A principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, Irina Dvorovenko was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and began her ballet training at the Kiev Ballet School at the age of ten. She joined the National Opera Ballet of Kiev in 1990 as a soloist, rising to the rank of principle dancer in 1992. Just some of her leading roles of the great classics include: Gamzatti in La Bayadere; Kitri the Queen of the Driads and Mercedes in Don Quixote; Giselle and Myrta in Giselle; Princess Aurora and Princess Florine in He Sleeping Beauty and Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.

Irina usually dances in tandem with her husband, our first Celebrity Father, Maxim Beloserkovsky. She is also an actress having appeared on Broadway and Spokes-model for several leading brands as well as creator of her own line of dance wear and footwear.

Most importantly she is a Mother….she is warm and inviting with lots of hugs and air kisses, I adore her as she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out. Irina Dvorovenko is a true star, a role model that young ballerinas can embrace and look up to.

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Irina Dvorovenko as our fifth Celebrity Mother!

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1. How would you describe yourself?

I am a strong, independent and loving person. At times I love others more than I love myself. I am so happy when something wonderful happens to people I know, I care deeply for mankind and find it my responsibility to help others.

I am also grounded and know the importance of my family who I adore.

2. Please tell us about your daughter?

Emma is a bright, emotional and artistic young lady. She is an unbelievable negotiator and I could easily see her becoming an attorney, however recently she has expressed interest in becoming a ballerina. We will see, of course I will support her in her decision. She recently performed on stage in a musical and I was so impressed with her enthusiasm and delivery. I was very proud.

Emma Beloserkovsky – photo by Vital Agibalow

3. When you were four months pregnant you and your husband, Maxim Beloserkovsky, performed the pas de deux from the second act of Swan Lake. I love that you were quoted as saying that while dancing this dance, you were thinking that the baby would enjoy it as well. Did you dance/perform throughout your entire pregnancy?

No, after four months I stopped. My first priority was my baby and making sure she was safe. I also wanted my attention on my pregnancy so I could enjoy every part of it fully.

4. What Old Fashioned advice does your Mother give you with respect to raising your daughter?

My Mother prefers Emma to read, play chess with my Father…do things like this, and not be on the IPad so much. Today is very different, children are so knowledgeable about computers and social media. They are on their phone texting and talking to one another…in order to keep up we have to know how to do all this. My Mother of course does, but enjoys the simpler times as well.

5. Do you dance as a Family?

Yes, we have been known to on occasion have “living room” performances. My husband will dance with Emma and this is so beautiful to watch…then the costumes will be brought out. It is great fun and I am happy that I can share my love of dancing with my daughter.

6. You are such a role model for so many future ballerinas. Now that you are a Mother, what age would you recommend beginning ballet?

This should be around nine or ten. There are pre-ballet classes for the little ones, however dancing takes a lot of focus and strength and to start to young could ruin the desire to continue on.

7. What are your favorite things to do as a family?

We enjoy cooking and baking, there is always something special about gathering around a meal and talking…especially one that you have made! Drawing is something we enjoy as well. I think just being together and being in the moment, realizing how fortunate we are to have one another.

Brooks Brothers is known for Classic Clothing and Apparel. It is a great store for children and I especially like it for boys….however you can certainly leave with something for the entire family.

I adore their sport shirt, which is crafted in cotton with forward point collars and barrel cuffs. The shirts are machine washable, which is always a plus.

Brooks Brothers is the oldest men’s clothier chain in the United States and is head quartered on Madison Avenue, New York City. Notable alumni include Ralph Lauren who started out as a salesman there….and Brooks Brothers is the official clothier of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

www.brooksbrothers.com

Visit the Spring Art Colony Day Camp

Looking to fill your child’s spring break? Find a truly collaborative art making experience in CMA’s Art Colony Day Camp. Art Colony allows students to immerse themselves in innovative arts courses taught by professional teaching artists. Classes run from 10 AM-4 PM, with supervised play from 9-10 AM and 4-5 PM included. Explore the wide variety of class offerings for ages 6-15.

