Family Matters: Recent Episodes
Global News / Curiouscast
Family Matters is a conversation sparked by parents, for parents, where we explore the issues that matter to you and navigate the challenges we all face. We are not experts but rather every day moms learning by trial and error. Our biggest hope for is that you walk away feeling a little more informed and above all – understood…like we get you because we’re in it too.
Host Laurel Gregory is an award-winning journalist who has worked in Canadian media for 16 years. The mother of two co-created Family Matters in 2016 in order to create a reliable source of information to both educate and entertain parents. She secretly envies parents who raised children prior to the information age and is confident that – big or small - a walk in the woods and a good night’s sleep cures all.
Producer Christine Meadows has been with Global Edmonton for a decade, minus the 2 years spent on maternity leave with her boys. She is constantly navigating balance in her life as a working mom who loves her boys but also loves her “me time”. She fears screen time is going to be her biggest life regret and is still trying to ditch social media after-hours to be more present
New research out of the University of Alberta is helping shed light on the telltale symptoms of COVID-19 in children. Dr. Joan Robinson specializes in pediatric infectious diseases and joins us to share the findings and offer up her big takeaways for parents and school administrators.
Also on this episode, time-strapped moms and dads are turning to Tiktok for advice. A rise in therapists, psychologists and counsellors are now sharing their tips on social media. The list includes Jax Anderson. She is a mental health therapist and a Tiktok celebrity with more than 10 million likes. She shares her journey to TikTok, and we also have some advice for parents before scrolling.
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Parents can feel helpless during youth sport tryouts but there are ways to support our children from the sidelines. We take a look at research out of the University of Alberta that suggests a cooling-off period before families discuss a team cut. Dr. Kacey Neely is behind the project and shares her advice for parents.
Also on this episode, why many hockey organizations are bringing in hired help to handle tryouts. Companies like HockeyEvaluations.com. Owner Justin Reynolds offers insight into how the process of professional evaluating works and why his staff will never know the names or history of the players on the ice. We also hear from John O’Sullivan. He is a longtime coach and founder of the Changing the Game Project. He argues there are some benefits to having some inside information on players before team selection.
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Did the pandemic overhaul the over-scheduled kid? For blogger and father-of-two Casey Palmer the answer is yes. He calls it a “weird, tarnished, silver-lining” for his family. He joins us to share his biggest takeaways. Plus, we hear from child psychologist Jody Carrington on how to spot an over-scheduled child. And later, Joanne Lalonde Hayes from More Time Moms has some advice before refilling the calendar.
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New research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the so-called 'motherhood penalty.' Many Canadian mothers are clocking the equivalent of two full-time jobs caring for their children. McMaster University’s Clifton van der Linden calls the results “shocking”. He walks us through the findings plus takes a look at the impact the pandemic has had on fathers. Also on this episode, Kinia Romanowska shares her tips for working mothers trying to find balance. She is the founder of Pros&Babes, a mentorship service.
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With families spending more time together than ever, you may think it could cause problems. But an ongoing University of Calgary study has found the pandemic is having a mostly positive impact on the family unit. We take a look at the study and find out if the same could be said for relationships with friends and extended family. Bloggers Frankie Nelson and BJ Barone join us to talk about the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on their household. You can find out more about them, by checking out their website, Family is About Love. What if you’re on the other side of this study, and you and your family are struggling to keep the peace? Registered psychologist Tammy Auten Dye shares her advice for couples who at a make or break point in their relationship. Auten Dye is one of the speakers at The Institute of Child Psychology’s Children’s Mental Health Conferencein November 2020.
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For most parents, the after-school meltdown needs no explanation. But knowing what it is and knowing how to handle the emotional eruption are two very different things. Registered psychologist Dr. Vanessa Lapointe joins us with some advice on how to handle the tears, tantrums and silent treatment the end of the school-day can bring. You can connect with her through her website, just click here.
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The stress of COVID-19 on pregnant women and new mothers is showing. Researchers at the University of Calgary have found rates of postpartum anxiety and depression are rising, from 15% pre-pandemic to more than 20% now. Researcher Gerald Giesbrecht joins us to talk about the study and how we can help new mothers. Also on this week's episode - Sarah Wallace describes her struggle with postpartum depression and the long and dark journey to finally finding help. You can connect with Sarah through Instagram, just click here.
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As a parent, you’ve likely had a moment where you caught yourself sounding like your own mom or dad, but that doesn’t mean you parent exactly like them. In fact, new data out of the University of Michigan suggests nearly half of parents and grandparents butt heads over everything from treats to screen time. One of the polls co-directors Sarah Clark walks us through the results and shares the biggest triggers for disagreements. And later, registered psychologist Tammy Schamuhn offers up some communication strategies to keep the peace and resolve conflict.
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School is back in session across the country. For many parents this marks the first time in six months that they have been away from their children for an extended period of time. A new school routine amid a pandemic can cause separation anxiety for both kids and adults according to Janine Halloran, a mental health counsellor and the founder of Coping Skills for Kids. She shares her advice for spotting anxiety in your child and offers up some strategies for helping the entire family cope with this new normal.
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They say only focus on what you can control. But in a pandemic that’s easier said than done, especially when it comes to back to school. After months of staying close to home and social distancing, the majority of Canadian students are returning to the classroom. We bring in the experts for advice on what you can do at home to hopefully make this school year a healthier one. From diet, to sleep and emotional wellbeing. Our guests are family therapist Alyson Schafer, behavioural sleep specialist Dr Lisa Medalie, researcher Dr Jim Kellner, and Canadian paediatrician Dr Raphael Sharon.
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Edmonton mother, Deb Richardson says it took her years to realize the ‘harder you work the more you earn’ wasn’t necessarily true. It’s one of the life lessons she’s hoping to help her children avoid by openly and regularly talking about mone. Richardson shares her wake-up call on this episode. We also hear from financial empowerment coach Selina Gray who helped Richardson find her net-worth and self-worth. You can connect with Gray through her website SelinaGray.com.
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Not all students will be heading back to class this September. Many parents will be keeping their kids and the learning at home. So what should you consider before making the leap? We turn to Dr Robert Kunzman for advice. The University of Indiana professor and director of the International Center for Home Education Research has spent the last 16 years studying homeschooling and says the common denominator in successful schooling is support. Also on this episode, we chat with Sarah Renner. She’s a professional organizer and mother of two young girls. She and her husband have decided to homeschool this year. We find out what led her to make this decision and how she’s re-organized her home to make the transition work. You can connect with Sarah through her website Organized with Kids.
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As health professionals prepare for a second wave of COVID-19, psychologists are preparing for a wave of mental health issues – especially in teens. Clinics are full of youth with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Psychologist and author Vanessa Lapointe joins for her advice on supporting kids who, developmentally, are extra challenged to wade through this pandemic. For more information on Vanessa, click here.
