September 19. 2019
Janeen and her family enjoy visiting family friendly restaurants around Rochester to entertain the whole family, with kids ranging from 2-18!
Tell us about yourself!
I'm a former Reading Specialist, turned part-time work from home Mama, writing phonics programs for a curriculum publishing company. I have three kids: Oliver (2) and stepsons Sebastian (18) and Elliott (16). I live in Fairport with my husband Dave and our three boys. We've been here for 6 years now. We go to Northridge Church in Webster.
What's is your favorite local playground?
This question is so hard! After going to 30 playgrounds this past summer, there are quite a few. If I'm sticking close to home, we really love Egypt Park. My son is all about the farm theme, and I love the soft playground surface. If I feel like a drive, Kids' Canyon in Greece is amazing! It's fenced in, has a soft surface, has a ton to climb on and do, and is just wonderfully imaginative.
What's your favorite Library?
This might be our next challenge, to get to even more libraries. We really love our local Fairport Library, or "Library Echo" as my son likes to call it. There is an underground parking garage that offers a great echo, which is where the name comes from. The kids' room is really wonderful and we enjoy story time there as well. It's also on the canal and close in proximity to a few lovely ice cream places ;)
If you had $1000 and 3 days, what would be your ideal Rochester staycation?
We are the worst planners! This question would take me a long time to really figure out. The staycation would have to take place in the fall though. We have such a lovely fall here.
What is your go-to family friendly activity?
With such a spread in the ages of our kids, our go-to family friendly activity is almost always food related. We generally don't go for fancy, so most places are family friendly. We've recently discovered Guacamole in East Rochester, Furoshiki on Park Ave in Rochester, and we love a whole bunch of ice cream places: What's Ur Scoop? in Penfield, The Ice Cream Factory in Fairport, and Moonlight Creamery in Fairport to name a few.
What is your favorite Rochester hidden gem?
The Kent Park Arboretum is so lovely. We've really barely touched the surface, but we definitely plan to go back and further explore.
What do you do with the kiddos during those long Rochester winters?
We have a Strong Museum membership and a Lamberton Conservatory membership ($10 for a whole year, and it's warm and lovely in there during the winter!); we go to libraries a lot, play places like Ladybugs, and sometimes just walk the mall; if we're desperate to get out, and we often are, we go to a coffee shop (Fair Pour in Fairport, Dunkin, Starbucks...) or just spend time in Target because who needs an excuse?!
What advice to you have for fellow mamas?
Stop judging, stop fearing, just love your kiddos, get to know them and what they need. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks. Don't stress yourself out worrying about the things your kids don't know how to do yet. Love every stage and enjoy them where they're at.
Anything else you would like to add?
I'm so excited about all of the lists on Rochacha Mama! As much as my son has started to become a homebody, this mama needs to get out sometimes. We are going to be using all of the lists a lot in the coming years, so thank you, Sara!
I'm a former Reading Specialist, turned part-time work from home Mama, writing phonics programs for a curriculum publishing company. I have three kids: Oliver (2) and stepsons Sebastian (18) and Elliott (16). I live in Fairport with my husband Dave and our three boys. We've been here for 6 years now. We go to Northridge Church in Webster.
What's is your favorite local playground?
This question is so hard! After going to 30 playgrounds this past summer, there are quite a few. If I'm sticking close to home, we really love Egypt Park. My son is all about the farm theme, and I love the soft playground surface. If I feel like a drive, Kids' Canyon in Greece is amazing! It's fenced in, has a soft surface, has a ton to climb on and do, and is just wonderfully imaginative.
What's your favorite Library?
This might be our next challenge, to get to even more libraries. We really love our local Fairport Library, or "Library Echo" as my son likes to call it. There is an underground parking garage that offers a great echo, which is where the name comes from. The kids' room is really wonderful and we enjoy story time there as well. It's also on the canal and close in proximity to a few lovely ice cream places ;)
If you had $1000 and 3 days, what would be your ideal Rochester staycation?
We are the worst planners! This question would take me a long time to really figure out. The staycation would have to take place in the fall though. We have such a lovely fall here.
What is your go-to family friendly activity?
With such a spread in the ages of our kids, our go-to family friendly activity is almost always food related. We generally don't go for fancy, so most places are family friendly. We've recently discovered Guacamole in East Rochester, Furoshiki on Park Ave in Rochester, and we love a whole bunch of ice cream places: What's Ur Scoop? in Penfield, The Ice Cream Factory in Fairport, and Moonlight Creamery in Fairport to name a few.
What is your favorite Rochester hidden gem?
The Kent Park Arboretum is so lovely. We've really barely touched the surface, but we definitely plan to go back and further explore.
What do you do with the kiddos during those long Rochester winters?
We have a Strong Museum membership and a Lamberton Conservatory membership ($10 for a whole year, and it's warm and lovely in there during the winter!); we go to libraries a lot, play places like Ladybugs, and sometimes just walk the mall; if we're desperate to get out, and we often are, we go to a coffee shop (Fair Pour in Fairport, Dunkin, Starbucks...) or just spend time in Target because who needs an excuse?!
What advice to you have for fellow mamas?
Stop judging, stop fearing, just love your kiddos, get to know them and what they need. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks. Don't stress yourself out worrying about the things your kids don't know how to do yet. Love every stage and enjoy them where they're at.
Anything else you would like to add?
I'm so excited about all of the lists on Rochacha Mama! As much as my son has started to become a homebody, this mama needs to get out sometimes. We are going to be using all of the lists a lot in the coming years, so thank you, Sara!