Category: On Motherhood
Kids at School. House Is Empty. Now, It’s About Mom.
I‘m sitting here in my makeshift office, big kid shamelessly sitting on the couch watching Looney Tunes on this gorgeous late-August day in The Maritimes and we are both daydreaming a bit about what the world is going to look like next Wednesday. It’s been an insane amount of change that she and I (and [...]
Lonely Newcomer Syndrome
Driving along the South Shore of Nova Scotia yesterday near Lunenberg, I stared out at the cars filling the highway at rush hour and my oldest blurted out that she loved our life. “We have a great adventure every day mom. Nova Scotia is the best place ever.” It seemed like the appropriate moment for [...]
Mud, Strawberries and How My Family Stopped Screaming At Each Other
Standing in the blazing Nova Scotia sun making our way toward a place a bit less natural and much cooler, we heard a woman’s voice from a few rows over. Holding Quinn’s hand with my right and balancing 15 pounds of strawberries we just picked with my left hand, I wasn’t sure that chatting would [...]
No Crying Allowed, Not Even Over Spilled Milk
It is not unusual for me to cry. In fact, it may be one of those things that people always mention about me. “Yep, she’s a crier.” There was water pouring from my eyes from the second my dad started walking me down the aisle, I sobbed uncontrollably the first time I saw both of [...]
Happy Mother’s Day!
From all of us here at OBE to all of you amazing mommas out there. Happy Mother’s Day! Lots of love, Robin, Sue and the OBE Crew
Best Mother’s Day Gifts List – Sleep, Food, Quiet
Over one hundred years have passed since Anna Jarvis decided to host a private gathering in West Virginia in memory of her dear departed mama. A year later, in 1908, she took it one step further by organizing a church service that saw over four hundred mothers and their children in attendance. By 1912 the Mother’s Day International Association was up and [...]
Prom Night 101: Getting Mom Geared Up For Grad
At just under two months to go until my son’s high school prom I was itchin’ to get him fitted for his tuxedo. A few of my chick pals with two or three graduated kids recently had given me the go ahead to get on it. With the grad parade and prom to follow scheduled for the first [...]
Teens Do Stupid, Dangerous & Sometimes Illegal Things – Is Mom To Blame?
With a heavy heart I placed my husband’s Canucks jersey on a hanger and tucked it away in the back closet for another year. As a die-hard Canucks fan I felt sadness and relief when that game winning overtime goal hit the back of Cory Schneider’s net last Sunday. Sadness that my favorite team had finished the regular season with the President’s Cup but [...]
The Aliens Have Invaded & Stolen My Willpower
On any given day if you launched into a random conversation with me about video games I would be unusually smug. Not a fan of hours lost in the land of light saber duels, evil sorcerers and mindless killing, video games are as far down on my to-do list as cleaning other people’s toilets. Yes, [...]
Facebook & The Case of The Stepford Mother
It’s 6 a.m. and you have tiptoed out of bed to make sure you get to log that hour of quiet time before the kids pop their heads up and all hell breaks loose. For that roughly 60 minutes you have no urge to shout at someone, to wonder why no one else packs lunches, [...]
On Motherhood – An Ode to Weaning
It’s 3:30 a.m. and while the rest of the house is warm and quiet, we linger in a state of night-time half sleep. For just about the last year and a half, those nearly-dawn wakings meant I pulled our sweet baby in close and she nursed her way back to dreamland with me contently dozing [...]
Everyday Inspiration
After yesterday’s post on the daily trials and tribulations of managing motherhood, it seems most appropriate to take a moment today to share some serious inspiration. One of my personal mantras is to start every day with something provocative and lovely that gives me a bit of sweetness to carry with me throughout the day. [...]
If I Were Brutally Honest…
I have a girlfriend – just one honestly – with whom I always feel comfortable getting real with about our kids. When I tell her that my kid is going to get punched in the nose today she doesn’t look at me like a leper wondering when my fist will meet my kid’s face. She [...]
