When I was a kid I would get Christmas gifts pretty much year round. One morning in February I'd be getting ready for school when my mom would suddenly pop into my room holding a new pair of gloves or a package full of socks. One afternoon in July, she'd suddenly come around the corner with new colouring books or a building set. Each time she'd be muttering to herself about how … [Read more...]
Here’s what I DON’T want you to give my kids for Halloween…
Ok people, friendly Halloween-candy-handing-out people, I want to ask you a favour. Could you please stop giving my kids so much candy? Like seriously, one piece is enough. This whole, "Oh my goodness. Look at you! You're so cute. Here let me drop two big handfuls of junk food into your pillowcase.", stuff has to stop. Please just give my kids one piece of candy, one … [Read more...]
Secret Confession: I Have Beach Guilt
I've brought my kids on a family vacation to Florida twice now. Twice we've visited Orlando as a family. And I'm finding that I feel oddly guilty about it. See, when I was a kid we would visit Florida and stay with relatives. We'd fly down, or drive (24 hours straight, my dad was hardcore) to Bradenton, or Sarasota, stay for a week or two and head home. We chilled. A lot. We … [Read more...]
That time my 2nd Grader brought Whiskey to school…
I let my kid bring Whiskey to school. It didn't go well. To be clear, Whiskey is a cat -- a stuffed cat. I had reservations about Gigi bringing Whiskey to school, but apparently not for any of the right reasons. I was worried that her favourite doll might get ruined, that her long soft orange fur would get dirty from playing outside during recess, and that if I had to … [Read more...]
Shhhh… A Little Sneaking is Good For Your (Mental) Health….
The kids are home for the summer. My mother-in-law just moved in with us last month. Time to myself? Ha. The very idea is ludicrous. It's non-stop go-go-GO over here. Like every mom (or at least every mom that is still holding on to that last shred of sanity), I get creative with finding ways to fit in slivers of me-time. My current trick is to wake up late. Yeah, you … [Read more...]
Mom Guilt and the Magic of Childhood — Little is Enough
With Summer Break just starting I've been thinking back on how much I hated March Break this year. For about six years now, ever since my eldest first started school, I've watched on social media as other parents complained about summer break (or March break, or Christmas break, or whatever), saying how it drove them bats to have their kids home for x many days... but I just … [Read more...]
Moms Don’t Do Sick Days, #NoSickDays
Waking up with sore throat pain, cough, nasal and chest congestion, aches and pains or a fever? I don't have time for that. Back in the B.C. days (a.k.a. Before Children) it wasn't that big of a deal if a cold or the flu laid me low for a day or two. I'd call in sick, sleep a bunch, read a book, and order some take in. But now? No way. Life doesn’t stop just because I'm feeling … [Read more...]
Can I cheat and not raise a cheater?
I tell my children they are not allowed to cheat. I tell them that it's not good to lie. That it's not good to try and hide things from mom. And then I turn around and I do all the things I tell them not to do. I cheat, I lie, and I hide things from them. I'm trying to decide if I should feel guilty over this or not. It started with snacks. When they were younger I … [Read more...]
Tired Isn’t Normal, Anemia Sucks, & Don’t Forget to Wind Your Clock
If you come here regularly you may have noticed that my blogging has been sporadic, at best, lately. In part, this blog post is to explain that absence, that lack of consistency. However the other large part of why I wrote this post is to give all you other mothers out there a warning -- if you are feeling tired, if you are feeling completely run down, please don't just dismiss … [Read more...]
That time I freaked out in the grocery store…
I had a panic attack in the grocery store. Our usual weekend routine, often sees us leaving the house Sunday morning with intention to grab groceries, and later heading home empty handed with bellies full of restaurant food, having run a handful of errands in between. This particular Sunday we ate out for breakfast, visited the local farmer's market, window shopped for a new … [Read more...]
Why We Get Groceries Twice a Month – Secret Motherhood Confession
Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom ambassador. As part of my affiliation with this group I have been compensated to test the Loblaws Click & Collect service. As always my words and opinions are my own. Grocery shopping isn't one of my favourite chores, and increasingly in the past few years it's leading to conflict with my husband. Here's how it goes. First, I don't … [Read more...]
The Mom List, and How to Put it on Pause…
I have a list in my head. The mom list. It's a constant recitation of all the things I should be doing, the things that need to get done. It never stops. It never shuts up. I can constantly hear it nagging me, "Did you swap the laundry? You need to pick up milk. We're almost out of toilet paper. What can you put in the kids lunchboxes today? What are we having for dinner? … [Read more...]
All I Want For Christmas is ME
Dear Santa, I think I've been pretty good this year. I might deserve a present or two. So let me tell you what I would like to see under the tree. N O T H I N G. All I want for Christmas is me. Me alone, all by myself, with my family nowhere to be seen. Seriously, dear husband and kids; please, forget about buying me knick knacks, earrings and other things I don't want or … [Read more...]
Coming out and declaring my secret love for Herbal Essences…
Here's a confession, I don't use baby shampoo on my kids hair. I've been to other people's houses with my girls on playdates and while I'm using the bathroom I've noticed the container of baby shampoo sitting on the side of the tub, or the primary coloured bottle of "kids" shampoo with the cartoon characters dancing across the label. Even when the girls would visit their … [Read more...]
Why I Let Them Watch Me Vote
I made an odd decision this morning. Every day after I put the girls on the bus I go for a walk around the neighbourhood, just for a bit of exercise. Sometimes I run errands, sometimes I just walk a few blocks out of my way, making a big circle and looping around back home. Today I walked to the bank and deposited a few cheques, walking back along the main drag I noticed the … [Read more...]
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