Family Day events at Alder Recreation Centre

http://www.orangeville.org/events_detail.php?id=1064&s=286

The Town of Orangeville invites you to come on out to the Alder Street Recreation Centre for activities, swimming and skating on February 20, 2012, Family Day. Free swimming from 12-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m., sponsored by Hallmark Toyota. Free skating from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., sponsored by RBC. in motion public skate from 1 to 3 p.m. Free activities 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walking Track will be free all day. The full line-up can be found here: http://www.orangeville.org/cms/documents/4423/Family_Day_poster_18×24.pdf)

Orangeville Library – Alder location

He’s Big! He’s Red! He’s Clifford the Big Red Dog!

The Orangeville Public Library, together with Parks and Recreation, is celebrating Family Day at the Alder Street Recreation Centre Library. The Library invites you to attend one of three story times featuring Clifford the Big Red Dog. Story times will take place in one of the Meeting Rooms on the second floor at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 1:15 p.m.  Bring your camera for a great photo opportunity. Admission is FREE, and everyone is welcome.

Snowfest Caledon – Caledon’s Winter Family event

The Caledon Agricultural Society is pleased to host the first ever SnowFest presented by James Dick Construction, this Family Day at the Caledon Fairgrounds in Caledon Village. Dedicated to healthy winter fun, exercise and competition for the entire family, SnowFest activities include: snowshoeing, dog sledding and skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, chainsaw wood carvings, ice sculptures and snow castle competitions, plus a special winter ‘Chilly’ cook-off sponsored by Broadway Farms’ Market. All proceeds raised during the events are dedicated to the refurbishment and maintenance of the Caledon Fairground. (P.S. – one of the media sponsors helping spread the word about this great new event is In the Hills magazine!)

http://snowfestcaledon.ca/

Teen Ranch activities

Looking for an incredible and inexpensive way to invest time bonding as a family this Family Day? Join Teen Ranch on Family Day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a host of activities for you to enjoy together at a reasonable cost. Activities include: Snow Tubing *, Indoor skating on our Olympic-size ice surface, outdoor skating on a beautiful pond *, Snow-sculptures *, Snow Games *, Hay Rides, Snacks, Pony Rides, Trail Rides, AND MUCH MORE!!! (* indicates Weather Permitting) Admission is $5 per person at the gate. Trail Rides Extra.

http://www.teenranch.on.ca/events

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) Activities

Guess what? Our local conservation areas have some family fun planned as well. CVC will host Family Day events at both Terra Cotta Conservation Area and Island Lake Conservation Area.

At Terra Cotta, CVC will offer Watershed Learning Centre activities for parents and kids (crafts and a scavenger hunt). Families can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, and can roast their own hot dogs at the fire pit outside of the Visitors Welcome Centre for $2 a hot dog.

At Island Lake, CVC will have fishing demonstrations, a hockey shoot out (Tickets are $2 per shot or three shots for $5 with chances to win Toronto Maple Leaf apparel).

Cross country skiing and skating are available at both locations, weather permitting. More details such as park location maps and activities available across all Conservation Areas can be found here: http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/ Regular gate admission applies.

Family Day at Dufferin County Museum and Archives (DCMA)

Bring your family for an experience of Dufferin heritage, and celebrate Family Day at the Dufferin County Museum & Archives. Costumed interpreters will welcome you, take you on a guided tour of our log cabin and the intriguing underground area where we store our large artefacts. Play Victorian parlour games, try on pioneer clothing and be challenged by our scavenger hunt. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Adults $5; Seniors $4; Students $2; Family $12; Members & Kids. Dufferin County Museum & Archives is located at 936029 Airport Road, which is the corner of Highway 89 and Airport Road, in Rosemont.

http://www.dufferinmuseum.com/

705-435-1881

Brampton activities

Oh, there are many activities taking place in the City of Brampton this family day. We know that some of you in the south end of the hills head down to Brampton for your fun, so here is the city’s official line-up.

http://www.brampton.ca/en/residents/recreational-Activities/Pages/Family-Day.aspx

Town of Mono family ski day!

Town of Mono is offering FREE cross county skiing and free equipment rentals, which equals fun for the entire family. Lunch counter will be open. Event takes place at Monora Park  and runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. http://www.townofmono.com/documents/Monora_Park.pdf

Sponsored by the Town of Mono and the Mono Nordic Ski Club. For more information call 519-941-3599 x 27.

Family Fun Day at Kortright

Kortright Centre for Conservation is a located in Woodbridge, for those of you looking to get out of town a bit further. Get outdoors and take part in a winter nature hike, build a snowman or just take in the cold crisp air. Don’t forget to pop in at the Kortright Café for a warm hot chocolate or treat the whole family for a delicious pancake breakfast. Kortright Centre for Conservation is located at 9550 Pine Valley Drive Woodbridge, Ontario L4L 1A6 http://www.kortright.org

Coming next week…our March Break camp line-up for Kids in the Hills!

Sometimes you know it’s coming. The wind whips through the trees. The house creaks in a way that sparks an eerie premonition. Suddenly you know that somewhere, perhaps down the road, perhaps on the other side of the county, a branch will finally give in to gravity, the weight of it enough to knock out a hydro line. And that is when your little world powers down.

If you have lived in the hills for awhile, you get to know the signs that lead to power outages. There is a particular way the trees crack and groan, and a certain pattern to the way the wind drives and swirls the snow that herald what’s ahead.

If you are prepared, you will have candles in drawers in every room. You will have matches there too, so you can do your work quickly as you go from room to room. There will be flashlights parked near doorways or tucked into jacket pockets for just such occasions.

You’ll always have water in a pot on the stove and, if you are really sensitive to nature’s warning, you might even put on the kettle for a pot of tea and give the kids something to eat before the power goes out.

