Pinballapalooza with The Stratford Festival: Help Break A Guinness World Record

May 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Stratford Festival Pinballapalooza

Stratford Festival Pinballapalooza

 

Are you a Pinball Wizard? The Stratford Festival wants you to think so. Join them this Thursday, May 16th to have fun and help make history! They’re out to break a Guinness Book of World’s Record for the Largest Pinball Play, and they’re inviting YOU to join in. How much fun is that!? Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek at the show, with two special cast performances.

 

What:  One hundred pinball machines will fill the main lobby of First Canadian Place for a Pinball Party to celebrate the Festival’s 2013 production of Tommy.

 

When: Thursday, May 16 between 9 am and 6 pm.

 

The Fun: Play a free pinball game. Enjoy performances by the cast at 12:15 and 1:15 on the Waterfall Stage.

 

Join the conversation – tweet about @stratfest’s Pinballapalooza using hashtag #sfPinball.

 

RSVP on the Facebook event page: HERE

 

Stratford Festival Pinballapalooza

Stratford Festival Pinballapalooza

 

Boo HOO. This event looks so amazing. Unfortunately, I probably won’t be there, because I’ll be AT the Stratford Festival (total coincidence) seeing another big favorite of mine, Fiddler on The Roof. It’s my 20th Anniversary, that day, by the way. And what better way to celebrate than a little Sunrise, Sunset…So, please go, and tweet your pinballing like crazy.

 

 

Filed Under: Brand Experiences, Family, Fun, Kids, things to do with the kids in toronto, toronto deals Tagged With: , , , ,

My Long Distance Love Story with SPOKEnPHOTO

December 11, 2012 By

A picture may tell a thousand words, but a thousand words makes a photo album even more special.

 

Sometimes Words Make the Picture
Photo source: http://www.pivot-point.com/

 

I like looking at photographs. But, even more than that, I like taking them.

 

I like taking pictures so much that when my daughter was born I took so many rolls of her sleeping in her bassinet that my husband confiscated the camera. I like taking pictures so much that my camera sometimes weeps. I like taking pictures so much that my teenagers and dogs take off running when they see me lifting my iPhone. I like taking pictures so much that….well, you get the picture. Pun intended.

 

The problemo is, I don’t usually do anything with my photos. They either sit in a box, or a hard drive, or a portable hard drive, or even a CD. Put it this way, my daughter is at University, and I still haven’t made her Bat-Mitzvah album.

 

But, sometimes, one gets the impulse to do something with one’s photos. But, making a full ALBUM is so much work, so one gets distracted with butterflies and stuff.

 

But, then, one gets introduced to an EASY way to assemble an album and make it meaningful, and then one is very amenable to the idea.

 

I’m speaking of course about me. And SPOKEnPHOTO Album for iPad.  This app is so amazing. Why? Because it’s an easy way to create and share photo albums.

 

But that’s not all..

 

You can attach voice notes to any photo you want, making viewing the album a uniquely personal experience.

 

But that’s not all…

 

You can send voice requests to other people so THEY can add their voice notes to your photos.

 

But that’s not all…

 

You can send the albums to people who live far away but close in your heart, for viewing online or on their own iPads.

 

 

 

I’m part of the SPOKEnPHOTO Launch Project called ‘Long Distance Love Stories’.

 

 

Are You a Long Distance Lover?
Browse more infographics.

 

My beautiful daughter now lives an hour away. (Leaving me alone in a house with stinky, sweaty men and men-in-training, I might I add.)

 

She is MY long-distance love story.  And, I want her to know that. So, I was excited to try out the new iPad app by SPOKE Technologies called SPOKEnPHOTO. They’re launching December 11, 2012 with ‘Long Distance Love Stories‘ as told by moms just like me.

 

Talking photos fit between photo-sharing and video. They add an extra dimension of personalization and story-telling to photo-sharing, and they don’t require the skill of controlling many variables for a video. 

