Soft Launch in March...Full Launch by May...Scentsy's Online Card Store
www.jmcewan.scentsy.ca
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Weekend Dad
After my parents divorce we only saw our Dad every other weekend. Saying that makes me realize why he didn't think he was getting enough visitation time. My Dad loved us more than anything in the world and he always let us know that. Even though he could have bad mouthed our Mom he never did (not to us anyway). It wasn't until we were in our teens that he opened up about coming home and finding that we were gone. He was devastated. My Dad and my Uncle were very close and even went vacationing together. This was a bit of a sore spot as he was married to my Mom's sister but I think he saved my Dad. He was there for him at the time he was needed most.
We had a great time when we went to his house. Of course because he stayed in the house we had all of our friends and our backyard pool. My Dad dated a few women after he and my Mom split up. One of the most memorable was a woman who had no interest in us kids. She was very self centered and when she told my Dad that she would see him when we weren't around he told her that they were done.
Dad also bought a cottage on Chemong lake near Peterborough. That's where we had our best adventures.For anyone who knows Chemong Lake you know that there are some very weedy spots (actually alot of weedy spots). Our cottage was in a bay which made it that much weedier. The people who owned the cottage next door had cleared the weeds and had a beach which is where we swam from the most. They had a grandaughter around the age of my sister and I. We spent alot of time together. She also had cousins who visited their Grandparents a few doors down. They came up from the US every summer. Funny what we remember from our childhoods. I don't remember the names of the two girls but I alway remember the name of the boy. His name was TJ and the reason I remember this is because of the little bird that we would hear first thing each morning. We always said it was calling tee jay, tee jay!
We used to go up sometimes during the colder months and my uncle would come too. He had such a great imagination! He told us that the bunkhouse was actually a chocolate factory and he knew the secret of how to activate it. How could we dispute what he said when boxes of chocolate always appeared inside when he came. He was also a very good artist. I still have a watercolor painting he did of the cottage on the back page of one of my coloring books. We always had fun with him. That's just the kind of guy he was (although that does not make for a good husband). He passed away just before my son was born. I really miss him.
My Uncle introduced my Dad to my (now) Step Mom. Apparently he had gone to a bar one night and met two girls so he called my Dad. They hit it off immediately. She was going through a tough time raising five kids on her own. Her ex husband was an alcoholic and not much of a contributor. Anyway we got along great with her kids. Weekends at the cottage became even more of an adventure! We played baseball although somehow Dad's team always got stacked and a cry fest occurred before us non athletes quit. Kick the can was fun. Does anyone remember playing kick the can? It's kind of a different take on hide and seek. We used to go on day long hikes (just us kids) which when I think about now is a scary thought. We used to go through the woods and find our way to a general store which was about five miles away. We would take our lunch and come back before dinner. I'm actually not really sure how we found our way, we just did. There was a bay full of painted turtles where we used to go in the aluminum boat. Did you know that painted turtles bite? Coming home with one on my lap onetime I was bit. It actually clamped onto my elbow while I was driving the boat. We almost crashed as we tried frantically to smack it off. There were actually alot of snapping turtles in the lake. With the amount of weeds they had great places to hide. One time while swimming in the bay we saw a head come up that was about the size of a softball. We all scrambled to get out except for the youngest. We didn't want her to make a sudden movement because it was right behind her so we told her that her Mom said she had to come out. She said no that she didn't have to. After much futile arguement we finally told her to look behind her. As she started to swim the head went under. We raced into the water and grabbed her to get her out faster. We didn't swim in the bay after that.
Memories of weekends with my Dad are important to me. I wish I could share them all. I don't see him enough now which I think needs to change. The March Break is coming up and I am off work so I think we will pay him a visit.
We had a great time when we went to his house. Of course because he stayed in the house we had all of our friends and our backyard pool. My Dad dated a few women after he and my Mom split up. One of the most memorable was a woman who had no interest in us kids. She was very self centered and when she told my Dad that she would see him when we weren't around he told her that they were done.
Dad also bought a cottage on Chemong lake near Peterborough. That's where we had our best adventures.For anyone who knows Chemong Lake you know that there are some very weedy spots (actually alot of weedy spots). Our cottage was in a bay which made it that much weedier. The people who owned the cottage next door had cleared the weeds and had a beach which is where we swam from the most. They had a grandaughter around the age of my sister and I. We spent alot of time together. She also had cousins who visited their Grandparents a few doors down. They came up from the US every summer. Funny what we remember from our childhoods. I don't remember the names of the two girls but I alway remember the name of the boy. His name was TJ and the reason I remember this is because of the little bird that we would hear first thing each morning. We always said it was calling tee jay, tee jay!
We used to go up sometimes during the colder months and my uncle would come too. He had such a great imagination! He told us that the bunkhouse was actually a chocolate factory and he knew the secret of how to activate it. How could we dispute what he said when boxes of chocolate always appeared inside when he came. He was also a very good artist. I still have a watercolor painting he did of the cottage on the back page of one of my coloring books. We always had fun with him. That's just the kind of guy he was (although that does not make for a good husband). He passed away just before my son was born. I really miss him.
