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People often ask what it is like to feed half dozen kids. Feeding families can be a “thing” and many parents report that dinner time can be the most stressful time of the day. I decided early on that I didn’t want meal time to create anxiety for me or my kids, so here are my few tips for relaxing…

Being a Mom Everyday Parenting Just Between Us Lifestyle Travel

When One Parent Travels … A Lot.

PTPAAugust 16, 2014

For the last 2.5 years, Daddy-o has been a FIFO (Fly In, Fly Out) Father. His current client requires that he be onsite during the week so as such, he arrives home on Friday nights, then leaves again on Sunday evenings. I have not written about it because I was advised not to go public that I was ‘alone’ during…

Everyday Parenting Just Between Us Lifestyle

Surviving Sixteen Years and Six Kids

PTPAAugust 6, 2014

I recently celebrated my 16th wedding anniversary to Daddy-o. When I say “celebrated,” I actually just mean that we both “remembered.” It has been a busy sixteen years and I’d be lying if I said we’ve actually remembered all of our anniversaries. Usually we are reminded of this special occasion when his mother calls to offer congratulations. People have asked…

Being a Mom Everyday Parenting Lifestyle

Sticks and Stones -The Power of Words

PTPAAugust 1, 2014

Words are powerful. My dad was an English teacher and word junkie so we were always taught to use our words carefully. The lesson has stuck with me and I have found that in raising my kids, I’m careful about not using vocabulary words that I don’t like. There are certain words not in my personal dictionary, that I’m pretty…

Everyday Parenting

How To Tell Kids They’re Not Getting What They Want With Positive Discipline

PTPAJuly 2, 2014

I have a busy house full of my kids, their friends, neighbourhood kids, and an assorted number of random drop-ins. I’d rather not sound like the meanest mommy on the block, so I have a few key phrases that allow me to say “NO WAY” to my kids, without using those exact words. Here are a few of my favourites:…

Everyday Parenting Health & Wellness Just Between Us Lifestyle

What you CAN say to a parent of a child with Autism

PTPAJune 29, 2014

There are often discussions about what NOT to say to parents about their children with autism. I wrote about it myself – how some innocent questions and comments can actually be painful for a mama raising a child with autism. Although well meaning, some comments have the opposite of the intended effect. But please say something. Saying nothing can almost…

Everyday Parenting For the Kids Lifestyle

How to Light up your Backyard Party

PTPAJune 5, 2014

Every year, we host a big Victoria Day fireworks party. For my American friends – this means that yes, we celebrate the birthday of a long dead English Queen, but we’ll take our holidays where we can get them. This past Victoria Day we hosted one hundred of our closest friends and neighbours (an annual event at our place) and…

Being a Mom Everyday Parenting For the Kids

Making the Cut: Children Dealing with Disappointment

PTPAMay 26, 2014

With such a big family, I’ve always told my kids that they can’t be on travelling sports teams. When my children have asked to try out for such teams, my response has consistently been, “There are enough kids in your own city that are good enough to play with you.” But, I have this one kid who loves hockey and…

Everyday Parenting Just Between Us

Forget Christmas. Back-to-school season is truly the most wonderful time of the year!

PTPAAugust 27, 2013

Don’t get me wrong – the slowed down pace of summer coupled with not having to pack school lunches makes summer pure joy. But, it’s been eight weeks now and it’s time to outsource the bickering siblings to our kind government for six hours a day. Like any change of pace, summer was refreshing but I welcome the routine and…

Everyday Parenting Just Between Us

My Father’s Day Gift

PTPAJune 20, 2012

This Father’s Day the gift I’m giving Daddy-o is the reminder that I will try very hard not to be any of the archetypes I described a few years and a few kids ago. Any of these sound familiar? 1) The Critic: You know when dad is bathing the newborn and you think the water is the wrong temperature and…

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