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Questions:

We covered A LOT of ground in this interview, so to help reference some of the questions, here’s a list of everything we asked, and what time to find it.

1. What do you do when a toddler sprints away from you in a store, or isn’t listening? (6:50)

2. My 5yo is currently freaking out about all clothes – shirts don’t feel good, nothing feels good. She ends up in tears (and a screaming match) whenever we have to leave the house. I’m alone in the mornings with my girls starting Monday and I’m TERRIFIED…how will I get her to school on time? (11:26)

3. I am trying to get my 7 year old daughter ‘weaned’ off of coming to sleep with me every night. She says she is ‘scared to be alone’ to sleep and no matter what I try to get her to find her room more intriguing, it doesn’t help because the root issue is that she afraid to sleep alone. It doesn’t help that her father always sleeps with her when she is at his home.(14:49)

4. How to meal plan for large family with 6 different diet requirements etc? (21:37)

5. We have the issue of our toddler mimicking other kids behaviours when we’re out or if we have his friends over for a play date. He gets so excited that he acts up and throws things which scares me since I don’t want his friends (or their parents) taking a dinosaur to the face! His other thing is that he’s so easily influenced by other children’s behaviour and it’s so difficult to discipline when he’s watching the other child(ren) misbehave without discipline. We often do playgroups and he’ll crash his car into someone’s tower of blocks because another child did it, I tell him he’s not allowed to drive cars since he wasn’t being safe and make him apologize to the other child for crashing the tower… meanwhile other kids are doing it and their caregivers aren’t acknowledging so he starts giggling and wants to continue crashing! Pulling my hair out! (23:49)

6. My 3 year old has recently started “baby talk” at random points during the day and then gets frustrated when we don’t give her what she’s asking for (she is going to be a big sister soon so I assume it has to do with that). (27:00)

7. My 20mo will demand things rather than ask, what is the best way to show we ask nicely/politely at such young age. It as to start young but I’m not sure how to make her understand without her getting upset. Also when does the “no” phase end?! (29:15)

8. How to talk to the school so teachers will listen and implement necessary strategies for special needs children (FASD)? (30:38)

9. How to deal with lying taking things without asking (stealing) or sneaking things? And what would be an appropriate consequence, as what we have tried has not worked. (6 yr old, so old enough to know the difference) (33:00)

10. How to loose teenage sarcasm? (34:36)

11. My 8 year old son, who has GAD, often worries about things that are not generally of concern for someone of his age, like time (if he will make it to school on time, if we are going to be late for a movie, or if I or his dad go out and take longer than expected). This has also become evident in play, for example, if we alot him time to play a video game or go to a friend’s house, he is very conscious of the time and becomes anxious when time is running out. When we attempt to talk to him about it, his choice of expressing himself is to say that we don’t care about him and that we don’t want him in our family (something we have never and would never say). (36:25)

12. My biggest issue is my 2.5 year old daughter rough housing with my 9 month old! She’s been really rough on him drive he was born. Nothing I do seems to help. She doesn’t really hit/bite him anymore, but now that he’s crawling and active she will pick him up, pull him, throw him if she can and I don’t get there on time. When she hugs him it’s not a hug, it’s her squeezing with all her might either around his chest or his neck! I’m at a loss….I feel like I’ve tried everything! (41:05)

13. My 3-year old doesn’t stop talking ever until we are in public. If we’re meeting someone for the first, going to the dentist/doctor, she’s too shy to open her mouth or even stand on the scale. People leave the room, she jumps on the scale and doesn’t stop talking. (43:50)

14. What do you do when your 2.5 year old hits you when they get upset. (Over everything!) (45:45)

15. Why do kids chew their fingernails? I got him to stop but I was at a loss as to why it started. My first didn’t do this. Was it confidence? was it related to cleanliness? (49:37)

The post 15 Questions for a Parenting Consultant appeared first on Mom Break.

