Raise your hand if you have driven an electric car. What about one of the new hybrids? Well, thanks to Ford Canada, I have had the opportunity to do both.

Last week I was invited to the Ford Canada Power of Choice tour as it hit the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market, and I was pleased to be set up in a couple of cars to try them out for myself.  I won’t attempt to review them here, as my time in them was relatively brief, but I enjoyed myself and was pleasantly surprised by both.

First up was the Ford Fusion Hybrid. I had a helpful companion by the name of Charles who took me through some of the basic information as I got settled in the car. Let me tell you first of all that the hybrid feels like any other car – in fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how stable it felt. It rode smoothly and had plenty of power as I accelerated and moved between residential road and freeway.  It felt solid without being ungainly, and I would have been happy to keep driving.  But before I knew it, we were headed back to the farmer’s market.

My second ride was in the Ford Focus Electric, with Graham in the passenger seat as a helpful guide.  If you haven’t driven an electric car before, I urge you to do so just to listen to the quiet purr of a barely audible engine.  Oh, I could get used to that.  We went out for a quick spin, including freeway and a very bumpy residential road, and I was comfortable in the car for the entire trip.  The car took the bumps well, without jarring, and I enjoyed the quiet ride.  I had no issues with power or speed, and in truth it felt like I must be driving a bigger car.  (Why did I think an electric car would feel lightweight?  Hmm.)

Let’s take a step back for a minute.  Why, yes, lovelies, I am writing about cars today.  Have I before?  No.  But there’s something that feels different about this – after all, Ford and I go back a long way.  Two of the cars we drove as a family as I grew up?  Fords.  Those two same cars I borrowed when learning to drive and first claiming my independence?  Fords.  Our beloved Explorer that we drove for twelve years until we had to sorrowfully bid it goodbye?  Ford.  My first standard transmission that I still remember driving alongside the river, thankful for long pretty drives to work? Ford.  The vehicle that hauls our now larger, two-kid family?  A Ford Expedition.

So to be invited to see what Ford is doing, in the present, and as we look to the future – well, that was just cool.  And finding out more about hybrid and electric vehicles was really interesting.  When we all first heard of them, they seemed sort of niche, didn’t they?  Then over time, we heard more and more.  We read articles, reviews, blog posts, and suddenly someone else’s niche became our possibility.

Interesting how things change over time, isn’t it?

I came home with my same affection for Ford vehicles, but a renewed interest in our options when we consider electric or hybrid alternatives.  Someday, this might be the right choice for our family – and if it is, I have a feeling Ford will have been our inspiration.  After all, Ford was the first to introduce a hybrid SUV – and if you know me, you know I love my SUVs.  ; )

You can find out more about Ford online, and see what others are saying over at furtherproof.ca.

Disclosure:  I was invited to attend the Ford “Power of Choice” event to learn more about what they are doing with innovative offerings for their customers.  I was not asked to write this post, nor was I compensated to do so.  

“I stumbled upon your blog while I was following the Sask film industry rally to Regina  on Twitter.  Thank-you for voicing your concerns for the future of the film industry in our province; they very eloquently expressed many of my sentiments.

I’ll admit that I really only became aware of the activity of the industry in our province while I followed the work of Kim Coates, since I am a fan of Sons of Anarchy and I have been trying to piece together memories of bumping into him (often literally) while I was a student at U of S.  I quickly became fascinated with the  number of projects underway in Saskatchewan and I am now disheartened by the lack of concern by the Wall government for sustaining the viability of the industry.  Who will tell the stories? This week two young men,whom I have the privilege to teach, are competing at the National Skills Canada Competition in Edmonton in Film and Video Production.  As their English teacher I know them as talented story-tellers, film directors and editors, writers and musicians. We are blessed with incredibly talented individuals in this province and I would like to encourage my students to follow their dreams, develop their skills and share their stories with the world, while enjoying the wonderful life we can experience at home in Saskatchewan!  The Wall government is not doing its part in conveying this message to our youth.  Mr. Wall often prides himself on the economy of our province but he neglects the concerns of the people of this province for the value of our work and how the arts and culture contribute to our quality of life.  Every time he demonstrates a disregard for the work of people contributing to the identity of Saskatchewan, and one year ago it was the teachers of the province who felt the sting, he encourages citizens to take their talents elsewhere.  I hope we don’t lose our artists to other locations where they can follow their dreams and financially support themselves and their families.”

June Cubbon, teacher

North Battleford, SK

As Danielle Chartier, MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale, was quoted in the Legislature building in Regina yesterday: “Saskatchewan is a ‘have’ province in every industry but film.”

Why are we willing to settle for this?  There is a quote I read some time ago that reads “examine what you tolerate” and I think it is safe to say that the people of Saskatchewan will not tolerate this.  If you want to ignore the economics, and forget that these are all entrepreneurs choosing to base their business in Saskatchewan, then let’s look at the simplest logic – how could we let our storytellers leave?  Why would we accept that there is no way to keep these people here?

There needs to be room for Saskatchewan to be multi-dimensional – which means making room for all types of excellence.  We need the diversity of thought and beliefs to continue to grow as a province.

Saskatchewan, you should be allowed to shine on this stage.

A day, in pictures…

Getting ready to roll to Regina with the Culture Cruise to support SK film industry

Kim Coates on soundstage in Regina

Supporters walk from soundstage to Legislature building

Supporters on the streets of Regina

Supporters wave to Culture Cruise riders

Supporters arrive at Legislature building

Kim signs autograph for a young fan

Addressing the crowd at the Legislature building

Delivering the petition to support SK film industry - democracy in action

My Sask includes the film industry - does yours?

For more on the story, check out George Stroumboulopolous who tweeted his support and even wrote about it.  Brent Butt tweeted his support as well – anyone remember a little show called Corner Gas?

Or go read any of the articles that have been written by major media outlets – the SMPIA website has a complete list for you.  Keep checking back as we know this story is spreading far and wide.

I’m on that bus, headed to Regina in support of the film and television industry in Saskatchewan.  If you haven’t been following the story, head on over to filmtvsask.com to get all the details.  What it basically comes down to is that our provincial government is letting a vital, productive industry die off rather than keep a tax credit that would keep them competitive and thriving.  Here’s my first update on the story, with more to follow and many more photos.  Stay tuned!

How does it affect me? Well, here’s where I am in all this.  I don’t work in the film industry, nor do my ambitions lie in that direction.  Instead, I have been caught up in the story of it all – and having grown up in and moved back to Saskatchewan twice from other provinces, I feel the decisions made by our government should speak for me.

