First date
So my eldest son is planning his first date. To be clear, the girl in question has been his friend-not-my-girlfriend for a number of years now, and I don’t think that status has officially changed. He first told us about her
So much mess
I need to begin by admitting that I’m not the neatest person in the world. I’m not exactly a slob either – I don’t like clutter, and I don’t like dirt – but I’m generally okay with things being a
How to talk to kids about marijuana
By Dr. Yashar Khosroshahi With the legalization of marijuana upon us in Canada, it’s important to open up the dialogue around cannabis in our homes and with our children. Change is always met with a mix bag of emotions, and this time
For the Love of the Game
My middle son, who had been playing rep level soccer as recently as September, has decided to switch his attention to basketball. The choice is partly because so many of his friends play basketball, and partly because of club issues
Make intelligence cool again
By Christine Davis You know him from the hit CBC show “Kim’s Convenience,” but come Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m., Paul Sun-Hyung Lee will be the host of “Canada’s Smartest Person Junior”, also on CBC. In this elimination-style competition featuring 12
Magical money leaves them toothless for toonies
By Jane Muller The tooth fairy is a major source of income for kids. Not sure about the logistics of her delivery system but it’s best that little ones don’t think about it too hard. The tooth comes out, money gets
Too Many Funerals
It’s been a rough few months around our family when it comes to great-grandparents. At the beginning of the year, my wife and I had all four of our grandmothers between us still living. Then my dad’s mother passed away in
Five ways for Mom to make money
By Carol J. Alexander Few women look forward to returning to work after having a baby. Financially, some don’t have a choice. Yet others have enough wiggle room in their income to start earning money from home. Here are five proven
Anxious about school
I’ve never had to deal with real anxiety about school before. My kids displayed lots of other emotions about school – Boredom? Yes. Apathy? Sure. Loathing? Check. Uncertainty even? Sometimes. – but never what I would call real anxiety. My youngest,
Three Things I don’t Know About You
I’ve mentioned before that I try to do “devotions” with my kids before they leave for school each morning. Despite the name, this time isn’t necessarily or even frequently religious in nature (though the name does come from the idea
Be afraid, be very afraid
I was never truly afraid until I had children. That’s not to say that I was never in some scary situations. I’ve been in more than one car crash. I’ve been lost and alone in Killarney National Park for almost 24
Device addiction
If you’ve read this column at all over the past six years, you’ll know that I’m not an alarmist. I tend to approach parenting (and pretty much everything else for that matter) with a healthy dose of skepticism. When I
Math for Moms and Dads
By Christine Davis If you struggle helping your children with math homework, Humber College’s Continuing Education department has developed a workshop that can help. Math for Moms and Dads: How to Tutor Your Children was developed by Humber’s director of Professional and
Crafting Your Roadmap to Success
It’s challenging for anyone – especially young people – to know where you’re going if you don’t have a roadmap to get there. Goal mapping is a critical strategy to give your tween or teen focus and help them visualize
When a Bad Husband is Still a Good Father
By Tammy Letherer I had been divorced for a couple years when my former husband called with a surprise. Thankfully, it wasn’t the type of surprise he delivered the night he sat me at the table and told me he had
Helping Kids in Need See the Front of the Class
Good eyesight is at the foundation of a good education. When kids can see the front of the classroom, they are better equipped to learn the lessons being taught. Eyestrain can lead to headaches, blurred vision and fatigue, which can make
Back into routine
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be back into a routine. I’m not saying I’m glad that school has started and that I’m working full hours again. Not exactly. I’m not saying I’m glad that the holidays are
The Terrible Twos vs. The Terrible Teens
By Pam Molnar While picking up my prescription at Walgreens last week, the woman in front of me had two small children. I guessed their ages to be 4 and 2. It was around dinner time and everyone was in meltdown
Not your mother’s baby toolbox
By Jane Muller Figuring out how to buckle a baby into a car seat or overcoming the mechanics of unfolding a stroller are reminders that baby equipment continues to evolve. Not only has baby paraphernalia changed since today’s moms were babies, some
When dog ownership doesn’t add up
By Jane Muller If there isn’t a dog in your life, it’s likely that the possibility of having one has been discussed. A family pet completes the picture. In some families a furry child was the first. Couples may not realize