Love those dads

Sure, I have a 'top five' list (see my blog entry a couple of dates back to see what that is), but after today's family day at the swimming pool, I have to say there is nothing more attractive than a father who is single-handedly taking his kids out for a swim. (I've got one of these hubbies myself and he's a keeper!)

Today, I witnessed about a dozen fathers who had taken their young chlidren out on their own for a morning's play in the pool. And they were surprisingly hot. Sure, most of the daddies I saw today have bellies big and bigger, have probably been in better shape, and have more wrinkles around the eyes and less hair on the head than in years past, (curiously, most of them had tattoos -- the only evidence of a youthful past -- on their shoulders or arms) but there is something about an active, hands-on dad that is very attractive.

Six-pack abs, whiter-than-white teeth, flowing hair? Who needs 'em?

To all the middle-aged dads who are out there with their kids swimming, skiing, seeing movies, playing games: we love you!

Hearing optional

To all well-meaning gift-givers everywhere: don't give the kids of your friends LOUD toys. This Christmas, my kids, much to their delight, got two very loud toys. Benjamin got the Lightning McQueen car toy that talks and goes "ka-pow" and "ka-chow" whenever you press certain buttons. Lauren got a Dora sit-and-spin toy that sings the Dora the Explorer theme song.

Any one of three things may happen (and soon):
1. The toys may mysteriously "break"
2. I may haul out the duct tape and cover up the speakers on the toys
3. I may go crazy while losing my hearing in the process

Of course it's not all the gift giver's fault. Toy manufacturers really should consider the parents when they make these things.
On a serious note, consumers need to know that excessively loud toys can damage a kid's ears! Check it out: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061212091817.htm

The upside, if I lose my hearing, maybe my eyesight will get sharper -- isn't that what happens when you lose one sense?

Thanks, Santa

I have discovered that Santa Claus is an effective disciplining tool. Wrong or right (probably wrong!), it has worked to help keep my son's behaviour in check. For instance, when he is whining, I remind him that Santa Claus knows if he's naughty or nice and that only kids who are nice actually get presents.

Thanks, Santa!

Merry Christmas to you all. Relax, enjoy your family and have fun. More blogging in the new year!

Happily married but...

My husband and I both have a ‘top five’ list. It’s a list of stars/celebrities that we think are hot and would seriously consider (but would never do!) dumping the other for. Do you have one?

My top four (was five, but one got crossed off recently)
Ed Burns
Ralph Fiennes
Djimon Hounsou
Hugh Jackman

My husband’s top five
Jennifer Connelly
Norah Jones
Heather Graham
Audrey Tautau
Gabrielle Reese

Identify your top five, if you haven’t already. It’s fun. When you have a moment to daydream a little – like when your kids are napping or eating lunch – do!

Good mood down the toilet

Today, my husband called me at work to tell me that the plumber is coming to dismantle the toilet because my four-year-old son Benjamin had flushed his underwear away by accident. Apparently, my husband explained, as Benjamin flushed the toilet, the underwear that he held in his right hand fell into the toilet bowl. Not just any underwear either. His favourite Spiderman underwear. I could still hear my son’s howling in the background as my husband retold the story over the phone.

Never a dull day in a house with young kids.

Toddler-friendly Christmas decorating

1. Make your own ornaments to hang on the tree. A paper-chain garland is easy and fun. Use scrap paper, pages from a magazine, or even newspaper. Cut paper into long strips. Stick the ends (overlapping) of each strip together with a glue stick or tape, slipping each new strip through a completed link as you go along.
2. Place breakables at the top of the tree, or out of reach of your young children. Ornaments fascinate children. They want to look at them and touch them. To keep everyone safe and to keep your precious or fragile ornaments from getting accidentally damaged, place kid-friendly ornaments (lightweight fabric or plastic ones) on the bottom half of the tree.
3. Skip the edible ornaments. If you’ve got toddlers, having the popcorn strings or dried orange slices or candy canes on the tree may be too difficult for a toddler who’s got the munchies to resist.
4. Turn on the Christmas music and make hot chocolate for everyone to enjoy while trimming the tree. Guaranteed to make Christmas decorating fun!

Surviving Santa

What not to do when bringing your children to see Santa Claus at the mall:
1. Don't, while in the middle of the line-up, decide to go buy a new dress for your daughter and a new sweater for your son at the children's clothing store in the mall because you noticed every other kid in the line-up had what appeared to be their Sunday best on.
2. Don't attempt to change your children into these new clothes while standing in line when you're two children away from seeing Santa.
3. Don't foolishly suggest to your son that, even though you are almost at the front of the line, perhaps we should come back next week since his sister is so grumpy.
4. Don't decide to see Santa Claus right before lunchtime for your kids.
5. Don't forget to put on make-up before the photos -- you may be called to sit in the photo too, should your cranky daughter refuse to sit on Santa's lap.

And yes, I did all of the above, with my husband of course, today when we took our kids to see Santa. I am not proud of what I've done, but the first step to healing is admission, right? I guess I shouldn't tell you that I have, on the rare occasion, bribed my kids...

Emma is number one!

Finally, I'm number one! Well, not me exactly, but my name is. According to Baby Center, Emma was the number one most popular girls' name in 2006. Wow.

I had a clue that my name was getting popular. First Gwyneth Paltrow starred in Emma (the movie), and then Friends' character Rachel Green named her baby daughter Emma. In the past couple of years, I've received many compliments from cashiers who noticed my name on my credit card. But it's a far cry from what I used to get growing up with a name like Emma before it was cool. Back then my classmates had names like Stephanie, Tiffany, Amy, Jennifer and Heather.

In elementary school, another boy would constantly call me "Grandma" because as he explained, Emma was an "old" name that only grandmothers had.

In high school, one boy used to bug me endlessly. Every time I saw him, he would spit my name out and start laughing hysterically while holding his sides.

But that's all water under the bridge now because Emma is number one, at least as far as naming babies is concerned. Finally, my name's time has come.

The upside of childbirth?

Your threshold for pain tolerance is raised. Recently, I was at the dentist having an unpleasant procedure done. The hygienist said I may feel a fair bit of pain and offered a topical anaesthetic, which I declined. After the procedure was done, she said that I did great and that she was surprised I didn’t even seem to flinch. Did it hurt? she asked. Oh yes, I replied. But I kept saying to myself, ‘This is nothing compared to childbirth’ and I was juuuuuuuuust fine.