Urban Suburban Mommy – Page 17

Day out with Thomas – win tickets!

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Urban Suburban Mommy .

I don’t know about you, but my boys have been obsessed with trains for as long as they’ve been choo-choo-ing. The shows, the train sets, the requests to ride a real one.

Well guess what? A Day out With Thomas is about as amazing as the whole train love experience can get. All aboard, this opportunity gets you on the railways with everybody’s favourite little tank engine – and some of his friends will be there too.

Appearing at the York Durham Heritage Railway over the next few weeks, you need to book your ride now. And one lucky family can win a four pack of tickets from Urban Suburban Mommy!

Like the blog, like our Facebook page Urban Suburban Mommy and leave a comment (either on Facebook or on the Blog) and you’re entered to win.

Winners must use tickets for the Friday August 19 tour at 3:45pm. There is no cash value, no date alternative. Prize is awarded randomly. Winner will be announced on August 15 at 10 am est. There is free parking near the site but transportation to and from the event is not included.

For more details or to book your own tickets visit: A Day out With Thomas

Contest may be cancelled at the discretion of Urban Suburban Mommy. Urban Suburban Mommy will not be held responsible for any damage, loss or injury involved with participating in the contest. Ticket pick up is the responsibility of the contest winner and is only open to residents of the GTA only (Toronto area).

10 questions with a casting director

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in 10 Questions With .

Every one wants to be a star! My little guy has asked me to be on TV and of course I really have to think about this one. My brother was a child actor and yes, at times it was exciting and glamorous, but, believe it or not it is a lot of hard work and a bigtime commitment. So many parents are curious about how to get their kids started in showbiz, we spoke to Julie J. Fitzsimmons, principle of Jules Casting, who some shed light on the audition process. We think you’ll find it enlightening!

1. Does a child need an agent before auditioning in front of a casting director?

Having an agent is a huge advantage, but there are other open call avenues that some Casting Directors use. For example, I have an online form where anyone can sign up to receive E-blasts for Jules Casting Open Call notifications signup.julescasting.com. I also make announcements using social media like twitter @JulesCasting

*NOTE* there are MANY scams out there so it’s extremely important to do your due diligence and research before you decide to submit your child to something. I can’t stress it enough. NEVER give money up front. That’s why it really is in your best interest to have an agent who can submit your child to all the castings in the city. They will be more familiar with who the industry professionals are.

2. What special talents or personality traits does a casting director look for when auditioning children?

I look for children who are confident, listen well and take our direction. Often kids are very confident but there are many that come into the casting room who get shy. It’s an intimidating experience but some children come in with absolutely no fear! It’s amazing to see!

3. Are there certain desired looks or trends these days in casting for TV/Films?

No, every casting is different so it would pertain to the specific job I’m working on.

4. Is a parent allowed in the room when a child is auditioning?

I can’t speak for other Casting Directors but I don’t allow parents in the room. Children often look to their parent for support or approval and most times it’s to the detriment of the child’s performance. I run a fun show, so the Jules Casting team will always make sure it’s an enjoyable experience for the kids.

5. Should a child dress the part when auditioning? For example, if you are casting for a period film, should a child dress appropriately?

This is another question that is specific to each Casting Director or even client. I like people to dress the role, so it adds to my visual of seeing them in the scene. This doesn’t mean they have to go purchase a costume/wardrobe for every audition. For example, if you’re auditioning for a role as an elf in a Christmas movie, wear red and green. If the part is for a private school student, perhaps dress in white shirt, grey or black bottoms similar to a uniform. Though I have heard that some Casting Directors do not like this, when we schedule auditions we’ll include wardrobe details in the prep notes so you would know ahead of time.

6. How important are good head shots to a casting director?

They’re important, but what’s more important is to keep them REAL. Do not jazz your child up in hair and make-up. It’s beneficial to have a couple of options, perhaps one casual and one dressed up. Also, children grow quickly so it’s important to get head shots updated.

