Why a Pearle Vision Eye Exam Should Be Part of Every Child’s Back-to-School Preparations

August 3, 2017 by Kathryn 31 Comments

Before I met my husband, I was a little lax about my boys’ eye exams. Even though I had heard it was important that children have yearly exams, living in a small town made booking appointments tricky and both boys did so well in school that I was confident their eyes were fine.

But when my glasses-wearing husband scheduled his own eye exam last year, I decided the timing was perfect to have both boys get their exams as well, though I fully expected them both to pass with flying colours. Imagine my shock when the optometrist announced my oldest would benefit from glasses for schoolwork and reading! And my experience was by no means unique; a recent survey found that one in four children have an undiagnosed vision problem.

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It’s Time to Give Yourself a Parenting Break! Embracing the Real Side of Parenthood

November 30, 2016 by Kathryn 17 Comments

Parenting is tough, but it gets even tougher when we spend too much time comparing ourselves to our own ideal image of what a perfect parent should be. And as much as I love social media, I also know that a constant barrage of perfect images can be discouraging to those of us doing our best every day! That’s why I love Quaker Canada’s new campaign to #stopCOMPAREnting. It’s time to show the real side of parenting in all its disorganized, wild and wacky glory! So I’ve decided to embrace some of the ways that I will always fall short of reaching my own parenting ideals. These are four reasons I’ll never be a perfect parent…and I’m okay with that!

1) I will not create perfectly balanced, Pinterest-worthy lunches.

bento lunch — Photo credit to my good friend Jody at Mommy Moment, who makes the most beautiful Bento lunches!

I have two boys in school five days a week, which means I pack just under 400 lunches in the course of a year. And I am a little ashamed to admit that I’ve probably ogled twice as many beautiful, themed Bento lunches on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram. From checkerboard cheese to rainbow fruit kababs…who wouldn’t want to surprise their kids with a masterpiece like that? But let’s get real. I have just over an hour each school morning to make breakfast, make lunches, get my boys dressed, check agendas and get everybody out the door. They’re happy with a wrap, some fruit and a Quaker granola bar, so I am too! [Read more…]

Let Go of the Mom Guilt! Four Indulgences a Mom Should Never Feel Guilty About

September 27, 2016 by Kathryn 34 Comments

If there’s one thing that us moms have really mastered, it’s feeling guilty. Told your daughter you were out of ice cream so you could finish it when she went to bed? Convinced your son that hockey wasn’t that much fun so you wouldn’t have to deal with the huge investment of time and money? Invented a fake work trip to avoid taking part in the school fundraiser? Chances are you’re going to feel guilty about it at some point!

But the fact of the matter is that parenting is hard…and none of us are perfect! We’re going to mess up. We’re going to do things we regret. And sometimes, we’re going to feel guilty about something we really shouldn’t! There are the odd times that we feel we’ve really messed up. At those times, we need to apologize, forgive ourselves and move on. But there are also times we feel guilty and we really shouldn’t! If you’ve got Mom Guilt about any of these four things, it’s time to give yourself a break and #EndMomGuilt!

1) Going Out for Date Night

Date night isn’t just a fun night out for you and your husband, it’s a chance to stay connected as a couple and ensure a healthy relationship…something that will both benefit your kids right now and help them learn about the dynamic of a healthy relationship. Find a reliable sitter or a nearby family member, take off for the evening and enjoy a good meal, a movie WITHOUT animated characters or a few drinks at your favourite pub. You both deserve the chance to spend time with the love of your life! [Read more…]

4 Tips to Help You Motivate Your Child in Sports

September 22, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Understanding what motivates your child in the first place to head out onto the pitch, field, or ice rink can help you better determine how to improve the experience for them. Keeping your little one motivated as time drags on, practices get harder, and competition gets tougher can be a difficult task, but with a little forethought, a lot of love and plenty of patience, you can help encourage your child to continue on in their youth sports career. Here are four tips to help you inspire your child to excel in whatever sport they choose!

Keep a Calm Head

If you haven’t been the hothead parent at the game, you’ve definitely seen one. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment during a tense inning or stressful quarter, but your child needs you calm and pulled together when the proverbial “stuff” is hitting the fan. Don’t be that nightmare sports parent that takes things way too seriously. Serve as a spectator when your child is on the field and his biggest supporter the moment he steps off. The right positive encouragement during a game is always welcome, but keep it to a minimum. Let your presence do the talking, cheer when appropriate, and avoid heckling and negative outbursts. We all know how easy it is to embarrass our kids (it’s a rite of passage for every parent), but this type of embarrassment could cause them to lose interest in the game and all that it entails. [Read more…]

The EquiptBaby Diaper Bag Makes Parenting Easier with Features Moms Love-Giveaway

July 21, 2016 by Kathryn 70 Comments

Taking care of a baby is exhausting, whether you’re a first time mother or you already have a house full of children. And if there’s one item in a mother’s arsenal that can make her day either much easier or much harder, it’s the diaper bag. A good one keeps items organized, holds all the essentials and is easy to use and carry. An awkward one may require constant rummaging, be too small to be useful or be so big that it’s impossible to carry comfortably.

Then there’s the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag. And when I say that it’s in a class all its own, I mean it! This bag takes the must-haves from the best diaper bags, eliminates annoyances from the worst ones and then tops off its design with innovative features I have never seen on a diaper bag before, yet loved at first glance. I recently received the EquiptBaby Santa Rosa Diaper Bag so that I could see its differences for myself and I was impressed as soon as I pulled it out of the package.

