2022
2021
Health check in, new family services, plus more!
Friday, November 5, 2021
How’s Your Metabolism | Circle Family Center | Lying or Pretending | Vanessa’s Silver Lining
All of the Halloween fun!
Friday, October 29, 2021
A-Mazing Fun | Coloring Contest | Spooky Winners | Day of the Dead is not Halloween
Everything Birth and Babies, Plus More!
Friday, October 22, 2021
Santa Cruz Sea Walls | Swank Farms | Birth Stories | Clean Teeth
Must Read Education Advice
Friday, October 15, 2021
Educational Needs | College Application | Tired Mom Lunches | What the kids are saying, about Halloween
Pioneers of At-Home Birthing
Friday, October 8, 2021
Birth Happens | Violence at School | Spooky Coloring Contest | Community
Ready to see our baby photo cover winner?
Friday, October 1, 2021
Baby Cover Winner | Pregnancy and Birth Guide | Halloween Returns! | Halloween Fun and Events
A Week of Celebrations!
Friday, September 24, 2021
MusicalMe | Nature’s Best Medicine | Local Artist | Youth Action Network
Your chance to WIN tickets to the Santa Cruz County Fair!
Friday, September 10, 2021
Baby’s Lifeline | Hallie Green, a Mom Making a Difference | Coloring Contest | Slow Streets
September's Issue is on Newsstands NOW!
Friday, September 3, 2021
Famed Santa Cruz Artist | 6 Minute Abs | Summer to School Transition | Success through Organization
Back to School...how it's going.
Friday, August 27, 2021
Back to a New Normal | County Scoop | Questions for Mom | Modern Realtor
Check out our comprehensive Back to School Guide! ✏
Friday, August 20, 2021
Back to School Guide | I learned it on Tik-Tok | What the Kids are Saying | Local Artist: Gavin Gasparotti
When was the last time you rode a roller coaster?
Friday, August 13, 2021
Back to In-Person | Moms Who Make a Difference | Financial Fitness | Getting Back in Rhythm
Tips for addressing your child's anxiety and a possible grade bump!
Friday, August 06, 2021
Need a Grade Bump | Facing School Anxiety | Protect Breastfeeding
Preparing for back to school!
Friday, July 30, 2021
10 Questions with Faris Sabbag | Better Shoes for Your Kids | Memories of Santa Cruz | Plant-based Health Bar
The tire swing wasn't stolen!
Friday, July 23, 2021
Get Reading this Summer! | Young Writers Best in Show | Mac or PC for Back to School | Where is the tire swing at Blue Ball Park?
Can this invention save your home from fire?
Friday, July 16, 2021
Student Fire Safety Invention, Musical Babies, Scary Rides, and Teen Mental Health
Can you leave your kids home alone?
Friday, July 09, 2021
Parenting these days, thriving libraries, work and parenting balancing, and taking the kids to Underland.
Finally we can celebrate the Fourth!!
Friday, July 02, 2021
Parades, flyovers, berry tasting and water slides! The fun is back!
We all need broadband, right?
Friday, June 25, 2021
Santa Cruz Wired, discovery is back, congressman checks out trans community, and what next for grads?
Have you visited the cows at Arana Gulch?
Friday, June 18, 2021
Music is Cool and Important, A Beach Volleyball Player Who Hates Sand? , The Pandemic hasn’t Stifled these Grads, Get Pumped!
Buying a new computer? Don't get ripped off.
Friday, June 11, 2021
Discovery Moms, Here’s what some grads are doing (SLVHS), We Asked for Pet Photos; You answered
Dads and Grads Gift Guide
Friday, June 4, 2021
Find the perfect gift for the dad or grad in your life! This month’s local artist, pets, and Redball project!
Pack up the car for the holiday!
Friday, May 28, 2021
Keeping your organized, hidden beaches, Adventures in Mom-ing, and a new art space opening in Felton!
Your has a credit card?!
Friday, May 21, 2021
Building financial literacy at a young age, plus resetting the gut after shelter in place eating.
Do you know about our hidden beaches?
Friday, May 14, 2021
Hidden Beaches, Rock Star Kids, and Graduates!
Surfing Mama's and Other Moms
Friday, May 7, 2021
Wave Riding Moms, Hidden Beaches, and Our Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Are You Ready for Summer?
Friday, April 16, 2021
We’ve got you covered for Summer Activities!
