Wouldn’t it be nice if people came with disclaimers? Disposable coffee cups often warn “contents may be hot.” My hairdryer also has a laundry-list of disclaimers, including “do not use while sleeping.” Thanks. I’m truly not sure how I lived this long without knowing such important information (yes, read that with a very sarcastic tone). Coors has beer cans that …
Listen to good music and keep dancing like nobody is watching
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, March 5, 2008 In February, I attended the Tom Cochrane and John Mellencamp concert at the Steelback Centre, along with 4,700 of my closest friends from Northern Ontario and Michigan. I’ve since ranked it in my top five favourite concerts of all time, however not everything was rosy like little pink houses. As usual, I had …
When your child stops breathing the world stands still
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, February 20, 2008 No one should ever have to witness their baby stop breathing and turn blue – ever. I think there should be a law against it, strictly enforced by God (regardless of which god or gods your may subscribe to). My world changed, and a small part of me died last week, when at …
What motivated Toronto board to approve an all-black school?
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Toronto school trustees have approved a black-focused school. What can I say to that other than “huh”? To say I am perplexed is a severe understatement. I know this may not be a popular opinion but I think we have to step back and ask some serious questions. Will this benefit the students? …
It’s important to talk about postpartum mood disorder
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, January 23, 2008, p. A8 Postpartum mood disorder is so much more than just “the blues.” Admitting you need help postpartum does not make you a bad mother. When I read the article on postpartum mood disorder (ppd) on Saturday, I did so with pride, joy and sorrow mixed with hope. I took pride in “my” …
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Telephone etiquette should not go the way of the rotary telephone
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, January 9, 2008, p. A8 The other day my telephone rang and my four-year-old daughter yelled, “I’ll get it.” She raced to the telephone with a determined look on her face. I watched her cross the room and stifled a giggle. Her arms were pumping, her legs high-stepping, and she was almost leaning backwards. She sounded …
Anticipation always beats expectation in the journey of life
Editorial & Opinion, Friday, December 28, 2007, p. A8 I am not a morning person, but last week I was wakened by my daughter yelling and I popped out of bed with a smile on my face like I’d had 12 hours sleep. She was hanging the next decoration on our advent calendar, made by her Nana last year, joyfully …
Despite the dangers in the world, we have to let our babies go
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, December 12, 2007, p. A10 The headlines lately have echoed a tragic loss of young life from this community. As a mother, these are painful reminders that no matter how safe the cocoon called home may be, once we let our butterflies spread their wings, they may not make it home again. From the moment we …
What would I like for Christmas? The spirit of Thanksgiving
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, November 28, 2007, p. A10 Christmas is coming and so are the queries from friends and family. What do you and the kids need? The short answer is: nothing. We already have too much stuff. I was looking at a toy from my childhood last week: a Fisher-Price school bus. The bulk of it was made …
The importance of remembering: if not now, when?
Editorial & Opinion, Wednesday, November 14, 2007, p. A8 Where did October go? I remember Thanksgiving and trick-or-treating, but if not for that, I’d think I’d been robbed. I simply don’t remember the month; and this is happening more and more to more and more of us. The busier our lives get, the more likely we are to miss out …