 

The new SPOKEnPHOTO Album App is the only app that lets you create and share talking photo collections with the look and feel of a real photo album. It lets you give the gift of your voice to long distance loved ones.

 

With the message I can attach to my photos, my girl will know exactly how I feel about her. And, that’s what is so great about these albums-you not only can view the pictures, but you can hear the sender’s voice.  I know that when I was away at University, I would have loved to have an album with personal messages from my parents and brothers and sisters.

 

SPOKEnPHOTO long distance love story

SPOKEnPHOTO Long Distance Love Story

 

You can view my album here. I’m sure with practice, my albums will get way prettier. I could actually see this SPOKEn album thing getting completely out of hand.

 

Also, for iPhonographers like me (aka people who forget where they put their cameras the SPOKEnPHOTO Album app also works together with the SPOKEnPHOTO iPhone app so you can capture talking photo moments and then collect them into memories on your iPad.

 

SPOKEnPHOTO Album for iPad:

  • Free app that lets users create and share talking photo collections that have the look and feel of a real photo album.
  • Drag and drop photos into photo albums: from your iPad, Facebook, or iPhone app
  • Record your voice on your photos
  • Request others to record their stories on photos – Share via Email, Facebook, Twitter
  • Create and manage albums on your Bookshelf and Spoken Photos in your Gallery
  • Recipients can view album online or on iPad app

 

 

You can get the app for yourself here. (I highly recommend it, and am already planning my next SPOKEnPHOTO album but I can’t tell you what it’s for because it’s a secret.)

 

SPOKEnPHOTO_iPad_iOS_icon

SPOKEnPHOTO IPAD icon

 

For more information about SPOKE Technologies, visit their website.

 

 Disclosure:  I am part of a group of social media moms who were selected to participate in the launch of SPOKEnPHOTO and the ‘Long Distance Love Stories’ Album.  I was compensated for my participation in this program. All opinions are my own, and my opinion is that I LOVE it.

 

 

Filed Under: Brand Experiences, Family, Kids, Life, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Lunch at Boston Pizza with Fun Auntie & Win 5 Free Kids Meals

November 8, 2012 By

Boston Pizza kids card

 

Last Saturday was a great day.

 

Why?

 

Because I got to spend the middle of the day with two of my adorable nieces at a lunch for Boston Pizza.

 

Wondering why I didn’t just bring my own kid?  Well, the lunch was to introduce the new Kids Menu, and as such I needed a squirt or two under the age of 10. Since I have 21 nieces and nephews, 16 of which who fit the bill, it wasn’t hard to find my partners in crime.

 

The boston pizza fun box

Boston Pizza Family Fun

 

When we arrived, the kids were excited to see a little pizza box at their spots full of activities to keep them busy-cards, crayons, a bingo game, puzzle book.  Until I sugared them up at the end with the incredible desserts and they got into a shrieky she hit me first battle, they were busy and quiet.

 

The Food was a big surprise.  According to Communications Director Perry Schwartz, Boston Pizza has hired a new Executive Chef, and he’s revamped the Kids Menu as well as adding new items for us supposed grownups. They’ve also made great improvements to the existing menu items, and my Santa Fe Salad was absolutely amazing. It totally tasted like the picture.

 

But, nothing for us big people could compare to what the kids ate.  I have to admit that I nicked a couple of my niece’s Pizza Pinwheels. I could eat those every day.

 

Boston Pizza Kids menu pizza pinwheels

 

Then this guy came around. Lionel was a big hit with the kiddies. Maybe a few mommies hugged him too.

 

Boston Pizza Mascot Lionel

 

The Big Star of the Day, though, was me.

 

After I ordered extra of the Best.Dessert.In.The.Whole.World.  Right off the Kids Menu, this is a chocolate chip cookie, called a Panookie, baked to order and topped with vanilla bean ice cream and then drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauces. Served hot. Right out of the oven, and into my mouth.