My Uncle introduced my Dad to my (now) Step Mom. Apparently he had gone to a bar one night and met two girls so he called my Dad. They hit it off immediately. She was going through a tough time raising five kids on her own. Her ex husband was an alcoholic and not much of a contributor. Anyway we got along great with her kids. Weekends at the cottage became even more of an adventure! We played baseball although somehow Dad's team always got stacked and a cry fest occurred before us non athletes quit. Kick the can was fun. Does anyone remember playing kick the can? It's kind of a different take on hide and seek. We used to go on day long hikes (just us kids) which when I think about now is a scary thought. We used to go through the woods and find our way to a general store which was about five miles away. We would take our lunch and come back before dinner. I'm actually not really sure how we found our way, we just did. There was a bay full of painted turtles where we used to go in the aluminum boat. Did you know that painted turtles bite? Coming home with one on my lap onetime I was bit. It actually clamped onto my elbow while I was driving the boat. We almost crashed as we tried frantically to smack it off. There were actually alot of snapping turtles in the lake. With the amount of weeds they had great places to hide. One time while swimming in the bay we saw a head come up that was about the size of a softball. We all scrambled to get out except for the youngest. We didn't want her to make a sudden movement because it was right behind her so we told her that her Mom said she had to come out. She said no that she didn't have to. After much futile arguement we finally told her to look behind her. As she started to swim the head went under. We raced into the water and grabbed her to get her out faster. We didn't swim in the bay after that.
Memories of weekends with my Dad are important to me. I wish I could share them all. I don't see him enough now which I think needs to change. The March Break is coming up and I am off work so I think we will pay him a visit.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Scentsy
So where does Scentsable Gifts come from? I work as an independant consultant for Scentsy Canada. It is a fabulous company with great products which practically sell themselves (and it keeps me from going insane working at a call center). I was at a family barbecue in August and saw what my step sister was selling and I was immediately hooked! There are many different products to choose from. They include warmers which warm scentsy's special scented wax (warmers come in many sizes and include plug ins too), car fragrances, room sprays, travel tins, hand sanitizing foam, and stuffed animals (buddies) which come with a special scent pak (scent paks can be ordered separately to use anywhere). Scentsy products contain no phthalates which are common in many of the storebought products that we use to make our homes smell nice. So why not just buy candles? First of all many house fires are started by unattended or forgotten candles. Scentsy warmers are electric so there is no flame. The lack of flame also means no smoke, soot, or lead. There are so many designs to choose from. They are safe around pets and children. There are also warmers that are suited for childrens rooms which make great night lights. All scentsy products have a lifetime warranty on parts which is not very common.
A new line of products called Layers by Scentsy will also be available starting March 1. These are bath and body and laundry products. The bath and body includes shower gels, body butters, lotions, body sprays, and solid perfumes. The laundry products include dryer discs and wash infusions.
A new line of products called Layers by Scentsy will also be available starting March 1. These are bath and body and laundry products. The bath and body includes shower gels, body butters, lotions, body sprays, and solid perfumes. The laundry products include dryer discs and wash infusions.
A Marriage Ends
So began a new chapter in our lives. Mom and Dad were not going to be together anymore. I don't think we realized this at first. One day a moving truck came and took our stuff to my Aunt's house. It was like an adventure for us as we loved spending time with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Our cousins were about ten years or so older than I was so we looked up to them. My Aunt's house was in the Leslie and Sheppard area and backed on to what I think was the original Windfields Farm. I think it was called Parkwood Stable. Can you imagine there being a farm around there now? The farm was moved to Oshawa where it thrived until the death of E.P Taylor in 1989 and later the death of his son Charles in 1997. The farm in Oshawa was the birthplace of Northern Dancer one of the world's greatest racehorses (he was later known for his record breaking stud fees of one million plus dollars). Sadly the farm has been sold to developers and to the University of Ontario. There is an area that will be preserved as a memorial park which happens to be the site where Northern Dancer is buried. It's sad to go by there and not see graceful horses roaming the fields anymore.
Back to my new adventure or should I say our new adventure. During a counselling session my Dad was apparently asked if he would put more effort into his marriage. As you would have it my Mom was president of the local Nursery School and a sore spot was the fact that he would not attend any functions with her but when it came to his work functions she was expected to attend. He was actually a very sociable guy so I'm not sure what the problem was. He wanted to go on vacations for two but she felt that all vacations should be as a family which was another sore spot. I think she wanted him to help around the house more as well and his feeling was likely that she was at home all day and he did not need to come home and help out (even with us). Boy he is such a different person now! Anyway during the counselling session when he was asked this question he replied that he had no intention of changing anything. My Mom told both him and the therapist that she intended to look for someone else. Maybe he thought she was kidding because it seemed to come as a shock to him when she actually left. I don't know if he was upset that she left, that she had found someone else or that she had taken us.
We actually knew the person my Mom had "found". He had known me since I was born (I guess I had known him too but not until I was old enough to actually know someone). My sister came running down the hall at my Aunt's house one morning yelling *** ***** is in bed with our Mom!!! Sorry but no actual names. We really liked him. He was alot of fun. He joked around and did things with us. My Mom seemed happy too which made things better. Before long we moved into a new townhome nearby. My Mom left the house for my Dad which was nice for us when we went for our weekend visits. We still got to see our old friends.
