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Chantal Kreviazuk and Walmart's Mom Of The Year

grow, LIVE, nourish By July 12, 2013 Tags: , , , , No Comments

Chantal KreviazukShe sat lightly on the sofa of the Shangri-La hotel and embraced me early as I entered. From the beginning it felt as if I was hanging out with a best friend. We talked of shoes, child rearing, philanthropy and music. I was astounded at Chantal Kreviazuk’s poise, her passion for knowledge and the way she broke into song to illustrate a point using favourite lyrics.

Walmart introduced the Mom of the Year award last year to celebrate moms as both role models and integral members of the community, and gives Canadians an opportunity to say thank you for everything moms do every day.  “We’re thrilled to bring the Mom of the Year Award back for a second year,” said Emma Fox, chief marketing officer for Walmart Canada.  Judges include notable comedian, actress and radio host, Sophie Prégent, the 2012 Mom of the Year, Katie Schulz, editor-in-chief of Walmart Live Better magazine, Sandra Martin, Emma Fox and Ms. Kreviasuk review the entries.

One of the most important jobs on the planet does not come with a paycheque, but Canadians have a salary in mind. According to a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing on behalf of Walmart Canada, Canadians would pay their mom an average annual salary of $161,287 for all of her hard work.  Asking about how she will begin to choose the finalists, Chantal paused and admitted that mothers are so exceptional that it would be difficult.  “I think that the good the amazing mom today to honor would be that woman who has life experience, has overcome some things but she still has strength and resilience.”

When I searched the #momoftheyear hashtag on twitter I was disheartened to see that moms across the globe use it in a disparaging way.  They forget to bring diapers on an outing and they ridicule themselves.  I asked Chantal about this trend.  She has noticed that women in general are very critical of themselves.  “Canadians are very different than Americans in that we have this bizarre thing in our particular cultural nature whereby we diminish our successes and dwell on our mistakes.  Americans don’t do that – Americans are very proud and they tend to want to celebrate their success.  I think also as mothers we make a mistake and it defines us.  We have so much power as as a parent – we really need to define ourselves by the greatness, not the errors.”  

Not only has Chantal Kreviazuk been influenced by Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace (her eyes light up every time he’s mentioned) but her mother-in-law has played a huge part in how Chantal has carved her style as a mother of 3 boys.  She is “very graceful and elegant in her style of coping and resilience – the older generation just gets up and keeps going with that classic beauty”.  Travel and philanthropy keep her busy but she is highly attentive to ensuring constant communication with her kids. “I’m really frightened of the idea of raising children to be too certain.”  She admits her mistakes to the kids and takes time to answer questions.  Remembering when she attended an event for a hospital foundation and the kids asked a ton of questions, she used it as an “organic opportunity to tell them why and who benefits from the charity and what it’s like for a child that you know is born three months early”.  Highly involved in building schools in the third world and the charity War Child, Chantal continually exposes her kids to the notion that their circumstance is not reflective of the human condition.  “Currency is many things.  It’s not just money and I really believe that a value system for all those currencies is what creates a great human being because we are more than just you know money mongers and it’s not just living to work.”

An electric and intelligent woman, Chantal spoke about her passion for science and how our brains work.  She always framed her thoughts from a mother’s point of view and it was clear that research and career exist to make life better for her family and the world around her.  Yeah – beautiful, talented, incredibly smart and does some light neuroscience reading in her free time.

She focused our discussion on modeling for our kids – and why moms who are condescending towards themselves are not doing their kids a service.   Modelling is vital (and scary) in parenting, and I personally believe that corporations and can help us model well for our children.  That Walmart is celebrating moms who model beautifully for their kids is a great step.  All I know is after spending quality time with Chantal, she can model what a woman should be for my kids anytime!

New this year to the Mom of the Year contest is public voting, where Canadians will have the chance to review the top 20 candidates and vote for one mom they want to see become one of the eight finalists. Each finalist will receive $10,000 to spend on themselves and the remaining seven will receive $10,000 for the charity or cause of their choice. The Mom of the Year award recipient will receive $100,000 for the charity or cause of her choice. 

