Will puberty last my whole life?

Recently I spoke with Dr. Julie Metzger, registered nurse, sexual health educator and mom, on Real Parenting on CFAX 1070 to talk about puberty and the book she co-authored, Will puberty last my whole life? Real answers to real questions from preteens about body changes, sex and other growing up stuff.

The podcast of that interview is now up so have a listen by clicking on the podcast link below. Also, be sure to enter to win a copy of her book- details below!

Book Giveaway!

To enter to win a copy of “Will puberty last my whole life?” email radio@realparenting.ca and tell us a question you had or that your child had when entering puberty. Be sure to include your name and address. You must be a Canadian citizen and 19 years of age & older. Deadline Wednesday, August 8th at 9pm PT. Value: $18.95

Aboriginal family history & resiliency

In April I had the privilege of welcoming Monique Gray Smith to Real Parenting radio to discuss Aboriginal history & resiliency. Monique is a mom of mixed heritage- Cree, Lakota & Scottish.

Her strong understanding of the early years has lead her to work as the previous Executive Director for Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC and National Aboriginal advisor for Roots of Empathy and Seeds of Empathy; as well as an instructor for the Justice Institute of BC. She speaks nationally and internationally, with a focus on fostering an understanding of trauma and the strength and resiliency of First Peoples in Canada.

We discuss the impact many First Nations families experienced after the Indian Act of 1867, which caused a shift from the traditional matriarchal society of the culture, as well as the tragedy many children & families experienced as a result of being forced into residential schools. Monique runs Little Drum Consulting and has just finished her first novel: Hope, Faith & Empathy coming out summer 2012.

Karen Stewart from Fairway Divorce Solutions recently joined me on the show to discuss divorcing with dignity.

Many years ago, Karen experienced first hand the emotional and financial fall out of the traditional divorce system. It was a financially and emotionally devastating journey, one that forcibly exposed her and her children to the divorce court system’s hostile environment. This experience left Karen believing there had to be a better way and was inspired to create Fairway Divorce Solutions.

During the interview we chat about what happens when couples decide to get a divorce and the importance of sorting out a good plan for co-parenting with your ex. Karen outlines the mistakes couples make and ways to make divorce easier, more cost effective and putting kids first.

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rona Maynard, former editor of Chatelaine Magazine, Grandma, Mother and author of My Mother’s Daughter.

We spoke about her articles, What to do when your Mother dies and How I learned to love my son’s teen years.  We also chatted about her experience with depression, her favorite reader comments she has collected over the years and her experience becoming a grandma.

In our interview, Rona shares some wisdom she has learned over the years about enjoying those busy early years as a young parent. She continues to empower women & collect Mother-Daughter stories on RonaMaynard.com. Have a listen to our interview here:

Dr. Shanker is one of the key speakers at the upcoming Vancouver Island Parent Conference Feb 11th at Spectrum Community School. He is a Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy and Psychology at York University. He serves as Director of Milton and Ethel Harris Research Intitiative at York University, Co-Director of the Council for Human Development and President of the Council for Early Child Development.

Dr. Shanker recently joined me on Real Parenting radio to explain what self-regulation is in children and how that can effect their academic future & livelihood.  Broken down into physiological, emotional, cognitive and social levels, Dr. Shanker shares how parents & educators can influence a child’s ability to self-regulate.

Have a listen!

The Vancouver Island Parent Conference is coming up Saturday, Feb 11 at Spectrum Community School and will feature several speakers and workshops. Last weekend I had the great pleasure to chat with Dr. Martin Brokenleg about The Circle of Courage.

Dr. Brokenleg is an educator and author who serves as Vice President of Reclaiming Youth International, providing training for youth at risk and is also a Dad of three.

The Circle of Courage is a philosophy that integrates the best of Western educational thoughts with the wisdom of the indigenous cultures and emerging research on positive youth development. Dr. Brokenleg explains that The Circle of Courage is based on the values of belonging, generosity, independence and mastery.

Have a listen to our discussion!

The Sooke School District intends to begin a Nature Kindergarten program in September 2012 in Colwood BC. This program will explore the possibilities of children spending part of each school day outside engaged with their body, mind and spirit in a natural setting and coming back to class where there would be opportunities for indoor play-based learning.

Frances Krusekopf is the District Principal of Curriculum & Programs for the Sooke School District. Enid Elliot is an Early Childhood Educator and has worked for several years with a group of educators on naturalizing outside play spaces. They joined me in the CFAX studio to discuss what we can expect the Nature Kindergarten to be like and how parents can get involved. Have a listen to the podcast of that interview.

