Popular Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Top Gifts as Chosen By Moms

Flowers or flowering plants were near the top of the list, as were homemade gifts (remember the macaroni covered dish soap bottle that was spray painted and intended for use as a flower vase, likely for the buttercups or dandelions you picked out of the yard? Turns out mom’s do really like that stuff when made with love by their child’s sweet little hands!). Also popular was jewelry (mom’s rings or pendants) and other personal items such as bath products and lotions. Gift certificates for a massage, manicure, pedicure, or facial also seemed to be popular choices. I know of one group of moms who spent a day away from their families on mother’s day having a girl’s day out together as their gift. And guys, take note, a gift or card from you to the mother of your children, even if you are no longer together, is usually much appreciated.

Perfect Mom Syndrome

Recently I invented a new syndrome (well, I don’t know if it is new, but I would like to claim it as mine as it is new to me!) PMS – Perfect Mom Syndrome. It occurs when a person feels the need to be the perfect mom.

Do You Know Someone With PMS?

I have met women with this syndrome. I have been friends with women with this syndrome. You have too I am sure. They are the ones who appear to have it all together. They are dynamos whose children are always looking clean and tidy, whose house is always show-home ready, whose vehicles don’t have food wrappers or empty coffee cups in them, who bring home baked treats to school every holiday season, and who always seem to still have time to look put together themselves.

Easy Easter Dinner Side Dishes

Taking the Dis out of Disability

Imagine the birth of your baby. You anticipated the baby’s arrival and dreamt about how life will be when he or she is born. You love your baby with all your heart, even before birth. Now, imagine your baby is born with a disability. Imagine further the doctor or nurse wanting to take your baby from you and send him away before you even hold him. Sound unbelievable? Not so long ago, if someone was born with a disability, the family was encouraged to send them away.  It was viewed that disabilities were something to be ashamed of and families couldn’t possibly be equipped to care for someone with a physical or cognitive disability. So, our society built special homes and schools and locked people away in institutions.

What To Expect In The First Week of Life With a New Baby

The first weeks at home with your baby are filled with changes. While you adjust to being a mom, your baby is adjusting to life out in the world. You may feel extreme happiness and possibly tremendous fear! Having someone depend on you for absolutely everything can be quite overwhelming. Do not try to do too much and take help when it is offered!

How much freedom and responsibility do you give your child?

Some moms couldn't believe that I wasn't on the phone myself, fussing over arrangements for my son. I'm sure some people would think I was bordering on neglectful. I wondered if I was being a bad mom?

The holiday season is upon us. Whether you celebrate a Christian Christmas, a more multi-cultural Christmas, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or even New Years, the odds are pretty good that there will be some partying going on in your life this time of year.

I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite holiday recipes with you, in case you are called upon to host or contribute to a holiday party. These recipes are quick, easy, and delicious – great for busy moms during the holidays – or any time for that matter!

I had the great pleasure of watching a new documentary today called "Conceiving Family". The film chronicled four couples through their journey to build their family. All four couples spoke of their desire to be parents and the love they want to share with a child. They spoke of the options they considered -- including surrogacy and donor insemination -- and how they came to their decisions to adopt -- domestic, overseas, special needs, private and public. They share their anxiety, frustrations, challenges and finally their joy of realizing they would be parents.

There is a lot of talk about bullying these days -- and thank goodness there is! I have been heading up our local Pink T-Shirt Day campaign (www.pinktshirtday.ca) for the past several years in an effort to get people talking about bullying and to teach kids skills for helping to deal with things when they encounter bullying. I will be sure to talk about some of these skills in other posts as they are so very important.

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