 

Boston Pizza Panookie

 

Once I had about four Panookies on my table, the kids just came. It was like I was the Pied Piper of fun, and earned me the moniker, FUN AUNTIE. I love it!

 

The Pied Piper of cookies at Boston Pizza

Fun Auntie

 

You too can be FUN AUNTIE or even FUN MOMMY or FUN GRANNY or just FUN. Because Boston Pizza has given me a card with FIVE FREE KIDS MEALS loaded up on it.  To win, answer this question in the comments below:

 

What makes you fun? 

 

I will randomly select an answer on February 16, at 12 noon est.

 

P.S. Share the contest on FB or Twitter and let me know, and you’ll get an extra entry! Also, Canada only. Maybe next time, Americans…

 

P.P.S They want me to tell you that when you buy a gift card, it comes in this really neat Greeting Card. So you don’t have to buy one. That’s helpful, right?

 

 

Filed Under: Brand Experiences, Contests, Kids, Life Tagged With: , , , ,

When You Step in a Pile of Dog Crap, You Make Hummous

October 11, 2012 By

don't let your dog poop in front of my mailbox

 

It’s not every day that you can step in a pile of dog shit and walk away with clean soles.

 

A few days ago, I was wearing my favorite new boots that I bought in last August in New York City. They were marked down to $30 from $599, the only pair like them, and in my size.  If you believe in fate and that some things are meant to be, then you can believe that those distressed brown leather ankle-height riding boots were my beshert.

 

And not meant to be insulted by wayward  dog turds blatantly left in front of my super mailbox. Yep. An inconsiderate jerk let his obviously large dog relieve his or herself right where I’d be likely to step in the mess when picking up my mail in the dark.

 

I felt the squish, and cringed.  My boots were doomed. And then I realized that the grass was still damp from the rain. I had a choice. I could become one with the crap, or risk water damage on my boots.  Without a second thought, I stepped from the pavement into the wet beyond, squished my heel around a few times, and hoped.  When I got under the street light, my heel was clean, but the leather was darkened with water.  But, I didn’t stink of a dog’s dinner anymore. The poop was gone. The next day, thankfully, the leather had dried good as new.

 

It all worked out for the best.

 

A couple of days later, the husband and I reluctantly made the decision to cancel our family trip to Israel. We’d been planning for three years to take the whole family on an epic adventure for our youngest son’s Bar-Mitzvah.

 

He was going to read from the Torah on top of Masada.

 

It was going to be amazing.  Because of a variety of circumstances, we haven’t taken our kids away on many family vacations, and even the 18-year old  been on an airplane just three times in her life.  In fact, this isn’t the first time we’ve booked a getaway and then cancelled it.  They’re almost grown up and they’ve never even been to DisneyWorld for goodness sakes. I’m so tired of disappointing my kids. I’m so tired of being disappointed myself. Time is running out.

 

First world problems, I know, but I was really looking forward to the time together, especially as my girl has gone off to University.

 

When we decided to call the dream trip off, I went through my own version of the Stages of Grief.  These are my defence mechanism, and are well practiced when things don’t go my way.  They are:

 

1.Avoidance (I don’t want to talk about cancelling the trip. It’s not happening. I can’t hear you.)

 

2. Mock cheerfulness accompanied by nonchalance (Oh, whatever. Who cares anyways. I didn’t really want to go anyways. In fact, I’m happy it’s off. Relieved really. Just cancel it. Big smile.)

 

3. Depression (Oh, woe is me. Why do these things always happen to me? I was really looking forward to this. I’m so sad. Nothing is ever going to turn out for me.)

 

4. Apathy (Whatever.  I don’t care about anything. I’m like a shadow moving through the day.)

 

I know, healthy. Right? Especially stages 1-4.

 

Somewhere between depression and apathy, after I dried my tears and before I started to not care about anything, I went to get my mail. That big turd was still laying there. Right in front of my mailbox. With a perfect indent from my boot.

