I apologize to those readers joining us from foreign lands, but at this point, most of you are from our lovely province of Ontario, and therefore this trip is actually an option for you. (Don’t get me wrong: although it was a lot of fun, it’s probably not worth the trek for my readers in Kentucky […] Read more…
Do you like to pause while you read, sob for a while, and then continue? If so, then do I have the book for you! “Notes Left Behind” is the poignant story of Brooke and Keith Desserich’s journey through their daughter Elena’s cancer diagnosis and the last months of her life. Honest, touching and inspiring, […] Read more…
Dear Easter Bunny, First of all, Frannie and Maggie would like to offer you their thanks for this year’s goodies. They were thrilled with their haul of chocolate eggs, and this time Maggie was old enough to look for treats and understand the process (no repeats of last year’s ‘eating-the-eggs-while-they’re-still-in-the-foil’ fiasco). I’m sure you’re quite tired after your busy weekend, but I was […] Read more…
The new issue of Peterborough, Northumberland or Lakeridge Kids, depending where you live, has just hit the stands (and the net), and in it my latest article: Babysitting FAQ’s. Who hasn’t dealt with the problem of finding, training, and keeping quality teenage babysitters? I have to say, we have been extremely lucky: we’ve had an incredible babysitter […] Read more…
Moms-to-be these days are absolutely bombarded with advertisements for baby products, but are all of these must-haves really, well, must-have? With a few friends expecting babies right now (and a couple more who are hoping to be) I thought this would make a valuable topic to explore. Some baby gear can wait (your baby won’t be in […] Read more…
Meet Fancy Nancy…my daughter’s new best friend! If you have a little girl and you don’t know Fancy Nancy, you need to sprint (that’s a fancy word for run) to the bookstore or library and introduce her to this fabulous character. Now, I’m all for avoiding gender stereotypes. My daughters have tractor books, hockey books, and […] Read more…
Friends of ours invited the four of us to join them for March Break in the Bahamas. Yeah, that didn’t happen. Instead, I am here to regale you with the exciting tales of our long-distance voyage to Toronto, Ontario! Woo hoo, you may be thinking. From where we live, Toronto is only a commute away, […] Read more…
Admittedly, my daughters’ red carpet appearances are few and far between, (especially now that my parents have pulled up their seventies-rust-coloured basement flooring), but I still like them to look their best when we go out. Is there any mom out there who hasn’t hit the road with perfectly coiffed and attired children, only to […] Read more…
Here’s a website which will appeal to teachers and parents alike: Smartkiddies Mathematics. At Smartkiddies, you’ll find printable worksheets and interactive math activities sorted by both grade and topic. As a teacher, I often pull up the site on my laptop and project it to my Smartboard (interactive whiteboard) to teach or reinforce concepts. As well, teachers can create accounts […] Read more…
If you want a creative way to keep your kids even closer to your heart, follow my lead: order a do-it-yourself photo necklace from Photo Jewelry Making. I bought a double-sided charm with a ballchain, but found the chain wasn’t dressy enough so I bought a new one elsewhere. (If you order a necklace, I’d recommend upgrading to the […] Read more…