“There is nothing that I enjoy more than spending time as a family….I love listening to what my children have to say and seeing their milestones as they grow. They make me laugh and teach me so much. I am a better person because of them and I cherish their individuality. Spend time as a family…the memories you are creating will last a lifetime and be forever remembered in your child’s mind.”

Spending time as a family is a wise investment. Children in families that participate in religious activities together are more likely to report having parents who show affection, and those with involved parents tend to fare better in school and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

• Spending time in everyday family leisure activities is associated with greater emotional bonding within the family. A family’s “core” leisure activities (those that are typically everyday, low-cost, home-based activities such as playing board games, playing in the yard, gardening and watching television together) were related to the family’s cohesion (“the emotional bonding that family members have toward one another”). Both a family’s “core” activities and their “balance” activities (those that are novel experiences and require a greater investment of time, effort, planning and money–such as vacations, special events, and sports activities) were related to the family’s ability to adapt.₁
• Children in families that participate in religious activities together are more likely to report seeing expressions of love and affection between their parents. Two dimensions of family religious involvement–family participation in religious activities at least once per week and parental prayer more than once per day—were associated with greater expression of love or affection between the parents, as reported by their children.₂
• Parents of families in which both the parents and children attend religious services are more likely to know their children’s social networks.  They are more likely to know their children’s friends, those friends’ parents, and their children’s teachers, than parents of families in which only the parents or only the children, or neither, participated in religious activities.₃
• Children’s academic success is associated with having mothers who frequently communicated with them. This entailed talking with the children, listening to them, and answering their questions.₄
• Children whose fathers spend time with them doing activities tend to have better academic performance. Preteens whose fathers spent leisure time away from the home (picnics, movies, sports, etc.) with them, shared meals with them, helped with homework or reading, and engaged in other home activities with them earned better grades in school, on average, than peers whose fathers spent less time with them. Similarly, teens whose fathers engaged in activities in the home and outdoors, spent leisure time, and talked with them earned better grades, on average, than teens whose fathers spent less time with them.₅
• Adolescents whose parents are involved in their lives tend to exhibit fewer behavioral problems. Parent involvement was assessed by how often the parent or parental figure asked about their children’s lives, encouraged their interests, gave good advice, and spent free time with them in school activities.₆
• Youths who communicate, do activities and have close relationships with their parents are less likely to engage in violence. Family integration through bonds with a parent (in particular, with a mother who was living in the home) was associated with a decrease in the likelihood that an adolescent will commit an act of violence. (Parent-child bonds were measured by adolescents’ reports of feeling close to their parents, being involved in family activities, and communicating with their parents.) Youths in twoparent families whose bond with their resident mothers was just one standard deviation higher than the mean level were 18 percent less likely to commit an act of violence than peers with average maternal bonds. Among youths living in single parent families, a bond with that parent that was one standard deviation above the mean was associated with a 17 percent decrease in violence, while a one-unit increase in bonding with a nonresident parent was associated with a 5 percent decrease in violent behavior.₇
• Teens who frequently have dinner with their families are at a lower risk for substance abuse. Compared with teens who frequently had dinner five times or more per week with their families, those who had dinner with their families only two nights per week or less were twice as likely to be involved in substance abuse. They were 2.5 times as likely to smoke cigarettes, more than 1.5 times as likely to drink alcohol, and nearly three times as likely to try marijuana.₈
• Teens whose parents are home with them after school and in the evening are less likely to experience emotional distress. Other parental factors included having parents who engaged in activities with the teens and parents who had high expectations regarding teens’ academic performance.₉

While strolling down King Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, my daughter and I discovered the cutest little children’s boutique called Sugar Snap Pea. The clothes are playful yet traditional and the boutique is stocked with fabulous accessories. We left with so many goodies in hand…a must if you are visiting this charming Southern City.