 

Still there. Me stepping in it didn’t make it go away.

 

And that crap didn’t ruin my beautiful boots.

 

Just like this other crap isn’t going to ruin my life.

 

A new addition to my Stages of Grief.

 

5.  Reluctant Acceptance (We’re not going.  We’re not going. We’re not going. There will be other things. Other trips. Other opportunities.)

 

I think I’m a grown-up, even though I’m fighting it.  Shit happens. Literally. Whether you step in it purposefully, or not, that’s just the way it is.  Luckily, this time it was just the cancellation of a longed for vacation.  Everyone in my family is healthy. We have a home. We have food to eat. Other than the luxury of a transatlantic jaunt, my kids are well provided for.

 

This trip was important to me.  But not going on the trip won’t ruin my life. There will be other trips, and we will find another, quieter way to celebrate our son’s Bar Mitzvah.

 

Maybe we’ll fly away to a beach.  Somewhere a little less adventurous.  After all, you don’t need to go to Israel to have a good time. We’ll be together and that’s all that matters.

 

I’ll just make sure the resort serves hummus.

 

PS. I hate. hate. hate. hate. hate. disappointing my children. Did I say hate?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Family, Getting Older, Kids, Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Oh Woe Is Me Otherwise Known as Today’s Litany of Complaints

August 28, 2012 By
Oh, woe is me. Watch me complain about all the terrible things that happen to me

source: www.bloglovin.com

 

 

There’s a rut in the air. Not rutting, perverts and readers of historical fiction. Me. I’m in a rut.  Oh, woe is me.

 

It all stems from this bad mood I have today, which all stems from the fact that apparently, my daughter doesn’t have enough throw cushions for her dorm room. Which you know, makes me the most horrible mother in the world.  Because she’s deprived.  Which then puts me in a bad-ish mood since I’m supposed to be this big ole expert on parenting teenagers when I’m just this loser whose kid can’t understand why it’s worth it to buy one’s textbooks at Amazon.ca in order to save $10.

 

Obviously, all of her textbooks are new fucking editions this year.  So, she can’t buy used. And, she has all half courses. And, of course, second term she takes psychology again but NO the second professor does not use THIS psych 101 textbook, (s)he feels the need to use a DIFFERENT $130.00 book that my kid who doesn’t even really like school will need to buy.

 

Take a breath.

 

And, also, in case you were wondering, the money tree we have in the kitchen does not, contrary to it’s name, grow money.  It’s all a lie.  You know what else is a lie?  That when you’ve had two glasses of wine you’ll remember whether or not you changed your tampon.  So, when you can’t find the string the next morning but there’s a wrapper in the garbage but you seem to have pre-alzheimers, which is worrying in itself and you can’t remember if that’s from before your went to the bar or after.  So, now you can spend weeks wondering if there’s a little cotton tube floating around your uterus poisoning it, and even though you don’t need your uterus anymore, it’s a nice-to-have.

 

Take a breath.

 

Sure, also, you’re the worst mother again because your kid sits at home all the time and can’t seem to make plans and even when he does, the other kid’s mom makes him cancel because she always does. Or, your son makes plans at the same time you have to go to the Mandarin Chinese Buffet with your in-laws for their 50th Wedding anniversary (OMG Congratulations, right?!) so then YOU have to make him cancel. Plus, you’re going to California for the first time for a wedding, and you’ll have to wear a bathing suit in front of a whole bunch of people who like to work out but you don’t work out because you’re too lazy and keep getting hurt, and you’re going to the Mandarin Chinese Buffet where there are NO healthy calories.

 

Take a breath.

 

It doesn’t make it better that the night before the day where you’re in a rut you lay awake till all hours trying to fall asleep and the harder you try the less successful you are.  So, you pick up your phone and start looking at Instagram and reading blogs and other websites, which gets your brain going and you fall asleep less. Then, your husband tells you that you couldn’t fall asleep because you didn’t have sex with him which is stupid because first of all in women sex makes you stay awake (unless it’s really boring and then you fall asleep during) and also, there is no way you’re having sex with three teenagers walking around the house because they won’t think it’s Mommy and Daddy wrestling and instead will be incredibly traumatized and will need therapy and as I mentioned, there is NO money tree.