Your children will bemoan the loss of their favourite TV shows. Sigh. Sad faces all around.

But, wait! They still have their phones and hand-held games. Those will add a low glow to the room, but only for so long. Eventually batteries die. Sigh. Sad faces again.

Now, pushing the logs into the woodstove or fireplace becomes the focus. With no power to pump the well, perhaps your family will bring in snow to melt if the outage is prolonged or you have thirsty animals to care for. Everyone takes their turn. Blankets are shared and campfire conviviality fills the room. Winter campout is on – indoors!

Books are read. Snacks and warm drinks replace regular meals at the table. Everyone sleeps together in the warmest room in the house. Little ones, scared and tired, turn their frightened faces toward their parents for comfort. Even kids “too old” to be afraid sneak in a cuddle. Everyone listens for signs of the storm subsiding. Ears are attuned to the alternating harmonies of low whistling winds and staccato rattling panes, waiting for the barely audible finale of falling snow.

An empowering sense of survival takes over while you wait. “Remember the storm last year – it lasted for days,” your kids claim, proud of their contributions. “Remember how we made toast with the silly giant fork in the fireplace? Remember we missed school for a whole week?” Hyperbole and tall tales fill their memories.

And then it happens. Slicing through the serenity, the radio, TV and fridge come simultaneously to life. The clocks throughout the house beep to remind you there is a schedule to keep. The lights are on and it’s time get moving.

“Awww!” your kids will say. Sigh. Sad faces.

____________________

KIDS IN THE HILLS

Cherished families and friends – 2011 has just flown by, hasn’t it?
Pregnancies have been announced, babies born, growth charts marked and little ones have turned into big ones. Kids In The Hills is just over a year and a half old now. “Long days and short years,” as the saying goes. We’ve had some great contributions and wonderful support from local parents and businesses, and we’re always looking for more. Have a story idea? An event? Be sure to contact me atbethany@inthehills.ca. See you in 2012! —Bethany

More Information

Fun Family Events In The Hills

• Man in Motion Parents and grandparents will easily remember the Rick Hansen Man in Motion tour that took place 25 (short!) years ago. Paralyzed from the waist down, Rick was determined to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injuries by wheeling through34 countries in 26 months. He completed his now-famous Man In Motion World Tour and raised $26 million. The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, currently making its way across Canada, arrives in Orangeville Dec 6. The free celebration starts at 6pm beside the town hall. Feature performances by Sweet Adelines, Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers and Chanda’s School of Dance are followed by the official Rick Hansen Relay segment, which includes the arrival of the Rick Hansen Medal at 6:30pm. www.rickhansen.com
• Go Fish! Follow the blue dots on Island Lake and you will find a very popular winter activity, just steps away from the beaten path: ice fishing! When the temperatures drop below freezing, ice fishing becomes the most popular activity at Island Lake Conservation Area, just east of Orangeville. Generally, the season begins after January 1, when seven inches of ice has formed on the lake. Minnows are for sale, and tackle, augering and, yes, the iconic blue huts can be rented, so you don’t need to bring your own. Reservations are recommended for weekends and holidays. For more information, visitwww.creditvalleyca.ca
• I Love You! Celebrate Valentine’s with your sweeties at a Family Fun Night in Caledon on February 9. It features crafts, activities,dancing and bedtime stories, as well as face painting for small fee. Come dressed in seasonal red or pink. 5–7pm at the Caledon Parent-Child Centre in Bolton. (Lots of other fun events for families are listed on the CPCC website too.) www.cp-cc.org
• Let’s Get Busy! On March 14, Richard Scarry’s Busytown rolls into the Rose Theatre in Brampton. One of our faves, these stories have been enjoyed by families for over 50 years. Follow the adventures of Huckle Cat, Sally Cat, Goldbug, Lowly Worm and others, with songs and audience participation. For show times and tickets see rosetheatre.ca.

Bethany Lee is the online editor of kidsinthehills.ca, a sister site to inthehills.ca, where she also writes a regular blog.

Jennifer Weaver from Party Safari with one of her feathered friends.

I grew up on Forks of the Credit Road in Caledon and moved into Dufferin County about 15 years ago. I share my home with my husband, two youngest children, a dog, three tanks of fish and over 50 other various animals. Not to worry, I’m not a ‘crazy cat lady’, the animals are actually part of my business. Party Safari offers the opportunity to interact with some of the world’s coolest animals in an educational and fun way. Some people consider my critters creepy and scary, so it’s my goal to educate about how amazing they really are and to show that scaly isn’t scary. I have the best job in the world and being able to share it with my family makes me one lucky gal.

Having so many pets in the house can get a little crazy at times but with the help of my kids, Shaun and Seth, we manage to keep things somewhat under control. Things got a whole lot easier when my husband Dan built the ‘reptile room’. Not only is it big enough to fit the majority of the animals (just barely) but is also temperature controlled and has a SINK! It is one of the most popular rooms in the house and is always one of the first that visitors get a tour of when they stop by for the first time.

Other than the animals, running my business at home is probably just the same as any other small business. Trying to juggle household chores, office duties, kids’ activities and work is always a challenge, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

How did you start your business and what prompted you to do so…

When I was a little girl, I couldn’t make up my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Three of my top choices were vet, teacher and zookeeper. The only thing I was absolutely sure about was that I was going to be a Mom.

Jennifer's daughter Shaun partying with the chinchilla.

A few years ago, when my youngest kids reached school age, my friend and I decided to give the ‘Reptile Party’ business a try. We both shared a love of animals and thought it would be a fascinating career choice. Although my business partner has since left, I am still just as excited about Party Safari as I was when we started five years ago. In a way, everything I wanted to be when I was younger has become a reality. I work from home which allows me to spend time with my children, I get to teach ‘kids’ of all ages about the amazing animals that share our planet and I have my own ‘zoo’.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Shaun (left) and Seth (right) are always willing to help out mom with the business.

