HaltonParents

Simplify and rejoice this holiday season!

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Halton Guest Blogger

It’s the season to be jolly. Or is it? The countdown is on, even though it’s been since September, that stores started adorning themselves with garland, ‘bobbles’, iridescent lights and perfectly symmetrical evergreen trees. As the weeks have gone by flyers piled up warning frazzled grown-ups of how many days are left to shop. As the weather outside gets frightful shopping becomes less delightful.

Gift giving and decorations will always be part of the holiday season but is there a way of being less focused on gift giving, less stressed and more joyful? In my pursuit to embrace the true meaning of the holiday season, reconnecting and celebrating with family and friends, I have vowed to simplify and rejoice!

Now the hard part…how? If you’re not too deep into it yet, here are some thoughts: Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Pregnancy, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged Christmas, Christmas tree, environmentally friendly, family time, gift giving, grandparents, Holidays, memories, Mental Health, random acts of kindness, stress, traditions | Leave a comment

Grandparenting: Times have changed

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Halton Guest Blogger

I am one of the lucky ones who has the support of two sets of grandparents to help raise my 2 kids: 2 nanas, 1 papa and 1 granddad. Whether it is to watch them on a PD day, or run them to hockey, they are always willing to help out (even to take them for a sleep over). This is the kind of help that many parents with young children dream of!

When I was budgeting for all the supplies I needed to purchase for my kids, I always had to think of getting “a spare” for those times my kids were with their grandparents. We forget that most of the “equipment” we have now, was not around when we were growing up. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Keeping Your Baby Safe, Keeping Your Toddler & Preschooler Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged baby proofing, babysit, booster seat, car seats, grandparents, injury prevention, Keeping Your Baby Safe, medications, safe | Leave a comment

The Sandwich Generation

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Halton Guest Blogger

This is the third post in a four-part series on grandparents.

The phone rings at the crack of dawn, which has never been a good thing. On the other end of the line, I hear my mom’s weak voice, “I am so sick …”. I think of her alone in the house, on the other side of Toronto. We have just left my dad in the hospital late last night after he passed out at the bank.

I scramble to get myself awake and try to think clearly. My parents need me…I am an only child …there is no one else for them to call. Other relatives live too far away or are too elderly themselves to assist. I start to think through the morning schedule. Can my husband get our girls off to school? This will mean he will be late for work…hopefully he doesn’t have an important meeting first thing! Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Pregnancy, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged aging, generation gaps, grandparents, sandwich generation, senior parents | 2 Comments

Busting through parenting myths across the generations

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Halton Guest Blogger

This is the second post in a four-part series about being a grandparent.

I remember fondly being pregnant with my first baby; I had such a thirst for all and any information. It was crazy… 9 months to prepare for a lifetime of parenting just didn’t seem like enough. How do people do it? Prenatal classes, books, online information, discussions with my partner and other parents really helped.

Your own parents (grandparents-to-be) may also have some well-meaning advice and tips from when they raised you. Some of it is really valuable information, but there are also some myths that just don’t seem to go away! Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Breastfeeding Your Baby, Feeding Your Baby in the First Year, Keeping Your Baby Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Pregnancy, Preparing to Breastfeed | Tagged Generation, generation gap, grandparents, health, infant death syndrome, myths, parenting myths, sudden infant death, sudden infant death syndrome | Leave a comment

Becoming a grandparent

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Halton Guest Blogger

This is the first post in a four-part series about being a grandparent.

As a young parent I was often confused about the conflicting parenting advice I received from family and friends…

“Don’t pick the baby up every time she cries or you will spoil her”

vs.

“Pick your baby up when she cries, she is calling for your help”

I read books and asked my doctor but still was left wondering what was best for my baby. If only there was someone for me to talk or help me at that time! (My decision to become a nurse was driven in part by getting information and answers to my questions).