania mom Kate Fineske is a very busy woman. Kate thought she could get back into the work force easily after her three kids were out of diapers. It's still a challenge, she says, “As the kids get older, I get so much busier, especially between the hours of 3 pm and 9 pm. When they get home from school … it's crazy!”
Somewhere between her kids' extracurriculars, she found the energy to apply to be a representative of Ohio at Parenting Magazine's 2012 Mom Congress in Education and Learning with a 300-word essay (Fineske regularly blogs for the National Association of Mother’s Centers and for her own site, onthegomomma.net). “I'm all about doing things that I feel passionate about,” she says. That essay took her all the way to Washington D.C. early this summer to meet other influential moms from across the country.
Established in 2009, Parenting Magazine's annual conference brings together women who are passionate about improving education. The magazine selects one woman from each state based on her involvement in her community. Kate was thrilled to be chosen as Ohio's delegate. This year's 3-day conference at Georgetown University featured prominent speakers from the parenting and education communities, including Mark Shriver, Senior Vice President of Save the Children, and Arne Duncan, current U.S. Secretary of Education. Kate admits some nervousness at having to fly states away from her children, but she's thankful that she went. “It was really a unique, interesting experience,” she says.
As Kate puts it, motherhood often “refocuses you for a while.” After college she worked as a graphic designer, but she's found new focus in education advocacy, an issue close to her family. “My husband is an educator,” she says, referring to Adam Fineske, the executive director of curriculum and instruction at Sylvania Schools. The list of family involvement goes on: “My mom is an educator, my mother-in-law is an educator, my sister, my brother, all have been involved in education. And I teach!” For the past ten years Kate has taught graphic design classes at Owens Community College. Spurred by having young children, Kate is also heavily involved in her school district's parent organizations for both primary and secondary students. She volunteers with Highland Elementary's Parent Organization, serves on the advisory committee for Sylvania Schools' Visual Communication and Design Program, and works as the President of Sylvania Schools' Parent School Council.
In addition to learning about education advocacy at Mom Congress, Kate was affected on personal level. “It was very empowering for me as a mother and as a woman,” she says. The sense of community and strength she got from meeting other influential women from around the country impacted her deeply. Kate is dedicated to putting this sense of empowerment to work in our community. The tools and support offered at the event have given her renewed confidence in keeping up the busy schedule. “I'm not good at sitting still,” she says, and it doesn't look like she'll need to any time soon.
Take a look at Kate's post for Toledo Area Parent's blog.
There’s nothing greater you can do for a child (or a grown-up!) than bringing the joy of music into their life. And if you want them to rock, the flute just isn’t doing it — you need to head to Drum Depot for the finest local expertise on the most exciting instrument there is. They’ll outfit your aspiring Ringo with the right kit at the right price, and help you get the lessons you’ll need to get the beat going, and you’ll end up with more than just a mighty racket.
Parents of newborns have plenty to worry about. If you’ve got a new mom or dad on your list, give them a hand with diapers and other natural parenting products from Blissfield’s Squishy Tushy. Cloth diapers are better for the earth and for a baby’s health, and Squishy Tushy sells a full range of accessories, from covers to pail liners to ointments and sprays. You can even get some charming natural jewelry for your favorite mom.
Treat the parent or infant on your list to some first-class kiddie swag, from the area’s premier baby boutique. Lullaby Lane has top-notch strollers and travel systems, tubs and towels, adorable apparel and — of course — toys! Pick up some soon-to-be-beloved plush friends or an endlessly entertaining play gym. Make sure the littlest people you know have the nursery that’s the envy of the neighborhood.
Everybody hopes to get some candy in their stocking. Make yours stand out, with the kinds of sweet treasures you remember from days gone by. Bit O’ Honey, Brach’s, Mellocreme — the store is filled with names that will evoke memories of childhood. Chew over the endless array of options, and pick a few that say what you want to your special somebodies. And despite what the store’s sign says, it’s not just retro — there’s plenty of gourmet chocolate and candy from all over the world.
What if you could get all the toys a child could want without breaking the bank or enlarging your footprint on the earth? Once Upon a Child has plenty of gently-used goodies on hand year-round, from books to blocks to kitchen sets. You can pick up a few movies that the kids will love — even a bike! Children don’t care if their holiday treasures have had another owner, and you’ll be happy knowing that your gift-giving had a minimal effect on the environment.
Give a gift that would never have been possible before now — a quiet and secret sound that few have ever heard. It’s the heartbeat of your child in the womb, preserved electronically by My Little Me. The 3D ultrasound facility will take a sound recording of your child’s heartbeat and “surgically” implant it in a lovable teddy bear. Pressing on the bear’s “heart” will play the recording, and let your hear the sound of memories that will last a lifetime. 
You’re not raising kids who’d be happy with any old toys. Scoots has treasures with a unique flair, including eco-friendly gifts for boys and girls alike. Think arts and crafts supplies from beeswax crayons to tin can robot kits. Or decorate a dream nursery with the whimsical animal-themed artwork of brothers Ryan and Stephen Fowler. There are plenty of high-quality books for kids of all ages to round out your wish list and stimulate hearts and minds.