How to celebrate a green Christmas

Rumour has it that Mother Nature has left Old Man Winter for El Nino - the hot, young stud about town. I'm all for love affairs when warranted, but this is a bit much.

I'll admit I've never been a fan of long winters here in Ottawa, but I've always enjoyed snow in December. We get out and do ALL the activities (even skating, which usually involves the kids throwing themselves onto the ice in despair over their cold toes.)

So here are a few ideas to enjoy your green Christmas (although I do have hope that Mother Nature will see the error of her ways, and be welcomed back into the cold embrace of the Old Man.)

Go steal snow over at the ice rink

Seriously, they just dump the stuff in the back parking lot. Either go play on the mountain at the rec centre, or pack some into buckets and get home quickly to make your snowman

Make fake snow

Honestly, this sounds like the worst idea ever. All I can think about is my carpets caked in this stuff. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Check out this tutorial, but not if you have OCD or Obsessive Cleaning Disorder.

Freeze Stuff

The weather is so warm right now, you could actually play with rainbow ice cubes outside. That said, it can still be a bit chilly, so I would probably let my kids go wild with these in the bath tub! 

Make Paintsicles!

What a fantastic idea for some messy, painting fun!! 

Bring on Elsa

Create your own Snow Dance by blasting Frozen music and having the kids "bring on the snow." Then shoot confetti out of canon and have it rain down on the kids. Or not...Elsa music on its own is just fine.

What will you do for your green Christmas?

The day I walked by Maisy

It was a chilly day in late 2008 and I was walking along Rideau St. in Ottawa. I was in a hurry - head down, and feet moving quickly past the others sauntering along the sidewalk. I was also in a terrible, no-good mood. I can't even tell you now what had me so upset. Probably something trivial.

Up ahead I saw several people with flyers, attempting to stop pedestrians.

No way, I thought. Not today.

I assumed the people were going to try to sell me something. So I plowed ahead, and when a young girl attempted to hand me a flyer, I snapped at her; "I'm late!"

In a flash, I saw a young girl's face on the poster. It was the face of Maisy Odijck, a 16 year-old Indigenous girl who had gone missing. No amber alert had been issued. No search party had been sent out. Just those lone people on Rideau, trying desperately to reach out to those of us passing by.

A young girl was missing. And I walked right by.

This memory came flooding back to me this morning as I sat on the 174 listening to Dawn Harvard (President of the Native Women's Association of Canada) talk about her child's innocent questions after an interview Dawn had given. "We're Native, right? Does that mean I'm in danger Mommy?" I could hear the emotion in Dawn's voice as she talked about her struggle to answer her young child.

From an article by Dawn on Today's Parent:

"On a general level, the devaluation of Aboriginal girls and women, the impacts of systemic racism and the lingering effects of the residential school system have also contributed to the high rate of Aboriginal girls and women who have been murdered or remain missing.

Decades of silence on this issue have allowed it to continue. While the media has begun to draw attention to the problem, parents—both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal—must start the difficult conversations about racism, discrimination and historic oppression if we are to break the ongoing cycles of sexual and physical violence." 

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After I saw the flash of Maisy's face on the poster, my steps slowed. I realized that the people on the street were not trying to sell me something. I now know they were doing the job of our police, and our society - taking on the burden of finding a girl who had essentially been abandoned.

I turned around and ran back. I apologized to the young girl, and asked to see the poster. I looked right in Daisy's eyes and took in her general appearance. I told the girl I would keep my eyes and ears open. Then I walked away, and tears fell down my face. 

I knew I would not find this young girl, and that most likely, no one would. It's been 7 years, and she's still missing.

Yesterday our government announced the first phase of a public inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women. They plan to meet with parents in the coming weeks with the goal of hearing their views and what they want to see come out of an inquiry. I think of Maisy's mom, and wonder whether this offers her any comfort.

As parents, we have a duty to stop 'walking by.' It's time to start a conversation with our girls and boys. I know we're years too late, and we'll never get that back. But that doesn't excuse us from moving forward.

