So.... my week and half on my own is now over.
OVER I TELL YOU!
It was a great time I will admit. While I still had to look after our puppy it was a great week. It was relaxing.
I got a chance to put my feet up and watch television without battling for the remote.
I got a lot of cleaning and furniture reorganizing done!
I had dinner and drinks with friends.
I had more drinks with other friends.
I read a little.
I slept a little.
It was great! But it was also nice to see my kids and husband again! They arrived home, safe and sound from Florida ( escaping then Tropical Storm Isaac)
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
On My Own... Oh What Will I Do?
OK... this next week is just going to be strange.
For the first time EVER...I will be at home by myself for longer than a day. DID YOU HEAR THAT? I will be spending the next week or so kid free and husband free. YUP, that is what I said. Kid and husband free. OK well I won't be completely alone, I will have the puppy to mother. And that is work enough.
BUT what will I do with all that free time??????????????????????
I think I have a few ideas....
What would you do with a kid-free and husband-free week?
For the first time EVER...I will be at home by myself for longer than a day. DID YOU HEAR THAT? I will be spending the next week or so kid free and husband free. YUP, that is what I said. Kid and husband free. OK well I won't be completely alone, I will have the puppy to mother. And that is work enough.
BUT what will I do with all that free time??????????????????????
I think I have a few ideas....
OR
OR
What would you do with a kid-free and husband-free week?
Monday, July 23, 2012
Free Their Imagination
It seems like with all the technology available to our children they have fewer and fewer opportunities to just use their imaginations; just pure imagination. I remember when I was a kid, we would spend the entire summer outside, when it was stinking hot and even when it was raining. We would wake up everyday excited for the adventure, the unknown of every day, excited to explore and discover all the amazing adventures outside our front door. It is a different time now. Children are organized, supervised, huddled, shipped off, signed up and carted around to play dates, sporting events, indoor playgrounds, lessons and parties. There are very few days my own children get to be on their own to let their imaginations run wild but when they do it is just magical, for them and for me.
One of the things my children love to do is to make concoctions or experiments (as they like to call them). They have a toy kitchen that is always outside, they just let their imaginations run wild.
The girls grab whatever they can find in the garden; leaves, flowers and dirt, and stir it around with water. It can be a mucky mess but they have so much fun. They can spend hours outside stirring and cooking and concocting.
It can be hard for kids to learn how to throw off the constraints of an adult world and let loose but when it happens they have so much fun. One of the things we love to do together is to watch the clouds and guess what they are, imagine what creations the clouds are creating in the sky. It is a moving art show.
It is especially fun while sitting at the end of the dock at the cottage. The lake water is crisp, the sky is blue and the clouds are fluffy white and all around you can hear the water lapping, the birds chirping and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees. Just bliss!!!!!!!
While at our cottage over the Canada Day long weekend my youngest daughter, who was 6 years old at the time, and I sat on the dock enjoying the day, soaking up the sun and talking. She was playing with some cable ties. You know the ones that you use to bundle computer cables with.
We used them to attach buckets and a floating duck t our waterline in the lake so that boats don't drive over it. She was creating things with two black ties. It was pure imagination at work. She crafted, one making a loop and a straight stick, stating it was her microphone and started to sing. She then said "Look this is my lasso and I am going to lasso you." She sat talking and creating and playing for about an hour on the dock. No iPad, no computer, no phone; just pure imagination.
Of course, there is nothing better than turning your imagination lose with paper and crayons. Some of the best masterpieces are created this way. One of the things my kids love to do is draw. They play a game with their dad who is an illustrator. They each create a scribble on a piece of paper and then hand it over to the other person, often their dad, to see what they can make from the scribble. They craft a masterpiece from the scribble.
I created this post as part of the Energizer Free Their Imagination blog tour. It is something that is really important to me as a Mom. I want my children to grow up knowing how to tap into their imaginations. As a writer and blogger everything I do is about using my imagination to craft articles and tell stories. It is something that enriches my life and I want my children to grow up always nourishing their imaginations. As part of Energizer's efforts to celebrate the joy and benefits of play and imagination they are offering a fantastic contest with over 2,000 Crayola prizes to be won. There will be hourly draws from now until October 1, 2012. As a special bonus, there is a unique PIN, that will get you an extra chance to win. You can enter only once per hour but you can use multiple PINs for additional bonuses.
My exclusive code to share with all of you is BestInToys
For more information check out www.facebook.com/EnergizerBunnyCanada
Disclosure – I am participating in the Energizer program by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.
One of the things my children love to do is to make concoctions or experiments (as they like to call them). They have a toy kitchen that is always outside, they just let their imaginations run wild.
The girls grab whatever they can find in the garden; leaves, flowers and dirt, and stir it around with water. It can be a mucky mess but they have so much fun. They can spend hours outside stirring and cooking and concocting.
