Where I spray-paint my thoughts…
It was one of the songs that was on the soundtrack of my childhood: a constant on the radio, like Hey Jude or Delta Dawn or any one of a number of other ubiquitous early 70's hits. In retrospect I think what I grew up hearing was the 1971 Roger Whittaker cover rather than the …
On Labour Day weekend we dropped our daughter, Emma, off at college in another province. Our eldest, Chris, lives here in town but shares a house with a bunch of friends, so while we still see him lots he hasn't lived at home in nearly two years. So we drove back home to a house …
Apparently, someone in my house is now in their LATE TEENS. Love you Chris -- it's been a great journey together so far. If anyone wants to read the story of how it all started back in late years of last century (1998), click here.
The issue of childcare -- who gets it, who needs it, who pays for it and how much -- is a huge political hot potato in Canada right now. And for once, I find myself enraged not only by the perspectives and rhetoric of people on the political right, but also by some of the …
Just a couple of weeks ago, my family was in Europe, hopping on and off trains and travelling from Paris to Copenhagen to London in a journey that, despite the decidedly modest nature of our accommodations (the first thing the kids now ask before we go to a new hotel is "Does this one have …
If you live in the St. John's area, you've probably heard by now this heartbreaking news story in which well-known local actors Andy Jones and Mary-Lynn Bernard talk publicly about the mental illness and suicide that took the life of their son, Louis, at age 28. If you're not familiar with the story, please click …
If you've ever heard me talk about parenting -- which I try not to do, at least not with any authority -- you may have heard me say that all I want is for my kids to be healthy, happy, decent people. Lots of parents say this. It's not at all true, of course. I …
Continue reading "When the Job is Done (Hint: it’s never done)"
... and a parent brag. My favourite teenage singer with one of my favourite songs.
So yesterday was, you know, Kind of a Big Deal day for me. I've been involved with the Pathfinder Club, the youth organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (not to be confused with Pathfinders, a level of Girl Guides), off and on since I was 9. I've been a Pathfinder, a counsellor, an Adventurer leader …
My kids have cellphones. I bought each one of them a phone when they reached junior high, on the assumption that at that stage of life they'd be spending more time away from home and school, with friends, and I'd need an easy way to contact them. I love the convenience of being able to …
Hypergraffiti 