Raffi: Creating a culture of respect for children

I recently had the great privilege of chatting with the amazing singer/songwriter, author and ecology advocate, Raffi Cavoukian. What an absolute treat that was!

Best known for his song Baby Beluga, Raffi is also the founder of the Centre for Child Honouring. We chatted about his musical career, his sit down with the Dalai Lama, his inspiration for putting the late Jack Layton’s last letter to music and what a Beluga Grad is. Raffi is truly a warm & sweet gentleman.

Enjoy listening to our conversation and be sure to say hello to Raffi on twitter or facebook too!

Listen to Real Parenting every Saturday, 10-11am PT on CFAX 1070.

I recently spoke with Health Minister Mike de Jong  and Opposition critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Claire Trevena (listen to podcast of the interview above) about the cuts to home visits new moms receive from public health nurses and I’m still very unsettled by the whole thing.

It has been fairly common practice in many areas of BC for moms who have just given birth to receive a call & visit from a public health nurse. Many moms get help with breastfeeding, discuss the baby blues and the possibility of post partum depression. The nurses provide public health information and essential community resources. They can take a look at mom and baby and notice if mom has a post operative infection brewing that the mom has been concerned about but perhaps too exhausted to get checked out. Or in some cases, the nurse may notice that baby has jaundice, tongue tie or look into a parent’s concern about baby not gaining weight. Public health nurses provide an important preventative service to many new moms.

Recently, the BC government said they would be cutting back this $23 million service and launching a Healthy Start program geared to moms deemed to be “at risk” who are under 25. With this program they will receive increased services to hopefully help those who qualify to get off to an easier start with their growing family. The problem is that postpartum depression and other issues that could come along with having a newborn are not restricted to any socioeconomic group. Some would argue that the first two weeks after having a baby puts many mothers of any age bracket at increased risk of issues.

In his statement at the Legislature, de Jong said, “There are mothers who have an extensive support network. They have relatives. They have midwives. They have family physicians who are there for them on a regular basis. But there are others who do not, and we are not going to apologize.”

Actually, some might argue that mothers over 25 years of age have an increased chance of losing important support networks like our own mothers, the older we get. I myself lost my mother when I was 25.  Midwives, who provide home visits, deliver less than 15% of births in British Columbia with only 10 Registered Midwives graduating from UBC every year. Many families are in need of a family doctor and rely on clinics when there are problems.

Minister de Jong says that women will still get a phone call from public health. And yes, there are some services outside in the community for new parents. That’s going to be fine for some moms. But for many others, who are quite often resting & sore from birth or recovering from c-section, this will be an important support lost. Not very many mothers I know feel comfortable disclosing their concerns over the phone to a nurse they have never met. This could possibly result in some empathetic doctors keeping women in the hospital longer (a big financial cost to the system), risk factors not being spotted by nurses, increased isolation to new moms, and increased use of the ER & clinics.

What’s really upsetting is that the government is aiming to cut from health budgets and it looks like they are making this cut right at the beginning of a citizen’s life, during a very significant and often fragile transition for British Columbian families. It’s difficult not to feel skeptical when you see that the government is handing out $30 million payouts to mining companies or spending half a billion dollars to put a roof on BC Place Stadium.

For many, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and new motherhood can happen very smoothly and can be an incredibly empowering experience. For others, any one of those elements can be difficult, in a variety of ways. If we are truly aiming to be “Family First” in this province, let’s support all families from the very beginning.

If you are concerned, let those who are making these decisions know. You can contact Health Minister Mike deJong, Premier Christy Clark or ask your local MLA (who should be representing you) to speak up on this situation. The BC’s Nurses union also has a petition.

To celebrate National Child Day on November 20th, I was very pleased to welcome two child advocates to the show this weekend. In my interview with Kathy Vandergrift, from the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children, we discuss what National Child Day is about and how Canada is fairing in terms of children’s rights.

It was also an honour to chat with BC’s Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. She shares some experiences of her recently renewed role and gives us a glimpse into a day in the life as a child advocate. Click on the podcast button at the top of the page to listen to my interview with Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and learn more about her very important job.

In recognition of National Child Day, Nov 20th, I invited two child advocates to the show this weekend. It was a pleasure to chat with BC’s Representative for Children & Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Kathy Vandergrift from the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children.

If you missed the show, feel free to click on the podcast button at the top of the page to hear my interview with Kathy as we discuss what National Child Day is about and how Canada is fairing in terms of the rights of children.

To hear the interview with Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, click here.