And in this matter, I can assure you, they are not speaking for me. And they are not speaking for anyone else I’ve talked to over the last weeks either.  I have heard impassioned pleas, impressive stats and amazing strength from the people involved, but not once have I been convinced or impressed by what I hear from our government in response.

We have a thriving film and television industry in this province, and we should consider it an asset, not a liability.  For years this province has complained of “brain drain”, wondering why its best and brightest have migrated west, east or south rather than staying in Saskatchewan to share their gifts where they were raised and educated.  The people in the film and television industry here are loyal residents of Saskatchewan, and they bring money, recognition and cachet to our province.  Why on earth would we want to let go of something that allows us to play on the same level as other provinces, even countries?

Last night I attended an event called “Made in Saskatchewan” Film Appreciation Night at the Broadway Theatre.   In attendance were people who work in the industry, supporters and none other than film star Kim Coates.  Born and raised here, Coates has remained a steadfast supporter of the local industry, and took time from a busy travel schedule to show up in person to show his support.  He spoke to the enthusiastic crowd, praising the work done here and the creative talent driving the industry in Saskatchewan.  He is proud of the work he has been able to do here, and wants to be able to come back and direct movies here.

Why would we stop him?  Why would we put up obstacles?

I spoke with Coates after the event, and he was down to earth and totally in the moment.  His loyalty to, and faith in, our film industry was crystal clear.  He spoke of it being a matter of culture, not just economics, and he is absolutely correct.

So, back to the bus.  On impulse, I decided to join the Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association (SMPIA) supporters for their Culture Cruise and Rally in Support of the Film Industry to take their petition right to the Legislature building.  Being at the event last night only drove the point home to me that we will suffer an enormous loss if this industry is shut down in Saskatchewan.  I wanted to come along and hear for myself more about what the effects will be, and how the SMPIA and Saskatchewan public are insisting on having their voices heard.  Far beyond the stats and economic details, the real story lies in the people so gravely affected by these recent developments.  We have Saskatchewan residents who work in the industry who will have to leave the province in order to carry on their work.  Unless the Saskatchewan government is willing to collaborate and work with them to find a sustainable solution, we will lose our creative talent to other provinces.  And these are not just individuals we are talking about, these are families.  We will lose loyal, hardworking residents, and their families with them.  Their children will be raised to know that their family’s home province effectively forced them out.  One woman I spoke with told of her son crying each day with the worry this has caused their family.

I live in this province, I have left and returned not once, but twice.  I desperately want Saskatchewan to show me it can keep up to the other provinces in this country.  Why are we continually satisfied to come in last or to not compete?  I’m raising two kids here, I have nieces and nephews here, and I want them to be able to pursue whatever dreams they have, right here.  I don’t want to be told that they will have to plan to leave should they show talent that would lead them to this industry.

I encourage you to head over to filmtvsask.com to educate yourself on the facts, and to show support. Let’s be a province that isn’t willing to settle for last place.  We have a successful film and tv industry here that wants to work and invest in this province.  We have a public who wants to see it happen.  And we have SK communities who benefit from the dollars spent locally with every production.

Every great cause needs a hero, and Kim Coates was ours today.

Check out SMPIA’s website, follow #supportskfilm on Twitter and find out more for yourself!

Stay tuned for my next post, with more photos and details of our day…

So if you’ve dropped by lately, you may have noticed things are looking a little different around here.  (Or maybe you didn’t. Ha. Joke’s on me.)

I loved my old design but it was time to look at something fresher, and something that made the site easier to read, easier to explore.  So that’s where we’re headed…we’re just not quite there yet.  So, meanwhile, enjoy the pretty we’ve created so far and be sure to drop by Mocha Creative Works and check out the lovely new look in progress over there.

Looking forward to sharing more with you!  And don’t worry if things look a little unfinished at the moment, we’re getting there.  Keep dropping back and we’ll have it all made over soon.

My thanks as always to 3Fish Media for ideas, inspiration and endless patience.  ; )

Cheers!  xo

Think about what you love most about home parties – a relaxed evening in, time to chat and catch up with girlfriends, perhaps some wine and a delicious spread of goodies to share.  Then think of all the invitations you have guiltily turned down in the last year – why did you?  Most of us receive invitations to home parties regularly, but for all the fun and connection we might find, we too often decline on the spot.  Perhaps the line being sold isn’t for us, or we worry that we will feel pressured to spend money yet again on something we don’t need.  It’s an awkward feeling knowing that there are expectations attached to a party – but if you’re like me, your home is filled to overflowing.

What to do?

I was recently invited to check out Gold Party Canada as they bring their home party concept to Saskatchewan.  Do I typically attend home parties?  Not usually.  But this one had my curiosity piqued from the first introduction, and here’s why:  Gold Party Canada parties are held so people can spend time together and connect.  They can even fundraise!  But when you are invited to attend one of these parties, you don’t need to worry about what you might be expected to buy.  In fact, the entire concept of the party is to send you home with cash in your wallet – how’s that for a shift in the whole home party trend?

Here’s how it works.  Basically, Gold Party Canada buys gold – old jewellery you aren’t wearing, that has tangled or broken, earrings that have lost a mate, other gold that may have come your way but isn’t your style anymore.  Many people have bits and pieces in their jewellery boxes but either wouldn’t know what to do with them, or aren’t comfortable with what they think their options are.  Now you have the option of either hosting or attending a gold party, where your gold will be assessed and weighed, right in front of you.  If you are happy with the value quoted to you, you sell it on the spot for cash.  You can have your gold assessed and weighed in private if you prefer, as well.

Gold Party Canada trains their consultants to assess the gold they purchase, and everything is done openly, which I found refreshing.  I also loved the idea that guests can find out the value of a piece before making their final decision to sell – there is no pressure should someone decide at the last minute to keep one of the pieces they have brought in.

But the real fun is knowing that everyone in the room who brings in gold is going home with money in their pocket!  I’ll admit there were a few squeals and giggles as guests made off with their loot, and we all were curious as each guest took a turn.  There are rewards for hostesses as well, so don’t think your only option is to attend a party.  Host one, invite your friends over and let Gold Party Canada do the rest.  One guest at the party I attended went home with over five hundred dollars, others were pocketing between one and two hundred dollars.  A simple mens’ gold wedding band was valued at over eighty dollars.

