Maple Leaf Mommy

A Canadian Mom's Life: Family, Food & Fun

7 Life Lessons Learned While Kayaking with the Dolphins in Sebastian Inlet

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I spent a morning kayaking in Sebastian Inlet Florida State Park, and it taught me a bit about motherhood, about being a caregiver, and about surviving my "sandwich generation" moments. Stick with me here guys. Life happens. It just keeps on happening. Kids. Aging parents. Health issues. STRESS. Non-stop worry and stress. I feel like my life has devolved into some sort … [Read more...]

When It Comes To Vitamins, Mothers (and Daughters) Know Best

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My mom has been hounding me to take vitamins. Vitamin D in particular. Family genetics seem to indicate that taking a Vitamin D supplement would be a good idea. That plus the fact that I spend 90% of my time indoors. I've been taking an iron supplement for my anemia (which is getting much better, thanks for asking). Then, because iron can block calcium absorption, my … [Read more...]

Learning How to Enjoy the Journey…

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Starting the new school year off with a quote from one of my fav Canadian authors, Charles de Lint. And my kids will be off tomorrow, with a hop, and a skip and smile. Excited, as always, to start a new year.  Whatever path they take, whatever adventure they are off to next, it's always with a jump and twirl and a giggle, these two. Miss 10 has grown bunches since I … [Read more...]

Comfort and Convenience with Douglas Mattress {Plus Mattress GIVEAWAY!!}

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There is definitely something to be said for the convenience of ordering a mattress online and having it show up at your house. Poof. Magic. It arrived on our front porch in a box which was both somehow smaller and larger than I thought it would be. As I stood there eyeing it my 10 year old came up next to me,"Wow, that's a big box." she said. "It's bigger than Gigi. Both of … [Read more...]

Shhhh… A Little Sneaking is Good For Your (Mental) Health….

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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

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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...]

The Secret Society of Blogging, What Our Readers Never See

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There is a secret underside to blogging, one that our readers never see. A secret virtual room where we all meet and sit around the water cooler and chat.   From the outside, there's a lot going on that you as a reader may not notice. We make blogging friends and connections. We meet in person at conferences. We email each other back and forth. We have private Facebook … [Read more...]

Let Those Good Thoughts SHINE

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"A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” Roald Dahl, The Twits … [Read more...]

Moms Don’t Do Sick Days, #NoSickDays

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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...]