THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996 TAG: 9601250206
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
AT HIGH NOON in a family style chicken restaurant in the Kempsville area, Matthew Fields suspiciously eyed the small plate of mashed vegetables on the table in front of him, then did what any red-blooded, 14-month-old American male does best.
He turned it over.
Not to be outdone, Kendall Ann Bailey, sitting at the opposite end of the table, watched Matthew for a long moment, then picked up her juice box and oh so carefully dropped it to the floor. She, too, is 14 months.
Sitting between them, their mothers, without missing a beat in their conversation with a reporter, calmly undertook damage control.
Jennifer Fields scooped the veggie remains back into the plate and placed it out of Matthew's reach while Janine Bailey scooped the juice box from the floor and returned it to her daughter.
Welcome to the world of mother-toddler relationships as practiced by those moms who choose to stay at home with their babies.
And thoroughly enjoy doing so.
Fields, a Navy wife and former newspaper writer, and Bailey, who worked in the corporate offices of a large jewelry chain, have become close friends in the year since their offspring arrived on the scene.
``We both came here from Florida,'' Bailey said, ``but we didn't know each other until we started running into each other after the babies were born.''
The two began discussing the need for organizations for moms and toddlers and decided to pursue one with which Bailey was already familiar.
The PTA.
Specifically, an early childhood PTA program that already had been tried and proved successful in three other states: Texas, Florida and Ohio.
The pair decided to organize one in Virginia Beach. The hardest part of their job was convincing local people that such an organization already existed - and not just for
those whose children were involved in preschools.
Once they cleared that hurdle, they found lots of support, especially from Dianne Florence, the assistant director of the Tidewater District of the PTA. ``She's really helped us to get started,'' Fields said.
Assured that they could proceed with their plans, the pair found space, developed activity ideas, lined up speakers, invested in some business cards and put together an impressive information kit.
All with Matthew and Kendall Ann in tow.
Their offerings will include opportunities for parent education, community service, playgroups, a baby-sitting co-op, field trips, parent-and-baby lunches, a monthly mom's night out, crafts and couples' groups, tennis club, sewing circle and monthly newsletter.
``Membership isn't just limited to moms or to those who live in Virginia Beach,'' Fields said. ``Dads, grandparents and others in the Tidewater area who are primary care givers are welcome, too. And those who join can be involved in as many or as few of our activities as they choose.''
Although other parent groups are available, Fields and Bailey were especially interested in tapping into the strength of the PTA, especially in the legislative arena. ``We want to give these little guys a voice,'' Fields said, citing the need for legislative consideration of such issues as restricted hospital stays for new mothers and babies. MEMO: The Tidewater Early Childhood PTA will have its first general meeting
Feb. 9 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Kempsville Presbyterian Church.
Babysitting will be provided. Registrations required. Call Janine Bailey
at 479-2670 or Jennifer Fields at 631-4891. Or inquiries may be faxed
to 479-2473.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Janine Bailey, left, with her daughter Kendall Ann, and Jennifer
Fields, with her son Matthew, organized an early childhood PTA that
offers parent education, community service, playgroups, a
baby-sitting co-op, field trips, parent-and-baby lunches and other
activities.
by CNB