Who gets to decide what is enough and what is too much? I am concerned that all of the “expert” advice may impact our ability to make decisions based on what is right for our families. What do you think? Listen the latest Mom’s The Word video podcast and share your thoughts in the comments below.
My son plays competitive hockey and soccer. My daughter also plays hockey and soccer and they both do swimming lessons. My husband plays hockey. When we get a chance, we like to ski. We are busy! But, I wouldn't trade it for the world. My kids love it. It is a great way to build community. We meet all sorts of different people, go to exciting places, and the kids learn the value of hard work and contributing to a team.
So, when I was recently contacted by CTV because they are recruiting for a few families for an upcoming documentary on busy families, “over” scheduling, and the logistics of this lifestyle I thought some of you might be interested. We can all relate to the benefits and challenges of a busy family! If you are interested, please see the information below from CTV.
Are you a parent dealing with a daunting schedule this fall? Are you spending more time than ever frantically shuttling the kids from hockey practice to music lessons to endless community events and competitions? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re looking for a handful of high-octane families that are dealing with the pressures of a busy family schedule to take part in a new CTV documentary about the changing nature of childhood.
There is little time for free play for many kids these days. Today, their lives are busier and more structured than ever.
This will be the first documentary film to put a face on this important, emerging issue in Canada, and around the world. If you’d like to know more and perhaps get involved, please email Scott Harper with a short description of your family and your story at scott@sundaynight.ca
I got a call from a producer at www.cbc.ca the other day to take questions from moms across Canada about back-to-school. Everything from fashion to snacks to routines. "I can do this." I thought. "I'm a mom. I've been doing back-to-school for years. I have a whole resource of Canadian moms to tap into."
Now that it's up there I'm feeling a bit nervous. "Who exactly do I think I am?!" As any truly honest mom will tell you, you never get to be an expert. Just when you think you have it all figured out it changes. For example, this is the first year that my now 9 year old son is not bursting to go back to school. Unlike his 5.5 year old sister, he is resentful and irritated that his summer fun is going to be replaced by the tedium of the daily grind. He's excited about his hockey season starting but seriously underwhelmed by the prospect of grade 4. This one's new for me.
So, I tapped into some of my wise mom pals whose kids are just a bit older. No surprise, they had great advice. First 1) don't stress - he's probably more excited than his cooler-than-thou self lets on. 2) Take it as a compliment! His summer has been fabulous and that's great too. 3) Change can be tough, especially as kids get older and a bit more socially aware and self-conscious. Finally 4) don't sweat it because there is nothing you or he can do about it. Once he gets back to it and sees his friends all of this will be forgotten. Not bad, eh?
Now, the good part. If you have a back-to-school question go to the Your Interview section of CBC.ca and ask. I'll tap into the wise and wonderful urbanmoms.ca moms to find your answer!
This is something I am REALLY excited about. It is a first and I am going to be a part of it! Let me share my glee with you. Dove, one of my absolute favourite brands that I have tons of respect for, has done something totally unique - they have commissioned a play. Yup, this play on beauty and aging called Body & Soul was created by award-winning playwright Judith Thompson along with 13 real women who also star in the production. The play is taking a different look at a woman's aging body and hopes to ultimately initiate discussion and change around how society views aging. LOVE it!!
So, when they invited me to attend opening night on May 10th I didn't want to go alone so, after I called my mom to be my date for this Mother's Day event, I decided to give away 3 pairs of tickets to some lucky urbanmoms.ca members! Unfortunately, as the play is in Toronto at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, only T.O. locals can apply. And how do you get lucky? Simple. Just submit a comment below on why you would love to go and then I will use the Randomizer to select the 3 lucky winners who will receive a pair of tickets. I will let you know by this Saturday who the winners are so make sure to include your email address!
Curious about this show? So was I so I asked a few questions and Dove pro•age Brand Manager, Margaret McKellar, answered:
1. The members of urbanmoms.ca have always expressed a huge amount of respect for the Dove brand since the launch of the Real Beauty campaign. How does the brand continue to stay true to this message?
Thank you. We have received a lot of genuine, positive feedback from women of all ages around the world in response to the Campaign for Real Beauty.
As you may know, Dove was inspired by findings of The Real Truth About Beauty: A Global Report. This study told us that women want to see more diverse images of physical attractiveness and images that reflect the vision of beauty women have, versus the one currently portrayed in popular culture. That study also told us that only 2% of women describe themselves as beautiful.
We therefore launched the Campaign for Real Beauty - and, later, the Dove Self-Esteem Fund - to serve as an agent of change to educate and inspire girls and women on a wider definition of beauty and to make them feel more confident about themselves. In everything we do, we maintain our singular focus on this mission.