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In the age of social distancing, meet the virtual babysitter. Instead of showing up at your house, the sitter engages with your child through Skype, Zoom, FaceTime and other video platforms. The concept exploded this spring as parents attempted to work remotely and look after children learning from home. Elize Shirdel launched HELM Life following five years of connecting parents with babysitters through Datenight Babysitting. She joins us to explain what both parents and children can expect. So what does the mediatrician think? Dr Michael Rich weighs-in on the trend and offers a few alternatives for families. For more information about Dr Rich, click here.
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Willa Sowell won over the internet with one little lie. She told her dad that the lipstick-stained on her face was purchased from Home Depot. But her dad knew better. She stole it from her mom’s purse. It was cute, innocent and eventually became a viral video. But not all lies are created equal and discovering deception can be frustrating for parents. Dr Kang Lee has been studying lying and children for the past two decades. He assures parents it’s a developmental milestone and shares his insight into why it may be happening. You can find out more about his research by checking out his website, just click here. We also hear from psychologist Dr Jody Carrington. She offers up a script for parents on what to say and how to say it, when you catch you child in a lie.
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After a spring spent close to home, Canadian children have the energy to burn. As they channel it into outdoor activities, Canadian paediatricians are seeing the fallout. Dr Dominic Allain joins us to talk about the spike in injuries he is seeing in his emergency department. He shares why he’s not surprised to see an increase. Dr Dominic Allain is a member of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Injury Prevention Committee. And, we are getting a D+ for physical activity. Before the pandemic, Canadian children were barely getting a passing grade for overall physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Restrictions from the COVID-19 crisis have made things even worse, according to numbers released by ParticipACTION. We talk to exercise scientist Leigh Vanderloo about the new report card and the role parents play in getting children active.
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After years of loss, an Alberta couple is celebrating a double dose of joy. In the span of a week, Ian and Margo Sheldon welcomed a baby boy and girl they’re calling their “moon twins.” The babies are siblings born to siblings. Ian and Margo join us to share their long and unique journey to parenthood. Also on this episode, we take you inside the Baby Spa in Sherwood Park where it’s all about pampering infants. Owner Tara Machuik walks us through the services offered. To find out more about the Baby Spa click here.
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No pool, no problem. Some Canadian families are continuing on with swim lessons by holding class in the tub. Kaylee Kennedy with K&K Swim School has pivoted from in-person lessons to virtual ones. She has now taught students across the globe and joins us to explain how bathtub swim lessons work. You can find out more about K&K Swim school by checking out their website, just click here. We also explore some of the other alternatives for swim lessons and dive into one water safety advocates concerns with summer holidays bringing more time in lakes, rivers and inflatable pools. Our guest is Karim Zayed with the Canadian Swim School Association.
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COVID-19 has cancelled a lot since it arrived in Canada, but it doesn’t have to ruin your summer vacation. Heather Greenwood Davis has travelled all over the world as the blogger behind globetrottingmama.com. She joins us to talk about her family’s “plan b” for the summer and shares some ideas for finding adventure closer to home. We also hear from travel expert Claire Newell about what to expect if you are flying or staying in a hotel. You can find out about Claire and her travel tips by checking out her website, just click here.
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When it comes to COVID-19, why do some infected children become severely ill while others have no symptoms at all? Why does the virus tend to hit adults harder than kids? And what role do little ones play in spreading the virus? Those are the mysteries Alberta researchers hope to help solve with a new study out of the University of Calgary. Researcher and professor Dr. Jim Kellner joins us to talk about the project. We also look at the science and art of building your bubble. As restrictions continue to ease across the country, what does that mean for cohort or bubble families? Nova Scotia’s Heather Laura Clarke is sticking to just one bubble family. She joins us to talk about how it’s working for her family and if and when they will expand. Heather Laura Clarke is A parenting columnist and editor with the SaltWire Network. You can find out more about her by checking out her website. Just click here.
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We’d like to think our kids don’t see colour but they do. Research shows children as young as preschool absorb ideas about race and racism. Kira Banks is an educator and founder of Raising Equity. She says the conversation needs to start at home and early. So where do we start? We turn to child psychologist and author Jillian Roberts for advice on answering some of your children’s toughest questions? From skin colour to dealing with prejudice. You can find out more about Roberts by checking out her website, just click here.
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For 10 weeks, Canadian children have been closer to home than ever before — but as provinces relaunch their economies, families are expanding their bubbles. So how can we help ease the transition for our children and what can we expect in response? Registered Psychologist and author Vanessa Lapointe joins us with her predictions and even offers up a script for parents to use when taking their children to that first public outing. You can find out more about Vanessa by clicking here. Parenting expert Alyson Schafer also weighs in suggesting children are building resilience during this pandemic. And later we check in with Regina middle school teacher Aaron Warner to find out he’s preparing for a return to the classroom. You can follow Warner on twitter by clicking here.
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The majority of Canadian students are learning online, yet how they are being assessed differs dramatically across Canada. Annie Kidder from People for Education has compiled the provincial policies from coast to coast. She shares the results and offers up her opinion on whether we should be grading during the pandemic.
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Can we get a dog? It’s a question more Canadian families are saying yes to, partly because of the pandemic. We suddenly have the time and energy to welcome a new puppy. Alberta’s Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) has seen its monthly fostering inquiries increase tenfold. Terra MacLean is the training coordinator for SCARS and joins us to talk about the demand and why you may want to paws and reflect first. You can find out more about SCARS by clicking here. And we get some training tips from Moira Wegner. She’s the founder and trainer behind Cronies Canine Coaching.
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While COVID-19 is postponing events across the globe, there’s one ceremony Jeremy Allen doesn’t think should wait. A funeral. The grief educator and funeral director is encouraging Canadians to start the grief process even if it means saying goodbye in a different way. He joins us to explain his stance and also has some advice for helping your children grieve during this pandemic. You can find out more about Jeremy by visiting his website DeathEd.ca. And later in the show, we find out what the return to school looks like in China. After 100 days out of the classroom the students are back, but a lot has changed. Melissa Guzzo is a teacher and assistant principal at the Canadian International School of Guangzhou in the Panyu District and joins us to talk about the transition.
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If you were a clean freak before this pandemic, there’s a good chance you’re even more so now. A lot of families wonder how much they actually need to clean to protect themselves from COVID-19. We talk to the University of Alberta’s pathogen-fighting power couple, David Evans and Mary Hitt, for tips on how they tackle and disinfect their own home. And in the era of #quaranCLEAN we talk to the founder and director of Go Clean Co, Sarah McAllister. The Calgary cleaning company has tripled its Instagram followers since the start of the pandemic. They share videos on cleaning and some of their most-used hacks. You can find out more about Go Clean Co by clicking here.
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Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are sacrificing their health to serve on the frontlines of this pandemic. Many of them are living apart from their own families to avoid potentially spreading COVID-19. We share one family’s story. Plus we talk to psychologist and author Jody Carrington about the short term and long term implications for families on the frontlines. You can connect with Jody through her website drjodycarrington.com. And shifting gears to the growing season, we take a look at the benefits of gardening during a pandemic. Cheney Creamer is the chair of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association and offers her advice for both green and black thumbs.
