Self-Esteem

The Hyundai Santa Fe Sleigh is Spreading Holiday Cheer to Deserving Children

December 21, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

There’s no doubt that the holiday season is the most magical time of the year, but even the most passionate holiday fan can sometimes get a little worn out and disillusioned with the whole event. That’s why this year, Hyundai Canada teamed up with the king of holiday spirit, Santa Claus himself, to bring good wishes and cheer to some of those who deserved it most: Children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto program!

Riding safely and comfortably in his brand new Hyundai Santa Fe Sleigh, complete with a reindeer and a wooden sleigh on the roof rack, Santa and his elves paid a personal visit to the children and delivered a special gift from each child’s wish list. Of course, arriving at his destination safely was no trouble for Santa in the Santa Fe Sleigh, and the children couldn’t have been more excited to see his fancy new ride!

Whether you’ve been having trouble embracing the holidays this year or you just want to add even more magic to your season, watching this video of children meeting Santa in person and receiving their gifts is sure to have you beaming from ear to ear. Check it out below and see St. Nick delivering smiles and happiness in Toronto!

I love that Hyundai Canada found such a fun and unique way to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday season and I’m sure that the lucky children that met Santa Claus in person will remember the experience for the rest of their lives. Long after the gifts they received have been outgrown, each and every child will still have the memory of being so special that Santa came to visit them in person to let them know they were important. Empowering children to believe in magic and in themselves…what an amazing way to celebrate the spirit of the holidays!

Dear Kathryn (A Letter to My Younger Self)

November 18, 2016 by Kathryn 8 Comments

Dear Kathryn,

Being young is such an odd mix of self-confidence and insecurity. On the one hand, you feel like there’s nothing in the world that you can’t accomplish. One day, you’re sure you’ll be a famous actress when you graduate. The next, you’ll be a lawyer. The day after that, you’ll be an international spy. Yet at the same time, you constantly worry about how many friends you have and what others think of you.

At thirty-five, I’m here to tell you that your life will be full of more twists and turns than you can possibly imagine. There are times you’ll be so happy that your heart can barely contain it. And there are times you’ll feel so lost and hurt that you’re not sure you can go on. The important thing, though, is that you will go on. And every time you fight through a challenge that seems insurmountable, the happiness you’ll gain afterwards will be greater than any happiness you’ve felt before.

[Read more…]

Always and Walmart Are Teaming Up to Help Girls’ Sports Teams Embrace their Strength and Play Like a Girl!

September 16, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

When I was in early grade school, my best friend was a young boy named Jamie that lived at the end of the street. It was mostly a friendship of convenience since we were within walking distance of one another, but we did enjoy playing imaginary games and talking about our future with one another too. Until one day when I came home in tears because I told Jamie I was going to be a firefighter when I grew up and he told me that only boys were allowed to be firefighters.

Our society has come a long way since my childhood days, but misconceptions and prejudices like the one I faced as a child still crop up in surprising places. My sister, upon completing her schooling as an electrician with top marks, wasn’t able to obtain a degree because no company would offer her an apprenticeship. A fellow school friend with a passion for hockey had to fight for years for a place on the boys’ team because all the other girls her age were playing Ringette instead. Instances like these are why I’m such a big fan of the Always #LikeAGirl campaign. [Read more…]

Cheer On the FAB IV as Benfeito and Filion Approach their Individual Events-Giveaway

August 16, 2016 by Kathryn 93 Comments

I’ve always loved watching the Olympic Games, but I have to admit that this year I’ve enjoyed it even more thanks to the amazing women competing! Seeing our female athletes take the stage and show the world what they can do has left no doubt in anyone’s mind…our women have moves like no other!

One of those medals came from two of the FAB IV divers, brand ambassadors for Gillette Venus and my personal favourite athletes of the games. I love watching them compete but even more than that, I love their energy and joie de vie both in and out of the pool! [Read more…]

As Canada Takes on the World at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, P&G Reminds Us To Say Thank You, Mom

August 8, 2016 by Kathryn 33 Comments

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games have kicked off with a bang and I have to admit that watching Penny Oleksiak win Canada’s first medals of the games (and its first medals in women’s swimming in the last twenty years!) has resulted in my being glued to the television as I go through my day. Whether I’m watching the highly acclaimed Canadian women’s gymnastics team to the men’s volleyball team winning a hard-fought victory over the United States, I can’t help but feel my heart swell up with pride for Canada as our athletes get a chance to show others what they can do.

Throughout those performances, P&G is there supporting our athletes and their families. An official sponsor of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the company has always been passionate about supporting athletes and also providing recognition for the sacrifices that parents make to help their children excel. And as in past years, the P&G video for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games exemplifies that. The video celebrates the idea that behind every amazing athlete is an amazing mom and I’ll admit that I can’t watch it without getting tears in my eyes!

