When a female subway rider offered her seat on the uptown 6 train to one of our Mommy Poppins editors who was well into her third trimester of pregnancy, the gentleman beside her suddenly came to life.

"Oh sorry, didn't know if you were pregnant or just fat." Dude. A new MTA pilot program launched on Mother’s Day 2017 aims to clear up that, ahem, confusion.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which includes NYC’s subways and buses, but also the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, will provide two types of wearable buttons for anyone who requests them due to a temporary or permanent disability: “Baby on Board!” or “Please offer me a seat.” Both buttons carry the slogan “Courtesy Counts,” and are designed to “encourage customers to move their feet and offer a seat for pregnant riders, seniors and those with a disability who are seeking seats,” according to a MTA statement.

Bright lights, Chinese culture, and a beloved Philly park? The Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square has all of these things and more. This festival is not just for kids and is sure to be fun for the whole family. Treat the kids to a night out past their bedtime with milkshakes, shows, and, of course, lights!

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish we camped more,” but the risk of abandoned tents, sleeping bags, and coolers sitting in the corner of your garage, or your nonexistent storage space if you're in the city, stops you from gearing up and going, New York state’s new First-Time Camper weekends might be just right for your family.

The state's Department of Environmental Conservation is launching a program to reserve a fully stocked campsite at select New York state campgrounds for a weekend getaway this summer, letting families test the waters before investing in the necessities. (And to find out who’s really afraid of the dark. Kidding.)

We love the philosophy behind Eye Level: that successful learning happens at the eye level of the child. The example of an elementary school teacher who kneels down in front of paintings at a gallery the day before bringing his students to an exhibit, to make sure he sees the work the way they will, is the type of engaged teaching we all want for our children. Maybe that's why more than two and a half million children have participated in Eye Level's individualized supplemental math and English program across the globe. With fifteen locations in New York and 216 locations nationwide, more local families are discovering the confidence and self-directed learning habits that Eye Level programs can provide.

If your house sounds like CBGB all day long, or you’re looking for a Boston summer camp that will help your aspiring Hendrix hone some real skills, then you’re in luck. The Boston area offers a plethora of summer rock music camps that cater to kids of all ages, abilities, and specialties—guitar, drums, bass, or vocals. Thanks to these camps, blossoming musicians will be jamming from Andover to Seekonk.

Find more great camp options for your Massachusetts kids in our Camp Guide and Directory of listings, which is searchable by interest, age, or location.

We live in a city surrounded by water, but when's the last time you and your kids enjoyed a day out on New York Harbor? Taking a boat ride in NYC is fun and exciting, and gives you a fresh perspective on our city and its majestic waterfront. While there are lots of different kinds of NYC sightseeing cruises in summer, some may feel a bit touristy for us natives, and others cost a pirate's booty! That's why I always mark the annual City of Water Day on my calendar. It's one of the few times you can go on a New York Harbor boat tour for FREE.

This day-long celebration of our waterfront lands on Saturday, July 15, 2017 and features a slew of water-themed activities in and around Governors Island and other locations. As you can imagine, the FREE boat rides are extremely popular, so it can be tricky to snag tickets for them. We've got the scoop on what your family needs to do to enjoy a no-cost cruise and everything else you need to know about City of Water Day.

While some of us can't wait for lazy summer days with lots of time to spare, others of us need a calendar brimming full with activities each day. This Litchfield County Summer Events Guide will keep you up to date on fun activities planned for July through the first weekend of September whether you are a full-timer, weekender or just passing through.  So pack up the sunscreen, snacks and water bottles and have yourself a terrific fun filled summer. While you are here, check out the go-to list for 20 Things to Do in Litchfield County This Summer and our CT Summer Fun Guide.

Whether you're shopping for your own mom, helping a friend's kids treat their mom (because, yes, we're that amazing), or dropping a hint in someone else's direction (because YO! We're that amazing!!), these deals we've found might give you a shortcut to some great last minute gifts. Happy Mother's Day from Mommy Poppins!