Most of my at-home evenings look the same. They involve my husband relaxing upstairs, watching his favourite sports team lose (Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Canada’s Rugby Team) and me pfaffing on my laptop in our library, sometimes writing, sometimes tweeting, sometimes chatting with Kelly from Dances with Chaos. The second part of this routine […]
Whiteboard Wednesday
Another Craft Disaster with Kids
Last week I received a notification. I grieved, all stages. First I denied it. Then I bargained. Eventually I accepted it. There was no way out: I would have to do a fifteen minute craft with children ages three to six. At church. * I ponder. It’s Lent. Shouldn’t these kids be giving up fun […]
Explaining the 80s to Children
I have a love-hate relationship with school dress-up days. While Pajama Day can be fun (who doesn’t love spending a whole day in flannels), other days, like Crazy Pants Day, can require a bit more planning, not to mention a glue gun. My kids’ elementary school recently held 80’s Day. If you’re six-years-old, the eighties […]
Teaching Children Conversational Skills
Vivian, my daughter, is gifted in the art of conversation. Not only can she can ask questions and empathize with both peers and adults, but she can do so with her mouth stuffed with food, mid-chew. Although her twin brother, William, will wait until he swallows to speak, he then proceeds to speak at you […]
Thing 1 and Thing 2 Go To Hollywood
March is a bizarre month for holidays, both real and made up. I know, because I’m guest posting about weird commemorative days every Wednesday this month at Sweetspot.ca. If you’re sick of me blathering on about my trip to Hollywood and want me to get back to the funny, check out today’s guest post: . […]
Kids, Reading Aloud, and Bashing My Head In
Now that my kids are six years old, I have the pleasure of reading chapter books to them. No more reciting the same picture book over and over again until I’m tempted to bash my head through my kids’ black-out-blinds in search of sharp glass. Lately, I’ve been on a Roald Dahl kick. He’s hilarious, […]
Spoonerisms, Speaking, and Swearing
I love Spoonerisms, mostly because I misspeak a lot. For those who don’t know the pleasure of mixing their words up as frequently as Sarah Palin says Tea Party, let me explain. A Spoonerism is when you confuse the beginning sounds of two nearby words. As a kid, for example, I babysat for a couple […]
Jekyll and Hyde: my roles as a mother
My kids love their stuffed animals. They have a menagerie, and most of their beloved stuffies are named. There’s Rainbow, Heartsy, Thomas, Apple Sauce, and Milkshake, to name a few. Mostly, these toys cause little controversy, as one would expect from sewn fluff balls. But two recent anecdotes illustrate my role as a Jekyll and […]
Imagination, Logic and Magic Wands
I can see how a few centuries ago, it was common belief that fairies and spirits came out in the dark. Little Pucks, Peaseblossoms and Mustard Seeds flitting about, one moment blessing beds, the next causing mischief. In our household at least, the crazies always seem to happen after sunset. If it’s not the full […]
Music, Playlists, and Children
Because we are masochists, we bought both Vivian and William a portable stereo for Christmas. These two gifts were even new. My husband purchased them for $10 each in some industrial area. I’m hoping they weren’t stolen from under someone else’s tree, but my husband assured me the place looked “pretty legit.” We also bought […]