Seven tips for concerned grandparents
If you’re concerned about your child’s parenting style, you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to mitigate conflict in your relationship with your adult children and grandchildren.
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The isolated childhood
I love the first day of school. It is a hopeful day. From Lydia’s early school years, I’ve been struck by the sense of unadulterated excitement and energy that rises from the schoolyard as friends see each other after long weeks away. A new community is being created. Some children and teachers are missed –…
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A refreshing change of perspective
“Miss Prim had been called all kinds of things – precise, punctual, and practical. Sometimes even stern, strict, and scary. But never welcoming or whimsical, and certainly not wild. Miss Prim believed in no-nonsense.” So begins author Katy Rose’s playful, lyrical introduction to Miss Prim, a controlling, grouchy woman who terrifies neighborhood children with threats…
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Built on faith and hockey
The Staal brothers’ road to the NHL started on Henry and Linda Staal’s rink near Thunder Bay, Ont. In their early years, high snowbanks framed the ice. As Eric, Marc, Jordan and Jared grew, so did the rink: real boards, official nets and good lights so the boys and friends could play during Northwest Ontario’s…
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The summer respite gap
School’s out. It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Well, not exactly. For parents and caregivers of loved ones impacted by disability and developmental challenges – who rely on predictable schedules, social routines and respite from caregiving – summer holidays can be challenging. Summer camps are great alternatives, but for neurodivergent children and kids with…
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The hope ‘kist’
A couple of months ago, I was in Whitby, Ontario, making my way on hands and knees through my parents’ crawlspace. “It’s not that bad,” my Mom called after me as I batted at cobwebs. I was looking for a wooden chest stashed somewhere behind my cello and under a pile of shoeboxes. My parents…
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206 bones
Just a few weeks ago, my wife Louisa and I were in a serious car accident in which we each broke a lot of our ribs. Thankfully, our ribs will heal in time, but my broken ribs got me thinking about the rest of my skeleton. There are 206 different bones in a human skeleton….
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The emotional cost of housing insecurity
Based on the childhood experiences of author and illustrator Lita Judge, this poignant, exquisitely illustrated children’s picture book gives young readers a window into housing insecurity and how it impacts families. Old Blue, a dated van, serves as the home of a girl and her sister, their parents, a dog and a cat. Life on…
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Objects of delight
James Paterson is an artist and “imagineer” who lives in Ontario. His award-winning wire sculptures are influenced by a childhood in the “vibrant and visually textured Kensington Market area of Toronto” and have been exhibited in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Violet Nesdoly: What form did your early art take? James Paterson: I…
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The joy of going slow
Camping might be the quintessential Canadian vacation. In a country with fewer than five people for every square kilometre and most of us enjoying easy access to nature, sleeping outdoors in the summer is a simple pleasure. Parks Canada even has a section of its website dedicated to learning to camp, with videos, instructions, recipes,…
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A ban? More effective action is possible
It’s easy to support bans on social media use for children under 16. It is widely known that TikTok, Instagram and other apps are addictive, and that overuse contributes to mental health issues. Protecting children sounds good and rallies political support. However, when one takes time to ask questions, it is less clear that the…
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Seeking the well-being of trans kids
“My child has just come out as transgender. What do I do?” These days, it seems that no matter how you respond, someone will judge you harshly. These questions take on special urgency as the average age of coming out as trans is steadily dropping, and there are increasingly effective treatment options for transforming bodies….