“Sugar Snap Pea is your destination for fresh and fun children’s clothing in Downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant. We aim to provide our customers with the highest quality of modern children’s clothing, gear and accessories.Stop by one of our two locations today for a delightful shopping experience!

We make every effort to carry a wide range of products in store and online. However, if you are looking for a product online that you cannot find, please do not hesitate to give us a call! We happily offer concierge shopping services for our out-of-state customers.”
www.sugarsnappea.com

A gorgeous floral top by Sugar Snap Pea….Charleston’s premiere children’s boutique.

Sugar Snap Pea – fun children’s clothing!

Beautiful dresses – the Tea Elfengarten Sash Dress, the CP Wrap Dress & the CP Crystal Dress.

Sugar Snap Pea Store – Charleston, SC.

View the top 12 things to do with kids in New York City this January 2015!

While January is traditionally a mellow time, especially compared to the nonstop action of the holiday season, there’s no way you can hibernate all month—not with kids around. Luckily, you don’t have to. Our January GOList is packed with annual favorites like the 38th annual Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem, Central Park’s annual Winter Jam sports fest and Beam Center‘s hands-on Inventgenuity Festival, plus some brand-new, exceptional-sounding shows and performances for kids.

As always, if an event piques your interest, be sure to click through to our listing for all the details, including address and time. And keep in mind: In NYC, really cool things to do with kids often get booked up quickly. So buy your tickets ASAP or, in the case of FREE events, arrive as early as possible to try to beat the crowds.

So get out your calendar: Here are the top 12 things to do with kids in New York City this January, five of which are FREE.

Clifford’s Big Red Party at the Scholastic Store – Soho
Saturday, January 3
The Scholastic Store isn’t just saying goodbye to 2014—it’s saying goodbye, period! Come January 11, the kid-lit spot is closing for good so this is one of the last times you’ll be able to hit the shop’s Imagination Clubhouse, the Magic School Bus, the Creativity Corner and that beloved Clifford coin-operated ride. The big red dog himself is hosting this final bash featuring crafts, magic tricks, face painting, balloon twisting, a reading of Clifford Visits the Zoo and photo ops. It’s sure to be a bittersweet experience. FREE

Community Cube at the Seaport – South Street Seaport
Monday, January 5-Sunday, February 1
Throughout the month, a 250-person heated tent will host a wide variety of events for all ages, from screenings to dance parties to hands-on workshops. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, downtown community org FiDi Families is curating all of the little-kid activities, including interactive concerts by Music for Aardvarks (Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 27) and screenings of Frozen (Monday, January 5). However, it’s worth looking at the “grown-up” programming (dubbed Sugarcube), too, since some of those offerings are good for school-age children, like screenings of Enchanted (Thursday, January 8), Little Fugitive (Thursday, January 15) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II – The Secret of the Ooze (Thursday, January 29), and the interactive Paint the Music party (Saturday, January 17). All events are FREE

Three Kings Day Parade – East Harlem
Tuesday, January 6
While there are many ways to mark Three Kings Day (a.k.a. the “12th day of Christmas”) in NYC, El Museo del Barrio’s 38th annual procession is the biggest celebration. Watch as lots of local school kids march by alongside colorful floats, festive bands, live camels and the massive Three Wise Men puppets, which lead the procession and stay on display in the museum after the event. My daughter and I have been many times and it’s fun though modest. Find a spot at the start on 106th Street and Lexington Avenue (there’s always room), watch for 15 minutes or so and then continue celebrating with a great Mexican meal at nearby El Paso Restaurante. Or go to the end at La Marqueta where there will be live music and delicious eats from local vendors. FREE

Stella, Queen of the Snow – Upper West Side
Saturday, January 10
Marie-Louise Gay’s popular picture book comes to life at Symphony Space thanks to the eye-popping creativity of the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Stella and her little brother Sam’s wintry adventure features snowballs, snow angels and a snow-topped forest, all conjured by whimsical puppets, striking scenic effects and moving original music. Bonus: Mommy Poppins is sponsoring the 2pm performance so our readers enjoy an adorable marshmallow snowman activity before the show and save 35% on tickets with the discount code MPJK. $26 for adults, $16 for children