 

Take a breath.

 

It doesn’t help that I had a great time reading all the amazing books that publishers sent me this summer except once I finished one I picked up the next and didn’t pause in between to write the reviews and now I’m behind in my reviews which I promised myself wouldn’t happen again, partially because I seem to be having memory problems that I’m worried about.  I’m not sure if the memory problems are due to stress, an actual medical condition or the fact that I think I may be developing a sensitivity to caffeine which may be the most distressing thing to happen to me in a long time.

 

Take a breath.

 

Luckily, I’m a happy person and I don’t stay in a rut for long.  I can already feel my cheerful and positive nature pulling me out.  Because my life doesn’t really suck.

 

As long as I don’t weigh myself tonight, I should be ok.

 

In case you were concerned.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Embarrassing Situations, Humour, Kids, Life Lessons, Teenagers Tagged With: , , , , , ,

To My Son on his 13th Birthday

July 30, 2012 By

image source: http://romero-britto-pop-art-and-hug.blogspot.ca/2011/07/romero-britto-imagenes.html

 

Phew.  Today is the day that you, my baby boy, turn 13.

 

Seriously, I never thought we’d make it this far.  I’m not even kidding. You. As a baby. As a toddler.  As a preschooler. You challenged me.

 

You know what?  We did it.  Together.

 

Before you arrived on the scene, I didn’t feel like our little family was complete. And, after you did, it was.  You were SO wanted.  Never, ever forget that.  The third time is definitely the charm, because you completed our circle of five.

 

When I was first pregnant, I was sure you were a girl.  But, we went to the ultrasound, your sister and I, and you obviously, and the technician asked,

 

Do you want to know the gender?

 

Of course I said yes. I hate surprises, after all.  When she pointed and said, There’s the scrotum, I was shocked.  I answered her with a perplexed,

 

But girls don’t have those.

 

No, they don’t. Nor does anyone have your unique Jonah-ness.   They couldn’t see that magic in the Ultrasound, now could they.

 

You are one of a kind.  If they bottled your energy, they could fill up a whole warehouse of 5Hour Energy drinks.  From the moment you started crawling at three months, I knew I had my work cut out for me.  You kept me running, that’s for sure. That’s when you weren’t laid up with one of your ear infections or other illnesses. You were a brave little guy, going through seven sets of ear tube surgeries, the first when you were only nine months old. I don’t know how someone could have been so happy and smiley when they were sick all the time, but you were.  Luckily you got all of that out of your system, and now, other than the occasional Wednesday-itis, you’re healthy like the proverbial horse.

 

J, your creative naughtiness is legendary.  Singlehandedly, you have dispelled any delusions I had about my mothering skills. You left me breathless, you had me stumped.  Looking at the results of some of your antics I just scratched my head, wondering WHY.  Or HOW.  or even WHEN.  Along the way, though, I’ve learned a lot. About myself, about you, about patience. You taught me to breath. You taught me to look below the surface.  Today, I am who I am because of you.  The bravery and maturity that I see as you own and overcome the challenges that come with your ADHD completely astound me.

 

Today, I apologize.  For not knowing. For not understanding what you needed every day.

 

Your brains.  They are huge. That’s all I can say.  I think you knew more than me when you were 10 years old.  I truly look forward to what the future holds for you. As long as hacking isn’t on the table, I’m fine with whatever you choose to do with your great mind.

 

You are so full of love, even though you keep trying to act all mature and teenager-y. I know you don’t actually think I’m as embarrassing as you say I am.  When I try and hug and kiss you in public, I’m sure that you would like to kiss and hug me back, but you don’t want other people to be jealous of us.  Some of my best nights, in fact, are laying in bed with you reading or watching movies.  I know I cling a bit to you, but you’re our youngest.  I need to keep you small for just a while longer.