How do you talk about racism and oppression with your child?

The Beauty of Hazelwood

As parents, we're always searching for answers when it comes to our child's pain or discomfort. I know my daughter's GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) made life pretty tough for the first 6 months after she was born. We tried everything, and I read every book on the parenting shelves. Eventually things got better on their own, but those were desperate times!

Although we're past the colic and reflux stage of those early years, I've since heard many stories from parents who have tried necklaces made of materials said to aid in teething, colic and skin issues. The anecdotal evidence for the jewelry's effectiveness has been very positive, and as a Childbirth Educator, I've been intrigued to learn how these products can help fussy babies.

So when an opportunity came up to check out Pure Hazelwood, a Canadian company that sells hazel wood necklaces and bracelets, I jumped at the chance to learn more. I started by reading their "Our Story" page to learn a little more about the company. Back when co-founders Geneviève Lagacé and Patrick Lafond's baby daughter was born and was suffering from teething pain, they received a gift - an Aboriginal baby necklace made of four small wooden pieces on a string. The wood was hazel wood, carved right out of a tree that is native to Canada's Boreal forest. Despite their skepticism, they put it on their daughter and her crying stopped!

Geneviève and Patrick went on to start Pure Hazelwood, making and selling attractive and safe necklaces and bracelets for their customers. They have also engaged in scientific research on hazel wood, and discovered that the material is rich in anti-inflammatory molecules. The product works like a patch when on the skin, releasing polyphenols through body sweat.

My necklace arrived in the mail a couple of weeks ago, and I've been wearing it ever since! I love the simplicity (I'm not much for flashy stuff), with a small gemstone, rose quartz beads, and small pieces of hazel wood. I'm trying the necklace to help with some skin issues I'm having, so we'll see after a few more weeks if it's made a difference!

If you're doing your Christmas shopping this month, this would be a perfect gift for parent or child. In fact, Pure Hazelwood is having a contest right now! Participants have an opportunity to win one of three Pure Hazelwood prizes, which include a $50 gift card and a Pure Hazelwood product (valued at $50). Enter below, and good luck!

Have you tried a hazel wood product? Did it help you?

Pure Hazelwood Influence Central Contest

“Disclosure: I am part of the Pure Hazelwood Influencer Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Charlie Brown’s True Meaning of Christmas 2015

By Wendy

Remember when Peanuts’ Linus took the stage in the classic holiday special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and explained “what Christmas is all about” to Charlie Brown?  His monologue described the Nativity; the very first Christmas according to Christian tradition.

Now, on December 4 and 5, you’re invited to “Step into Christmas” to experience the Nativity – “live” – right here in Ottawa, by taking a tour of the “Town of Bethlehem”. 

Walk through the streets just as it was on the first Christmas night Linus described in the words of Luke 2 of the Christian holy book, The Bible: 

• Eavesdrop on merchants in market stalls gossiping about the virgin birth as they sell their wares of bread, salt, textiles and pottery.
• Chat with the Innkeeper, but don’t expect to get a room – it’s super busy in Bethlehem tonight! 
• Meet the shepherds, pet their woolly sheep and donkeys, and hear about their amazing encounter with angels.
• Experience the wonder and simplicity of the stable - first-hand!   

Be sure not to linger on the tour, though, or the Roman soldiers will urge you to move along …

If you came out for the tour last year, you’ll find a few new characters have been added to the 40+ member cast. And if you’ve never visited “Bethlehem” before, you’ll appreciate the handmade costumes, the carefully constructed streetscape, and era-appropriate props and explanations showing what life was like 2000 years ago.

And everyone will enjoy cozying up to the warmth of hot chocolate and sweet treats offered inside afterwards!

Admission for a thirty minute tour – including refreshments – is FREE. If you like, you can pay it forward by bringing a non-perishable food item or donation for the Ottawa Food Bank; just drop it off with the “tax collectors” before you start your tour. 

