Who am I?
My name is Natalie Flynn and I’m a Maine-based Momma who loves to adventure around the state of Maine with my 5 year old daughter. When I’m not adventuring with her and my husband, I work as a special education teacher at a small southern Maine high school.
Why am I starting this blog?
As I began my parenting journey in the summer of 2018, I found myself getting more comfortable with venturing out with my infant daughter solo. However, as someone who struggled with some postpartum anxiety and pelvic floor issues, not knowing what the stroller situation, bathroom situation, etc., would lead to some very nervous energy. It was nerve-wracking on my new mom brain to not be able to find out what some of these situations looked liked.
So…I would overpack and hope for the best.
I am writing this blog with the goal that I can provide you with all the “insider information” I wished I had when I visited these places for the first time. Heck, some of the places featured in this blog, I went to a dozen times before I had my own child, and still needed to over pack because I never looked at these places through the lens of being a parent, and new parent at that!
Secondly, as I approach 40 years old, I have set a goal of doing more things outside my comfort zone and sharing my thoughts, in a public blog, with you is… a…. HUGE step outside my comfort zone and I’m so excited for you all to read The Wandering Chickadee!
What can you expect in each blog of The Wandering Chickadee?
I will be featuring Maine locations and activities on this blog that are ideal for families with young children. Every location or activity featured on this blog will have admissions costs, operating hours, and a general summary of the featured location or activity along with affiliate links for some of my favorite baby, toddler, and kid gear.
In addition, I will be including a budget and splurge option for each featured activity.
- Budget Option: This option will include the best times, days, weeks or months of the year to visit to get the biggest discount. I will mention all discounts I can find with links to those reference pages. And of course, if there is a free option (like getting a pass from your local library), you will be sure to find it in this section!
- Splurge Option: This option will include add-ons to your adventure to make it that once-in-a-visit or once-in-a-lifetime really special. These add-ons might be at the same location featured in the blog or if not, convenient to drive to/from the featured spot!
What are the tenets this blog will remain true to?
- Photographs will never be filtered. There is nothing I hate more than recognizing a location, place, activity, you name it, that has been heavily filtered and feeling like I have been sold an Instagram story versus an accurate representation of what I can expect to see.
- The bathroom situation will always be discussed. I will highlight where bathrooms are located, what the bathroom situation looks like, if there are changing tables in bathrooms, etc. You name the bathroom question, we are going to discuss it here. There is nothing worse than adventuring (sometimes solo with your infant) only to discover you need to use the bathroom and the only option is a porta-potty. Am I right?!
- Each post will include something that is ALWAYS in my car, hiking pack, beach bag, etc. that I found so helpful to have. With that said, any affiliate links listed will only ever be for products that I have personally used or are currently using…linking items I haven’t tried is just…bad, like very bad.
What do I hope you take away from each blog?
If you have NEVER been to these places, I hope my information is helpful in planning your next family adventure. Whether you are looking to do it on a very tight budget or can afford some of the splurge options, I hope you find something here that helps you explore our great state of Maine!
And, if you have been to these places before, I hope you take away something you didn’t know about; even if it’s just a bathroom location you never knew about. Am I right?!
So if you like these blogs, please feel free to share with any new parent if you think this will help them!
And..if you have read down this far, I want to thank YOU! Thank you for taking the time to read The Wandering Chickadee and supporting this new chapter in my life! I am forever grateful!
Add your email below and never miss a blog from The Wandering Chickadee. New blogs drop every other Monday!
~Natalie