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There's nothing quite like the smell of a newborn. Watch anyone handed a tiny, sleepy baby — they'll pull them close, breathe in deep, and let that sweet, milky scent settle somewhere soft in their memory. Scent has a way of doing that. It slips past our defences and goes straight to the places where we keep our most tender memories. I learned this firsthand. When I was a teenager, I lived in Belgium — and I didn't realize how deeply that place had marked me until I flew back

There are very few of us for whom September doesn't feel like a time of new beginnings. Honestly, for me, September feels more like a fresh start than January 1st ever does. There's something about the cold of winter that just doesn't inspire the same sense of possibility. Even those of us without school-aged kids feel the shift this time of year. Something in the air reminds us to take stock — to look at what we've been doing, and to ask ourselves what needs to change. The S

You wake before dawn, coffee warming your hands as you settle onto the smooth rock at the edge of a quiet lake. The morning mist hangs low over the water while the sun slowly rises beyond the trees. Your canoe rests where you pulled it ashore the night before, and the scent of last evening's campfire still lingers in your hair. The birds are beginning their morning chorus. Tiny fish ripple the glass-like surface, chasing insects drifting downstream. For a moment, everything f

While May marks the celebration of mothers, it is a day filled with many emotions for a lot of people. Some great emotions. Some deeply difficult. We honour and respect all of the feelings each of us experience at this time of year. If you have a mother you love and are connected to, hug her tightly and tell her that you love her!

Why is it that the change of seasons always brings so many mixed emotions? Is it good to see the progress? Is it sad that we miss what once was? Can both be true?

A reflective parenting post arguing that modern parents have drifted from building resilience to removing struggle — and that truly loving our kids means letting them experience disappointment, earn their wins, and develop the grit the real world will demand of them.

In a world that feels increasingly heavy and uncertain, many parents are quietly carrying fear about the future their children are growing up in. Through personal stories spanning decades of parenting during global crises, this piece explores the emotional toll of constant news consumption — and why protecting your nervous system may be one of the most powerful ways to protect your family. It’s a compassionate call for parents to reclaim presence, seek support, and choose con

Parenting doesn’t need more judgment. It needs more trust. Follow your heart.Know your family.Parent with conviction. You know your children best.

Ensure that the behaviours you are modelling for your children to see are actions, words and behaviours that you are proud of and know they will grow to want to action for themselves as they age.

As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the conversations that shaped this year of becoming babyREADY. What began in 2022 as a series of interviews has grown into something far more meaningful—a shared space for Queer parents and professionals to speak honestly, bravely, and without apology.

The holidays don’t have to be a whirlwind of juggling everyone else’s expectations. They don’t need to feel like a performance, a negotiation, or a race to keep the peace. Instead, they can be exactly what you and your family need them to be—gentle, joyful, grounding, or wonderfully low-key. Whether you’re navigating parenthood, co-parenting, chosen family, or the beautiful complexities of Queer family life, this time of year is an opportunity to create traditions that feel g

As the final weeks of school wind down, many families find themselves running on empty. Calendars are packed with performances, parties, sports, and celebrations. There is excitement everywhere—but by the time the break finally arrives, energy, patience, and emotional reserves are often at an all-time low. At the same time, many parents are still in full work mode, using the last days before the holidays to wrap up projects, close loose ends, and prepare for a strong start to

It shocks me that today, in a time when we see more and more hopeful & expectant parents feeling confident to “take charge” of the decision making with regard to their pregnancies, that there continues to be a need to take the time to talk about Birth Trauma. Through casual conversation I am absolutely flabbergasted by the number of people who experienced trauma through their pregnancy and/or birth and who felt as though they were supposed to “suck it up” or to simply “get ov

When teaching prenatal classes I spend a lot of time talking about car seat safety; how long children should be in specialized car seats, when to move from one seat to another, how to ensure the seat is installed correctly, etc. I talk about it because being safe in cars is something that has always been in my mind, as the daughter of an auto body technician whose shop was on our property while growing up AND because I am a certified child restraint technician. It is often s

The coffee table conversation quiets to a near whisper when it’s been mentioned that one of the couples present has an appointment Monday afternoon to speak with their lawyer about having a will written up. Eyes dart uncomfortably around the room and a palpable level of tension can now be felt. Someone played the “death” card, or so it would seem to outside observers. Holiday pictures for the Garside family While we have all heard the old adage, “the only absolutes in life ar

I first wrote this post on December 06th, 2009. Since then we have seen the evolution of the #MeToo movement, deservedly so. I am the mother of two boys ... men now. What follows are my thoughts from many years ago but I can assure you that I stand by these words even more now, as awareness has grown and people are more willing to talk about and less willing to accept any kind of violence, towards ANYONE. December 06, 2009: My morning started out by reading this: “Remember

An adjustment in pregnancy improves overall wellness and comfort People who know me, who know what I like and don’t like, know that I don’t always run with the most “popular” beliefs. I tend to run against the grain, test the way things are done and ask multiple questions to see if there are better, less linear ways for events to transpire. This is no less the case when I look at and discuss the birth process. I am more an advocate of “alternative” therapies than I am of allo

(originally posted in the spring) The weather is nicer. The trees and grass are greening up and everyone is anxious to get outside and explore the world. Last year your toddler was happy to hold your hand and walk beside you. He rarely left a 5 yard radius of your body and you knew that he would be safe because he showed nothing more than a passing curiosity when looking at the playground equipment that was clearly too big for his wee legs. This summer your baby is growing up

What would others say if they could see him sleeping outside of his bed? It always starts the same. I meet couples in my prenatal classes; we spend an informative 14 hours together (between prenatal and breastfeeding classes) and build a rapport. I double check, at the end of our time together, that each couple has my contact email so that they can reach me if something comes up that wasn’t clear or if they just have a simple question and don’t have anyone else to ask. Thei

Many of the clients I work with have been with me since before their first child was born. When they find themselves pregnant with their next baby we often communicate about not only the ways that I can help them through this new pregnancy and birth but also what kinds of resources I can offer them in preparing their older child for the new family member. Meeting his brother for the first time. BEST-RECEIVED IDEAS FOR MAKING YOUR OLDER CHILD READY • When you bring the new bab