Oh “screen time”. Every family has a love/hate relationship with you. Sometimes you provide my kids with age-appropriate activity, fun and learning. And sometimes you hold them hostage.
When One Parent Travels … A Lot.
For the last 2.5 years, Daddy-o has been a FIFO (Fly In, Fly Out) Father. His current client requires that he be onsite during the week so as such, he arrives home on Friday nights, then leaves again on Sunday evenings.
How To Help Your Unmotivated Child Step It Up
When you have a smart kid not working to potential, it’s enough to make any parent twitchy. So I asked an expert for help, and here’s what I learned
Guest post by Julie Cole
It’s The Time Of Year For Dancing, Sap And Spring(ing) In The Air
You know the long, cold winter is over when you find yourself boiling home-tapped sap, tying on your Irish jig-dancing shoes and uncovering the trampoline
By Julie Cole
Guest Blogger
Forget ‘Perfect’; Be A Superstar
In celebration of Mabel’s Labels’ birthday, the company’s co-founder reflects on the birthday of one of her favourite people—her very special Aunt Joan. Do you celebrate someone special in your family?
By Julie Cole
Guest blogger
Of Course I’m Tired Of Birthday Parties
It’s okay, you can admit to birthday party fatigue. Here are some tips to make it quick and painless, from an experienced mother of six
By Julie Cole
Guest blogger
Survival Tips For Parents Of Tweens
Buffeted by the rage-storms of your daughter? You’re not alone in thinking tweens are the new teens. Try these tips from an experienced mom of six. When all else fails, just chant No. 6 to yourself.
By Julie Cole
Guest blogger
The Poopy Little Puppy: A Tail Of Separation Anxiety
While we were away, our puppy was great. We came home, and everything went spiralling down the . . . drain. Turns out dogs are people, too
By Julie Cole
momstown Guest Blogger
The perfect Christmas presents, a month early!
Christmas is coming early – literally – for Mabel’s Labels founder Julie Cole. With the clock ticking for her to check six kids, naughty and nice, off her list, she found inspiration online
By Julie Cole, guest blogger
The Many Faces of Abuse
November is Women Abuse Prevention Month in Ontario, and I have a story to tell.
by Julie Cole, guest blogger
Not on my watch, waterboy!
Last week I had to step out of the arena during one of my daughter’s hockey games to take a phone call. As I was talking on the phone, I noticed a kid had plugged the indoor water fountain and was allowing water to spill over onto the floor. He was also spraying the water from the spout causing a tsunami like effect which also wet the floor.
Mean Girls: Sexist Stereotype or Reality?
We’ve all heard the term “mean girls.” It refers to the notion that tween and teen girls are exclusively and irrationally mean to one another. A notion so popular that it was made into a movie, which was so popular they followed it up with the sequel, Mean girls 2.
A Floor that makes “Cents”?
About a dozen years ago, my siblings talked me into buying a cottage with them. It has worked out great – we share the cost and the work among the four of us, and the property gets a lot of use! On the rare occasion we’re all there at the same time, it makes for eight adults and 12 kids enjoying all the good stuff cottage country has to offer.
Dinner time Debates: How to Take the Stress out of Supper
People often ask what it is like to feed half dozen kids. Feeding families can be a “thing” and many parents report that dinner time can be the most stressful time of the day. I decided early on that I didn’t want meal time to create anxiety for me or my kids, so here are my few tips for relaxing and enjoying fun family meals.
Surviving Sixteen Years and Six Kids
I recently celebrated my 16th wedding anniversary to Daddy-o. When I say “celebrated,” I actually just mean that we both “remembered.” It has been a busy sixteen years and I’d be lying if I said we’ve actually remembered all of our anniversaries. Usually we are reminded of this special occasion when his mother calls to offer congratulations.
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