I did not survive breast cancer so that I could become a victim to road rage… There are far too many incidents and too many shared stories about reckless drivers disobeying the rules of the road. The rules are basic. Adhere to the speed limit. Obey stop lights. Come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Check your…
Parenting
The challenges and joys of parenting a child; and how having and surviving cancer impacted my own journey as a mother.
Oh yes, here we are, in the very early stages of the Foolhardy Fives. As Bette Davis famously warned ‘Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night [ride]’. She wasn’t kidding. She must have been a mother to a 5 year old… Let me begin by expressing to all that I am no expert on child psychology or…
I remember distinctly my son’s first day of junior kindergarten (JK) – his nervousness; the tenderness we all three [as a family] felt; and the tears that streamed down his chubby little cheeks as we bid him good-bye and good-luck on his first day of JK. I remember how empty and lost I felt as my husband and I walked…
I would like to think that these past few weeks have been wonderful – and for some of the time they have been – but sadly they have brought about their own set of frustration, concern, and disappointment. As a parent, you never want to see your child hurting or struggling, and that is what we have bore witness to;…
Of late I have felt restless. Restless in my marriage, restless in parenting, restless in my everyday life. Just restless. I cannot calm my mind and I cannot calm my body. At times I feel as though I am suppressing something. Then I realize that something is me. There are so many conditions that surround marriage and parenting. With…
Looking back and reading through my posts, I realize that I have written quite a lot about the trials of parenting a young child through the various stages: the Thunderous Threes, The Tempestuous Threes, My Little Epiphany, The Art of Saying No; and though I have also written a few posts that reflect upon the joy and beauty that comes…
I sat down today with the full intention of writing something prolific. I was sure that my words could inspire, enlighten, and resonate with my audience. I was excited to share, but as I began to write I swiftly realized that my thoughts remain fractured, and fraught with frustration and angst. I am completely exhausted from the demands of these…
The Art of Saying No…not so lovingly brought to you with screams, tears, and tantrums from my [almost] 4 year old son. Ugh. I thought cancer was tough. And it is. Cancer is incredibly hard on the body, the mind, and the spirit. It changes you both physically and emotionally. It alters your physique, it renders you vulnerable, and…
Today marked Liam’s final day at Purple Tree Child Care. I remember vividly the first day he attended the pre-school; how little he was and how vulnerable we both felt. I still feel the ghostly remnants of the tears, the apprehension, the worry, and the loneliness of that day. It was a difficult and emotional moment of letting go for…
Today is Mother’s Day. Traditionally a day when we celebrate all those amazing moms, including our own mom, our sisters, our friends, or any woman who enriches, nurtures, and positively impacts the lives of our little ones. It is a day to honour a mother’s courage, sacrifice, encouragement, compassion, and strength; and it is a day to recognize the selflessness…