categories

- mom-101
- April 21, 2016
A Masters

I learned a lot of things doing my Masters degree. I re-learned some things too. I put together documents that I didn't have experience with, I learned about things like the Lobbying Act, I put together an advocacy plan. The program taught me a lot of thi
- mom-101
- April 21, 2016
Hindsight

I have never been a good eater. I have trouble eating on waking and breakfast has always felt like something others are trying to force on me. I eat late because I stay up late. I have always been a night owl. But life doesn't work that way.
- mom-101
- April 7, 2016
35 Years

I turned 35 last week, though many of my classmates don't believe I am as old as I say I am. Apparently I don't look 35, though I'm not sure what that means. What I do know is that I don't feel 35, though I certainly don't feel 25 any more either. I hav
- mom-101
- February 4, 2016
Big News! – Wild Rosebuds

Dress by ABS from All Dressed Up, Photos by North X North Photography As many of you readers know, Rob and I suffered a hard miscarriage last year and it ended up being an even scarier diagnosis of a partial molar pregnancy. Well, we are finally able to s
- mom-101
- December 30, 2015
2016: Challenging myself

I've been thinking about things I want to do in 2016. There are the obvious things - finish my degree and get a job (or find several jobs), get healthier, learn
- mom-101
- December 28, 2015
Living the dream

I am now done my first semester of my Masters program, which means I have one more semester of classes and then an internship. Right now I don't have any real
- mom-101
- December 28, 2015
When to Worry About a Concussion

We had a bit of a situation here a week or so ago. Around bedtime one night the kid told us she had a headache and then explained that she had hit her head at s
- mom-101
- December 18, 2015
Living the dream

I am now done my first semester of my Masters program, which means I have one more semester of classes and then an internship. Right now I don't have any real
- mom-101
- December 2, 2015
Hard Bounces

I am almost done the first semester of my Masters. I am overwhelmed and exhausted, even though I have completed all the readings and assignments due in the
- mom-101
- November 16, 2015
The Apple and The Tree

One of the reasons I was scared to become a mother was my lifetime of dealing with depression. It started out as school anxiety when I was in elementary school
- mom-101
- October 19, 2015
The Best Bronchitis I Ever Had

I had a cold, and that cold turned into bad cough and eventually on Thanksgiving weekend that cough turned into a pretty constant struggle for breath
- mom-101
- October 19, 2015
Infuriating Child

I did some good parenting yesterday. It was really hard and I almost gave up and gave in. It was made harder by the fact that I've been feeling like a really sh
- mom-101
- October 5, 2015
When October Goes

It's October now. That means the election just two more weeks away, and after that I'll have fall reading week, which will be a great time to revive myself from
- mom-101
- September 28, 2015
And So It Goes

I'm working 50 plus hours a week. I have 12 hours of classes. I've got readings to do, and assignments. I've got to move from place to place, eat occasionally.
- mom-101
- September 28, 2015
Tonight, So Bright

Tonight I left my class and I didn't go to work. Instead I went and met my mom and my little girl and had dinner and a conversation.
- mom-101
- September 9, 2015
Firsts

When I decided to go back to school, and again when I decided to work and do school at the same time, I knew I was going to be making tough choices.
- mom-101
- August 24, 2015
Gone Again

We buried my Dad today. The wooden box chosen as an urn looked very small. Smaller, even, than the last time I saw it. And we left him there with his parents an
- mom-101
- August 24, 2015
Dear Jack

It's been four years now and I remember almost every second of that day - from dropping my Blackberry when I saw the news, crying on my husband's shoulder to he
- mom-101
- August 24, 2015
Because I Care

It has been a struggle in this house for the past couple of weeks. The summer has really messed with the kid and she's been having a lot of trouble going
- mom-101
- August 13, 2015
Too Tired Too Much

I'm sitting here listening to my daughter cry. She's in her room, in bed, throwing a wild tantrum because apparently she's not tired. And also she's still hungr
- mom-101
- August 4, 2015
On the Road Again

We are on our way home from the family reunion. As we live in the eastern and central part of the province and the family reunion is in the western and northern
- mom-101
- July 22, 2015
Feminist Harping, Apparently

There was a discussion in one of my Facebook groups today that I didn't want to get involved in. There's something about community Facebook groups that just
- mom-101
- July 20, 2015
Just the Two of Us

I was taking a walk down a local path the other day, getting some exercise in before it was time to pick the kid up from the rec centre I was walking around. I
- mom-101
- July 16, 2015
Fog Lifting

I seem to be coming out of the other side of something. For weeks I was having trouble sleeping, I was easily overwhelmed. I was really freaking irritable.
- mom-101
- July 13, 2015
Enough.