It can be hard for kids to learn how to throw off the constraints of an adult world and let loose but when it happens they have so much fun. One of the things we love to do together is to watch the clouds and guess what they are, imagine what creations the clouds are creating in the sky. It is a moving art show.
It is especially fun while sitting at the end of the dock at the cottage. The lake water is crisp, the sky is blue and the clouds are fluffy white and all around you can hear the water lapping, the birds chirping and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees. Just bliss!!!!!!!
While at our cottage over the Canada Day long weekend my youngest daughter, who was 6 years old at the time, and I sat on the dock enjoying the day, soaking up the sun and talking. She was playing with some cable ties. You know the ones that you use to bundle computer cables with.
 |
| (This picture seems so funny when you just look at it without reading the post first! I promise if you read it will make sense) |
We used them to attach buckets and a floating duck t our waterline in the lake so that boats don't drive over it. She was creating things with two black ties. It was pure imagination at work. She crafted, one making a loop and a straight stick, stating it was her microphone and started to sing. She then said "Look this is my lasso and I am going to lasso you." She sat talking and creating and playing for about an hour on the dock. No iPad, no computer, no phone; just pure imagination.
Of course, there is nothing better than turning your imagination lose with paper and crayons. Some of the best masterpieces are created this way. One of the things my kids love to do is draw. They play a game with their dad who is an illustrator. They each create a scribble on a piece of paper and then hand it over to the other person, often their dad, to see what they can make from the scribble. They craft a masterpiece from the scribble.
I created this post as part of the Energizer Free Their Imagination blog tour. It is something that is really important to me as a Mom. I want my children to grow up knowing how to tap into their imaginations. As a writer and blogger everything I do is about using my imagination to craft articles and tell stories. It is something that enriches my life and I want my children to grow up always nourishing their imaginations. As part of Energizer's efforts to celebrate the joy and benefits of play and imagination they are offering a fantastic contest with over 2,000 Crayola prizes to be won. There will be hourly draws from now until October 1, 2012. As a special bonus, there is a unique PIN, that will get you an extra chance to win. You can enter only once per hour but you can use multiple PINs for additional bonuses.
My exclusive code to share with all of you is BestInToys
For more information check out www.facebook.com/EnergizerBunnyCanada
Friday, June 8, 2012
Post It and Believe it!
It is important to have a healthy dialogue with yourself. I struggle with this sometimes, as I think we all do. So, to help me remember what is important I like to write messages and reminders on post it notes. I stick them on my computer, in my note book or my reading book. Here are just a few phrases I like to say to myself.
1
Friday, May 25, 2012
The Importance of a Nap
I have been known to do a little too much, to put too much on my plate. I try to fit too much in to my day. Sound familiar? I work evenings in the media so it is like I have two full time jobs - the family during the day and radio news at night. Oh and I forgot to mention that I write freelance sometimes and I teach at a local college sometimes too! See where I have a problem?
Well, today was no different from any other day. I have been running around doing errands trying to get the house ready for my daughters birthday party next weekend, and that includes getting the yard ready for a bunch of kids. I had a bunch of things to get this morning, including mulch and sod but what I really wanted to do was watch movies and sleep on the couch. SOOooooooooooooooooooooooo.....I did the yard work and then I watched movies and napped on the couch with the puppy. I don't do it often enough. I often find it hard to actually put my feet up and relax. There is always something to do BUT today I decided that I just needed to let it go and take care of myself for a little while. And boy was it worth it. I had a great time snuggling with the puppy who clearly needed some me time too!
I know it is important to take care of myself but sometimes I just let life get in the way of what I know is true and necessary. It is important to slow down, take a load off and take care of you!
What do you do for yourself? What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Well, today was no different from any other day. I have been running around doing errands trying to get the house ready for my daughters birthday party next weekend, and that includes getting the yard ready for a bunch of kids. I had a bunch of things to get this morning, including mulch and sod but what I really wanted to do was watch movies and sleep on the couch. SOOooooooooooooooooooooooo.....I did the yard work and then I watched movies and napped on the couch with the puppy. I don't do it often enough. I often find it hard to actually put my feet up and relax. There is always something to do BUT today I decided that I just needed to let it go and take care of myself for a little while. And boy was it worth it. I had a great time snuggling with the puppy who clearly needed some me time too!
I know it is important to take care of myself but sometimes I just let life get in the way of what I know is true and necessary. It is important to slow down, take a load off and take care of you!
What do you do for yourself? What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Being A Mom Can Be Hard - MumsnChums post
(as seen on MumsnChums)
You are embarking on a brand new life with a brand new life. Not too scary right? It doesn’t have to be a journey you take on your own. There is an entire community of Mothers waiting out there to share their thoughts, wisdom, tips and tricks. You just need to get out there. *Finding a solid support network is so important (especially when you are a new mother), and it isn’t as hard as you might think.
Here are just a few things you can try to help you find Moms in your area who can help guide you on one of the most important journeys of your life.