The Mom of the Year finalists will be flown to Toronto for a day of pampering and an awards gala on October 6, 2013. Nominations for the Mom of the Year Award close on June 16 and My Finalist public voting will begin on July 4 through August 1. The eight finalists will be notified around August 6. To participate in the program and support Canadian moms, visit www.momoftheyear.ca.

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When Your Child Lies

Featured, grow, LIVE By May 2, 2013 Tags: , , , No Comments

“Liar, liar, pants on fire!”

Most parents are completely flabbergasted when their offspring tells a fib, no matter what age they are. However, lying is a part of learning and growing and, as the parent, you need to know how to handle the tale-telling appropriately and effectively. It’s essential to differentiate between the lies that should be ignored and the ones that must be addressed and handle lying in an efficient manner with love and understanding, but also help your child recognize the value of the truth.

Little Ones – Storytelling

Young children who fall in the toddler and preschool age category may tell lies that are simply a representation of their creative imaginations running wild. When this happens, you can address the fact that they are not telling the truth by saying, “Wow! You are very creative!” Or challenge them by asking, “Is that really true?” Give your little one the chance to think about their tall tale, tell you more descriptions, and decipher the truth from the un-truth.

Do not be misled, however…children will learn early, usually beyond the age of 3 or 4, that lying might be the solution to avoiding the consequences of their actions and, ultimately, deceiving someone.

Essentially, your little one will lie to please you or get your attention.

Older Children – Avoiding Consequences

Your older child will lie to achieve a different outcome. When it all boils down, your school aged child and teenager will fib to solve some type of problem.

When you know that your older child has told a fib, let them know that you are aware of the truth and that you would prefer that they tell the truth rather than be deceitful. You could tell them, “I’m sure that you meant to do your homework, but you still have some work left to do. We all make mistakes, but in the future, I would prefer that you practice honesty when I ask you a question.”

Parental Lying – The Messages that We Send

Keep in mind that we all tell “little white lies” sometimes and that we need to set the example, as the parents. If our children witness us lying, they will get mixed signals that tell them that lying is okay sometimes.

Without thinking about it, you might tell your friend that you have an appointment that conflicts with meeting them today or – even worse – you might tell your child to tell the caller on the phone that you are in the shower when you honestly do not want to come to the phone.

Before asking your child to lie for you or lying in front of them, think about the significance of the message that it sends to your offspring and ask yourself if it is worth it to relay that message.

When handling a fibbing child, do not promise him that there will not be any punishment if they tell the truth – and then dole out a punishment once the truth is revealed. It is vital to teach your child that lying is not okay, both by holding discussions with them that help them to recognize truth from un-truths and showing them with our own behavior.

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Motherhood Quotes

grow, LIVE By November 30, 2012 Tags: , , , No Comments

Whether you’ve had children of your own or not, you have witnessed the transforming power children can have on people’s lives.  The effects of this transformation and unconditional love on people and families have not escaped notice by the literary and art world.  Below are a few quotes that capture the beauty of children and parenthood that can almost describe the real thing.

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brand ambassador

On being a brand ambassador

grow, LIVE By November 17, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

As my readers know, this is a magazine – not a blog.  From time to time I (as the publisher) feel the need to pontificate.  (Hopefully with wit and good grammar.)  Hold your tongue  – you readers with hefty English degrees..  This one is  ‘on being an ambassador’ (and I’m one for writing like I speak).

I was invited to an overview of P&G products.  Having been a McDonald’s All-Access Mom I know what it means to align yourself with a brand.  (Insert nail biting here).  You must know everything about the company and it’s practices – often more than the employees or executives.  You must field questions via social media, be honest on camera and willing to put in 14-hour days.  You must be an investigative reporter with discerning questions (without being kicked out of the program entirely – for what good would that do?).

I admit that I hesitated.  The McDonald’s experience was more than I had bargained for and yet I discovered a company and culture that were incredible.  And then I was asked to be a P&G Mom.  Who was I to demerit another ‘huge’ company based on rumour and social media pressure?  But the term ‘ambassador’ has certain responsibilities.  I agreed to see what they had to say.  I knew that given my experience, I was able to ask the right questions.  I was willing to take the social media heat.

So I went.  And I am so thrilled I did.  Of course I’m a ‘Four Season’s girl (they hosted it there) and love trying new products (which many of us have donated and have been sent to Hurricane Sandy victims in New York with the help of Coach USA).   But there was more.  More good.  More positive.