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One month into school closures, families are leaning on screen time for everything from schoolwork to playtime or hangouts. In the first couple weeks of the pandemic, parenting experts’ message to parents was to ease off on screen time limits. With no return to normalcy in sight, should parents continue that approach? On this episode of Family Matters, we explore screen time with Dr. Michael Rich, the “mediatrician” and the director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children’s Hospital. He explains why screen time limits are obsolete and gives parents practical advice to ensure their children get everything they need to grow up healthy, strong and kind. Dr. Rich also explains how parents can introduce their children to social media so they can stay connected to friends during physical distancing rules. You can find out more about Dr. Rich by clicking here.
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No playdate, no problem. Kids are coping with a great deal of change in a short period of time, but child and adolescent development counsellor Deborah MacNamara says there's a simple solution to the upheaval… encourage play and lots of it. More play doesn’t mean you have to become a full-time playmate. Family therapist David Loyst joins us to pitch what he calls “collect before we neglect” promising to free up more time to get back your job. You can connect with David by clicking here.
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For a lot of Canadian teens, the prospect of skipping school to wear PJs, watch movies and FaceTime friends sounded like a vacation. But now in the third week of school closures and social distancing, the COVID-19 honeymoon is over. How can we help teens establish a new normal with no return to routine in sight? Calgary psychologist and mother of a teenage daughter, Caroline Buzanko weighs-in. You can find out more about Buzanko by clicking here. We also throw the question “what to say when your teen asks to see their boyfriend/girlfriend” at Jody Carrington who believes teens just want to be heard. And teen blogger Hannah Alper offers up advice for both her peers their parents about adjusting to physical distancing by embracing social connecting. Hannah recently wrote a blog on the subject. You can read it by visiting her website.
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Custody and coronavirus: who gets the kids? You likely didn't plan for a pandemic when coming up with a custody agreement. We turn to the experts to find out your legal rights and how to navigate co-parenting in the COVID-19 crisis. Karen Stewart from Fairway Divorce offers up some tips on dealing with a difficult ex. You can find out more about Karen by clicking here. And registered psychologist Vanessa Lapointe joins us for what turned out to be a mini co-parenting counselling session. You can find out more about Vanessa by clicking here.
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School is out indefinitely and suddenly parents are feeling adrift. If you can work from home, how will you keep your kids both educated and entertained? Jennifer Sutherland-Miller has home-schooled all four of her children and has some advice for getting started and getting creative in this new normal. Also, We chat with Global video journalist Jamie Mauracher. She is set to welcome her first baby during the COVID-19 outbreak. She’s not only had to cover the pandemic as part of her job as a reporter, but is now living it, wondering what it means to her and her baby’s health and safety. She recently turned to medical experts for some answers and shares with us what she found.
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As COVID-19 continues to spread, a lot of Canadians are wondering how to protect their children and how to explain the pandemic without scaring them. On this episode of Family Matters, we look for the facts from Dawn Bowdish. She’s the Canada Research Chair in aging and immunity at McMaster University. She answers why, at this point, is COVID-19 not affecting children? And offers advice for parents wondering if they should be avoiding public places and even grandparents? Plus, why you need to be your child’s go-to-person for information about the virus. Registered psychologist Vanessa Lapointe joins us to for some advice on what to say and what not to say. You can find out more about Vanessa by clicking here.
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Have you ever felt like you got a raise at work or an "A" on an exam merely by fluke or luck? Consistently doubting your accomplishments is known as Imposter Syndrome. Even Sheryl Sandberg, Serena Williams and Tom Hanks say they've experienced it. It's so common on campus at the University of Alberta that school is holding workshops to help students cope. Rachel Greenly is a mental health consultant at the U of A and joins us to talk about imposter syndrome and how to overcome it. We also hear from child psychologist Jody Carrington about her battles with self-doubt. You can connect with Jody through her website by clicking here.
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The traditional thinking about houses has often been “bigger is better”. But when it comes to connecting with your kids, the secret may be embracing smaller spaces. Parenting expert Alyson Schafer walks us through this theory and also offers some advice for parents who want to get in their children’s space but aren’t ready to move. Plus, veteran house flipper and designer Holly Baker shares the surprising benefits of her latest project, one that saw the family lose 1000 square feet and go from three bathrooms to one. You can find out more about Holly by checking out her website.
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Snakes, spiders and heights - they're the stuff of horror movies and the things we claim to fear right from birth. But do we? A research review is challenging that notion suggesting parents can pass on fear to children. Vanessa LoBue is a psychologist at Rutgers University and joins us to talk about her work on the research review and offers up some advice for parents. And while on the topic, we are turning to child psychologist Tammy Auten-Dye for advice on helping your child overcome fear.
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Health Canada is making it easier and cheaper for women undergoing fertility treatment to access sperm from known donors. Up until recently, if a woman wanted to use a friend's sperm, they had to use a designated clinic (Western Canadians often went to Toronto) and the sperm would have to undergo testing for 180 days (half a year). This was costly and time consuming. Now, local clinics can carry out this procedure and there's no quarantine period. Infertility specialist Dr. Caitlin Dunne calls it a big win for women trying to conceive alone or in a same sex partnership. She joins us to talk about the change and exactly how you can start the process. And what is it like to shop for sperm? A Langley, B.C. mother joins to share her experience in browsing for donors. She even talks about having to weigh the pros and cons when it comes to siblings.
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CrossFit for kids is growing across Canada with a number of gyms offering programming for children as young as 3 years old. Gyms like FirePower Kids in Milton, Ontario. In the seven years since it started offering pint-sized workouts, it has grown to 200 members. Jodi Nieuwendyk is a coach at FirePower Kids and joins us to talk about the workouts and how her gym decides if their little Crossfitters are ready to lift weight. CrossFit has a reputation for intensity and sometimes even injury, so what do the experts say: is it safe for children? Dr. Marni Wesner is a sport and exercise medicine consultant at Edmonton’s Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic. She joins us to talk about the sport and what parents need to know before enrolling.
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Your kids spend hours on their phones but are they getting any real-life tech skills out of it? No, according to the HR Mom. Melissa Griffin is a long-time human resources professional whose post on the topic went viral in January 2020. She says young adults are ill-prepared for the real world and believes parents have one job: to work ourselves out of a job. Griffin suggests giving your kids technology inspired tasks and shares some examples. You can connect with Griffin on Facebook.
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Raising kids without debt? Can it be done? Blogger Kyla Cornish is sharing her family’s journey to get back in the black. Like many families, they were relying on a line of credit. It wasn’t until they hit their version of “rock bottom” that they knew they had to take action. She joins us to talk about that moment and what has happened since. Plus, if the first step is realizing you have a problem, then the second would be tackling it. Personal finance educator Kelley Keehn shares her advice on where to start and explains how you can get a better understanding of your finances in her new book Talk Money To Me. You can find out more about Keehn by clicking here.
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If you’re old enough to love, you’re old enough to grieve. That’s the message from Canadian author, speaker and child psychologist Jody Carrington. She wants to encourage parents to stop sheltering kids from sadness. Dr. Carrington joins us to explain why and also offers some tips for making it easier for children to cope with the tough stuff. You can find out more about her by visiting her website. We are also joined by Cathy Decker. She started Avery’s Legacy after the sudden loss of her 13-month-old daughter. Decker creates, sells and donates grief boxes for families dealing with the loss of a loved one. Avery’s Legacy recently started to create bereavement gifts specifically designed for children.