One
Per our usual routine, the wee one and I woke up at about 3 a.m. this morning. But, before we could get to the diaper changing, living room playing, eating and sleeping, we gave each other a sweet smile and knew – we’d made it. It seemed quite appropriate that we had this quiet moment [...]
My Kid Got Her Potty Mouth From Me
Ummm, yeah. There I was, dropping the big kid off at school, having a relatively normal, sane, happy-go-lucky sort of day when it happened. The teacher pulled me aside and asked me to consider making some adjustments at home. Gasp, I thought. What could we be doing at home that was making such an impact [...]
At 4 a.m., Peaceful Parenting Goes Out The Window
I have daydreams of sleep. Seriously, I’ll be driving in the truck along the dyke road looking out at the Canadian Geese flying over the Courtenay Estuary or stopped at a light and fantasizing about what it would be like to have eight complete hours of uninterrupted rest. I thought, maybe, as the wee one [...]
Friday Inspiration – Fly, Fly, Fly
By the time Friday gets around every week these days, I am a bit spent. Early wake-ups, getting kids off to school, the general disorganization of life has me in need of a smile and a giant nap. So, instead of getting heavy into life today, I thought I’d keep it light and sweet. Sometimes, [...]
Every Mom Needs A Vice – Right?
When I say every mom needs a vice, I’m not necessarily talking about a good, stiff drink or a $20-a-day caffeine addiction (well, maybe if I’m talking about myself that might apply). I’m talking about those little indulgences that help us check out, reset and feel one with the universe because we got to turn [...]
Why Is It The Sisterhood of Motherhood Isn't Always Warm and Welcoming?
I sat across the table from a new friend recently, martini and wine glasses collecting between us, in a bit of awe. It had been one hell of a week and we both needed to downshift, dumping a bit about motherhood, womanhood and the general state of our hoods when what seems to have become [...]
The Emergency Kit – Mom's Secret Stash
I am more and more convinced lately that women need at least a smidge of a secret life in order to maintain their feminine autonomy in the midst of motherhood. While this could come off as a very left-leaning feminist rant, I’m talking less about finding out one day that your very proper mother was [...]
Your Healthy Nature – Depeleted Mom Syndrome
I was reading Canadian Parent recently and came across an article that totally resonated with me. In it, the author talked about the realities of how exasperating and exhausting parenting can be at times. But, what really struck a cord in my head was his assertion that women in particular often suffer from depleted mom [...]
Is 40 the New Black?
Fully realizing that anything I write about my birthday is entirely self-serving and a bit on the indulgent side, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to wax on about such things today. I had a moment last night as Ken and I sat in the living room chatting about the last 10 years when [...]
When Did I Become the Idiot Around Here?
Sometimes, at night, I wander in to our oldest daughter’s room and admire her – sweet, snoozing and silent. I take these times to relieve myself of all of the stress built up between us during the day, to reconnect with her quietly and on my terms. It may seem a bit ridiculous that the [...]
Top 10 Reasons Moms Love Caffeine
Let’s face it, motherhood is exhausting. If there’s one thing most of us can agree upon, it’s that some sort of caffeinated beverage is a requirement of existence. For those of you who forgo it all, I commend you and wonder what super human powers you possess. I also may secretly suspect you are lying:) [...]
The Canucks Have Stolen My Family
On our first date, nearly 10 years ago, Ken told me he wasn’t really into sports. With his charming curls and sweet, dreamy eyes staring back at me, I believed. I believed it meant that weekends would be free to go to the theater. We could take long, winding drives in the country. He would [...]
Yes, I Take My Kids Everywhere
We have a running joke, me and my fellow Chamber of Commerce board members. My youngest daughter may actually know more about the inner workings of the Chamber than any kiddo out there. That’s probably because she hasn’t missed a board meeting in months and now holds an honorary board position.:) I’ve been known, on [...]
The Heart of A Mom
It’s 3 a.m. and I’ve been up for hours with a tiny person who refuses to sleep tonight. We’ve tried everything and right now I’m feeling a growl welling up inside me. I’m frustrated and wanting to keep my cool. But, she just bit me for the fourth time, has yelled the house awake and [...]
