Well, it’s that time of year again! But this time, it’s a little bit different. Okay, it’s a lot different. At this point, we’ll take any sort of normalcy we can get, so it’s time to the kids (and maybe yourself) ready for back to school in the time of COVID-19. Getting School Clothes and Uniforms ReadyYou may not have done the usual annual shopping trips this year for new wardrobe staples. And that’s okay. Social distancing is more important right now than getting your hands on the latest fashions for your kids. But that may mean you have to dig last year’s stuff out of storage. School uniforms are usually a bit trickier to care for than traditional jeans and t-shirts. Be sure to take them to the dry cleaner at least a week (more if possible) before school begins. Check for stains, rips, or missing buttons beforehand. Most dry cleaners can do repairs like that for a very low cost. Also, be sure to ask them about alterations for those hand-me downs! Don’t Delay Those ShotsEveryone is a bit nervous about medical appointments these days, especially if you’re perfectly healthy. Medical offices are well aware of these fears and are taking extra precautions to keep germs away. There’s no excuse to put off those back to school vaccinations. If you’d rather go somewhere more convenient, where you can get in and out quickly, check with your local pharmacy. Most pharmacies offer low cost (or even free with your insurance) vaccines and are almost guaranteed to have the ones your kids need for school requirements. And don’t forget your flu shot! Stock Up on Flu Season EssentialsFlu season is going to be even more intense this year, with the threat of COVID-19 still looming. To prepare, stock up with all the necessary over the counter medications for cold and flu. Ibuprofen, Tylenol, cold medicines and cough drops are all great things to have on hand. Vapor rub and chapstick are helpful to have on hand too, and all available at your local drug store as well.
Things may be different this year, but it’s still an exciting, fun time for the kiddos to see their friends in school again. Taking a little extra time to prepare will make it a lot less stressful. Stay safe! We usually celebrate Mother’s Day with flowers and gifts for mom, taking her out to dinner and may be a shopping spree or a trip to the spa or salon. While our city is still in lockdown, with restaurants, salons and shops closed, how are you celebrating Mother’s Day? Mother's Day GiftsFor the most part, we can order gifts online and get them ready by Mother’s Day. If you cannot get a gift delivered in time, don’t forget that your local drugstore is still open and carries a variety of health and beauty products that your mom would love – from age-defying skin care, hair coloring and styling to perfumes and manicure products. Your community pharmacy may provide curbside service so you can stay safe. Take a load offMom is always busy caring for her family. The list of household chores is never ending. During the quarantine, the amount of cleaning and disinfecting has probably quadrupled. So a great gift would be to take over some of her work. How about letting the local dry cleaner nearby do the laundry? Schedule a laundry pickup before Mother’s Day, so that she is relaxed and not worried about doing the laundry. If mom’s work includes caring for grandpa and or grandma, which is not unusual in this age of the “Caregiving Crunch,” you can take a load off her by hiring respite care providers from the local home care agency. A home health aide can provide respectful professional care and companionship for a senior loved one while the family caregiver takes a break. Fun activity togetherDo something fun with your mom at home, such as watch a movie on TV, take a trip down memory lane by viewing old photos together, make handicrafts or artwork, give mom a manicure, and so on. Mother's Day dinnerIf your mother is living in the same house, you can perhaps cook a nice dinner or if you are not a good cook, you can order a big meal online and get it delivered to the house. But if your mother is not under the same roof, you can try sharing a virtual dinner on Zoom. That way, you can still see and chat with each other during dinner.
