Canada Moms Blog

Peeing in Coke Bottles (or, How to Survive a Highway Snowstorm)

Cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Getting stuck in a blizzard, on a highway, in the dark, with a child - that was one of my parenting nightmares. How do you stay warm? How do you keep the child feeling safe - and entertained? What if you have to pee?

Well, thanks to the massive storm that hit the East Coast on Friday, now I know: You turn on the car’s heat every half an hour and pull out layers from the suitcase. You try not to cry. You reenact key moments from favorite PBS Kids shows. You give your 3-year-old son a crash course in the art of peeing in a Coke bottle.

Granted, after about five hours of sitting in West Virginia on a very dark, very un-plowed Interstate 64, we were able to finally make it through the graveyard of stuck trucks and abandoned cars to a hotel. Our experience was nothing compared to the thousands of people stuck on Virginia roads all night.

Still, five hours was as close as I’ll ever want to be to calling my Subaru home.

Continue reading at Chicago Moms Blog.

Life is short. Have an affair

Life is short. Have an affair.

That's the motto of an on-line dating site, Ashley Madison, which facilitates cheating. Like a typical on-line dating site, it's purpose is to help those looking for a partner to find one easily: the difference? These people are married and looking for someone willing to have an extramarital affair. Cheat.

Ashley Madison is so confident they can find you the right person to contribute to your infidelity that they have a 100% guarantee.

Join AshleyMadison.com for FREE
and Have An Affair...Guaranteed!

This site isn't new. It's been featured on Ellen, The View, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America and Larry King. They've been providing an easy gateway for those looking to cheat on their spouse since 2001.

Until recently, I really had no idea a vehicle of this nature even existed. That was until the Toronto media went nuts with news of a potential ad for Ashley Madison which was to be displayed by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). TTC had allegedly accepted a deal to provide one street car to be wrapped head-to-toe with a purple ad stating - "LIFE IS SHORT. HAVE AN AFFAIR." - which would sprawl across the ENTIRE length of the train.

Princesses Can Be Awesome, If You Strap Blades To Their Feet

I'm pretty ambivalent about princesses: I don't hate them, but I definitely don't love them, and really, end of the day, if they were to all disappear from the culture I wouldn't exactly miss them. Happily, my daughter feels more or less the same way. Unless those princesses are on ice. Then they're awesome. Then they're REALLY awesome.

She's never actually seen any princesses on ice - which is to say, skating princesses - but we did watch the Nutcracker the other night and she remarked that it'd better if there were hockey players involved, which, you have to admit, is pretty solid logic, not to mention conclusive evidence that she's Canadian. She meant, basically, that it'd be better if the characters were skating. "Especially the princess," she said, referring to the Sugarplum Fairy, who really would be a lot more hardcore if she played goal.

Beyond Gift-Giving: Hanukkah the Green

I'm finding dealing with things quite the parenting challenge lately. It's Hanukkah, and earlier this month I promised myself I wouldn't buy my kids anything at all until Hanukkah because I knew that if I did the whole beauty of getting and, indeed, of giving gifts would be lost. The Hanukkah gifts would be just more little trinkets for my kids to hoard, more random objects to attach themselves to in profound and confusing ways that only Freud could really understand.

And Hanukkah is such a beautiful holiday, so rich with meaning and hope. When we light the menorah, we are celebrating the victory of the Maccabees (a Jewish rebel army) over the Syrians in 156 BCE, and the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem that followed. When the Maccabees rededicated the temple, they had only a small flask of olive oil with which to light the Temple's eternal flame -- enough to keep it lit for one day. But, miraculously, this small flask of oil lasted eight days, giving them enough time to press new olive oil, and keep the eternal flame alive, well, eternally.

As a "friend" reminded me the other day, there's a great modern message in this miracle: a green message. To think, one flask of oil could go such a long way! It's a reminder to us all that a little energy, a little water, any precious resource we use too much of, can go a long way.

I Am Not a Napkin

Cross posted from our sister site, NYC Moms Blog.

Around this time of year I generally do a bit of reflecting about all the things that I am...a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend. I think about these positions, the expectations that come with them, how I'm filling them, and I look for areas where improvements can be made.

It's also inevitable that I think about things that I'm not. This year, there's one particular thing that I am not, but my child can't seem to get it into her head that this is the case.

My Daughter: "Momma, I need something to wipe my hands."

Me: "I'll get you a napkin."

My Daughter: (Silence. Walks over to me and wipes her hands on my pants or sweater or whatever article of clothing has been most recently dry cleaned. She's got an uncanny ability to pick that item above all others.) "Never mind."

Me: "Why did you just do that? Do I look like a napkin!"

My Daughter: "Yes."

Me: "Well, I'm not a napkin."

My Daughter: "Yes you are." (She then breaks into fits of giggles.)

Continue reading Eden's post over at NYC Moms Blog.

I got your back

This Spring, I stumbled on one of those quirky stories in the news. You know, one of those that make you stop and cock your head to the side and wait for what MUST be the punchline. Because, you know, it HAD to be coming at the end of the story. But it didn't.