One of the highlights of the diaper bag for me? The hard bottom of the bag! It’s such a simple addition to a regular diaper bag, yet it makes such a big difference in the ease of use. Instead of having to worry about a full diaper bag tipping over and spilling contents as a mom juggles the bag and the baby, the flat plastic bottom ensures that the diaper bag sits upright securely for easy access to the contents.

But that’s just the start of what makes the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag such a great choice for parents. Multiple pockets in the interior lets a busy mom keep bottles and snacks separate from clothes and diapers…and even leaves enough room for mom essentials like sunglasses and a wallet too! Best of all, one of those organized interior pockets is insulated, so bottles and snacks stay cool all day. When my boys got old enough to drink milk and juice, keeping it cold and fresh was a constant challenge. This diaper bag makes it easy and convenient to bring refreshments out of the house!

EquiptBaby also offers an ingenious Bassinet and I think I loved it even more than the diaper bag. This handy little bassinet is big enough for a baby up to about nine months of age and protects little ones from the sun and insects while outside…yet it folds up to be no bigger than a Frisbee for easy packing! I loved the idea of being able to have a comfortable spot for Baby to rest anytime and anywhere without having to lug around heavy baby gear.

Want to see the EquiptBaby difference for yourself? You’re in luck! One very lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader is going to win their very own EquiptBaby Diaper Bag, a $70 value! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about what feature of the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag you love most.

From the expandable sides of this diaper bag that let it hold extra gear for a long day or road trip, to the stylish colour and shape of the bag that lets a parent still feel trendy while carrying it, there’s just so much to love about the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag. Find a retailer near you or shop online at EquiptBaby.com and see how much easier your day can be when you have a great diaper bag to carry!

EquiptBaby giveaway

Parent in the Digital Age with 3 Free Apps Perfect for Families

March 23, 2016 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Parenting in the digital age is pretty different than the unplugged days of yore in which I was raised. In some ways, it can be harder. As a child, my biggest worry was strangers inviting me to get into their cars…and of course, I’d been heavily instructed to run away and get help if that happened. Today, Internet access means I have to constantly be monitoring what websites my children visit, what shows they find on YouTube and (eventually) who they communicate with online.

But digital parenting has some great advantages too! Staying connected to my kids is easier. Sharing special moments or getting advice from friends and family can be done in seconds on my smartphone. And family-friendly apps can help make parenting simpler and more affordable than ever before. Looking for apps to streamline your household? These three free apps are a must for busy families!

Out of Milk

Every parent has been there…you hop out of bed, rush downstairs to pack lunches or pour cereal into bowls…and you realize that you forgot to pick up more milk/bread/sandwich meat after you ran out yesterday. With Out of Milk, a free app available on both Android and iOS devices, you’ll never be in that situation again. The app lets users create shareable grocery lists simply by typing, scanning or speaking. By sharing your list with your significant other so you can both update it instantly, both of you will know what groceries you need for the house. And the app even manages the pantry by keeping track of the quantities of your items! Best of all, Out of Milk can also be used to manage and organizes errands and appointments. With this app, you’ll never miss that doctor’s appointment again! [Read more…]

Three Ways You Should Make Time for Yourself on Mother’s Day and All Year Long-Giveaway #ONatural

May 12, 2015 by Kathryn 95 Comments

With Mother’s Day just having passed, moms around Canada finally had the chance to kick back and enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation. And having recharged a bit myself, I’ve realized that moms have a very common tendency of putting themselves last. But when it comes to being a parent, taking care of ourselves means more time, energy and patience to deal with our kids. A happy, healthy mom makes the entire family stronger!

I’ve always been bad for neglecting my own needs in favour of my boys, but over the last year or so, I’ve really made a conscious effort to change that and the difference in my energy and patience levels have been amazing! In my opinion, these are three things that every mom should be making time for:

Make Time for Breakfast

The importance of breakfast has been proven time and time again, yet still so many women wake up, pour a cup of coffee, make a meal for their children and never take a bite themselves. I was one of the absolute worst culprits for this, even months after making regular breakfast one of my goals. I’ve finally managed to get into the routine thanks to two things: Orange Naturals ND Shake for Women and the MyFitnessPal app. Whipping up a quick shake in the morning is so easy with the help of my immersion blender, a little fruit, some yogurt, milk or even just water. My personal favourite combination is a Chocolate Strawberry Shake made with ½ cup of frozen strawberries, ½ cup of plain yogurt, ½ cup of milk and two scoops of ND Shake for Women Chocolate. Yet even with such a tasty breakfast to anticipate, I’d sometimes get rushed and skip breakfast anyways. The MyFitnessPal app made all the difference. A morning notification to provide me with motivation to record my breakfast on the app has helped me keep the habit once and for all, while the shakes give me energy that lasts all day! [Read more…]

Go Beyond Thank You this Mother’s Day and #PutYourHeartToPaper with Hallmark

April 27, 2015 by Kathryn 34 Comments

Mother’s Day is such a fun holiday now that I have children. Seeing their beaming faces as they bring me a carefully prepared breakfast in bed and homemade trinkets from school warms my heart so much. But Mother’s Day is also a time to think about how much my own mother means to me and try to show her how I feel as well.

I have to admit, it’s not an easy thing to do. My mother and I had struggles, especially through those tumultuous teenage years. In fact, it wasn’t until I reached adulthood that our relationship really blossomed. But having become a mother myself has made me appreciate my own mom so much more.

mom and family — My amazing mother and her five children!

What stands out most to me is the way that she was always there for me. As a child, she drove me to baseball games and threw me birthday parties. As a teenager, I was once excluded from a group award that my fellow peers all received and she wrote a letter to the school questioning the decision, something that led to my receiving an award as well. As an adult, she was beside me in the delivery room talking me through the birth of my children. [Read more…]