With a little creativity and preparation, we can still give mom a memorable Mother’s Day during these unprecedented times. Stay safe and have fun with your mom on Mother’s Day! Photo by Karolina Bobek ✌ on Unsplash We heard from Governor Charlie Baker yesterday that the number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts will begin to surge sometime between April 7 and 17. With the stay-at-home advisory and social distancing guidance still in place until April 30, we’ll need to find new ways to manage our daily lives. Fortunately, we have the Internet, various online tools to help us work remotely and entertain ourselves. And for the physical stuff, we can take advantage of delivery service. Laundry DeliveryCleanliness is key during this time. Other than washing our hands and disinfecting frequently used surfaces, we need to keep our clothing and bed linens clean. Using a germ-free laundry service can be extra beneficial. If you usually take your laundry to a dry cleaner or a laundromat, this would be a good time to switch to a free laundry delivery service. Even though dry cleaners are considered an essential service by the state, they usually reduce hours and avoid having you in the store as much as possible. Prescription DeliveryMedical supplies are critical too, especially prescriptions. Pharmacies are also an essential service and will stay open, but they, too, may reduce hours. In the suburbs, curbside service is often available – you drive up to the curb, call the store and they will bring the prescriptions or other medical supplies to you. Many drugstores also offer prescription delivery service within their neighborhoods. You should call your local drugstore to find out if they offer this service. Food and Grocery DeliveryWe all need food. While all the restaurants have closed, we can still order food online and then either pickup or get it delivered. Many supermarkets also offer grocery delivery service and even meals to go. These days, we may find empty shelves for certain food items. Rather than making several trips to get all the food items that you need, it is better to stay safe and order online instead.
When taking advantage of delivery service, make sure that it is contactless. Ask the driver to leave the delivery items on your doorstep and then pick them up after they left. Let’s all be careful and stay healthy! When you shop at your local pharmacy or drycleaner, you’re not only building relationships but also strengthening the fabric of your entire community. Local business owners know you, and you know them. When you see someone frequently at the coffee shop, dry cleaner, or hardware store, you build relationships with people who have similar needs and interests. Shopping at local businesses connects neighbors with each other. It’s social networking without the screen! You get better customer service when you shop local. When you fill a prescription at a community pharmacy you are likely to be served by the owner or a long-time employee who knows your medical history and medication needs. Many local pharmacies also offer specialties such as compounded medications. A local laundry service or dress shop knows your preferences so you get more personalized service. Local businesses are more likely to donate to community events, local non-profits, and sports teams. Studies have shown that they do so at over twice the rate of large chains. This kind of participation brings the community closer together. Did you know that each dollar you spend at a local independent business can bring as much as $3.50 into the local economy? Local businesses are customers of local ad agencies, insurance brokers, accountants, printers, lawyers and other services and often buy locally-made goods too. This creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to start more local businesses. Some studies have reported that local businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue than national chains thus creating higher-paying jobs for your neighbors. But it’s not just the jobs at the independent pharmacy, the laundry pickup service, or the boutique that get created. As the local economy strengthens, you’re helping create jobs for firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other public service employees as well! Author: The WSI Touch is a digital marketing agency serving small and medium-sized businesses in Boston, Massachusetts. Too busy even to pick up your prescription at the local pharmacy? Life gets busy when you add caring for an aging parent or loved one to your full time job, especially when you still have kids at home who need you. Effective time management is the key. Here are a few tips for saving time and getting the important things done.
Hey Bostonians! The Highland Street Foundation is sponsoring Free Fun Fridays again this year. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit museums and cultural venues across Massachusetts for free! Among the venues is Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro which is about 50 minutes from Boston. It’s a nice ride out of town to see exotic animals such as the white lion, red panda, emus and pythons. But for us, the main attraction is the splash pad, a fun and exciting zero-depth water playground that thrills children of all ages. For maximum enjoyment, bring bathing suits and beach clothing and sunscreen for your kids. The local pharmacy near me offers a quality selection of sunscreens and other health and beauty aids for the whole family and they provide more individualized care than the national chains. You should try them, if you are not yet a customer. The adults can use some sunscreen too, but take care that it doesn’t stain your clothing. The oil component of these lotions leaves invisible stains that can become visible over time. These stains may not be easily removed in normal washing. I usually take stained clothing to a dry cleaner near me for stain removal. The park does not allow visitors to bring picnics, but there is a Concession Stand that offers delicious fresh cooked food, ice cream and cold drinks while you rest at shady picnic benches. The Zoo is a wonderful place to visit at other times of the year too. There are educational classes on animals and how to take care of them, conservation, photography and more. If you have teenage children, you may consider enrolling them into the Zoo Crew program which gives teens the opportunity to volunteer at the Zoo. The Zoo also offers birthday party packages for children – a perfect birthday celebration for the kid who loves animals! |
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