Archives for December 1, 2008

Children Just Like Me – originally published November 26, 2008

Although Mark is very much like his father in personality and looks, there are a few traits of mine that he also possesses: his ability to leaf through a book for hours, his highly selective eating (read: picky) eating habits, his inability to handle a sad or scary television show. These are traits that, while […]

Poppies – originally published November 11, 2008

I don’t want to discuss the politics of war, not today. I don’t want to discuss egos, power struggles, or strange ulterior motives. I don’t want to discuss how looking at the young, young faces in war footage makes me sad or how images of rows of white crosses makes me feel physically ill. I […]

Behavioural Karma – originally published November 3, 2008

As parents, we have more influence over our children than anyone. When the children are small, especially, one area in which this is very apparent is the way in which they speak. Nothing is more warming to the heart than your children repeating something kind that they have heard you say. For example, the conversation […]

A Day in the Life – originally published October 3, 2008

If anyone told me ten years ago, or even five years ago, what my life would be like today I would never believe them. In fact, I would probably freak out. 5:25 am – alarm goes off. Feel unusually refreshed as NO ONE WOKE UP LAST NIGHT. Leave the house to go to the yoga […]

Talking, talking, talking – originally published August 13, 2008

Alice Munro wrote in “The Spanish Lady”, about a woman riding on a train recalling a similar trip with her now-grown children, “I had to sleep close beside them at night and sit with them climbing around me in the daytime; my body felt bruised by their knees and elbows and feet. I did think […]

The Adventures of Mean Mommy – originally published July 24, 2008

So this morning, when I got home from yoga at 7:15, the pouring rain was starting to taper off and the sky was beginning to clear. It felt like a great day for the zoo – not too warm, and not so nice that the entire city of sahms would have the same idea. The […]

Why I’m NOT going to the Stampede – originally published July 9, 2008

Since the beginning of the month, I’ve been asked several times if I’m going to take the boys down to the “grounds”. My answer is always an unequivocal NO. The idea of taking them down, on the train, in the heat, in the crowds, to battle line-ups, etc., etc., is just not at all appealing […]