Life After Covid | Shelter in Place
Friday, April 9, 2021
What Kids Want First Thing After Covid
Free College Money, Food, and Social Justice
Friday, April 2, 2021
Not Junk Mail, It’s Real.
Pandemic Skateboarding?
Friday, March 19, 2021
Skating is Bigger. Schools are closed, sales are up.
Schools Reopening, Kids Store closing
Friday, March 5, 2021
Little League, Things are Returning Safely
Do you know a Mom who made a difference?
Friday, February 19, 2021
Moms Make it Great: Every Month is Mother’s Day Here
What do you tell your kids about politics?
Friday, February 12, 2021
Politics and COVID: How should you talk to your kids?
Keeping Schools Safe During COVID
Friday, February 5, 2021
Face to Face: What Can Schools Do?
Black History Month/Valentine's Day
Friday, January 29, 2021
Take a Sneak Peek at February’s Issue Before it Hits Newsstands
In with the new, out with the old.
Friday, January 22, 2021
This week’s newsletter covers meditation for kids and a whole week of school open houses.
Eat Healthy, Excercise Better
Friday, January 15, 2021
Learn ways to improve your health in the new year.
Where are the Butterflies and Sea Otters
Friday, January 8, 2021
Monarch Butterflies numbers have declined, read more on how you can help their numbers.
What will the New Year Bring?
Tuesday, January 6, 2021
Take a peek at upcoming January Celebrations.
2020
Choosing Positive Post Holidays
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Making the most of the “Neither Here Nor There” time between the holidays and the new year.
The Holidays are here...do you feel festive?
Friday, December 18, 2020
Holiday Tips, Good Stuff and Upcoming Week’s Calendar
Local Davids Versus Goliath Amazon
Friday, December 11, 2020
Locals vs Amazon: Can our Stores Survive?
A holiday season unlike others!
Friday, December 4, 2020
HOLIDAY LIGHTS is a half mile drive through experience at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds of spectacular lighted holiday displays.. Giant Christmas trees twinkling with lights – Santa – reindeer – snowmen – lighted tunnels and many more magical moments. Stay in your warm car and drive through this Holiday Experience.
Supporting Local Businesses this Holiday Season
Friday, November 27, 2020
We are fascinated by the topic of co-sleeping. We’ve got friends who separate as early as possible and some who take their time. Paul McCartney said his whole family slept in a big bed in his cabin for years and years. What do you prefer?
Lots of Holiday News as the Year Winds Down
Friday, November 20, 2020
Growing Up’s computer wiz, Luigi Obbiedo weighs in on whether you should run out and buy that new iPhone right away. What do you think he’ll say?
Everything Changes
Friday, November 13, 2020
Here’s a local story you won’t forget. After a planned trip to Mexico fell through, this wanderlust family has parked their sailboat right off the Santa Cruz Wharf and are living there. What are they learning? What’s life like on the water? How are the kids enjoying it?
New Ways to Entertain
Friday, November 6, 2020
Parents all have the same questions–what can I do to keep the kids entertained without screens. Well, the county parks are back in operation and we love that. What about playing a podcast on the way to the park or later?
Weekend of Halloween Events
Friday, October 30, 2020
The ghoulish holiday has become as confusing as everything else these days. Some neighborhoods are bonding more with parades and local gatherings. Downtown’s big celebration is off. The Boardwalk has trick-or-treating.
Zoom Gatherings
Friday, October 23, 2020
We love the TV commercial where the guy walks into his patio wearing a button down shirt and his tighty whities, thinking his scheduled meeting is on Zoom, only to find out it’s in person.
New Babies, Inside Education, and October Fun!
Friday, October 16, 2020
If having a baby during a pandemic wasn’t stressful enough, add being evacuated during an unprecedented fire. Moms have an inherently unique strength, and giving birth during crazy times is no match. In the middle of August, both Kristin and Mayya were preparing to have their babies, and then the lighting storms hit, lighting the mountains on fire, then the entire San Lorenzo Valley was evacuated.
How to Celebrate Halloween Safely
Friday, October 9, 2020
No, there’s plenty to do. You can see the events and our readers thoughts about what to do for the last day of October and preparing for it right here. Plus see our list of the best creepy Halloween family movies.
Important news and information for October.
Friday, October 2, 2020
Santa Cruz has the best signs. This one is at Arana Gulch park, a once hotly-debated project that has been a great success, and will make you smile while doing the dirty work. Nice job, whoever created it.
