Holistic Mommy

Life in the city. I'm sure I've complained about it before but it's still such an adjustment for me. People talk about the rain (we live in a rainy city) as though it's toxic and children spend so much time indoors it makes me feel sick. But, like any life challenge, you can either cry a river over it or you can do some creative problem solving, a little goal-setting...and get the f*** out :) The empty, cold, rainy parks were getting way too boring for me once the summer went away so here is what we've come up with to get our butts outside everyday: Check out the local dog parks -- Cool pet owners, great conversation, dogs dogs everywhere dogs (we love dogs!), and Very Attractive Men. Visit the duck pond -- We go 2-3 days per week. A nice stroll around the duck pond located in the middle of the city sends her into another world of excitement. As a bonus, I get to hear, "ducks! ducks! ducks! ducks!" all the way home. Nature walk - actually we haven't go...

I've never had a doubt in my mind that I'd be a stay-at-home mom with lots and lots of kids (four to be exact). However, at some point on my journey through life, I became a single mamma -- and it's been really, really crappy. But, with a little creativity, a lot of stress, and a few doses of extreme poverty, I have still managed to balance work, school and being a stay-at-home mom to my now two year old. Where I originally thought providing childcare from home was the obvious solution, I was wrong. It was isolating, my house was always messy, and let's face it -- childcare pays pennies. Not only was I too educated to be sleeping on an air mattress, but I had also turned into Angry Mamma and my days had become so stressful that I was going to soon end up as a headline in the news... The moment I realized this, I had decided on a new career, met with a top notch school, and gave my family notice -- all within a 48 hour period. I am happy to say that I am now in my second...

Are North Americans really this uptight? I came across this article and got a good chuckle -- then I realized these people were serious. It’s an article on a breastfeeding doll – a controversial breastfeeding doll (as anything to do with breastfeeding would be). Here is what some of the less-educated members of our society had to say about it: “the idea of breast-feeding is too grown-up for young children -- and may even promote early pregnancy”; This doll may “speed up maternal urges in the little girls who play it”; It is “like introducing sex education in first grade instead of seventh or eighth grade.” And (my favorite), “it could inadvertently lead little girls to become traumatized . You never know the effects this could have until she’s older”. Traumatized? I’ ve had some ridiculous warnings throughout my two year parenting gig and I just have to wonder, where do people come up with these thoughts? We’re talking some serious imagination here; do these people realize they just b...

My brain is like jello. I walk around feeling like a big pile of mush. A chapter of my life is coming to a close and a new one is about to begin. I am saying goodbye to childcare and jumping right in to an exciting and 'as far from childcare as you can possibly get' career -- Graphics Design. This will allow me to become the best mommy I can possibly be and perhaps one day give me the energy to work with kids again. Here's some pictures from the wickedly, amazing summer she's been having; Checking out the "bahk" (bikes) and "wawa" (water) with Grammy Grammy's initiation night. The girl can dance -- all night long . She's the little one busting out the, 'I'm a little teapot' move. And when she gets tired from ...

How about a little toddler art to feast your eyes on: 16 MONTHS 20 MONTHS (love the hand print!) 21 MONTHS

Just a piece of mail I recieved today... "Congratulations! The Admissions Committee is very pleased to offer you admission to The Art Institute of Vancouver. (Blah, blah, blah) ...We look forward to welcoming you to The Art Institue of Vancouver. Again, congratulations!" Ahhh :) Good news after an extra chaotic, poopy week. I think I she's eating a crayon. Gotta run!

Don't tell her yet but I bought her some new toys today. I came across a garage sale on the way to the grocery store and it was loaded, I mean LOADED with kids stuff. I happen to be purging all her outgrown toys and replacing them with stuff she's really into right now so this was such a happy coincidence! For $30 I scored oodles of never ending goodness... I found a new horsie for her collection. She loves horses because her Daddy takes her to see real ones on the weekends. She feeds her toy horses pine cones and oats and then sits on them -- even the one that is 5 inches tall. Yup, she positions herself directly over the little plastic pony and then squats down onto it; I am impressed by her leg strength. The other day she sat on one of her large stuffed horses and began bouncing up and down, pretending to ride it. I don't know who taught her this but it was pretty hilarious to watch. I bought her two Tonka trucks, a digger and a bulldozer. There's some construction g...