In our new home we met lots of new friends. There was a family down the way who had two girls the same age as my sister and I. We became instant best friends as did our Moms. We had some great adventures with them. The complex was very big and had a swimming pool and a huge playground shared by three townhouse complexes. We were actually in a stacked townhouse which meant we didn't have a backyard just a terrace so the playground was great. It's funny how much the world has changed since then. We used to go all over the place. There was a ravine behind our school where we used to go exploring. We would take a lunch and not come home until dinner time. There was not as much supervision back then but it didn't seem as though we needed it (well not always). One time when our friends' parents went away they came and stayed with us. My Mom had the key to their house to water the plants (plants were a big thing back then) which we decided to take one day and let ourselves in. We had a great time playing with the toys in the attic that had been bought for Christmas, we popped colored popcorn, played dressup and had a little party (just the four of us). We didn't think anybody would know but unfortunately a couple of colored kernels were found on the floor causing further investigation. Back then spanking was not abnormal (I still think it has it's place) but who would have thought that my Mom would allow the neighbour to spank us? I guess they were really angry and my Mom was feeling as though we had duped her.
We were best friends and did everything together including learning about the birds and bees. We had a group session with our Moms. They had found the book "Where Did I Come From" (I later bought this for my kids and would recommend it to anyone) and we read it and had a discussion. It's always kind of a shock when you learn for the first time how that works. I'm sure the first thought is always EWWWW!
Around this time I had another friend that I talked to. I don't usually mention this but it's kind of funny. I don't remember actually seeing him but he was apparently an alien who would visit me at night and sometimes talk to me through a homemade dixie cup phone. He actually had a name. His name was Captain Oogligloop. How weird is that? I guess I must have made him up so I had someone to tell my private thoughts to. I was seven so I can't say I really remember but I will say that I do believe that there is other life out there. To me it seems ridiculous to think that in a universe so vast we could be the only life form. I have a friend who strongly believes that I was visited. I guess I'll never actually know.
We learned alot in those early years. We learned to accept others as they are. We had a next door neighbour who was a thalidamide baby. She was actually around fifteen when we moved in. She astounded us with her talents. She could dress our barbies with her toes! She could tie my brothers shoes with her toes (back then shoes had laces)! She could write with her toes. Funny thing. I guess as children we were more accepting than our adult counterparts. Apparently some parents rallied and complained that she was taking her shoe and sock off in class to hold her pen or pencil so she wasn't allowed to do it anymore. They gave her some weird contraption to use. As kids we were amazed at what she could do but I guess parents didn't see it that way.
Alot happened over the years living on Shawnessy Boulevard but I'll save some of them for another day! Time for some housework.
Back to my new adventure or should I say our new adventure. During a counselling session my Dad was apparently asked if he would put more effort into his marriage. As you would have it my Mom was president of the local Nursery School and a sore spot was the fact that he would not attend any functions with her but when it came to his work functions she was expected to attend. He was actually a very sociable guy so I'm not sure what the problem was. He wanted to go on vacations for two but she felt that all vacations should be as a family which was another sore spot. I think she wanted him to help around the house more as well and his feeling was likely that she was at home all day and he did not need to come home and help out (even with us). Boy he is such a different person now! Anyway during the counselling session when he was asked this question he replied that he had no intention of changing anything. My Mom told both him and the therapist that she intended to look for someone else. Maybe he thought she was kidding because it seemed to come as a shock to him when she actually left. I don't know if he was upset that she left, that she had found someone else or that she had taken us.
We actually knew the person my Mom had "found". He had known me since I was born (I guess I had known him too but not until I was old enough to actually know someone). My sister came running down the hall at my Aunt's house one morning yelling *** ***** is in bed with our Mom!!! Sorry but no actual names. We really liked him. He was alot of fun. He joked around and did things with us. My Mom seemed happy too which made things better. Before long we moved into a new townhome nearby. My Mom left the house for my Dad which was nice for us when we went for our weekend visits. We still got to see our old friends.
In our new home we met lots of new friends. There was a family down the way who had two girls the same age as my sister and I. We became instant best friends as did our Moms. We had some great adventures with them. The complex was very big and had a swimming pool and a huge playground shared by three townhouse complexes. We were actually in a stacked townhouse which meant we didn't have a backyard just a terrace so the playground was great. It's funny how much the world has changed since then. We used to go all over the place. There was a ravine behind our school where we used to go exploring. We would take a lunch and not come home until dinner time. There was not as much supervision back then but it didn't seem as though we needed it (well not always). One time when our friends' parents went away they came and stayed with us. My Mom had the key to their house to water the plants (plants were a big thing back then) which we decided to take one day and let ourselves in. We had a great time playing with the toys in the attic that had been bought for Christmas, we popped colored popcorn, played dressup and had a little party (just the four of us). We didn't think anybody would know but unfortunately a couple of colored kernels were found on the floor causing further investigation. Back then spanking was not abnormal (I still think it has it's place) but who would have thought that my Mom would allow the neighbour to spank us? I guess they were really angry and my Mom was feeling as though we had duped her.
We were best friends and did everything together including learning about the birds and bees. We had a group session with our Moms. They had found the book "Where Did I Come From" (I later bought this for my kids and would recommend it to anyone) and we read it and had a discussion. It's always kind of a shock when you learn for the first time how that works. I'm sure the first thought is always EWWWW!