IMpossible IZZpossible – Fort Greene
Friday, January 16-Saturday, January 17
Head to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to check out this multicultural dance mash up from Philadelphia’s Illstyle & Peace Productions. The troupe celebrates the African roots of hip-hop dance by showcasing a wide range of styles, from tap to step to modern. Thanks to its high energy routines and brief one-hour running time, IMpossible IZZpossible is a great choice for all ages, though the recommended range is 6 to 11. $12

The Fresh Beat Band Live – Midtown West
Saturday, January 17
Even though their Nickelodeon show went off the air in 2013, the Fresh Beat Band—a.k.a. Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout—are still big-name celebrities to the preschool set. At a pair of tot-friendly pop concerts at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the group will perform its greatest hits including “Bananas,” “Here We Go” and a brand-new version of “Great Day,” plus classic covers that should please parents, like the Bangles’ “Walk Like An Egyptian.” $40-$65

Wild Kratts Live – Greenwich Village
Saturday, January 17-Monday, January 19
Calling all preschoolers who love animals (a.k.a. all of them): Catch Martin and Chris Kratt, real-life brothers and stars of the PBS Kids nature series Wild Kratts, onstage at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Although there are no live animals in this stage adaptation of the show, there’s plenty of audience interaction as the Kratts ask tots to help them tap into the powers of various creatures. With video, music and amazing animal facts, it’s the perfect show for the under-six set. $32-$75

Everything About a Family (Almost) – Chelsea
Saturday, January 17-Monday, February 16
Out of all the shows my daughter and I see together, the ones at TADA! Youth Theater make the biggest impression on her, because she loves watching her peers on stage. Local youngsters ages 8 to 18 perform in original musicals that are quirky and thought-provoking. The company’s latest revue, Everything About a Family (Almost), was actually conceived and written by former members of TADA!’s Resident Youth Ensemble. This updated revival is set on a cruise ship and examines how kooky, fun and irreplaceable relatives can be. $25 for adults, $15 for children

Lionboy – Midtown West
Friday, January 23-Sunday, February 1
A dystopian fantasy about climate change and the corporatization of our global culture aimed at families? You’d only find a show like this at the New Victory Theater. Based on Zizou Corder’s bestselling young adult trilogy, Lionboy was adapted by the award-winning London troupe Complicite and chronicles the cross-continental saga of a boy who sets out to save his kidnapped scientist parents. Happily, he’s got a secret weapon: He can communicate with cats. Geared to children ages 8 and up, Lionboy is a rousing adventure that gets kids thinking about complex real-life issues. $15-$38

Winter Jam – Upper East Side
Saturday, January 24
Regardless of what Mother Nature brings, it’s going to be a major snow day at the Central Park Bandshell. The Parks Department’s annual winter sports festival features fresh blown snow courtesy of Gore Mountain so families can try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding, or just frolic in the fluffy white stuff. All equipment is provided or you can bring your own. Signed waivers are required for certain activities. This one gets seriously crowded to arrive as early as possible. FREE

Beam Center’s Inventgenuity Festival – Cobble Hill
Saturday, January 24-Sunday, January 25
We first heard about Beam Center‘s annual hands-on fest in 2011 and many Mommy Poppins families go every year. The 2015 edition will be the last one in Cobble Hill since Beam Center is moving to a brand-new, state-of-the-art studio in the Columbia Street Waterfront District in February. The Inventgenuity Fest is a great way to get a sense of all the program has to offer kids, with a wide range of collaborative and individual low- and high-tech projects, all overseen by professional educators and artists. You must register for the festival in advance and then sign up for specific workshops. Drop-ins most likely cannot be accommodated. Free admission but there is a $8.25 materials fee for each workshop

Thunderbird American Indian Dancers Annual Dance Concert and Pow-wow – East Village
Friday-Sunday: January 30-Sunday, February 8
A beloved wintertime tradition: At the Theater for the New City’s 40th annual cultural event, families can enjoy dances, stories and music from the Iroquois and Native Peoples of the Northeast, Southwest and Great Plains regions. All proceeds benefit the Native American scholarship fund, and on weekend matinees, kids get in for just a buck and are invited to interact with the performers during parts of the show. $10, $1 for children under age 12 for matinees only

Honorable Mentions

NYC always has so many incredible things going on that it’s difficult to choose. So here are 10 more cool events that are worth considering for your January calendar. Be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters so you can get our weekend picks delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning.