You’ll find “Bethlehem” at Redeemer Alliance Church at 4825 Innes Road, Orleans from 6:30-8:30pm on Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5.  Tours start every 15 minutes, and free parking is available on site. 

Celebrating the Nativity is a Christian tradition observed  during the holiday season in December.  What traditions do you celebrate?

Wendy Ripmeester is a freelance copywriter who writes for green and socially conscious businesses and non-profits.  Wendy has a background in forestry and communications, 20 years experience in natural resources, and two awesome kids. To keep in touch or see her work, check out www.wendyripmeester.com. or follow Wendy on Twitter.

How to get your parenting mojo back

Mojo: a power that may seem magical and that allows someone to be very effective, successful – Miriam-Webster Dictionnary

In high school, I passed Calculus with an A+. I was no math whiz – I went on to scrape by in algebra and geometry, and my mathematical hopes were dashed when I crossed paths with statistics in university.

But that A+ was an incredible high. I would sit down with my calculus homework every night, excited to solve those little puzzles. The x’s and y’s would zip across my brain’s neural pathways with sparks flying. I would scribble down the answers and hoot with joy at my genius.

Something magical was afoot.

When we excel at a task, we often say we have mojo. Oh sure, we’re also working really hard, and we can’t attribute all of our success to magic. But talk to any Olympian or successful business owner, and they will describe a magical moment when they won the race, won the bid, or conquered a challenge.

People often describe parenting as the “hardest job you’ll ever do.” In some ways, this is true. We aren’t resuscitating patients in the ER, or saving people from burning buildings – we’re doing something a lot more monotonous, with very little positive feedback. And so finding your “mojo” in parenting can be tricky.

I think I lose my parenting mojo on a regular basis. My whole life has been about hard work; I train myself to do something, I repeat that skill over and over until I have mastered it, and then I am done. It’s a clear, linear path to success.

In contrast, parenting is like entering a corn maze. You are often lost, sweaty, and cursing your way through it. Occasionally you will find a bright and open spot in the middle of the maze – a sense of calm amid the confusion. You will sit in that place to rest for a while, until it’s time to find your way back out. Sometimes you can get lost in that maze for days or weeks.

How do we stop ourselves from going in circles around the parenting maze? How do we all find those magical moments in parenting that will keep us fueled through the hard work?  It’s not simple, but here are a few tricks I’ve learned along the way.

1)  Get together with friends who have kids – nothing makes us feel better than to commiserate with other parents. None of us knows what we’re doing, and it’s so comforting to flounder in that failure together.

2) Get together with friends who do NOT have kids – it’s an amazing opportunity to focus on life outside of parenting. The conversation won’t revolve around sleep schedules or your child’s behavior at school – you may find yourself chatting politics or social issues! Imagine that!

3) Do something creative: if you can't find your parenting mojo, then go find some magic in another area of your life. We live in a world full of opportunities! The other day I decided I wanted to try ballet, despite the fact that the last ballet class I took was 30 years ago. And guess what? There IS such a thing as a beginner adult ballet class! Think about a skill you’ve always wanted to learn, and then go find a class.

4) Get out in nature: if you want to experience mojo, there is no better place than the outdoors. Our kids need nature too. Try hiking, camping, or paddling – wherever you can, seek peace and quiet, without the distraction of our fast-paced world.

5) And speaking of a fast-paced world, try turning off your technology for a day or two. I'm all for gadgets and social media, but in moderation. There is no better way to stimulate your creative mind than to shut the computer down and turn to a different task - drawing, painting, whatever!

I hate to tell you this, but your parenting mojo will not always be accessible. It’s impossible to parent children and feel that magical connection at all times of the day. In fact, you may only experience fleeting mojo – the moments when your child does really well at school or in an activity, or when you witness their kindness towards a friend, or when you are snuggling with them in bed after a long day. Make those moments what you seek – your mojo will find you in the end.