Around this time I had another friend that I talked to. I don't usually mention this but it's kind of funny. I don't remember actually seeing him but he was apparently an alien who would visit me at night and sometimes talk to me through a homemade dixie cup phone. He actually had a name. His name was Captain Oogligloop. How weird is that? I guess I must have made him up so I had someone to tell my private thoughts to. I was seven so I can't say I really remember but I will say that I do believe that there is other life out there. To me it seems ridiculous to think that in a universe so vast we could be the only life form. I have a friend who strongly believes that I was visited. I guess I'll never actually know.
We learned alot in those early years. We learned to accept others as they are. We had a next door neighbour who was a thalidamide baby. She was actually around fifteen when we moved in. She astounded us with her talents. She could dress our barbies with her toes! She could tie my brothers shoes with her toes (back then shoes had laces)! She could write with her toes. Funny thing. I guess as children we were more accepting than our adult counterparts. Apparently some parents rallied and complained that she was taking her shoe and sock off in class to hold her pen or pencil so she wasn't allowed to do it anymore. They gave her some weird contraption to use. As kids we were amazed at what she could do but I guess parents didn't see it that way.
Alot happened over the years living on Shawnessy Boulevard but I'll save some of them for another day! Time for some housework.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Oscar Night
I'm not feeling too creative tonight; it might be the stress of going to work tomorrow. I only work three days a week (Monday-Wednesday) but at a call centre that seems like an eternity! Thursday is usually spent unwinding, Friday getting caught up on housework, Saturday doing family things and Sunday psyching myself up to go back to work Monday.
So it's Oscar Night and I should be watching (or so it would seem from posts on fb). Is there something wrong with me if I'm not glued to the awards ceremony? Don't get me wrong, I have been keeping up to date via twitter and facebook! From what I've heard Gwyneth Paltrow is best dressed, Christopher Plummer (yah Canada) has won an oscar, and Angelina is showing too much skin (apparently her leg already has twitter followers)! I hear that Billy Crystal brought his flare back as host, animated short goes to a Louisiana Swamp Rat? and Robert Downey Junior was caught Tebowing! Woody Allen wins for Best Original Screenplay and is a no show? To be honest I didn't realize he still made movies. Did Meryl Streep lose again? She and Susan Lucci must be running neck in neck for losses (actually I think Susan Lucci may have finally won an Emmy). Best Supporting Actress to Octavia Spencer for her role in The Help. I really liked that movie. I seem to remember as a young child that we had a cleaning lady who came once or twice a week. I think she was a black lady and although I don't really remember I'm sure she was not treated that way (I would be ashamed of my Mom if she was). It sounds as though the biggest thing I did miss was the Cirque de Soleil show.
To be honest if AMC's The Walking Dead hadn't been on tonight I might have watched the Oscars. Yes there you have it, I am a fan of the Walkers! I started watching a few episodes into the first season and although some of it is very gross I am hooked! I probably could have watched it at midnight but I likely would have fallen asleep and missed it. Did I just hear on the news that George Clooney lost? Oh now I'm glad I wasn't watching! Oops this just in Meryl Streep did win! It's about time, this was 14 nominations? Well that's the extent of my interest as I understand that a movie called The Artist is set to win Best Picture. I didn't see it and thus far don't intend to.
So it's off to the shower and bed for me as tomorrow will be here before I know it and I will be on my way to my nightmare call centre job! Just three days, I can make it! Can't I just win the lottery? It would be so much easier. Goodnight all and have a pleasant tomorrow!
So it's Oscar Night and I should be watching (or so it would seem from posts on fb). Is there something wrong with me if I'm not glued to the awards ceremony? Don't get me wrong, I have been keeping up to date via twitter and facebook! From what I've heard Gwyneth Paltrow is best dressed, Christopher Plummer (yah Canada) has won an oscar, and Angelina is showing too much skin (apparently her leg already has twitter followers)! I hear that Billy Crystal brought his flare back as host, animated short goes to a Louisiana Swamp Rat? and Robert Downey Junior was caught Tebowing! Woody Allen wins for Best Original Screenplay and is a no show? To be honest I didn't realize he still made movies. Did Meryl Streep lose again? She and Susan Lucci must be running neck in neck for losses (actually I think Susan Lucci may have finally won an Emmy). Best Supporting Actress to Octavia Spencer for her role in The Help. I really liked that movie. I seem to remember as a young child that we had a cleaning lady who came once or twice a week. I think she was a black lady and although I don't really remember I'm sure she was not treated that way (I would be ashamed of my Mom if she was). It sounds as though the biggest thing I did miss was the Cirque de Soleil show.
To be honest if AMC's The Walking Dead hadn't been on tonight I might have watched the Oscars. Yes there you have it, I am a fan of the Walkers! I started watching a few episodes into the first season and although some of it is very gross I am hooked! I probably could have watched it at midnight but I likely would have fallen asleep and missed it. Did I just hear on the news that George Clooney lost? Oh now I'm glad I wasn't watching! Oops this just in Meryl Streep did win! It's about time, this was 14 nominations? Well that's the extent of my interest as I understand that a movie called The Artist is set to win Best Picture. I didn't see it and thus far don't intend to.