Here are four tips to help you AND your kiddo get great sleep this year:

1. Kick the electronics:

Whether it’s cartoons pre-bedtime for your little one or emails for mom before she hits the hay, electronics aren’t helping anyone in the family get to sleep. Not only do the “storylines” (of both the cartoons and the emails!) rev up our brains, but the bright lights emitted by television, tablet, computer and phone screens inhibit the production of melatonin, which is the naturally occurring hormone that actually helps us fall asleep at bedtime. So, resist the urge to turn on the TV, check your texts, or distract your preschooler with the iPad at any point within an hour of bedtime, and watch the Zs arrive much more easily!

2. Consider room environment:

Street light keeping you from drifting off? Sunlight disturbing your child’s nap? Garbage truck lumbering down your street at 5am, waking up the whole house? It’s important to consider the room environment when prioritizing proper sleep. Blackout blinds covered by blackout curtains will get rid of both artificial and natural light from outside that can cause difficult bedtimes and early morning wakes. A sound machine playing continuous white noise can help drown out external sounds like the neighbour’s dog barking or a bus stop outside your window. In the case of little ones, avoid distractions in cribs like mobiles and toy aquariums; and, in the case of older children in big-kid beds, try to keep the room mainly for sleep (rather than it doubling as a playroom!), and limit toys in the room to some books and a couple of stuffies, rather than hundreds of Legos or ten baby dolls needing to be “tucked in” every night before bedtime!

3. Have a routine, any routine!

When it comes to children, routines are key. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers thrive on routines; they do not like surprises in their scheduling, and they do well when they know what’s coming up next. Having a proper bedtime routine in place – for example, a bath, followed by brushing teeth, PJs, books, and bed – can both help your child wind down and also help them process that sleep is coming up soon, and prepare for this. For adults, too, doing similar elements of a routine in a similar order each night leading up to bedtime can help our brains process that it’s time to go to sleep, and help us come by rest more easily when we do hit the hay.

4. Get your butt to bed!

It can be tough to fit in dinner, extracurriculars, family time, downtime, AND a proper bedtime, but it’s so important to prioritize sleep whenever possible. Avoid late bedtimes for kiddos due to overscheduling, and late nights for parents due to hours and hours of Netflix! When we snuggle in at around the same time each night, our body clocks adjust much more easily and go to sleep much more quickly than if our bedtime falls at a different spot on the clock each day. Resist the urge to burn the midnight oil, and find yourself much more rested this year!

The post Four sleep tips to help you to ring in the new year with healthy rest! appeared first on Mom Break.

There are a number of classes in the city, from toddler to teenager, that your darling little ones can get involved in. For example, if you have a mover and groover like I do then check out the Creative Movement classes for parents and tots at Nepean Creative Arts Centre on Saturdays. And for older children who love to dance there are a number of classes throughout the city at recreation centres.

Embrace the cold and get on to the ice with skate lessons from kindergarteners, to adults, there are classes for all ages.

May be think outside the box. Take a look at pottery and art classes, animation, photography, karate, food prep and cookery, there really is something for every interest.

Want to get messy with your toddler? Then check out Muck and Mess Parent and Tot. Just the name gets me excited! This class will provide you instruction on various art projects that use lots of imagination and materials.

Have a game player in your life? There are even chest classes. If your child is more of a climber then take a look at Rock Climbing – yes the city has climbing walls!

Beat the winter, it has already been a tough one, and avoid the inevitable chants from the kids as they do not want to risk frostbite, but you don’t want them to tear up your house. Look at join.ottawa.ca for inspiration.

The post “Mom, I’m bored!” appeared first on Mom Break.

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The post A Christmas Poem…#momstyle appeared first on Mom Break.

