Sweet Surrender

My parents spoiled us, and in some ways they still do.  I don't mean this in the way that we were brats, although sometimes we totally were, what I mean is that even though there are three of us and attention was sometimes hard to come by they always found little ways to indulge us.  Those moments always meant so much to me personally, heck they still do.

This is why I'm trying to take the same approach to parenting as my mom and dad did.  Knowing when to bend the rules just a little in a way that will be meaningful to the minions.

When I was 12 years old I discovered a TV show that I fell in love with.  Unfortunately for me, it aired at 10PM every Monday night, half an hour after my weekday bedtime.  The show was Northern Exposure, and my mom loved it just as much as I did.  Each Monday, for a couple of years, my bedtime was extended until 11PM sharp.  We'd sit together, me often with a warm cup of milk, and watch each week.  Sometimes my mom would braid my hair, or put it in curlers for me, and other times we'd just cuddle up on the couch while we escaped to the eccentricities of the folks from Cecily Alaska.  Those Mondays made me feel so grown-up, so special, that I still think of it often today.

In Daddy's Shoes

Whenever my mom was away my dad would order way too much Chinese food so we'd all have leftovers for lunches that would last for days.

Both of my siblings were very athletic, I was not. That being said, when I signed up for swim team in high school, my parents sat in the stands watching me compete.

Another thing that comes to mind is pie.  I don't like pie, specifically I don't like pie crust.  This shocks and offends a lot of people, I get it, but I don't care...I think it's gross.  Here's the thing about my mom: she made crust less pie just for me...I'd always get a small dessert dish with pumpkin pie, or lemon pie filling, and no disgusting crust.  This little indulgence always made me feel so completely and totally loved.

Now that Molly and Jack are a little bit older I've come to look to indulge them in meaningful treats, ust as my parents did.

I let Jack change into PJ's before dinner if he wants.  I'll blow bubbles at the minions while they're in the bath and let them pop them.  I give Molly old jewelry and shoes for dress-up, we wear costumes together.  Chris builds the kids forts.  We dance on the bed and listen to the song Tubthumping by Chumbawamba and tackle the kids any time the lyrics "I Get Knocked Down" play, several times a week.  I pick the minions off direct from school on the nights they have swimming and we walk home together hand in hand.  On Saturdays while Molly is at dance class Jack and I go for a walk and pick out donuts the two of them would like. These sweet moments together will always mean a lot to me....I wonder which of them will stick with them as they get older. I guess only time will tell!  It will probably be something we haven't even thought of!


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Old Records Never Die

One of the things that has served Chris and I well as parents is what excellent record keepers our mothers are.  Photo albums and notes revealed everything to us from when we said our first words, got those molars, or took those pivotal first steps.

Last week after our parent-teacher interviews, Chris and I both dove back into the records our mom's had so meticulously kept for us, to see if either of us had needed some work in developing our fine motor skills when we were in kindergarten.  We both did, just like the minions (but to varying degrees).  We also looked at our grade one report cards, which revealed what we had suspected, the requirements of children entering grade one today are a lot more lofty than they were in the 1980s.  It wasn't just our imagination.  It was reassuring during a time I was feeling a little defeated in terms of nothing seeming to come easy, but at least we're making progress.

As we begin to work with Jack and an Occupational Therapist to help him build his fine motor skills I have needed to refer to old healthy child screening lists, our speech therapy progress reports, and anything else that will help him be writing ready for grade one, which is just nine months away, yikes!

Jackie taking a bite out of learning

As parents there are so many things we acquire over the years that it can be hard to keep track.  Here are some things that we've found are well worth saving/recording. Even if they don't help your child now, they may help them when they have kids of their own.

