This is a new post to test  the new design. Check it out! New...clean...fresh...... More »

Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny summer day at my brother-in-law’s new cottage. The setting was idyllic, and the kids were laughing on the dock, splashing in the water, while the parents were enjoying view (and some adult conversation) from the deck. All of a sudden my eldest son let... More »

Before I adopted my son Alexei from Russia, I had to go through a rigorous approval process. Any individual or family adopting internationally or domestically will have to complete an adoption home study with a qualified social worker and submit it to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.... More »

I spent the afternoon reading and writing with my 6 year old niece.  My sister asked me to work with her daughter as there has not been any borrow-a book or home book program during my niece’s two Kindergarten years.  My sister was concerned that without that support and... More »

Q:   My husband, children and I have been invited to spend a week at my sister’s cottage along with her family and our other sister’s family too.  The three clans vacationed together last summer and I found my parenting style clashed with those of my siblings, which caused a... More »

I was at a marketing conference the other day and was priveleged enough to hear Jeffrey Allgrove, the President of Unilever, speak.  As many of you might already know, Unilver produces Dove skin care products and you are likely aware that in the last few years Dove has launched... More »

It was an unseasonably warm, sunny spring day, and my daughter had just been dismissed from morning Kindergarten. Almost all the children ran to the playground together, horsing around, playing tag, climbing on the monkey bars. My daughter and one little boy ran off together to play. I chatted... More »

“Mommy! I want THAT for my birthday!” “Me too! I want THAT one!” Ever since my oldest child “graduated” from watching Treehouse exclusively, this refrain has echoed through the family room every day during TV time. It’s my kids, watching TV, asking for everything they see in commercials. And... More »

Most parents are aware of the five strands of math that must be taught to all students in Ontario – Numeration and Number Sense, Patterning and Algebra, Data Management (Graphing) and Probability, Geometry and Measurement.   What you may not be as aware of, is that at the beginning of... More »

OK.  I admit it.  I was clueless.  I have spent lots of time with my kids over the years so I thought a whole weekend would be no problem.  I've put them to bed before.  I've fed them, changed diapers, gotten them dressed.  How hard could it be?  I... More »