The best locations are ones that allow for timeless photos, in which you can toss a few themed props and wardrobe options, and make it a holiday themed portrait. My top outdoor suggestions would be a local park, field, tree farm or evergreen forest.  For indoors, I recommend setting up near your Christmas tree, in front of your decorated fireplace, on your decorated front porch, or in a small DIY photo set in your home (ex: a simple setup of two flooring sheets + mini tree + red sweater = holiday mini setup for small children)

OTTAWA: Fallowfield Farm, Arboretum, Dick Bell Park
GATINEAU: Jacques Cartier Park, Gatineau Park, Moore Farm Estate

2. Schedule at the best time of day for lighting. 

Nobody wants sun spots on their face or bags under their eyes, so be sure to schedule your family photoshoot at the optimal time of day for your chosen location.  Shooting indoors? Find indirect sunlight to avoid dark shadows. Shooting outdoors? These are your go-to options, always making sure to avoid direct sunlight:

• Full shade during the day
• Anywhere you want on an overcast day
• Backlit during the golden hour

3. Coordinate with a friend or family member to take the photos for you.

Don’t bother with a tripod and timer until your kids are old enough to understand cooperation and bribery. A remote is hard to hide, especially if you have to hold it and wrangle children at the same time, and you can miss great moments by worrying about pressing the button. By having someone else clicking the button, you can get a few candid images in between the posed ones and really capture those real smiles and emotional connections. Very often children like to move, and having an actual person behind the camera means they can follow the subjects and make sure the shutter button is pressed when eyes are looking. This also ensures that the camera is always slightly above eye level—the most flattering angle.

4. Choose your wardrobe and get everything purchased and ready before the day of your planned family photoshoot.

Pick one patterned top or dress, and coordinate the other outfits by pulling one or two colours from the pattern and one neutral tone. Make sure it is weather appropriate if you’ve opted for an outdoor location, and while you may not want to wear jackets in the photos, always bring them and only take them off right before you start. Layers are great for adding some interest to your family portraits, and textures in a few different tones are the perfect way to add variety to your images, without having too many colours. Dressing up in multi-seasonal clothing (not holiday centric outfits) means you can frame one for your home and leave it up all-year round.
IDEAS: https://www.pinterest.ca/purenaturalnewborn/maternity-what-to-wear-inspiration/

5. Plan for pretty props that will make your life easier, not complicate things.

Things that are meant to be sat or stood on will help keep kids in one place, and can help with height differences. Take it to the next level by bringing a fancy chair or small couch, which will also keep everyone in one place.

IDEAS: milk can, wood crate, nice stool, neutral blanket.

6. Bring a few printouts of your inspiration poses to serve as a reminder. 

Once you’re in the moment, especially at another location, you can get easily distracted and forget all those images you pinned. Having that visual reference will prevent you from getting frazzled, and bringing along the printouts also allows for you to be able to explain to those involved what you are hoping for.

7. Set proper expectations. 

Don’t get your hopes up too high, and focus on capturing your family in the moment rather than getting perfectly posed family portraits, and embrace the candid portraits. You will appreciate the precious moments later on in life when your preteen wants nothing to do with you, and no longer insists on that last hug goodbye before school.

BONUS TIP:

Avoid waiting until the last minute to do the photoshoot, and plan ahead. There is nothing wrong with dressing up in your holiday attire and heading out on a summer or fall evening and getting that task of your to-do list early. This allows you more time to plan the printing process for your holiday cards.

Of course I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t recommend getting your portraits captured professionally, since all that was discussed in this article is second nature to us—and we guide you through it. That being said, sometimes even us pros get a little DIY every once in a while and bribe our moms to click that shutter button once we’ve got the camera settings all ready for them. When my now-husband and I were saving up for the wedding, that’s exactly what we did! The photo below was taken over Thanksgiving weekend, and it made its way onto the front of our Christmas card.

The post Best 7 Tips for How To Prepare For DIY Holiday Family Photos appeared first on Mom Break.

“The magnitude of this may not hit you today or tomorrow… but it’s something you’ll carry with you for a long time.”

Those were the words my doctor told me only a few hours after I had started bleeding that morning, right after Thanksgiving. She had tried to find the heartbeat in her office with the Doppler, but had been unsuccessful. Given that I was supposed to be 11 weeks along, she told me that there was a slight chance the silence meant the fetus was still too small. But, “honestly,” she said, “that chance is slim.”

Miscarriage: a parent’s worst nightmare. Like so many of life’s tragedies, you never think it could actually happen to you. Ours wouldn’t be confirmed until the following day with an ultrasound at the hospital, but I could already feel what they were going to tell us.