Watch (or if you’re brave, join!) the Coney Island Polar Bear Club members on their annual New Year’s Day swim in the Atlantic Ocean. FREE

Take train-obsessed tots to the New York Botanical Garden to see the mini musical All Aboard with Thomas & Friends, which plays throughout the month.

Join the Urban Park Rangers in Queens’ Cunningham Park to gaze at the Quadrantids meteor shower on Sunday, January 4. FREE

Scour the skies for eagles in Inwood Hill Park on Saturday, January 10. FREE

Get up close and personal with bugs, reptiles and slime at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s annual Icky Fest on Saturday, January 10-Sunday, January 11.

Enjoy Songs for Unusual Creatures at Carnegie Hall as images of blobfish, elephant shrews and other bizarre beasts frolic to kooky tunes by author/composer Michael Hearst on Sunday, January 11. FREE

Try to grab an artistic holiday treat to take home as the New York Hall of Science dismantles its massive GingerBread Lane display on Sunday, January 11.

Check out panels, films, workshops and discussion about African-American comics at the third annual Black Comic Book Festival at the Schomburg Center on Saturday, January 17. FREE

Join eighth graders from the Manhattan Country School as they march for peace in honor of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 19. FREE

Celebrate Oshogatsu, a.k.a. the Japanese New Year, at Japan Society’s annual fete on Sunday, January 25.

CEO and Co-founder of Fame Game and former Senior Executive of AOL, the lovely Tatiana Platt joined me under sunny sky’s on Christmas Eve in Palm Beach to discuss her very hands on role as a Mother to three young children. Certain Mother’s are just fun….roll your sleeves up, get in the sandbox and play fun…and Tatiana is just this! She is uber Mom x three…and I delighted in her talents from hand making beautiful hair bows for her girls to her ultra creative birthday celebrations and filling in for a missing instructor one afternoon and playing soccer with her sons team for a hour!

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Tatiana Platt as our fourth Celebrity Mother!

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1. How would you describe yourself?

Busy! I am a multitasker who juggles a million different things every day. I wake up at 5:45am and usually collapse into bed around 9pm.

2. Please tell us about your children…

I have 3 children: 5, 4 and 3 years old. I didn’t plan on having them so close together, it just happened! And in hindsight, I love how close in age they are and also how close they are in general. My son is the eldest, his name is Fox, and he is very disciplined and organized. He could sit with a Lego set for 2 hours and be happy as a clam. He is now in Kindergarten and loves the challenge. My second child is my daughter Xenia. She is strong, independent, outgoing and a little fashionista. For her 4th birthday, she asked for a vanity table and makeup. My youngest is my other daughter Riva. She is headstrong and fierce (I guess you have to be when you have two older siblings). She easily keeps up with her brother and sister and can even out-scoot them! But she also has an attitude, last week she threw her ballet shoes at her ballet teacher. That one is a little rough around the edges. What I love is they all have their own personalities, their special sparkle and of course their rivalries with each other.

3. How did your family celebrate your first Mothers Day?

We spent the weekend in the Hamptons. It was a gorgeous brisk spring weekend and my son was only 3 months old. I remember talking a long walk with my husband and my son in a bjorn on Flying Point Beach all bundled up.

4. What activities do you and your children enjoy most?

We love outdoor activities, scooting to school, swimming in the ocean and playing at the beach, playing cards and board games, and especially traveling. We do everything together.