A few things you might want to know:

• You can check out their website for detailed information on the company, how it works, what you should know.
• They’re Canadian!  In fact, Jordan Stein, one of the founders from Montreal, was at the party I attended.  He was acting as a consultant and assessing gold, sharing information about the company with guests.  Which leads to my next point, because…
• They’re looking for consultants, in Saskatchewan especially, though I would imagine other areas as well.  If you think you might be interested, check out their website, get in touch and ask whatever questions you have.
• Any gold that is recycled is refined and can help protect the environment by reducing the mining required to manufacture more gold.  Who knew?
• You can fundraise with the help of Gold Party Canada for a cause that is near and dear to your heart.  How refreshing to not have to ask people you know for donations or to buy a fundraising item!  Check out their fundraising page.

All in all, I thought the vibe of the evening was relaxed and casual, with a few giggles thrown in. Guests mingled, learned a little about gold, sipped wine and enjoyed a spread of good food – but above all, it was easy to see none of them felt pressured or uncomfortable.  And that is where I think Gold Party Canada has found their niche.

Might it be right for you?  If you’re interested in attending or hosting a party, or even becoming a consultant, get in touch with them today.

Another Earth Day has come and gone, and this year it has gotten me thinking.  We have never really made much fuss over the day itself, preferring instead to make whatever changes we can year ’round.  As our son has grown old enough to attend school, he’s been kept busy enough at school with activities, school yard cleanups and artwork.

But now we have two young kids to raise, and guide through this world, and that always seems to challenge my thinking on things.  While I still don’t see us being the kind of family who might drastically change what we do to celebrate a single day, I do believe that our kids look to us to see how to act, how to behave.  And, therefore, it seems important to start doing things more deliberately, or perhaps talk more about what we do so they are aware and can take part.  When I take time to think of the things I want to teach or share with my kids, many of them fall back to taking care of ourselves and the planet at the same time.  I’m starting to feel pulled to improve how we live and eat, in order to do it.  As I love and care for my kids, so do I want to teach them to love and care for this planet we live on.

I want my kids to be able to spend time in nature, to get dirty, to see trees and plants and vegetables growing.  I have always loved gardening, and while it’s been difficult to maintain with very little ones in the house and a busy schedule, I look forward to getting back to it.  They are old enough now to come out to play, and help, and learn.  There is so much to teach them!  I grow my own herbs, and we use them for cooking all summer long.  In fall, I gather what is left and dry it to last the winter months.  I also have a soft spot for fresh tomatoes!  From now on, as my kids see me do this, they will learn that there are things we don’t need to buy in the store, and that we can provide some of the things we need just by growing something fresh.  From there, we’ll let our imaginations run wild, and I hope that each year we can add to what we grow ourselves – and I’d like to encourage my kids to help us choose what to grow.

Beyond growing, I want to find ways to make whatever property we live on healthy and safe for the kids, and for anything else that lives there. That means I try to avoid chemicals in my garden, and will always reach for an organic or homemade solution when bothered by pests or other growing challenges.  (A good tip when starting out is to choose plants that are hardy to your area!  Plants that are healthy and thriving are less likely to be bothered by pests or disease.)

Another challenge I want to tackle over the next year or two is to start composting.  While we do pay for curbside recycling and separate our packaging, newspapers and containers, I still feel like we are missing a huge opportunity.  As much as I try to avoid too much kitchen waste, with two small kids and our attempts to eat plenty of produce – well, let’s just say we’re not quite succeeding.  Add to that the amount of material we would have available just from regular and seasonal yard clean up and cutting back overgrown plants through the year, and I think we would find it worthwhile indeed.

So for us, Earth Day itself is just another day.  But every time it passes, I spend some time thinking about how we live and what our next changes could be.  Every good habit we can add helps, and teaching our kids to live and practice these values daily will build both skills and awareness.

Sometimes our kids are more evolved than we are, because many schools are very conscious of being environmentally friendly.  How environmentally conscious is your family?  Do you find your kids are less concerned about it, or are they the ones reminding you to recycle?

Oh, and I’d love to hear what you and your kids will be doing this year in your gardens!  Tell me – do they help?  Make more work?  Pull up your plants?  I have a feeling in my yard this year it will be all of the above!

“Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Mom and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

One of the most beautiful things about having kids is seeing them learn to share their hearts with others.   But it can also be one of the most difficult areas of parenting to navigate.  Where are the right answers when dealing with kids’ emotions?  How do we know when we are on the right track?  Where is the finish line?

Let me save you some time – there are no right answers, there are many different paths and you’ll be in a back and forth exchange of emotional negotiations with your child for life.

Whew.  Anyone overwhelmed?  Don’t be.  If you start paying attention to your kids’ emotional intelligence early on and working with them to build it, the more enjoyable life will be for all.

When our children are very small, we control so much of what makes them happy, or sad.  We’re told that babies have simple needs: if they cry, they either need food, sleep or a trip to the change table.  And we dive in, watching for smiles and frowns, calming furrowed brows.  It’s tiring, endless but the theories are simple, and even in our sleep-deprived state, we manage.

Then it becomes more complicated.  Our babies become sweet but self-centred toddlers, then caring but sensitive preschoolers and then, if we are lucky, they continue on developing their emotional responses as they grow.  But is it luck?  I believe luck has little to do with it.  Rather, it is the time and effort we put in to help develop their emotional resilience that make the difference.

My daughter, now three, has much love for the people who share her world, and is known for her sunny ways.  We have had an easy run so far with helping her manage her own emotions, and are aware that our more challenging years lie ahead.  But she is our second child, and part of the ease we enjoy with her comes from the experience gained with our first.

We realize if we are wise, we will take the time now to acknowledge her emotions – both the sweet and the stormy.  She is letting us see her heart when she furrows her brow, or sniffles with hurt feelings, and we need to let her know we are there for her.  I see the way she watches for our reactions, and how she often will reciprocate or mimic our actions when we come down to her level.  And I realize that she is like a small mirror, constantly reflecting back what she sees in us.  If we show kindness, so does she.  If we model forgiveness, so does she.  When I take a deep breath, set anger aside and reach for understanding or connection, she sees the good that is created from these actions.  And when I listen to her and discuss how we are both feeling, I can feel her trust, and our connection, deepen.

I always thought I’d daydream about what my little girl would grow up to be someday.  Now that she’s here I realize that it won’t matter one bit “what” she chooses to do – it will be “how”.  If she learns the tools to handle her emotions as she grows, I have no doubt the path she’ll find will be the best one for her – and she’ll be prepared to enjoy it with her whole heart.

Originally posted January 12, 2011 on the “I Can Be The Voice” Facebook Page where you’ll find many parents sharing the joys and challenges of parenting their sweet and stormy daughters.