7. What are some tips to help parents/children prepare for an audition?

Memorize the lines as best as they can, do some improvisation with them for the scene and just remind them it’s about being creative and having fun.

8. How long does an audition usually last?

Usually parents should be prepared to stay between 20 – 30 minutes at the Casting Studio. You’ll often be asked to fill in forms, then wait until it’s time for the child to come in the room. The audition itself could be 5-15 minutes, but it all depends on the project.

9. What can a child performer expect for a rate of pay for one day’s work?

Rates really vary from job to job, but I always tell actors in the beginning of their career to get out and volunteer for as many shoots (low budget/short films/school projects) as possible to gain more confidence and experience.

10. Any tips on how to wow a casting director or leave a lasting impression?

Be polite, do the best job you can and have fun!

About Jules Casting

Julie J. Fitzsimmons founder of Jules Casting has been working as an independent Casting Director in Toronto since 2004. Casting TV Hosts, Commercials, Reality Shows, Series, Feature Films, Live Events and voice with a long list of production clients. For over 10 years Jules has been casting and collaborating with many of the major networks including: MuchMusic, Comedy, E!, Oprah’s Network ‘OWN’, CTV, MTV, Slice, OLN, The Score, Sportnet, Rogers, CityTV, M3, Cosmo, Space, WNetwork, CMT, Bell Media, Discovery and TMN.

Jules is a Canadian Screen Award Member and has been invited to sit on the jury for the last four years. Her work has played an important role in over 30 award-winning promos, including multiple Promax Awards, a Gemini nomination for guest-hosting with Daily Planet, a Gemini Nomination, as well as a Gold Remi for On-Screen Talent and Television Series/Comedy for Ed’s Up.

www.julescasting.com

@JulesCasting

Fertility issues

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Sponsored Post, The Struggle is Real .

Growing up, most of us thought about having babies. We wondered whether we’d have a boy or a girl – or maybe even twins! We thought about how many we’d like and what it would be like to play house.

It was all very exciting.

Those childhood daydreams never involved wondering whether fertility would be an issue.

Fertility issues are difficult. For those that suffer through fertility issues, it’s painful and personal, and most don’t feel comfortable openly discussing it.

Because it’s not discussed, or even given much consideration until it becomes an issue, there is a lot of misinformation and a lot of myth surrounding fertility.

Fertility issues affect 16% of Canadians, that’s about 1 in 6 couples.

What do you really know about fertility issues? We teamed up with OvaScience who have recently launched the AUGMENT treatment in Canada to assist women who are struggling with fertility due to egg health to figure out fact from fiction and provide some insight into the subject.

Myth 1: Fertility issues usually stem from the woman

Actually… Fertility issues can lie with either partner. In men some of the factors that can lead to fertility issues are:

Varicoceles – an enlarged vein in the testicles that may affect sperm count and shape
Medical conditions such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, infections, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy
Unhealthy lifestyle issues such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, use of anabolic steroids or other illegal drugs
Environmental toxins such as pesticides and lead

Myth 2: It’s just stress. When you stop trying, it will happen

Actually… Stress doesn’t cause infertility, but infertility will definitely cause a lot of stress.

Myth 3: There has to be a reason.

Actually… While there is a reason, sometimes science doesn’t have all of the answers. Both couples may be in perfect health and seem to be reproductively fit, yet there’s just no success. Unexplained fertility is the diagnosis for between 15 to 30% of couples who have undergone fertility investigation.

Myth 4: It’s easy for most women to get pregnant

Actually… Though it may seem like pregnancy is easy and immediate for most women, it’s actually not as easy as you think. Despite the fact that it might sometimes feel like you’re constantly hearing announcements of a surprise, or that someone got pregnant even though they were on birth control, it takes a very specific set of ideal circumstances to make the magic happen. The timing has to be just right – there are only a few days a month that a woman can conceive. The egg has to be healthy. The uterus has to be in balance. The ejaculate has to have quality sperm that reach the egg. Fertilization needs to occur. The cell division has to happen correctly. Implantation needs to be successful. And even then, there are numerous reasons why a pregnancy doesn’t succeed.

Myth 5: Young women don’t struggle with infertility

Actually… The rate of infertility for women between 40 to 44 is over 14.3% to 20.7%, but the infertility rate of 18 to 29 year old women is 7 to 13.7%. Infertility in women definitely has a correlation to age – fertility is at its peak in a woman’s early 20s. Eggs are healthiest, rate of miscarriage is lowest. Still, the odds of successfully getting pregnant within a cycle is about 33%. Fertility starts to decrease more quickly for a woman through her 30s. By 30, the odds of getting pregnant each cycle are about 20%. These odds decrease steadily by the years until early 40s, when the likelihood of infertility is much higher. 91% of women can get pregnant at age 30; 77% by age 35; 53% by age 40.

Myth 6: Infertile couples will never have children

Actually… Never say never. For some it may never happen, for others, circumstances may change. For many, the odds may be slim, but they’re just odds and it may just naturally happen. While fertility issues can occur because of a wide variety of factors, each case needs to be investigated because individual issues can vary so widely and even change over time.

With scientific development and a better understanding of reproductive health, new strategies for treatment may eventually help more couples experiencing fertility issues. OvaScience has recently introduced the AUGMENT treatment across Canada to help women who are struggling with their fertility due to poor egg health. While many factors contribute to egg health, having adequate levels of mitochondria, or energy inside of the egg is essential for healthy fertilization and embryo development. The AUGMENT treatment uses the energy-producing mitochondria from a patient’s own egg precursor cell, an immature egg cell found in the protective lining of her ovaries – to supplement the existing mitochondria in her egg.

If you are experiencing infertility, or just want to learn more about this new technology, you can visit http://www.augmenttreatment.com or talk to your doctor.

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When my summer went up in smoke

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

I’ve agonized over writing this. I promised the editors that I was going to submit an article about my favourite “staycation” moments. I had an outline about ice cream hunts, day trips and movie nights. There would be a humorous twist, of course, a sardonic angle ending in an inclusive, collective sigh of “ahhh, parenting, amiright?”

And then there was a fire.

We were spending the week with my parents at a cottage in Haliburton. About three days in, we got a voicemail from the fire department, saying there was a fire and our front door was compromised. It turns out that our neighbours two houses down caught fire, and the house beside them – which attaches to us – caught fire as well.

We’ve incurred a lot of smoke and smoulder and the house is unlivable right now, but we are safe and I thank god we weren’t there. Living out of suitcases and temporary apartments can put a cramp in anyone’s summer. Here’s how I managed to salvage it:

I became my own portable office: I’ve dealt with insurance companies before, and the one thing I know is that I am my own best advocate. While our adjustor initially took the reigns and made sure that we had the bare necessities, insurance companies have many moving parts and are sometimes short on details. Armed with a tiny notebook, a binder clip of business cards and my cell phone, I have spent hours followingupfollowingupfollowingup with cleaning crews, relocation companies and engineers. Staying on top of business allowed me to carve out some quality time with my kids.

I started accepting help. People are awesome. I have an incredible village of family and friends. As soon as word got out about our situation, we were been invited to sleepovers, pool days, meals, you name it. When we were in between residences my parents let us all sleep over at their place. I don’t accept help very often, but this time I allowed myself to say yes because it’s not just about me anymore.

I didn’t let our situation affect the kids’ summer. I haven’t told our oldest about the fire specifically. I’ve positioned the rest of the summer as a great “adventure”. We did the ice cream crawl (Ed’s Real Scoop, Hollywood Gelato and Sweet Jesus, anyone?), a trip to Centre Island, movies and so many pool days my boys resemble prunes. Of course, I’m tempering all of this with the knowledge that my kids are smart and can tell when I’m being insincere.

When my boy asks me why he can’t go home and get his treasure box I tell him (after dying inside) that there are people fixing up our house so it will be fresh and new and clean. It’s all I can do right now.

I’ve found silver linings everywhere. We’ve been inconvenienced, but our neighbours literally lost everything. We didn’t have to experience firemen kicking our door down in the middle of the night. Our house is secure and has a million people cleaning and fixing it.

Most importantly, we are safe and my kids are having a kick-ass summer.

Cocoa snack balls

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

photo: Elin B

My friend Ali, the beauty and the brains behind those sensation Au Naturel Artisan beauty and edible products (goingaunaturel.com) showed me this one. Rather, she got my husband hooked on these little pretty-good-for-you treats and I can’t make them fast enough to keep up!

There’s no set recipe, it’s kind of nice that way, you just need to follow the technique and include anything you’ve got a craving for or have on hand. You can make them into balls or bars. You can eat them while they’re still warm or you can wait for them to cool – sometimes it’s hard to wait! Once you try these you’ll see how easy and quick these are and you’ll be making your own versions all the time.

What you need:

– 1/2 cup coconut oil
– 1/4 cup agave or 4 tablespoons maple syrup
– dash of vanilla
– 1 heaping tablespoon cocoa powder

These are approximate, I like to toss the ingredients from the container right into the sweetened coconut oil mixture:
– 1/2 cup steel cut quick oats
– 1/2 cup chia seeds
– 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (shelled)
– 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (shelled)
– 1/4 cup raw almonds, slivered or crushed
– 2 pinches sea salt

You can add any seeds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans (crush nuts before adding), shaved coconut – even popcorn if you want. You can pack them with protein and make energy bars. You can make them with dried blueberries, goji berries and other superfoods for a power packed pick-up. You can really play with the flavours once you see how the sweetened coconut oil binds the ingredients together.

What you do:

On medium-low melt the coconut oil and then stir in the agave or maple syrup. Stir in the vanilla and cocoa.

Remove the pot from the heat and start tossing in pinches and small handfuls of ingredients. The oats make the balls bigger, helping the nuts and seeds to bind. You can keep adding ingredients until the mixture is thick and starts binding together. If it gets too dry, just return to heat and add a bit more coconut oil to melt – just very briefly. Keep tasting along the way. You can add a dash more sweet or more cocoa – bump up any flavour that you like.

When the mixture is nice and thick and starting to clump, you can either pour out onto a piece of wax paper on a tray or roll into balls and place on a tray.

Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.

Put the tray in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes to set.

You can eat this warm or cold. You can leave them in the freezer and the cocoa flavoured and sweetened coconut oil is chilled and hard – it’s kind of perfect for the summer heat!

The best summer hair and beauty regime tips and products

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Best You .

Summer is here and there’s nothing more I love to do then head to the beach or lay around poolside – okay, now I’m getting carried away. There is no lying around poolside with my two year old son 😏😉

Erica Wearing – under a hat, taking her own good advice.

There are a few essential items I like to carry with me in my beach bag, the most important of which are sunblock, beach towels, water, snacks. There is also is a very important hair care product tucked away in there also – that is hair sunscreen. Most are easy to apply, just spritz it on throughout the day. This will help your hair from becoming brittle and dry, and also help colour from fading.

Here are a few to try that won’t leave your hair feeling greasy:

: Wella Sun

: Paul Mitchell Sun Shield Conditioning Spray

: AVEDA Sun Care

: Pureology Essential Repair

When soaking your self in the pool, the last thing you want to do is destroy the beautiful hair colour you just had freshened up for the summer. If your going to go under water these are the tips you need to follow or you will be left with a lovely green tint and can kiss that $$$ beautiful blonde hair goodbye!

Always pre rinse hair. This will act like a shield and helps slow the absorption of chlorine.
Use a leave in conditioner or spray in conditioner.
Oil based or silicone hair products. This will help protect your strands while leaving them hydrated

: Davines Absolute Beautifying Potion

: Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment

: EVO Day of Grace

: EVO Happy Camper

Some great shampoos for chlorine removal and product build up are:

: Malibu Swimmers Wellness

: AVEDA Sun Care

: Kevin.Murphy Repair-Me.Wash

And great hair treatments and masks for after sun and beach/pool hair care:

: AVEDA Sun Care

: Pureology Hydrate Hydra Whip

: Davines Nourishing Hair Building Pack

: Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask

Hydrate and protect your hair from the sun just as you would protect your skin. Wear a hat – that will definitely help colour from fading, and most importantly, wrinkles!

Have fun splashing around 😎🍸🌊

Erica H. Wearing has been a stylist for over 16 years and she absolutely loves what she does . “It’s a great feeling to help people feel and look their best when they leave my chair. I wouldn’t trade this for any other job in the world!”
Check out Erica at Ka!Boom Hair Salon 1129 West Pender Street, Vancouver B.C .
(604)681-6003

hairbyericaw

10 questions with an adoptive parent

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in 10 Questions With .

For couples wanted to start a family or add to their existing family, adoption is definitely something to consider. Many celebrities such as Brad and Angelina Jolie have adopted children from different countries around the globe.

We had the pleasure of speaking with child therapist, author and adoptive parent Ce Eshelman about some of the benefits and challenges of adoption. Ce’s story is empowering and sheds light on the joys and blessings that parenting brings.

1. Why should couples consider adoption?

People adopt for many reasons, and adoption isn’t for everyone. It is, however, for singles and couples who feel they want to bring a child into their lives who needs everything they have to heal a hurt and hurting heart. Adopting a child gives parents a super-sized mission and purpose. It takes a lot to parent children. It takes more to heal deep emotional wounds while parenting children.

If you have passion, a secure emotional base, resources, and love like a mountain, sign up to adopt a child. Hurry, there are 400,000+ children waiting for you in foster care right now.

2. What is the biggest myth surrounding adoption?

I wouldn’t say there is one “biggest” myth. There are some pretty good ones afloat. Maybe one myth that can be a personal hurdle for people considering adoption is the notion that you have to be perfect to adopt a child. Not so. You can learn how to be a healing force in the life of a child who has lost biological parents and maybe even been harmed by those who promised to love them. Perfection is definitely not required. It does take more than love to heal, but ordinary people with ordinary lives are the best hope for the job.

3. How can couples benefit from adoption?

Let me answer that with another question: How can bringing a child into your life not be a benefit? Children bring energy, delight, purpose, hard work, joy, play, passion, and more meaning to a couple. If you are looking for that, adoption is a bonus investment.

4. What barriers might couples face while considering adoption?

Family members may not quite understand your passion for adoption. Why? Why? Why?, you will be asked. Get your narrative well established because you are going to tell that story over and over to well-meaning family and friends. It’s okay though; your coherent narrative will serve and sustain you during the tough parenting times.

5. What is the best age to adopt children or is there a better age?

Every age is the best age for an adopted child to come home to a loving family. There are adoptable children of every age waiting for you. The best age is the age you think you would really enjoy. Even older teens want to be a part of a family. The best age is up to your personal circumstances and desires. Adoption agencies are tremendous supports in determining what age is best for you. Don’t be afraid to be honest. If you cannot imagine parenting two children, the most darling of sibling pairs is not for you. If you have a large house and plenty of resources, go ahead and reach out for a set of 3 or 4 siblings that need to stick together. If baby’s rock your world, hold on; there are babies needing adoption, too.

6. If a couple adopts a child as a baby, should they tell the child that he/or she is adopted? Is there a good age to have the conversation with your child?

In my opinion children fare better when they know from the beginning that they are a gift of adoption. A coherent narrative about how you came to be where you are, how you are, and how you feel is essential for positive mental health later in life. If parents celebrate adoption day, as well as a birthday, children will delight in two whole days every year devoted just for shining on them.

As for best age to have the conversation, I think it begins with reading adoption books to your child when very young. It will be part of their awareness from the beginning of consciousness that some children come by stork, some by marriage, some by relatives, and some by adoption. Children will eventually ask you the age old question, Where do babies come from? Most wonder this around 3 or 4 years old. That is the perfect time to tell them their adoption story. Tell it beautiful, because it is.

7. How do you make an adoptive child comfortable with their new family?

You must be as safe as possible. Use therapeutic principles to parent—high structure, high nurture approaches. Frankly, parents need to put away traditional means of discipline and employ kinder, gentler styles because building a safe relationship with an adopted child is the first order of business–not disciplining poor behavior. Children need to be physically and emotionally safe before they can heal from their traumatic life experiences. Get support for learning a new way. You will be glad you started out on the right foot.

8. How do you deal with an adopted child who wants to seek out his/her birth parents?

First consider the circumstances that brought your child to you. If they were relatively abuse free and your attachment is strong, then supporting investigation can make sense in the teen years. Not all adoptive parents want to be found, so be sure to investigate first before involving your child. If the circumstances were abusive, I am in favor of waiting until the children are adults. Full disclosure: there are many divergent opinions about this. The level of attachment the child has to you needs to be considered before making promises that may not be followed through on. If your attachment is weak with your adoptive child, seeking out the birth parents is not wise, as it will likely cause even further distance in your attachment relationship.

9. Why is there still a stigma around adoption?

In general, many believe that you are gambling by bringing an unknown adoptive child into your life. Who knows what you will get? Frankly, bringing biological children into our lives is gambling, too. We never know what the child we bring into our lives is going to present. We just love and care for them the best we can. That is the nature of being a parent, adoptive or otherwise.

10. Why do you love being an adoptive parent?

I love my children. The fact that they are adopted has nothing to do with that. The journey to heal their broken hearts was a challenge for all of us. And, it turns out, we were all up for it. Now our dinner hours are full of stories, laughter, chatter, and true affection for one another. Nothing is better to my ears than that wild and zany family sound.

Ce Eshelman

Children’s therapist Ce Eshelman has decades of experience working with parents and their kids, including those who’ve experienced the added trauma of the foster care and adoption system. Founder and CEO of The Attach Place Center for Strengthening Relationships in Sacramento, CA, Ce has been in practice since 1987. She works every day with adopted children and their parents. Raising her two adopted children into adulthood has given her the insight, humor, and hard-earned wisdom to write with authority and love.

Her book for foster and adoptive parents, Drowning With My Hair on Fire, is a must-use resource tool for navigating the choppy waters of being an adoptive parent. Ce’s book is available via Amazon.

Tourist in my own city: Vancouver

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Bon Voyage .

I was born and raised in Coquitlam, British Columbia and for the last 15 years have been living downtown Vancouver. I absolutely love it!

Vancouver is one big awesome playground. Here are some of my favorite spots that are definitely worth a visit!

1.Stanley Park

Vancouver.ca

You most check it out – not only is it world renowned it is a must see for tourists.

There is so much to do whether you live in Vancouver or are visiting. Take a dip in the Second Beach Pool, check out the exotic fish in the Aquarium, let the kiddies splash around in the water park. You can bike or walk the sea wall and just take in the beautiful scenery.

Vancouver.ca

2. Science World

This place is perfect for kids and adults alike who like discovering and exploring. Science World is a “science centre” with hundreds of interactive exhibits. How cool is the architecture of this building?

vancouver-canada.ca

3. Playland at the PNE

This is the oldest amusement park in Canada and is located in Hastings Park. If you are a thrill-seeker, you must check out the newest ride The Beast. I may sit this one out and stick to the kiddie rides!

4. Maplewood Farms

kidsvancouver.com

Located about 20 minutes north of Vancouver, this is a great place for families. After you visit with the animals on the farm, you can enjoy a picnic in one of the Maplewood’s many covered areas.

5. Great Beaches

Vancouver is known for its fab beaches and there are so many to choose from – some of my favs are Spanish Banks, Kitsilano Beach and English Bay.

Kitsilano Beach – vancouver.ca

In fact, in addition to our beaches we have plenty of water parks and wading pools, I suggest visiting Vancouver.ca for more information.

6. Best Ice Cream Shops

bitesofvancouver.com

Yes I had to add ice cream to my list. Doesn’t everyone want to delight in a delicious treat? I highly recommend:

Earnest ice cream – there are two locations – one on Fraser Street and another on Quebec Street. In earnest, your tummy will thank you.
Rain or Shine – their delish ice cream is made with fresh, homemade and sustainable ingredients. They have awesome flavors like honey lavender.
La Casa Gelato – so many yummy flavors to choose from – this retro shop is located just east of Strathcona Park.

I love Vancouver – this is only a partial list of awesome things to do! When you venture outside of the city, there are even more great little gems to discover including Whistler. Enjoy and have fun!

hairbyericaw

Teaching my kid how to ride a bike

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

I still remember the day my dad put me on the purple bike with the flowerprint banana seat, got me peddling and then let me go.

I still remember crashing into the fence, hitting the ground and looking at him, wailing “Why did you let gooooooooo??????!?!?!?”

But I got up, tried it again and the second time was a charm. I never looked back. That bike was my freedom, my chariot to roam the neighbourhood until the streetlights came on.

So I thought it would be easy – no problem at all – to teach my kids how to ride a bike.

Please, please, hold back your laughter, I now know how foolish that sounds. Never use the word easy when describing teaching a child how to ride a bike.

After countless, breathless efforts of me running down the sidewalk holding his seat, of trying to keep up with him and keep him from steering us both into a fence (No thanks, been there and done that!) I returned to the drawing board. I borrowed a friend’s “Balance Buddy“. It’s a handle that fits on the back, making it easier to control the kid’s bike.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

So it’s been 2 years of trying to teach my son how to ride a bike. I think two years is long enough for me to admit defeat. I was, in fact, admitting defeat to a friend when she mentioned a local bike program that everyone swears by.

Forget the $29.99 for a Balance Buddy, the $35 it cost for the Learn-to-Ride program at Bike Works has proven to be the best money I ever spent.

[wpvideo itupO47y]

These pros are true bike enthusiasts. They see and understand your child’s movements and know how to adjust and motivate them – how to correct what they’re doing wrong, and how to improve on what they’re doing right.

It was a HUGE improvement over me running alongside of my son, panting and yelling.

I learned three things from these lessons:

A) A balance bike – They took the pedals off of the kids’ bikes and had them do a number of exercises just pushing themselves around by foot. It got them balancing and coasting. It gave them confidence.

B) A tune up – We’d bought what we thought was a good bike from a good bike shop, but it had some issues and those issues were making it hard to learn. We didn’t realize it, and the shop was careless in their tuning. A good bike mechanic is key. The Bike Works team noticed the issues – which were half the battle.

C) Confidence. The balance bike taught the balance part, and putting the peddling part together with balance was easier. Especially with the praise of strangers.

I think my son had, by year two, resolved to the fact that he was never going to get it, and no matter how much running up and down the street I did with him, it was never going to work out. But having someone who *loves* cycling and worked one-on-one with him was more motivating and worked better with his needs.

At first I was a bit bummed that I had failed. I couldn’t teach him. Then I realized, he’s riding. I’m not yelling, running or panting. So what if I didn’t teach him, I found the right teacher for him.

I’m calling it a parenting win!