Sometimes I want the kid to have everything in the world she could ever want. I want through a store and I see something I know she would love and I battle with
- mom-101
- July 8, 2015
Movies in My Mind

I was worried when my father died that I wouldn't have any real memories of him. I was too young when my parents separated to ever remember living with him, and
- mom-101
- June 29, 2015
The Blink

On my way to my Dad's house last week I drove past my high school. As I was passing it occurred to me that it was June 25, 2015. I graduated from that school on
- mom-101
- June 22, 2015
Dear Virus,

Dear viral conjunctivitis, I just wanted to say that I never new you existed until this week. I mean, I had heard of and experienced your cousin
- mom-101
- June 22, 2015
Stop the World, I Want to Get Off

I need everything to just stop for like an hour, maybe? I'm tired and I'd like a second to just think about all of the things that have been happening over
- mom-101
- June 22, 2015
Dear People of Ontario:

I have heard reports from multiple teacher friends now that they have been on the receiving end of abuse from parents and I am now really, really angry.
- mom-101
- June 22, 2015
In the Pink

This kid has been very healthy her whole life. I think I can count the number of times she's thrown up on one hand.
- mom-101
- June 15, 2015
Summer of Awesome 2015

It's been a rough year, we've all been busy. The kid has had a great time in kindergarten but I think she's glad to be done.
- mom-101
- June 10, 2015
Half Way

Dear Dad, Today I graduated with my B.A. Honours degree. This means I'm now half way through the journey that started
- mom-101
- June 8, 2015
Building

I have tried to leave Ottawa four different times in my life, and the longest I managed to stay away was two years
- mom-101
- June 8, 2015
Convocating

On Tuesday I will attend my convocation and become officially a B.A. (Honours) instead of just a plain old B.A.
- mom-101
- June 8, 2015
Ear to Ear

It's been about a month since my father died. The house has been cleaned out and is up for sale, my basement is full of his academic papers
- mom-101
- June 1, 2015
The Right Time

I was going through my feed reader and I came across this question on Dr. Yoni Freedhoff's blog Weighty Matters: "Looking at your life - time, stress, health,
- mom-101
- May 28, 2015
People Who Beed People

I am a big fan of Rupaul's Drag Race. I have been a big fan since the first season and I have watched all the seasons (including all episodes of the current
- mom-101
- May 25, 2015
365 Days

I tweeted earlier today that I wish it was a year from now. A year from now all of the work left over by my dad's death
- mom-101
- May 11, 2015
A Farewell

Saturday was my father's funeral and I decided, while we were organizing, that I wanted to speak.
- mom-101
- May 11, 2015
Name Game

As we've been cleaning out my father's house and dealing with his affairs we've noticed something that I always knew – he had a name problem.
- mom-101
- May 8, 2015
Get Your Brae On

Sometimes I think that I was given the child I ended up with through whatever greater power – as an aside, she once informed us that she chose us
- mom-101
- May 4, 2015
Crazy Little Thing

I don't remember when it started that I would get these ideas in my head that I just can't let go of, no matter how little sense they make.
- mom-101
- May 4, 2015
A Rose

Since before she was born we had plans to call the kid by her shortened middle name. That's always who she was going to be, and it fit her completely.
- mom-101
- April 27, 2015
No Way, Joe Oliver

I watched a bit of the budget yesterday, I followed some of the coverage, I tweeted about some of the issues
- mom-101
- April 20, 2015
Wishing

Joe's birthday was last week, but it fell on the same day as my last exam and I've been sort of crazy for the past two weeks
- mom-101
- April 19, 2015
This Is the End

In 2004 I started my undergrad at Carleton. In 2007 I opted to do a three year general degree instead of an honours degree and graduated assuming that I would n
- home
- April 13, 2015
Before I Kick the Bucket

Here are 10 things on my bucket list that might help you come up with ideas for your own list of things to do before you die.
- mom-101
- March 19, 2015
BFFs

