Family

My Open Letter to the Daughter I Gave Away

May 20, 2018 by Kathryn 7 Comments

Darling Daughter,

It’s hard for me to believe that you turned eighteen just a few months ago. It seems like just yesterday that I was eighteen myself, and navigating the difficult journey that took me from child to adult. I remember how confusing the teenage years can be. How they can make you question yourself, wonder what your future holds, dwell on every little misstep you take.

I know that you’ve had a childhood filled with joy and security, but I worry that you might also be feeling a little more lost than other teenagers right now, and possibly wondering how you came to have the parents and the life that you do.

I know your parents explained to you that you were adopted as soon as you were old enough to understand what that meant. I’m sure they also told you that they love you fully and completely and every bit as much as any parents love their child. I hope you were able to understand how true their words were, and how much of a blessing you were to their lives.

But I know that there’s one question you’ll probably ask eventually, if you haven’t already, and it’s one that your parents can’t answer. The question is, “why?” Why did your “real” mother, the woman that gave birth to you, give you away to somebody else? I don’t know if you’ve ever voiced that question, but I’m sure it’s haunted your thoughts at times.

Since the day I gave birth to you, I couldn’t help but notice how many television shows and movies showcased emotional, touching renditions of an adopted child meeting her birth mother for the first time. That question, the why, was always the first one asked. And the answers, always the same, had me scoffing in disgust every time.

“I was young. I didn’t know how to take care of a baby. I didn’t have anyone to help me. I was all alone.” These are true statements for many women that make the choice I made, and a lot of them were true for me, but I can assure you that none are the reason a mother gives her baby away.

The answer to that “why,” the answer I believe is almost every birth mother’s answer to the question, is this: I cared more about what was best for you than I did about what was best for me. I had to decide between giving you the most promising life and future I possibly could…or keeping you with me. And I loved you so much that I was willing to lose a piece of my heart for a lifetime, if it meant that you would have a life of happiness and prosperity and opportunity.

In this age of social media, I’ve been able to learn a bit more about you than you might know. I’ve seen ample proof over the years that the decision I made was the right one. I knew it when your parents sent me some of their favourite photos from your first few years of life, and I know it now, having seen you as a smiling and confident teenager. I’m sure your life will continue to be full of opportunity and I’m sure that you’ll accomplish anything you set your mind to.

But through it all, if you ever start to wonder, if you ever start to worry, if you ever start to feel like you aren’t good enough…remember this. Every single day since you were born, I have loved you. And for every single day to come in the future, I will keep loving you.

Letting somebody else take you out of my arms was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I would do it again a thousand times to ensure your happiness. And you will always have the piece of my heart that I gave you the day you were born. From the beginning, and for always, I would do anything for you.

Love Always,

Your Mother

Kick Off the New Year with New Original Series on Netflix Canada

January 30, 2018 by Kathryn 2 Comments

The start of a new year is something that always fills me with fresh energy. I get to plan coming events, set goals and anticipate all the fun that will fill my family’s coming months.

And in between all the fun and activities, I’ll be relaxing and unwinding with some of my favourite series and movies on Netflix! Like me, Netflix embraces the start of the new year…by introducing tons of new shows!

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Thinking About Adopting a Cat? Read This First!

October 13, 2017 by Kathryn 23 Comments

I often mention how I didn’t realize I was a cat person until I had my Siamese-cross Racer. But after experiencing her love and affection (not to mention her fierce independence), I can’t imagine anything more satisfying than having kitty love in my life.

There are many things that get better with age, and a feline friend is one of them! If you’re thinking about adopting a kitten or know someone who is, ask that they consider a senior cat instead. Sure, kittens are cute, but adult cats have a great deal going for them. Read and share this list of why adopting a senior cat might be right for you!

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Want Your Family to Check out a New Series? Let Netflix Help You Get Persuasive!

September 1, 2017 by Kathryn 1 Comment

When it comes to a great television series, I’m a social watcher. I occasionally don’t mind watching by myself, but I’m much happier when I can spend that time with my family and share my thoughts with my husband and children.

Unfortunately, my tastes aren’t always the same as theirs. And that means I occasionally need to use some persuasive tactics to convince the rest of my family to watch with me! Luckily for me, Netflix has some handy flow-charts to help make my job easier! [Read more…]

How My Grandad Taught Me That the Senior Years Can Be the Most Meaningful Time in Life

June 20, 2017 by Kathryn 18 Comments

When my parents first bought a house in the small town of Lumsden, Saskatchewan, it was more a retirement community than anything else. The nearby capital city of Regina was growing fast and considered the place to be for young families, while Lumsden’s population was mostly aging couples that had lived in or around the town for years.

Because of that, I had plenty of interactions with seniors as I was growing up. Mrs Cox, the widow across the back alley, made me a baby blanket shortly after I was born. My next door neighbours the Sagins grew a beautiful garden and would often let me help select a bouquet of flowers to bring home and put on the table. And when I was a little older, Mrs. Neidermeyer from church taught me how to make the most delicious biscuits I’ve ever had in my life.