Around here, there’s no such thing as typical. Sure, there’s always cleaning to do, critters to feed and running the roads with the kids, but in between, anything can happen. I could be doing anything from trimming a turtle’s nails, to helping a tarantula out of her molt, to bathing a hedgehog or even taking pictures of the cute things the snakes are doing. My day is pretty much dependent on what the animals need/want. Although I try very hard to stick to my daily ‘to do’ list, I’m quite often distracted by an activity that my friend likes to call ‘playing gecko’. Really, how can I resist taking the critters out for a play when they look at me with their big ‘ole eyes?

Are your children involved in the business?

Definitely! Shaun and Seth are a great help with the feeding, cleaning and socializing of the animals and are always willing to give their opinion on which animals we should add to the family… “Mom, can we get a… ? Please?” They also help out with the presentations and are quite knowledgeable when it comes to answering questions (Shaun did extremely well on her grade nine ecology test). They regularly hang out in the reptile room and are quite observant when it comes to the animals. I often hear them calling to me from the reptile room to “come and see…” The latest was the surprise birth of four baby scorpions.

There are some normal pets in the family, too...here Jennifer's elsest son Adam with Tamarac the dog.

There are a few things that help to inspire me… hanging out with my kids, laughing with friends and family, singing, photography and of course ‘playing gecko’!

Winter is coming to the hills… what is your favourite thing to do in winter?

That’s an easy one, I love to play in the snow!  Tobogganing, skating, snow ball fights, building snow forts, breaking the ice on puddles and cross country skiing are all fun things to do with the kids.  Then after we’re done playing, we head inside for a steamy mug of hot chocolate and warm our toes by the fire.

Something that would surprise people…

I have lived in Africa.

When I was seven years old, my father was offered a job in Nigeria (West Africa) and my parents jumped at the chance. They packed up the kids (four of us), a few favourite toys, clothes, 36 pairs of shoes & Mom’s sewing machine and off we went on a two-year adventure. Our daily schedule was similar to home; Dad worked during the week, Mom stayed home to care for us and we still had school. The fun part was, that since we were homeschooled through correspondence courses, we were usually done our lessons by lunch. That left the rest of the day for fun! We were very fortunate to have a pool just up the road and spent many hours a day staying cool in the water.

We did a fair bit of travelling in Nigeria and tried to see as much as we could during our short time there. When it was time to head back to Canada, we took the ‘long’ way home and visited places like Kenya, Seychelles, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines and Hawaii. It was an amazing experience and I wouldn’t hesitate to take my own children on such an adventure if I ever had the chance.

Best thing/ worst thing about living and working in a small town…

The best thing about living in a small town is the feeling of community. I like the fact that we are surrounded by people who would unconditionally give their help should we ever need to ask for it.

Although I love my little village, I could just as easily live in the woods I am definitely a country bumpkin!

All photos P. Horton – Reflections by Patty

My husband and children and I had what you could call the opportunity of a lifetime this summer.  We packed our bags and kissed our dog goodbye, and embarked on a drive.  We left our home just north of Shelburne and drove.  Up to Owen Sound, across to Manitoulin Island on the ferry, up through Northern Ontario, right on to Winnipeg, and then straight on through to the most western point of Vancouver Island.  We drove across the country, taking our time, and saw as much as we could cram into three weeks the beauty that is this country that we live in.

The story of the journey is another story all together, but this one here is about what happened when we came home.

There was something that tweaked in my brain after living out of a suitcase for three weeks.  I came home, unpacked our suitcases, and everywhere I looked, there was stuff.  Stuff I was tripping over, stuff that came tumbling out of the closets when I tried to put things away, stuff that was covered in dust because I hadn’t used it in three weeks.  Or more likely, three months.

Stuff, stuff, stuff.

Living as we did for three weeks served to emphasize what, to be honest, I already knew.  We have too much stuff in this house!

Summer gives a chance to shed the layers...

For three weeks, we lived with only a week’s worth of clothes.  A few pairs of pants, lots of shirts for layering, two pairs of shoes each, and one jacket.  Why then, I asked myself when I got back, are my closets overflowing with clothes, most of which I never wear?  The kids had only a handful of toys and maybe 6 books between the two of them…why then am I tripping over toys wherever I go in my house if they’re satisfied to pay with only a dozen of them?  (Not to mention that the best toys were never “toys” – they were flashlights and tent pegs and pillows and empty cardboard boxes!)  We lived with one small box of camping dishes…and yet my decently sized kitchen is filled to the brim with mis-matched Tupperware, gizmos and gadgets that never get used, and 3 (yes, three!) pizza cutters!

I’m certain this feeling is something that most people have experienced after a week of camping, or a backwoods vacation.  And yet, how easily we slip back into out old ways when we come home.  Must buy that, need to get one of those, and so on.  It’s bad for our planet, its bad for our bank account, and it’s not doing my kitchen cupboards any favours!

...and take a look at what matters.

So, what to do?  Well, I started with a purge.  One of the things that stops me from purging is that I hate getting rid of “good” stuff…so I hang onto it until I think of someone who can use it.  What actually ends up happening more often than not is it collects dust in my basement until I trip over it one too many times and then out the door it goes!  But Mom to Mom sales, a friend with a new baby, and the Salvation Army have all made good homes for my things in the past few weeks.

But the paradigm shift is just to acquire less.  Buy what you need, not what you want, and even then, be sure you actually NEED it.  Find more meaningful ways to celebrate birthdays and holidays other than a pile of presents.  Buy used (but not if you don’t need it, which is a trap I often fall into…oh, it’s previously used, and cheap, so I should get it!)

