Self-Esteem

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?”

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Coca-Cola Canada Shares Stories of Inspirational Canadians this Summer to Help Encourage Acts of Kindness

July 31, 2013 by Kathryn 14 Comments

One of the basic truths of human nature is that our smallest actions can grow to have a big impact on our lives and the lives of others. Even something as simple as smiling at a person that looks sad can create a ripple that yields positive results all day long. And a recent national survey conducted by Environics Research on behalf of Coca-Cola Canada shows that Canadians are performing plenty of little acts of kindness in the course of a month! But many people believe that those actions aren’t getting the recognition they deserve.

That’s why Coca-Cola Canada went on a national search to find and showcase some of the amazing Canadians that go above and beyond with acts of kindness that enrich the lives of others on a daily basis. Reading about regular people doing such incredible things had me feeling inspired to make a difference too. These are some of the stories of everyday heroes that were found: [Read more…]