As we come to the end of 2011, most people take time to reflect upon the year and consider positive changes going forward. Eating healthier and exercising more are always in the back of my mind, but I thought I would also set some realistic resolutions around parenting. These are my hopes for me, my son and my family in the New Year. Unplug. This applies to everyone in our household. Many times during a typical day I find that I will have my laptop open, while my husband is on his smart phone and my son sits in front of the TV. These things are all okay in moderation, but it’s easy to get …

I am one of those annoyingly festive people who actually loves this time of year. But there does come a time in the middle of filling out holiday cards, baking cookies, decorating the house, checking lists and shopping for gifts when it all becomes a bit overwhelming. There are ways to simplify this season so that we’re not running ourselves ragged by the time New Year comes along. Cut down on travel: This may be an unavoidable necessity if you live far from family. But while your kids are young, you may want to reconsider the need. Travelling with little ones is always a hassle. Add in the …

It’s easy to fall into a rut when it comes to meals, especially when time is limited. Most evenings you want what is fast and uncomplicated. When you add picky eaters to the mix, the rut-factor is doubled. My sweet, naive pre-parent self asserted that this would not happen. I would encourage my child to develop diverse and healthful tastes! He/she will eat vegetables! And sushi! And tofu! Cut to the reality that is toddlerhood, where chicken nuggets and mac ‘n cheese are king. Toddlers are notoriously choosy about what goes on their plate and into their mouths.  I have found that simply …

There are certain toys that will send parents running for the ibuprofen. During the holiday season, the phrase “Some Assembly Required” is like a dirty word in most households with young children. And I’ve been known to plot the mysterious disappearance of anything with loud repetitive sounds or flashing lights. Maybe I asked for it. In my pre-parent days I purchased a drum and tambourine set for my niece, thinking I was helping to expand her creative side, not realizing that I had given her parents the gift of incessant noise. They turned to me with pleading faces and rolling eyes, even …

Shopping with kids is not on my list of top 10 favorite experiences. It involves a test of patience and wills and maybe a tantrum or two, for both parent and child. And while I’ll do most anything to avoid it, inevitably during this holiday season I will find myself at a local mall with my son, along with many other parents in the same situation. There are ways to make the experience a little easier for all involved. Be aware of his schedule: Make sure your child is not overtired or hungry. If it’s right around nap time, it might not be the best idea to take him out. Or if he hasn’t had lunch…

It’s a situation to which many can relate: Driving back and forth between two (or more) houses on Thanksgiving day, splitting time between families as judiciously as possible. But even after years cultivating finely laid plans for the holidays, I still get heartburn before I’ve even had a bite of turkey. Don’t get me wrong, I adore spending time with our families. One of the things I am most thankful for is having our family close by and that they are actually fun, enjoyable people to be around. But Thanksgiving day seems to have a general malaise about it; perhaps it’s all the turkey and …

When both parents work outside the home, sitting down to dinner as a family is not always realistic. But even if it doesn’t happen every night, it is important to us that we make it work as often as possible. After we’ve spent the day going our separate ways, it’s a great way to reconnect and eat a healthy meal as a unit. But it takes some planning ahead to make it happen. Meal plan. Create a menu at the beginning of the week and stick to it.  This helps set a streamlined shopping list and cuts down on wasted food.  It also helps give peace of mind and minimize those moments of standing in …

Perhaps I’m jumping the gun covering the topic of holiday shopping in early November. But since the winter weather has already hit us with its first punch, I figure it’s time to get a head start on the holiday season too. There are huge advantages to shopping early. One is avoiding the December chaos and constant crowds at every mall. After you’ve already finished shopping, driving by a packed parking lot instead of fighting for a spot comes with a certain smug sense of pride. Starting early also takes the edge off the inevitable budget strain of the season. Spending money over a number of …

The inevitable is upon us. We are slowly but surely barrelling into the winter season. And while there are certain things I love about this time of year: the holidays, cozy sweaters, hot chocolate, and watching the snow fall from the comfort of my couch, there are also some definite down sides. One of the negatives is not being able to go outside easily, especially with an energetic toddler running around. As the temperatures dip to bone-chilling lows, there are times we start to get a little stir crazy in our house. So we are constantly on the search for ways to get out, yet stay warm …

It seems every year just as the weather starts to turn, my house gets hit with the Cold of All Colds. It starts with one and snakes its way through each of us, leaving a trail of phlegm in its wake. That time is upon us. While I am only at the beginning stages, my husband and son Des are a few days into the inaugural illness. I would gladly take the brunt of any and all sickness if it meant Des would go unscathed. Is there anything worse than watching your child suffer when there's little you can do to help? Most colds are just a waiting game until it's over, but there are some things you can…

Last year was our first Halloween as parents. I’ll be honest; I wasn’t super excited about putting our son in a costume. Dressing him in regular clothes is a chore with our littler squirmer. The thought of wrestling him into a bulky costume that he would likely despise for five minutes just to take photos and “make memories,” well... I’d rather take a nap. I’d pretty much rather take a nap than do anything else since giving birth, but that’s beside the point. The part of me that thought it would be a travesty to simply ignore Halloween prevailed, and about a week before the big day I started …