I ‘m renovating and spring cleaning, but not only my house. I’m taking care of some personal housekeeping as well. Instead of hammering in nails and painting a room, I shaped and painted my toe nails. Instead of buying storage totes, I bought a new shirt. Instead of mudding walls, I did a Black Sea mud facial. Instead of new …
The F Word doesn’t just mean feminist, it also means fairness
Please don’t use the “f” word. I may be a feminist, but I don’t want the label. I grew up in the 1970s, when I was told I could have it all. I wouldn’t be “limited” to being a mom, a nurse or a teacher. I could be a doctor or an astronaut, and have a family. I played the …
When did our to-dos take over our lives? I’ll add that question to my list
Some days I feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day or enough days in a week, to get everything done and make everyone happy. Lately, there isn’t even enough room on my note page to itemize all the to-dos on my list. When did we get so busy? Is it the plight of the working mom, trying to …
Ontario government needs to follow through on its promises
The Ontario Throne speech presented last week has me thinking a lot, but my worry is that not as much thought went into it. I put on my cynic’s cap and found a few choice excerpts: “We carved our province out of a harsh northern land.” And then “we” promptly moved south and forgot about the North. “They began to …
Forces beyond our control are at work when we lose a baby tooth
My daughter has a loose tooth. It amuses and revolts both her and me at the same time. As I watch her grappling with the wiggly tooth, I can’t help but think of the teeth I’ve cut along the way (literally and metaphorically). As a girl, I knew that if I didn’t brush my teeth and ate too much sugar, …
We should celebrate Family Day weekly, not annually: bring back Sundays
Family Day is a great idea, but too bad it doesn’t occur more often. We truly need to focus on our families more and spend less time at work or thinking about work or buying stuff. Imagine one day, monthly or weekly, when we focus on the important things: when no one works, when no shopping errands have to/can be …
Apply EI rules to absent politicians
We are now just over a month into the prorogation of Parliament. Our members of Parliament and our prime minister are now in the boat that so many Canadians find themselves — out of work. The difference is, of course, that MPs face the luxury of a work stoppage with full salary, and they know when they will be back …
Bigger, faster, more don’t mean progress and they don’t make us happy
Did we need a bigger Walmart? Was anyone complaining that the old one was too small? Are bigger, faster and more always better? Life’s trappings have us in such a choke hold that I am wondering who is in control. More and more often, I am feeling strangely uncomfortable. It is a difficult sensation to pinpoint, but I feel it …
Put those who have chosen a life dedicated to others on pedestals
Why do we put celebrities on pedestals? Is it fair to them or us? Seems to me that the second you put people on a pedestal, they become awfully hard to reach. They also get left there by many, which can lead to a lonely existence for them, and a questionable one for us. The mere act of elevating someone …
Snow shovelling brings back memories of childhood and community
I found myself saying something terribly unexpected today: “Snow shovelling is great.” Granted, it is still early in the season and pushing snow is generally more fun when it is new, but none the less, I found myself enjoying the task for many reasons. Perhaps this is an elaborate self-brainwashing exercise that I will have to reread when I am …