It's beginning to look like fall.
Friday, September 25, 2020
Among our kids’ biggest fears is that they won’t be able to continue our annual tradition of celebrating Halloween at a theme park fright fest. We are still waiting for news on what, if anything, local and state theme parks will be doing for the holiday. So far, the news is more gloomy than the one-time decorations. Meanwhile, at least we can go to drive-in movies at the beach. We also enjoy, more than ever, the Spirit Halloween store and are looking forward to a parking lot display and sale at our favorite local haunt, Trick or Treat productions, now on 17th Street in the old Ledyard building. More on that soon.
Generosity is love in action.
Friday, September 18, 2020
Growing Up put out the call to action to collect items to donate to the schools most affected by the CZU Lightning fires, and you answered! The love shown by Growing Up readers for the communities in Santa Cruz County was breathtaking. Thanks to the generosity of the Owners of Kiantis and their employees, Palace Art Supply, Salesian School, Growing Up Staff, and many individual monetary contributions, we could fill over 800 bags of goodies.
Helping others, and taking care of yourself during a crisis.
Friday, September 11, 2020
Louanne Myers, retired teacher from San Lorenzo Valley USD, wrote down her thoughts about volunteering at the Fairgrounds with two young family members in the days following evacuations from the CZU Lightning Complex fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Issues and debates, plus some good news.
Friday, September 4, 2020
Hundreds of firefighters from out of the area are staying at local hotels, including the Best Western Seacliff Inn. Residents turned up at 5 a.m. to wish the firefighters well. Thanks to you early birds and you great firefighters, from Growing Up in Santa Cruz.
Out of the ashes beauty will rise.
Friday, August 28, 2020
Hundreds of firefighters from out of the area are staying at local hotels, including the Best Western Seacliff Inn. Residents turned up at 5 a.m. to wish the firefighters well. Thanks to you early birds and you great firefighters, from Growing Up in Santa Cruz.
Communities come together as our mountains are ablaze.
Friday, August 21, 2020
Just as Santa Cruz was beginning a recovery from COVID-19, the county was struck by another terrible tragedy, fires that have burned 50,000 acres and destroyed homes and lives.
Miss going to the movies? How about a drive in?!
Friday, August 14, 2020
Businesses are doing what they have to in order to survive the pandemic and some are coming up with ingenuitive ways to reach families and stay safe. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is turning its parking lot into a giant drive-in movie theater, showing classics on the big, big screen for only $25 a car load.
Changes are Fluid, How to Adjust Accordingly
Friday, August 6, 2020
What can you do without in-person school? We’re tracking options and sharing with you businesses that are moving their learning online.
Surviving Shelter-in-Place and Screen Time
Friday, July 24, 2020
If you’ve managed to survive this shelter-in-place without letting your kids have excessive screen time, we salute you. Parents used to call TV the “electronic babysitter,” but now it’s been replaced by tablets and desktops.
What is School Going to Look Like in the Fall
Friday, July 17, 2020
Freedom is taking on a whole new meaning in the wake of the coronavirus. Do we open schools? Do we open beaches? Do we wear masks? Things one would think aren’t debatable are suddenly becoming constitutional issues.
Special Solutions for Special Needs
Friday, July 10, 2020
July is our annual special needs issue and we salute the great things being done in Santa Cruz to help those who need it most. This month’s issue has a moving story about the Autism Family Network and its founders, motorcycling banker Stoney Godet and Gabby Johnson.
Teach Your Children Well
Friday, July 3, 2020
The biggest issues in Santa Cruz and the world right now are racism and the coronavirus, both deadly diseases. How do you raise kids not to be racist, when this virus has spread, with seemingly invisible symptoms, but has been rearing its ugly head a lot lately?
How to Deal with Grief
Friday, June 19, 2020
We watched the memorial service for Santa Cruz Sheriff Deputy Damon Gutzwiller, 38, and it was overwhelmingly sad. A white supremacist murdered the deputy in Ben Lomond, June 6. He had a 2-year-old son, Carter, and his wife, Faviola, has a baby due this month.
A New Normal
Friday, June 12, 2020
Some of the highlights include students and employees wearing masks and social distancing.
