In the Name of the Father

Father's Day is almost here and I have already completed our family tradition:

Now I'm trying to figure out what else the kid could do to surprise Daddy on Sunday.

I'm not a crafty mom so I always go to Pinterest when it comes to finding crafts and activities, and I've gotten a few ideas:

T-Shirt Quilt

For our first Christmas together I got my husband a t-shirt that was kind of an inside joke. Since then it's become sort of a tradition and he's got a lot of shirts that are wearing out, I've got shirts that are just memories, and our daughter has old favourites that she just keeps growing out of. Gathering all of these things together and creating a memory quilt for our bed seems like a really great idea. I thought of surprising Joe with such a quilt, but I worried about sneaking his favourite shirts out of his drawer so I think I'll actually ask him.

Daddy's Mug

For her daycare provider at Christmas last year the kid painted a mug with special ceramic paint. It was a quick project, but Pinterest has shown me an even easier way – the Sharpie mug. You draw on a plain mug with a Sharpie permanent marker and then bake it. Now that my kid is learning how to write her letters this could be a fantastic gift that would help Daddy remember his three-year old as she keeps on growing.

An Interview

One thing that my husband and I have both done in the past is interview our daughter. Last year I asked her a few questions about her Daddy – like what his name is, how old he is, what she likes doing with him – and sent them to him. Doing this every year and watching the answers change and grow would be a great tradition.

Artistic Kid

One of my favourite things that I've seen on Pinterest that I haven't done yet is this great idea – having your child paint or create something and photographing them while they work, and then framing the photo with the artwork. It's something I would love to have hanging in my own home.

Really my husband doesn't need any more than a hug and a kiss and 'I love you Daddy' (and he probably wants to sleep in that day), but it's nice to have something that reminds you year after year of your child growing up.

Are you doing anything special for Father's Day?

Amy is mom to three year old The Kid and a 7 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that’s on her mind.

Planning for Westfest: Westboro's Giant Street Party

Westfest is one of Ottawa's most happening arts and music festivals, featuring a whole slew of great Canadian talent. It’s basically a giant, free, four-day party in Westboro and after a year of waiting for the excitement, Westfest is back and it starts tonight!

 If you’ve been to Westfest before, you understand what all the excitement is about and if you’ve never been, do yourself (and the kiddies) a favor and get out there and enjoy. Some rules of thumb to remember when attending Westfest with the kids:

Walk if you Can

If you live close enough to Westfest you really should consider walking since parking is extremely limited. If you live too far away to walk, prepare to park away from the action.

Wear your best walking shoes and don’t forget your stroller because Westfest covers nearly 15 blocks, about a one kilometre chunk of Richmond Road, which can feel very long if your feet hurt or if you have short little legs. Biking is also a great way to get around.

Check the Weather

Check the weather before you leave the house, and if you’re planning on spending some time there, prepare for any weather-related eventuality. If it’s hot, bring water, lots of sunscreen and hats. For chilly weather, bring sweaters and blankets for strollers. Westfest happens rain or shine so always have an umbrella is you’re willing to brave the rain.

Have a Food Plan

If it’s a nice day it’s pretty much guaranteed that all the restaurants will be jam-packed. Some restaurants will have a special Westfest menu and have seating out on the street. If you have little ones, figuring out how and when to feed them beforehand is a pretty important piece of the puzzle if you want your day to run smoothly.

Plan Your Day

There is so much for kids to see and do on the street. There are always some really cool street performers, a bunch of inflatable bouncy things, awesome face-painting artists. This year, for the kids, there is a Dovercourt Funzone, ScotiaBank Kidzone and some pretty awesome balloonists from The World’s Greatest Balloons. There will be so much to do that you’re kids won’t be bored. But it is easy for them to get overwhelmed so having a plan of what you want to do is critical.

Plan Some Adult Time

One of the best parts of Westfest, however, and a part that shouldn’t be missed is the music. This year, Jane Siberry, The Skydiggers and Fiftymen are some of the big name draws. You can check out the lineup here. The music during the day is fun for the kids but don’t forget to book a sitter if you want some adult time to walk, eat and enjoy as well.

Are you heading out to Westfest this weekend? What is your favorite part?

Step Afrika! at the Ottawa International Children's Festival

By Stephanie On Tuesday, May 28, my 4-year-old son and I attended the opening night event of the Ottawa International Children's Festival - thanks to Kids In The Capital. It was our first time at the festival and, I must admit, the first time I actually heard of the festival. I learned on Tuesday that its first edition was in 1985 and that this is the only festival dedicated to performing arts for children in Ontario.