So it's off to the shower and bed for me as tomorrow will be here before I know it and I will be on my way to my nightmare call centre job! Just three days, I can make it! Can't I just win the lottery? It would be so much easier. Goodnight all and have a pleasant tomorrow!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
A Little History
So I was born Easter weekend in 1966. I don't remember much about it, actually nothing comes to mind at all. I have been told though that there was a very big snowstorm (one of Toronto's biggest although I don't think the Army was called in). In my almost 46 years (don't know how I got to be so old!) I can only remember a few of my birthdays with no snowfall. While we're on the topic of old I noticed the other day while filling out a contest ballot that I've moved to the next age group. 45-54. When did this happen? I actually lost track of my age before my last birthday. I was asked by an older family friend (whom I hadn't seen in years) how old I was and I answered that I would be 44 in April. Luckily my younger brother was there to remind me that I would actually turn 45. I laid in bed that night thinking how old that would make me. I had always considered 45 to be middle aged. My parents were middle aged or at least they used to be. My birth and childhood were history. How did this happen without me noticing?
My parents lived in Leaside (an area of Toronto) when I was born. I came into the world folded like a taco and bum first weighing 6lbs 10oz. I can't imagine what that experience must have been like for my poor mother! In today's world I would never have been delivered naturally. I'm not sure if it is possible to have any memories of your first year. I know I don't.
When I was 15 months old my 7lb sister was born. I couldn't say her name so I called her Sassy (to this day she is known to everyone as Sas). She was my first best friend (over the years we would take a few breaks from this friendship). The day my Mom came home from the hospital was the day we moved to our new house in Agincourt. Being so young I can't say I remember much but from what I've heard the house was disgusting and bordering on condemnation. It was a fixer upper and needed alot of attention but it belonged to us. My parents worked very hard to make it our home. A huge hedge surrounding the front yard was cut down and the lawn resodded. Every room of the house needed scrubbing and repainting and carpets replacing. I only have memories of how it looked after. It was a nice little three bedroom bungalow near Kennedy and Sheppard. Actually when I drive past it now it seems so much smaller than I remember. Unfortunately it has also once again fallen into disrepair. The current owners should be embarassed by it's appearance.
In 1970 my brother was born. When we saw him for the first time we asked why our Mom didn't get one of the tiny new babies (he weighed almost 10lbs!). I think it was around that time that my parents put the pool in our backyard. That was big excitement in the neighbourhood as I'm pretty sure we were the first to have an inground pool. It's amazing how many people thought it was a community pool and would send their kids in the morning in a bathing suit with a towel assuming that my Mom was the lifeguard. I don't know what goes through peoples minds!
I have many great memories growing up in that house. We would walk to Agincourt mall to get flip chips at Woolco (not sure what they tasted like but I can remember smelling them as you walked in the doors). I also vividly remember the day in 1971 that the Tam O Shanter Golf Clubhouse burned to the ground. We went to watch the firefighters put out the huge blaze. I remember standing near the mall and being able to feel the heat from the flames.
Our neighbourhood was teaming with kids. One family was wonderful enough to adopt six over the years. They were so excited as they brought each child home. Two were my age. A boy and a girl. I guess I would consider the boy to have been my first boyfriend. I had a crush on him for many years (even as a teenager). My fondest memories with them usually took place in their backyard treehouse which they called the green onion. On one side we had a nice dutch family who raised rabbits in their yard. We were mortified to find out that after playing with one of them that they ate it for dinner the next night! They had the most beautiful tulip garden each year, just a wave of colour. I have vivid memories of their two year old taking the brake off in the car and rolling it down the sloped driveway and onto the road. For a while this was a daily occurance. Our neighbours to the other side had two girls the same ages as my sister and I which worked out perfectly, although sometimes we got into trouble together. Sometimes we got blamed for their trouble like the time they picked all of the tulip heads off of the dutch lady's garden and left them scattered on our lawn. Luckily they owned up to it before the neighbour said something to my Mom that she would have regretted. She was livid!! I've heard stories about me disappearing for hours and nobody being able to find me (I think I was 5). My little friend from next door finally admitted that she and I had snuck into a neighbours backyard (the second home to install a pool) and that she had left me there in the pool. The family was away for a few months and actually had the pool drained. We had climbed down the ladder and were running around the empty pool until my friend decided to go home for lunch and pulled the ladder out leaving me stuck. Another time my sister helped a neighbour child by giving her a haircut. This did not go over well with her Mother especially because she was to be a flower girl in a wedding that weekend! Technically it was probably her Mother's fault as she had scissors hanging in her garage where they could be reached. It was such a different time back then. Children could roam the neighbourhood safely. Nobody needed to worry unless we didn't show up for a meal.
When my brother was two we went to Daytona beach and Disney on a family vacation. When we arrived at the hotel he fell in the wading pool and sank to the bottom. My Dad had to jump in fully clothed and pull him out. Silly brother, I guess he preferred to drown in Florida rather than in our own backyard pool. Maybe he was looking for an insurance payout. My sister also had an incident on the beach when she was almost hit by a car after running frantically from a wave that touched her feet. Funny thing was that the first day at the pool she went flying up the big slide and flew down it into the deep end of the pool. I was much more cautious as I was nervous around the water. One of my friends pulled me into the deep end at home when she slipped under the rope. My Dad had to save me that day. Anyway I have the fondest memories of our family vacation. I remember getting up on stage at the hotel restaurant with all of the other children to participate in a hula dance. I remember the teacups at Disney as well as the Country Bears Jamboree and It's a Small World (which is actually a very boring ride but a necessary trip down memory lane). We had such a great time as a family or so we thought. Somehow as children we missed the fact that this was a make it or break it trip for my parents. Shortly after we came home their marriage was over and another chapter was about to begin.