Finding Ways to Make a Difference
Monday, June 8, 2020
We saw an editorial cartoon that stands out and defines the times. There was a small grim reaper with coronavirus written on it. Behind it was a much larger grim reaper that said Climate Change. “Who’s your agent?” asked the bigger one. Just as many people ignored the virus and equal rights for all races, they have their heads in the sand about a considerable threat. |
Let the Graduation Ceremonies Commence
Friday, June 5, 2020
Nothing feels quite normal, but schools are doing their best to make graduates feel special. Here’s what some of our local schools are doing:
Santa Cruz Leads the Way
Monday, June 1, 2020
Just as it started to feel like we could reach some kind of normal, parts of the country are now in flames. How do you explain it to your kids or do you shelter them from the storm?
Graduation, Beaches and Ice Cream!
Monday, May 27, 2020
Our social media audience is growing! Follow us on Instagram @growingupsc for a chance to win an ice cream delivery from Aunt Lali’s Treats! (service area from Ben Lomond to Santa Cruz)
Dive into May's Articles
Friday, May 15, 2020
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter will host a Pet Food Pantry for pet owners in need. Free pet food can be picked up at the Shelter’s Education Center, 2260 7th Avenue in Santa Cruz on May 19 from 10 am to noon. During this time, the Shelter is also accepting pet food donations for these pets in need. You can drop off unopened pet food at the Shelter’s entrance (1001 Rodriguez St.) in Santa Cruz at the front door.
Taking Time Away from the Screen
Monday, May 11, 2020
Soquel High 16-year-old Jayden Gallegos found a new passion during the Stay In Place order (besides video games). He’s making planter boxes. SInce his mom posted about it on Facebook, the orders have been streaming in fast. At first the starting price was $12 for each box, but he raised it to a starting price of $16 for smaller ones of 24 X 10 X 8 inches
Find the Magic in Your Own Backyard
Monday, April 27, 2020
Another day when hard-working parents have to also be homeschool teachers, especially tough with toddlers.
What have we got the most of in our backyard? Nature. And we’re so lucky to have so many types of ecosystems right here.
Writer Sandi Schwartz, who writes the Happy Science Mom blog has these suggestions for what to do this week with your young ones.
Celebrating Earth Day's 50th Anniversary
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Fifty years ago much of the country shut down on a Wednesday for a new reason: they wanted to share their concerns for the state of the environment. The first Earth Day went nationwide, amazingly enough, organized by members of both parties, back when things happened like that.
Santa Cruz Gets an A for Sheltering in Place
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
County Health Chief Dr. Gail Newel announced that beaches and parks will reopen Thursday and will stay open unless people are seen to be violating social distancing. She said the county is looking at opening up more businesses by May 4, but couldn’t say for sure what will happen until that date. She said she expects future waves of the virus in the county, but suggested summer camps may be opened.
As reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, she said, “This would be over time that we would try various measures, and then perhaps also need to retract them as well,” Newel said. “We’re hoping that the public can get used to the idea of pivoting and needing to change direction at times to control the virus.”
How are things changing in your home?
Monday, April 13, 2020
We’ve got all the time in the world to study what we want or take on new at-home challenges. It’s easy to think that maybe this is a vacation, but it’s not. Students are still doing online classes and tons of homework (about which some parents are whining more than the kids. Are they getting too much or it is a necessary evil since they have no classes?)
Laughter and Dance Make the BEST Medicine
Monday, April 6, 2020
Looking for some fun things online for entertainment? How about comedy? DNA’s Comedy Lounge, hit hard after its pretty recent opening, is offering live comedy shows online. It’s a great way to have fun and help a local business.
Shelter in Place Building Stronger Community
Friday, April 3, 2020
Here’s the best laugh we’ve had all day. I bought Companion Bakery’s “Classic Shelter Box,” which includes a bag of granola, a loaf of picnic bread, a loaf of three-seed bread, six cookies, three buckwheat scones and three Galettes for $55.
Not only is it filled with day-brightening fresh treats, but we are doing everything we can to support local restaurants and businesses, buying at least one meal a day out of the house. But here was the laugh: when we opened the shelter box, on top of the bread was a roll of toilet paper. Well played, Companion!
No April Fools Here
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Like our readers, we are stuck at home too with, well a bunch of kids of all ages, trying to figure ways to keep them happy and us sane.
During the quarantine, which is now expected to last another month, at least, we will step up the number of newsletters we send out to keep you informed about all levels of the novel disease and its effect on our community.
*Gavin Newsom has announced distance learning will continue until the end of the academic school year for all schools.