The executives I spoke to about toxicity and environmental responsibility emailed me back the next day (on a Saturday) with specific answers.  The PR folks were proactive in addressing my concerns.  Other executives from Proctor and Gamble delved into my mind, looked into my eyes over dinner – and they REALLY wanted to know how I felt about…  laundry – not just their laundry products.  I felt as if I could make an impact.  If I am honest, open and transparent – when I bring concerns from my readers to the appropriate people – perhaps I / we can help guide the direction of the company.  I really believe this is what P&G had in mind with the program.

On the big day of the conference, P&G hired a moderator to get feedback from real moms on so many of their products.  That’s corporate responsibility.  That’s smart.  (It also gives them a huge savings on big-idea consulting.).  When the McDonald’s executives discussed their program over dinner with the 4 moms involved in the All-Access program, I certainly felt as if we had made an impact.  The CEO took handwritten notes. He asked a hundred questions.  (And only a portion of our feedback was positive. But they didn’t want to hear the positive stuff.)  They wanted the moms’ perspective on what needed to be changed to make them a better company.  They know what they do well.  They want to be better.  And as true ‘ambassadors’, we were in a position to tell them.

That’s what an ‘ambassador’ means.  You need to know more about the company than most of the employees.  And be willing to be smart and mature on social media.  You need to think outside the box.  To seriously consider negative feedback from social media and take a risk to get the real answers.  You need to meet the people behind the company – the chemists and farmers and salespeople.  This is why companies are paying attention to Mom ambassadors.  That is what will propel the profession and help the public connect with the brands.  And that is why any time we agree to the role of ‘ambassador’, it is a big job.  A big responsibility.

From what I have heard and read so far, I am very much an ambassador.  But I chose to get my BA in theatre and politics – not in chemistry or sales – and I cannot learn all of these arts in a few days.  So I invite all of my readers – just as I did as a McDonald’s All-Access Mom – to ask questions.  You know more than I do about your own experience as a Mom and a professional – and as an ambassador, I am simply a conduit to extracting honest and relevant answers.  We’re all parents.  We all want healthy, happy kids.  Ask me.  I assure you I will get the answers.  That’s what an ambassador does.

 

 

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halloween pet safety

Halloween Pet Safety

grow, holidays, LIVE By October 30, 2012 Tags: , , 1 Comment

Haloween Pet SafetySafety during Halloween extends to the entire family including pets. These safety tips from PetSmart will help ensure pet parents and their pets have a safe and fun Howl-O-Ween.

·         Keep them happy. “Before having pets join in the Halloween fun, it’s important to assess whether your pet will be comfortable participating or if the festivities will cause undue stress,” says Dr. Simon Starkey, pet care expert at PetSmart. “Pets may be alarmed to find a ghost or witch at the front door so make sure there’s a quiet space away from all the activity in case your pet needs it.”

·         Make sure treats are pet friendly. Many Halloween treats are not pet-friendly, especially those containing chocolate. Make sure to choose pet-safe treats to celebrate, such as GREENIES® Dental Chews, which also keep pets’ teeth clean and ensures their breath isn’t scary.

·         Keep them safe. If you plan to walk your dog around the neighborhood in the evening, make sure they’re properly outfitted and at ease around strangers and crowds. An adult should always have control of the dog’s leash, and reflective leashes, collars or ID tags are essential accessories. Some pet costumes also offer safety features such as the glow-in-the-dark Martha Stewart Pets™ black Halloween skeleton costume.

·         Decorations without danger. Halloween decorations can be scary, but should not be dangerous. Pet parents need to make sure curious cats and dogs are unable to reach lights, decorations, candles and other festive items.

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Playing Favourites

grow, LIVE By September 27, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , No Comments

The news channels and blogosphere are exploding with hostile reactions to a Canadian Dad blogger’s comments on Babble about having a favourite child.  With two sons ages 2 and 5, he admits in writing and in the public sphere that though he loves both sons, he likes the older boy better.  Our society loves a chance to weigh in on parenting choices, and this discussion is pretty juicy.

“I admit it, my oldest son is my favorite because he can do more things.  To me, he’s more fun.  I don’t love either of my sons any more than the other, but I do like them differently. I’d be willing to bet you’re the same.”