Last week the kid announced to me that she had two BFFs. When I asked her what BFF meant she knew and she told me so.
- mom-101
- March 9, 2015
The Scramble

It happens in the blink of an eye. Four simple words: "I don't feel good," and your entire day is lost to the ether. I have class this afternoon
- mom-101
- February 25, 2015
Because I’m Happy

There is a young guy in one of my classes that has been driving me crazy. He's in my TA group and he talks a lot. It's not just that he talks so much that bothers me, it's not that he cracks stupid jokes or that he repeats himself.
- mom-101
- February 23, 2015
My Body, Myself

I don't usually go into someone else's house and strip down, but that's what I spent my morning doing. Today was my photo session with Sara. I came home totally exhausted.
- mom-101
- February 17, 2015
Ennui

It's been a week. I was sick then Joe was sick. I feel out of it, tired, unmotivated. A friend had a bit of an emergency so I took on more work (and didn't go to class). I missed an event I was supposed to go to. I have been easily enraged.
- mom-101
- January 28, 2015
In Which I Think Too Much

The kid has started an intro to hockey class. She's gone twice so far and I've gone to watch her. Both times I've been excited for her and also ended up in tears. And been totally confused by why I was crying.
- mom-101
- January 21, 2015
They Say You Want A Resolution

I don't like resolutions. There's a whole long year out there and I don't know what's going to happen. Last January I could never have guessed where I would be at the end of the year – waiting for grades and heading into my second semester. But there are
- mom-101
- January 21, 2015
When She Was Five

There are so many specific things that I remember about that day five years ago when they finally checked me into the hospital and Joe and I knew that we wouldn't be leaving without a baby. There are so few specific things I remember about the last five y
- mom-101
- January 21, 2015
Get Your Brave on

We've put the kid into a lot of activities since she was a baby. At first she and I did them together – swimming and gymnastics. There have been classes she does with Daddy, like all sorts of sports, t-ball and soccer. She's carried on in some and some we
- mom-101
- January 21, 2015
He’s Here For You

I am a big fan of the CBC and an even bigger fan of their children's programming. I have been for a long, long time. My mother has told me that she opted to put me in afternoon kindergarten because it would have been too upsetting for me to miss Mr. Dress
- mom-101
- November 19, 2014
Something Good

Something nice happened in our neighbourhood today. I was sitting in my office, working away on an essay when I saw the lady who has been staying there – I don't know if it's his mother or hers – standing at the front window, watching outside.
- mom-101
- November 11, 2014
Remembrance Day: Lest We Forget…. –

Why we will teach our son to never forget, especially on Remembrance Day
- mom-101
- October 1, 2014
YouTubers

The kid has taken a shining to watching YouTube videos about blind bags and doll reviews, and basically anything else Gracie and Mommy offer. She used to have a lot more variety in her video watching
- mom-101
- September 24, 2014
Missing Out

Tonight I am in class. In fact I've been here since 8 am. Monday is the day that I'm on campus for 14 hours. It means that I get three of five classes out of the way in one day, which makes the rest of the week easier
- family-life
- August 20, 2014
Wild Little Buds Gets A New Look

Rounding up some of the cutest babies in Halifax (including my own), as well as an amazing photographer, I have fully redone the look of Wild Little Buds Shop on Etsy.
- mom-101
- May 12, 2014
Most Loved

Last year at Blissdom Sleep Country Canada was giving out gifts to attendees. I pick a snuggly teddy bear and Joe took the other gift, a neck pillow.
- mom-101
- March 31, 2014
Joyful Joyful

I have pink eye, which means I'm currently under quarantine in the bedroom, which means I've been spending time tidying the bedroom.
- mom-101
- March 30, 2014
Ear to Ear Smile

One of my absolutely favourite things about parenting this little girl is the look she gets on her face when I've succeeded in making her feel special.
- mom-101
- March 5, 2014
One Is the What Now?

I was reading O Magazine and there was a short section on Mariel Hemingway's ‘Things I Know For Sure.' Number two was about spending time alone – going to a movie, having something to eat out.
- mom-101
- March 2, 2014
That One Thing Each Day

Growing up I was not a fan of skating. It was hard and scary and my ankles and feet hurt. When I was about 10 I got a pair of moulded skates and it was an instant difference. Then my older sister switched from figure skates to hockey skates
- mom-101
- February 24, 2014
And Then She Was Four

The other night Joe was working late, I got the kid through bedtime and then went downstairs to get on my treadmill and watch Downton Abbey. After my hour was up I walked up to the kitchen and kept listening to my headphones while I cleaned up.
- mom-101
- February 24, 2014
Games OVer

The Olympics are over again. The kid was disappointed to hear it as bedtime tonight, but then she realized that meant that Kids CBC will be back tomorrow morning and cheered right up.
- mom-101
- February 11, 2014
Vocab

I'm a firm believer in teaching your children the proper names for things, particularly their body parts, so that they can tell you when someone has touched them inappropriately.
- mom-101
- February 5, 2014
Road Worthy

When I moved to St. Paul, Alberta I was 22 and I drove my mother's Hyundai across the country. It was the only Japanese car in the town, and just about the only sedan. Trucks were everywhere
- mom-101
- December 9, 2013
To Sleep…

There is one very clear thing my daughter and I have in common – she inherited my terrible sleeping patterns.
- mom-101
- December 8, 2013
Badge of Honour

There is a hill outside the kid's school that she likes to play on at the end of the day. I always let her have a little while before I get her back in the car to go home, as long as the weather is in our favour
- mom-101
- December 2, 2013
Another First

Some days this kid does things I never imagined my kid doing. Like, for example, she decided to go ahead and hit another kid while they were playing after school.
- mom-101
- November 21, 2013
Come on Four!

All my life I have heard the world talking about the terrible twos. It was this great fable that carried through all generations and walks of life
- mom-101
- November 19, 2013
In Practice

That night she was talking to Grandma and saying again that she wanted to be a big sister. “Well, you know you'd have to share your mommy and daddy?” “No I wouldn't!”
- mom-101
- November 18, 2013
The Santa Conundrum

Joe wrote about our Santa thinking on his blog and he's gotten lots of feedback, good and bad. It's something we've been discussing I think since before kid even came into being.
- mom-101
- November 11, 2013
I Remember

Last summer my great uncle passed away. He was in his 90s, the middle brother in my grandfather's family. The youngest brother died over a decade ago
- mom-101
- October 30, 2013
Who I Am

My former director has written a book. I pre-ordered it as soon as I could and have been reading it. I haven't even gotten to the time period where I was there working for him
- mom-101
- October 27, 2013
Her Own Space

When we moved into this house I let the kid help me pick out the paint colour for her room, but that was about it in terms of decorating her room
- mom-101
- October 23, 2013
Definitely Not

Lately the kid has been all about the definitives.
- mom-101
- October 2, 2013
First Blood

She was playing and then there was wailing. Just like that a milestone, something for the baby book: her first bloody knee.
- mom-101
- September 21, 2013
All’s Well

Transitioning from home to school
- mom-101
- September 19, 2013
A Very Bad Thing

I can't stop going back to that one moment
- mom-101
- September 15, 2013
Here we go

The kids starts preschool
- mom-101
- September 11, 2013
Three Generations, One Roof

Being thankful for grandparents
- mom-101
- September 2, 2013
Looking Up

A kid interested in space
- mom-101
- September 2, 2013
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

"The sun always shines on me"
- mom-101
- August 27, 2013
Having Kids Means You Never Get Comfortable

Ever more
- mom-101
- August 26, 2013
Wax On, Wax Off

I assumed that I would have a child that would love crayons
- mom-101
- August 15, 2013
Grown Up Person

Do you still feel 18? Can't believe your a mom?
- mom-101
- August 12, 2013
Skinny

The word skinny comes with a lot of weight (no pun intended)
- mom-101
- August 7, 2013
A Moment in Time

9 times out of 10 this kid is a superstar
- mom-101
- July 28, 2013
Not so super duper

I regretted reading this book
- mom-101
- July 26, 2013
I Had A Dream

What will she be when she grows up?
- mom-101
- July 15, 2013
Friends With Kids

Interacting with other people's kids
- mom-101
- July 9, 2013
Summer of awesome?

It's all fun and games until we have to leave...
- mom-101
- July 8, 2013
Apron Strings

Cooking and baking with your child
- mom-101
- July 8, 2013
Handy Dandy

Quilting, kitting, sewing...do you do it?