And maybe most importantly, learn to find joy in stuff that isn’t stuff – like the beauty of nature, the company of family, the soothing sigh of simplicity.

Holly Haner-Lo ~ The Nurtured Way

BY HOLLY HANER-LO

We have just entered week 20. It’s been a while since my last blog post, and here I am journeying through the ups and downs of pregnancy after miscarriage. It hasn’t been an easy 20 weeks, even though physically this has been a very healthy, problem free pregnancy.

The emotional ride of counting down the weeks, waiting for the feeling of impending doom to finally lift, has been the difficult part.

Part of this healing journey has involved us making decisions that before we would have had no problem making, but this time we found ourselves cautiously choosing differently. One of the big changes for me was my feelings and opinions of ultrasounds. With our first we had the “routine” dating ultrasound because there was much uncertainty over conception date, and again the 18 week anatomy scan. Now a few years wiser (?) and more experienced, I figured with the next baby we would only do the 18 week scan, if any at all.

So here we are, heading in tomorrow for our second ultrasound. Why?

My heart and soul needed that reassurance of a little life thriving inside me before we could pick up the heartbeat externally. Not just for me, but also my husband and 3 yr old son, who asked me every morning if our baby was still in my tummy and could we please keep this one. We needed reassurance.

So what is the big deal about ultrasounds anyways? As far as interventions go, the risks are mild compared to epidurals or induction. Yet, like those interventions, ultrasounds have their place.

I think we are birthing in an intervention-heavy society in North America, while our infant and maternal mortality rates are still frightening. (But that’s a topic for another day, I could talk forever about the misuse of interventions!) When are ultrasounds a safe and necessary precaution, and when do they cross the line into preference, convenience, and entertainment? Repeat, excessive use of ultrasounds in pregnancy is shown to cause hearing damage to the baby, heats the amniotic fluid and fetal tissue, and in essence is an invasion on baby. There are even studies showing possible links to autism and neurological issues.

So what is excessive?

According to the American Medical Association, “Unnecessary Exposure” includes the use of ultrasound to:

1. Confirm the sex of the baby.

2. Assess gestational age (how many weeks old the baby is).

3. Assess fetal size and growth.

4. Confirm multiple pregnancy.

5. Determine fetal presentation (the position of the baby in the womb)

Wow! How many times have we ourselves or someone we know had “routine” ultrasounds for just these reasons? If nothing else it should certainly cause us to stop and think about it, as well as do some research of our own.

One thing I teach in Nurtured’s childbirth educations classes to couples is to BRAND every decision and procedure that is presented to them in pregnancy and birth. BRAND stands for Benefits, Risks, Alternative (options), Nothing (do nothing) and Delay (the decision). The problem is, we have been so well trained to not question our prenatal care that procedures such as prenatal testing and ultrasounds pass by as normal, routine, and 100% safe. That’s not the truth. Now we see the new prenatal testing option for gender identification being offered as early as seven weeks gestation. Raise your hand if you’d like to be the guinea pig for this one…

With the arrival of 3D and 4D ultrasound businesses comes a whole new level of risk and dilemma. Using the BRAND model, if used simply “for fun”, the risks far outweigh the entertainment benefits (I cringe to even say that). Interestingly enough, the medical field is strictly limited, by the manufacturer, in its energy level for this type of ultrasound, as well as the duration of time it takes to perform the scan. (The FDA limit for obstetrical ultrasound is 94 mW/cm2.[7]) The risk of ultrasounds would depend on the duration (length of time for each scan), the intensity (of sound waves) and the frequency (how often). While I can see the benefit to parents with a baby needing life saving surgery while in utero, or to pinpoint a serious defect, I cannot feel good about paying a non-medical, independent company to scan my baby for up to 30 minutes simply so we can have a peek. I cringe further when I read their “packages and promotions” on websites, offering 20-30% off for your second, third, and repeat visits within your pregnancy.

The bottom line is, less is best when it comes to our bodies and our babies while growing another life.

What seem to be wonderful medical advancements can become an abuse of interventions. How can I say all of this and yet admit that tomorrow we will be having our second and final unltrasound? Because for our family, this was our “less”. Will I probably drive the technician crazy by asking them to keep the scan at under 15 minutes of at all possible? Maybe. But it’s our baby, not a dolphin in there. The frequency is extremely loud, it heats fluid and tissue, and I hope it can be over as quickly as possible.

Will we find out the gender? If, in that time frame it’s seen and noted, then yes. If not, that’s fine too. All that matters is that little heartbeat. After losing our last pregnancy, we need this extra view into the womb. I’m praying in the future our faith will be restored and we can say no thanks to routine.

From my position, lying in the back seat of the car, it always seemed to take forever to get to my grandparents’ house just off Victoria Park Avenue in Toronto. I’d know we were close when my mom told me we were passing the airport, and then very close when the green sound barrier fences whipped by my window. I counted them down. Excursions to visit my grandparents were all so exciting for me: the smell of Ivory soap and fluoridated water in the bathroom, walks to the corner store to buy candy or to the park down the street, and a TV that picked up more than two stations.

As I revelled in these exotic city happenings, my dad invariably helped my grandfather with a project around the tiny wartime house: taking delivery of a load of wood and splitting it for the fireplace, fixing the deck, lifting the stairs that sank every year, installing new windows or a clothesline. My brother and I poked around and watched the shared work sessions, pitching in where we could.

The day culminated in lunch or dinner – and oh, what delicious city food it was.

There was something different about eating in the air-conditioned kitchen in Toronto, knowing that the food came from my “Nan’s deli,” a.k.a. Steinberg’s. I imagined all the other Nans in the city lining up to get cold cuts and salads, purses in the crooks of their arms, hair set and covered with a kerchief. My Nan’s lunches usually ended with something chocolatey and store-bought. Even though I don’t have a sweet tooth, I gobbled it down. Tin-foil packages of leftovers made their way home with us, “They’re only going to go to waste,” my Nan would say.

