I have 4 daughters. Having kids is such a blessing, and such hard work. I always took time for myself and mingled it with being with the kids. Play groups are wonderful!!!! Mom's get to chat child raising woes, school policies, neighborhood activities, coupons, and about themselves. The children get to learn about sharing, playing in different surroundings, and coping with other Mom's giving direction and have fun. What a great start to learning about the real world. Going to school will not be such a shock with a few sessions of play groups. I had different groups also, so the kids learned about different areas or our township and their surroundings. One playgroup date we had 27 kids and 13 Moms at it, it was a hoot!
I also believe in getting out with just Moms, Parents Night Outs, and Families Night Outs. This made for a tight niche group. We knew what to expect from other parents and how we could depend on each other for help if needed. We morphed into Families Getaway Weekends and Ladies Weekends, and Men’s Weekends, it was great. While the kids are small it was easy, now our kids are in college and some still in high school. We all still get together for weekends, dinners, and graduation parties. We built strong groups of extended family that has lasted us for over 24 years now.
I was blessed to be able to purchase my families beach house on LBI, which was one of the weekend getaways destinations. I now rent it for various retreats I offer, and welcome retreat groups of their own to enjoy the beauty and solitude of Long Beach Island, NJ. I enjoy being able to offer a place to families that enriched ours so much in the past, and keeps on giving us a future destination to enjoy our growing families.
I encourage Moms to make the effort and start a play group, your kids will love it and so will you. If you want to come to LBI for a retreat let me know. Come down and do nothing but relax, soak in the hot tub, sip wine, read, or I can line up an activity for you if you would like.
We have a lot to do within a 10 block radius: Brighton Beach Surf shop with lessons and rentals daily, Acme Surf and Skate, with kayak and bike rentals, Oceanside Bait and Tackle if you fish, Joey’s Pizza, Kubel’s Too (has great burgers, cheese steaks, and seafood dishes), Pinky’s shrimp Seafood take out, Pinzaminno’s Italian restaurant (fancy), 2 ice cream shops to choose from, Acme market for food shopping, and a 4 plex movie theater. We are a great spot for kids of all ages to be able to get around on their own, or with a parent by bike or on foot. Also, 17 blocks away is a guarded bay beach with playground, volleyball, basketball, baseball field, sailing/windsurfing beach, and dog beach.
We run off season retreats from Sept.-May allowing tenants to enjoy the radiant heated floors and gas fireplace while taking one of our retreats or bringing in their own retreat. Our retreats are: Surfing, Scrapbooking, Fishing, French Cuisine Cooking, Photography, Spa/Massage, Water Color Painting, Plein Air Painting, Healthy Living/Eating, Yoga/Pilates, and Spiritual/Healing.
Let me know if you have any special needs for your group, beach wheels, catering… If you bring the kids, I want to let you know I have 2 teen daughters 15,17 that babysit, if you need a helper at the beach or an adult dinner out night. If you rent, at check in I will give you a LBI things to do for your week flyer. It has specials and free or fee activities the island is offering during your rental week, along with coupons we get during the year for local businesses, to help stretch your dollar. Feel free to call with any questions or requests. If you go to my link below you can see more about the house an area.
Here is a virtual tour of the house: : http://youtu.be/ak5IHJYjnxs Location to the beach video:
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Gutchigian
113 East 85 Street
Beach Haven Crest
Long Beach Township. NJ 08008-3434
Beach House Retreats
The Wed and Bed
WWW.LBI-Vacation.com
609-947-1377
Google Earth Map Location:
Come stay with us and learn something new, or brush up on a skill, and enjoy quiet LBI in the off season months.