Social Media Monday: Finding your voice

by Brie You have decided to blog. You have created a blog. Now that it's time to actually start blogging, you don't know what to say.

This isn't as uncommon an occurrence as you would think and can happen to both new and more experienced bloggers. Sitting in front of a blank screen can be intimidating. Typing some words and posting them on the Internet for anyone to read can be overwhelming. It is easy to worry that what you write won't be good. Easy to wonder if anyone will like it. Very easy to talk yourself out of doing it before you even start.

My advice to you is to just write. Write four, five, six posts before you even start to share your blog with others. Like  anything else, blogging takes practice. Give yourself time to find your rhythm and your voice.

The more you blog the more you will discover what you want to write about and how to write about it. Give yourself the freedom to try new topics, especially in the beginning. Be careful that you don't limit the focus of your blog too narrowly or you may find your voice stilted. When you start blogging you want to have lots of room to find those subjects you feel passionate about and bring out your authentic voice.

With blogging, as with any type of writing, how you say something can be as important as what you say. As you begin to blog, try different writing styles and voices. From the beginning I blogged about life with my kids. It was only when I got over the fear of what my readers would think about me writing poetry(which I hadn't done since I as a teenager) that I really started to be more creative in my writing and found my own voice. 

Not everyone will like what you write. You can't expect them too. If you try to write to appeal to everyone, you'll never discover your own voice. I really believe that if you blog for yourself as yourself, you will find the right readers. They will be the readers that come back because of you.

If you are looking to challenge yourself and increase the frequency with which you blog, try out National Blog Posting Month in November. It is a great way to get you blogging everyday. You can stretch your writing by taking part in different writing challenges, like Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop or Six Word Fridays. Blogging conferences, like BlissDom Canada that Lara and I just returned from, can also provide you with new ways of thinking about and growing your voice. Check out the session on content called If a blog falls in a forest that Annie led and I blogged about at Capital Mom.

Just remember that when you blog it doesn't matter if your posts are long or short, researched or off the cuff. The only thing you need to be is you.

Brie is the mom of a 4 year old daughter “the girl” and 2 old son “the boy”. You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

Question of the month #6: Halloween candy

Kids in the Capital is all about parents in Ottawa helping each other out by sharing tips and advice. Each month we ask a parenting question and we want to hear all the gems of advice you have to share. Just leave your answers in the comments! And if you have a question you’d like to see be a future question, leave it in the comments too! Question of the month #6: Halloween candy

A bag full of candy is one of the greatest prizes for a kid at the end of a night of Halloween trick-or-treating, but what then? What happens to all that candy?

When the girl was two and we didn't want her eating too much candy we traded her a video for her bag and she was thrilled. One set of parents we know switched out all the chocolate bars with bags of regular chips and boxes of raisins after leaving each house. Other friends have let their kids eat as much as they want on that first night. Last year the kids each got to pick one treat to eat after we got home, so I really can't blame her throwing up that night into my open hands on the fact she had pigged out on candy.

What do you do with your child's Halloween candy? Are they allowed a set amount on Halloween to eat? Do they get to gorge themselves? Do they hid it away and make it last until Christmas time?

Trick-or-Treating with a Halloween posse

 by Brie I love Halloween. I loved dressing up as a kid and, after checking that my costume fit over my parka, wandering the dark streets with friends in search of candy. Now I love watching my own kids dress up and wander the dark streets with friends in search of candy.

The girl was only two months old her first Halloween. Still, I dressed her up in a little leopard outfit and touted her to the door every time kids yelled trick-or-treat! They might not have been very excited to see a baby leopard, but I was excited to show her off.

 For her second Halloween we invited some friends to come trick-or-treating and unintentionally started my new favorite holiday tradition: the Halloween posse. That year the girl ate pizza in her pig costume and then walked, okay was carried, the streets in our neighbourhood along with her little dressed-up friends.

When she was two the girl dressed up as a mouse and her brother wore the little leopard costume. We ate pizza and then the girl ran ahead with her dad while I carried the boy in a sling on the front of my chest. It was a full house of excited kids and parents that night, but the most memorable part for me was the fact that the boy had an unheard of two hour nap in the bassinet in the middle of the living room. Obvious the key to getting a baby to sleep is throwing a Halloween party!

When the girl was three she wore a Snow White costume handed down from my cousins and her brother was a pig. This night the girl and her friends managed their longest trek yet, hitting up houses on  both sides of the block. The boy was uncertain about what exactly to do, but he soon saw that his sister was getting candy if she went up to the door and so he followed her lead.

This year we will be hosting friends again. Some of the friends have joined us before, some will be new. We will have a potluck, take pictures of all the  kids sitting on the front steps and then wander the dark streets together looking for candy. Because while the candy and the costumes are all fun, the best part of Halloween is hanging with your posse.

What are your plans for Halloween? Will you be hanging with your Halloween posse?