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A reverse lunch, more recess breaks and no try-outs for school sports. We are taking a look at some of the changes happening in the education system hoping to help improve student performance. We unpack the reverse lunch that sees students go out for recess before sitting down to eat. Plus, we update a rural Alberta school where they are stretching out recess. The elementary school has four recess breaks in its day. And, is a no-cuts policy at the junior level of a junior high school still happening? We check in and debate team cuts.
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The kids table was invented for a reason, to keep the mess and the bad manners far away from the adults trying to enjoy their meal. But when is it time to stop ignoring bad table behavior? Now, according to Jeannie Vaage. She is the owner of VIP Protocol, an Edmonton company that specializes in etiquette training. She joins us with her dos and don’ts for table manners. You can find out more about Jeannie by clicking here.
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Born as “Dear Diary” confessionals the mom blog has transformed into lucrative businesses for many Canadian women. Even basic posts with product reviews or sponsorships can earn these content creators $10,000+ a month. Two of Canada’s top mom bloggers Marielle Altenor of Ladymarielle and Joanna Venditti of Nesting Story, offer some insight into their journey and how they are making it work.
And what’s next for the mom blog? Kathryn Jezer-Morton is a PhD candidate at Concordia University and is writing her thesis on mompreneurship. She makes her predictions on the future of the mamasphere plus talks about how the blogs have allowed moms to talk discuss once taboo topics.
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As parents, we are our children’s first model of what a relationship looks like. So what happens when the example is one of abuse? According to domestic violence survivor Chantel Sparklingeyes, the cycle of violence continues. She joins us to talk about her journey and also explains why she wants schools to bring the tough topic into the classroom. We also hear from Farrah Khan, a sexual violence educator and support worker. She believes a robust relationship health education can prevent domestic violence from happening, now and in the future. But what would that curriculum look like? Khan offers her suggestions.
This is episode is part of a special Global News series Broken: Canada’s ongoing failure to end violence against woman. Reporter Meghan Collie is part of a team of journalists working on it. She took a look at what kids in Canada are taught in sex education and joins us to look at how it varies between provinces.
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Less toys, more joy. That’s the case parenting author Kim John Payne is making this holiday season. He is behind Simplicity Parenting and believes if you want to raise children who are more grateful and less entitled, then surround them with less stuff. His pitch is supported by years of research showing fewer toys lead to more play in young children. Payne joins us to share some alternatives to presents and advice for getting the extended family on board. We are also looking for ways to tackle our current toy count. Organizational coach Sarah Renner shares her de-cluttering tips. Renner is a consultant with Organized with Kids.
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After shelling out hundreds of dollars in extracurricular activities, the last thing you want to hear from your child mid-season is “I quit”. Many of us will forge ahead often negotiating, bribing or even forcing our little athlete to finish. But is that the right answer? And at what point should we let them pull the plug? Katherine Tamminen is a sports psychology researcher at the University of Toronto and has been tracking youth experiences in sport. She joins us to offer some scenarios and advice parents can try-out in their own home.
Plus – we’ve been told our kids need to play more than one sport so why are parents still struggling to make the multi-sport athlete a reality? We hear form Richard Monette. He’s the head of Active for Live and behind the new campaign “Change it Up”. To find out more about it, click here.
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You know when a soother or baby toy falls on the ground and parents joke about the five-second rule, “Well it’s good for them! It will build their immune system!” On this episode, we are wondering if there is truth to that? Is it healthy for babies, toddlers and young kids to ingest dirt and germs to build up their immune system, or can it be harmful? We turn to expert known as the “Germ Guy”, Jason Tetro. He is a microbiologist, research, educator and host of the Super Awesome Science Show. To find out more about Jason or to subscribe to his podcast click here.
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Canada will ban harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 in a bid to reduce ocean waste. Some families aren't waiting until then. Edmonton mom Christine Hutchinson has reduced plastic use in her home by 60 per cent. How? She takes her own containers to the meat counter, picks produce that isn’t in plastic and the plastic she does buy must be re-used multiple times. You can find out more about Christie’s journey by following her on Instagram by clicking here. We also hear from Allyson Shaw. She’s the associate editor and digital producer at National Geographic Kids and offers up some REAL LIFE ways we can do our part cutting down on the non-recyclable/non-biodegradable product polluting the planet.
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No mistakes. Embrace failure as a way to learn. Love the struggle. It’s all part of a growth mindset: the idea that talent is a starting point and abilities can improve dramatically with hard work, persistence and determination. Renee Jain is the founder of GoZen!, a resilience program for children. She joins us to talk about adopting this mindset and how we can practice it with our own children to help set them up for success.
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These days, the word "friend" is often associated with someone who "likes" your social media posts and photos. And surprisingly that’s enough for some Canadian girls to define online friends as close friends. Girl Guides of Canada recently took a look at the state of friendships, surveying more than 1,000 girls who confessed they had more friends online than in real life. We look at the numbers. We also have some advice from educator and research Linda Stade who talks about the role parents play in fostering friendships. You can find out more about Linda by clicking here.
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More and more child care centres are offering parents a chance to literally be a fly on the wall. They are installing cameras and letting parents livestream the day's events. Florence Ann Romano, best known as the Windy City Nanny, believes in webcams. She says your day home or daycare should have nothing to hide. On the other hand, parenting expert Alyson Schafer is encouraging you cut the cord. She argues surveillance will only increase mom and dad’s anxiety. We debate both arguments. To find out more about Alyson, click here. To connect with Florence, visit WindyCityNanny.com.
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Why does university get all the glory? We hear from a number of students who say there’s still a stigma around attending college and reveal the pressure comes from their parents. Career coach Tonya Pomerantz says kids can make the case for college by creating a business plan for their parents and explaining exactly why they want to take this route. She also shares some important questions to ask before applying. You can find out more about Pomerantz by visiting Puddle Jump Coaching. Today’s episode is part of our special series Failure To Launch examining the gaps in Canada’s education system.
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The house was built with oil money but suddenly the kids want to save the world from climate change. We take a look at the political divide happening across the country but especially in Alberta. We hear from Calgary's Ben Laird, who makes pro-environment t-shirts and feels strongly that the federal government needs to do more to prioritize the planet over profits. His dad is retired from the oil industry, his brother is helping plan pipeline expansion and his sister works in eco tourism. How do they handle family dinners? We look for some advice from Sarah Stewart Holland (democrat) and Beth Silvers (republican). They are behind the podcast Pantsuit Politics and recently published the book “ I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening)”.
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Are we actually preparing our children for the future? In the next few months, thousands of Canadian high school students will have to figure out what they want to do after they graduate. What these teens choose will affect the trajectory of their lives. So we ask the experts, are students getting enough “real-life” education before graduating?
And we head inside a Regina classroom where the students are asked “What do you want to learn this year?” Aaron Warner has used held a Genius Hour with his class for the past 5 years and joins us to talk about how it all works. You can follow Warner on twitter by clicking here.
