It’s that time of year again. The time where everyone is so busy shopping for Christmas gifts that no one actually has any time to spend with loved ones. Or at least that’s how it feels. Stores are packed, bank accounts are empty and social engagements are hard to plan. I don’t mean to sound bitter. I’m not. I just think the holidays are meant to be shared with friends and family, not spent at the mall with strangers fighting over the last Hatchimal. This time of year can be overwhelming enough. Wouldn’t you rather just sit down with a
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No money, No Problems
Once upon a time I used to make my own money. I brought home a decent pay cheque, helped pay our collective bills and then had a glorious luxury called spending cash. Then I went on maternity leave and suddenly the dollars coming in were the same as the dollars going out. I often lamented about how, if we had given birth to our kids one at a time, the government would have given me twice the amount of dollars. Every month the Government of Canada would give me X amount of money and then they would give that same amount of money
Lessons from Vegas
Every year my husband takes a trip to see the Blue Jays play with a buddy of his (who, ironically, also just became a twin Dad). And because everything in our household must be even and fair, I also took a trip this year. I really didn’t have anywhere I was stoked to go but I knew if I didn’t book something I wouldn’t go anywhere. So I spontaneously booked a solo trip and off to Vegas I flew. I can hear you saying to yourself “Vegas by yourself? That’s weird” and maybe you’re right but my logic was threefold. One:
To My Kids On Your Second Birthday
I want you to know how lucky you are. I want you to know it deep down in your soul and feel it in the whole of your heart. I want you to always know it and forever feel it. You guys turned two today. Not a milestone birthday by any means, except maybe for me and your dad. You see, we never expected to meet you. We never thought you’d be here. But here you are, in all your hilarious, messy glory. Your first year was hard for everyone. Dad and I had no idea what we were doing.
I want to be just like you, only I don’t
Aren’t you supposed to know who you are by the time you hit your 40’s? Isn’t peer pressure supposed to be a thing of the past by now? Shouldn’t confidence, self-assurance and a who-gives-a-fuck-what-anyone-thinks attitude be the best part of middle-age? If so, I’m doing something wrong. And I only have a few short months to turn this bus around. I became a mom almost two years ago (holy shit!) and when I did, I suddenly had no idea who I was. MOM; what does that even mean to someone who didn’t intend to ever be one? For a solid year I was clueless,
Tackling the Terrible Twos Lying Down
My kids are almost two and those stereotypes about two-year olds are starting to rear their ugly heads. Specifically in my little man. My lady baby is pretty chill. She likes to cuddle and suck her thumb and generally sit quietly. Her time will come in about eleven years. This morning my little man had an epic breakdown. He woke up pissy. They both did but I suspect that her mood was contracted from him. That happens with kids. Everything is contagious from germs to moods. Our ‘playdate’ fell through, as often happens with life, so I decided my kids
From Me to Mom and Back Again
We just got back from a two week family vacation in southern Saskatchewan visiting doting grandparents, loving aunts, silly uncles and curious cousins. We also got our rock on at the 12th annual Gateway Festival in my husband’s home town and once again, the organizers put on an amazing show under the beautiful prairie sky. I was going to write all about how lucky my kids are to see a farm first-hand and how fortunate we are to be able to teach them about where our food comes from. I was going to grumble about how vacations are not truly vacations for the
To Grandma’s House We Go
I haven’t written in awhile, mainly because my mother-in-law was visiting for a few weeks but also because I’ve been binge-watching the latest season of Homeland on Netflix. If there’s any hope of making this fucked up world we live in better, Mandy Patinkin is it. One day he and I will sit down in a small cafe, sipping coffee, and discuss the human condition. It’s a bucket-list thing. As I said, my mother-in-law came and stayed with us and it was outstanding, as always. No mother-in-law jokes here. Brad and I are incredibly fortunate to have two loving, devoted, supportive sets
How to Make Supper With Toddlers Enjoyable
I actually don’t know how to achieve this. I’m just desperately hoping some magical person will leave a comment below that will change my life forever. But in case that doesn’t happen, let’s think this through. What are the problems that arise when trying to get toddlers to eat something that isn’t Goldfish Crackers or whatever I’m eating at the moment? And why is suppertime, of all meals, an epic struggle that rivals the Battle of Hogwarts? There are many parts of my day that are challenging. But there’s something extra daunting about the super, bath, bedtime routine that turns me from an empathetic, caring
Post-Partum Friendships
This is a difficult post for me to write; partly because of the truth behind it and partly because of the sadness that truth sometimes brings. A close friend and I were talking the other day about our post-partum friendships and how all of them have changed. Some for the better, like hers and mine, and some for the worse. She and I rarely see each other. In fact, I rarely see any of my friends anymore, close or not. If my BFF’s and I average a get together once every few months, we’re doing well. What I found most interesting