Mother’s Day is on our doorstep and the gift guides are everywhere we turn. Don’t get me wrong, fancy gifts are awesome, but for me, the best Mother’s Day prezzies don’t have a price sticker on them. So, for my lucky number 13th Mother’s Day (and with three kids to celebrate it), here are my five gift ideas to give any mom on her special day. And they’re all totally free.
Now that my son is in kindergarten, I find myself with ample one-on-one time with my 3 year-old daughter. This is the first year my daughter and I have had so many chances to spend solo time together since she was born because before this, my son also demanded much of my attention. The challenge underlying all of this quality time, however, is finding activities to do together that won’t drive me crazy or break the bank.
Here are five of my frugal, go-to mother-daughter dates that we both enjoy.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, and as a parent to two small children I am plagued with how and when to begin sexual assault education and prevention in a meaningful way while my children are still so young. How does one teach kids about sexual assault awareness?
Society generally portrays dads as having it pretty easy. I am not going to lie – sometimes I think they do too. Raise your hand if you don’t think you occasionally do more than your partner, and I will personally nominate you for sainthood.
I am the default parent of our daughter in that I look after snack-day, what needs to be in her daily backpack, or when it’s time for her next shots. This is not because I am the mother, but because my partner has a memory like a sieve and the poor kids at daycare would never get their cupcakes.
As mothers, as we have more children, the likelihood of needing emergency medical care increases. Despite all of our work to keep them safe, toddlers fall, they get sick, and they eat things they’re not supposed to. Getting to the hospital can be a trial on its own – but when you’re there, you want to be sure that you have everything you need to make it easier. Even though medical care has advanced, you need to be prepared for a long wait in a harsh, sterile environment. Considering how difficult it is to take a toddler to the corner store, some advance preparation will be required.
How are you feeling?” I ask my friend Christine. She sits next to me in the cozy dining room of The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room in the Glebe. Her large belly presses up against the table as she leans forward.
“I’m doing great!” she says. “But I could do without the kidney stones!”
Swaddling has been used with newborns since the dawn of time. A nice, snug swaddle replicates the warm and cozy environment of the womb, meaning a calmer baby who often sleeps better and longer. Hospitals typically send babies home wrapped in a standard issue, pink or blue blanket. Some nurses refer to it as the ‘burrito wrap’. But if you’ve ever cursed your baby’s swaddling blanket after she’s wriggled out of it in the middle of the night (yet again), this list is for you!
I’m not a bad mom – really. But I certainly felt like it for the first 18 months with my first son. Our caregiver said she could only stand one day. My best friend – a psychologist – told me that I probably wouldn’t be able to go back to work after a year of maternity leave. And neighbours would avoid eye contact because I’m sure they thought I was neglecting my child. Because he had colic.
What most women take as a first sign of early pregnancy is a missed period but truthfully, there are a few other signs that can be detected earlier than a missed period that could mean you’re pregnant. Keep in mind that these symptoms are generally counted on as reliable indicators of pregnancy but are in no way a guarantee—it’s always best to get tested by your physician. So what are some very early pregnancy signs and symptoms?
The Spring time change is approaching, and On March 13th at 2:00 a.m. we move our clocks forward by one hour and instead of rejoicing about more daylight and the cue that winter is almost over, parents everywhere await the horror. Yes, just when you have your baby on a great sleep schedule, Spring Daylight Saving Time hits and screws it all up!