I waited an interminably long few weeks for my grandparents’ turn to come to our house in the country. They would arrive in their shiny car (free of dust, not a farm truck), always very early, “to get a jump on traffic.” Chores, renovations, small harvests, repairs to fences and, of course, the yearly hay season kept our whole family busy on those work weekends. Not exactly barn-raising, but the physical work was not for the faint of heart. My Nan would stay in the kitchen, again preparing food for everyone, while the rest of us laboured long and hard.

The work of the farm was never done.

It must have seemed insane to my grandparents, who had never lived on a farm, to see their daughter (my mom) choosing this rambling, unpredictable, messy, muddy lifestyle. But they were also very curious and always willing to help. Imagine the stories that my grandfather could take back to the staff room at the school where he taught in East York, pipe in hand, launching into Wingfield Farm-type stories of week­end misadventures.

My grandfather died a few months ago. He had spent his last few years in a peaceful facility for war veterans in Toronto. I would drive to meet my family there, passing the airport, watching the familiar sound baffles whip by once again. When I saw him in his wheelchair, it was hard to remember the work-sharing that our family had done over my lifetime. I saw him in his present state and thought only about the visit at hand, his frailty and when the inevitable would come.

Since his death, there has been more room for the vivid memories of childhood work sessions to come flooding back, especially when remin­iscing over old photos of pro­perties, projects and family meals.

I realize that I can credit these back-and-forth visits for an appreciation of both city and country. I love fast highways, but I also love winding dirt roads. I love urban delicatessens and all sorts of international delights, but I also enjoy locally grown food and simple home cook­ing. I like open spaces and unmarked trails, but I also fit quite well into tightly con­structed city spaces. I was lucky to experience both. And I was lucky that my grand­parents were a part of it all. Through these shared work sessions, we accomplished more than expected.

____________________

Kids in the Hills: highlight events for fall 2011 (check our calendar for full listings)

Hoof it over to the parade

Trot your horse-mad children over to this unique event. See over 50 horses of all breeds and sizes parading through downtown Erin during the Parade of Horses, on September 24 starting at5 pm. The parade launches Destination Equitation, a week-long celebration of horse in Headwaters, and it’s followed by an Equine Family Evening at the Erin Fairgrounds, featuring a barbecue, square-dancing tractors, and even a drive-in movie with a horsey theme. For a full list of the week’s events, see horsesinthehills.com.

Outdoor Ed Open House

Ever wonder what lies behind the gates at the Mono Cliffs Outdoor Education Centre? Here is your chance to find out. On October 2, the centre will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and you are invited to its open house from 11 am to 4 pm.

The day includes horse-drawn wagon rides, children’s events, site tours, program displays, and birds of prey presented by Wild Ontario. The Centre is located at 755046 Second Line EHS Mono, just north of Mono Centre. This is a free event. toes.tdsb.on.ca/residential/mono/index.asp

Teddy Bear Picnic

Even Teddy deserves a night out! On September 29 at 5 pm, bring dinner and your favourite stuffy to picnic and play at the Caledon Parent-Child Centre at 150 Queen Street South in Bolton. Then walk over and snuggle up for a storytime at the library, all in celebration of Literacy Month in the Region of Peel. It’s free, but advance registration is required. caledon.library.on.ca

Do you have the white stuff?

Attention kids in Grades 4 and 5!

Want to ski and ride for free this winter? Here is a great opportunity for you. The Canadian Ski Council invites you to join its 14th SnowPass season.

If you are 9 or 10 years old (bornin 2001 or 2002) and attending a school in Canada, you qualify for the “SnowPass.” Sign up and swipe your card up to three times in exchange for a free lift ticket at some 150 participating ski hills in Ontario and elsewhere across Canada.

Parents, this is a great way for your children to try out this winter pastime and stay active as the white stuff takes over our region. For details, visit snowpass.ca.

Winter noggin safety

While we’re on the subject, don’t forget to protect your noggins this winter. With education, snow sport helmet use has increased year after year, and is now the norm. Helmets can make a difference by reducing or preventing injury from falls or other impacts during winter sports. See lidsonkids.org.

Just a reminder that our kidsinthehills.ca calendar shows many more events taking place in the hills throughout the season. Fall fair listings, Halloween activities and Thanksgiving events are abundant right now. Don’t forget that

if you have an event to share with our community, use our handy event posting form.

Take care and have fun in the hills this fall! ~ Bethany

Bethany Lee is the online editor of kidsinthehills.ca, a sister site to inthehills.ca and foodinthehills.ca, where she also writes a regular blog.

Michele Perry ~ Motherjoy

Tell us about your family life and work here in the hills.

My husband and I have three children (now almost 16, 13, & 11) and one black (apparently golden) doodle dog, named Mizzen.

Like many busy families our routines, activities and schedules change with the seasons– winter being the craziest around our place.  Outside of the obvious like homework and activities with kids in primary and secondary school, our weeks revolve initially around training and gearing up for the local and provincial level nordic ski racing circuit December through March.  Their Dad is very involved as a ski coach so my role for all of them is one of nutrition, race and moral support (cheering madly from the sidelines).  Now that they are taller or almost as tall as I am, keeping up with them on the trails is usually pointless!  My 13-year-old daughter is also very involved with the TOYS choir through Theatre Orangeville which she adores.  I work usually 3-4 days a week and am able to sneak in a bit of time to recharge when necessary.  Having my own supportive family, while growing my own business, gives me the flexibility I need to work for several half-days a week working for others that have just had a big change in their  families; a new baby.

How did you end up living in the hills?

