For many parents, the term “non-binary” is relatively new. Over the last handful of years, more and more celebrities like Janelle Monรกe, Miley Cyrus and Ruby Rose have come out as identifying as something other than the gender they were assigned at birth (female), helping to shine a light on the non-binary experience and giving […]
Annette Benedetti
Posted inBend Nest
Preschool Pursuit
Finding the Best Fit for Your Family
Choosing the right preschool for your child is no small task. From navigating preschool philosophies to understanding curriculums to choosing the right class size, there is a lot to consider. The preschool years are crucial for your child’s development, and with the shortage of preschools and preschool slots available in Bend, local families need to […]
Posted inBend Nest
Play Date Etiquette
Navigating COVID & kids in these uncertain times
In 2020, your kids spent months isolated away from their friends with only siblings and parents around for entertainment. If your family had a learning or friend “pod,” perhaps they knew one or two peers who were allowed to socialize with them on occasion. Either way, interactions with those outside the immediate family have been […]
Posted inBend Nest
Pint-Sized Powerhouse
16-Year-Old Female Cattle Rancher Earns the Oregon FFA State Degree
Olivia Rooker’s voice is calm and possesses the confidence of a seasoned professional woman. It’s hard to believe that she is only 16. Even more shocking is the tiny frame dwarfed by, and commanding, the giant beast that is the steer she raised to show and sell at the fair. This year, Olivia is one […]
Posted inBend Nest
Buy Nothing. Give Freely. Share Creatively
Buy Nothing Bend Facebook groups gain momentum during pandemic
Did you know that there is a hyper-local gift economy where parents across Bend are actively creating community? Buy Nothing Bend North and South are Facebook groups with just under a combined 2000 members who strive to buy nothing, give freely and share creatively. Formed using the model of the original Buy Nothing Project, which […]
Posted inBend Nest
Holiday Traditions 2020
Coming together in a world full of distance
Traditionally, the holidays are one of the happiest times of the year for families, bringing loved ones together from afar while engaging in traditions passed down through the years from great-grandparents to parents, and now onto the children. And for some, it’s that special time to go on a much-needed family vacation. With COVID-19 drastically […]
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Makin’ a List, Checkin’ it Twice
Before you auto-pilot to Amazon and click on presents for loved ones, check out what local Bend stores have to offer
Who can believe, the holidays are on the horizon, and it is officially time to start making that list and checkin’ it twice? Before you auto-pilot to Amazon and click on presents for loved ones, check out what local Bend stores have to offer. Shopping locally allows for that good old-fashioned touch and feel before […]
Posted inBend Nest
Zoom, Feral Kids and Pizza
The Lighter Side of Lockdown
Starting in March of this year, Central Oregon families got to know their family members a little better than they imagined (or perhaps ever wanted). With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a nationwide quarantine, parents had the opportunity (were forced) to spend every moment with their children while providing round-the-clock care, including schooling and entertainment. While […]
Posted inBend Nest
One Step Ahead
Anticipating the school year and the pandemic’s impact on kids’ mental health
Even before 2020 took the U.S. by storm with COVID-19, anxiety and depression were prevalent among our youth. Now more than ever, with the new school year quickly approaching, parents are faced with the challenge of figuring out how to not only calm their children’s fears of becoming and getting others sick, they have to […]
Posted inBend Nest
Let’s take it Outside!
Outdoor Adventures for Mother’s Day.
Editor’s note: This story from Bend Nest, our parenting magazine, was written before state parks, national forest trailheads and other locales closed due to coronavirus. Be sure to check with the land manager before visiting to get information on re-openings! This Mother’s Day forget sending mom to the spa. She doesn’t care about long, luxurious […]