The most horrific thing imaginable to most parents is the death of a child. Perhaps that’s why so many of us were deeply saddened and worried by the death of Evan Frustaglio, a 13-year-old hockey player who fell ill and died of H1N1 shortly after visiting London last weekend for a hockey tournament. The handsome looking young Toronto boy, scarcely old enough to have been called a teenager fell sick so fast and deteriorated quickly, then he began to come around again  – only to die in his father’s arms during a bath at his home. Today was the funeral for the young man…

I sat through an interesting parent conference the other day intended for those who are in their school parent teacher associations or home and school associations or parents seeking to become more involved in education. The topic at first seemed cut and dry but the speaker from Saskatoon got me thinking about the role of parents within their child’s school and how best to spend my time within the various committees, boards and non profits with which I am involved. Dr. Debbie Pushor, of Saskatoon, told a cafeteria full of parents attending the Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee’s yearly gathering…

This is a super quick Friday roundup of events in and around London, Ontario this weekend. I don’t usually do this but as I tallied up all the things happening here this weekend I began to get really excited and wondered what I will have to forego as a result of a jam packed social schedule. So here it is: a very big craft show starts today at Western Fair and runs all weekend. Also there at the same time in the special events building is the annual London public library Friends of the Library book sale. I have never…

I was never really a huge fan of Halloween until I first became a homeowner and then became a mother. Now, I know what all the fuss is about and I truly enjoy the decorating, the leadup, the choosing little costumes, sometimes even sewing them myself. And what’s not to like about candy. The best part of the night for me is handing the candy out. I adore seeing the neighbour’s children all dressed up and find there’s something fun and magical about the whole affair. So from the start when my tots were young I looked for ways to have…

I’d been promising my daughters a trip to the movies again, so we chose Cloudy With a Chance Of Meatballs after seeing the preview for it several months ago. The movie, based loosely on the 1978 book by Judi and Ron Barrett was an odd choice for adaptation but a charming unoffensive little flick. We’ve read this story several times in my house and I can tell you I was puzzled at first in the same way I was when I heard that there would be a movie version of The Cat in The Hat, wondering how on earth someone…

So yesterday was pizza day at my darling daughter’s school. First pizza day of the new school year and naturally to show my worth as a valuable member of daughter’s school I volunteered to help hand pizza out. As an added little side bonus while I am volunteering there I get to keep tabs on her (Hah, take that!) I drove up to the school slightly before noon and spied about six cars parked out front, which made me think they had enough volunteers. But I decided to check anyways and sure enough the pizzas had just arrived, so all…