Thanks to those early interactions, I’ve always understood the value that seniors bring to the lives of those that love them and to the community as a whole. When they’re not helping their family in dozens of different ways (including providing childcare, doing chores and even offering financial support), they’re contributing in the community, whether that’s by interacting with the younger generation the way my neighbours did with me or by volunteering, something 78% of Canadian seniors currently do. [Read more…]

Prep Your Family, Stock Your Emergency Kit and Check out these 3 Great Tips for Emergency Preparedness Week

May 8, 2017 by Kathryn 5 Comments

Back when my boys and I lived in Lumsden, I had a stash of emergency supplies in the basement that included non-perishable food, bottled water, a flashlight, batteries, candles and a few other essentials just in case of an emergency. But when we moved to an apartment in another city, then a townhouse and then another townhouse, my emergency kit ended up disassembled and in disarray. Sure, we have canned goods in the house, a few bottles of water by the door and a flashlight stuffed in a drawer of junk. But in case of an emergency, I no longer have my easy-to-grab kit full of every essential my family might need.

And I’m not alone! Even though it’s recommended that families keep an kit ready to get them through a 72-hour emergency if needed, only 34% of Canadians have such an emergency kit in their home. But if you’re like me and don’t currently have an emergency kit, there’s no better time to remedy that than right now! May 7th to the 13th is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada, and Duracell has teamed up with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs to help raise awareness about the importance of being ready for an emergency. Check out these three tips to help ensure your family knows what to do in an unexpected situation! [Read more…]

It’s a Boy! We’re Welcoming a New Addition to Our Family

April 8, 2017 by Kathryn 22 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of e.p.t.. All opinions are 100% mine.

When my youngest son was weaned and potty-trained, I fully thought that I was done having children. My two boys filled my days completely, and after six solid years of constantly either carrying a baby or breastfeeding, my body was ready for a break. Of course, I also thought I was done with relationships, and then I met a man that was so perfect for me that he really did feel like a missing piece of myself I’d always been searching for. And when I married that man last October, I knew that all my old plans had changed more than I could have ever guessed they would.

My husband and I decided to start trying for a baby as soon as we returned from our honeymoon in Ireland. With my 36^th birthday quickly approaching, I didn’t want to wait too long! We had family visiting in that first official month of “trying for a baby,” which meant that we weren’t…well…"trying" all that much! And I never had a moment of feeling like my body had changed in any way. But just in case, I picked up an e.p.t. pregnancy test, available at Walmarts across the United States and select other retailers, a few days before my scheduled time of the month. I didn’t expect to see anything, so one can imagine my surprise when the test showed that unmistakable blue cross almost immediately!

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Save 25% on CHL Tickets Right Now with AIR MILES Perks-Giveaway

February 16, 2017 by Kathryn 18 Comments

My oldest son has been a hockey fan almost since he learned what the sport was. Even though our constant moving in the last two years has meant that he’s been unable to play on a team, he is constantly following the hockey scores, reading about his favourite players and, of course, cheering on his favourite teams. We love encouraging his passion for the sport by taking him to games when we get the chance and with some great CHL teams in Saskatchewan, we have plenty of opportunities to do that. But a night at the rink can get pricey pretty quick, and that’s why I was thrilled to learn about the newest AIR MILES Perk available to collectors!

AIR MILES Perks are special savings offers and rewards available to anyone that collects AIR MILES…no mile redemption required! And right now, AIR MILES has partnered with the CHL to offer 25% off ticket purchases to CHL games so that you can take the whole family out for a night of cheering on your team, and save a ton when you do! We had the chance to attend a Regina Pats game thanks to AIR MILES and, as expected, it was a night the boys won’t be forgetting any time soon!

What I love about CHL games is that they generally really celebrate the city and include some fun benefits that larger venues aren’t always able to offer. For example, the boys each received a special Valentine’s Day treat bag courtesy of the Regina Pats at the game on February 14 containing lollipops, stickers and a few other fun treats. We also enjoyed some freshly made mini doughnuts before sitting down to watch the game.

The seats were in the back center and gave us a great view of the ice. The game was off to an exciting start with the opposition up by two and the Pats coming back with a goal to get in striking distance of the lead. But then the Everett Silvertips jumped ahead by another two points, with their goalie making some professional-level saves to keep the Pats at bay. Our home team did manage to sneak in another goal before the end, though!

Want to surprise someone special with a hockey night out? AIR MILES is very generously offering two lucky Mommy Kat and Kids readers two tickets to a participating CHL game of their choice! To enter to win, check out this AIR MILES Perk for yourself and leave a blog comment about which team you’d be cheering on if you won!

I love that AIR MILES has fun ways of rewarding collectors like this one, especially since it lets me save money and treat my boys to a special night out. When I combine the savings from my AIR MILES Perks with the AIR MILES Cash I earn that helps cover the cost of gas at Shell or snacks at Sobeys, a fun night out with the family couldn’t be more affordable! Hockey season doesn’t last much longer, so take advantage of the savings now!

Air Miles CHL Giveaway