 

What can I say to you on your 13th birthday, except that today you are a man.  I can’t wait to see you read the Torah at your Bar Mitzvah, and witness you take your place in the Jewish Community. Even though you say religion is dead, I know one day the pomp and circumstance will mean something to you.  Now, you do it for me. So I can swell with pride as you smile and look toward your future.

 

Kid, you were lucky you were cute when you were little, or we may never have made it to this moment.  But, I’m so glad that we did. And, I’m so happy that we have you in our lives.

 

I am honoured to be your Mom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Life, Life Lessons, Teenagers Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Valium Chronicles: Mothering Feedback for Mother’s Day

May 11, 2012 By

someecards.com - Apparently, they've loosened the requirements. I just won Mother-of-the-Year.

 

Now that I’m officially a Parenting Adult, I feel that its time that I get some official feedback on my mothering skills.

 

For Mother’s Day.  Since I love Mother’s Day.

 

Anyways, even though the general public thinks I’m a bad mother, I think I’m pretty decent at this job, thank you very much.

Just to make sure, I asked my kids, very nicely.

 

It's always a good idea to ask nicely.

 

And, their answers:

 

Sky:  What?

Me:  For my Mother’s day post.

Sky: __________

I’m still waiting…I guess she’s punished…

 

Ben:  You do everything perfect.

Excellent Answer, son. 

 

Jonah:

The proof is in the pudding

 

And that really, is all I need.

 

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone.

May nobody annoy you today. May you get to go to your yoga class, may your Mother not start a fight with you.  May the coffee be hot and the wine liquor-y.  May everyone pick their crap up off the floor without you asking 17 times.  May your baby sleep through the night, and your teenager come in before it’s over.

May your day be filled with love, and butterfly kisses, or at the very least, no laundry.

 

 

Filed Under: Humour, Kids, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

One more reason I’m a bad parent. Thanks a lot ADHD.

May 8, 2012 By

Source: wikipedia

 

Well, the jury is in. My husband and I are bad parents. That’s because we have a child with ADHD.

 

According to 1,000 people who took part in a survey conducted by The Child Mind Institute on children’s mental health, not only are we endangering our son’s health by putting him on medication, its even worse because his ADHD probably isn’t real, and is really the result of a combination negligent parenting, lax discipline, and our desire to have a zombie child.

 

Sure, we’re responsible for J having ADHD.  After all, he is the product of our mutual genetic material.  But, did we cause ADHD in any other way?   Nope.  No way.

 

I haven’t seen the full survey, and I’m trusting that The Child Mind Institute conducted it with good intentions in an effort to gauge public opinion about children’s mental health issues.

Here’s my take on the results.  I put them into three main categories.

Are you F*cking kidding me?

32% of parents said… ADHD is sometimes more a result of insufficient or absent parenting rather than a true medical condition.

Ok, we’ve already established that I’m a shitty parent, but thanks to 320 people for rubbing it in.  Guess they don’t know how much time parenting an ADHD kid takes. Or, how they complete monopolize the entire house with their ‘antics’. Oh, also, guess they haven’t seen the imaging of an ADHD brain in action.

 

13% of parents said… ADHD should not be treated as a medical condition, but rather as a behavioral issue that can be corrected with discipline.

OOh, let’s teach a child who has impulse control problems to hit when they don’t like something someone does.  Hey 130 people, have you tried to spank the seizure out of an epileptic today?

 

6% of parents said… Psychiatric or learning disorders are more common in single parent families.

No comment except, those are 60 stupid people.

 

10% of parents said… Extended time on standardized tests give children with learning disorders an unfair advantage.

Holy shit. Obviously, those 100 parents are big fat sucky babies who think because their kid didn’t get the highest score because the other kid got more time.