Brie is the mom of a 4 year old daughter “the girl” and 2 old son “the boy”. You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

Trick or treating tips for the slightly less brave

By Vicky As a child I have good memories of trick or treating. I loved dressing up and even made my own costume a couple of times. I remember the streets being full of kids, dragging their packed pillow cases door to door for more candy. When I would get home, I would dump all of my candy on the floor and then sort it into categories: chocolate bars, rockets, kisses, chips, gum, etc. and write down an inventory of everything I got. What a thrill it was to find a whole candy bar or a can of pop among the spoils.

But not all kids love Halloween. For some kids there is no appeal to getting dressed up. For others who are scared easily, Halloween is one big terrifying experience.

When Joel was two years old, he asked for a pirate costume and seemed excited as Halloween approached. But when it arrived, he seemed reluctant. He put on his costume, we took some pictures and then headed out for some trick-or-treating. The first house we went to was the neighbour across the street. Joel eagerly rang the doorbell, and when she came to the door to hand out candy he backed away and started to cry. I coaxed him along to a couple more houses before giving up and heading home.

This is moments before the tears began.

Last year he asked for a police costume. I found an authentic looking one with handcuffs and a walkie-talkie, but on Halloween night he changed his tune and insisted he wanted to be Spiderman. He had some Spiderman pjs so I put them on top of his clothes and off we went.

Knowing what to expect this year, he was excited about trick-or-treating, and happily went along down the street. Until we got to the spooky Halloween house. Most neighborhoods have them, the house that goes over the top with the decorations. Spooky music, smoke machines, scary zombies hanging from trees, this house had it all, including a haunted walk through the backyard and into the garage. We took a few steps toward the gate and then Joel froze. He told me he was scared and didn't want to go any further. Yet Kiernan happily went through and continued to trick-or-treat long after we'd headed home.

Halloween can be scary, but it should be fun! If you have a child that seems nervous or afraid of Halloween, here are some things that might work for them:

-Celebrate Halloween during the day. Join the Kids in the Capital Halloween Party at Boston Pizza! With the lights on, there's less chance of being scared - Go with the flow. If they don't want to wear a costume, don't push it. It's not worth traumatizing them just to get a few pictures. -Talk about what to expect on Halloween night. The scary costumes and masks are just pretend, the zombies in the trees aren't real. It's all just for fun.| -Let your child lead . If there is a house that scares them for whatever reason, skip it. When they've had enough, head home. -Remind them that treats do not need to be enjoyed all at once, and that it's better to make them last to enjoy them longer (this is one we're working on too!)

This year Joel asked to be Woody, and his friend Kiernan is going as Buzz Lightyear. He may or may not chicken out at the last minute. But if he does, I'm ok with that. If anything, there will be less candy in the house to tempt me!

Vicky is the mom to 4 year old son named Joel and 1 year old daughter named Mieka. You can read her blog at blog Some Kind of Wondermom.

Spooks, Spirits, & Spectacles

by Kari I love Halloween, always have.  It's magical to me.  I love the crisp air, the crunch of the leaves, the colourful costumes, and excited chatter of wee ones.  Although I intend to win Kids In the Capital's Trick-or-Treat to a Wicked Beat giveaway, I've made my list of just-in-case other events ;-)

The Canadian Children's Museum in the Museum of Civilization is offering a host of Halloween themed activities over the weekend.  On Friday, the Theatre is putting on an interactive puppet show, The Pocket Witch .  On Saturday, they introduce an international flair with their Dia de los muertos, or Day of the Dead program.  Children and their families can take part in some of the rituals practiced on this holiday in Mexico.  While Sunday's storytime asks Where Do Witches Go? .  This special programming in included with regular price of admission, $30 per family.

If free admission is what you seek, the City of Ottawa can help!  Several Halloween-themed library programs can be found throughout the city on Saturday, some feature Halloween parades, while others include spooky stories, activities, and crafts.  Older children, and less spookable children, might enjoy the Main library's 'A World of Ghosts' program on Sunday...especially the creepy snacks.  These programs require pre-registration so pull out your library card and reserve your spot.  

On the other hand, if you don't mind open admission with line-ups for your mostly free entertainment, Trick or Treat with the Mayor returns to City Hall.  For a donation to the Baby Supply Cupboard of the Ottawa Foodbank, children will walk the spooky cemetery to enter the haunted house, eventually making their way to the Halloween Party.  I've been told from previous participants, that the 6-8 year-old age range will get the most out of this evening, but even the younger ones will enjoy it.  You might want to check out your local community centre for events too.  The Sandy Hill Community Centre is handing out treats and providing activities on the day from 6 - 8 pm.

Lastly, if you cannot make the Kids in the Capital Halloween Meetup at Boston Pizza, two local museums are hosting Halloween Themed events.  The Cumberland Heritage Museum is hosting a Vintage Halloween Party encouraging homemade Halloween costumes and providing Halloween crafts and games from the 1920's and 30's.  While Billings Bridge Estate is encouraging the city's youngest ghouls and goblins to enjoy some old-fashioned Halloween games, and learn their fortune using apples and candles.  Both these events take place on Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm and regular admission fees apply, $15-18 per family.

Happy Halloween!

Kari is the mom of two girls, a 4 year old and 10 month old.  She can be found frequenting free activities throughout the city in hopes it’ll tire them out enough to sleep through the night.