My parents lived in Leaside (an area of Toronto) when I was born. I came into the world folded like a taco and bum first weighing 6lbs 10oz. I can't imagine what that experience must have been like for my poor mother! In today's world I would never have been delivered naturally. I'm not sure if it is possible to have any memories of your first year. I know I don't.
When I was 15 months old my 7lb sister was born. I couldn't say her name so I called her Sassy (to this day she is known to everyone as Sas). She was my first best friend (over the years we would take a few breaks from this friendship). The day my Mom came home from the hospital was the day we moved to our new house in Agincourt. Being so young I can't say I remember much but from what I've heard the house was disgusting and bordering on condemnation. It was a fixer upper and needed alot of attention but it belonged to us. My parents worked very hard to make it our home. A huge hedge surrounding the front yard was cut down and the lawn resodded. Every room of the house needed scrubbing and repainting and carpets replacing. I only have memories of how it looked after. It was a nice little three bedroom bungalow near Kennedy and Sheppard. Actually when I drive past it now it seems so much smaller than I remember. Unfortunately it has also once again fallen into disrepair. The current owners should be embarassed by it's appearance.
In 1970 my brother was born. When we saw him for the first time we asked why our Mom didn't get one of the tiny new babies (he weighed almost 10lbs!). I think it was around that time that my parents put the pool in our backyard. That was big excitement in the neighbourhood as I'm pretty sure we were the first to have an inground pool. It's amazing how many people thought it was a community pool and would send their kids in the morning in a bathing suit with a towel assuming that my Mom was the lifeguard. I don't know what goes through peoples minds!
I have many great memories growing up in that house. We would walk to Agincourt mall to get flip chips at Woolco (not sure what they tasted like but I can remember smelling them as you walked in the doors). I also vividly remember the day in 1971 that the Tam O Shanter Golf Clubhouse burned to the ground. We went to watch the firefighters put out the huge blaze. I remember standing near the mall and being able to feel the heat from the flames.
Our neighbourhood was teaming with kids. One family was wonderful enough to adopt six over the years. They were so excited as they brought each child home. Two were my age. A boy and a girl. I guess I would consider the boy to have been my first boyfriend. I had a crush on him for many years (even as a teenager). My fondest memories with them usually took place in their backyard treehouse which they called the green onion. On one side we had a nice dutch family who raised rabbits in their yard. We were mortified to find out that after playing with one of them that they ate it for dinner the next night! They had the most beautiful tulip garden each year, just a wave of colour. I have vivid memories of their two year old taking the brake off in the car and rolling it down the sloped driveway and onto the road. For a while this was a daily occurance. Our neighbours to the other side had two girls the same ages as my sister and I which worked out perfectly, although sometimes we got into trouble together. Sometimes we got blamed for their trouble like the time they picked all of the tulip heads off of the dutch lady's garden and left them scattered on our lawn. Luckily they owned up to it before the neighbour said something to my Mom that she would have regretted. She was livid!! I've heard stories about me disappearing for hours and nobody being able to find me (I think I was 5). My little friend from next door finally admitted that she and I had snuck into a neighbours backyard (the second home to install a pool) and that she had left me there in the pool. The family was away for a few months and actually had the pool drained. We had climbed down the ladder and were running around the empty pool until my friend decided to go home for lunch and pulled the ladder out leaving me stuck. Another time my sister helped a neighbour child by giving her a haircut. This did not go over well with her Mother especially because she was to be a flower girl in a wedding that weekend! Technically it was probably her Mother's fault as she had scissors hanging in her garage where they could be reached. It was such a different time back then. Children could roam the neighbourhood safely. Nobody needed to worry unless we didn't show up for a meal.
When my brother was two we went to Daytona beach and Disney on a family vacation. When we arrived at the hotel he fell in the wading pool and sank to the bottom. My Dad had to jump in fully clothed and pull him out. Silly brother, I guess he preferred to drown in Florida rather than in our own backyard pool. Maybe he was looking for an insurance payout. My sister also had an incident on the beach when she was almost hit by a car after running frantically from a wave that touched her feet. Funny thing was that the first day at the pool she went flying up the big slide and flew down it into the deep end of the pool. I was much more cautious as I was nervous around the water. One of my friends pulled me into the deep end at home when she slipped under the rope. My Dad had to save me that day. Anyway I have the fondest memories of our family vacation. I remember getting up on stage at the hotel restaurant with all of the other children to participate in a hula dance. I remember the teacups at Disney as well as the Country Bears Jamboree and It's a Small World (which is actually a very boring ride but a necessary trip down memory lane). We had such a great time as a family or so we thought. Somehow as children we missed the fact that this was a make it or break it trip for my parents. Shortly after we came home their marriage was over and another chapter was about to begin.
Stay at Home Mom
Remember toward the end of high school how everyone asked each other where they were going to attend college or university and what they planned to do as adults? My answer was that I was going to be a Mom and I didn't need to go to school to learn how. Friends laughed at my answer but I was very serious. My goal in life was to marry and have a family and to be a stay at home Mom. After some ups and downs I married my high school sweetheart. We've been together for twenty eight years and married for almost twenty three.