 

16% of parents said… Kids who take medication now are more prone to drug or alcohol addiction later in life.

Actually, kids with ADHD who go untreated are more prone to addiction and legal problems due their impulse control problems.

Food for thought

45% of parents said… Kids with learning disorders tend to have other behavioral issues that hamper their learning.

This is true. For example, my boy has ADHD, a learning disability, and he’s gifted in the 100th percentile.  Poor guy.

 

52% of parents said… Starting kids on medication so young in life is dangerous.

Any medication at any time in life has side-effects and should not be taken lightly.  A child on medication should be monitored frequently for side-effects. For example, we see the psychiatrist anywhere from every 3-6 months, depending on how J is doing, both physically and socially.

 

74% of parents said… Kids are often put on medication as a quick and easy fix.

I actually agree with this one.  My son saw a psychiatrist for three years before we took the leap into the world of Concerta.  Here’s a list of 50 conditions that can present as ADHD.

 

72% of parents said… Doctors and parents are too quick to put kids on medication for ADHD rather than looking for other solutions.

First of all, HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS? Did you call everyone of us and ask us if we’d tried anything else?  If these 720 people are speaking from experience, get another doctor.  There are other options, depending on the type of ADHD, the behaviours, and the impact on the child’s well-being.  That being said, cutting out fruit roll-ups is not a cure for ADHD.

 

63% of parents said… Too many children are being diagnosed with ADHD when they just have behavioral issues.

These are the only 630 smart people who took the survey.  Even my son’s psychiatrist said that ADHD is definitely over diagnosed. I myself went through hoops with my elder son when the school thought he had ADHD. After extensive testing, we found that he had a fine motor delay and a weak eye muscles.

The ones that I wish weren’t true:

50% of parents said… Many doctors downplay the risks associated with putting kids on medication to treat ADHD and depression.

I really hope that doctors are discussing all of the side-effects of any medication that they prescribe.  I really hope.

 

45% of parents said… Normal children are being labeled as mentally ill or having learning disorders simply because their teachers can’t handle them.

I am sad to hear people think a teacher would tell parents that their child has a mental illness to make their own life easier. I really hope that this one is ignorant opinion and not based on fact. Because, I would really be disturbed if it was true.

(You can see the results on the Parents Magazine Website, as well an article about the survey in the Globe and Mail.)

I am so tired of hearing that I cannot control my son. I’m tired of the looks, I’m tired of the comments. I’m tired of him being left-out of parties, or of people telling their kids not to play with him because he’s bad.  I’m tired of being judged, of being told that his mental health issue, his medical condition, isn’t real. I’m tired of my son coming home and telling me he’s not like ‘normal’ kids.
I’m done with ridiculous surveys like this one, which use such a small sample of people who have opted in, as opposed to a sample of people who represent a random cross-section of society .
I’m so angry at the media for sensationalizing the answers to the survey with headlines like ‘Nearly a third of people think ADHD is caused by bad parenting.  Would they ever even DARE to headline an article on Tourettes, autism, or even depression that way?
I am fed-up. How is my son supposed to live his life when every where he turns there’s someone telling him that he could stop if he would only try a little harder.
I’m tired, really, of people who don’t live my life, live my son’s life, giving their opinions.  I’m just tired.








Filed Under: Family, Kids, Life Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

On My Daughter’s 18th Birthday

May 3, 2012 By
mothers and daughters

photo: chicken-scratch.ca (google)

What I wanted most for my daughter was that she be able to soar confidently in her own sky, whatever that may be. 

– Helen Claes

It was 18 years ago this morning, May 4th, at 4:55 am, that I first held you, my beautiful girl in my arms.  I was young.  So young.  But, I wanted a baby, and you  were the one for me.  I remember being pregnant, and dreaming of a dark, curly-haired moppet with white skin and ruby lips running through a field towards me. And, that’s exactly what I got.  I got you.