A while ago I spent a Friday evening sharing some of my favourite women to follow on Twitter – with the hashtag #WomenToCelebrate.  I enjoyed it so much that I want to expand on the idea.  After all, not all of you are on Twitter, or perhaps that’s not where you find connection most easily.

Every so often, I want to spotlight women who I feel are worth your time to celebrate.  Some may have given me a moment of happiness, some may have offered support, still others are involved in interesting projects or creating their own version of awesomeness.  Sometimes they are just people I’m thankful to know.  Lastly, they may be people I’ve never met, but who have said or done something that provoked thought or inspiration.

Perhaps you’ll follow them on Twitter, maybe you’ll seek out their blogs or websites, or find them on Facebook.  Wherever you find them, they are worth getting to know.

We all know women to celebrate – today, here are the ones I’m thinking of:

@Nat_Rea – who, to my chagrin, does not pen a personal blog. However, she does share graceful bits of her life and parenting online, either through Twitter or through her writing with the I Can Be the Voice Facebook page.  That’s enough to put her on this list, but on a personal note, she’s pure gold too.  Nat was building and supporting her community long before she took it on as a professional role.

@bonstewart – Bonnie writes about her family and her life in a way that makes me want to clench my heart tightly before I read, lest I lose it entirely to the story. I climb into the tales, and back out, dabbing at my eyes and remember the wonder of my children.  Wander over to Crib Chronicles for a bit of magic.

@schmutzie – Elan can write a post that makes you laugh over something simple or mildly ridiculous, then knock you off your chair with words so honest you feel honoured to read them.  Brave words travel great distances, and hers are no exception.  Visit Schmutzie.com to see for yourself.

@DomesticDivaCa – Adrienne Percy and Sherry Rothwell are creating a valuable resource.  Their site, Domestic Diva, offers traditional wisdom and generous helpings of advice on nourishing your body and your soul. Their content is intended for all, but especially women, and my experience with their sugar detox program was not just positive – I changed habits that have been in place for years.  They are firing up a new run of the sugar detox, starting today, and I highly recommend it.

And catching my eye in the news:

@AshleyJudd – let’s give a nod to Ashley Judd, who wrote both intelligently and passionately about how the media treats women in the media, and how it affects us all to read inflammatory and unconfirmed rumours regularly.  We absorb enormous amounts of media daily – how much of it is gossip and rumour-driven?  How much of it is speculation, and entirely judgemental in nature?  Go read Ashley Judd’s article on the Daily Beast, again if you saw it already, and tell me what you think.  Do we hear enough celebrities taking on these topics in such an intense, thoughtful way?  Would it change how we view and talk about celebrities if we did?

My eyeroll of the week goes to the story of brides losing weight with the use of feeding tubes.  My reaction to this was initially laughter and a grimace at the thought.  Days later I’m still trying to keep the contents of my own stomach down – contents that I consumed the old fashioned way, thank you very much – with a knife and fork.

Anyone else have stories to share, or women they’d like to celebrate this week?  Add them in the comments, I’d love to continue the conversation!

In some cases, talking about money can come easily with kids.  We start simple:  learning the names of coins, discussing how much something costs, and so on.  But for many people, it can be hard to figure out how to take the conversation further – or how to make the topic interesting enough that their younger kids will want to learn.  Let’s face it, there are a lot of adults who find it hard to take an interest in learning about money.

Is that what you want to teach your kids?

Not me.

I’m a bit of a money geek.  I actually like planning out finances, figuring out the best way to get to where we want to wind up financially.  I love when my Moneysense magazine comes in the mail, and I handle most of the money matters in the family.  We make all the big decisions together, but the planning and day-to-day management is in my hands.

Teaching my kids about money is a huge priority of mine.  And not just the names of the pieces of money, and how to save and spend it.  I want them to learn what money can do in the right hands.  I want them to feel comfortable handling it, and be as happy to save it for something important as they are to spend it on something today.  Kids who learn about money, and gain a sense of what it can do if used constructively grow into adults who can manage their finances, save money, set and reach goals.

It all has to start somewhere.  Why not with something fun, so kids look forward to the learning?

I recently was encouraged to try out a cool new app for kids – the Learning Money With Leo iPad App from RBC.  The app was developed to be a practical, fun way for parents to teach their kids about money. It’s aimed at kids ages three to six, so I figured it would be interesting to bring to my kids, ages three and seven, to see what they would do with it.

Learning Money with Leo activity options

I had a little peek, then turned it over to the experts – the kids.

My first impressions were that the app looked really fun, with a cheery colourful look that was attractive to the kids.  The layout is clear and simple to understand, and although I have a low threshold for toys that make noise, I actually liked Leo’s enthusiastic tone and friendly manner. The comments are cheery and encouraging.  I like how the kids can create their own profile that is colour coded, meaning even the little one can tell them apart.  The functionality is smooth and intuitive.  The games are fun; a good mix of practical and pure fun.

My daughter liked what she heard while I was first setting it up, and came over to investigate.  She liked the colours, and the sound of the games.  She was able to use some of the simpler functions with some help – the Colouring Book, Gather the Coins, Solve the Maze, and the Read-Along Story.  She also caught on to the sticker book and rewards pretty quickly.  I assisted her at first, but did let her do some of the activities alone, or just with hints.  I was surprised at her eagerness to try them, as she is definitely at the young end of the recommended age range of three to six years.

There were a few things that made it easier though.  First, each player’s profile is indicated not only by their name, but by a colour.  She chose pink and had no difficulty choosing her profile after that.  I also liked that whenever there was a yes/no answer required, the kids could choose from yes or no, with added symbols and green for go, red for stop. That’s easy enough for a three year old to remember, so I could say “look for green for yes” to her.  Smart.

Out of curiosity, I let my son have a try.  He was able to take over and use the different games, and figured out how to buy stickers with the rewards before I noticed the feature.  It was evident that he was able to figure things out on his own, and go beyond what I quickly introduced. He’s seven, a little older than the suggested appropriate age range, so this made perfect sense.

Both wanted to play beyond the time we had before dinner, with my son declaring it “awesome” and mentioning it in our little “best part of our day” routine at dinner.  The next day, they both asked for some time to spend using it, and I got to watch a big brother help his little sister, telling her “That’s a loonie!  It’s one dollar!”  Funny, the game will teach them some things, but it will also encourage them to want to talk about money, and help each other learn just by playing together.

That makes me a happy mama.

