Big news from Mombian HQ today: My partner has accepted a new job, so sometime in the next few months we’ll be moving from the lovely Hudson Valley to the equally lovely Boston area. I lived there in college, and am excited about going back, although it will be very different this time with family in tow. Luckily, my dad’s been a long-standing (and long-suffering) Red Sox fan, and has geared up our son appropriately, so we won’t need to “lose” any Yankees caps in transit.
While I won’t bore you with all the details of house hunting, selling, and packing, I’m going to write about a few relevant issues such as: How does one keep a house clean for showing with a three-year-old in it? Is being under contract on a home sufficient residency to marry in Massachusetts, or do we have to wait for closing? and When will Boston get a WNBA team?
I’m also happy to take suggestions from readers on LGBT and/or children’s things to see and do in the area. I remember the Children’s Museum and the Aquarium from when I was growing up. Any lesser-known places we shouldn’t miss?
How exciting – it’ll be great to have you in the Boston area. I’ve followed your website for a while now and am totally addicted to it. Thanks for all of the great tips.
Our son is 14-months so is still a little young for most activities. However, it’s not too soon to plan. I just picked up a copy of “Make Way for Ducklings” (my son has a strong liking to ducks – not sure why but we’re going with it) for future activity planning. My plan is that we will read the story and then take a trip to the Boston Common to see the duckling statues & ride the swan boats, etc. Your 3-year old is the perfect age for this activity.
I would also recommend the Museum of Science – it has lots of activities for kids of all ages.
Good luck with the move.
Gayle
BTW, I’ve been waiting for a WNBA team in Boston for 10 years. Maybe some day…
welcome! this lesbian mom has been reading your blog from boston for a while now and enjoying it! you’ll find the boston area is a great place for glbt families. check out http://www.bostoncentral.com for a few ideas. no word on that wnba team, though.
Well for the drive there you can stop in Amherst at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (http://www.picturebookart.org/).
WELCOME TO NEW ENGLAND. MY partner and I live in Providence, RI,( about 45 mins from Boston with our 2 childern. Just to name a few wonderful things to do around here. You absolutely must go to Family week in Provincetown. Northhampton is a lovely day trip, nicknamed lesbianville, and very family friendly. The Eric Carle museum is just minutes from there. Also if you like candles, the Yankee Candle Factory is a must esp. with little ones for the holiday displays. Don’t forget to visit Ben and Jerry’s in Vermont ,good for the kids, and we all know why lesbians like ice cream cones. Oh I almost forgot, the best way to get to know Boston is to take a “Duck Tour”, it’s this bus/boat shaped like a duck that gives you a tour and quick history of Boston and the Bay. Best of luck to you and your family
How exciting! Congratulations and good luck with the move!
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Welcome to Boston. My wife and I both now live in Newton now that our little one is in school, but we used to be in Boston and I was also a nanny before that. In addition to all the wonderful comments above, you should try the Full Moon Restaurant in Cambridge – good food and designed for small children – they have a small play space specifically for the little ones within view of every table. There are of course the old standards of the Children’s Museum, Science Museum, Aquarium and if you are actually in the city, the Barnes and Noble in the Prudential Center has story time every Wednesday morning and the fountain in the middle of Copley is great for endless penny throwing. The frog pond in the commons is great for kids to wade in the water in the summer (and there is a playground next to it) and to try out those ice skates in the winter. They have milk cartons for kids to hold on to as they first learn to skate. Brookline also has a Thursday morning sing along at the library in Coolidge Corner. What area of Boston are you moving to? From GLAD’s guide on how to get married in MA – here is how you become a MA resident: There is no hard and fast rule about how one becomes a Massachusetts resident. The Massachusetts Citizen Information Service states, “There is no formal procedure for establishing a legal residence in Massachusetts. Voter registration, automobile registration, a driver’s license, the appearance of a person’s name on a city or town street list, and rent, utility, mortgage or telephone bills normally provide tangible proof of residence. However, individual public or private agencies or institutions may have their own requirements for proof of residence.”
The bottom line is that for purposes of the marriage licensing statutes, the parties must reside here and intend to continue residing here indefinitely.
23www.state.ma.us/sec/cis/ciswel/weltomas.htm
From my experience and that of friends, it all depends on the city hall you go to to get the marriage license. Newton was wonderful and the clerk was so excited and supportive.
Sorry to barge in – but I’ve just started a meetup group for lesbian moms in Boston and I’m trying to find ways to spread the word. Please e-mail me or look for our group on meetup.com.
We are having our first outing on January 6th at the Kid’s Playground in Woburn – I think there are about 4 or 5 families coming so far.