They had me with the titles: “Ready For The Day: A Tale of Teamwork and Toast, and Hardly Any Foot-Dragging” and “Ready For Bed: A Tale of Cleaning Up, Tucking In, and Hardly Any Complaining”. Doesn’t that sound like heaven? These titles from Free Spirit, written by Stacey R.Kaye, are like mini-parenting courses disguised as picture books. […] Read more…
Getting Out With Baby
Once you get past the newborn blur and actually start to feel like venturing outside the house, the next step is to figure out what to do. Sure, there are always errands to run and places to kill time, but what if you’re looking for something a little more enjoyable? For tips, check out “Getting […] Read more…
Our Newest Art Acquisitions – and My Bad Mommy Moment
We had one little bare wall beside our laundry room door, so I decided to commission a couple of talented artists to create custom-designed paintings for the space. Yes, I’m talking about little Frannie and Maggie – and boy, were they cheap. A couple of chocolate chip muffins and they were ready to roll! I knew I […] Read more…
Extreme Makeover: Baby Room to Big Girl Room
Okay, so the makeover isn’t actually that extreme, but the emotions are. My baby is now in a big-girl bed, and the room has been transformed for the third time. When we built our home seven years ago, the corner bedroom was “the guest room”. (In three years, I think maybe we had guests sleep […] Read more…
Stop Second-Guessing Yourself: Baby’s First Year
Ah…refreshing. I just received a copy of Jen Singer’s Stop Second-Guessing Yourself: Baby’s First Year, and it was a breath of fresh air which I inhaled in less than a day. It’s an excellent book: sympathetic, understanding, and not as judgmental as some of the official first-year bibles seem. (There’s lots of black and white […] Read more…
Not Just IQ: Executive Functioning in Kids
I just finished reading a great book called “No Mind Left Behind: Understanding and Fostering Executive Control – The Eight Essential Brain Skills Every Child Needs To Thrive” by clinical psychologist Dr. Adam Cox. In this book, Dr. Cox outlines the eight pillars of executive control (or what he calls “The Ex Factor” ) that may have more […] Read more…
In Praise of Epidurals: My Birth Story at Ingenue Mom
Today I am guest posting for the first time over at Ingenue Mom! Cameron was looking for a variety of birth stories to share on her blog this week, and I have the honour of being first up with my pro-drugs experiences. Pop on over to Ingenue Mom and check it out. While you’re there, explore a bit, because […] Read more…
Playhouse Disney Canada – Review and Giveaway
Giveaway open to Canadians. I love television. There, I said it. I also allow my girls to watch TV…almost every day! Of course, I always sit right beside them, watching intently and discussing the storylines. I would never, ever use their TV time to get my own work done, or to have a moment of peace. (My fingers […] Read more…
Sorry I’m Not “Just Spiritual”
As I began planning this post, I was just going to tell you about my latest Pandora bead purchase, and touch on how faith is so important to me and my family. As I got going, however, I decided that I wanted to share a little bit more about my thoughts on organized religion. I always find […] Read more…
Having It All: Lessons From Mom
Mom has been teasing me lately that my blog is called This Mom Loves, and there has been little mention of her yet – therefore I must not love her very much! How far from the truth. As my mother prepares to retire from a career in teaching, I’ve been reflecting on what she has taught […] Read more…