“What should I expect tonight?” I texted my good friend who had gone through this already. When she told me that she passed hers in a matter of hours, I of course, expected the same. However, when I went home that day, nothing seemed to intensify at all, except for the cramps. I just felt numb. I didn’t even want to Google anything … which, in 2017, is weird, right?

“Given the size, it looks as though it stopped growing at eight or nine weeks,” the resident doctor told us the following day. I did the math in my head and realized I had been carrying around a lifeless dream, a fallen star, for two weeks; maybe longer.

The one silver lining about that day was that we were able to head back to our doctor’s office and see our OB right away after getting the miscarriage confirmed. He had delivered our little girl, Ella. That doctor was the only one I wanted to see when I was throwing up from labour pain in the delivery room three years ago, and was the only one I wanted to see now.

“It’s the way that these things go sometimes. There’s a fifty percent chance that there was something actually wrong with the baby, and this was your body’s way of getting rid of it. And there’s another fifty percent chance it was bad luck. Not every pregnancy works out, and it’s kind of amazing scientifically when they do. It’s absolutely not your fault.”

Those were the words I needed to hear to pick myself up and start to move on. There was nothing I did to cause this; it’s just the way it went. And maybe, this was a blessing in disguise… a decision my body made for me, before it was too late.

That’s not to say that the next several weeks weren’t painful.

Since I had already started bleeding, our OB thought I was going to pass everything naturally, which would have been the best case scenario. After seeing a few days later that that was not the case, he gave me drugs to induce labour, so I could pass everything that way. That didn’t work either.

Several rounds of ultrasounds and days of continuous bleeding later, I was scheduled for a vacuum aspiration, a “lighter form” of a d&c. The procedure was pretty quick and painless. I was only given morphine and was awake the whole 10 minutes, and walked out of there a good hour later. A day later and I was back at work, and the bleeding did taper. I thought life would finally get back to normal.

I wasn’t so lucky.

That following weekend, I was at home getting ready for a night away with my husband; our daughter was going for a sleepover at my parents’. Out of nowhere, my bleeding increased so heavily that our weekend away turned into an all-day stint in the ER. The whole time I was thinking: “How can there be anything left inside to lose? I’ve already been bleeding for over a month!”

Yet another ultrasound a few days later confirmed it. “There is still material inside, and it’s stuck up at the top of your uterus,” the ER doctor told me. “We’ll have to admit you right away, and put you on the emergency surgery list. You need a full d&c as soon as possible, as your risk of infection is high.”

The next thing I knew, I was signing forms for power of attorney, and getting debriefed on anesthesia and blood transfusions. This time, the doctor and nurses ensured me they would get absolutely everything out, as they were going to be using a camera during the procedure.

Afterwards, as I lay there in recovery with my heated blanket, still high as a kite, (Is there anything better in the world than hospital drugs and those heated blankets? Pure heaven!!) I felt so thankful. I know it’s weird. But I was, and I still am.

I’m thankful for Ottawa’s dedicated doctors and nurses, who got me into the ER and finally took care of my problem that day once and for all. I’m more than thankful to my husband, who held my hand every step of the way. I’m thankful for my job and my supportive bosses, who didn’t once question my leave from work, but instead told me to “take all the time I need to heal.” I’m thankful for my parents, who raised me to always stay positive. And, I’m thankful for my Granny, who also went through this when she was younger. Sharing our experiences has made us closer.

Lastly, I’m thankful for my daughter. I’m thankful she has shown me what unconditional love really feels like; that fierce, all-consuming, “I’d give my life for your safety” kind of love. She makes our life so full.

It’s because of that intense love that I know we’ll find the courage to embark on this journey again soon. No matter what we went through, I never want to miss out on a second chance at this great love; I owe that to Ella.

Some think that miscarriage is easier when you have already had a healthy child, because that’s just it – you already have one baby, one blessing, so you should be thankful for what you have. But I argue it’s even harder, because you truly know what you’re missing out on.

