Did you catch this CBC documentary yesterday? I got a heads-up from Ann Douglas' blog at parentcentral.ca that it was coming and I was intrigued. In her review, Douglas concludes that this "hyper-parenting" phenomenon is largely a thing of the past: The documentary is worth watching, if only as a reminder of where we've been and how far we've come in rejecting the consumerist parenting style that views parents as manufacturers and kids as … [Read more...]
Life As A Human has launched!
February 1, 2010 by 1 Comment
![laah_sm_bb[1]](http://d3826520.u488.hspheredns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/laah_sm_bb1.jpg)
So, today is the big day! Life As A Human, the Canadian-based e-zine I was telling you about in my last post has now launched. I really had no idea how it was all going to come together or who the other writers were -- it was a bit of a leap of faith to sign-on as a contributor. As you can imagine then, I was super keen to check it out first thing this morning. The result? I'm thrilled! And honoured. Because the editorial team selected … [Read more...]
My head is really big
January 29, 2010 by 11 Comments
My head is so big, it's practically toppling off my neck at the moment. Here's why: An unexpected shout-out! I like to poke around Girl about O-town's blog because she always seems to know what new funky things are going on around Ottawa. Not the same ol' stuff -- fresh, interesting stuff! I love admiring great design -- paper, home, web -- and as it happens, not only does she as well but she also creates a lot too. So much so, she just … [Read more...]
I buzzed over to Montreal this weekend
January 24, 2010 by 5 Comments
To push myself up into the higher ranks of the Mother-of-the-Year contest, I took Stella to Montreal this weekend. Yes, we went shopping and got Mommy & Me pedi's & mani's! Did I have you convinced -- even momentarily -- on that one? Okay, okay. We know my Stella would never entertain such notions. But I did go to Montreal. And I just may be up for Mother-of-the-Year, too! Because, surely, spending the weekend looking at tarantulas, … [Read more...]
Julie visits the ER
January 21, 2010 by 11 Comments
![greys-private-crossover[1]](http://d3826520.u488.hspheredns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/greys-private-crossover11-150x100.jpg)
It's not too often that one gets to do something for the first time after 38 years on this earth. But through a combination of good luck and conscientious avoidance, I have never had a visit to the ER. Yesterday, however, I was initiated to life in the ER. I spent from 7 am to 3 pm there -- 8 hours of my life I will never get back (or get paid for, for that matter). I started getting abdominal pains on my right side at dinner time on Tuesday. … [Read more...]
I’m a twit
January 16, 2010 by 14 Comments
I've been curious about Twitter for a while now. Although I'm completely captivated by social media, I've been holding off on joining because it just seemed like one more way for me to suck time out of my day. But this week I joined. My brother's response was "It was inevitable." My husband's response was "Just be careful what you 'put out there'." My response? I'm still undecided. On the one hand, it is really fun to exchange quick little … [Read more...]
Your homework is interrupting my day
January 9, 2010 by 20 Comments
If you hang around with parents of young children long enough, you're bound to hear complaints about homework. I've been hearing this kind of chatter well before I had a child who was in school and I think I've finally hit my threshold on it. (And so I shall inflict my rant upon my unsuspecting blog readers. Evil laugh.) ******** Here's the scene: I'm at a playdate/get-together at a friend's house. I don't know any of the other parents … [Read more...]
When going to work feels like a holiday
December 29, 2009 by 6 Comments
As I was scrolling through facebook updates last night, I noticed one of my friends admit that she was looking forward to her kids going back to school and then added "is that really wrong?" I reached out immediately and made my own admission that I suspected that going back to work today is going to feel like a holiday. This friend and I never see each other. We're facebook friends in the pure sense. But I find this kind of supportive and … [Read more...]
Christmas stories to warm your heart
December 24, 2009 by 1 Comment
Although the whole house seems to be sick (again), and hubby and I are exhausted from rotating night visits to children, I've been warming up my heart to Christmas by reading the memories of other bloggers. These are stories that touched my heart and resonated with me in a strong way. I hope that they may have the same lovely effect on you too. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and may tomorrow be the start of some special … [Read more...]
I’m in love with a gay man
December 22, 2009 by 2 Comments
I've tried to get him out of my head. But I just can't. It's been months now that I have gone to bed, and then allowed myself the luxury of letting my thoughts drift off towards him and his life. Sure, my husband thinks I am going to bed earlier than usual, but hey, winter's here and it makes a girl tired. The thing is ... he's gay. I'm spending hours upon hours loving someone who will never love me back. I know, I'm surely not the only … [Read more...]