 

Daughter of mine, the time has flown so fast, that if I try to stop and catch a breath, a moment with you will be lost forever.  Its like I blinked once and we were celebrating your first birthday.  I blinked again, and you were off to school.  Blink, and you turned 13, and made us so proud as you read from the Torah at your Bat Mitzvah.  Then you turned 16, learned to drive, got your first job, and your second.  Each of those milestones was exciting. This one, unlike the others, I hate to say, is breaking my heart just a tiny little bit.

 

It’s hard for me to admit it, but this birthday means you’re one minute closer to leaving us.  As of today, you’re an adult.  In two months you graduate from high school, and a few after that, off you go to follow your dreams.  I’m not melancholy because I worry about you.  I know that whatever you do, it will be fantastic.  Because, that’s just how you roll.  I’m melancholy because I want to keep you close, not let you go.

 

Even though we have some spectacularly explosive mother daughter moments, the kind that tear us apart for moments at a time, I know that they are necessary so you can grow, so you can flex your muscles as a strong and independent woman.  As you emerge from the years of teen angst, and finally begin to draw closer to us once again, it’s time for you to spread your wings and fly away.  So, I promise you, I will let those difficult times just fade away, and let them be lost amongst my hoarded memories of precious moments together, of your sweet smiles, and of even the briefest of hugs.

 

My girl, you are so incredible. You bear an amazing strength of conviction, honesty, and most of all, incredible self-confidence.  I can’t imagine another young woman your age who knows who she is, what she wants, and more importantly, what she doesn’t, like you do.  I know I wasn’t at all like that.  You are so much better than I was at your age, and for that, I truly admire you.

 

You are so talented-your eyes see beauty where mine see nothing.   Your fingers can create, your body moves to the music like no one is watching. When you smile the world lights up around you.  You are magical.

 

My daughter, my sweet baby girl, on today, your 18th birthday, I wish for you the stars.  I wish for you everything and then add to that infinity.  I wish great love for you, wherever you find it.   I wish that your dreams, whatever they may be, come true and if they don’t, that you make them happen.  I wish for you all of the beauty of the world, but the sadness too, because sadness makes you stronger and sadness makes the happy moments seem even more joyful.

 

My Sky, I know that forever you will be mine, and I will be yours.  Because you come from my dreams. And that’s forever.

 

There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself. 

– John Gregory Brown

 

Filed Under: Getting Older, Kids, Life, Teenagers Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

When I Showed My Husband the ‘What Do Moms Do All Day’ Picture…

April 24, 2012 By

Most of the time, my husband is great. I mean, he’s a bit moody, but show me a man who isn’t, and I’ll show you a woman who wants to be with her kids ALL the time.  Its also no secret that  housekeeping is not my activity of choice.  But, I do try. I really do try (well, not really).

When I showed the Old Man this picture and read him the story (its not that he can’t read, its that he’s advanced in years, and generally too lazy to go get his glasses), his response was, ‘What’s the big deal?  The house always looks like that.‘
WHAT?!
Then the boys chimed in, ‘Yeah, Mom. What’s the big deal?’
I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say, ‘WHAT AN ASSHOLE. And, two in training.’
A crazy stay-at-home mom house

WHAT DO WE DO ALL DAY?

A man came home from work and found his 3 children outside, still in their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn around garden, The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house and no sign of the dog, walking in the door, he found …an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, the throw rug was against one wall, In the front room the TV was on loudly with the cartoon channel, the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pyjamas, reading a novel… She looked up at him, smiled and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, ‘What happened here today?’ She again smiled and answered, ‘You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?…

”Yes,” was his incredulous reply..
She answered, ‘Well, today I didn’t do it.’
(I can’t locate source of this story. But, I’m no plagiarizer.  It could be this:  http://robinroost.blogspot.ca/ but it was shared on FB from here: Suzie’s Daily Quotes)
Filed Under: Family, Humour, Kids, Operation Housewife Tagged With: , , , ,
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