My personal favourite competitors this year, the beautiful and talented FAB IV divers, are a great example of how a mother’s support is essential to success. Roseline Filion (27), Meaghan Benfeito (25), Jennifer Abel (23) and Pamela Ware (21) have won 86 medals between the four of them in a variety of international events and aren’t planning on slowing down any time soon. Ware has said that seeing her own mother get through tough times in younger years inspired her to be a stronger person. Now her mother is the first person she calls after competing, no matter what the results were. And Filion knows her mother’s sacrifices were essential to her success. She admits that without her mother’s support, she would have quit long ago.

While Abel and Ware narrowly missed the podium in the women’s 3-metre synchronized event (coming in fourth and less than one point away from a bronze medal), both women will also be competing in the individual 3-meter springboard event later in the week as well. And tomorrow Filion and Benfeito will have the chance to earn a medal in the women’s 10-metre synchronized diving event. I can’t wait to cheer them on and I have no doubt that their performance will be thrilling.

FAB IV Canadian Olympic Divers — Photo Credit: Vincent Graton

And throughout the games, the divers’ mothers will be cheering them on too, thanks in part to the sponsorship from P&G! Whether you’re a passionate Olympic fan or just a casual viewer of a few favourite events, make sure to watch this year’s P&G Rio 2016 Olympic video to help you get inspired for the coming days. Then tune in and check out Canada’s best athletes as they take on the world and go for gold this year in Rio!

During the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, P&G is Saying Thank You, Mom

June 23, 2016 by Kathryn 44 Comments

Every time the Olympic Games roll around, P&G honours both the athletes competing in the events and the moms that sacrificed so much to make their children’s dreams come true, both with amazing sponsorships and a moving commercial in honour of mothers everywhere. Watching the inspirational videos dedicated to the hard work of the moms never fails to make me tear up, and this year is no exception.

I have to say, though, that I think this year the video touched me even more than usual, because my mom has been going through one of her toughest battles to date. She’s always been an epitome of strength to me, raising five children on her own and making numerous sacrifices to ensure our happiness. But over the last year, she’s shown her strength even more in a battle against breast cancer.

Hearing the words come out of her mouth just over six months ago was heartbreaking. Her mother, my grandmother, died of breast cancer when I was just a preschooler, so the diagnosis struck immediate fear into my heart. The treatment was a mastectomy and a test done on a sample of lymph nodes to see if the cancer had spread. We were all hopeful that the test would come back clean and the mastectomy would be the end of it. [Read more…]

Dietainment is in Every Child’s Day! Take the Pledge and Help #StopDietainment

November 13, 2015 by Kathryn 33 Comments

While driving my boys to school a few days ago, I asked them if they had any items on their Christmas wish list. Benjamin, my youngest son, told me that he wanted a Nintendo 3DS (something he’s wanted ever since his brother received one), and a Power Wheels vehicle. He described the drivable, battery-powered vehicle he was coveting and finished by looking at me earnestly and saying, “And Mom I looked at the commercial, and I felt like they wanted me to buy one!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his description of how the advertising had affected him, but I was also a little amazed that it had made such an impact. After a few more questions, I learned that he’d seen the Power Wheels commercial four months ago when we were staying at a hotel. All these months later, he remembered it and wanted the product. If I’d ever wondered how much of an impact advertising could have on a child, Benjamin’s experience gave me an answer.

Of course, some of the messages a child sees each day are more damaging to their self-esteem and life outlook than others. And that’s why I’ve been watching my boys for the last week to learn what kind of “Dietainment” messages they see throughout the day. Unhealthy dieting messages disguised as entertainment aren’t just emotionally damaging; they can create unhealthy eating habits as well. And I had a feeling that my boys were being affected by these messages just as much as anyone else. [Read more…]

Opening Up and Sharing Helps Me Build My Children’s Self Worth

March 16, 2015 by Kathryn 23 Comments

Low self-esteem is something that I understand pretty well. I went through a very awkward phase in my early teens and it wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I embraced my self-worth and became the confident woman I am today. I have to admit that when I gave birth to my two boys, I hoped that I wouldn’t have to watch them struggle through self-esteem issues the way I once had. But of course, every child has issues with confidence at some point. And because I’m all too familiar with the negative effects that low self-esteem can have on a child, it’s been my mission to help my boys realize their value in the world.

If there is one lesson I have learned that has proven to be true again and again, it’s that modelling a love of self is the best way to ensure that my boys develop the same trait as they grow up. For the most part, that’s a very simple thing to do. I don’t, as a rule, speak negatively about myself. I carry myself with self-assurance. And I show the other people in my life the same respect I am accustomed to receiving, because I want my boys to know that everyone has value.

But what I’ve found most helpful for helping my boys build confidence, especially in the case of my oldest son, is sharing stories of some of my own previous struggles, and the eventual positive results. I remember one night a few years ago when doing just that helped my son conquer some social anxiety. As I was putting six-year-old Zackary to bed, he looked at me and asked, “Mom, why don’t I have a best friend?”

[Read more…]