Paperback Writer - Sharing My Writing On Other Sites

It's that time where I get to share some of the work that I've completed over the past month.  I am lucky enough that I get to research some fun topics and learn something new almost every day (even if sometimes it's just celebrity gossip).   In the coming months I'm excited to share some amazing articles on health and fantastically fierce Canadian women, at Future Female, but more on that next month.

Today for my full-time job I write and ghostwrite articles for online publications, organizations and blogs, in addition to providing public relations services.  While I can't really share my ghostwritten articles on this platform, cause then I wouldn't really be a ghostwriter would I, I can share some of the other stuff I have been working on.

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 and reading on!  If you have any ideas for a story, a playground review, or article on any front, feel free to shout it out!  I'm always looking for new sources of inspiration!

Image Courtesy of Pinterest

24 Wedding Photos That These Celebs Wish They Could Erase From The Internet

Image Courtesy of Pinterest

8 Pregnancy Products That Are Banned For Good Reason (And 5 That Are Next)

Image Courtesy of The Richest

15 Celebs Who Got Better Wrap Presents Than They Did a Paycheck 

13 Dads Reveal What They Do When Their Wife Is Home With The Kids

15 Celeb Dads Who Pretend to Be Rich

A Wrinkle in Time - Movie Review

The kids were both really excited to see A Wrinkle In Time.  I must admit, despite being a child of the 1980's I had never read the book.  After seeing mixed reviews online I was a little skeptical, but the kids were interested, so we decided to make it our March Break Matinee film.

Image Courtesy of The Verge

What's in it for the Kids?
This is not a movie for little kids.  If your kid scares easily, or has trouble focusing on live action compared to cartoon, wait to watch this until they're 7-9.  It was almost a mash-up or nod to a bunch of films I grew up with, and with Molly and Jack's recent interest in films like Never-ending Story, the timing of this movie couldn't of been better for them.


What's in it for the Adults?
Visually this movie is stunning.  The costumes and background are bound to give you some wanderlust and a sense of enchantment and wonder. Performances by favourites like Reese Witherspoon, Oprah, Mindy Kaling, and Zach Galifianakis won't disappoint.  Just remember to keep in mind this movie is for kids, not you, and that it was Disneyfied for children, and you'll be okay.  While Storm Reid was fantastic playing the conflicted Meg, my prediction for career potential goes to Levi Miller (Calvin) who has an amazing presence, despite his smaller role, that was somewhat reminiscent of a young River Phoenix.


Best Parts of the Movie
This movie ambitiously takes on a lot.  It touches on everything from being yourself to bullying to self worth to family dynamics.  Some of the lessons are more subtle, whereas others hit you over the head, but the kids didn't seem to notice.  Jack's favourite parts of the movie were discussions around "the it" (darkness) vs. positive energy and the light.  Molly loved Meg, as a female warrior, as well as Ms. Which (Oprah).  We've been working a lot with Molly on body positivity - I can't get over how young things like body image and fat shaming come into play for little kids.  Molly falling in love Ms. Which because, according to Molly - she is the oldest, biggest, strongest, and most powerful, felt like a win to me. Recently we've noticed the strong influence that pop culture and the the world of twig thin female heroines has had on her definition of beauty, health and strength- bravo to this film which literally calls out the question, "Is there such thing as the wrong size?"

Image Courtesy of YouTube

Worst Parts of the Movie
This film had no cruise control and an uneven pace.  The story building was slow, then audiences were taken warp speed into the story, and then spit back out again at the end.  There were plot holes, but I could forgive them, because the kids loved this movie. I have never read the book, so I have no point of reference, but this movie seemed a bit like a Frankenstein of other successful films as it pieced together a non linear story in a way children could understand with inspiration from films like The Labyrinth, Never-ending Story, and Return to Oz.

Overall Rating
I would rate this movie 3/5, it wasn't nearly as bad as the critics are making it out to be, and the kids really liked it.  Brimming with positive messages about making change and being your own hero and warrior, as well as embracing your faults, give it a shot, just maybe not in theatres.

To read my review of Captain Underpants click here

To read my review of Boss Baby click here

To read my review of the Lego Batman movie click here

I Learned From You - Parenting Lessons As A Volunteer For A School Trip

Last week I volunteered for an outdoor class trip with the kids.  One of the best things about being freelance is flexibility of time.  With a couple of late night writing shifts I was able to take on a day supervising a group of plucky six and seven year olds through outdoor nature adventures.  Here's what I learned.

10 Lessons I Learned While Supervising A School Trip

A real double rainbow I captured this past fall

1. Volunteer while they are young, but old enough to remember you put up your hand to help
Both minions were literally fighting over whose classroom I'd be volunteering for, the choice was ultimately up to the teachers, not the winner of an epic battle.  Just the same it felt great for them to really want me there and to proudly introduce me as their mom.

2. Be the parent with the extra pair of gloves, spare pair of pants, hat, tissues, & hand sanitizer
Someone is likely to need it, and it might even be your own kid.

3. Always make sure the porta potty door shuts and locks
Otherwise some random kid will whip open the door and you'll both be screaming as you struggle to shut the door, hypothetically speaking, of course!

4. You will get a wanderer in your groupOr a kid who doesn't want to wear their coat and gets cold, or insists on being first at everything. It may be your kid, it may be someone elses.  How you choose to deal with them is up to you.  I nagged my wanderer until they just submitted to volunteering to hold my hand (likely so they didn't have to listen to me nag them anymore).

5. Don't be afraid to improvise
The kids in my group had the most fun when they got to roll down a hill during our "free time" and play a bucket toss game where another parent and I suggested they toss their mittens when there were no beanbags available.

Kids can find so much fun in something as simple as being allowed to sit in a funky chair, seriously!