Top 10 Things to Obsess About as a Mom
A great friend of mine was at our house this weekend and quipped about how she can’t believe the women she knows who can have a pile of kids, life in total chaos, and blissfully lilt along smiling and nodding as if nothing ever phased them. We, she said pointedly, are not those women. It’s [...]
What I Really Want for Mother's Day
I‘m a fairly typical woman, I suspect. You can feed me, treat me to a day at the spa, send me flowers and/or make me a sweet card full of love and you will have done your “I love you mommy” duty in terms of Mother’s Day. My family pretty much knows that a little [...]
Those Things Your Mother Never Told You About Having Kids
There’s a running joke among several of my good friends that if our mothers had actually told us the truth about pregnancy, childbirth and raising kids we might have thought twice (not really) or at least been better prepared. But, the reality is that there really are no hard and fast rules for it all [...]
Coping with Momnesia
It’s something every mom laughs quietly about and completely knows the meaning of – momnesia. From forgetting where you put the keys (on the rack, where you always do) to mixing up the digits of your phone number or blanking so badly that you can’t even grocery shop properly – losing our minds per se [...]
Your Healthy Nature – It’s All A Matter of Time
You probably have no time to read this. I have barely enough time to write it. I’m so busy, and have no time, and am so, so, so busy. I’m so busy I had to say it four times in one sentence. Okay, I’m not actually all that busy. I’ve realized that much of what [...]
Life Is…The Perpetual Parent Fail of the Loophole
Not too long ago, my son was playing with one of those gooey stretchy balls on a string. This play involved swinging it in his father’s direction and hitting him. My husband gave him the “if you do that one more time, I will take the ball away from you” ultimatum. My 3 year old [...]
The Woman’s Room – PMS is Code for “Don’t Touch My Junk”
PMS is Mother Nature’s way of saying, “Don’t touch my junk.” Or so says a doctor friend of mine. It all comes down to that most primal of evolutionary drives: perpetuate the species. I asked this friend what the evolutionary purpose of PMS could possibly be. Here is her theory: an egg is most likely [...]
And Then There Were Two
People keep asking me “How does it feel to be the mother of two girls?” My answer after four weeks is still “I’m a mom of two girls?” The whole thing remains a bit too surreal to be reality. I had never thought of myself as the parent of an only child. But, after 5+ [...]
The Woman’s Room – Electronics for Every Woman
Editor’s Note: As we kick off Black Friday and people all over North America flood stores to begin their holiday shopping, women’s issues columnist Laura Busheikin takes a moment to poke more than a bit of fun at consumerism today. Here she is: This very intriguing document was leaked to me by a colleague at [...]
Life Is…Mom's Holiday Planning: Fantasy vs. Reality
Every year around this time I give myself a good talking to. I will not leave Christmas to the last minute. I will be an organized machine, and I will start early and do this at a leisurely pace in a relaxed and even-tempered manner. I will not be exhausted. This is the year. My [...]
Real Life Motherhood – Worry & Love Through Childhood Milestones
Editor’s Note: Good Morning. Today, Comox mom Merrilee Bouchard joins us with a sweet personal story about the trials and tribulations of mom life when it comes to helping your kids through major milestones. Enjoy! It’s amazing the difference a few months can make in the development of a child. When my daughter Ava turned [...]
The Woman's Room – Every Woman Needs Her Own Ruby Slippers
Imagine having only six items of clothing. For a whole month. Last June, a group of about 100 people, mostly women, voluntarily tried this out, as part of a social experiment called Six Items or Less. Their experiences, recorded on the project’s web-site, are fascinating – the biggest surprise being that other people, including husbands [...]
Life Is…Slightly Less Obvious Halloween Tips, Oh My
For the last two years, I’ve scanned the world wide web for Halloween tips for parents. Just curious to see if anything else has cropped up beside the usual stuff that insults our ability to reason, like “young children should always be accompanied by an adult”, or “make sure your children are visible to motorists”. [...]