5. The benefits of world travel for children has been well documented….what far off places have your children experienced?

In the last year alone, we have been to Italy, Morocco, Mexico and are headed to Costa Rica in a week. The kids love being exposed to new cultures and environments. Many of my friends can’t believe I take my three small children on such long trips, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Tell your Children you love them!!! This is so important, verbally tell them how wonderful they are and how much you love them….daily. Love from parents, in all of its manifestations, is how children form secure attachments in infancy and childhood.”

Society Editor for Town and Country Magazine

and great grand daughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst…..Fresh faced beauty Gillian Hearst Simonds is marvelously grounded and passionately involved in her children’s lives. Over pear martinis at Bistro Chat Noir on the upper east side, we chatted at length about our children and the importance of routines and structure and how it provides a sense of security and helps them develop self-discipline. Gillian’s devotion to her family and strong commitment to being a positive role model for her daughters embodies what being an Old Fashioned Mom is all about.

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Gillian Hearst Simonds as our third Celebrity Mother!

____________________

1. How would you describe yourself?

I think I’m a confident grounded woman, who’s very in love with her husband and daughters. I enjoy a good challenge, respect hardwork, and appreciate honesty and loyalty. I cherish the time that I get with my friends and family because I know that time is a gift so I try to enjoy every second.

2. What do you love most about being a Mother?

Watching them grow! every day they are learning something new, I love hearing “mommy” come out of my 18 month old, even at 3 in the morning. With two girls, 18 months old and 5 months old, we are still really only in the early stages of childhood, but it has been amazing. I love watching how excited they get with every new experience from bubbles to Christmas trees. It’s wonderful experiencing and rediscovering the world with them.

3. Please tell us what a typical day is for you?

I know that having a schedule helps the girls be relaxed and comfortable because they know their routine so the girls get up around 6:30, then there’s breakfast for them and coffee for me and my husband. We play for a bit, then a nap for one or both girls. Harper, the oldest, usually has some sort of morning class followed by lunch at home while we watch an episode of Sophia the First. Nap for both girls from 1230-3ish, then some afternoons Harper has a swim class or we take the girls up to the playroom or on a playdate. A lot of evenings we will take the girls to see a light show set to music because they really enjoy that. Any and all christmas lights are a huge hit right now. Around 5:15 home for dinner and some playtime before bath time, we read some books and bedtime. Around 7 pm everyone is down. When they are napping or asleep I also find time to work as a contributing editor for Town & Country magazine, and do work with Memorial Sloan Kettering Associates Committee, UNICEF Next Generation, New York Botanical Gardens, the High Line, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, which we are in full swing planning the Explorer’s Club party for May 13, 2015. There’s also the charity events and parties that happen around the city, and, of course, date nights with my husband or nights out with friends to catch up.

4. What activities do you and your children love doing together?

We read a lot. Do puzzles, there’s a gym class, painting and coloring, going to the zoo and the park. In the fall we went apple picking and looked at the changing leaves.

5. Reading is so important for children, what are some of your favorite books?

Fritz and the Beautiful Horses, Goodnight Moon, My Chincoteague Pony, Good Night New York City, The Night Before Christmas, The Pelican Chorus/Quangle Wangle’s Hat by Edward Lear, Black Beauty (40-page picture-book adaptation by Sharon Lerner.)

*Gillian is actively involved with Memorial Sloan Kettering Associates Committee, UNICEF Next Generation, New York Botanical Gardens, The High Line and The Wildlife Conservation Society.

The Best Dressed Child…..a wonderful on-line store hailing from Alpharetta, Georgia. Southern girls really know how to do smocking right, this store has the cutest….and I mean the cutest little play dresses and seasonal attire for children! I just purchased this adorable swimsuit ensemble for Hyacinth, and beach accessories galore! When my son was little he wore all the darling smocked outfits as well, complete with Peter Pan collars.

A real treasure…. www.bestdressedchild.com

Hyacinth in Bathing Suit from The Best Dressed Child