My story had a decent ending, but I know that not every story like this does. This piece wasn’t written to share the good news of my eventual recovery or ask for pity; it was to help those grieving the loss of a pregnancy. Hopefully you take away some information from this, or sense of community. Motherhood is a crazy ride that comes with many highs and lows, and we’re all in it together.

The post Miscarriage: A real story of loss appeared first on Mom Break.

They’re the perfect mix of 2 very intelligent and loyal breeds! You’ve gotta get a Goldendoodle.

I’m way too afraid I won’t be able to handle it. I’m getting the epidural as soon as I can! I’ve gotta get an epidural.

They don’t shed…they’re hypoallergenic! They’re perrrfect! You’ve gotta get a goldendoodle.

Modern women get epidurals. It’s a feminist thing – why should we have to suffer? You’ve gotta get an epidural.

They’re a mixed breed. That means they don’t have the health issues purebreds do. You’ve gotta get a Goldendoodle.

So what in the hell so epidurals and Goldendoodles have in common? Well, for the most part, they’re sold to you without sharing the WHOLE truthful picture. I’m not against either. But half-truths, missing information, and flat out lies just aren’t cool.

Half Truths

Epidurals are THE most effective pain relief option when it comes to childbirth. That’s no lie. But they’re only effective if they’re well…effective. One study found as many as 23% of them don’t work. That’s a bit more than 1 in 5 women who think they’re going to feel nothing and feel a whole lot more than that. This can be traumatic. This can be scary. It especially is awful if no one told you that this could happen.

The famous Goldendoodle half truth that they were bred for service dog work in Australia. True, that did happen. Bigger truth, they flunked out of service dog school and the breeding program was scrapped. You may think you’re getting a premium intelligent dog when in reality they were a bit of a dud of an idea.

Missing Information

Epidurals can impact your body’s natural oxytocin cascade and all that it entails. Oxytocin is responsible for not only contractions but also highly important for breastfeeding and bonding. Having an epidural can potentially negatively impact those things. You need to know that – you need to be prepared for challenges and be prepared to face them head on. So many moms feel defeated but no one ever told them their epidural could be making breastfeeding hard.

Goldendoodles can and very often do shed. Just because they are half Poodle does not mean the Poodle coat gene takes over the shed-happy Golden Retriever coat genes. Another bit of information often left out of the sale – they tend to get hot spots. Now, again, this is not EVERY single Goldendoodle, but there are many who do suffer from these. It may be allergies. It may be related to grooming. Whatever the reason, these little suckers are a pain. They often require special grooming tricks, salves, and diet changes.

Now, these things don’t make epidurals or Goldendoodles awful, but you need all of the information if you are to make an informed decision and plan for the challenges before they occur.

Flat-Out Lies

If someone tries to hustle you with the concept of a walking epidural – don’t fall for it. If it is successful, you shuffle at best. And don’t forget you’re hooked up to a blood pressure cuff for regular monitoring, an IV for fluids and as a back-up in case your blood pressure drops, and of course, the ever-present Electronic Fetal Monitoring straps. Remember that an epidural keeps you quite restricted, even with a “walking” one.

On the Goldendoodle front, you might get hustled by the promise of a heartier dog because of its mixed breed ancestry. Lies! Especially when joint testing and genetic screening tests aren’t routinely completed for the majority of Doodle breeding dogs. They are breeding dogs of unknown quality and health (genetically speaking) and promising healthier ones. That just doesn’t make sense!

This still doesn’t mean either are a bad choice for your family. I’m simply trying to educate you on the other side of the coin. An epidural doesn’t mean you can’t plan on keeping moving the best you can. Not all Goldendoodles are poorly bred (but be VERY careful if you’re getting one!)

Have questions about either epidurals OR Goldendoodles (I was once upon a time a Petsmart Accredited Pet Trainer!) DM me, PM me, or email me, I’d love to hear from you!

The post What do epidurals and goldendoodles have in common? appeared first on Mom Break.

Therapy bracelets are a new invention that allow you to infusion essential oils onto a bracelet, and bring them around with you throughout the day, therefore, carrying the benefits with you daily.

It’s actually pretty simple. The bracelets use an absorbent wood with you can add a few drops of your favourite oil to, and then wear your favourite oil for a few days.