I was working just north of town near Mono Cliffs Provincial Park while my fiancée (at the time) was working in Newmarket.  Wanting to live rurally or in a small town we started out in in 1995 in a little 1.5 story house/cottage that had an acre of property, just outside Hockley Village, before becoming parents.  Our starter home had an old barn, a wood-burning stove, a giant vegetable garden, room for an outdoor dog house and pen for our Australian Shepherd (and unfortunately a shallow well… but that’s another story).  Within two and half years (and one toddler and a newborn later) we outgrew the house and the rural lifestyle and settled into an larger Victorian house (in need of lots of updates) in the older section of ‘downtown’ Orangeville.  It’s here we had our third baby and have been renovating ever since!

Tell us about your work as a Postpartum Doula and what that entails.

Welcoming a new little one (or more) into this world can be the most amazing event in a woman’s life.  Amazing, however, isn’t always easy…  Not having the right kind of support once baby arrives can sometimes make this experience overwhelming, difficult, and stressful. Not everyone has a sister, mother or neighbour that can drop everything and be there for you for several hours a day while you recover from giving birth.  That’s where I come in.  I assist, guide and support a family to help make this transition for new (or experienced) parents, as smooth as possible. As a Postpartum Doula I offer a variety of services which can include breastfeeding support and teaching, providing information about normal expectations of a newborn’s growth & development, sleep patterns and infant care, offering emotional support and a listening ear, and allowing a new mum to rest after a night of broken sleep. Emptying the dishwasher, putting on a load of baby’s laundry, changing diapers, running errands and preparing healthy meals, walking a friendly dog and of course helping a new sibling adjust to the new baby can also be part of the package.

Why should new parents consider your help?

I am a straightforward and easy-going type of person; what you see is what you get.  I have lots of experience listening to women tell me about what it is like for them to be a parent of young children; I get it and know how to best support them.  I, intuitively, know what a new mother needs.  Working so closely with new parents for many years has helped me to continue to enter a family’s home without judgment.  No one wants a guest coming in and taking over or telling them what to do with their new baby.  I offer reassurance, guidance, and gentle support as a part a team of professionals involved in a family’s care.

Michele at work...

Did you ever think you would find yourself in this career?

I’ve always worked with children.  Locally, with school-aged kids for the TDSB in outdoor education and then (like many doulas) my interest in working directly with families and babies really began soon after having kids of my own. In 1999, I also started working part-time for a provincial program that supports families with children 0-6 in their homes.  Looking to expand this work in the private sector I realized that becoming a Postpartum Doula made perfect sense.  And of course we all learn from what we have gone through–  all three of my children’s births were unique as was my postpartum recovery with each one.

Running your own business and being a parent can be a struggle…what are your biggest challenges?

When I’m working from home, three tweens/teens and their schedules/activities can be distracting! I find that I have to set aside a particular morning/afternoon of the week to devote to paperwork, marketing and communication.  When I’m out working with a family that’s just had a baby, everyone at home pulls together and knows what they have to do to keep things running smoothly.

To refuel, I …

…make meals with beautiful food, walk/run/ski on a regular basis, read quirky contemporary fiction, think about making art and I get together with people that make me really laugh.

Some of my favourite things to do here in the hills:

Running my big dog on local hiking trails with a friend, skiing with my family at Monora Park (we are big Mono Nordic Ski Club members) and slowly poking through the great stores along Broadway.

...and with her family, here in the hills! All photos by Emily Krbec Photography: www.emilykrbec.com

We have a sister publication, Food in the Hills. What is your favourite local foodie find?
Soulyve on Mill Street!  We can walk there from our home near downtown (Orangeville). I grew up in Toronto and love spicy food– so happy that they are doing well.

My plans for 2012 include…

Creating my own art has been put on the back burner for a long time, but lately there has been something starting to brew within me once again.  I am working on some personalized pieces — an idea that will connect with Motherjoy.  Stay tuned, more info to come mid-fall!

All photos by Emily Krbec Photography www.emilykrbec.com

Jennifer Jansen ~ Simple Matters

I approached Bethany, editor and blogger here at Kids in the Hills, a while back and offered to write an article on the joys and trials of returning to work after a yearlong maternity leave. The fact that it’s now six weeks later, and I’ve gotten up at 6am on a Saturday to pen this article, pretty much sums up what my foray back into the working world has been like!

* * * * * *

I am one of those people who isn’t very good at sitting still. That, combined with our financial situation, plus my desperate need to speak to adults in person and not just on Facebook, led me back to work after my one-year maternity leave was up. I enjoy my job, and the people I work with, so it wasn’t too hard of a decision to make.

That being said, going back to work after a maternity leave is never easy. However, as this is the second go-around for my family, I feel we’ve learned some key things along the way that have made the transition much easier. Since we can all use any little bit of help we can get, we thought we’d share.

Find a childcare provider that you LOVE – we lucked out, and a Freecycle ad for a used toy bin led us to a woman who has been our lifesaver for the past four years! We found someone whose values and parenting style are similar to ours, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Start looking for care early; it takes time to find the right fit. Ask friends, family, co-workers, and seek advice from like-minded people – they will often lead you to other like-minded people who share your values – and what better person to be caring for your kids.

Routine – our lives are so much better once we got into the rhythm of this whole thing. Things happen at certain time, on certain days of the week. Wednesdays and Sundays are bath nights, Thursdays are movie nights, Fridays are often boy’s nights. Saturday is dump day, and grocery day. The kids know what to expect, and when. And so do we. That being said, having room for flexibility is also a huge key.

Choose your battles – my son went to daycare and school for about three weeks this winter, wearing his father’s ski goggles on his face. Some things aren’t worth fighting about, and if it makes getting out the door easier in the morning, then just go with it!

