Tag Archives: Family

Late night wisdom

KidsTexting

The Husband and I are huge fans of observational comedian Louis C.K.. We have to make sure the kids are well and truly asleep (due to the profanity) but we often end an evening in tears after watching a few side-splitting moments of his stand-up.

He is a divorced dad of two young daughters and I find his parenting humour can be a pressure release valve after a hard week. This old bit about playing hide and seek with a toddler once actually made me pee my pants. (Don’t watch with kids in earshot – bad word alert!)

Early in his career he was hired as a writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and a couple of weeks ago he made an appearance on Conan to chat with his old boss. As usual, Louis is spot on with his humour, and he was discussing an issue that is starting to rear its head in our home. Continue reading

More than physical therapy

I'm bringing sexy back!

I’m bringing sexy back!

I had a physiotherapy appointment this morning. My sprained ankle from the beginning of August continues to be sprained. Everything is still swollen and is somehow both too loose and too tight at the same time.

The major issue is that I continue to injure it on a daily basis. I’ll take a step and my foot lands a little off kilter, or I’ll pivot and my foot stays in place. A couple of weeks ago, the doctor told me to “stay off it”‘ but then we both had a good laugh knowing that wasn’t going to happen.

Considering I have full insurance coverage, and I can see the physio clinic down the street from my front porch, there is no excuse for me not going for treatment before today. I just kept forgetting to make an appointment.

This clinic happens to be owned by someone I met through my work with ALS. Her best friend and business partner was a patient and they always came to the clinic appointments together. Today she was my physiotherapist. Continue reading

Funny things my kids say #10

1-year-old ET asleep in the living room. I wonder what he was dreaming about then.

1-year-old ET asleep in the living room. I wonder what he was dreaming about then.

As usual this morning, The Husband was up very early, well before the rest of us, getting himself ready for his bike to work.

He was in the kitchen when he heard ET shout out, “Mommy… mumble, mumble, mumble… hangnail!”

He raced upstairs to quiet him down, saying, “Shhhh… It’s too early, Mommy and CJ are still sleeping.”

Still more than half-asleep himself, the 6-year-old muttered back,

“Sorry… that was supposed to be in my dream.”

Previous: Funny things my kids say #9

I’m a hockey mom!

6 year-old ET, waiting for a pass

6 year-old ET, waiting for a pass

I spent half of today at the rink.

I’m not complaining (mainly because The Husband usually shoulders most of the duty) but, once hockey season starts, our weekends are dictated by practice times and game schedules.

When the boys were babies and toddlers, I joked that they were only allowed to get involved in activities to which they could find their own way. I really didn’t want to be one of those moms, driving a minivan with a “Mom’s taxi” bumper sticker.

Well, it’s not a minivan and there’s no bumper sticker, but between soccer, swimming, Beavers, and now hockey it sure feels like a taxi. Continue reading

Parenting awards

Photograph: Gary Hershorn/Reuters

Photograph: Gary Hershorn/Reuters

Why aren’t there parenting achievement awards for extraordinary performances, just as there are in the entertainment business?

I’m not throwing this question out there because I think I should be getting a nomination. If I put aside my humility for a moment, I can admit that I’m a darn good mom, but I also have to admit that I’m not anything special. I know a legion of great parents.

I’m talking about an award for those amazing parents I sometimes stumble across during my travels in The Interweb. The people who are superhero parents in some seriously difficult situations.

Today, I need to share one of these parents with you. Continue reading

Awwww… you guys!

If you are not overly familiar with blogging, you might not understand the sense of community that can develop. I have been very fortunate to find some amazing writers to follow and, in turn, some amazing writers have followed me.

Over the past few months, I’ve been honoured with some kudos but it has taken me a while to feel confident enough in my blog to have the audacity to formally accept them. I don’t need to receive awards (I’m just happy you are reading) but it sure does feel nice!

Please take the time to click on the links of those who have passed on the awards. Each and every one of them is worth it!

(I’ve also set this post up to be one of my permanent pages so that their links will always be readily available.)

The Amazing World of Science – Tilly writes incredible articles that are easy to understand and are always interesting. She appeals to my inner wondering child and my grown-up scientist reality. Thanks for the Shine On award, Tilly.

shineon1

Whimsical Eclecticist – EJ is inspired by whimsy and eclecticism (hence the name). And he’s Australian… does it get any better than that? He often makes me laugh and always makes me think. Over that past few months, EJ has awarded me The Versatile Blogger award and the WordPress Family award. I’m overwhelmed!

versatilebloggeraward      wordpressfamilyaward

the mmmmm family –  Michaela is a  mother to three children aged 5 and under. She is the caregiver to her husband who is relearning to walk after traumatic spinal surgery. As if that wasn’t enough, she is also profoundly deaf. Michaela always makes me smile with her unending positivity that is firmly grounded in reality. She has passed FOUR awards my way;  wow, I’m speechless.

wordpressfamilyaward     semperfid-award     reader-app-award  liebster-award

Thanks guys! I feel very proud to have you all in my corner… now I feel all warm and fuzzy.

(A couple of these awards come along with some personal questions, etc. I’m saving those for a future post.)

Funny things my kids say #9

We use a lot of Crazy Glue!

We use a lot of Crazy Glue!

One of ET’s first nicknames was Destructor (said in a super-hero voice). When he could talk well enough to say, “Stop calling me that!” we did… to his face.

This weekend, ET was sent inside by his big brother to report the latest breakage (just a pair of nail clippers they were using to cut pipe-cleaners).

On his way back out, just before the door slammed shut, I heard the 8-year-old ask,

“Did she say ‘Okay’ or ‘Uuugghh*’?”

*huge sigh of disgust

I guess predictable isn’t the worst thing I could be.

Previous: Funny things my kids say #8

He did it… he finally broke me

Torture in the Pit of Despair - The Princess Bride (1987)

Torture in the Pit of Despair – The Princess Bride (1987)

ET is going through a whiny phase. This has been ongoing for sometime but the long school days have made him tired and the whining has increased. At times it is like a dentist drill boring through my brain. This evening is one of those times.

I feel like running outside and screaming at the top of my lungs, but I’ve decided that just writing my way through it is probably the saner option. Continue reading

Funny things my kids say #8

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Back in July, I wrote about having “the talk” with CJ. As I wrote in that post we have always used the proper names for the various body parts.

Thank goodness we have. If not, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of hearing this explanation from the 6-year-old when I found pee on the bathroom floor (yet again).

“I couldn’t help it! My penis skin was stuck to my testpickle!”

Previous: Funny things my kids say #7

Buried treasure

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My personal philosophy is that we should just relax and chill out on the last long weekend of summer, but I’m willing to admit that the house does look better after a giant sort and toss. So I’m not too bothered by the forced labour on Labour day (I’m not even doing my fair share) but The Husband’s process is driving me batty. Continue reading