just percolating...
People who meet us now, after 12 years of marriage, invariably like to say, "Opposites attract!" But it wasn't always this way. When we first met, we both shared a love of nature. Not a love from afar, a love that compelled us to trek deep into its midst. As far as we could go, to places where you really felt no other human had ever stepped before. The peace. The quiet. The conquest. My husband's thirst for adventure has only continued to … [Read more...]
He can surf, play cricket and kick a footie. But, softball? That’s just not part of an Australian boy’s childhood. And yet, this year, at the friendly urging of a mate, my husband joined a softball team. To them, this group of Canadian men, my husband, the Australian, must seem like an innocuous mascot that they’ve good-naturedly adopted onto the team. My husband, for his part, can’t think of a better way to spend a summer evening than with a … [Read more...]
I keep hearing about the popularity of the "staycation." The idea is that because of tightened family budgets, we're choosing to stay home instead of travel on our vacation time. I don't know about you, but if I have to sit around my house and look at the do-it-yourself projects we have yet to do and the growing clutter caused by two growing children, well, I'd rather stay at work, thank you very much. Plus, I do work from home so the allure of … [Read more...]
Daughter: I really miss having a dog in our family. Mother: Me too, honey. Daughter: I wish we could get a puppy; get a new dog for our family. Mother: I do sometimes too, honey. Daughter: Oh well, at least we have my baby brother. He's like having a puppy, isn't he? … [Read more...]
One year ago today, a dear little fellow joined our family. Our world will never be the same. Happy birthday dear son. … [Read more...]
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I'm old. There's just no denying it anymore. Three things happened in one day to slap this fact right into my face. First, my daughter comes home yesterday singing "School's out for summer!" She starts to repeat this refrain, and I join in with her. She goes quiet and looks at me with surprise. "How did you know the words?" It is hard to explain that these lyrics are far older than she is. That once, a long, long, long, time ago, Mommy … [Read more...]
I'm not much for formal religion, but this prayer came home in my daughter's school bag yesterday and I just loved it. It seems like a perfect wish-list for a child's summer, doesn't it? A Prayer May no cats get in your sandbox May your frisbees always spin May your fridge be filled with oranges May you love the life you're in. May your teddy be fuzzy May your rainy days be wet May your teacher tell your stories That you never will … [Read more...]
In past years I've struggled with the obligatory thank-you gift for my daughter's teachers. I say "obligatory" not because I don't feel genuine gratitude for the work and passion that my daughter's teachers bring to the classroom every day, but rather because of the sense that a gift is a form of standard etiquette. And I don't want to be the set of parents (i.e. the mother) who hasn't followed etiquette. (Why I even care about etiquette is a … [Read more...]
Dear Son, Not only are you adorable, but you are clever. Since my last letter to you, it is clear that you have chosen not to be sold to the highest bidder on the black market. And further, you are considerate. You ensured that you communicated this wish to us before we had begun the tedious work of developing marketing copy and securing advertising space. It's been at least a week now that you've slept-in until the requisite humane time of 6 … [Read more...]
You know how they say that little girls grow into women who marry men just like their fathers? I think there's alot of truth in that. And that's why I'm especially glad to have you as my father. It means that not only did I grow up with a kind, generous man, but that I now share my life with one too. Thanks Dad. You're the best of the best. … [Read more...]
Mother: So, have you picked a theme for your birthday party this year? Daughter: Yes, actually. I've decided on mythical creatures. Mother: Mythical creatures? Like, Pokemon? Daughter: No, like centaurs and the sphinx. Mother: Um, okay. I'll see if they carry that theme at the dollar store. … [Read more...]
I hope that old saying that bad luck comes in 3s is true. I've had my share over the past few week. But I've managed to impress myself by mostly engaging in silent screams instead of screeching about madly while ripping my hair out. If you check out my website site (www.julieharrison.ca), you'll see number one: it's disappeared. Long story. If you've seen me in person over the past week and noticed the different hair colours, you'll understand … [Read more...]
Full-day kindergarten is the big news for us parents in Ontario. A summary article on this report and its rec's can be read here. Here's some interesting persepectives on this issue: The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario The Pilot Program of Full-day Kinder National Experiences Margaret Wente of the Globe & Mail Local Blogger DaniGirl Another Blogger A Little Bit of Momsense … [Read more...]
Is it just me, or are kids' movies pretty creepy? In our house, we rarely watch one of the latest, hyped-up kids' releases. Call me crazy, but I like my sleep. Getting up in the middle of the night to tend to nightmares is not my idea of a good time. Granted, my daughter may not be the average child. She is a bit of a thinker, shall we say. And thinking can lead to ruminating, and ruminating can lead to obsessing. Take for … [Read more...]
My posting "Can This be the Answer to All Our Hopes and Dreams" has been met with sour disappointment. So, I have decided to go straight to the source: Dear Son, You have precisely 15 days to start sleeping-in to a humane hour of the morning. In case your memory is short, due to lack of sleep, like some other individuals I know, that hour is 6 a.m. Not one minute earlier. I know that it's been only the last couple of weeks that you've been … [Read more...]
School is drawing to a close, but summer camps are coming soon, and my daughter's lunch box (actually, insulated bag) has past its expiry date. Sure, it's cute and all. But it's not practical and no matter how thoroughly I clean the thing, it still smells. Yuck! With enviro-consciousness hitting the school grounds, her lunch bag is generally stuffed with a whole assortment of mismatched plastic containers to house various snacks (apparently she … [Read more...]
Could it be possible that this haphazard-looking mess be the sacred answer? (Sure, it might not look like much, but when you're sleep-deprived, one's hopes and dreams get a tad basic.) It's pretty much a given that if a child does not develop excellent sleeping habits by the age of one, we will sell said child to science. Our first child is almost seven; so far so good. Our second child is approaching his first birthday. He has recently starting … [Read more...]
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