Daily madness
December 17, 2009 by 6 Comments
So, what's up with you guys? Are you caught up in holiday parties, or credit card bills that have skyrocketed, or any good gossip? Come on, help a girl out ... As you know, I've started a new contract. Usually, I work on a whole bunch of small contracts all at once and juggle them about. In other words, I'm used to multi-tasking like a mad woman, then sometimes looking at the clock at 3pm and wondering if there is anything in the cupboard … [Read more...]
3 super-easy ways to make things merrier
December 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment
I'm lazy all about keeping things quick & easy. With the snow sprinkling outside my office window, the Christmas spirit is starting to take hold. Here are 3 super-easy ways to share the Christmas spirit: #1. Christmas stamps Most of us end up sending at least a dozen Christmas or holiday cards out at this time of year. Instead of buying the Christmas-themed stamp, consider the Mental Health stamp. This domestic stamp is sold in a … [Read more...]
The Winter Resolution
December 4, 2009 by 13 Comments
Although I gave up New Year's resolutions ages ago, I have made a winter resolution for this year. I've got a terrible track record with resolutions, and thus why the New Year's ones were deemed a fruitless exercise. But I am hoping I can make some progress on this. For my own sanity as well as for my family. My resolution is this: Find a way to enjoy winter. I just don't like winter. My husband finds this "cute" since I am the Canadian … [Read more...]
The things I didn’t know when I was 15
November 25, 2009 by 7 Comments
When I was 15, I didn't have an inkling of what my future would be like. In fact, I don't ever really recall envisioning it at all. I never dreamed of a future marriage, a life as a mother, or a particular career. And it was at this time that I met a girl named Jackie. I had signed up for a drama class. You might think that a girl with the biggest hair known to man might stand out, but not in this class. Jackie blended in nicely with all … [Read more...]
My daughter, the scientist
November 25, 2009 by 6 Comments
How a future scientist views the experience of vomiting: Stella: That was the first time I've ever thrown up. Me: Yes, I think you're right. You haven't been sick much in your life. Stella: The difficult part is that when the throw-up is coming up your throat, it blocks your breathing. Me: It does feel like that. But, don't worry, people throw up all the time and their breathing always comes back. Stella: The interesting part … [Read more...]
Wild & Crazy.
November 14, 2009 by 3 Comments
As I rolled my enormous suitcase along the corridor of the conference centre, a security guard stopped me. "Can I help you?" "No, I'm fine. I think the room I'm looking for is just down this way." "You're with the knitting group, then?" he asked. Knitting? Hah. Imagine a group of middle-aged women spending an entire weekend congregated together. And knitting. Sounds like a wild and crazy weekend of glam times, doesn't it? I turned … [Read more...]
Toys for all ages
November 5, 2009 by 2 Comments
As my daughter started to grow out of her toys, I would give them to friends or donate them to charities. I only kept a few toys -- ones that were of high quality or particularly popular -- on the chance that we'd have another child. Now we have a 7-year-old girl and a 16-month-old boy. With a six-year age gap, you would think that these two would never share the same toys. And yet, when I recently dug out Stella's old Word Whammer and put it … [Read more...]
The tuna argument smells fishy
November 2, 2009 by 4 Comments
"The amount in flu vaccines is much less than the daily limit recommended – for example a can of tuna fish has more mercury than the thimerosal in the H1N1 flu vaccine." -- Public Health Agency of Canada website page In an effort to reduce public fear related to thimerosal in the H1N1 vaccine, some Canadian government authorities have been using what I call the "tuna argument." An example of this is above. I've given it its own little … [Read more...]
And now, a little comedic interlude
November 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment
If you're still feeling a little charbroiled, how about a little comedic interlude courtesy of David Sedaris? And yes, I am like a dog with a bone when I find an author I like (witness those Eric Bogosian posts I put you through a while back). I already swept through Chapters the other day between dispensing Tylenol to sick people and picked up one of his other collections. It was a tough choice, but I decided upon Dress Your Family in … [Read more...]
What to do about the flu?
October 25, 2009 by 12 Comments
I've largely been deaf to all the media frenzy surrounding H1N1. But this week, the vaccines will be available to the public. This means I need to make a decision. Ugh, I don't like decisions. And there are just so many darn decisions related to H1N1. To school or not to school? The school has repeatedly asked parents not to send their children to school if they are sick. But how sick is sick? The most common symptoms of H1N1, according to … [Read more...]
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