The Huffington Post recently launched a Parents section.  I love it.  The Huff is one of my daily destinations and now this added feature is giving me a ton of food for thought. This week, Rhiana Maidenberg wrote an article about Raising Children With Unconditional Love and wondering if we've gone too far with it.  I found the article insightful but the part that fascinated me were the comments!  When I first read it - there were about 20 comments (now up to 200). Each of those 20 basically called her delusional - insane - a horrible mother.  The two... More »

Remember when you were a kid and you watched Friday the 13th movies?  We used to watch them endlessly at my friend Wendy's while we'd hold hands with whoever we were 'going around' with at the time.  Ah memories.  Remember this music???   You really only need to listen to the beginning!  We thought (and I thought I was right...but the wonder of google...which didn't exist back then...tells me maybe not) that he was saying 'kill - kill - kill'.  Didn't you? Anyway - Sunday night, we were at my sister's getting ready to blow out her birthday candles when Will said something... More »

Yesterday a tweet came across my TweetDeck from @parentsmagazine saying "Complete this tweet: If I could switch places with my kid for a day, I would....".  Actually it said compete which drew my competitive self to it even more.Regardless, without batting an eye, I hit retweet and replied - "I'd make him wipe my ass for the day."  No need to think about it - hands down.  This mom is tired of wiping poo out of someone else's bum.  Then I really started to think about it and thought how HEAVENLY it would be for all of the following to... More »

I went away this weekend for a much needed time-out.  The boy and I are in a constant battle these days, the stage that my friend Molly has been warning me about since Will was in-utero is in full swing.  The tantrums come from nowhere and over nothing.  They're loud, long and unpredictable.  And I don't handle them well at all.  We both inevitably end up yelling and in tears.  But I'm working on it.  I can say with 100% certainty, I will not look back on the age of three and a half with fondness.  I was going to... More »

The videos are everywhere - some are hilarious - some are ridiculous.  Will can't edit a video (thank god) but I'm sure this is what he'd capture if he could....I give you S*&t My Mom Says by Will LanthierDo I smell poop?  Did you poo?Where's the wine opener?You know I love you right?  Even when I'm angry?Take that finger out of your nose!It's a looong time till Christmas bud.Really?  Are you sure that's how you want to talk to me?I'm not sure what tarantulas eat or why leopards have bigger heads than cheetahs or why Kermit is on both Sesame Street... More »

Lest you guys think I've gone all Oprah on your asses....you know with all the positivity around here lately, I wanted to flip the 400 words from last week. I want to take a look at 400 words about things I don't like.  We don't use the word 'hate' in our household...although I will say - since Will can't read - that I hated the hours between 6:30 and 8:30 this morning.  They left me in the mood that has more than likely resulted in this post.  BUT - I do think it's good to look at 400 words on... More »

So remember at the beginning of December when operation Take Back My Bed started?  Well, it's been a month and a half now and I'm happy to report that it WAS going really well.  The kid was actually enticed with just putting a sticker on the fridge.  I would say we were running at a 75% success rate (including the really cold night where I brought him into bed with me on purpose because I was freezing...okay yes I know that was dumb...but I swear he is like a hot water bottle!). Anyway - we were doing great until this... More »

Going through my normal rounds of blog reading, I came across a slew of bloggers via Erin Margolin - who I'm a man fan of - and they were all taking part in this writing exercise about 400 Words on Things That They Love.  And I was inspired.  Will you be?  I'd love to see your 400 words in the comments below.  It's a great way to start the year by thinking about what you love.I love the first sip of coffee in the morning. The way fire logs crackle and pop. Fresh tuna sushi and when I put too... More »

Dear 20 year old me,You're at university now.  You've left behind the safety of high school but you've packed up and carried your old insecurities with you to frosh week.  Here's a few things you should know...* curly hair + bangs = nothing good* molesting half of the hockey team will not do anything for you.  And yes, even though they're friends of yours - everyone will still think you're a slut.* pajama pants to class are comfy but ultimately?  Just put some pants on - trust me.And when you're in bar in Halifax, and your gorgeous (and awesome) friend... More »

Okay.  I'm back!  I wasn't in self imposed exile...I just had major laptop issues.  But, thank you Santa - I'm ready to start 2012 with a brand new one (and it's red...I love it). It was an interesting Christmas.  Lots of time with just the boy and I - which was both awesome and exhausting.  This was the first year that Will really got Christmas.  We watched the Muppet Christmas Carol umpteen times and once he finally got out of bed...he was super excited with the gifts that Santa brought him.  Santa (aka my friend Susannah) also left me a... More »