1. Get Out There!
This one may seem simple and obvious but when it comes to actually doing it with a new baby it can be hard, but it is so important. Part of that feeling of isolation is because when we are new moms we don’t leave the house for days on end. It can be hard to actually do all that you need to do for your baby and still squeeze in a shower and throw some clean clothes on. It is so important though to actually leave your house. You might be surprised about how different life looks outside your front door and you might be surprised who you might meet too. The easiest thing to do is head for a walk to the park. It is the best place to meet other mothers. Talk to them. I still connect with a couple of women I met at a nearby outdoor space near my house when both of us had young kids. The kids are still friends too!
2. Join Mommy and Me Groups
There are so many groups out there, just look and you will find one that is the right fit for you and your baby. There is so much power in sharing your experience with others who understand what you are going through. They understand you, they can empathize with you, they can offer help and wisdom, they are just there for you in a way that many others can’t be. I found Ontario Early Years Centers so helpful.
3. Join a Fitness Group (something just for you!)
This one can be hard for a lot of women. How do you find time, away from your baby, to do something for yourself? I think it is important for your physical and emotional well being. You need to find time for you. Maybe this is something you do with other Moms or you partner up with another Mom you know so that you can help each other with child care. You get to go to a workout class while the other Mom watches your child, and then the next time you swap. It is a great way to support each other, share your experiences and get fit too.
4. Find All the Community Drop Ins
Many community centers have drop in programs. They are a great resource for you. These programs offer a great opportunity to get out with your baby, find other parents in your community and discover resources in your neighbourhood. Many are free or offered at a small fee.
5. Create Your Own Group
Get creative and resourceful and create your own group of moms. This is great if you have a few friends who have just had a baby or if you have seen a few other moms at the park with new babies. Find somewhere that is easy for everyone to get to and meet once a month for starters. You could maybe use a community meeting room at your local community centre or library. Be as casual or formal as you want. You could pick topics for each get together or even have guest speakers, like public health nurses or lactation consultant.
6. Get Online
There are so many resources online, the best ones often have forums (or chatrooms like Mums ‘n Chums). Forums and chatrooms offer you the chance to connect with people like you without leaving the comfort of your couch. You can ask questions, meet other moms and feel connected with people who are also in the same baby boat as you.
You are embarking on a brand new life with a brand new life. Not too scary right? It doesn’t have to be a journey you take on your own. There is an entire community of Mothers waiting out there to share their thoughts, wisdom, tips and tricks. You just need to get out there. *Finding a solid support network is so important (especially when you are a new mother), and it isn’t as hard as you might think.
Here are just a few things you can try to help you find Moms in your area who can help guide you on one of the most important journeys of your life.
1. Get Out There!
This one may seem simple and obvious but when it comes to actually doing it with a new baby it can be hard, but it is so important. Part of that feeling of isolation is because when we are new moms we don’t leave the house for days on end. It can be hard to actually do all that you need to do for your baby and still squeeze in a shower and throw some clean clothes on. It is so important though to actually leave your house. You might be surprised about how different life looks outside your front door and you might be surprised who you might meet too. The easiest thing to do is head for a walk to the park. It is the best place to meet other mothers. Talk to them. I still connect with a couple of women I met at a nearby outdoor space near my house when both of us had young kids. The kids are still friends too!
2. Join Mommy and Me Groups
There are so many groups out there, just look and you will find one that is the right fit for you and your baby. There is so much power in sharing your experience with others who understand what you are going through. They understand you, they can empathize with you, they can offer help and wisdom, they are just there for you in a way that many others can’t be. I found Ontario Early Years Centers so helpful.
3. Join a Fitness Group (something just for you!)
This one can be hard for a lot of women. How do you find time, away from your baby, to do something for yourself? I think it is important for your physical and emotional well being. You need to find time for you. Maybe this is something you do with other Moms or you partner up with another Mom you know so that you can help each other with child care. You get to go to a workout class while the other Mom watches your child, and then the next time you swap. It is a great way to support each other, share your experiences and get fit too.
4. Find All the Community Drop Ins
Many community centers have drop in programs. They are a great resource for you. These programs offer a great opportunity to get out with your baby, find other parents in your community and discover resources in your neighbourhood. Many are free or offered at a small fee.
5. Create Your Own Group
Get creative and resourceful and create your own group of moms. This is great if you have a few friends who have just had a baby or if you have seen a few other moms at the park with new babies. Find somewhere that is easy for everyone to get to and meet once a month for starters. You could maybe use a community meeting room at your local community centre or library. Be as casual or formal as you want. You could pick topics for each get together or even have guest speakers, like public health nurses or lactation consultant.
6. Get Online
There are so many resources online, the best ones often have forums (or chatrooms like Mums ‘n Chums). Forums and chatrooms offer you the chance to connect with people like you without leaving the comfort of your couch. You can ask questions, meet other moms and feel connected with people who are also in the same baby boat as you.
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