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Why do teens reach for porn? It’s believed about 93 per cent of boys and 62 per cent girls have been exposed to pornography before the age of 18. Teela was just 13 years old when she discovered porn. She joins us to talk about how it affected her perspective on sex and herself. We also hear from sexologist and relationship expert Jessica O’Relly on why parents need to join the conversation. You can find out more about Dr. Reilly by visiting SexwithDrJess.
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It’s not just the kids feeling overscheduled. Parents are also suffering from a packed calendar. But is there a way to have it all and get to it all? Sarah Renner is a consultant with Organized with Kids. She offers up a formula for families to follow as they begin filling out the new school calendar. One that will lead to more family dinners at the table, happy kids and still time for a date night.
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It’s time to put those bad summer sleep habits to bed. And who better to take us through a back to sleep boot camp than Dr. Lisa Medalie. She is a pediatric insomnia specialist and is the founder of Doctor Lullaby. She is urging parents to use this new school year as a chance to make sleep a priority especially with an estimated 30 per cent of children experiencing sleep issues.
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Growth is easy to spot when it's shoe size and vocabulary but how do you know your child is developing emotionally? Clinical counsellor Dr. Deborah MacNamara offers up three questions to ask to see if your child is thriving. You can connect with Dr. MacNamara by clicking here. Also, we take a look at speech delay. What’s normal, what’s not and when should you reach out for help?
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More and more families aren’t waiting for spring or summer break to travel the world. They are embarking upon long-term trips and letting their kids learn along the way. Jenn Sutherland-Miller is one of those parents. In 2008, her family began a 10-year journey through more than 30 countries. She now runs the website howtoworldschool.org and has some advice for others families considering an “edventure.”
Plus, we hear from her daughter Hannah Miller. She didn’t step inside a traditional classroom until she was 19 and on her first day of university. How hard was it to get accepted into school? And does she feel like she missed out on a school environment? We find out. You can connect with Hannah through her website.
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It is not our job to entertain our children. Repeat, it is not our job to entertain our children. Many parents are feeling the pressure to pull off the perfect summer but parenting expert Alyson Schafer says we need to let go of the guilt and instead, help our children learn the skill of self-entertainment. Schafer is our guest this week on Family Matters. On top of her pep-talk, she is also providing us with a script to follow the next time we hear the dreaded words “I’m bored.”
And blogger Kyla Cornish confesses that it was out of pure desperation that she launched a new tradition in her household, the Summer of Squares. She says she stands by her decision to tell the world she hates summer break, through this post on her blog Mommy’s Weird.
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Say goodbye to your sex life. Sneezing and peeing, laughing and peeing, running and peeing – they now go hand-in-hand. These are all things we are told to expect after having a baby. But should we live with it? No! Mary Wood is the clinical director at Cura Physical Therapies, specializing in postpartum health. She joins us with a simple test for moms. And in the race to bounce back after baby, we take a look at how your workout routine may be doing more harm than good. Kaye Burrows is the owner of Core Love, a fitness company that helps new moms. She shares some exercise do’s and don’ts.
Plus, the photographers behind the portrait series ‘A Mother’s Beauty’ joins us with an update seven years after capturing their first postpartum mom. To see the photos or to apply, check-out Hobbs Photography.
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Shaming isn’t just for moms. A new poll found more than half of dads say they have been criticized for their parenting decisions. They say moms are behind most of the comments. The University of Michigan’s Dr. Sarah Clark is the co-director of the study and joins host Erin Chalmers with her biggest takeaways. Why are moms so hard on dads? We threw that question at Calgary psychologist Dr. Caroline Buzanko who says it’s a mix of instinct and worry. You can find out more about Buzanko by clicking here. And we get David Bacque’s take on the numbers. He’s a father of two and well-known blogger behind #Lifewithbenjamin.
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More and more Canadian couples are calling it quits later in life. Of the 11 million people over 55 in Canada, 1.1 million are separated or divorced. Family lawyers, like Diana Isaac, say these divorces have different challenges than those who breakup younger in life. Isaac is with Shulman Law Firm in Toronto and joins us to talk about the trend and offers some advice for baby boomers considering divorce.
Plus, the new interim host of Family Matters, Erin Chalmers, shares her vision for the segment and previews some of the stories she is working on.
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Meet the stepfamily coach! Ali Wilks is helping blended families navigate their new normal. She is on a mission to debunk the myth of the evil stepmother and warns step-parents it could take on average seven years before they feel like a cohesive unit. Wilks is our guest this week on Family Matters. You can connect with her by clicking here.
Plus, drop your weapons, even the ones with foam bullets. University of Alberta eye specialist, Dr. Matthew Tennant, is warning parents about the dangers of Nerf guns.
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Sexting among teens continues to light up smartphones, but what are the risks associated? A new study out of the University of Calgary is linking teen sexting with risky behavior, anxiety, depression and substance use. The lead author of the study, Dr. Sheri Madigan joins us to talk about the findings and why she believes more education needs to happen at home and in schools.
Plus – from grades to gender and even friendships, what goes into building class lists.
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“You've got to go. You're not part of it.” Those were the words an Alberta mother says she heard as her surrogate was wheeled into the operating room. She would have to wait over two hours before holding her baby. The surrogate would later tell Sara she was offered to breastfeed the baby and do skin to skin contact. We hear Sara’s story and concerns. Plus Sara Cohen, a fertility law expert, weighs in. She admits there are surrogate-friendly hospitals in Canada. Cohen is on Twitter and you can also find out more through her website.
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So you’ve caught your child watching porn online. Now what? Child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts is the author of the book ‘Kids, Sex & Screens’ she offers up some advice on what to say and what not to say to your children. Plus, we hear from two moms who share how easy and quick it was for their young children to find and view inappropriate content.
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45 minutes. That’s how long the average C-section takes in Canada. Doctors are performing more of these surgeries than ever. In 2018, C-sections accounted for 28.8 per cent of births in Canada. Why? Dr. Sarah Munro, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia, believes it has to do with repeat deliveries. Mothers who have had one C-section opt to have another the next time around. Dr. Munro joins us to talk about the trend and why there needs to be more information provided about VBACS. You can find out more about Sarah Munro by clicking here.
Global News Edmonton anchor Carole Anne Devaney has delivered three babies by both C-section and VBAC She opens up about the reasons behind each delivery and some of the advice she received along the way. Carole Anne is on maternity leave, but is sharing her journey of motherhood on Instagram and her blog CADevaney.com
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For a growing number of expecting mothers, their due date coincides with a travel date. There is no maternal care in their First Nation communities so they are sent to hospitals in larger centres to give birth. A few days later they are sent back home. The federal government covers the costs of travel and hotel, but could we be doing more to support these new moms? Carole Couchie says ‘yes’. She is the co-chair of the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives and joins us to talk about investing in indigenous midwifery.
We also hear from Nadia Houle. She is a doula in Alberta and talks about her role in a mother’s journey and incorporating indigenous knowledge and tradition into the birthing experience.