Did they like it?  Yes.  Did I?  Yes.  Did they both want to use the iPad at the same time, with generously sized pouts from the little one when she had to give it up each turn?  Yes.  But they quickly learned the faster they gave it up, the quicker their turn came again.  And with a little help, they found ways to play together.  Whew.

You can download the free Learning Money with Leo app for your iPad like I did, or, you can print off activities from the RBC Learning Money with Leo website to encourage your kids to keep playing.

Disclosure – I am participating in the RBC Learning Money With Leo program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of RBC Royal Bank.  I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

We all know the signs, don’t we?  A certain set to a tiny jaw; the undeniable stamp of a small foot.

My youngest is three, and there’s no denying she is going to have her own opinions.  I can already tell she’s going to be willing to express them, insist on them, and defend them.   As parents, what do we do?  Is it easiest to just insist she do what we want?  Should we expect her to meet our expectations, bend to our will?

I, as much as the next parent, love the idea of “the biddable child”, the smooth and easy sailing that we imagine would be ours if our children would just listen, just obey.  But deep down I know that if she were to bend to my wishes, to bow her head instead of setting her jaw, I’d be missing out on one of the greatest gifts that may await me as a parent.

I would be quieting a brave and beautiful voice that deserves to be heard.

In the end there will be no difference between the fights over the pink tutus at four and the skimpy tank tops at fourteen.  Bedtime battles will become curfew battles.  And through it all, my job will be to hear her, and truly see her.  It will be up to me to see who she is and what she needs beyond my own expectations and limitations.  If I can manage that, I will get to watch her go as far as she can – what an opportunity.  Yes, we will set boundaries when it matters, and be firm enough to not waver once we have done so.  But we will also offer her what choices we can within our comfort zone.

A child granted a listening ear grows into a teen who knows her voice has value.  A child whose ideas are given respect grows up knowing she has something special to contribute.  A child with an impressive foot stomp grows into a teenager who will be able to put her foot down when others try to exert their influence.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for any of the questions, the discussions, and the patience I will need to show her she is being heard now, no matter how trying it may be.  I’m hoping that ten and fifteen years down the line she shows the same strength in using her voice and insisting it be heard.

We need to teach our daughters that their opinions matter, and that they are capable of using good judgement because the day will come when they will make those decisions alone, without us near.  I know without a doubt I will be proud of every eyebrow my daughter raises, every time she puts her foot down and every time she walks away from a situation that doesn’t feel right.

So today, we invest our time and patience.  We love her, we listen to her, and we try to hear what is really behind any struggles for control.  And we think of days ahead when she will be able to make these decisions when it really counts.

I can’t help but be glad she knows her own brave and beautiful mind.

Originally posted December 29, 2011 on the “I Can Be The Voice” Facebook Page where you’ll find many parents sharing the joys and challenges of parenting their brave and beautiful daughters.

I remember the first time I heard about the Children’s Miracle Network.

I was working in one of my first full-time jobs and found out we would be supporting the Network in our workplace.  We wore T-shirts, decorated, and both raised and contributed money.  I had no idea what it would be like to have kids of my own, and worry about their well-being.

How little I knew back then.

How have I come to be so fortunate?  My kids were born safely, grew quickly and have never spent a day in the hospital since leaving as newborns.  I knock fervently on nearby wooden objects any time this fact occurs to me.

I was so pleased to hear that KINDER® would be partnering with the Children’s Miracle Network through their “A Joy to Share” campaign. The opportunity to work with a company I like, while also supporting a deeply worthwhile cause brings me great pleasure.  Lending support to families in a time of need does our hearts good, while also showing our kids how to care for others – even strangers they will never meet.

Families are families.  A parent heartbroken over the worry of a child’s health is no different from you or me.

Want to feel inspired?  Why not drop by the KINDER® Canada Facebook page to read about real families who have benefited from the Children’s Miracle Network, or been affected by the work they do?  You can read about these real-life heroes, contribute to the “A Joy to Share” campaign, share your own stories and connect with other moms.

Helping other families means a great deal to me, as does teaching my kids about other families and how we can help…and truly, how fortunate we are.  My kids may be young enough that they mostly feel thankful for things like family, friends, toys and favourite comfort items, but as they grow I feel it is important for them to feel thankful for the good health that has kept them strong and active, thankful that they have merely driven past hospitals, not spent weeks sleeping in one.

Let’s remember that teaching our kids about sharing includes sharing care and concern, and reaching out to others.

Thanks to KINDER® for a chance to share this great campaign.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

That right there is one of my favourite Easter cartoons.  I can’t help it, it’s funny.

“My butt hurts.” “What?”

And just like that, Easter arrived!  The children awoke to find baskets full of goodies, and eggs hidden throughout our main floor.  I’ve never seen two kids run so fast – they were tripping over each other to find the eggs. It was all I could do to keep our seven year old from mowing down the three year old!  With a little sneaky help from mom and dad, she managed to keep up and we divided up the findings at the end to  make it fair anyway.

They nibbled away at some chocolate before breakfast, but I’m hoping we can keep them out of most of it until the excitement wears off. We’ve got one sick kid and I don’t want to tempt fate by letting her stuff her belly full of chocolate!  A big, sort of wholesome, breakfast should take the edge off of most of it.

This is the first year I haven’t been into the Easter chocolate.  Maybe that’s why I feel like I need a nap already?  A 5:30 wake up from my oldest combined with a big breakfast and….yawn…well, I’ve had more energy.  Will someone please remind me how early my kid gets up on holidays so I go to bed early the night before?

We’re staying home for Easter this year, too many of us sick to join family, but this morning’s Easter egg hunt combined with colouring eggs this afternoon should make for a happy day.  We’ve got a big turkey dinner planned and the kids are just excited by everything we do today. It’s funny how they love whatever we do for holidays, no matter how simple or busy the day.

The sick three year old, who’s barely allowed to do anything today and keeps getting shepherded back to the couch and her blanket, just came up and hugged my leg exclaiming “This is the best Easter ever!”  Considering she doesn’t remember last year, I know to take it with a grain of salt, but who cares?  The fact is, she’s happy and it all feels over the top to her.  This is always what we want for our kids.

What is your favourite part of celebrating Easter?  The food?  Family? Colouring eggs?  I sort of love it all – though admittedly I would probably have said the chocolate in previous years!

Hope the Easter Bunny has plenty of downtime today to recover from all that late night mischief!

Happy Easter, everyone!

I have a question for all you parents out there.