Recently, I had the honour and pleasure of chatting with Jane Goodall, world renowned primatologist, environmentalist and humanitarian. She joined me on Real Parenting on Saturday October 15, 2011 and shared several stories. She described the relationship she had with her loving and supportive mother, becoming a mother herself,  her experience observing the chimpanzee mothers with their babies and the Roots and Shoots youth program.

Listen to the podcast of our conversation by clicking ‘play’ below and find more information about Jane Goodall and her work at JaneGoodall.ca

Renowned Canadian parenting author Ann Douglas is coming to Victoria!

I was absolutely thrilled to chat with Ann Douglas this week on Real Parenting.

Ann Douglas will be at the upcoming 5th annual Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria BC. We are fortunate to have her speak on the Main Stage twice each day – at 1pm and 3pm – on both Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25 about a variety of topics geared to the newer parent:

Sensational Siblings: Preparing for new baby & encouraging healthy relationships.

The Truth about Newborns (So you can stress less and enjoy parenting more)

This is Your Soon To Be Life: A Sneak peak at life after baby (And what you can do to ease the transition)

The Couple Connection: Weathering the highs and lows of life after baby

Ann and I delved into some of these topics on Real Parenting, so be sure to listen in!

Congratulations to the winners of our fun giveaways on the show- a copy of the new Kerplunks CD Number 3 (they’re also performing at the Baby Fair!), Weekend passes to the Vancouver Island Baby Fair, and a copy of Ann’s completely revised and updated second edition of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books.

Have a listen to the podcast (located at the top of this post) for a preview of what to expect at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair, then join us next weekend as we celebrate the growing family!

It’s that time of the year again! School supplies, new clothes, new schedules & routines. It’s a big transition time for many families and it can be a bit of a drain on the pocket book.

Danielle Connelly, Editor & Head Deal Hunter at Motherofadeal.com joined us on the show to share tips on how to help make your money go a little further and how to ease the transition for Back to School.

Big thanks to Heather at True Cuddles for providing a $75 Back to School prize back, including a Goodbyn lunch kit, Cici Art Factory reusable wall stickers + more! And congratulations to listener Pat who called in and won the prize!

Acupressure can be used on specific points of the body to help reduce the pain of contractions and help support a woman in labour. I’ll chatted with Stephanie Curran, R.TCM.P from Elements of Health Centre on what the points do & tips for partners on how they can use acupressure with their partner.

Stephanie also shared some details about the upcoming Mommy Boost Month this September and all the fun activities, talks & deals that Moms are welcome to participate in.

One of my favorite things to do on Real Parenting is to bring on a panel of moms and hear the real opinions and experiences of other parents. We dish up topics such as family friendly vacation, summer cooking, kid’s movies, shopping locally and more! I chat with Ian Maw from Harrison Hotsprings Resort & Spa and give away a Vacation Package for a family of four to the resort.

Amy Bronee, former host of Real Parenting, is a Mom of two young boys and blogger of the food and recipe blog,Family Feedbag which has been featured on Sweet Spot.ca and Food Network Canada.

Ladena Racine is a mom of a newborn and a 4 year old toddler. She is a teacher, a blogger and co-owner of FunkyTricycle, a baby and toddler deal-a-week website based in Victoria, BC.

Kimberley Aitken Salmons is the blogger behind Modish Mama, a mother of three who is learning as she goes along. Never perfect, but always honest and sometimes cheeky, the Modish Mama is the chronicle of her journey through the amazing but perilous world of modern motherhood.

Many years ago I discovered New Moon Girls Magazine & bought a subscription for my then, tween niece. What I loved about this magazine is that it’s not about diets, dressing trendy or how to get a boyfriend. It’s about the deeper things that matter to girls, their pursuits and expressing their voices. New Moon Girls has recently expanded to create a safe online social networking site.

Nancy Gruver is founder of New Moon Girls safe social network and magazine for girls ages 8 and up. She is the author of How To Say It® To Girls: Communicating With Your Growing Daughter and blogs on girls’ issues, parenting, and media.

From July 23-30, over 2,000 girls ranging from ages 10-18 and Girl Guide leaders gathered in Agassiz, British Columbia for a weeklong adventure camp at SOAR 2011. Included in this group are girls from all over Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Philippines, Ivory Coast, England, New Zealand and the United States.

Real Parenting talked with Laurie Hooker from the Girl Guides of Canada BC Council to learn more about the fun activities at the SOAR adventure camp, a little history of the Girl Guides of Canada & how girls and women can get involved in the organization.

Coming to the Belfry Theatre Aug 3-21 is Mom’s the Word:Remixed! This popular award winning show has traveled to the far corners of the world and reunited to bring us highlights from previous shows Mom’s the Word and Mom’s the Word 2: Unhinged.

