the thirties grind

A Multigenerational Mother’s Day at Vancouver’s Secret Garden Tea Company…and a special giveaway!

Mother’s Day is a really special time for me to reflect on the four generations of women we have in our family.  Each of us are the eldest of our generation…and all of us strong, independent women!

I am lucky to have my Nana, Mom and daughter all alive and well, and living in the same city.  The time we spend all together is precious.  So, I was delighted to team up with the The Secret Garden Tea Company to share my Multigenerational Mother’s Day celebration with you!  All four of us gathered at the gorgeous Kerrisdale location to spend some quality time together over High Tea.  It was the perfect location for such a special gathering. Read more…

International Day of the Girl: acceptance, leadership, empowerment

She doesn’t have to be perfect or a superhero…she just has to be herself. I want that to be enough for her.

October 11th, 2012 is International Day of the Girl.  It is also the last day of my daughter’s 5th year.  Tomorrow she will be six and I have no idea where the time has gone.  To me, six is a “big girl.”  She’s still my baby, but the infant and toddler features have slipped away.  Her appearance has matured, and so has she.  She is reading, writing, creating and (oh my Lord!) having opinions.  Read more…

Let’s talk about sex, baby…but you’re MY BABY!!

It’s understandable that it’s hard for us to confront social sexual taboos to raise our daughters with more honesty. But we would be far less afraid if we reframed the issue as one of daughters wanting to understand, in concert with the mothers who love them, how their bodies work, how love works, and how women young and old can navigate the world together. – Joyce McFadden

I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools.  I would say that my sexual education was very sheltered.  In high school, for example, we did not have “sexual education.”  Instead, we had “marriage preparation,” which was ironically (and absurdly) taught to us by a 70 year old nun.  Not to say I don’t value the morality I was raised with.  I do.  However, I also believe that creating fear and repression around sexuality can only cause those very feelings to manifest and have all kinds of adverse effects on us when we grow up. Read more…