How many times a month do you pop out to pick up a gift for a birthday party, a baby shower or a new baby gift?  (Never mind the gifts for your own kids…eek.)  In the fall, when I have so much shopping to do (two birthdays and Christmas within about two months, thank you very much), I tend to shop in bulk more often.  I’ll pick up a few gifts at a time, or make a list to consolidate my shopping.

But once that mad winter rush is done, I seem to lose my efficiency. Each time I see a birthday on my calendar or find an invite in my son’s backpack this time of year, I head to the store for a gift.  For all my last minute shopping, I am surprisingly particular.  I like quality toys, useful baby gear or memorable gifts.  I like to shop for names I trust.  But it means I am heading out nearly weekly for each item rather than finding a way to be more efficient about it!  I don’t know about you, but I just don’t have that much time.

Well, I have an idea to be smarter about all this.

Fisher-Price has a Celebrate & Save promotion going on right now that could turn this whole shopping thing around.  If you check out their newest coupon book, you’ll see up to $90 in savings on toys and baby gear!  The coupons are available in-store at Toys R Us and Zellers (an 8-page booklet featuring 11 coupons in all stores that sell Fisher-Price) and online via websaver.ca.

Here’s what I’m thinking.  Take your calendar or list of birthdays and make a list of all the birthdays that are coming up, including those of your own kids.  Then add in any new babies you’re anxiously awaiting.  Have a look at your list – that’s how many times you were planning to run out for “just one gift”.  We all know where that takes us, right?  So, take your list and check out the deals being offered from Fisher-Price, and I bet you’ll find some great matches.  Do your shopping with the coupons, save the money, tuck away the goodies and then you’ll be all set as each occasion rolls around!

Here are some of the deals you’ll find when you check out Celebrate & Save:

• Feature Snugabunny Swing – $20 off any Fisher-Price swing priced at $130 or more
• Ocean Wonders Aquarium – $10 off
• Little People – $5 off any Little People items with combined value of $25 or more
• Imaginext – $5 off any Imaginext items with combined value of $25 or more
• Thomas – $5 off any Thomas items with combined value of $25 or more

I’m just as happy to save time and sanity as I am the money!  Just a suggestion regarding the money you’ll save – if you can spare it, I say that the coming warm weather is just begging for a pedicure.

Saving money, saving time, and finding a nice little indulgence for yourself?

Celebrate and save, indeed.

“Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Mom and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Today I stopped at Starbucks and ordered a latte. I had an hour or two to run some errands and thought a treat would be nice. Recognizing a mild pang of hunger, I added a package of dry roasted almonds to my order. Out I walked, treat in hand.

Or did I?

Would you call that a treat?

You see, two months ago, I would have ordered a caramel macchiato. Four months ago, I would have ordered a caramel macchiato, with an accompanying sweet from the bakery display.

And that was just the beginning.

I have a sweet tooth. There’s no denying it. Ask anyone – I’ve written about my chocolate cravings before.

I’m not sure when I started relying on sugar to fuel me through my busiest days. I would sneak bits of chocolate with my coffee, because that’s how I always did it. I prefer my coffee with chocolate, my chocolate with coffee, so rarely would you find me eating one without the other. But I never realized I would reach for a cereal with more sugar than I needed, or that I’d be too busy to make lunch most days. My kids were eating healthier than I was, in fact they always have.

I don’t think I’m alone in this, and I can’t figure it out. My kids burst out of bed at six o’clock, ready to tackle their day – or, you know, the Ironman. Maybe they’d like to run a few laps around the house while I wake up? By the time we leave for the school bus, they’ve spun themselves silly, have rested a moment or two and are already getting their second wind. And yet, here I was, feeding myself last, grabbing careless bits of this or that to get me through, and skipping lunch. You’d think I would realize I’d need more, and better, in order to keep up.

What was happening? Why wouldn’t I sit down to lunch while they eat? Why would I keep making food, tidying up, getting things ready for naptime? Once the house calmed down it seemed easier to again reach for coffee and something sweet to keep moving through my afternoons. By suppertime I would be ready for a healthy meal, but in all my concern to keep my kiddies properly fueled through the day, I’d neglected myself.

Was I that person? The one who would look after everyone else? It sort of comes with the territory of parenting, but most of us realize that if we are healthy and happy, we make better parents. I’m smart enough to realize it, but am I smart enough to put it into practice each day?

Weeks ago, I wrote about a sugar detox program I was doing, and to be honest, I’m still doing it. I had strep throat when I was supposed to begin, so I extended each stage long enough to make sure I was healthy. I’m still learning, still working on the good habits I’ve created.

Somehow, along the way, I’ve made changes that feel right for me. It’s the first time I’ve been able to do it, and amazingly, I’ve stopped counting the weeks or keeping track. I like the changes I have made so far, and I still have a few more I want to try. I would have thought by now I’d be waiting to get back to my old ways, but instead, I keep waiting for opportunities to try another step, another change, another upgrade. I’m feeling lighter during the day, and like I have more energy. I’m eating plenty of food, and feeling indulgent enough – yet, still lighter. It feels entirely new, and somehow completely natural. And though I’m eating more, my clothes fit better. Imagine that.

This mama is worth the time, and the attention it took to change things. I know without a doubt, you are too. What kind of care do you need? Will you make time for yourself, as well as your kids? They do need someone to keep up with them, you know.

I’d love to know what challenges you feel you face in making it happen, or what’s working for you in the comments!

Magic is lost every day.

We lose it when we forget to love life, forget to trust, and neglect to see what is around us.  Something that has been right under our noses can be lost before we even realize we have it.

How simple are the things that bring you joy?  Sometimes we look for change, even when good is all around us.  What happens that we stop seeing things clearly?  When did we decide we were too jaded for our rose coloured glasses that once fit so well?

I know I have mine, somewhere.  I have seen this sky, this place through them.  I know I have, and while the memories are still there, I somehow lost my ability to retrieve them when I need them.

The curve of the road that feels so right has been right before.  Why did I forget?

It’s hard to know what happens sometimes that fills our life too full of the complicated things, the struggles, and the demands.  We don’t always see the way it changes until we are holding it all and reaching for more.  But the secret is that when I let go of the things that aren’t right, I make room to hold the things that feel good, and true.

I have to learn to set things down.  Stop holding on, stop carrying it with me.  What would be wrong with having a place?  Just one place.  One that was good enough.  Why do I want so many?

Sometimes life brings good surprises, and if the timing is just right, it can catch you and turn you toward the light.  The light shines in and you can see things, and suddenly the glasses are right where you left them.

Oh.