Sharing true stories of the heartache and joys of motherhood, this fantastic ensemble of hilarious moms are sure to move the audience from laughter to tears and back again.

I talked with two stars of the production, Jill Daum and Alison Kelly, about parenthood, the trials & tribulations of motherhood and why Mom’s the Word:Remixed has become such a smash hit!

Many parents wonder how they will fill the days of summer when their kids finish school for the holidays. Some of us are concerned about their brains going idle and not all of us have the time or money to go on family vacations or put the kids in summer camps.

Dr. Andie Weiner suggests turning the summertime blues into a positive experience. She has tips and tools to keep kids occupied and learning, build relationships in and out of the home, how technology impacts kids these days, and how to make the summer holidays work for your family rather than against you.

Dr. Andie is the author of More than saying I love you: 4 Powerful Steps that Help Children Love Themselves and sits on the board for children’s online safety organization Kiwi Commons. Her multiple careers as a child therapist, psycho-educational specialist, mother, grandmother and lecturer has enabled her to develop a wealth of experience and insight on how social and emotional skills can create lifelong benefits.

When school lets out for summer, many kids leave books behind and stop reading until September rolls around again, but why not keep reading part of the holidays & make it fun?

Jennifer Rowan, librarian with the Greater Victoria Public Library joined me on the show on July 2 to chat about the fun ways to keep kids reading while they are out of school.

Jennifer highlighted the fantastic reading program for kids at all the GVPL’s in Victoria, their interactive online  section for kids, the neat prizes that can be won each week and the teen writing contest!

Sam Buser is a licensed psychologist in Houston Texas who co-wrote the The Guys only Guide to Getting over Divorce and on with Life, Sex and Relationships.

We discuss fatherhood after divorce, how to stay connected with the kids when living arrangements change, how to co-parent more effectively and how to handle-with-care the difficult feelings the children will ultimately experience when parents divorce.

Recently, 16 year old Belmont High School student organizer Ravi Parmar helped bring the need for a new high school in the West Shore into the headlines.

As a result, Ravi met with Education Minister George Abbott to offer his point of view as a student being educated in a school needing constant repair.

Inspired by his hope for a new high school for his two younger siblings, Ravi helped create a Let’s Get Belmont a New School Facebook fanpage plus started a community petition in May 2011.

We talked to Ravi about going to a school “held together by duct tape” as many students complained at the student walkout in late May.

We’ll also heard from Jim Cambridge, Superintendent of the Sooke School District (SD62). He has also served as a teacher, principal, and district administrator.

Jim shared a little bit about why there has been such a big outcry for a new school in the West Shore, the current state of Belmont High School, and what the Sooke School District hopes to achieve in the near future.

Opened in August of 2009, Tall Tales Books, a bookstore for children and young adults, is the dream of Kate and Drew Lorimer. With a focus on quality books, promoting literacy and the love of reading, Tall Tales Books is a special little bookstore in downtown Victoria, BC.

Drew Lorimer joined us to share some of his top picks for different age categories of kids, to share his thoughts on the struggles that downtown small business owners face, and to talk about the Tall Tales Books Hero Society. Tall Tales Books needs 400 ‘heroes’ by July 1 in order to stay in business – please join!  (Added bonus: The Vancouver Island Baby Fair will be giving away 10 pairs of passes if they reach their goal!)

Dad Duty: Dissecting the Modern Dad

With Father’s Day just around the corner, I gathered a panel of local Dads together to delve into the world of Dad: MLA Rob Fleming, radio host Dave Dickson, and dad blogger Clint Lalonde.

We discuss the challenges around being a modern dad, how their lives have changed since becoming a Dad, how they balance family and work, and more.

Dave Dickson hosts the afternoon show on CFAX 1070, weekdays from 1-3pm. Dave is the rookie Dad on the panel, with one little girl who turns two this summer. He’s been married to his wife Lorena for three years.

Rob Fleming is the MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake and the BC NDP Official Opposition Environment Critic. Rob and his wife Maura have two kids under six – daughter Rory and son Jack, making for a busy life balancing his official duties with Daddy duty!

Clint Lalonde is the author of the Dad blog Dadventure, where he has spent the last 7 years  chronicling his journey of being Maggie and Graeme’s Dad. Clint and his wife Dana have been married for 8 years.

Dawn Mucci is a mother of three, a certified aromatherapist and founder of Lice Squad Canada.

The company’s mission is to dispel the stigma associated with head lice and to stop the over use of pesticides on children and our planet. With summer camp just around the corner for many kids, we discuss how to prevent head lice and what to do if your child gets them.