The show we attended on Tuesday night was Step Afrika! from the USA. It is a dancing performance featuring stepping and African gumboot. There are no music instruments, but the entire human body is used as an instrument, which is very impressive. The performances were great, funny and VERY interactive. At one point during the show, a lesson of stepping was given, and the audience had to reproduce dance footsteps and hand claps. Everybody loved that part - although I must say I was a bit scared of the shaking seats in the stands. Both my son and myself really enjoyed the show and he danced the whole time. I would recommend it for any 4-year old kid and older, but no babies because the show is loud.

After the show, there was a reception to commemorate the opening of the festival. I was very impressed by the organizers' nice little touches to entertain the kids: snacks in a glass and bottles to make bubbles. You can tell their focus is really on the children.

The festival is on until Sunday on Breton flats and there are a lot of different shows, as well as many free activities on the site. Not all the exhibits were ready on Tuesday evening but I did have a peek at the Dynamic maze that was in the process of being built, and it seems pretty cool with dozens of big exercises balls. Even if you're not attending a show, it's definitely worth it to go to the festival to participate in some of the many activities and perhaps, if the weather is nice, to have a picnic on site.

Stéphanie moved to Ottawa about 10 years ago from the south shore of Montréal. She usually works as an analyst for the federal government but is currently on maternity leave to take care of a 4-year old boy (Paul) and 8 month baby girl (Emy).

The Start of Garage Sale Season

If you’re anything like me you’ve got a whole bunch of junk you don’t use anymore. I know I’ve got a whole store-room full of old toys, baby furniture, books and games. That’s why I love the start of summer. Or as I call it “Garage Sale Season!”

This weekend is the Great Glebe Garage Sale. While I’m not in the Glebe, my parents are so for as long as I remember, we’ve gotten up early on Garage Sale Day to unload all the gently used things we just don’t want anymore. My brother and I used to spend hours tagging and pricing all the stuff and when my own girls were old enough, I got them involved in doing the same. Since they were small, my girls have always loved to sell lemonade and cookies to everyone who walked by.

This year is no different. We’ve already got all our stuff organized and we’re crossing our fingers that the weather cooperates. We’re ready to head out to sell our used treasures and perhaps find a few new ones of our own.

If you can’t make it out to the Great Glebe Garage Sale tomorrow, here’s  a list of some other ones around Ottawa in the next few months.

Are you hitting the garage sale scene this summer? Here’s to happy treasure hunting!

Why You Should Send Your Kids to Camp

Sending your kids to camp, whether it’s a day camp or sleep away camp, is a scary experience for most parents, myself included. It’s hard to entrust your most precious possessions to counselors, often kids themselves, and hope that they can calm your child’s fears and wipe away their tears as well as you can. As you’re considering your summer plans, I thought I’d offer my reasons why I think summer camp is the place to be when you’re a kid:

Responsibility: While there are counselors at camp to help children move successfully through their day, being away from home will give your child a strong sense of responsibility. They are expected to pick up after themselves, keep their areas neat and keep tabs on their possessions.

Independence: In today’s world, there are many helicopter parents who are afraid to let their children walk to the park on their own (ok, I admit I’m one of them). But at camp, in a controlled environment, kids get to feel that they’re on their own and responsible for making their own decisions.

Friendships: At camp, unlike at school, you create friendships out of shared experiences and a sense of mutual dependence. It’s an opportunity for your child to branch out from their regular circle of friends and learn how to connect with other kids in positive ways. It can also help teach them about diversity and tolerance of others.

Self-esteem: When a child learns and masters a new skill, they feel good about themselves. Camp is all about learning new skills and having new experiences.

How to work together: Whether it’s working together on a canoe trip or trying to win a camp-wide competition, camp is made up of a community of campers, counselors, instructors, and the camp director. At camp, your child will learn to live and get along with children from a variety of backgrounds

Learning to Slow Down: With no technology or electronic devices allowed at most camps, kids learn how to slow down, write actual letters, play cards, take walks and appreciate the wonder of the world around them. By unplugging and relaxing, they learn how to appreciate the slow lane for a while.

Whether your kids are 3 or 13, I think camp is a great place. In Ottawa, there are so many different specialty camps to choose from that it's pretty easy to find something your kid would be interested in. My two girls are going to sleep away camp this summer, as they have for the past few years. And even though I miss them terribly, I know that it's the best place for them.

Will you send your child to a day camp or sleep away camp this summer? Please share your favorite Ottawa area camps with us!