2. I have never heard of a brand commissioning a show. Is Dove the first to do this?
As far as we know, this is an industry first.
At Dove, we're always looking for new and different ways to engage with Canadians and spark dialogue and debate. body & soul is the latest example of this.
3. What does the Dove brand hope to gain from Body and Soul?
Through body & soul, Dove is bringing to life the dialogue about aging that we have been engaging women in since the launch of our pro•age line of products last year.
Our mission is to inspire the women in the play, and all those who see it, hear about it and become involved, to celebrate aging and abandon the idea of anti-aging. We hope that women feel inspired by the idea behind the play - that mature women are beautiful and have a wonderful voice that is meant to be heard.
4. Are you at all concerned that branding the show might turn people off?
The show is intended to spread our pro•age philosophy: celebrating the diverse beauty of mature women and demonstrating that beauty has no age limit. We believe that this will resonate strongly both with women who hear about the play and women who attend it.
5. On urbanmoms.ca we have celebrated all of the Real Beauty ads, the Dove Self-Esteem Fund, and the positioning of ProAge. What do we have to look forward to from this progressive brand?
At Dove, we continue to seek out new ways to share our democratic view of beauty.
Next up: on June 7, Dove is bringing together moms, mentors and thousands of young girls to take part in simultaneous Sleepovers for Self-Esteem. To join the party, and help us make sleepover history, please visit www.dovesleepover.ca.
A new book aimed at 4-7 year olds just came out called "My Beautiful Mommy". It chronicles a little girl's visit to the plastic surgeon with her mother for a consultation, their discussions of how mommy will soon be "prettier", an explanation of where the bandages will be and then an illustration of the final results.
Am I the only one screaming "WTF?!" at the top of my lungs?? I actually felt physically ill. Not at the fact that the mom wants a tummy tuck, boob job and a nose job but at the fact that there is a book teaching little girls (and boys) that being "pretty" is important enough to go under the knife. Don't you think that these little ones have enough crap to wade through without this? Check out some of the illustrations:
It is no surprise to me that this is written by a male plastic surgeon (see the first pic above for his oh-so-buff version of himself behind the desk). What I struggle with here is the fact that little girls have a hard enough time struggling through the regular stuff that growing up brings and now to have this added pressure for perfection to deal with.
In addition, nothing in the book (as far as I could tell) deals with the frivolity of what mom is doing. Nothing in the book comments on the fact that this is only superficial. They never say "Yup, this is pretty silly but it is important to me". I guess it is pretty hard to say "looks aren't important, it is what is on the inside that matters...but I want rock hard abs, perky boobs, and a button nose damn it!" Ugh.
Really, it is not the plastic surgery here that is the issue for me. I have friends who had their boobs lifted, their tummies tucked and their wrinkles softened. I get it. I've had two kids. I see what gravity can do. But it is already so tough for our kids to navigate through all of the mixed messages they get about beauty. Don't you think this is something that we should be protecting our kids from? I am sure there are other more responsible ways to explain this to your children.
What do you think?
I haven't really slept in a week. I just had to get that off my chest. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining but I am seriously tired. From the Baby and Toddler Show to Breakfast Television to The Holiday Product Testing Party there just hasn't been time. Then, there was Thursday. It was like this strange condradiction.
First of all I am Mom. Getting the morning going and taking the kids to school. Then I have my morning Starbucks and hopefully meet up with a pal to chat - on Thursday it was Carol and Leslie. Then work. And work. And work. We've been really busy lately here at urbanmoms.ca so it has been piling up. Then I was off to the Talk is Cheap "unconference" on Social Media to learn and as a speaker to chat about our Kitchen Party program with Michelle from Cuisinart.
What's with the hands? Hopefully they weren't too much of a distraction to others ;)
Now here's the funny part. Then, I went "on assignment" for urbanmoms.ca to the grand reopening of Sassafraz Restaurant in Yorkville. Remember when it burned down? Well, it just reopened and I went to check it out. Aside from feeling unfashionable and dirt poor in the company of some of Toronto's most infulential this place is gorgeous AND I got to meet a celebrity! It's not just Fabulous Ali here at urbanmoms.ca who gets to meet celebs. Here's a pic of me with Enza the Supermodel...
Schmoozing with the stars, that's me. Hey, I think Enza might be my long lost sister...
Check out some pics of the new Sassafraz. Definitely a place I would check out if I were you if you're visiting or looking for a special night out in Toronto.
Ain't it purdy?
Crowds, music, wine, cheese...cheese...
I LOVE cheese! And there was some yummy cheese and fine wine and other scrumptious treats.
Who would have thought I'd see a familiar face there. Hi Dale!
Once again, in bed after midnight but I think it is the end of my sleepless week. As long as my kids cooperate I should be sawing logs by 10pm every night this week.
Recent Comments