Room for everyone and so much more
By Christine Davis The hunt for the ideal family vehicle is different for each family and at each stage. Ours has been content with a sedan and a small SUV since becoming a family of four, but as the kids grow
Art that is all about the making
By Meri Cherry As a working mom, I wanted some way to connect with my girls in the limited time we had together. With Process Art, I found my answer. In simple terms, Process Art is art that’s all about the
The Right Situation
Helping your kids be successful is in many instances about putting them into the kinds of situations that emphasize their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. This is true in big ways, like when choosing high school classes. Why force your
Teach me
My youngest kid was up very early this morning, coming downstairs while I was still meditating. “Dad,” he said, poking his head through the doorway, “can you make me some scrambled eggs?” I told him that he was perfectly capable
Dropping the “n” word
My middle kid had the N-word dropped on him again yesterday (he’s had to put up with this at least once a year since he was school aged). This time he was playing basketball with a kid he’d never really
Deciding the Future
In less than a month my eldest will start high school, and I’m having some trouble wrapping my head around that. It’s not that I’m terribly worried about him. He’s a level-headed kid, with good friends, and lots of family support.
Dresden glasses are eye-deal
By Christine Davis Made entirely of recyclable, durable plastic, Dresden eyeglasses are now available in Canada. Sustainably made and super affordable, the concept came out of Australia when founders Bruce Jeffreys and Jason McDermott sought a solution for expensive frames and
Get groceries now
The arrival of a new baby is a thrilling time for mothers, but can be overwhelming, making simple, everyday tasks such as grocery shopping and cooking, a burden. To help ease the stresses of motherhood, Inabuggy, formerly InstaBuggy, offers a helping
Take in Toronto
By Christine Davis Playing tourist close to home is a fun take on a staycation that actually lets you leave your house. Toronto has plenty of family fun to offer – enough to keep you more than busy for at least a
Making a List
One of the things I’ve written about in this space before (and that I also talk about with parents all the time), is not just scheduling every minute of your kids’ summer, but allowing them unstructured time to hang out
Vacation Like A Kid
Remember those childhood summers, when you didn’t get up until noon, or when you got up before dawn to go fish down at the dock; when you spent the whole day just reading on the porch, or when you did
Learning Hospitality
Most weekends during the summer, if we’re in town, we invite a few friends over for a barbecue at our house. Things are usually pretty low key – we pick up a few drinks, throw some sausages on the grill,
Real reading
As a writer and a publisher, I’ll admit that I can be a bit picky about books, but when it comes to the kids books I’ve seen recently, I think I’m justified in being a little disappointed. It’s not all books
Mom Stuff
By Christine Davis Black Fly Tequila Shaker Shots Shake up your shots with these Mexican-inspired tequila poppers that feature premium ingredients including Mexican tequila, real lemon and lime juices, soda and a hint of salt. Plus they come in a unique test
Something They’ll Never Forget
I took my two younger kids to see the Toronto Raptors’ championship parade and rally in Nathan Phillips Square. We had to get up at 5 a.m. to catch the train to Toronto, then walk from Union Station to the square,
Learning to be a better parent
One of the curious side effects of fostering and adopting is that you usually end up with a whole lot more parenting instruction than if you have biological children. Whereas it’s possible to get pregnant on a whim (or even
Wedding Season and the mini-guests
It’s getting into the season where your weekend calendar will be filling up with weddings. And for parents some of these events welcome your littles to attend as mini-guests or to play an important role in the big day. The
Taking on turkey
By Christine Davis When Chef Shahir Massoud was tasked by Butterball to produce a show that would take him across the country, preparing traditional dishes from eight different families of various backgrounds, little did he know he’d learn a thing or
Intergenerational family travel blossoms in Ottawa
Story & Images by: Jacquie D. Durand When the warm weather arrives, everyone is a little ‘antsy’ to get outside again. My family’s solution was a road trip to Ottawa to see the annual Tulip Festival. Representing three generations: a mother
Other people’s kids
It seems I’ve hit a new stage as a work-from-home parent, one where my kids are old enough not to be around the house during the day so other parents see me as an ideal target to hit up for