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Surprise! You are having twins. It’s the news more than 10 thousand couples in Canada received last year. But for at least 2 families, it wasn’t the first time they heard it. The Armstrongs in Red Deer welcomed its third set of fraternal twins in April. All three were conceived naturally. Around the same time, an Edmonton family brought home its second set of twins. Mom Megan joins us to talk about the adjustment.
Plus, how rare is it to welcome not one, but two sets of twins? Dr. Nancy J. Segal is a professor of psychology and director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton. She weighs in and helps us get to the bottom of some common twin misconceptions. You can connect Dr. Segal through her website of by following her on twitter.
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How have children’s books evolved over time? And does that mean we are getting better books? That’s what we asked two award-winning Canadian authors. Barbara Reidhas over 35 years of experience crafting children’s picture books. She joins us to talk about the evolution and even pinpoints some big changes she’s made to her own work. You can connect with Reid by clicking here. We also hear from Jon Klassen. He is the man behind the books I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat and We Found a Hat. He believes newer books have redefined how stories end. He joins us to explain and lets us in on his next project. You can follow Klassen on twitter, by clicking here.
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Linda Hoang appears to have it all, at least on social media. Her page is filled with photos of her family, friends, food, travel but she admits something is missing. “It's sort of like we are living this half or fake life,” explains Linda. “We are very happy about the life we have, but it's not the life that we have wanted for the last five years.” She and her husband Mike have been diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’ and for the past five years have been trying to conceive. Linda joins us to talk about the diagnosis and her options for starting a family. You can learn more about Linda by connecting with her through twitter or her website, Linda-Hoang.com.
Dr. Shannon Corbett is a fertility specialist and medical director at the Reproductive Care Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. She says one in four couples who enter a fertility clinic will leave with a diagnosis of “unexplained infertility.” She is also a guest on this Family Matters episode to talk about options for couples and why it’s her job to make sure they never lose hope.
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Some Alberta dads found the perfect way to say “I love you” to their tween and teen daughters. It involved cartwheels, dismounts and plenty of choreography. The surprise performance took place at a year-end showcase of the Perfect Storm teams, but it was the 18 dads who stole the show. One of the cheer dads turned cheerleaders is two-time Olympian Marc Kennedy. He joins us to talk about the two minute routine and what followed after. You can find out more about Marc by clicking here.
The routine is also garnering applause from two parenting experts. Jennifer Kolari is a family therapist and the author of ‘You're Ruining My Life!: Surviving The Teenage Years With Connected Parenting’. She calls it a gift. While Linda Nielsen, a renowned expert on father-daughter relationships, says more dads need to show this side of them. Why? Because dads have a huge influence on their daughters possibly more than their mothers. Both are guests on this episode of Family Matters.
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You can’t be in the operating room with them, but you do play an important role in your child’s surgical experience. A team of researchers at the University of Calgary found parental anxiety around surgery can have a long-lasting impact on how your child remembers the pain. Dr. Melanie Noel is behind the study and joins us to share the findings and her advice for parents preparing for a procedure. You can find out more about Dr. Noel by clicking here.
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“There’s no hurry. They don’t know how to hurry.” This is the feedback Alberta mom Deb Zinck has about her two sons aged 12 and 14. They miss their bus at least a few times a week forcing their mom to drive them to school. She wonders where is their sense of urgency? We took that question to psychologist Dr. Caroline Buzanko. She believes teens do have a sense of urgency, it’s just that their priorities are different than their parents. You can find out more about Dr. Buzanko by clicking here.
hind the book How to be a Productivity Ninja, Graham Allcott, shares some of his secrets to unlocking your inner productivity ninja. And guess what? He says it’s okay to be late. You can find out more by visiting his company Think Productive.
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Producer Christine Meadows son hates sweats. Refuses to wear them. He only wants to wear jeans to school, to birthday parties, at trampoline parks, and even tobogganing. The seven-year-old says he hates the way sweats feel. So will he one day just get used to it or is he a ‘highly sensitive’ kid? One in five Canadian children are considered highly sensitive. Registered psychologist Tammy Auten-Dye, who has a practice in Ponoka, Alta., helps us understand what the world is like for a highly sensitive kid. Auten-Dye offers up some tips for parents to help their kids cope. You can connect with Tammy Auten-Dye on her Facebook page or website.
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Why do vacation hotspots charge more for a family of five versus four? We search for the answer and find some advice on saving money from travel expert Claire Newell. Newell is the president of Travel Best Bets. You can find out more about her by visiting her website.
Plus, we check in with the Eliuk Family who is heading home after travelling the world for six months. The family of five from Edmonton started in Bali and are now ending in France, sometimes visiting as many as three countries in one day. We hear about their adventure and they share some of the lessons they’ve learned along the way. You can find out more about their adventure by clicking here.
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If you spend any amount of time on social media, especially on Facebook, you will see plenty of marketing. And a lot of it is probably coming from your friends and family. Multi-level marketing is big business in Canada. But how exactly does direct selling work and can you really make a living off of it? Derek Hassay is an assistant professor in entrepreneurial thinking at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. He offers his answers to those questions. And we hear from Lori Wolny who is a direct marketing success story, earning more than $1 million dollars selling Isagenix. She offers her tips. You can connect with Lisa on Facebook.
And have you heard of ‘Container Baby Syndrome’? Experts describe it as the overuse of restrictive baby equipment. Experts like Lori Grisez, a paediatrics clinical specialist and developmental therapist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio. She joins us to talk about it and how to spot it.
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A 14 member curling squad. A 37 person basketball team. These are the real rosters at Michael Phair Junior High School in Edmonton where if you want to play, you can play. Nearly half the school’s population is now on a team. Assistant principal Kim Hordal-Hlewka shares how her school eliminated cuts without eliminating competition. What about the argument that tryouts build character and resiliency? Lauren Sulz is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta in the faculty of education. She is researching this very topic and believes students benefit way more from actually playing than the experience of being cut. You can find out more about Lauren Sulz by following her on twitter.
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Could you be together but live apart? Edmonton mom Olivia Weaver Pilip is doing just that. She has been in a ‘long term, long distance’ relationship for more than two years and because of children, there are no immediate plans to move under one roof. Weaver Pilip is part of a growing number of Canadian couples living-apart-together. We profile her story and hear from Dr. Jess O’Reilly of ‘Sex with Dr. Jess’. She weighs in on the relationship trend and offers advice for making it work. You can connect with Dr. O’Reilly by clicking here.
And Carolyn MacKenzie is the host of the newly expanded The Morning Show. She joins us to talk motherhood and work-life balance. You can follow MacKenzie on Instagram or Twitter.
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More and more new parents are hiring a doula not just for pregnancy and delivery, but to help out after the baby arrives. They provide support with feeding, diaper changing, bathing, meal prep, and light housekeeping. Shannon Sproule is a postpartum doula with Full Circle Birth Collective in Edmonton and shares with us her experience in helping families adjust to parenthood.
