Meet the Long Island Mom Behind Boards and Bay

This stay-at-home mom loves all the adventures living in the NYC area offers for her family.

By Nicole Bergman November 15, 2019

Meet Nicole Bergman, the stay-at-home mom of two toddlers behind the blog and Instagram Boards and Bay. She's one of the parenting influencers we love in the New York metro area!

Bergman lives in Long Beach in Nassau County, right between the boardwalk and the bay. And that is how she named her blog, Boards and Bay, which along with her popular Instagram, is a place for her to share her love for aesthetics (fashion, art, food) and her thoughts on raising two toddler boys. She also sells customized items that she creates—such as toys, kid chairs, and storage bins painted with unique designs and kids’ names. While Bergman is currently embracing her role as a stay-at-home mom, she is also a wife, an attorney, an artist, and an active community member.

Why follow Boards and Bay? This beach-babe mom of two is always on the go but also takes time to soul-search and reflect on her chosen life with kids.

Instagram | @boardsandbay
Website | boardsandbay.com

What is a typical day for you?

Being a stay-at-home mom to nursery- and preschool-age boys, I don’t believe I have experienced a “typical day” in quite some time. Adjusting to a lack of routine or the responsibility of having to establish my own has been a challenge. However, the boys have just begun more regular school hours, and I am excited to find our new normal. I might feel differently come spring, but I am honestly, currently enjoying the new routine of packing lunches each morning!

What’s the best parenting advice you ever received?

I have received, and read, incredible parenting advice. But it is admittedly a challenge to put advice into action, and so the best advice I think is to remember not to dwell on how you’ve failed to execute all those incredible parenting tips and tricks. “Each day, do your best and let go of the rest.”

What is the best thing about raising kids in the New York City area?

The best thing about raising kids in the New York City area is the abundance of little adventures available to us. There is such a variety of experiences and never a shortage if you take the time to look. One thing I love to do—and that I believe our area makes possible—is being able to have our children experience in real life what we might read about in a book, whether that is exploring a farm or hailing a taxi or building sandcastles along the surf.

Who are your favorite parents/parenting sites to follow on social media?

There are so many parents worth following on Instagram. I cannot necessarily choose one favorite account. However, I would suggest if you find yourself unsure about what to do or what to feed your little ones to definitely use Instagram as a resource, as easy as searching #toddlerplay or #toddlerlunch. If you are looking to stay updated about actual events and resources for parents in your area, I would definitely recommend following NYMetroParents, which collects and curates all that the NYC area has to offer. Lastly, follow a fellow mom! Staying connected to local moms on Instagram and Facebook not only keeps me updated about local events, but let’s us share and empathize when it comes to parenting!

Main photo: Nicole Bergman with her family
Courtesy Nicole Bergman