Category

Parenting

The challenges and joys of parenting a child; and how having and surviving cancer impacted my own journey as a mother.

The Small Act of Kindness

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

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…

Good-Bye Purple Tree

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…

Lessons From Liam

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…

I am Grateful

Life is fleeting. It can toss us down a chaotic path, hurtling us through our days and catapulting us through the weeks. We get caught up in this breakneck speed and forget to take a moment – a simple moment to breathe, to connect, and to just be; and we forget to be grateful for all the little things that…

My Little Epiphany

One…Two…Three…Four…Five… commence the outburst, the tears, and the yelling “No count Mommy!!!”… Here you have two very determined and head-strong personalities clashing in a battle of wills: Mommy vs. The 3yr Old. And though Mommy wins the round, she always feels like she has lost the match.   Sigh… Parenting is so hard. It is ridiculously hard. It’s tough to be…

I’ll Let Go … Just Not Yet

My heart is bursting with emotions – of sadness, nostalgia, pride, excitement, happiness, and loneliness. Last night I couldn’t settle my mind. My sleep was disjointed and fraught with dreams that I cannot remember, but simply feel the haziness of their presence around me. Why am I so unsettled? Why am I feeling so lonely? Why am I worried?  …

The Tempestuous Threes

And so we find ourselves in the midst of the tempestuous threes. The turbulent and tumultuous emotions exuding from our darling little 3 year old every minute of his waking hours are exhausting, frustrating, and sometimes a bit embarrassing to cope with. Though I know this is yet another phase, another developmental leap that he is making, it can almost…

What’s Your Flavour

The aromatic scents of cacao, cumin, toasted nuts, and caramel; the bold, rich, and distinct flavours that tickle the tongue; the soothing sensation of warmth throughout your body. There is something delectable, exotic, and comforting about coffee. And to the desperately exhausted, there is also a cruel necessity of the caffeine within.   As a cancer survivor battling through fatigue;…

Oh, Hello Thunderous Threes

Parenting is tough. I honestly think it is the most difficult job I have ever signed up for. You don’t get to “clock in” or “clock out” and you don’t get any time off. Not ever. No rest. No day off. No vacation. You work round the clock 24/7. And you are at the demands and needs of your child….