Meal planning – I can’t even begin to tell you how much meal planning has saved us…I can’t even imagine how we did it before. We make a plan, shop for it all at once (on Saturday mornings…see above!) and that’s it. No last minute stops at the grocery store, no scrambling to figure out what’s for dinner at 6:30 p.m. when we walk in the door with two tired and cranky kids, no food going to waste at the end of the week. We chose things that are fast to prepare, but still good for us, and we usually make lots, so that there are leftovers for us to take for lunch. And corollary to meal planning, there is the crockpot. It can be a working family’s best friend! There’s nothing like walking in the door and having it smell like someone’s been cooking all day and dinner is ready.

Realize that as hard as you try, you can’t do it all. There are only so many hours in a day, and days in a week. When there are only so many of them that you get to spend with your family, they become even more precious. It’s okay to ask for help – my help comes in the form of a bi-weekly cleaning lady. Scrubbing toilets fell even further down on the “things I loathe” list when it was taking me away from my kids, so it just wasn’t happening. This way my house gets cleaned on a regular basis, and everyone is happier.

Don’t forget your partner – when days are long (and nights are sometimes longer) it’s easy to tend to the children, and the house if you’re lucky, and then fall into bed, exhausted and too tired to speak. But a strong family bond makes everything else easier, and that starts with you and your partner. Make time to spend together (and notice I said “make time,” not “find time” – you have to set it aside) and strengthen the foundation that led you to where you are today.

And don’t forget yourself – everyone needs time for themselves, and when you’re a mother, it can be one of the hardest things to find. But allow yourself to enjoy it in bits and pieces. A 10-minute shower in total silence can be just enough to recharge your batteries. A stolen moment for a cup of coffee in between daycare drop-off and your 9 a.m. meeting can be all that you need. Find joy and victory in those little slices of time, and let them carry you through to the next one.

I’ll be honest with you: our days are packed jam full, from dawn to dusk (and often way past). The laundry piles up, the kitchen is never totally clean, field trip forms go missing, things get forgotten. But at the end of the day, none of that really matters. We do what’s important, and let the more trivial things slide…and I’ve also had to lower my expectations of what I can do in a day. Our busy days means we have clear priorities for the time we do spend together, and try to make every single moment count. And really, if you’re not making every single moment that you live count, then what’s the point?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It’s Sunday night now, and since I’ve started to write this piece, I’ve also done a full day at work (on a Saturday…boo!), gone grocery shopping, cut the grass, staked out the new pond we are going to dig in our front yard, washed one week’s worth of laundry, and folded three weeks worth (there was a small backlog..) I’ve cooked a few meals, played a few games of dinosaurs on the living room carpet, and slayed a few bad guys with my pretend lightsabre with my four-year-old Luke Skywalker by my side. I’ve packed lunches for school tomorrow, have clothes set out for the week, including my husband’s, which he stuffed into a suitcase and headed off on a four-day business trip with this morning. I’ve yielded work phone calls and texts, shopped for soap display units, answered some emails, and blogged. I got barfed on.

And I wrote this article.

It’s likely no more than most of you have done, but when you really think about it all, it’s worth a pat on the back. And it’s also worth getting up in the morning, and doing it all over again, and again and again. The kids are happy, my husband and I are happy, and even the dog seems pretty content. And that’s how I know we’re doing okay.

It was with great anticipation that I saw a new shortcut emerging this spring. I have often run by the intersection of Highway 10 and Fourth Avenue, looking across to Island Lake in the misty morning. A bridge appeared on the east side of the highway more than a year ago… but there was no way to get to it. At least, no way that didn’t involve crossing the highway without a walk signal, going through a swamp and only then making my way to the bridge.

I finally see that a route into the park is emerging and that the bridge to nowhere will soon be connected. Screenings have been laid and a walk signal installed. Now it is possible to enter the trail system safely from the west side of the park, as well as the north and south entrances.

Shortcuts abound in our everyday lives. Some are formalized, such as the one under construction at the conservation area. But the shortcuts that really interest me are the informal ones that develop naturally through use over time.

As children, we experimented with impromptu shortcuts every day. I lived in Brampton for a short time when I was growing up and I benefitted from being able to whip through the central park zone of Peel Village to get to the other side in five minutes flat. By car, it would have taken ten.

Children will take the natural shortcut, every time! Why go around something when you can go over it? Children traverse creative routes over benches and road blocks, hopping, skipping and crawling over whatever gets in their way. You may tug on their hands and say, “Don’t climb on that! It’s not your property!” But where there is a will, there is a way.

As your child’s world grows and expands, the shortcuts become more purposeful. Witness the teenagers sneaking through backyards to get to high school on time. Their morning commute is cut by two-thirds if they slip unnoticed over fences instead of taking the usual pedestrian route. Homeowners either shake their fists in dismay and set their dogs on these transient teens, or else welcome the passers-through by building a gate – one that will often be mysteriously fixed with a string that hangs over the other side for entry later in the afternoon when school gets out.

Laneways may be the ultimate shortcuts in our rural towns. The historic lanes that parallel our main streets are a sneak peek into our past. They hold the secrets of days gone by when carriages pulled up behind stately homes and horses would be bedded for the night. Now these laneways act as perfect shortcuts for stroller pushing and dog-walking off the main drag. When I peek over fences and into garages converted to home studios, I feel that I am seeing a more personal and gentle side to my town.

Urban Parkourists have taken short-cutting to a hard-edged athletic art form. Practitioners of Parkour, or l’art du déplacement (the art of moving), move through the urban landscape in the most efficient way possible. Their amazing physical abilities are something to behold and are not for the faint of heart. Tumbling, flipping, running, jumping, vaulting, rolling. Skateboarders also seek out creative routes and even make travelling over concrete fun once again.