Parental Administration (things you'll need to keep)

• Birth Certificate, Health Card, SIN Number
• Fingerprints and footprints
• Dates and info on first teeth, steps, words, first lost teeth
• Immunization records (my childhood immunization record helped me determine that one of my shots didn't work when I was a kid, and then I was able to get new shots before I tried to have kids)
• Report cards and progress reports for school and other extracurricular activities 
• Any speech therapy, well child assessment paperwork and progress reports for any type of assistance a child has received
• The names, phone numbers, and email addresses of anyone who has provided any kind of medical care, therapy, or learning programs for your children: these are the people can help you locate a misplaced progress report, or help you make sense of ongoing patterns and learning strategies etc. that will work for your child
• Some drawings and artwork (but not everything...some parents with less storage may want to take photos of art and keep digital files)

Thank you collective mom's for keeping such great records!!!

To read about our journey into speech therapy click here.

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Oxford Comma: What I've Been Writing Elsewhere (In case you missed it)

Once a month I will be posting some of my writing featured in other publications.  Take a look and see what tickles your fancy.

Nowadays as my full-time job I write and ghostwrite articles for online publications, organizations and blogs, in addition to providing public relations services.  It's also why I've been writing on the Multiple Momstrosity platform a bit less than I used to, unfortunately.  

But don't worry, the minions are still up to their usual antics, and I have plenty more to write about on that front.  Click on the links for the topics that interest you most, and if you enjoy what I wrote please share, like, and follow, and keep parenting on!  If you have any ideas for a story, playground review, or article on any front, feel free to share it with me!  I'm always looking for new sources of inspiration!

Parenting Writing

15 Things Couples Should Know About A Vasectomy

15 Long Term Post Pregnancy Body Changes That No One Talks About

25 Of The Most Beloved Names From Great Books

15 Important Relationship Lessons I Learned From My Kindergartener

15 Life Hacks For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave

25 Beautiful Baby Names Inspired By Autumn

Entertainment Writing

15 Celebs Who Played Siblings But Hooked Up In Real Life

15 Times TV Networks Pushed The Envelope Too Far

15 Things Fans Never Knew About Buffy The Vampire Slayer

15 Celeb Couples With The Biggest Age Gap

The 15 Most Iconic Pieces Of Hollywood Jewelry Ever Seen

Thank you again for reading, and for your continued support!


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Trolls: A Movie Review

This weekend we decided to take the minions to the movie to check out the new Dreamworks pics Trolls.  Here is a review from our, Molly ,and Jack's perspective.

Promo Shots for Trolls 

What's in it for the Kids?
This movie is a visual trip to the candy store, with bubble gum catchy songs and adorable little trolls. There's a whole lot of positivity, stick-to-it-iveness, and team first messaging (as no troll gets left behind) that both parent and kids can get behind.  The little kid themed humour and affection of trolls who hug every hour, (one troll poops cupcakes and another farts glitter) will keep the little ones giggling throughout.

What's in it for the Adults?
Many songs that you love to hear when you've had a few drinks at a holiday party or wedding are featured in this film ("I'm Coming Out", "Hello", "It's a Sunshine Day", and "Total Eclipse of the Heart").  Be warned, they are earworms and you'll be humming them the next day, but that's not a bad thing.  Voice talents of a lot of your favourite stars: Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Russell Brand, Zooey Deschanel, John Cleese (and heck, they even feature McLovin himself, Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the king of the dreaded Bergen).  There are a handful of double entendre jokes intended for parents in this slightly psychedelic feeling film, but overall the movie is mostly for the kids. Basically enjoy watching your young kids eat up this sprinkle-laden, sugar coated film, and get your groove on to the fun tunes.

Best Parts of the Movie
The songs are a definite highlight here.  Justin Timberlake's cover of Cyndi Lauper's True Colours is pretty and tugs at all of the right heart strings.  Literally every child in our movie-going group climbed up into a parent's lap during this song for a cuddle.  The visuals are great, particularly if you're okay with feeling as if you're trapped in a Katy Perry video for an hour and a half.  Jack loved the little worm troll (Mr. Dinkles) and giggled with glee, jumping up and down every time he was on the screen. He also lost his mind and was grinning ear to ear when The Bergen sang "Clint Eastwood" by The Gorillas, which is one of his all time favourite songs.  For most of the movie we shushed Jack encouraging him to quiet down, but he was so excited and happy about what was going on, we also just watched him in awe thrilled at how much he was enjoying himself.

