OUR STORY

In first grade my son's teacher noticed that there was a large discrepancy between his capability to verbally demonstrate knowledge and his ability to write and memorize simple three letter sight words. This turned out to be the first clue we had that something was off. When things didn't get easier, we had him tested and found out that he had dyslexia, a learning disability in children affecting reading, writing and spelling. After going down the IEP path, we were fortunate to get him into an incredible school in Manhattan built just for kids with learning differences called The Churchill School. Because, day in and day out, they dealt with kids like my son it was soon suspected that dyslexia wasn't the only issue. Surprise, surprise! ADD was also part of his brain package. We figured that out in 3rd grade. It took a while because there are two types of ADHD: the part with hyper-activity and the part without - called Inattentive Type (which is what my son has). Having these issues definitely serves up some challenges, however with education and clear communication with a child's teachers and pediatrician we can make a world of difference in a child's life. ‬

Some say having ADHD can even be a gift. Come to find out, many famous and brilliant people had ADHD brains. Beethoven, Hans Christian Andersen, Winston Churchill, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Hemingway, Michael Jordan, Picasso, and the incredible list goes on and on.

Many people are still  unaware of what ADHD really means. The more we all know, the more we can accept and help those wired differently. The other day my younger son was sitting in class while the teacher was explaining to the children what dyslexia and adhd are. My son proudly stated, "Hey! That's what my brother has!" He thought it was pretty cool.

(Read on for lots of facts and resources about ADHD).

There's lots of cool kids' culture happening this week, as well as a slew of awesome outdoor activities. Also, just in time for summer—a new water park!

Ready for a rootin'-tootin' good time? Kids will love the 17th annual Buffalo Watch at Readington River Farm in New Jersey, complete with Wild West cowboys, live music and pony rides. Or spend the day among 30,000 organic flowers at the Tuplic Festival in Riverhead, Long Island; kids can also enjoy hayrides, baby animals and mom, you can pick a bouquet to take home! Enjoy more farm fun at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center's Spring on the Farm Festival Weekend featuring sheepshearing and llama trekking. Also on tap, STEM-tastic Saturday in Westchester, where you can catch a drone and robotics demo, and hit 3D printing, coding and soldering stations.

Our Travel site has details on a new indoor water park, the largest in the northeast, at Camelback Mountain Resort. Zip-lining, an alpine coaster and a treetop adventure course are also offered.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

So here's the funny thing (and I'm sure it will make you laugh): I'm going through and updating events, and I'm noticing that a lot of annual summer favorites already have their schedules up. A summer concert series here, a movie series there; no surprise that baseball games are up—they already started—and Hollywood Bowl, of course.

But I'm seeing more and more summer series locked and loaded, ready to go, which is weird, because it's totally still spring; I can tell that from the calendar. May is spring unless there was some act of Congress I missed, and then it hits me: next weekend = Memorial Day. Memorial Day = unofficial start of summer. Transitive property, yada yada, I'm sorry, what? Summer???

And now you see that the laughing I said you would be doing is of the "or else I might cry" variety. Schools start letting out over the next few weeks; I'm sure you've got your camps picked out and know exactly what you're going to do with your kids all summer, and all I have to say to that is, "Ha! Ha Ha!"

Keep reading for some seriously funny events this weekend...

One of the very best things about the month of May in Boston is the huge variety of fun festivals around town, and this weekend is no exception. I'm personally really excited to finally check out the Lawn on D (pictured) at its grand opening for the season. But I have to say, it wasn't an easy choice, what with all the celebrations this weekend from kites and bikes to fairies on the calendar. So many great options!

There are also some wonderful opportunities for parents to teach kids to be kind by raising money for good causes. On top of that, music and shows round out the weekend, including your last chance to catch Shrek the Musical in Boston (check out Michelle's parent review to help you decide if it's right for your kids).

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Grabbing a bite at these 8 Places to Eat with Kids Along the Freedom Trail in Boston can make a great outing even better.
• Get musical with the kids by making this Straw Whistle in Three Steps.
• Kristin shares her family's favorite outdoor spots in Cohasset.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out our full Event Calendar!

There's plenty to do both indoors and out this weekend. Head to the East End for the Tulip Fest at Garden of Eve or the Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair at the Hallockville Museum. Meet some live Disney characters at the Smith Haven Mall or hit the Nassau County Museum of Art for Family Sundays.

Remember, you can find even more options in our jam-packed Event Calendar. To receive our posts in your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletters.

Arts and crafts are great for a child’s development. Even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body and no time to Pinterest an amazing toddler craft, there are many places in the Hartford area where you and your child can get gluing and glittering. If you would like more ideas, check out our After School Classes Guide.

One of the best things about exploring the South Shore with kids is the abundance of outdoor activities available. We live for the warmer months in this part of the country, so we try to make every day count when the weather is nice.

Cohasset, Massachusetts is no exception, as it offers plenty of exciting and unique ways to play outside with kids. Here are our top five places to enjoy the great outdoors with your family in Cohasset, from farm fun to woodsy adventures.

Three highly anticipated exhibits open this weekend: the art and nature-filled Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life at the New York Botanical Garden, the Children's Museum of the Arts' fantastical Far, Far, Away... and the cool, interactive public art installation Please Touch the Art in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Plus if you haven't seen the new Whitney Museum of American Art yet, you can check it out during its Opening Family Day on Saturday.

Two annual outdoor favorites also take place this weekend: Manhattan's FREE Dance Parade New York and Aviator Sport's old-fashioned Kings County Fair.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. Remember, there are even more options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide.