Caring for my Aging Parents as the Ontario Healthcare System Collapses

It's bad. In fact, it seems to be hanging on by a thread right now. The healthcare system I left a few years ago to start my business is in much worse shape today than when I left it.

Advice from an Empty Nester

Are you dreading the empty nest? I've got some advice for you from an empty nester, to make the transition a little easier for you and your kids.

Why Don't Parents Talk Openly About how Hard Teenagers Are to Raise?

Warning: real talk and language in here!

My husband is the most honest, reliable, voice of reason that every parent needs in their life. He shares his wisdom while making you feel like you've got a cheerleader with a really deep voice on your shoulder.

We sat down to talk about why parents don't talk more openly about how hard it is to raise teenagers after a mom posted a question anonymously on the MamaSoup social media platform.

Parenting at Christmas: Setting Boundaries and Managing Expectations

Mom of four and founder of the MamaSoup platform talks about ways to set boundaries and expectations for kids around Christmas and tips to make the holidays less stressful and more memorable.

Tips for Talking to your Kids About Sex

There's nothing worse than awkward discussions with your kids about sex. But sex is a huge part of every human being's life, so we may as well learn tips to talk about sex, pleasure, consent and emotional and physical health with our kids. And it should start young!

The 4 Biggest Mistakes I Made After Having Babies

Having a baby is such a momentous occasion in a person’s life. It’s so weird because it’s not just another day, even though the process is one hundred percent normal.

8 Things I've Learned from Being a Mom in Quarantine

Now that we've hit the six month mark, I felt like a little reflection would be cool. Kinda like looking in the rearview mirror. Except since this mother-effing virus isn't going anywhere anytime soon, it's kinda like looking at what's ahead for us as well.
 

How I Went From Surviving to Thriving as a Single Mom on Welfare

If you’re separated or divorced and you’re doing that mom-life all by your lonesome, you’re truly doing the hardest job. Like, it’s the Iron Man of the mom-world. It’s like running the Boston Marathon but you never reach the finish line.

Stop Judging Moms for 'Distracted Parenting' When We're Raising Kids in the Digital F**king Age

Once again the media is calling out parents for another thing we're doing wrong out here. As if the pressure to raise human beings in a scary world where men like Trump are running the free-world isn't enough, now we can't check our phones while we do it?

Your 'Perfect' Instagram Life is Ruining Motherhood for the Rest of Us

The problem with the perfect feed of the "InstaMommy" is that women are feeling crappy after looking at it. Because at the end of the day, if you’re a mom you’re a woman with problems. Let’s stop pretending this is the easiest and most rewarding job in the world all the time and start talking about how tough it can be.

The One Thing a Mom Can Do to Make Raising a Teenager Easier

Did you know there’s a group for moms of teenagers on the Mamasoup app? Join the conversation now and start finding the support that we all need doing this most difficult stage of parenting- the stage where we have to let go and trust that we’ve done our job well.

I Don't Always Love Being a Mom (And You Don't Have to Either!)

The faster we accept that motherhood doesn’t have to feel like one big dance through the daisy-field, the better. Let’s all acknowledge that even if you’re a mom who did fertility treatments, even if you navigated the adoption process for years, even if you didn’t think you’d ever become pregnant- you don’t have to feel a constant flow of positivity about motherhood.

Have You Ever Felt the Crushing Pressure of Providing Your Kids a Christmas?

It may seem like an insignificant thing to some people- supporting a mom and her kids during a highly marketed season. You may think, Why on earth would she put her efforts into Christmas when there are so many other times a mom needs help?

Sex, Drugs and Alcohol: The 3 Things I've Learned About Talking to My Teens About the Hard Stuff

Raising well-adjusted kids means keeping an open line of communication and unfortunately that’s our job as parents. Those times when you really don’t want to talk because it’s uncomfortable or just plain hard? Those are the times when it matters the most.

The 10 Things I Realized While Raising a Child Addicted to Drugs

When you’re pregnant, you kinda have a vision of what kind of parent you think you'll be. I remember thinking that I would be a very cool, open mom who wouldn’t let too much get to me. I’d be the mom that other mom’s kids could talk to. I have to say, that for the most part I’ve been pretty damn relaxed in this mom-gig.

But NOTHING could have ever prepared me to raise a son addicted to drugs.

What I've Learned From Being a Teen Mom and Why I Wish People Would Stop Passing Judgement.

You see not all teenage moms are strippers, drug addicts or unaware that they happen to be carrying an extra 30 pounds of baby. And contrary to popular belief, we’re not all girls with “Daddy issues” or a need to be loved.

Your Body is Not Broken, Mama.

A caesarean.