Worst Parts of the Movie
There is nothing new to this plot, but that's okay.  Basically everyone is happy in Troll land for 20 years after they escape from the terrible Bergen who eat them once a year to obtain happiness. Everything is wonderful and sparkle-filled for all Trolls except for one gloomy hyper vigilant troll named Branch (voiced by Timberlake).  When the Trolls are discovered at their 20th anniversary celebration and many are captured, it's up to positive Princess Poppy (Kendrick) and cynic Branch to save the day.  Adventure ensues, and everyone learns about happiness. The film has been described by the harsher critics as a more bubblegum laden re-make of Shrek (although I'd personally say it's more like Shrek meets Frozen).  There have also been complaints it's a cash grab for selling toys since the holiday season that's coming, but seriously what kid's movie isn't marketing their characters? This movie isn't a classic, but both kids, Jack in particular, really enjoyed it.  I'd say it's the best for the under 8-10 crowd, but a fun movie the whole family can enjoy together.

Overall Rating
I would rate this movie 3.5/5.  It's watchable and rewatchable in the background for parents who will end up watching it again and again (like us if Jack has his way) by osmosis when it's released for purchase in a few months. November is a typically grey month, why not brighten it up with some sparkle laden, pastel fun!

To read about the minions journey into the world of Star Wars click here.

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Time Warp

I've always loved Halloween, it's like Christmas to both Chris and I.  Then I had kids.  At first I kinda ignored it, and I never really understood why my parents weren't super stoked to come on over here and take the kids Trick or Treating and enjoy the festivities, or why when I was a kid as soon as we were physically able to go out without adult supervision they left us to it.  They ask us to send them photos instead, and today I actually get it.

Halloween is great, but kids on Halloween are insane, sugar-bent, gimme monsters who are a breath away from a meltdown at any moment.  For all of the epically cute Halloween photos on social media, there are probably twice as many stories about the shenanigans the children pulled that very same evening, just ask anyone.  Most parents are pretty thankful that this occasion only comes just once a year.  Another parent told me yesterday how they have celebrated 12 Halloweens with children, and not one has been tear free.  Yesterday I heard "spooky" tales about kids who rejected costumes parents had painstakingly spent hours of time making (or a pretty penny purchasing).  No wonder we all eat our kid's Halloween candy.

Princess Leia 

Here are 13 Things that Happened this year on Halloween.

1. Molly broke her costume belt at school. (Chris fixed it with pliers) 
2. Molly insisted on wearing her white costume all day at school (even though she was instructed to take it off before lunch) and got stains all over it.
3. This meant that we had to launder her costume at 5PM, and were literally waiting for the dryer to buzz, so I could get her dressed, fix her hair and we could go out at a reasonable hour.
4. Jack was so excited to head out Trick or Treating we went to five houses before we realized he wasn't wearing shoes. 
5. Thank you reminders needed to be shouted out at practically every, single, house.
6. And we also needed to remind Jack that he shouldn't pick up pumpkins that didn't belong to him and swing them like shot puts. 
7. Half way through the festivities Jack started to loudly sing a song about Meatballs from Teen Titans, non-stop.  It wasn't the least bit annoying.  To hear the song click here.
8. Both kids actually picked comic books over candy (for the first time ever) at one house on our street.
9. We ran into a number of parents who had been tailgating Halloween (clearly we are doing this wrong).
10. There were tears over a lost baseball eraser that was given as a treat from the boy child. Chris went out and looked for it...and ended up replacing it at Dollarama yesterday at lunch, cause he's a sucker for little boy tears, apparently.
11. When we got home Molly insisted she'd never tasted a number of candies before and that she had to try them all, that night.
12. We were awaken at 3:30AM by a sugar induced nightmare and were joined by Molly in bed for the rest of the night.
13. There were tired tears in the morning from kids who had stayed up too late.

The kids can't wait until next Halloween...I'm pretty happy to wait until next October...

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