That the revelation has gone viral suggests that the issue is close to the hearts of many parents.  The backlash the blogger has received is not always mature or appropriate (as can happen when people hide behind a keyboard) but a chord has definitely been struck.

Many dads find the baby stage more challenging and less fun than the older years and I respect those who admit to this.  I would suggest, though, that moms feel this way as well.  Raising a baby is tough.  It’s work.  It’s not always fun for the moms either – babies throw food on the floor, refuse to sleep, hit you in the face, sport leaky diapers and pick the lock on the knife drawer.  But you have to embrace every stage in order to grow the bonds that are being created.

I am sure part of the ire is due to the blunt writing and challenges put forth by the author to his audience.  But would the parenting world be reacting and truly considering the question if it were more passive or humourous?  I’m not sure.

I wrote an article about over-sharing in social media and the public space.  I cautioned that the disclosures of bloggers, tweeters and facebook-junkies will exist in perpetuity and that as parents we have a responsibility to protect the reputations and psychological states of our children.  They will one day be applying for university and will probably start Googling themselves once they can spell.  There is a fine line, and it is currently undefined.  I was initially reacting to flippant sharing that may one day be embarrassing or misconstrued.  Reading the comments and reactions to this article, though, I hope that the author has a broader plan up his sleeve.  If discussion on the topic can remain constructive and healthy, perhaps society will become a better place.  And as a parent who also happens to be a journalist, this blogger will have to handle his younger son’s reaction to his Dad’s revelation when he is more mature.

Though I would not choose to reveal this type of personal information in a public forum, I appreciate that the author has encouraged conversation.  He has inspired thought and people are evaluating their own positions on the matter.   I may have sleep trained differently than my neighbour.  I may have chosen to make organic baby food when time allowed.  But that worked for my family.  The type of honesty espoused by the author is a choice that he has made as a parent.  Though it wouldn’t work for me, who am I to judge other parents?  (Well – not the ones who abide by the law anyway).  Walking a mile in someone’s shoes may be cliche, but we are all different.  We come from different backgrounds and have different values.  That is the beauty of our society.  I am sure Judy Garland was judged for introducing Liza Minnelli to show business, but maybe the world is a better place for the art that was created and the millions of people made happy.

So let’s have a good healthy discussion, but keep the barbs and venom out of the playing field.  We’re all in this together as parents, and we should build on each others’ experiences so that we can raise amazing kids.

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Music for Toddlers

grow, LIVE By August 20, 2012 Tags: , , , , No Comments

We’ve all heard the old saying, “Music soothes the savage beast,” and know the benefits of music for unborn and newborn babies. But what about toddlers? If there ever was a savage beast to tame, it would be an unruly toddler. But beyond lullabies, what benefits does music for toddlers bring? Let’s examine some of the ways toddlers are influenced for the better by music, and how to utilize music for toddlers to the best effect.

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Top Discipline Mistakes Parents Make

Top Discipline Mistakes Parents Make

grow, LIVE By April 4, 2012 Tags: , , , 1 Comment

If your kids are past infancy, discipline is something you have to do. Basically, as soon as a child becomes ambulatory and starts speaking, they start doing things they shouldn’t do, and it only gets worse as they get older. I swear, my kids have a rare talent for getting into trouble, causing messes and breaking things, and making inappropriate noise (unfortunately, often involving bodily functions). Teaching kids what to do–and NOT to do–is one of the single most important parts of parenting; if your kids end up as rebellious, insolent, and out-of-control, you’re a failure as a mother or father. Sorry. Discipline takes many forms, and there is a lot of passion and polemics when it comes to what is and isn’t good discipline. What are some of the top discipline mistakes parents make?

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Earth Hour Activities

grow, LIVE By March 31, 2012 Tags: , , , No Comments

At 8:30pm on March 31st, many people will shut off the lights for Earth Hour.  We don’t always need electricity and some of the best moments can be created without it.  Alison Ferguson and Meaghan Relkie from Every Little Bit have some great ideas on how to spend some non-electricity time with your kids..  We also have some great ideas on eco-friendly activities to do with kids to help get in the spirit during the whole day!

So…what can you do in the dark for an hour?

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