The things that make up my good life are far simpler than I know, I suspect.  My good life might not look like yours, and I might not see yours the way you do, but we all have our good lives.  Not our best lives.  I’m fine with, and truly far happier with, simply good.  In fact, most days I strive for good.  A good life is one that meets your simplest needs and wants, without much more.

But isn’t more always better?  Not always.  More brings complications, hurrying, and suddenly the simple good is lost.

I need to spend more time remembering my simple good life.  The life that is more about people, words, inspiration, good coffee, time spent in a cafe, the curve of a road as I drive, and music that moves me in the right way.

I’ve been surprised lately, more than once and it’s come just in time.  I’m seeing a little more magic every day.

Let life surprise you.  Let magic sneak in.

It might be the secret to your own good life.

It’s easy to think that kids are part of some sort of superhuman disaster crew.  Really, they can leave a trail of chaos behind them that rivals any jungle.  It can feel so random, so thoughtless.  We pull our hair and think “Another mess?!?!  I just cleaned up the last one!”

Usually when I have these thoughts it is because I am busy, moving too quickly – through our day, through the house, through the motions.  Some days are like that, aren’t they?

But then there are the slower days.  Days when we have a better rein on our schedule, when things slow down enough to pay closer attention to some of the mess, the chaos that has had us so unwound.

The photo above is a collection of items carefully gathered and arranged by my three year old.  She likes to make a little space for herself in front of our patio doors, and will arrange her small couch and table as walls to gain a bit of privacy.  If we peek inside, we will often find not just our daughter, but a few favourite items all carefully selected for that day’s imaginings.  And what we think is a random mess, things left behind after games and play, is actually a collection of items brought together as play.  This collection was carefully put together one morning, and we were warned away if we dared hint that she tidy it up.

You see, where we saw a discarded pile, our daughter saw treasure, and a collection of items that piqued her interest that day.  Sandwich fixings brought over from her kitchen, her brother’s Joker’s Funhouse filched from the living room, other toys and a puzzle.  A favourite blanket tucked inelegantly behind a cardboard box.

Our kids love easy play – who wouldn’t?  Television, electronics, toys that do the work for them are all entertaining in small doses.  But we need to make sure that there is time, both in our schedules and in our homes, for the play that doesn’t come with batteries.  Yes, even when it looks like a mess.  Yes, even when you can’t tell what on earth sandwich ingredients and an alphabet puzzle have in common.  Yes, even when you really just want to clear it away as soon as she leaves the room.

Here’s the funny thing about this mess – it was the only messy part of the room.  She was perfectly happy to leave the rest tidy, as long as we left her hiding spot alone.  And I realized that it wasn’t a disaster.  To her, it was as entertaining as the television – in fact, more so because she was busy doing this instead of watching TV.

It’s okay to strive for organization, and to ask our kids to pick up after themselves.  But…wait and watch first.  Watch your kids.  Watch until you can tell the difference between a mess left behind after play and what might actually BE their play.

Want the kids to stop watching television?  Maybe it’s time to leave a mess or two around.

You never know what your child might see in it.

Well, shame on me, I missed last week’s mixed beans update.  I was out buying myself a pretty new laptop, after the great laptop drowning of 2012 and that took up most of Friday, Saturday and Sunday as we shopped, brought it home, figured out our file retrieval system and finally started to figure it all out.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks!  Hmm, where to start?  I saw Miss Representation locally, and if you haven’t seen this documentary about the portrayal of women in media, you absolutely must.  Watch for a local screening or catch it when it airs occasionally.  Is it perfect?  I’m sure not.  I’d love to see Canadian statistics, for instance.  However, it is still worth watching for some eye-opening facts and figures, and even just to stop and pay attention to a few things I think we get used to ignoring or tuning out.  The best part of the night was meeting some great people who I had before only known from online, and a couple not at all.  We’ve already planned our next meeting.  I love finding smart, funny women to connect with.  I joined the Clever Girls Collective, and wrote for a new client as well.  I also created a pretty new Partners & affiliates page.

Here’s what you might have missed around the blog the last week or two:

Celebrating women on International Women’s Day (this was followed up by Friday night tweets using the hashtag #womentocelebrate.  I had a chance to celebrate the amazing women I know and recommend them to fellow people online.  If you’re on Twitter, be sure to check them out.

Hunger isn’t a game – here’s how the numbers add up with a smart infographic from Phd in Parenting all about hunger and the best way to eradicate it in our communities.

Home for a winter holiday!  Of course this is subtitled “and we all survived!”  You know what I’m talking about, parents.

Over on the Electrolux Canada blog I was obviously hungry – my two most recent posts are both about tasty things to eat and drink.  Check out Warm up winter with delicious hot drinks and Fuel them up right – healthy snacks for kids.  Why fight it?  There’s something good coming this week too, so stay tuned.

We came right up to the end of voting on Canadian Family for the Readers’ Choice award for Tales of Bliss.  While it looks like the voting may still be open, I think I’m safe to celebrate my solid second place with my piece The Overflowing Life and will be happy to congratulate the winner on here once they announce.  Thank you so much to all of you who voted, it means a great deal.

On the homefront, I spent two weekends in total toy room domination (giving in to the fact that when the kids are on the loose my work productivity dips like crazy.)  With no naps on the weekend anymore, it’s literally go go go for two days straight.  I love putting tired kids to bed early on the weekends and not hearing a peep out of them, but I’ll be honest – it’s like hanging on to a speeding train sometimes.  They run and run, jump, play, chase, shriek, fight, make up, play, bicker, giggle, pout, and get each other in trouble all day long.  It’s a wonder we don’t fall asleep ten minutes after putting them to bed!  My oldest had a week off since I last updated and it’s felt like a giant wave of activity around here.

This week will bring more writing and some balmy, spring-like weather – after a huge amount of snow last weekend we’re looking down the barrel of a 20 degree day this coming Saturday.  I’m thinking of buying a rowboat.

Hoping you all have a great week ahead!  I can’t wait for the sun and warmer weather.  This winter has been mild, but I’m happy to see spring on the horizon!

Anyone else have spring fever?

Here’s a question for you - how old should our kids be before we start talking about some of the more serious issues in the world?  It’s our nature to protect our kids, yet, does anyone gain when we shelter them from the truth?  I think there’s always a balance to be found, and each family needs to decide what is right for them.

In our family, our serious and thoughtful seven year old is plenty old enough to start having conversations about things that are going on in the real world.  We’re careful – I wouldn’t let him just watch the news alone – but I do want him to grow up knowing how fortunate he is, and feeling grateful for a safe home, clean water, plenty of food, caring family and friends, easy access to health care.  But, as with everything else, talking only gets me so far.  Let’s just say a seven year old’s ability to care about others and think about the world far surpasses his attention span to sit and talk about it.