I always thought as a stay at home Mom I was doing right by my kids in raising them myself. I used to look at working Moms and think that if their kids didn't turn out right it was their own fault because they gave the job to someone else. My kids were going to be great because I was there. I saw them sit up for the first time, take their first steps, cut their first teeth, heard their first words, and got them to the bus for school each day. They always knew I would be there for them when they needed me.
Little did I know that things are never perfect in the real world. I had every intention of being the perfect Mom. Everything was going to be done right. My children were to be breastfed which we know is the best but I also wanted that bond between Mother and Child that comes along with it. With me staying home formula was a luxury anyway. I had a notion (possibly aided by my old school Mom) that cloth diapers were also a must. Paper diapers were not something I would want to wear myself so why would I put my babies in them?
So along comes baby number one. He was not planned as we had moved in with my in-laws to save to buy a house. We had a room in the basement with very little privacy. Our first weekend away and a private moment in the boathouse shower (yes the boathouse shower which has become family legend) and we were pregnant. Surprise! After being given gel to soften my cervix, having my water broken, taking pitocin tablets for 12 hours (which made me throw up) and then being put on an IV drip to induce labor, my son finally came into the world at 7am weighing 8lbs 3oz. This was after 24 hours of trying everything but dynamite and then needing use of forceps to pull him out! At one point I was told I might need a c-section which did not fit into my perfect picture of childbirth. Thinking back to the 28 or so stitches that were needed, a c-section might have been the right choice. Breastfeeding lasted approximately six weeks before my son turned on me. It seemed as though my breasts were monsters coming at him. This was not the bonding experience I had hoped for! Cloth diapers also did not last long as we shared a washroom and laundry room making paper much more convenient. It was okay, I would try again with the next one.
Baby number two came three and a half years later. She was planned as we had our home purchased and knew it was time to add to our family. Almost from day one I had a feeling she would be a girl which was how I wanted the order of my family to go. She was also induced but this time it went much differently. It was only six hours from the time they started to induce (with tablets in my cervix) to the time the doctor came in to break my water so she wasn't born in the amniotic sac. We actually had to wait because the doctor left thinking I would not be ready until the next morning. I think it was faster due to the lack of drugs as I had a small amount of gas and a couple of shots of nubane. She arrived at 1:40am weighing 8lbs. She was destined to be the middle child from birth. She actually breastfed for three months before turning on me. Feeding her was interesting. It was not the bond I was looking for as I was not allowed to look at her or talk while feeding her. She was very cranky and didn't seem to like to be cuddled. There were days when I put her in her crib for her nap and sat on the front porch crying. My son once asked his Nana what would happen if his Mom threw his sister out the window. Cloth diapers were out pretty soon with this one too. Anyone who breastfeeds knows how messy bowel movements are. It was okay, things would get better. As we planned to have four, I figured I still would have a chance to do things 'right'.
Funny thing, we didn't have our third baby for five years after number two. We had just purchased our second home when we found out we were pregnant again. This would not have been when we would have planned to have another. We were moving into our new house in the middle of March and due around Mother's Day. Moving is not a fun thing when you are pregnant. We actually were between houses for six weeks due to construction delays and had to move to my parents house which meant moving twice! So the day after Mother's Day I woke up with a feeling I had never experienced. A little bit crampy and thought I had peed my pants. I had a doctors appointment that afternoon which I went to before being admitted to the hospital. Shortly after having some bloodwork done my water broke. Things moved quickly from there. I think this was also due to no drip or IV drugs. I opted for a little gas which I gave up as I felt as though I was not going to be with it when baby arrived. It was actually quite an amazing feeling as her body moved down through the birth canal. It was very painful but I'm glad I had the experience. So at 7:11pm baby number three made her appearance weighing 8lbs 14oz. She had big shoulders and I needed a small incision as they got stuck. Luckily we had a wonderful nurse who allowed big brother and sister to come up for a quick visit even though visiting hours were over. She even put off her dinner break to stay for the birth instead of letting someone else come in. Leaving the hospital with my parents my son turned to my Mom and said "Nana I think I must have bad luck because I really wanted a brother the first time and I got a sister and I really wanted a brother this time and I got another sister." My Mom replied "At least your new sister is healthy what if she had been born with just one arm or leg?" She laughed at his reply which was "It would have been okay if it was a brother!" Children say the funniest things. So baby number three only lasted eight weeks breastfeeding before freaking out like the other two and she wore disposable diapers from day one. We never tried for baby number four.
So what did I learn from these experiences? Well for one I apparently don't have a long shelf life on my breastmilk. Either that or my breasts morph into monsters around six weeks or so after giving birth (although my husband never mentioned it). Secondly, life is not perfect and things don't always go as planned and that's okay. Would I do anything different? Absolutely not. Sometimes I think that I am to blame for things which did not turn out the way that I expected them to. This is kind of the opposite of the working Mom who can blame someone else (my new way of viewing the situation). In the end I would not trade my choices or the experiences that came from them for anything in the world. Stay tuned as life continues.
I always thought as a stay at home Mom I was doing right by my kids in raising them myself. I used to look at working Moms and think that if their kids didn't turn out right it was their own fault because they gave the job to someone else. My kids were going to be great because I was there. I saw them sit up for the first time, take their first steps, cut their first teeth, heard their first words, and got them to the bus for school each day. They always knew I would be there for them when they needed me.