Plus, years after she left the dance floor, Kim Smith returned to her ballerina roots and is now preparing for a recital. She signed up for an adult dance class where many other participants are over 25 and trying ballet for the first time. We hear what inspired her and talk with registered psychologist Kimberly Knull from Momentum Walk in Counselling about the benefits of putting yourself out there to try a new skill.
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In today’s world, a little kindness goes a long way. Proof can be found inside Davidson Creek Elementary in Sherwood Park, Alberta. That’s where a lunch supervisor has turned her crocheting hobby into a school initiative to help the homeless. You’ll hear about the project, as well as child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts discussing whether kindness can be taught. To learn more about Dr. Roberts and her new book, ‘On the Playground’, click here.
And most parents will admit to having some struggle convincing their kids to dress for the winter. Even in a deep freeze, teenagers are wearing hoodies instead of parkas. We search for advice on when it’s worth the fight to get them to bundle up. Plus, registered psychologist Kimberly Knull from Momentum Walk in Counselling shares some insight into what may be really behind your teen’s fashion choices. And, Global Edmonton Meteorologist Jesse Beyer pops in to talk about the likelihood of frostbite and make some confessions about what he wore as a teen in the winter. You can follow Jesse on twitter.
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Canadian couples are divorcing differently in 2019. Instead of heading to court, more are trying to solve financial and custodial issues on their own. Karen Stewart from Fairway Divorce joins us to talk about the trend and offers up some advice for people considering representing themselves. You can find out more about Karen by clicking here.
We introduce you to an app that's taking custody disputes out of the courtroom and onto the smartphone. coParenter helps parents manage, organize and document co-parenting decisions around the kids. Jonathan Verk helped launch the app after he went through what he calls “a horrible litigated divorce.” He gives us some examples of how the app will resolve issues.
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More and more Canadian women are freezing their eggs for the future. The Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine, with a clinic in Vancouver and Edmonton, reported a 180 per cent increase from 2017 to 2018. What are the costs of egg freezing and what can you expect? We throw our questions at the centre's co-director Dr. Caitlin Dunne.
And we chat with Meagan Beaton about her decision to freeze her eggs. She documented her journey on a blog perfectly titled MegsEggs.org.
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Getting back into a career after staying home to raise kids can be daunting, especially competing against people who haven’t left the workforce. According to data from the Harvard Business Review, stay-at-home moms are half as likely to land a job interview compared to moms who get laid off. We speak to a mom who sent out a 100 applications before returning to work after 11 years at home raising three kids. We also get expert advice from Tara Dragon, founder of Work Evolution, and Avra Davidoff, a registered psychologist at Calgary Career Counselling for people trying to land a job following a parenting gap.
Plus, Canada’s new food guide is a major departure from the previous one consumers followed for years. One notable change is that it doesn’t feature cow’s milk as prominently as before. The new guide also eliminates serving sizes. We speak to Emily Mardell, registered dietician and founder of GetJoyfull, for her advice on how to ensure we’re consuming enough protein and calcium.
We’re also joined by Global Edmonton news anchor Carole Anne Devaney. She’s on her third maternity leave and joins us to talk about a difficult decision to give up the family pet. You can follow Carole Anne on Instagram and Twitter.
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A Calgary mother is frustrated over a ticket policy that prevented her from bringing her breastfeeding baby to a show. She was told if she wanted her son to attend, she would have to pay full-price for a ticket. We hear from her plus we take a look at ticket policies for babies at venues across the country. We ask a human rights lawyer if the rule is discriminatory. Margot Young is a professor with the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. You find out more about her by clicking here.
Child car seats today are all about safety, but when the first model hit the market nearly a century ago, it was more about giving mom and dad somewhere to put their child. From the first car seat in 1933 to the ones on store shelves today, we take a look at the evolution of car seats. Trudy Slaght from the Child Passenger Safety Association shares with us the biggest changes and makes some predictions for the next generation for car seats. You can find out more by visiting the Child Passenger Safety Association facebook page.
And, University of Alberta family physician Stephanie Liu launched her blog, Life of Dr. Mom, to offer an evidence-based alternative to the misinformation she found on many mom blogs. She joins us to talk about her blog and some of the biggest questions and misconceptions she hears from patients.
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Many parents are careful about what they say around their kids, but research suggests casual swearing is totally alright. Cognitive scientist and author of What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves, Benjamin Bergen joins us to talk about his research. We also hear from popular Canadian comedian, Derek Seguin. Swearing on stage is part of his routine. He opens up about his own profanity around his three kids.
Kyla Cornish is known for her down-to-earth and humorous style on the popular parenting blog Mommy’s Weird. You might have seen her bra breaking appearance with Jillian Michaels and Tyra Banks on the defunct show FABLife. She joins us to talk about whether she swears at home and why she’s not happy about her friends getting jobs. You can connect with Kyla through her Instagram, click here.
Plus, if you grew up in the 1980s in Canada, you probably remember the original Mini Pop Kids, a group of performers singing family-friendly versions of chart-topping hits. K-tel relaunched the brand in 2004 and this year, the kids have embarked on their biggest cross-country tour. We hear from the kids and the music producer on why the brand remains popular decades later. You can follow along with the Mini Pop Kids on Instagram, click here.
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It sounds like Eric O'Keeffe has found his calling. The L.A. based actor is better known as Mr. Eric, the star of the ‘What if World’ podcast where kids ask a question and he answers with an elaborate story. The show is now in its third season and in November alone, brought in 250,000 downloads. Eric joins us to talk about what sparked ‘What if World’ and how the landscape for podcasts targetted at kids is growing. You can connect with Eric or checkout past episodes by clicking here.
It will never bring her baby back, but it has the potential to help other pre-term babies. And that’s what led Stephanie Murphy to donate her breastmilk in the months after the loss of her daughter. She shares with us why she decided to become a donor and how it helped her with the healing process. The NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank, a Calgary-based organization that provides human milk to premature and ill babies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Maritimes estimates 3.5 percent of its donors are bereaved mothers.
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Larry Gifford is a 40-something husband and father with a career. He’s also living with Parkinson’s and is learning how to navigate his life with his family post diagnosis. He opens up about his struggles and some of the biggest questions he’s received from his nine-year-old son. Larry is a senior program director for Corus Vancouver. He has his own podcast called When Life Gives You Parkinson's.
Sugar sometimes gets a bad reputation, especially when it comes to kids. When children start bouncing off the walls, sugar often gets the blame. However, research suggests there’s no such thing as a sugar high in kids. The myth was debunked by a group of American researchers in the 1990s, but parents continue to insist sugar impacts their kids’ behaviour. We take a look at why that is. Plus, registered dietician Lesley Langille from the Centre For Family Nutrition in Calgary weighs in to explain how much sugar is OK for kids and how to manage it over the holidays.
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It's a setback but not the end of the fight for parents advocating for change to infant loss support in Canada. New parents who lose a baby while on parental leave also lose parental leave financial benefits. Alberta mother Sarah Cormier lost her benefits just three days after her daughter Quinn's death. She joins us to talk about the latest vote that failed to get the Federal Liberal's support and tell us what's next. You can find out more about the Cormier family by visiting their Facebook page.
