How many times have you seen a child actor on a TV show or in a movie and though "Wow that looks like fun! Bet my son / daughter could do that!"  Probably, however, there are many aspects to being a child actor that are not known to many and rarely will you open a parenting magazine and read an article on it.  So how do you know if your child is star material?When my oldest child was just three she declared loudly to me that she was going to be a star.  I told her she could be whatever... More »

By now most of you have come to know my terror child cute 5 year old Ryley, crap by now you most likely feel as though you have come face to face with him a few times!  Actually if you did you might just turn around and run. Fast. Although he is cute as a button (no really he is) I have also had some major red flags thrown straight into my face over the past few years that finally I have to stop, peel them off, and get down to the nitty gritty.  By this I mean it's time... More »

A couple of weeks ago my 8 year old daughter Arielle started complaining of her ear hurting where the piercing hole is.  It looked all red and I asked her how long it had been hurting.  She told me a few days. When I touched the lobe part it felt very swollen so I put some ear cleaner and alcohol on it and told her she was not to wear any earrings until it cleared up. Over the next week she kept complaining and at one point she appeared slightly hysterical and started yelling that she was pretty sure the... More »

The other day a few of my children brought home lists of the names of all the students in their class with a note about Valentine's day.  The note was a reminder to us parents that if we are going  to send Valentine cards to school to please make sure we send one for each child so no child is left out.  Big sigh from me.  Whatever happened to Valentine's day being for secret love notes that were sent to those you had a crush on? I remember the anticipation of getting a sweet valentine from the cute boy who... More »

Well we finally forked out the dough, filled in all the paperwork and got passports for all the children! It was high time considering a good friend of ours lives across the Border and always has to come to Ontario to meet up with us.  This weekend that all changed and the fun began! Okay when I say fun you didn't think I was serious did you?? For us the drive to the border isn't really that long and for once it was relatively sane.  I only had a few children screaming at each other and the babies cried for... More »

I recently read an article on how to clean your home in 10 minutes when you find out guests are going to be dropping by in about that time. Obviously these so called experts (really it's those experts again!) have never been to my house!  They might have a quick change of heart if they did a quick tour of my home.  One of the experts (are you feeling the love I have for these so called experts yet?) suggest that the goal should be not to have a perfectly clean home but just a warm welcome for your friends.... More »

No I am not talking about my 5 yr olds current mind set - I am talking about ME - THE BUSY MAMA! I am sure you will be shocked to know that I have NEVER had my nails done (except for my wedding), never have had a pedicure, and have never been to a spa.  Well that all changed last Friday night when a good friend forced convinced me to go with her and another wonderful lady. Aside from having children over the past 14 years WHAT THE HELL HAVE I BEEN THINKING!!! It was the best two hours... More »

With eight kiddies in the house I have become pretty skilled at the whole party planning thing, but with the twins 1st birthday just a few weeks away I haven't done a thing yet and for the first time I am feeling a bit lost. Realistically Thatcher and Tanner are not going to give a rat's ass what we plan for them.  Each and every day they are lavished with hugs, kisses, and loads of play time so really they get more than their fair of attention.   Nope this birthday really is for me.  From the day I found... More »

To the outsider I appear so organized, confident, patient, the yummy sexy mummy...... okay I just added that part on my own......the all together modern day mom! Yet, despite all my strengths (and there are many), I do have one major weakness - yes, yes, I know hard to believe it, but there is one area of mommy hood that I am really bad at - actually I suck at it big time. It is a something I have been able to hide for many years.  In fact, I would say I have been able to keep it hidden and pushed... More »

Aside from breakfast, mornings also bring about the whole getting dressed part.  This is a serious issue with Joshua and Zachary who both have Aspergers an Autistic Developmental Disorder.  Unfortunately, sensory issues are part of the whole Aspergers package, and so because of this, Joshua has some major issues with clothing, particularly socks.  In fact, he refuses to wear them.  It doesn't matter what kind they are, they never feel right.             This whole sock thing started when he was about two years old and just continually escalated over the years. By the time he was four it had become... More »

Remember the 5 year old holy terror I live with?  In case you forget, or haven't heard about him, then check out my other post "A letter from Santa". Up until a few days before Christmas Ryley's behaviour had shown great improvement due to the letter he received from good old Santa Claus - however, when he discovered there was no chicken noodle soup all hell broke loose! Ryley: "Mommy can I have some chicken noodle soup for lunch?" Mean mommy: "Sorry bud, there is none." Ryley: "Yes there is!  You bought some the other day! Mean mommy: "Yes but... More »

lthough my house is truly chaotic at times (okay I'll be honest MOST of the time) I really am truly lucky and wouldn't change it for a million dollars......well maybe a few million, however, there are a few things I would like to change just a bit even it were for just a few days....... Magic laundry - yes I really wish the laundry would wash itself   Magic laundry dryer - well you didn't expect me to wish for the laundry to do itself and not have it dry itself did you? Personal shopper - to elbow their way... More »

A few months ago I became concerned about one of the twins.  In my opinion Tanner didn't seem to be hearing properly.  Others kept telling me not to worry, he would be fine, he probably had selective hearing like most of the men in this house, but I knew something wasn't right. His identical twin Thatcher had begun to babble the typical nonsense that babies do, but Tanner simply made grunting type noises and while his brother said "dada" he continued to just smile his beautiful smile that melts my heart.  As much as I tried I couldn't get past... More »