6. Pack a big lunch that can handle travel
The itinerary of our trip had the kids eating over an hour later than usual.  This meant they were ravenous by the time we could eat.  It also meant that Jack ate all of his lunch and part of mine and Molly's so it was good to have some extra.

7. Stay off your phone if you can
There were no rules for parents and cell phones, and I get that sometimes work is calling, but I was a little taken aback at how often some parents were checking out social media and then panicking when the "wanderer" of their group is hiding out.

8. Take only photos, leave only footprints
Set this example for the kids on respecting nature.

9. If your kid needs (or wants) something, don't be afraid to ask - the worst the teacher will say is no!
I didn't get to volunteer for Jack's class, but since he was also on the trip his teacher made sure he was able to sit with me at lunch, join my group for our last block of free time, and sit with me (and fall asleep in my lap) on the bus ride home.

10. Have Fun!
This time is fleeting..Enjoy the chaos...and how amazing your kids are.  Seeing my kids interact with other kids and how different they are from their classmates made me appreciate them even more.  Before we know it they'll be tweens and teens pushing towards independence.

To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today

Follow Multiple Momstrosity on Twitter @Sarabethbug

Love is The Truth - Honesty and Kids

One of the most magical things about having six year olds is that they believe truly anything is possible.  I wish I could bottle that kind of hope and positivity.  The minions let us share with them a world filled with Santa Claus, Narnia gateway wardrobes, and Totoros around every corner. It's wonderful.

This past weekend we hosted our annual card tournament while the minions had a sleepover at Nana and Papas. One of our guests, very thoughtfully, brought us a bouquet of red tulips.  We had a vase with some pink ones that were reaching their expiry date, so I changed the water, swapped out the flowers, and commented that Molly would think the flowers had turned red.  Chris disagreed.  Sure enough, upon their arrival home Molly burst into the kitchen marvelling at how these tulips had turned from pink to red. Why wouldn't she?  Earlier the same week she had seen our floppy flowers regain their spring thanks to some fresh water and careful snips to the stems? We told her the truth about the flowers, and went on with our day, still enjoying the pretty flowers.

Our "magical" flowers

Enter the truth, and answering difficult questions. My kids have started to ask some pretty big questions, and as hard as it is to answer some of them we try our best to provide honestly and candour at a level they'll understand.  Where do babies come from? Why do some people get cancer? What's a pervert (a question inspired by Home Alone 2)? Why was I hyper breathing when I was born? Why do some people survive heart attacks and others don't?   We only answer what they ask, and fully admit when we don't have an answer.  All the same we seek truth and honesty, even when it's awkward and difficult.

Last week a friend took their own life, and up until now, for the minions, death has always been something for the elderly or visibly sick.  We took some time to talk about depression, and how you can be sick in your own head, and how this pain can be just as deadly as cancer. They asked some good questions and then moved on.  I'm sure they'll have more in the weeks and months to come.  And we'll answer them, one by one, as they ask them.

Molly and her belief in the tulips were a welcome reminder to me that believing in magic and seeing unbridled beauty isn't naive.  She asks some of the hardest questions I've ever had to answer and has a perspective like no one else.  I hope her appreciation for beauty and magic something she never loses, even though I know we'll face hard times together, it may just be the silver lining we all need when things get really tough.

To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today

Follow Multiple Momstrosity on Twitter @Sarabethbug

Things My Kids Say As Shared On Twitter

We spend a lot of time with the minions and I'm fortunate enough to record the things that they say and do so I can look back on it and laugh.  Some of it makes the blog and other smaller moments don't.  One of the brilliant things about Twitter is how it's the ultimate parenting "elevator speech", because you have to keep it short. Below are recent Tweets, conversations, parental musings and things that the minions have done or said over the past month, for your reading pleasure that haven't made it to the blog.

Image Courtesy of Giphy

1. J (in a panic): Mom, I don't know how I got this giant cut on my arm. Me (inspecting): That's just ketchup. J (licks arm): Well, that's a relief #parenting #smh #KidLife #unfiltered

2. Dad: Can you get me my cup from the music room? M: You mean the fart room? Dad: I mean the room with all my records and my record player. M: I call it the fart room, cause that's where I go to fart #smh #parenting

3. J: I hope I have this cold forever because I've really been able to focus on my #Venom impression #parenting #smh #FacePalm

4. M: I liked picking up J from his classroom.  I felt just like his mom, you know cause I was holding all of his stuff #parenting #roles #lifegoals

Image Courtesy of Giphy

5. J: Let's take off our shirts, hug each other and pretend to be #Rambo #movietwit #parenting #films #ThingsKidsSay

6. Two polar opposite reactions to a dead goldfish.  M: lots of crying.  J (trying to cheer her up): Maybe he was taken over by Venom and the other fish had to kill him so he wouldn't destroy their world. #parenting #pets #fish

Big Fat Zombie Goldfish is a current Fav book of Jack's Image Courtesy of YouTube

7. M: If mom died dad would have to drive us so many places. Me: Is that all u think I do? I help u with ur homework, pack lunches, organize your activities, gifts 4 friends, appointments Dad: Yeah I'd have to set aside maybe half an hour a day #facepalm #Motherhood #MyLife

8. J: When I grow up, I'm going to live here. I'm going to live here forever. So you better get a third pillow so I can sleep between you and daddy. #parenting (just wait till he's a teen and now I have a record) #smh

9. Somewhere during today's Q&A about the birds and the bees my honesty led both children to assume their father can make random inanimate objects multiply "like when Gremlins get wet" at his whim, whenever he uses his "special seed" #SMH #parenting #facepalm


To read more blogs featuring the wacky things my kids say as featured on twitter, follow me @Sarabethbug & click here, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, &here.