Moms Council: Ringing in the New Year with Children

Hello and welcome to this week's Fredericksburg Patch Moms Council, an online forum of ordinary mothers just trying their best to raise their children. The Moms Council will take your questions, share advice and offer solutions every Wednesday at 1 p.m. This week's topic is where in Fredericksburg do you take the kids to bring in 2012?

Years before my son, we used to go to hotel parties, all-night house parties or even a fancy dinner with dancing. But now that our son is nearly three and can't seem to hang later than 10 p.m. even with a lengthy midday nap, we've resorted to ringing in the New Year at home (after putting him down for the night) with a small gathering of friends and family for dinner, games and champagne at midnight. How do you make the most of New Years Eve without all the glitz and glamour?

If you are lucky enough to have secured a babysitter for New Years Eve, where are you going? Do your plans have you staying in Fredericksburg? Share with us your kid-free plans.

I'd like to ask those of you with older children, have your children ever participated in an all-night "Lock-in" party? Do you allow them to attend house parties? How do you give them independence while making sure they stay safe? What activities in Fredericksburg are geared toward the under 21 age group?

What do you do to make New Years Eve fun for the whole family? Are there celebrations in Fredericksburg-area that are family-friendly? Have you attended Fredericksburg's First Night? Share with us in the comment area how you plan to ring in the new year as a family.
 
Join the discussion -- we want to hear from you! Share with us how you plan to ring in 2012. With the dawn of a new year, do you have any resolutions? Do you have a traditional New Years meal? Or is the eve of December 31 just another night? For more information about the format and an introduction to our Mom's Council, read our intro post .