I have a girlfriend who takes an annual vacation by herself. Nothing fancy ... she just picks a nearby city and books herself into a hotel room. Sometimes she meanders about the local sights and sometimes she just hangs out in her room, watching movies and ordering-in her favourite foods. She's a big believer that this kind of break is not only good for her, but for her marriage and for her energy as a stay-at-home mother. After exactly one day … [Read more...]
There's no denying it now: I'm old.
June 26, 2009 by 6 Comments
![200px-Michaeljacksonthrilleralbum[1]](http://d3826520.u488.hspheredns.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/200px-michaeljacksonthrilleralbum1.jpg)
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...]
A child's prayer
June 24, 2009 by Leave a Comment
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...]
The Teacher's Gift
June 23, 2009 by 1 Comment
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...]
4 Days
June 22, 2009 by 1 Comment
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...]
Bad luck comes in 3s
June 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
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...]
Could This be the Answer to All Our Hopes and Dreams?
June 9, 2009 by 2 Comments
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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