I was very happy to have the chance to check out Members Unite with him.  We were invited to explore the site, and check out some of the worthwhile projects showcased there.  What a great way to get a kid interested – we are just starting to talk about being responsible with money and he is always interested in being able to check things out on the internet.  And as for his caring heart, well, let’s just say as soon as I explained what I wanted his help with, he ran to get some of his own money to contribute.  Man, he makes me proud.

So here is what we discovered.  Members Unite brings together people who want to contribute money towards worthy projects, but might not always have the time to find projects that speak to them.  It pools financial contributions from members so you can see how a larger amount of money could really make a difference.  This is especially important to me as we start to talk to our son about charities and donations.  I want him to feel like he has the power to help, to make a difference, while somehow still keep the donation amount small enough that I would feel comfortable putting it into his hands each month.  Kids live in the moment, so a large annual donation isn’t going to stay top of mind all year long.  I like that we can stay involved, and put an affordable amount of money towards interesting projects each month, and I like that the collaborative effect of pooled donations makes for a significant donation or funds a project that will impress him.

Here’s how it works.  Members sign up with a $25 annual membership fee (this covers all the administration costs) and then choose a monthly amount that they would like to contribute.  This could be $5, $10, $20, perfect for starting out with kids.  We signed up and then reviewed this month’s projects.  I loved that by sitting down with me for just a short time, my son was given an awareness of nine different ways we could help make a difference.  I have started talking about giving with him, but I’m not sure I would ever take the time on my own to find nine projects to discuss with him.  We read through the short descriptions on each project (everything from feeding hungry babies in Guatemala, to funding school equipment in underprivileged schools, to providing canine companions for soldiers with PTSD, to sharing balloons or smile cards in major cities.)  And in that short time, my son became that much more aware of needs of others in the world – that we can make a difference providing food, planting trees, sharing kindness.

We voted – his top choices were providing food for 20 babies in Guatemala for 500 days, followed by planting 5000 trees in Brazil, and providing front doors for homes built through Habitat for Humanity.  We ranked all the projects and will be watching to see how voting goes all month – by the end of the month, the project with the most votes gets funded!  We can’t wait to see which is chosen!

The site is simple to navigate, and has an intro video that we watched together to give my son and I a quick explanation of how Members Unite works.  There is plenty of visual interest, as each project has an accompanying photo.  I was pleased to see a full page of FAQ on the site so that I could check it out further after my son went to play – full details are given on how the organization works, how the projects are chosen, how the funds are used, and how they keep information as transparent as possible.

In the end, I feel like it gave us a quick, easy way to talk about making a difference in the world.  There are no easy solutions, and there may not be a way to explain it all to a seven year old.  However, I’m pleased at the thought of having a selection of projects to talk about each month – imagine in a year all the conversations we might have?  When all was said and done, I asked my son if he thought this should be the last month we should be involved, or if he’d like to stay with it and each month vote and contribute to new projects.  He wants to stay with it, and in fact, wants to donate on his own, with his own profile.  Young democracy at work.

Have we made you curious?  Check out Members Unite yourself, or with your own kids.  We’d love to know if you decide to join up - please leave us a comment if you do so we can find out which project spoke to you!

Great news! For a limited time, Members Unite is offering my community a 50% off discount on the annual membership fee of $25! Use code “WELOVEMOMS” when you sign up!

Disclosure:  I received compensation for writing this post.  But as always, the opinions on this blog are my own.

Today is International Women’s Day, and the day comes hard on the heels of my second screening of the film Miss Representation.  If you haven’t seen this film, get out to a local event or catch it when it airs (tonight on the Oprah Winfrey Network, check listings.)

Between the two, I find myself overwhelmed with thoughts of women and what our lives are like today.  We have such privilege and freedom, yet still many limitations.  There is no denying statistics that tell us women are underrepresented in government, in upper management, in media.  I am as aghast as any other when I watch a film that spotlights women in media – surely you’ve seen them?  Yes, there they are, in romantic comedies, in reality television, in their underwear, in soap operas, in bikinis, in trouble, in bed, in distress, in compromising positions.

I have a three year old daughter, and I want a future for her that doesn’t revolve around her looks, her body, and how both are judged by people around her.  May her smile, her inner beauty, her grace, her kindness, her clever brain and her charm be what makes her memorable.  And may I somehow be granted the wisdom to impress upon her how valuable these qualities are so she sees them just as clearly as she does her face, her hair, and the clothes she is wearing.

On a day like today, I celebrate the girl I am loving and raising, and the woman I am at heart and the good I know I can do.  I lift up the women around me who show me every day how to dream, love, laugh, fight, cry, cheer, and grow.  And rather than question “what can I do?” I will do my best to keep supporting the women around me, recognizing their goodness and strengths and celebrating their success.

When I write about women, and for women, something changes.  I write more quickly, I have more passion, I feel more moved by what I write.  I will always love to write about family, parenting, a wide array of topics, but when I write about women I feel connected to the women I know will be reading before the words even hit the page.

I feel connected to the women who are chasing dreams, one gritty day after another in pursuit of the life that they see in their mind’s eye.  I can feel the joy and heart pangs of other mothers as they work hard to guide their families through love, laughter and life.  I see into the hearts of women who are experiencing joy, contentment, inspiration, strife, struggle, sadness or loss.

We share these journeys, and there are enough of us that with little effort, we can find groups and crowds of women who feel as we do, who are facing the same pain or celebrating the same victories.  We are all winning and losing a little, every day, every moment and should feel exceptionally fortunate for the women who stand beside us, rally behind us or go before us to pave a clear path.

Today, I will commit to writing more often about women, and girls.  I will create more opportunities for connection, for support, for celebration, for truth.  I will tell more women how much they inspire me.  I will commit to seeing the women around me more clearly – for the heart that lies inside, the dreams they protect, the minds that reach to challenge others.  I will spend more time thinking about what I do, what I face, what I create, what I share.  I will write with my heart, the heart of my daughter, and the hearts of women around me held closely.

These are the posts that have moved me deeply to write, and I commit to adding to them:

Who celebrates you?

What makes you beautiful?

A lesson in beauty

Cover girls

If “no” means “yes” in college…

The overflowing life

The power to create

What should you bring to a conference?

Happy International Women’s Day.

I’m spending it heart-deep in gratitude for the women who share my life.

How will you spend it?