Depending on your requirements, you can use any oil (for example, peppermint, orange, lemon…).

The bonus, they’re beautiful too!

So where can you get these gorgeous bracelets? Check out Tweak Boutique:

• https://tweakboutiqueonline.com
• Facebook
• Instagram

The post What the heck at therapy bracelets? appeared first on Mom Break.

Here are five tips for keeping sleep on track this holiday season (it can be done, I swear!):

1. Plan travel around sleep (when you can!):

Many of us may be travelling to another city or even another country to visit family or friends this holiday season. Car rides and long plane trips can be tough on babes still needing naps, but you can work around this!

If flying, I suggest you schedule flights for first thing in the morning when baby is most-rested and most-content. Do not assume your child will nap on the flight, but do bring her favourite comfort object (e.g. blankie, soft stuffy) and a book on the plane and let her sleep in your arms if she can. Also, if you have a significant layover, you can try to get your little one to nap in a stroller or baby carrier during this time in the airport between flights.

Try to get an early check-in at your hotel so your baby can have an afternoon nap once you arrive. If this is not possible, then go for a stroller or car ride when you reach your destination and let your little one catch some Zs while you enjoy the views!  Definitely count on an early bedtime the first night of your vacation.

If you’re driving to your destination, again, start first thing in the morning and – if you can – have someone sit in the back with your babe to entertain her until it is around her usual naptime; then, let her drift off and get a decent sleep during your drive. Once again, try to get her room set up as soon as you arrive at your destination so she can have her last nap – or, at minimum, a proper bedtime – in a comfy space at your destination.

2. Create a familiar sleep environment

Whether you’re staying at a hotel or at Grandma’s for the holidays, remember that the best way to ensure your little one will sleep well on the road is to create a familiar sleep environment to what she has at home. So, ensure she has a crib or bassinet to sleep in when you are staying at a hotel or with friends. Remember to take along her sleep sack, her comfort object (if you use one), a sound machine (if this is what your little one is used to), and even a portable blackout blind to make the sleep space very similar to what’s at home. This will help to create a familiar, comfortable sleep environment for her when she’s away from her usual surroundings.

3. Stick with routines

Whether you are putting your child down at a friend’s house while you enjoy an evening of holiday cheer, or staying in a hotel over Christmas vacation, consistency is key to your child’s great sleep! So, continuing a consistent bedtime routine each night when you are away from home will help to ready your child for sleep and make bedtime much easier on everyone! Do a bath if you can or, at minimum, simulate one with a warm, damp cloth and a quick wipe down. Baths are great sleep cues for little ones, so it’s an important step – try not to skip it, along with all the other regular steps of your fantastic bedtime routine!

4. Don’t skip the naps

It can be tempting to skip naps altogether when the chaos of the holiday season ensues and you are travelling from function to function, but try not to make missing naptime a regular occurrence. When your baby gets proper daytime rest, she will get better rest at night as well – sleep begets sleep. Of course, there will be days when the crib-nap is just not possible, and your little one may doze off in the carrier while you are meeting Santa with your preschooler,  or may take a snooze in the car as you travel from one holiday party to the next, but, again, try to make this the exception and not the rule so your little one doesn’t get a big sleep debt for Christmas this year!

5. Prioritize bedtime

It can be tempting to give in to the pressure of well-meaning friends and relatives who just want your baby to miss this nap so they can cuddle a little longer, or beg you to let your toddler stay up two hours past his bedtime to watch Christmas movies with Grandma. But, you are in charge – do not forget this. This is your child and if his healthy sleep habits are a priority for you then it is not unrealistic to ask others to respect this. Politely explain to your family and friends that it is your child’s naptime or bedtime, and they will be much more rested and pleasant later or the next morning if they don’t miss out on proper sleep.

Most of all, do not stress if sleep is a bit out of the ordinary for a day or two over the holidays –well-rested children who are already great sleepers generally bounce back quite easily from these types of “off” days.

The post 5 Holiday Sleep Tips to keep the Peace this Season! appeared first on Mom Break.