Staying Local This February Break?

Moms Talk is a new feature on Martha's Vineyard Patch that is part of our initiative to reach out to moms and families. 

Each week in Moms Talk, our chief mom, Mathea Morais, will introduce a topic or question. Members of our Mom's Council and the public are then invited to answer this weeks' question, give advice, share solutions or propose new topics and questions in the comments section. 

Our hope is that, through this feature, moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for the many questions and debates that arise while raising children.

Without further ado, let's introduce our first Mom's Talk feature. Mathea, take it away.

I have to say that Vineyard moms are my favorite moms. And since I moved here permanently three years ago, I aspire to be one.

Other moms talk about living local; Vineyard moms raise enough cows to make that a reality for their families and the rest of the town. Other moms talk about education being important to their lives; Vineyard moms know that means getting up at 5 a.m. to catch a ferry with the Close-Up Club for their annual trip to Washington, D.C.

It's not that Vineyard moms are better, or that they care more about their kids. It's just that Vineyard moms walk the walk more often then they talk the talk. You won't find them bragging about their kids accomplishments as often as you'll find Vineyard moms working toward goals right alongside them. They don't just drive the soccer mom car; they also coach the soccer team.

We've created a forum just for Vineyard moms (and, of course, dads), a place to talk, give advice, get advice, blow off a little steam and make each other laugh. Basically, it's just a virtual equivalent of running into every mom you know and don't know in the bread aisle (wherever it may be this week) at .

To kick it off, we're talking February break. And no offense to you moms who are taking your tribe to Costa Rica for 10 days—we wish you all safe travels there and back and an incredible vacation—but we're talking to those of us who are towing the line back home for 10 whole, long, and mind you, cold days.

So, how do we keep our children from sitting in front of the Disney Channel for five hours a day during February break? What activities do you have planned already? What did you do last year that worked so well that you've got to pass it on? How do we keep it interesting without costing a fortune?

What is your February break secret?