zCanadian Moms' Community Blog and Resource: Parenting: General

So here's how it works in my house. I make a deal with my children at the beginning of each school year. They can join three organized after school programs, and at least one must be a physical activity. My older daughter is in piano lessons, Brownies and skiing. Her younger sister is in dance, soccer and skiing.

They get to choose their activities and are (except for one recent case in which I made an exception) expected to see out their commitment (i.e., they can't quit part-way through).

This year, we made the decision as a family to join a ski program at a local resort, so our children have one activity on the weekends, and the other two are during the week, outside of school hours. Because their activities don't align perfectly, it means we have something to do nearly every day of the week. My husband works an evening shift, so most of the transportation falls to me. It makes for a busy week, and I sometimes find myself longing for a quiet evening at home.

Am I alone? I hear stories of families whose kids are so unbelievably involved and scheduled that they need to carry Blackberries just to keep track of each other, and then I hear of families who are dropping out of the activities scene altogether. But where do most of us fit? Somewhere in between, I would think.

Take the mini-poll below to see where you fit in on the spectrum.

Kath is a regular contributor to urbanmoms.ca and blogs at Losing It.

Little Meagan was four years old when she was diagnosed with brain stem glioma, a cancerous brain tumour. Two weeks after her fifth birthday she passed away. The community where she lived has rallied to support her family in their mission to raise hope, awareness and research funding for paediatric brain tumours which are the number one cause of cancer deaths in children under 20, through a first of its kind Mother's Day event -Meagan's Walk, Creating a Circle of Hope.

When I met Meagan's mom, Denise, and heard her story I was overwhelmed by sadness. However, I was also in awe of Denise's ability to take Meagan's suffering and turn it into a life saving event for other children like her daughter. No family should have to go through what this family and others like them have.

Urbanmoms.ca is proud to support Meagan's Walk and the upcoming Meagan's Walk Dinner and Dance Gala on February 23rd at the Liberty Grand in Toronto. For more information or tickets for the Gala or for information on a walk in your community, please visit www.meaganswalk.com. If you would be interested in attending with a group from urbanmoms.ca, please email jen@urbanmoms.ca.

Meagan's Story

Little Meagan was a couple weeks from her 5th birthday when she drew a special picture for Mother's Day. Giving it to her mother she explained how the two people in the picture were mommy and daddy and the object above their heads was she, a little angel who would always be with them. It had been five months since her diagnosis of brain stem glioma, a cancerous brain tumour whose effects were terminal.

In the months she lived with cancer she was held by her mother's warm embrace each and every night. In the days, she managed to live life to its fullest, as naturally as a child with her disease could. She went to pre-school when she was well enough, she played happily with friends when she was strong enough and she cuddled every little living creature she could.

Meagan passed away quietly on June 17, 2001 with her family at her side. Never once did she complain about her treatments, rather she focused her time making and wrapping little presents to give to medical staff and friends. These gestures were her five-year old way of saying thank you for their love and caring, and perhaps even goodbye.

In the months that Meagan's family journeyed with their daughter's cancer, they were tremendously moved by the outpouring of caring and concern for their child. Cards, e-mails, telephone calls, flowers, presents, visits, healing masses, school ceremonies, candle vigils, community fundraisers, donations to The Hospital for Sick Children in her name - all these acts of goodness and kindness are testament to the lives Meagan touched from around the world. How remarkable it is that her death could give birth to her legacy, a legacy of hope for all children living with brain tumours.

Meagan's story is one of courage, spirit and hope. Please visit www.meaganswalk.com for more information on how you can help.