My joints hurt. I'm literally always uncomfortable. Some days are better than others. Some days I can do gentle yoga. Some days any movement hurts. I recently received a special care package of soft and warm things to make living with pain more comfortable and I'm so thankful for how much easier it … [Read more...]
One Step Forward, Three Steps Back: Is It Impossible To Do What’s ‘Right’ For Our Kids?
Confession: I'm not a perfect mom. In fact, sometimes it feels like there's a lot I have yet to learn. Take, for instance, my oldest son. He's in Grade 2 and his printing is messy. An occupational therapist met with him for an assessment and then called me in to meet her. Apparently, I haven't been … [Read more...]
New Parenting Practice Suggests Sharing Isn’t Caring
I grew up knowing that “sharing is caring”. All through my school years, I let people borrow pens and books and other stuff that I never got back. If my older brother wanted a bite of my ice cream, I let him have one because mom said it was the nice thing to do (though I’m still salty I had to share … [Read more...]
Should I Get My Kid A Pony?
Anyone who knows my middle daughter, Karenna, knows that she loves horses. The equestrian passion was ignited for her when she was three years old and watched the movie "Spirit" about a wild stallion. She went on to watch it daily for the next few months and whenever we would see a real horse in our … [Read more...]
Persistence
Lessons without preachiness are worth their weight in gold when you can find them in kids' books. And I have not one but two about the value of persistence! Anything Is Possible, by Giulia Belloni & Marco Trevisan OwlKids, ISBN: 978 1 92697 391 3 Just in time for next month's Wright … [Read more...]
Movember is Hipster Month
... even for funny little monsters in kids' books! Mo's Mustache, by Ben Clanton Tundra Books, ISBN: 978 1 77049 538 8 Mo gets a brand-new mustache. He feel very spiffy. But soon all the other monsters get mustaches too, and now his doesn't feel so special anymore. *sad face* So her packs … [Read more...]
How to Deep Fry a Turkey
The Parkers have had some dangerous Thanksgivings over the last few years. No, we don’t play football, go skydiving, or drink too much moonshine and talk about our “real” feelings around the table. Nope… we deep fry our turkey. I will admit there is nothing better than the smell of a turkey in … [Read more...]
In Her Element
This love of horses she has, it's so beautiful to see. It's something that is just in her. I am a city slicker, through and through, but she is a farm girl at heart. Ride on, Karenna! … [Read more...]
No More Tears….
Today was the day They said it would happen, they said just be patient, hold on and trust that the day would arrive and today it did. Drama free day care drop off. No trauma, no tears, no clinging, wailing, sweating, or snotting. It started like most weekday mornings. Wake … [Read more...]
other people’s words-passing the baton
"Parenthood is the passing of a baton, followed by a lifelong disagreement as to who dropped it" Robert Brault … [Read more...]