Same stupid questions with parenting at any age

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

I was at the local barbecue place (Joe’s Barbecue – OMG so good!) picking up dinner on Friday. The place is one big grill and everything’s cooked to order, so if you don’t order ahead, you’re standing around for a good 20-30 minutes waiting on your take-out. My 5 year old was with me. The woman and man behind the counter were chatting and then finally asked how old my boy was. As it always happens when I say “He’s 5,” they go into the ‘disbelief discussion’ and remark at how big he is.

And he is. He’s 4’4″. He’s a head and shoulders above all of the other kids in his kindergarten class.

But the fact is, he was maybe half a foot shorter than the woman behind the counter.

And she said so.

And we laughed and started chatting about our kids. She told me she was 20 and her kid was 3. We were comparing notes on our kids, when she remarked how people are always trying to tell her how to raise her kid.

It was funny to compare notes. Whether you’re a 20 year old mom or a 40 year old mom, the questions are the same, the meaning is different:

Are you having another:
At 20: Are you still with the dad?
At 40: Are you going to try? Can you still have one?

Was the baby planned:
At 20: Did you learn your lesson or do I need to explain birth control?
At 40: IVF? Fertility treatment?

Is that your baby:
At 20: Is that your sister?
At 40: Is that your grandchild?

While I’d like to think there are benefits and drawbacks to having a baby at any age, it sounds like when you’re younger, people don’t feel you’re as capable, and when you’re older, you’re way more neurotic in your ways. She and I had a laugh about the rude things people ask. It’s funny what people want to know – and feel entitled to ask.

So what’s the right age to have kids – where they’re *obviously* your baby, where you’re *obviously* with the dad, where it’s *obviously* part of your master plan and not some ridiculous stereotypical symptom of your age?

Plain as a potato salad

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Delicious Dishes .

Nothing brings back childhood memories of summer family picnics like a good ol’ bowl of potato salad. It’s not one of those dishes that gets made too often during the fall, winter and spring (unless prego cravings!) but come summer, it’s on everyone’s menu.

photo: Fenwench

I’m lucky because my sister-in-law makes the best potato salad. In. The. World.

Seriously. I don’t know how she does it, but there’s no better. She’s got all of the big family barbecues and picnics covered. My husband makes a mean potato salad too, though I’m not super crazy about the celery in his.

Me, I like mine on the plain side. I don’t like eggs so I prefer when the potato salad isn’t eggy or have hard-boiled eggs creamed in there.

(Really, who does that?!?!?!)

Because I’m fussy that way, my potato salad ends up being a big hit with kids and vegans. It’s yummy, but plain. I’m always hearing “You should add…” followed with suggestions from fennel to smoked trout.

But it will never happen.

I think this plain as a potato salad will be a hit with the whole family, feel free to make it a bit more funky with your own tasty twist!

What you need:

-6 or 7 big potatoes
-2 cups Miracle Whip (or mayo)
-1/3 cup onion, very finely diced
-2 tablespoons vinegar
-pinch of sugar
-1.5 tablespoons mustard
– tablespoon salt
-pepper to taste

What you do:

Boil potatoes in salt water until soft. Drain and cool. Peel potatoes if you prefer skinless potato salad, I like to leave the skins on sometimes. Cube potatoes and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine all other ingredients and whisk together. You can taste it at this point and see if you want to add anything. Vinegar for more sour, or more sugar for sweet. Salt and pepper to taste.

Variations:

You can add a little bit of Dijon mustard, fennel, bacon bits, sweet relish, or even turmeric – which will give it a brilliant golden colour. You can add sliced radish, celery, beets or even corn. If you’re an egg fan or you really want to sneak the protein in, mash 3 hardboiled eggs and add into the mix.

Toss this dressing over the potatoes and coat well. This recipe is so forgiving, if you want to add more Miracle Whip/mayo it will be more creamy – or halve it to keep it dry.

Garnish it with a little sprinkle of paprika, some sliced green onions or a few sprigs of parsley.

Side dish. Easy, fast and full of summer.

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