And a new study out of Harvard Medical School shows dad's exercise before conception may impact the child's lifelong health. We speak to the researcher as well as fertility specialist Dr. Caitlin Dunne at Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine about the importance of men’s health when it comes to conception. Jason Lee of Black Tusk Athletics weighs in on his motivation for staying in shape while trying to start a family. We also check in with the founder of Family Matters, Laurel Gregory, to find out how life has been since welcoming her second son in September. You can follow Laurel on twitter by clicking here.
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Would you know what to say or do if a friend or family member told you they were trapped in an abusive relationship? You can't make them leave and you can't ignore what's happening. So what can you do? We turn to an experienced social worker for advice on how to help and how to sort through some of the myths surrounding family violence. Plus, Johanna Baynton Smith shares her powerful story of falling in love only to fall into a violent relationship.
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A rural Alberta school is going where it has never gone before… to four recesses. This year, Bruderheim School has doubled the amount of breaks it gives students. The school’s principal says it’s paying off. He is noticing students are having an easier time focusing and there are less students calling in sick. Paul McKay joins us to explain the new class schedule. Bruderheim School is on twitter.
Sending out holiday cards used to be simple – buy the cards, sign them and mail them out. But in an era of personalized greetings, we have more room for creativity and more room to make mistakes. The self-professed grammarian, Heather Nianouris, joins us with her viral pitch to change the way you might be signing your family name. Her video on Facebook has been viewed more than 14 million times. You can check it out by clicking here. We also talk holiday cards and teen slag with YMC’s editor-in-chief Jeni Marinucci.
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Surrogacy!
It’s illegal to pay someone to carry your baby, but legal to compensate them. To help clarify the difference, Ottawa is proposing long-awaited regulations on when a surrogate can accept money. But not everyone is supportive of the proposed new changes. Fertility Law expert Sara Cohen calls it a step in the wrong direction. Sara is on twitter and you can also find out more through her website.
It takes a village to raise a baby, but for Calgary’s Nathan Chan it took a village to have a baby. He gets candid on his eight year, $250,000 journey to become a dad. Nathan is the managing director of Proud Fertility. You can find out more by connecting with him on Instagram and through the Proud Fertility website.
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Despite the saying that 'it takes a village', many parents feel like they're doing it alone. So why are parents so reluctant to ask for help? Trent Wilkie, of TheUnDad podcast, is stay-at-home dad of two kids, who struggled when his wife was out of town for a week. He says his reluctance to ask for help stems from guilt and pride. Toronto clinical psychologist Dr. Alex Russell says our inability to ask for help is about much more than pride. He says helicopter parents feel responsible for how kids turn out in the world. Dr. Russell co-authored the book Drop the Worry Ball: How to Parent in the Age of Entitlement. He's also a popular educational speaker, who has addressed many parent and counselor groups. To hear more from Dr. Russell click here.
Following thousands of live shows over the span of 40 years, Sharon Hampson and Bram Morrison, (of Sharon, Lois and Bram fame) have had a front row seat to changing family dynamics. Sharon and Bram are travelling the country on their farewell tour. We have an extended interview with them from Fort Nelson, B.C. to ask their advice and biggest message for families. Sharon and Bram are on twitter, connect with them here.
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Canadian parents have had the option of taking up to 18 months of parental leave, instead of only 12 months. And while the program has been popular, we crunch the numbers to find out if families can actually afford to take it. Amy Dietz-Graham is an investment advisor with Bank of Montreal and shares her insight on the long-term financial impacts. We introduce you to one family that has got creative with the time to overlap the first four months after baby’s arrival. And Daddy blogger Casey Palmer joins us to weigh in on whether his family could make the extended leave work. You can find out more about Palmer by checking out his website CaseyPalmer.com.
For parents with teenagers this will come as no surprise, teens are abandoning Facebook in favour of other social media platforms. But researcher University of Alberta researcher David Brake argues life without Facebook may mean our youth is not getting the full picture.
Follow Kim Smith @Kim_SmithTV on Twitter and our guest Casey Palmer @CaseP
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A Massachusetts kindergartener was recently teased by his classmates for wearing red nail polish to school. Sam was told it was for girls. But do five and six year olds really have a problem with a boy wearing bright red paint on his nails or are they passing on the opinions from home? We talk to child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts about the importance of changing the conversation on gender norms. Roberts is behind the parenting website Family Sparks. We also check in with Aaron Gouveia, Sam’s father, to see if he’s still sporting nail polish to school. Gouveia is an executive at a public relations firm and is also the dad behind the website Daddy Files. You can also follow him on twitter by clicking here. And we get the Undad’s perspective. Trent Wilkie is a stay-at-home dad and weighs in on the nail polish teasing and why parents struggle to say yes to help. You can connect with Trent Wilkie on his website the Undad.
We all know young kids are prone to bumps and bruises but what about concussions? We quiz Dr. Bruce Wright at the Stollery Children's Hospital about head injuries and when they require a trip to the emergency room.
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Alyssa Garrison aka @randomactsofpastel is about to become a mother all on her own. At 27, she decided she was done waiting for Mr. Right and decided to self-inseminate with the help of an anonymous donor. She will be the only name on the birth certificate but she won’t be the only one in the delivery room. Garrison has recruited Rhiannon Langford, a Toronto doula and the founder of Birth Boss Maternity Care. Both join us to offer up their insight into having a baby in this day and age. You can find out more about Rhiannon Langford by checking out her website thebirthboss.com. And for more on Alyssa Garrison’s journey into motherhood checkout her website and Instagram pages.
Any parent will tell you, kids grow like weeds. But you might be surprised to learn that because of those quick growth spurts an overwhelming majority of children are wearing shoes too small for their feet. A recent survey pegged it at 65%! We headed to Edmonton’s first shoe family the Kunitz to find out how to size kids right. And to our surprise they recommend buying kids winter boots 2 sizes bigger. Good news for any parent’s wallet. To find out more about the Kunitz family click here.
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Would you sell your house, quit your job and pull your kids out of school to take a yearlong adventure around the world? Better question, could you financially? We explore the family gap year and how more and more Canadian families are making it happen. The Eliuk family chats with us about their 6 month adventure starting in Bali. You can follow their trip by clicking here. And Jennifer Sutherland from the gap year association shares her dos and don’ts for an extended family vacation.
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Canadian youth already have one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world. So what changes now that pot is legal? Calgary researcher Rebecca Haines-Saah predicts not much except the conversation, especially now that parents can’t use the threat of a criminal record as a determent. To find out more about Rebecca Haines-Saah’s check out her website. Fun fact, Haines-Saah is a former actress who played ‘Kathleen Mead’ on Degrassi Junior High for the first 5 seasons of the show. We also deliver some good news for expecting moms. Exercising during pregnancy cuts odds of major complications by 40 per cent, according to Canada's latest guideline for pregnant women. The biggest change in the new guidelines? All expectant mothers are encouraged to exercise, despite previous fitness levels. For advice on how to get started, we speak with Kellie Willie. She's the owner of a prenatal fitness studio in Edmonton and a registered nurse in labour and delivery. You can find out more about her by clicking here.
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