If there is one thing I would be devastated to lose it would be my sight. But, considering this, it is probably the one aspect of my health I pay the least attention to. My daughter wears glasses so she has regular vision check ups but my husband and I don't. Why? For some reason it is down on the priority list but after spending a week with CNIB's eye disease simulators it has made its way up to the top.

As we age our eyes, just like the rest of our bodies, are at greater risk. The thought of being... More »

I miss you. I love you. I wish you were here.I lost my mom nearly three years ago. Mother's Day is damn hard. Those of us who have lost our mothers are invisible. It is too sad and tragic for others, especially now. This post is for all of us who long for our mothers every day and feel that ache every time we turn on the TV or visit a site at this time of year.Here's is to all of you, like me, who have lost your mom. I acknowledge your sadness and longing on Mother's Day. I miss... More »

I am very fortunate that I get the opportunity to travel a lot and much of the time I get to bring my family. In my opinion, having a vacation or even a short break together as a unit is key to staying tapped in and relevant in each others' lives. However, one of my favourite kind of trips is the Mother/Child vacation. I have had the opportunity a few times to travel on my own with just one of my children and seeing your child outside of the sibling relationship and family dynamic is a huge opportunity to get... More »

Sometimes I just need a good ol' cry. You know, the sobbing, blubbering, cleansing kind that requires a short nap afterwards? Well, last week I saw this video and it did just that. Every one of us moms can relate to the feeling of investing time, energy and most importantly, love, into your child and watching them accomplish something spectacular.Yes, it is marketing that pulls at our heart strings but that's why it works! Good job P&G.So, did it make you cry too?... More »

I created UrbanMoms and I still, seven years later, feel passionate and protective of this space and the community. We have grown and changed but, at the core, our values are still the same - Your Voice. Your Place. My goal was always to represent the diversity that is Canada. I wanted to give a voice to as many kinds of families and women out there. I wanted women to feel that they had a place to be themselves - fallible and real - where they would be supported and encouraged. A respite. A place where we build each other... More »

A few years ago my son brought home a single C+ on his report card. He had never had a grade lower than B+ in his life and he was devastated. The fact that the grade was in Art didn't seem to matter to him. The C+ was a huge disappointment. I am not devaluing the importance of Art at all but I was less concerned. In fact, I think Art and Music and Drama are all very important parts of the whole. But my son was not well known for his artistic prowess so I wasn't surprised that his... More »

We are all familiar in some way with the Magic of Disney. We know that Disney World is "the happiest place on earth" and that most kids dream of experiencing the Magic Kingdom at some point. Disney is a hugely popular destination and, I can say from experience, it definitely lives up. No place on earth can make waiting in line for a ride fantastical like Disney can. Nowhere can you be completely immersed in magic like you are when you are at one of the Disney parks. And this same magic is ever present on Disney's cruise ships as... More »

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness.                 ~ Gotye, Someone That I Used to Know I am in love with this song and have been since I heard it a number of months ago through Facebook. There is something so haunting and real about it. Something deep and reflective that is very much lacking in most of today's popular music. I like the song but this one line is especially powerful and it resonates. I have worked hard to eliminate this from my life but I still see it in far too many people around me.What... More »

Dear Dubai,What a whirlwind adventure we shared! You are so diverse and interesting and I feel like I only got a small taste of everything you have to offer during my short visit. Your stunning architecture impressed me, your beaches soothed me, your shopping invigorated me and your unique culture and history mesmerized me. You taught me so much about your people and I realized how little I know about many places in the world. You are so different from me or anywhere else I have visited yet I enjoyed you more than I can describe.The view of Dubai from... More »

When I was younger - pre-marriage, pre-kids - I didn't take the time to travel. I was focused on having a career, a loving relationship, planning a family and establishing myself. I didn't take a gap year or a summer backpacking through Europe. I didn't even bother to take a break from my life long enough to take a few weeks roadtripping across Canada. I was focused on my goal - having a Grown-up Life.I say that now with a touch of humour but at the time it was very serious to me. I wanted a career, to be married... More »

Breastfeeding is a very controversial subject. My kids are 9 and 12 now so I am far away from decisions or judgment or emotion surrounding this issue. However, the other day I overheard a conversation that brought it all back.I was in an elevator for an extended time with two you women. One had a baby a few months old and the other was pregnant. As the elevator stopped on various floors to let others in and out and we made our way down to the parking garage I overheard a conversation that went like this:New Mom: "I don't mean... More »

This year my husband and I will be celebrating our 20th Valentine's Day together. TWENTY. One has to get pretty creative to make Valentine's Day romantic and exciting after this many times around. We used to do surprise weekend getaways, romantic dinners out and give cards declaring our love for each other. But recently we haven't done much more than acknowledge the day with our kids. It just seems silly after all these years. For one thing, I hate flowers; just another thing I have to take care of. And with these stubborn 10lbs I want to lose, chocolates are... More »

The other day I was at Starbucks (I know, I know...) getting my morning fix. I love Starbucks. Especially the one at the end of my street. I have said many times that it is like my Cheers, you know, where everybody knows your name and I am so grateful for this. When I first started my own business Starbucks was my respite and, some days, the gang at Starbucks were my only human contact during business hours. On this particular day I was waiting at the bar for my drink. As usual, there was a huge crowd so I chatted with... More »