Little did I know that things are never perfect in the real world. I had every intention of being the perfect Mom. Everything was going to be done right. My children were to be breastfed which we know is the best but I also wanted that bond between Mother and Child that comes along with it. With me staying home formula was a luxury anyway. I had a notion (possibly aided by my old school Mom) that cloth diapers were also a must. Paper diapers were not something I would want to wear myself so why would I put my babies in them?
So along comes baby number one. He was not planned as we had moved in with my in-laws to save to buy a house. We had a room in the basement with very little privacy. Our first weekend away and a private moment in the boathouse shower (yes the boathouse shower which has become family legend) and we were pregnant. Surprise! After being given gel to soften my cervix, having my water broken, taking pitocin tablets for 12 hours (which made me throw up) and then being put on an IV drip to induce labor, my son finally came into the world at 7am weighing 8lbs 3oz. This was after 24 hours of trying everything but dynamite and then needing use of forceps to pull him out! At one point I was told I might need a c-section which did not fit into my perfect picture of childbirth. Thinking back to the 28 or so stitches that were needed, a c-section might have been the right choice. Breastfeeding lasted approximately six weeks before my son turned on me. It seemed as though my breasts were monsters coming at him. This was not the bonding experience I had hoped for! Cloth diapers also did not last long as we shared a washroom and laundry room making paper much more convenient. It was okay, I would try again with the next one.
Baby number two came three and a half years later. She was planned as we had our home purchased and knew it was time to add to our family. Almost from day one I had a feeling she would be a girl which was how I wanted the order of my family to go. She was also induced but this time it went much differently. It was only six hours from the time they started to induce (with tablets in my cervix) to the time the doctor came in to break my water so she wasn't born in the amniotic sac. We actually had to wait because the doctor left thinking I would not be ready until the next morning. I think it was faster due to the lack of drugs as I had a small amount of gas and a couple of shots of nubane. She arrived at 1:40am weighing 8lbs. She was destined to be the middle child from birth. She actually breastfed for three months before turning on me. Feeding her was interesting. It was not the bond I was looking for as I was not allowed to look at her or talk while feeding her. She was very cranky and didn't seem to like to be cuddled. There were days when I put her in her crib for her nap and sat on the front porch crying. My son once asked his Nana what would happen if his Mom threw his sister out the window. Cloth diapers were out pretty soon with this one too. Anyone who breastfeeds knows how messy bowel movements are. It was okay, things would get better. As we planned to have four, I figured I still would have a chance to do things 'right'.
Funny thing, we didn't have our third baby for five years after number two. We had just purchased our second home when we found out we were pregnant again. This would not have been when we would have planned to have another. We were moving into our new house in the middle of March and due around Mother's Day. Moving is not a fun thing when you are pregnant. We actually were between houses for six weeks due to construction delays and had to move to my parents house which meant moving twice! So the day after Mother's Day I woke up with a feeling I had never experienced. A little bit crampy and thought I had peed my pants. I had a doctors appointment that afternoon which I went to before being admitted to the hospital. Shortly after having some bloodwork done my water broke. Things moved quickly from there. I think this was also due to no drip or IV drugs. I opted for a little gas which I gave up as I felt as though I was not going to be with it when baby arrived. It was actually quite an amazing feeling as her body moved down through the birth canal. It was very painful but I'm glad I had the experience. So at 7:11pm baby number three made her appearance weighing 8lbs 14oz. She had big shoulders and I needed a small incision as they got stuck. Luckily we had a wonderful nurse who allowed big brother and sister to come up for a quick visit even though visiting hours were over. She even put off her dinner break to stay for the birth instead of letting someone else come in. Leaving the hospital with my parents my son turned to my Mom and said "Nana I think I must have bad luck because I really wanted a brother the first time and I got a sister and I really wanted a brother this time and I got another sister." My Mom replied "At least your new sister is healthy what if she had been born with just one arm or leg?" She laughed at his reply which was "It would have been okay if it was a brother!" Children say the funniest things. So baby number three only lasted eight weeks breastfeeding before freaking out like the other two and she wore disposable diapers from day one. We never tried for baby number four.
So what did I learn from these experiences? Well for one I apparently don't have a long shelf life on my breastmilk. Either that or my breasts morph into monsters around six weeks or so after giving birth (although my husband never mentioned it). Secondly, life is not perfect and things don't always go as planned and that's okay. Would I do anything different? Absolutely not. Sometimes I think that I am to blame for things which did not turn out the way that I expected them to. This is kind of the opposite of the working Mom who can blame someone else (my new way of viewing the situation). In the end I would not trade my choices or the experiences that came from them for anything in the world. Stay tuned as life continues.
Friday, February 24, 2012
My First Blog
So this is my first ever blog. Just to introduce myself, I am an independant Scentsy consultant living in Port Perry Ontario Canada. I know "take off eh?". Actually Port Perry is a quaint friendly town northeast of Toronto. If you've ever seen Welcome to Mooseport with Ray Romano and Gene Hackman you have seen Port Perry. I am a mother of three. My oldest is almost 21 (I don't know where the time has gone), my middle child is 17 (she was destined from birth to be the middle child), and my youngest is 12 (going on 20). I used to be a stay at home Mom but went back to work when my youngest started school full time. I now work part time in a call centre (don't get me started on that) and run my Scentsy business from home. I'm not sure yet what my blogs will be about but I know they will include funnies from our lives as well as updates and research from my business. Stay tuned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)