Some of us never lose our passion for shortcuts. I still get a thrill of satisfaction when I scale a split rail fence quickly and efficiently, something I learned growing up in the hills. While I may not jump down from the top rail anymore, it hasn’t lost its appeal. My son wiggles and worms over (and through) the rails, aiming to perfect his approach. Little stone piles, wooden stepladders or stumps may seem to be positioned at random, but for the shortcut taker, their intended purpose is perfectly clear.

The Joy of Shortcuts ~ Illustration by Shelagh Armstrong

DID YOU KNOW?

SPECIAL NEEDS SENSORY EXPERIENCES

Two opportunities for your little ones with special needs are offered at the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness, on Highway 50 at the north end of Bolton.

• The Snoezelen Sensory Room is a safe place for persons living with disabilities to enjoy gentle sensory stimulation. Snoezelen means to sniff and to doze, a concept originating in Holland as a leisure experience for people with severe learning disabilities. The Caledon multi-sensory room is filled with colourful objects, images, pleasant sounds, gentle vibrations and interesting aromas. Experience Snoezelen by appointment.
• Jesse’s Sensory Garden is designed to celebrate not only the beauty, but the scents, sounds, and textures of the garden. It features Braille markers, tactile sculptures, raised garden beds, wheelchair access, and an outdoor classroom. Call Caledon’s Healthy Community Hotline at 905-857-3313 or 1-800-621-1287 to make an appointment.

WHAT’S HAPPENING FOR KIDS IN THE HILLS…

CAMP CLOSE TO HOME

Your little one is ready to graduate from the backyard camp-out to a true campsite experience, but you still might need to dash home for the favourite but forgot-ten stuffed animal? Or you don’t want to fight traffic to go up north? Your best option is Albion Hills, operated by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Just off of Highway 50 north of Bolton, on the banks of the Humber River, you can hike, bike, pitch your tent and experience a true camp experience close to home. Albion Hills offers individual serviced and unserviced sites, as well as on-site trailer rentals. Book early in the season using the online service: reservations@trca.on.ca

KEEP US UP TO DATE

Ahhh… summer in all its glory… sun-kissed skin, long evenings and sandy, dirty feet tucked into light sheets at the end of the day, perhaps cleaned up with a run through the sprinkler the next morning. Isn’t it grand? Summer brings all sorts of interesting and engaging events to the hills, and we post as many as we receive to our online calendar at www.kidsinthehills.ca . Keep the information coming by emailing me at bethany@inthehills.ca. We will continue to bring you the best coverage for families living in the hills.

I have pretty much been in marketing since I left college, although I did a short stint in finance (shudders).  I originally went to school for fashion and marketing and dropped the fashion part and kept going with marketing.  By day I am a project manager with a marketing company and by night (and weekend) a photographer as well. Photography has always been part of my life as my father was an avid photographer as a hobby, and since I got a great gift of a new camera about six years ago, it has just grown.

Julie Thurgood sits down for just a minute... Photo by Jon Blacker

How do you manage to juggle? What keeps you sane?

I am the master of juggling.  I don’t know how I do it.  Honestly, I am just used to being busy.  I do a lot down time for myself and turn off the phone, and do something for me…like catch up on my photo editing (ha).

I have an amazing network of friends that support me and make me laugh and keep me going.  Keeping positive people around me knowing that they are supporting me makes me feel a little less crazy.  I may not have the time to go out as much as I want to, but that doesn’t really matter anymore.  I consider my life full, not chaotic.

But lastly, my sense of humour keeps me sane – I can’t imagine not making someone laugh….laughter is music to my ears.

Tell us a bit about your family.

I have two lovely kids – Jacob is nine (and loves photography) and Cadence is three (who loves to model).  These two keep me laughing and grounded and realize that I can have a full life being a mother, and a woman.  I had great parents that instilled in me that you do what you gotta do…and when you get knocked down, you get back up and try again…there is no time to waste on feeling sorry for yourself.

How long have you lived ‘in the hills’? What brought you here in the first place?

I have lived here for most of my life – I did leave and came back about eight years ago now.  I was born in Cambridge and my father was a teacher.  He got a job at ODSS and so we moved – and stayed!

Julie at work. Photo by Catherine Robertson.

What has been the biggest challenge in operating your business?

I think the biggest challenge is balancing both full-time work, motherhood and my photography business.  I am lucky in the sense that I have a strong marketing background and utilize social media to my advantage.  I network, I do a lot of charity work and I help out new businesses with their needs.  I find myself getting too full of ideas and not knowing where to start….and I try to rein that in.

Is your family involved in your business? What do your days look like?

Jacob helps me a lot, especially when I have an exhibit or a show, he will help me frame or pick out pictures.  He has a great eye and I rely on him sometimes when I am trying to edit pictures, or pick some of my own pieces for a show.

A typical day for me starts at five a.m., get kids going, off to work, pick kids up, make dinner, kids in bed…alas my time to work on my photography…and then bed….

How do you keep the creative juices flowing?

The fear of ever losing that! GASP!  If I feel stuck for inspiration I go out and shoot for myself.  I find sometimes we get caught up in the paying work, we forget about what fuels our real passion.  I love shooting for me – whether it be the kids, or a plant in my garden.  I get inspired by other people’s work, art that I see or an idea that springs in my head….

If I really need to treat myself, I…

If I said wine…I wouldn’t be joking.  However, if I want to treat myself I do shop – I don’t get a lot of time to do so, and when I do I seem to appreciate it.  (Reading…what’s that anymore…?)

My favourite outing here in the hills is…

Mono Cliffs park, hands down.  It is peaceful and the scenery can overtake all your senses.

What is one hobby or interest that people might find surprising about you?

I am a tech junkie.  I love all new technology.  I don’t get flowers on mother’s day – I get a new external hard drive….I am also a closet “scrapbooker” – capturing the words to go with the pictures that create the memories.