Kids and Pets

Like many couples, my husband and I had a pet before we had children. Darcy the pug was our first baby - our "fur baby." She has been with us through our early relationship, marriage and eventual expansion to a family of four. As Darcy enters old age, we're very aware of the fact that we will become pet-less at some point in the next few years (although who knows, she could hang on until 14!!)

Last night my oldest daughter and I were talking about pets. She mentioned wanting another pet - a goldfish or a bird. I groaned inwardly, as we all know who ends up caring for "family" pets. I'm not fond of any kind of caged animal or reptile - I find their existence a little sad.

But the conversation did get me thinking more about children, pets and empathy. I feel strongly that children who have animals to care for (and animals who care for them) develop more compassion for our natural world.

So I devised a few questions that parents may want to ask themselves before purchasing a pet:

1) What do you hope your child will get out of the experience?

2) Realistically, how much work do you think your child will be able to put into caring for this pet?

3) Does the "pet" in question match your values and beliefs about humans and our relationship to the natural world? For example, are you comfortable purchasing an exotic pet who's natural environment is thousands of miles away?

4) Are you prepared to explain death to your child, and help them deal with the loss of their pet?

5) Are you prepared to invest in your pet? Depending on what you choose, there will be general maintenance for their living area, food costs, and perhaps veterinary bills. Pets can be expensive!

What questions did you ask yourself before purchasing a pet for your family?

Easy Mayonnaise

Hey, I understand, OK? We're all busy! It's hard enough having to get the kids dressed, fed, and off to school, not to mention all the extracurricular activities and social engagements. And now I'm going to tell you that you have to make your own mayonnaise!? What kind of cruel person am I?

Before you protest too much, let me try to convince you how completely simple mayo can be. It's just egg yolk and oil...with a pinch of elbow grease! And I realize that it's much, much easier to buy this stuff in a tub, but you clearly haven't tasted real mayonnaise until you've made your own (yes, Hellman's tries to convince us that theirs is "real," but I'm highly suspicious of Calcium Disodium EDTA, which just sounds like a science experiment gone horribly wrong).

The only tools you need are a good size bowl and a whisk. Also, if you're squeamish about the raw egg part of this recipe, I would suggest you invest in some lovely farm fresh eggs - knowing where those yolks came from is key.

Crack your egg, and separate the white from the yolk (I usually scramble up the whites and give them to my toddler....or sometimes the dog eats them). Put the yolk into the bowl, and add several drops of oil. THIS IS IMPORTANT!! DO NOT POUR ALL THE OIL INTO THE BOWL AT ONE TIME!

Now start whisking. Imagine you are Julia Child (ohhhhhhh, look!! It's thickening!) Once it becomes thicker, add the oil very slowly in small batches and continue to whisk. This is a pretty good workout.

Once all of the oil is whisked into the egg, you can add some extras - I like a squeeze of lemon juice and a bit of salt. Others will add dijon mustard, but it's not necessary. Now mix it up with some curry sauce and enjoy a lovely dip for your fish or potatoes!

Bon Appetit!

Mayonnaise

1 large egg yolk 1 cup olive oil (make sure you buy the lighter olive oil - NOT extra virgin, which is very strong tasting. You could also do veggie oil, but why not get your omega 3s from the olives?) lemon juice salt dijon mustard (optional)

An ode to an app

My kid has been playing with the iPad for a long time and we have tried a lot of learning apps; some have been bigger hits than others. Some she has loved and I have hated because I don't understand what they were actually teaching. We've had some big hits that she still plays with, like the Monkey Preschool apps that I recommend to anyone looking for a toddler or preschooler friendly game. Last week I downloaded the Super Why! app from PBS Kids.

This is my ode to that app.

In the mornings we tend to watch CBC Kids while I'm getting some a bit of work done, and I had noticed that the kid got into Super Why! and was doing well with the sounding out of works with the Super Why team. I figured the show would have an app so I went looking and downloaded it.

When the kid plays the app, which has all four main characters doing different activities with letters and words. Princess Pea sings, and right along with her my daughter says 'S-P-E-L-L spell!'

She finds the sounds, makes the words, sings and laughs. This app is working her towards reading more than any other she's played so far and I love to watch it. When I sit down with her with workbooks or a crayon on some paper she doesn't get as involved as she does with the Super Why! team.

I give it an A+.

Centre of attention

Before my daughter's fourth birthday a couple of weeks ago we started talking about what kind of party she wanted to have and she declared that she wanted the exact same party she had last year – An hour of play at the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre followed by time in their party room. I booked it immediately, because it's a great place to have a party. The kids get an hour with an instructor in a completely padded room jumping on trampolines, swinging on rings and ropes, climbing and getting worn out by all the activities.

Both years we had a couple of kids who were a bit nervous and wanted a parent with them and the instructor didn't have any problem with having them out on the floor.

Then an hour in the party room to have snacks and cake, with plates, cups and cutlery provided.

If she asks for the same thing next year, I will have no hesitation to do it again!

A little running around

I'm enamoured with the new Richcraft Community Centre in Kanata. It's not too far a drive from our home in Stittsville and the pool is nice and warm. I signed my daughter up for swimming lessons there and we discovered that right as her lessons end there is open gym time for kids up to 6 years. Now that's our plan for Tuesdays – swimming lessons followed by open gym time. The open gym is $2.25 for us but free for members, and well worth the cost for an hour of running around, playing with balls and ribbons and everything else the staff pulls out for fun and games.

Richcraft is not the only community centre to offer the open gym time, you can check the city website to see when your local community centre has some time for play.

We're going to be inviting some friends for next week!