Love or Hate The Curse – My Menstrual Manifesto
I like having periods. There – that’s it: my menstrual manifesto. So why is this fairly boring personal statement a manifesto? The first clue is that I can’t seem to find many women who feel the same way. An on-line thread entitled, “Would you stop menstruating if you could?”, initiated by the Museum of Menstruation, [...]
Life Is…Motherhood has Ruined my Nerd Credibility
Editor’s Note: I’ve been waiting anxiously all month to introduce all of you to our new humor columnist Melanie Snagg. Motherhood is ridiculously funny. This Vancouver Island girl turned Vancouver urban jungle mama knows it. Read on: I used to be a pretty decent nerd, but since I became a mom I’m just a regular [...]
Letting Your Right Brain Out To Play
Editor’s Note: This morning Marcie Dumais shares her quest to find the artist within herself and how she plans on encouraging her boys to explore their artistic interests and abilities. Here’s her story: I really believe there is an artist inside all of us. I know that sounds cliché, but it is true. For some [...]
Savoring The Ordinary Moments of Motherhood
Editor’s Note: Karen Pantuso-Swanson is here this morning sharing some insightful words on finding the extraordinary in all of those ordinary moments in life – one of the greatest challenges many of us face. Her piece is a a great reminder to remember what’s important, live for the moment and find the joy in everything. Lovely. [...]
The Makings Of A Confident Mom
Editor’s Note: Good morning. Marcie Dumais is on site with a look at the top traits that make for a confident mom. Here she is: Over Spring Break, my kiddos and I flew to Penticton to spend time with my parents. This meant a quick flight to Vancouver, followed by a few hours in the [...]
Finding Your Parenting Zen (and Strength) with Yoga
Editor’s Note: Good morning. Today we have Marcie Dumais discussing one of my passions – yoga. Here she is: As parents, the wellness of our little people is top priority – making sure they have nutritious meals, stimulating activities, exercise, time outdoors, caring role-models, quality education and so on. We devote a lot of time [...]
What Is Your Personal Parenting Style?
Editor’s Note: Good Morning, today early childhood educator Heather Magdanz is here to talk shop about parenting. She’s got some interesting insight into why we all parent the way we do… food for thought. Here she is: Have you ever considered what kind of parent you are? Come on… who thinks about that really? It [...]
Michael Jackson through eyes of Mom
Editor’s Note: Good morning. BUMPS mama Deepa Upadhyaya is here today to take a look back at one of her childhood idols and how his death has effected her perception of parenting. Enjoy: I was a Michael Jackson fan before I was a mom. Ok you probably did not know this about me, but in [...]
Accepting Change By Creating Memories
Editor’s Note: Marcie Dumais is here today to offer up a very personal perspective on coping with major changes in our lives with grace while helping our kids cope with their own change-related anxieties. Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a sense of grace…here she is: Let’s face it. Having children is all about change. [...]
Parent Wellness: Rejuventating Power – Girls Night
As a little girl, I can remember the delight of falling asleep to the chitter-chatter of four women, my mom among them, who met weekly under the guise of playing bridge. Don’t get me wrong, these four women, known endearingly as the “Bridge Ladies,” do gather to play cards. They even have an annual trophy [...]
Motherhood Shared can Truly Inspire
As I was reading through Seeds Natural Food Market owner Tina Willard-Stepan’s Mompreneur Profile last week, I was entirely inspired to see her talking about times and places for what is important in life. Her wise insight about childhood being too short and that putting many of the things she’d enjoy doing on the back [...]
A Case of Mommy Guilt
I am, how do you say it, feeling a bit guilty lately. Not enough time outside. Too much time playing by herself. Sending the tiny person off to grandmas. Planning my life around meetings and the ever-growing to-do list of work and home instead of focusing on all the goodness that is our daughter. Griping [...]
For Mom Only – Queen for The Day
My husband is forever teasing me that I never let a holiday slide (at least not when I am the subject). I have the general theory that being subtle is only a recipe for disappointment. Why should I be cruel enough to harbour unsaid expectations when I can be self-absorbed enough to remind him every [...]
