Get up, get dressed, wake the kids up, get the lunches packed, wake the kids again, tidy up, get ready for work, wake the kids up for the third time, manage the whining, feed them breakfast, listen to the complaints, get them dressed to head out the door, remind them to bring their backpacks, get … [Read more...]
How to Talk with Teens About Drug Use
Parenting a teenager is not easy. There are so many things we as parents need to figure out and navigate and monitor and discuss. Are they having sex? Are they doing drugs? Are they skipping school? Are they making good choices? Somehow, we have to figure out how to help guide them and keep them … [Read more...]
One-on-one with a Parent Who Has Experienced the Opioid Epidemic Firsthand
It was 2012 when Tyla Savard realized her daughter, Carrissa, had a serious substance use disorder. Carrissa was struggling with fentanyl - something Savard didn’t even know how to spell, to try to find information on the Internet. “It didn’t matter” she said. “There was no information.” Carrissa … [Read more...]
If You Take Away Childminding In Gyms, You Take Away The Mental Break Moms Need
When I was on mat leave with my son, my office shut down and I ended up with an involuntary, very, very extended maternity leave while I looked for work. It was an extremely stressful time in my life. I was carrying baby weight and the burden of needing to find work while, at the same time, having … [Read more...]
I’m Teaching My Kids To Stop Using This Word
“Mom, did I tell you about that crazy girl in my class?” “Did you see that boy? I just stalked his Instagram account to see his photos.” Crazy. Stalked. In today’s vernacular, those words are loosely tossed around to depict other people. My teens use the words at least a few times a … [Read more...]
Should We Allow Our Teens To Watch ’13 Reasons Why’?
If you have teenagers, then there's a good chance you've heard of the newest show on Netflix that everyone their age is talking about. And if you haven't, you're definitely sure too soon. The show is called 13 Reasons Why. It's comprised of 13 episodes about the suicide of a teenage girl named … [Read more...]
Should Canada Adopt South Korea’s New Parenting Initiative?
Aiming to prevent child abuse, the South Korean government is planning to provide lifelong parenting education, starting with lessons in school. Not only will children be learning these vital skills, but the government also hopes to see parenting lessons given to couples close to marriage, … [Read more...]
Let Loved Ones Know You’re #StillHere During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Last night I watched Will comforting his giant beanie boo monkey, Cocoa Jr. He was hugging him, rubbing his back and whispering into his ear, 'Sssh my love, sssh. It makes me sad when you're sad, tell me why you're sad.' He was mimicking me and all the times I've rocked him back and forth in the … [Read more...]
Book Review: “Furiously Happy” By Jenny Lawson
I kid you not: I was at the gym the other day and the guy on the elliptical machine next to me was eating a candy bar and drinking a Coke. I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing, and I thought to myself…well, I’m sure you can guess what I thought—you’re probably thinking the same thing right … [Read more...]
Book Review: “Hope and Other Luxuries” By Clare B. Dunkle
My daughter was three years old when her foot was mangled in an escalator. A friend and I had taken our daughters to the movies and we were enjoying listening to them talk excitedly about the characters while we walked out of the theatre. They were still young enough to believe wholeheartedly in the … [Read more...]