Being the best parent possible
By David Essel Wouldnât it be great if we could all be the best parents possible by simply following a few words of advice? David Essel attempts to set us on the right path with his words of wisdom featured in this
Go wild at Toronto Zoo
By Christine Davis Thereâs exactly one week of summer left, before days of fun get traded in for days in the classroom. Fortunately you can make the most of that week at places like the Toronto Zoo, where the summerâs special
Avoid the back-to-school shopping rush
By Patrick Ens The back-to-school shopping rush can be an extremely stressful time for kids and adults alike. Children want the newest phones, shoes and clothes for their first day â and adults will often do everything they can to
Sherkston Shores
By Christine Davis Nestled on the shores of Lake Erie is a place unto itself. Youâd barely know it was there when driving past â save for the long driveway running parallel to a quarry turned swimming hole. But when you
Discovering Viennaâs Love of Life with The Love of My Life
By Dee-Anne Wessel As we touch down at Vienna International Airport, my first thought is that weâve come a long way and Iâm not just talking distance. On this our 30th Anniversary, we arenât as financially strapped as we were when
Donât use the âDâ word
By Christine Davis When Weight Watchers announced plans to launch a teen program, offering free six-week memberships to teens from 13-18 with an adult membership, the backlash was fast. âI think their hearts are in the right place,â says registered dietician and
Travel games
By Tiffany Doerr Guerzon During school break, many families will be hitting the road! With kids strapped into car seats or seat belts they can quickly get bored. Avoid the âAre we there yet?â chorus by packing a few games
Top 5 Questions About Lice Answered
Hey Parents, schoolâs out and summerâs here - time to catch some rays, make a splash, and enjoy the great outdoors. But not so fast moms and dadsâŚjust because the kids are on vacation, doesnât mean headlice is too! Many parents
David Neinsteinâs 3-2-1 BBQ rub method
Co-owner, executive chef and pit master of Barque restaurants in Toronto and Burlington David Neinstein knows his rubs and shares his signature method for creating your own. The 3-2-1 method, named such because itâs designed to be used as a ratio
Where Your Goat is Tied
When I was a kid, the eldest of five boys, one of my motherâs favourite sayings was, âDonât let him know where your goat is tied.â Now, we reasoned from the context that she meant, âDonât let your brother know what
The California Desert with Family
By Diana Ballon The desert has that expansive barren quality that makes me feel small and insignificant, like how kids probably feel much of the time, except Iâm all grown up. In California, itâs a place where flat beige land bumps
Cook more, waste less
By Christine Davis Showing Canadians whatâs been done in restaurants forever, Chef Chuck Hughesâ new web series in conjunction with LG Electronics Canada, aims to help families waste less food. âYou really want to make every piece you buy extend as far
The Long Road
We go up to my brotherâs place on Manitoulin Island for an informal family reunion every Victoria Day weekend. He runs cottages at Dominion Bay, which is on the south shore of the island. On the Saturday, we generally help
Speaking for Themselves
I often see parents speak for their children. An Aunt asks, âSo, Jane, what have you been doing at school?â but before Jane can say anything, Dad interjects, âJaneâs doing great at school. Sheâs getting almost straight Aâs, and sheâs joined
Between steep mountains and deep blue sea: Charlevoix is a place of beauty
Story and photos by Diana Ballon Ah Charlevoix. Here is a place you can go to be seduced by beauty, immersed in culture, inspired by the art, and sated by its bounty. If you live in central Canada, the seduction can occur
Coping with the Village
Iâm sure youâve all heard the cliche that it takes an entire village to raise a child, and I agree with this. I really do. I appreciate so much that I live in a neighbourhood where I know, not only
Picture your perfect Motherâs Day and share it
By Jane Muller AÂ recent bout of spring cleaning fever revealed a stash of Motherâs Day cards crafted by my boys when they were younger that had been tucked away in a drawer. The sentiments expressed, the âpenmanshipâ and the artistry were
A weekend away
My wife went away to the cottage this past weekend with a few girlfriends from college. Itâs an annual event. The participants change slightly each year depending on who can escape work and family responsibilities, but thereâs a core of
Kids in the kitchen
Iâm a big proponent of kids in the kitchen. The first and most obvious reason is that cooking is the kind of basic life skill that everyone should have. If we want our kids to grow up and eat healthy, we
Discipline vs. punishment
By Christine Davis Discipline is the art of teaching kids to behave properly. What it is not, says Katherine Firestone, founder of The Fireborn Institute, is punishment. âThe purpose of discipline is to teach self-discipline so children can then learn to