I’ve turned invisible – which definitely has its advantages. Case in point – I wear pyjamas for almost the whole of winter – which is pretty much the next best thing to full-on hibernation. As a result of this recently acquired superpower, I’m also privy to some interesting conversations. Standing on the playground waiting for…
I love me a good story. My friends know this about me – they’ll call me up and start the conversation with: “Wait till you hear this one . . . “ or “Something happened today that I know you’ll appreciate”. The weird, the funny, the creepy – it doesn’t matter – I love them…
It’s been two Christmases without Aunt Pat – which means it’s been two Christmases without Aunt Pat’s inevitable January email aptly entitled “Merry Bitchmas”. In this email, she would vent unabashedly about all the petty annoyances that had plagued her throughout the holidays: the lineups at the mall, the overcooked turkey, the chipping of favourite…
Last month, my daughter proclaimed my blog posts boring. Of course she softened the blow by ending her pronouncement with ‘No offence” which everyone knows makes everything all better. According to her worldly 14 years of wisdom, my posts are on boring topics that sometimes start off interesting but inevitably turn boring. In order to…
As anyone who knows me will attest to – I ask a lot of questions. Not because I’m annoying (although that is definitely a part of it) but mainly because I’m curious – and typically very interested. I mean – how else do you come to learn about other people – than by asking them…
If you are a parent reading this – then you know what it feels like to be judged by perfect strangers. You understand the public shame associated with a child’s temper tantrum. Then you, unfortunately, have fallen prey to undisguised scorn and derision for events beyond your control. If you are the parent of an…
My daughter’s birthday is in July. This year, as in the past and hopefully as in the future, family and friends arrived at our house on the holiday weekend to partake in our annual barbecue, eat cake and watch our little angel tear open the gifts she most covets – gift cards and cash. Afterward,…
It goes without saying that it’s difficult for any parent to come to terms with the fact that their child may in fact be a bully; or at the very least, may be engaging in bullying behaviour. Bullies don’t always take the form of out-and-out ringleaders. In fact, more often than not, bullying behaviour is…
“. . . Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight – – Got to kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight.” – – Bruce Cockburn What we do know is that the darkness does not discriminate. It can seep in and get the better of any one of us – the young…
Our ability to feel compassion is what makes us human – it’s just about the only thing that differentiates us from the disgusting slugs I carefully mince my way over on the morning sidewalk. And despite what the bleeding hearts within society will have you believe, compassion is not always a simple, straightforward, clear-cut or…