I had to let it sink in for a bit, and when it finally did all I felt was scared. And disappointed: in my body and in the birth that I wasn’t going to have. I felt sorry for myself for awhile, then angry. Sometimes it seemed like all I was focusing on for the last 2 months of my pregnancy was my upcoming surgery and the pain that I would experience after.

My Friends Can't Believe I Buy Condoms For My Teenagers

As a strong woman who is raising strong, independent and well-adjusted kids I like to bring up the really tough stuff: consent, drugs, birth control, sex…you know, the kind of things that they’re going to be dealing with for the rest of their lives. I want to make these conversations easier on them because I want them to feel like they can talk to me about this stuff.

Are You Tired of Your Inner Mean Girl?

If you’re struggling to move ahead in any part of your life, you’re not alone! Your inner mean girl is a bully and she can paralyze you from having everything you’ve ever wanted. Over the years, I’ve learned some tricks to quiet that voice of doubt and truly take control of my life.

Three Women With Three Different Birth Stories

Ask any woman about her birth(s) and she will be able to recall very specific details: the sounds, the smells and the way she was made to feel while she was bringing life into the world.

In this post: 3 women share 3 very different memories from their birth stories.

Your Birth is THAT Important

Childbirth is a story that a mama will recall over and over again for her entire life. And it's not a story that can be rewritten.

Shut Down Your Thoughts, Change the World With Your Gifts

There is nothing that you can’t accomplish if you set your mind straight to it. The big problem is drowning out all of your thoughts and fears. I can talk myself out of anything. Just last night I talked myself out of washing and moisturizing my face before bed.

It's Not Too Late to Rewrite Our Stories

Deep down I know it’s wrong, to let extra pounds define myself as a person. I’m an adult now, so changing my “story” should be easy! All I have to do is write myself a new plot, right? But I’m only human and I hear the screams of society telling me how I should look to be worthy of happiness. So, like many, I've desperately tried to change myself.

Is it Possible to Take the Guilt out of Motherhood?

f you’re a mom, you have experienced the feeling of never being able to accomplish everything. And that goes for working moms and stay-at-home moms, too! I used to say to my husband, “I’m so frustrated because I can’t give 100% to anything in my life!”

When Moms Help Moms, I Do a Happy Dance

People often ask me why I would leave my career in nursing to start a company at this stage in my life. Let’s face it- I’m not young. I don’t have an MBA. Who do I think I am anyway, starting a business?  Trust me, I don’t always feel confident and I often feel terrified. But I'm not offended when people ask me because even I think I’m a little bit crazy, to be honest. Maybe the best thing I’ve ever learned from so many years of nursing is a deep, deep compassion for women.

What Kind of a Sports Mom Are You?

I love watching my kids do their favourite things and I love seeing my different “team families”. But when two sports overlap, it’s hard not to notice how different the culture of those sports is. More importantly, the culture of different sports parents.

Valentine's Day is the Day to Love Yourself.

Over the last 26 years of being a mom on Valentine’s Day, I’ve been single, dating and married. I totally understand why some women get really wrapped up in the importance of the day. Who doesn’t want to feel loved and appreciated? Especially a mom.

You're Not Failing at Motherhood if Your Kid Doesn't Have a "Chore List"

I know it’s good for kids to have responsibilities from a young age. I’ve read the parenting books and they all cover just this topic, and I know it makes them more responsible later in life. I realize that 2-year olds can clean up a few toys, that 4 year olds can help with dishes and that 6 year olds can help pack lunches. I know they’re capable of doing all of these things, but do you know where I get stuck? It’s the fact that it all takes monitoring from me.

The Time to Love Your Post-Baby Body is NOW!

Are you grieving the loss of your former body since having children? You're not alone. It's time to stop beating yourself up and start appreciating your post-baby body, Mama!

Caesarean Awareness is for EVERYMOM

January is Caesarean Awareness Month! Instead of telling you all the reasons you shouldn't have one, I've decided to talk about the reasons some women choose to have a caesarean birth. It's time to stop judging moms for their decisions and support one another! Your birth decisions were right for you, and hers were right for her.

New Year Same You Because, Mama, You're Already Amazing

I propose that we stop trying to improve ourselves in the new year and start celebrating how awesome we are!

A Kid Who Loses is a Happy Winner

Our kids will never appreciate winning if they never lose. It's tough to watch your kid go through it, but in the end it's worth it!

Travelling With Kids is Worth the Effort.

Travelling with kids is one of the hardest things a parent can do! Lots of parents choose to stay home in the safety of their own environment. But getting away is good for families!

A Balanced Mama Means a Balanced Kid

As adults, we can make the choice to put our phones down and step away from the constant bombardment of technology. But how do our kids know to do the same? They just kind of get stuck in a constant loop of information coming at them all the time.