Believe it or not it is that time of year again!  It seems like just the other day we were overwhelmed by back to school and now here we are preparing for another holiday season.  I don't know about you but this is one of my favourite times of the year - the winter wonderland, the excitement of the holidays and spending time with loved ones.  However, it can also be very stressful - the winter wonderland, the excitement of the holidays and spending time with loved ones! So, what is it about this season that gets you in the... More »

Yesterday I got home from work, and the usual scene awaited me; my live-out nanny having a great time frolicking with my 16 month old son and her 6 year old daughter, having a great old time.  My son running to me with open arms, gibbering about his day and demanding his nursing, is all I need after a day spent in the office pandering to various people about issues that are completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Now, my nanny is a wonderful woman, and she loves my son very much.  She takes him out to... More »

Report card time is a stressful one for both parents and teachers.  Here are some things that all parents should know.  Most of these comments will apply to primary students. 1. It is not an exact science.  Yes, we keep records and marks, but sometimes it comes down to that gut instinct (which has been well honed after years of teaching).2. Pay attention to the qualifiers. The little words in front of statements mean a lot.  There is a big difference between always, usually and sometimes.  Comments like “independently” or “with teacher assistance” are also very important.3. We don’t... More »

The class lists are out and I am scanning the names quickly.  Searching.  Hoping.  Further and further down the list I go.  There must be one.  Just one other.  Nope, I am the only one again.  How could this be?  I know the statistics.  How could this happen again.   Is the neighbourhood immune?  Does it only happen when the children are older?  My house used to feel like it had highlighter marker around the outside.  It felt so different the day he moved out.  I felt so naked.  So raw.  Alone.  No partner.  No team mate.  No partner in... More »

To watch your child, a young and vital woman and mother of two beautiful children, suffer and die.  And now, to hold her children close so you can be nearer to her and can honour her memory and can love them like she would.  To watch your little sister, your childhood playmate and sometimes reluctant companion, pass away along with the adult friendship you were both counting on.  To nurse and care for someone you love, to be the bearer of tragic news, to helplessly comfort them as they die, and return to that place to help others each... More »

I have worked for many years as a marketer in the online world.  However, I have never had the time to fully explore the variety of online forums and message boards that exist in cyberspace.  I have "lurked" when searching for specific information but never spent a significant amount of time in one place, that was until I created urbanmoms.ca.  I really enjoy our forum as well as the comments and email suggestions I get from the members and visitors to the site, so I thought I would venture out and explore what the rest of the web had to... More »

The following story is the first in a series of contributions from our urbanmoms.ca members.  For the next few months The Lounge section is reserved for stories by members only.  We can learn so much from each other and, as the following story illustrates, from our kids.  If you have something you would like to contribute, please send it in an email and we will contact you about posting it.  Enjoy! An Important Lesson to Learn: “Look at the chickens kissing. Isn’t that funny?” I said to Sebastian. We were watching the finale of the hilarious kids movie, "Chicken... More »

“If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any.” A Good Birth, A Safe Birth - Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer In light of all the technology in today’s birth culture, many first time parents are left to wonder… How do I make the choices that are right for me?  How do I understand what choices I am making? When making choices you need to ask yourself these questions:1. What is involved in this procedure/ medication/ restriction? As with any test, you want to know exactly what your doctor or midwife plans to do, including how it will... More »

At urbanmoms.ca we are moms too and we recognize how complex and multi-faceted the modern mom is.  We also know that once we become moms we don't magically conform to a one-dimensional world of motherhood.  Being a mom is a major part of our lives, but not the only part.  We are a diverse group of intelligent women.  So, why not share our knowledge?  Why not learn from each other? Urbanmoms.ca is a collective effort.  All of the content is written by urban moms or those who have  expertise relevant to us.  Our mission is to create a virtual community... More »

I was due to have my second child at the end of January.  I finished work before the holidays and enjoyed the rush of Christmas and New Years thinking that I would have a few weeks to get organized before I gave birth.  I didn't think I would be early like I was the first time as so many of my friends had suffered through a late delivery the second time around.  I officially started my maternity leave on January 7th.  On January 8th my husband returned to work after the holiday break and I set out with my... More »

The line has turned double pink and you are experiencing a myriad of emotions. Whether expected or not, whether your first or your fifth (yes, I have five!) the events of pregnancy will be like a whirlwind and at the same time a period of frustration, impatience and learning. Childbirth education is a class where a mother and her chosen birth partner learn about the workings of the body during birth, how to make choices about the care they are receiving, how to cope with the work of labor, breastfeeding and the basics of becoming a family or welcoming... More »