Happy Birthday Alex!!!

  Today is Alex's birthday. 13. I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? Where did that cute little baby disappear to? And when was he replaced by the 5'9, long haired young man?

  Time goes by quickly and we never truly realize just how fast til we look at our kids. I can remember clearly Alex coming home from the hospital. How terrified we were that we had to keep him alive. His first day of kindergarten with Mme. Claudette. He was so small getting on that bus.

  He is no longer that little boy. Alex has a confidence and strength that is growing daily. Each new experience shows in how he thinks and expresses himself. You can see the man he is becoming....and it's a pretty amazing picture!

  Happy birthday Alex. We are beyond proud of you. Even though you drive us crazy, don't listen and fight constantly with your brother....we wouldn't change you for the world. 

  Except maybe to make you less messy ;)

  Love Mom
  

  

Put Politics Aside

  I just finished writing an entry on how proud we should be as Canadians for opening our hearts and homes to the displaced evacuees from Fort McMurray. How we should hold our heads up high. Secure in the knowledge that we live in the greatest country in the world. And I meant every word. However.....

  Some people are using this as a political statement. How both the provincial and federal governments aren't doing everything necessary. In a time when, as a country, we need to stand together you are trying to divide us? Shame on you.

  Do you honestly think Justin Trudeau is sitting in his office thinking.....hmmm I'll get to this next week, I have a hair appointment. Oh just let them figure it. Do you honestly think that?

  Maybe Rachel Notley is thinking over her morning coffee that perhaps they should just let the fire burn and the people take care of themselves?  Of course not. And you making this tragedy a political issue is giving us a look at your character not the leaders.

  No matter how this is handled, no matter which political party is in power, there will be things that could have been done better. When all is said and done, reports will be issued, new policies will be put in place and lessons will be learned. It's not politics. It's experience.

  The people who have been evacuated. Firefighters. Police. Medical staff. First responders.  They ARE the focus. Helping them rebuild their homes and lives. That will become our focus in the days, weeks and months to come.

  Don't you dare try to over shadow that.

  Ang

Proud Canadians

  If you live in Canada you know the story of Fort McMurray and the horrific, out-of-control forest fire. The entire town, about 90 thousand people, have been evacuated. Entire neighborhoods have burned to the ground. As I write this there have been no deaths or injuries....a true testament to the police, firefighters and first responders. I should add they have evacuated an entire hospital and delivered two babies in the process. Quite a feat.

  Canadians are doing what we do best. Helping. As a country we open our hearts, wallets and in this case, our homes. No matter how small a role we can play, we do.

  One thing that is especially Canadian is letting people into our homes. People with spare rooms are opening their doors to total strangers. Need a spot to park your RV? Farmers, ranchers and land owners are opening their gates and letting you park. And it goes without saying those spots are free.

  There are Facebook pages and Twitter hashtags to help those stranded or in need of help. Community centers and school gymnasiums are converting to sleeping quarters. Hotels are housing people for free....one place even includes breakfast and a light dinner!

  In our true giving manner we step up. Every time. Something to be very proud of. 

  Ang

Skeletons

  We all know things about our friends that we would never tell. Affairs, money problems or wayward spouses. Maybe even a late night bail call. Nothing and no one could make us break that confidence. It's the ultimate betrayal in a solid friendship. We judge ourselves, and them, based on how well they/we keep those secrets.

  But what if you know things about someone you don't like? Things that could ruin relationships, careers or marriages. It's harder, I think, to keep those secrets. 

  When a friendship runs it's course, as some do, there are lots of secrets left behind. How we handle those is a measure of our character. Imagine if that person was famous? I can't even begin to fathom what secrets I would have to keep quiet if I knew say Colin Farrell or Madonna!

  It's important to be a good friend but equally important to be a fair ex-friend. Confidences run both ways. Remember that.

  Besides....you helped hide those skeletons.

  Ang

  

Lesson Learned For Alex

  Yesterday Alex fell and sprained his ankle. Badly. In fact it would probably heal faster had it been broken. Now he is on crutches for the foreseeable future. A few weeks at least.

  The child isn't accident prone or clumsy but he was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing. Consequences. There will be lots of activities he wanted to do that are now off the table.

  Even school is going to be an issue. The school bus for starters. And all of his classes are on the third floor. Thankfully there is an elevator. But it's not going to be an easy job. More consequences.

  What seems to be the worst is Saturday is Alex's birthday. While he wanted to do nothing but relax and play video games all day I think he doesn't like the idea of being "limited".  Consequences.

  Theses next few weeks will be a challenge. For all of us.  But I think he has learned a valuable lesson. 

  Especially in a two story house.

  Ang

  

"Me"ternity

  Meghann Foye wrote a book called Meternity. It's a book about how a woman with no children is entitled to the same "leave" as someone who has them.

  Let me start by saying....it's a work of fiction. Fiction. Not real. Fiction. Because boy are people pissed. The premise of the book is a woman fakes a pregnancy to get some time off to figure out her life. Sounds like a good read actually.

  But women, mothers, went crazy. As if this was a personal assault on themselves. How dare this author write about a woman who is jealous that new mothers get time off. As if it's a vacation. Or that she is angry because she has to pick up the workload of this new mom.

  In Canada there is three months maternity leave and an additional nine months parental leave. By definition the maternity leave is for the mom only while the other time can be split in any combination you choose. John took the nine months for each of our boys.

  Look I had two c-sections. It's major surgery and requires six full weeks of recovery. There would have been no way for me to go to work every day. No matter what job I had. Getting dressed and downstairs was a challenge for the first two weeks home. So recovery time, no matter how the baby is delivered, is important.

  While we have the luxury, and yes it is a luxury, to stay home many, many women do not. For financial reasons mainly. Some want to go back to work immediately. A choice. Life is full of them. 
  
 It's always a good sign when a book creates a conversation. This one certainly does. I can see both sides of the issue. And it is an issue because, like it or not, when a woman, or man, takes maternity/parental leave, someone must cover their work. That's a fact. 

  The work doesn't just sit there til you come back.

  Ang

  
  

  

  

Trivia

  Last night John and I went to a trivia night. It's a fun way to pass the evening. Until you realize you aren't as smart as you thought! 

  I used to go every week when we lived in Nova Scotia. Scott, Petra, Marc, Catherine, Mike, Charlotte and I.  A wealth of useless knowledge crammed into a booth in a local bar. A few drinks. Many laughs. We excelled at music and pop culture....figures. We failed miserably at geography and science.

  One night I remember there was an entire category on oceans. Perfect for us with three people in the Navy who had traveled on ships extensively. We thought we couldn't lose. Boy did we ever. It turns out just because you've been in every body of water doesn't mean you remember them.

  Not much has changed since those days. While I think I retain most of what I read and hear....obviously I don't. We came in last. By quite the margin. It was fun and the money raised went to a local charity. 

  I almost forgot....when we played years ago there were no cell phones with wifi. Last night they had people walking around making sure you didn't google the answers! Funny how times changes.

  Boy that makes me sound old! Sigh

  Ang