In brief, a 12 year old girl was living with her father and step mother. She and step mother got into it about the girl posting inappropriate photos of herself and chatting on parental-banned websites in May, and father took away her end of elementary school trip as punishment.

Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind by Phillip Done: A Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Club

Who are those people who spend so much time with our kids every day at school? We are often so wrapped up in parenthood, that we take those who engage in teacherhood for granted. Join us as Silicon Valley Moms Group bloggers talk about Phillips Done's latest book Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind. 

• Michele from Silicon Valley Moms Blog leads us off to the middle of nowhere and the road to everywhere
• Bonggamom from Finding Bonggamom asks what do you get your child's teacher for Christmas?
• Leticia from Tech Savvy Mama gives us a list of the best gifts for teachers (by a teacher!)
• Melanie from Tales from the Crib values those who have been gifted
• Stacy from Fabulous Miss S remembers some of her favorite teachers 
• Heidi from Coast 2 Coast Mom warns what's said at home doesn't stay at home
• Julie from Just Precious still has her teacher mode
• Jill from Musings from Me says third-grade has been pivotal for her children
• Aimee from Smiling Mama talks about amazing teachers
• Rebecca from Life With Boys does a tribute to teachers
• Chefdruck from Chefdruck Musings moves on to planning for career #12
• Max from The French Mommy Born in California gets "a little inspiration" 
• Jessica from It's My Life remembers visiting a new school
• Linsey from Me Too You talks about the messys and the tiddys
• Erica from wellthoughtoutspot shares her reflections of a public school newbie
• Nicole from Not Just a Working Mom sometimes just has to laugh
• Akemi from Chalk and Cheese meets the world in fourth grade
• Robyn from Who's the Boss describes what a third grade teacher shouldn't be
• Kimberly from Tippy Toes and Tantrums brings her daughter to her first author meet and greet
• Shanna from 3 Cute Kids sees the value of a great teacher
• Angela from Domestic Blitz sees a thimble full of hope

Mr. Done (rhymes with Phone!) gave us a special treat last week, doing a private reading and book signing with bloggers from Silicon Valley Moms Blog and some of our school-aged kids. He made us laugh, he made us cry. Thank you Mr. Done!

Silicon Valley Moms Blog is hosting the book club discussion this month. Please go here to leave a comment and join in the discussion.

Past Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Clubs have included:

• This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Topper
• Do One Nice Thing by Debbie Tenzer
• Birth Day by Mark Sloan, M.D.
• What Happened to the Girl I Married? by Michael Miller
• Testimony by Anita Shreve
  
• Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs
  
• Much to Your Chagrin by Suzanne Guilette
  
• It Started with Pop-Tarts by Lori Hanson
  
• Who By Fire by Diana Spechler
• The White Trash Moms Handbook by Michelle Lamar
• Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues
• The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert W. Sears
• The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross

Click here to read all about the Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Club.

This is not a paid for post. The publisher of this book did provide free copies to Silicon Valley Moms Group bloggers to use for this book club.

A Canadian Christmas Requires Snow

I have lived in Canada my whole life, and save for three years spent in Ottawa, Ontario as a child, the entire time has been in Saskatchewan.  That means that snow and Christmas, for me, go hand in hand.  I am an expert at complaining about winter, how could I not be after 35 years of practice?  However, it's not the snow that bothers me.  Oh sure it makes driving more challenging but I get used to that.  In fact, I kind of enjoy driving right after we get a huge dump of snow. I feel powerful and mighty maneuvering my van through the drifts (Murphy, you didn't hear that did you?).  I am woman, hear me roar, a little snow isn't keeping me down. 

Yes, I am in therapy, why do you ask?

Lessons From l’École Polytechnique: What Do We Tell The Boys

Where were you when you on Dec 6, 1989, when you heard about the Montreal Massacre?

I was on campus, at University of Toronto. It was like a convulsion. Everyone was reeling. I did not yet have children, but the news rocked my deeply held sympathies and strongly felt convictions.  I was devastated.

As a Canadian:

This doesn’t happen here.

As a young woman:

I am not safe.

As a daughter:

Their mothers. Their families.

As a student:

Academics offer no shield from that which is irrational.

It was violent.

It was hateful.

None of it made sense. 

The only reaction I could do anything about was the outpouring of grief: I would attend a vigil for the lives of 14 young women. I could hold a candle up and stand in the December night in solidarity with other Canadians, other daughters, other students, I could show the families of those women that we noticed, that we cared, that our country as a whole would not allow their daughters to go unmourned or the tragedy of the event unnoticed.

Then I learned the vigil would be for women only.

Which is when the deaths of 14 young women at l'Ecole Polytechnique shattered one more of the beliefs I held dear: all feminists believe in equality.

Spare the Parents of the Tweens a Thought...

I rarely poke around the blog world anymore. As the Mom of an 11 year old, I just don't easily relate to those parents who are dealing with bottles and diapers and first steps or words.

Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike parents with young children. I know how hard that stage is - I have BEEN there. I know how cute and sweet, funny and frustrating the Kindergarten age and younger child can be.

Its just that when I look at most blogs aimed at parents, I see a plethora of Baby, Toddler and Preschool blogs or articles. Parents of kids older than 6 seem to have been tossed aside by both Media outlets and Magazine or online communities.

Now if you are a parent of a Tween - which is loosely defined as the 9 through 12 age group - the irony is that you need the shoulder and advice of other parents More than ever. Issues with teachers and school, the eternal quagmire of Friendship, Body changes, the onset of Puberty and the general transition from adorable young child to still cute but at-times-hard-to-love tween.

Decluttering Memories

Last week, my kids' old playpen made me cry.  Okay, let me rewind and explain.

I've been a decluttering machine as of late.  Okay, when I say "as of late", I really mean "these last couple of years"... ever since our hot water tank broke, and we were forced to deal with the kajillion boxes in our basement. 

Each box we opened felt like a trip back in time.  WAY back in time.  I found myself shredding receipts going back over 5 years, documents going back to the late '80s, datebooks from my university days, and 25-year-old journals harbouring the sadness and negativity of my youth that I was now ready to release.  The kids helped take care of their own stuff by boxing up good toys they no longer used. I think we donated 8 boxes of these toys to the Children's Hospital during the first pass alone! 

As for my husband -- well, he's the real reason why this clutter-clearing has taken a couple of years.  About 75% of those boxes were his. 

Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind by Phillip Done: Join us for Silicon Valley Moms Group's next Book Club on Monday, December 7th

What is it like to be a teacher? As parents, sometimes we might wonder how teachers do all they do? Is it the hardest job in the world? Or the funnest? A little of both? Join us on Monday, December 7th as we discuss Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood by Phillip Done for our next book club. 

About the book: A twenty-year veteran of the classroom, elementary school teacher Phillip Done takes readers through a lively and hilarious year in the classroom. Starting with the relative calm before the storm of buying school supplies and posting class lists, he shares the distinct personalities of grades K-4, what he learned from two professional trick or treating 8-year-old boys, the art of learning cursive and letter-writing, how kindergartners try to trap leprechauns, and what every child should experience before he or she grows up. 

These charming, sweet, and funny tales of Mr. Done's trials and triumphs as an award-winning schoolteacher will touch readers' hearts and remind them of the true joys of childhood. We all have that one special, favorite grade school teacher whom we fondly remember throughout our adult lives - and every teacher also has students whom they will never forget. This is the perfect book for teachers, parents, and anyone else who is looking for a lighthearted, nostalgic read.

Read along with us: Buy your copy of the book today and get ready to discuss with us on Monday, December 7th. See you at book club!

Past Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Clubs have included:

• This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Topper
  
• Do One Nice Thing by Debbie Tenzer
  
• Birth Day by Mark Sloan, M.D.
• What Happened to the Girl I Married? by Michael Miller
• Testimony by Anita Shreve
  
• Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs
  
• Much to Your Chagrin by Suzanne Guilette
  
• It Started with Pop-Tarts by Lori Hanson
  
• Who By Fire by Diana Spechler
• The White Trash Moms Handbook by Michelle Lamar
• Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues
• The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert W. Sears
• The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross

Click here to read all about the Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Club.

Falling upon the sexiness of frigid Canada

A sudden blizzard had turned our bare roads and blessed browny-green grass into 4 inches of fluff and it was still coming down hard.  In a rush to get to the post office, I drove with a small mountain of snow on the hood of my Standard Mom Vehicle to the full-serve Co-op gas station where the nice ladies, somewhat bewildered at my snow-besotted state, voluntarily swept me clean.  I sat upon my heated seat, giving them a thumbs up and a smile. 

I was happy, despite this attack upon my September soul because a package was wedged in the passenger seat beside me, a package assembled with love and destined for Spain, and I thought about how my expat Spanish friend has probably never had the pleasure of driving in a Canadian blizzard.  Sure, she's visited castles and ancient Roman ruins.  So the Spanish beaches are only an hour's drive away and on a whim she can decide to spend part of her day snapping photos of terribly old Gothic cathedrals.  But has she had to stop her van every ten minutes to manually brush the snow from her side windows so she can back up safely?   Has she experienced the rush of adrenaline that comes from not knowing whether the van will stop in time to not hit that oncoming car that has the right of way, as the van struggles to brake on the packed snow, despite its slow pace well in advance of the stop sign ahead?

OSPCA vs. THS

There is a long standing feud between the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) and the Toronto Humane Society (THS). This feud came to ahead when the THS were allegedly caught off guard and five members of their staff were arrested when the OSPCA and the Toronto police raided their River St. location yesterday.

Charges have been laid against the society's president, Tim Trow, and four other members of their staff. The charges allegedly include conspiracy to commit an indictable offense, cruelty to animals as well as obstruction of a peace officer.

Pretty hefty allegations for a centre that insists they've done nothing wrong.