Island Parent Magazine Dec-Jan 2023
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 35 Years • Holiday Gift Guide • Simplifying Your Traditions • 2022 Family Favourites • Holiday Happenings • GRAND: A Special Feature for Grandparents
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 35 Years • Holiday Gift Guide • Simplifying Your Traditions • 2022 Family Favourites • Holiday Happenings • GRAND: A Special Feature for Grandparents
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DEC/JAN <strong>2023</strong><br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>’s <strong>Parent</strong>ing Resource for 35 Years<br />
FREE COPY<br />
The 2022<br />
Family<br />
Favourites<br />
Results are Here<br />
HOLIDAY<br />
GIFT<br />
GUIDE<br />
Inside:<br />
GRAND<br />
A Special Feature<br />
for Grandparents<br />
Simplifying<br />
Your<br />
Traditions
Licensed child care facility with spots<br />
available for children aged 3-5 years.<br />
Contact us to book a tour today!<br />
Victoria Social Innovation Centre<br />
1004 North Park Street<br />
www.littlephoenixchildcare.ca<br />
director@littlephoenixchildcare.ca<br />
778-269-2273<br />
Delivering RESULTS<br />
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combined with any other discount or offer. One<br />
* Direct impact in classroom with school-aligned CALL NOW<br />
ow academic results are important to<br />
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assessment per family. Expires 11/15/20.<br />
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2 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> 09/30/2021.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
w to take control of this school year.<br />
Sylvan of Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 3
DEC/JAN <strong>2023</strong><br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>’s <strong>Parent</strong>ing Resource for 35 Years<br />
FREE COPY<br />
TABLEOFCONTENTS<br />
10<br />
Give Presents and Presence<br />
LINDSAY COULTER<br />
14<br />
Take Back Your Health<br />
ERIKA PALMER<br />
16<br />
Raising Kids with<br />
a Healthy Body Image<br />
DR. JILLIAN ROBERTS<br />
Features<br />
24<br />
Nobody’s Perfect<br />
NATASHA MILLS<br />
26<br />
Family Favourites<br />
28<br />
Holiday Gift Guide<br />
KIM FOURNIER<br />
32<br />
Holiday Happenings<br />
36<br />
The Reality of<br />
Adopting a Pet<br />
CANADIAN PEDIATRIC SOCIETY<br />
In Every<br />
Issue<br />
5<br />
Fast Forward<br />
SUE FAST<br />
6<br />
Need to Know<br />
12<br />
Moms’ POV<br />
KELLY MCQUILLAN<br />
13<br />
Businesses You<br />
Need to Know<br />
18<br />
What’s for Dinner<br />
EMILLIE PARRISH<br />
20<br />
Kids’ Reads<br />
CHRISTINE VAN STARKENBURG<br />
22<br />
Cut It Out!<br />
ALLISON REES<br />
30<br />
Dadspeak<br />
GREG PRATT<br />
GRAND<br />
A Special Feature<br />
for Grandparents<br />
40<br />
Smart Kids &<br />
Smart Phones<br />
SUSAN GNUCCI<br />
42<br />
Setting Up a Meal Train<br />
EMILLIE PARRISH<br />
44<br />
Connecting with<br />
Teenage Grandkids<br />
KELLY CLEEVE<br />
46<br />
Sunday Crafternoon<br />
RACHEL DUNSTAN MULLER<br />
33<br />
Preschool &<br />
Child Care Directory<br />
34<br />
Nature Notes<br />
MADI HALLER<br />
37<br />
Family Resource Directory<br />
On the<br />
Cover<br />
Amelia T (2)<br />
Photo by<br />
Kimberley Kufaas<br />
kimberleykufaas.com<br />
The 2022<br />
Family<br />
Favourites<br />
Results are Here<br />
Inside:<br />
GRAND<br />
A Special Feature<br />
for Grandparents<br />
HOLIDAY<br />
GIFT<br />
GUIDE<br />
Simplifying<br />
Your<br />
Traditions<br />
Jim Schneider Publisher publisher@islandparent.ca<br />
Sue Fast Editor editor@islandparent.ca<br />
Kristine Wickheim Account Manager kristine@islandparent.ca<br />
RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager raeleigh@islandparent.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, published by <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Group Enterprises Ltd., is a<br />
bimonthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on<br />
resources and businesses for Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> families. Views expressed are not<br />
necessarily those of the publisher. No material herein may be reproduced without<br />
the permission of the publisher. <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> is distributed free in selected areas.<br />
Annual mail subscriptions (7 issues) are available for $21 (GST included).<br />
Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement 40051398. ISSN 0838-5505.<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
250-388-6905 islandparent.ca<br />
518 Caselton Place, Victoria, BC V8Z 7Y5<br />
A proud member of<br />
BC<br />
4 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
FASTFORWARD<br />
Getting Hygge With It<br />
Okay, so it’s pronounced “hooga”—not higgy—and it’s<br />
nothing new (unless you’ve been busy raising kids for<br />
the past few years!), hygge, that state of cozy contentment,<br />
can feel near impossible when it comes to parenting.<br />
Meltdown on aisle four? Not feeling it.<br />
Food flinging across the kitchen and sliding down the wall?<br />
Nope, still no warm and fuzzies.<br />
Three-sailing wait? Can’t say the car is feeling so cozy or<br />
comfortable right about now.<br />
But don’t stress says Iben Sandahl, parenting expert and author<br />
of The Danish Way of <strong>Parent</strong>ing: A Guide to Raising the<br />
Happiest Kids in the World, getting hygge is as easy as lighting<br />
a candle, making some hot chocolate, sitting down with your<br />
kids and giving them your full attention.<br />
At the risk of adding stress to the process, here’s a list of Dos<br />
and Don’ts that Sandahl recommends to help you set the mood:<br />
Don’t say “Now we’re really going to hygge”—there will be<br />
too many expectations that can block the mere presence of it.<br />
Hygge is an intangible concept, something that occurs in the<br />
moment and is therefore difficult to stage.<br />
Do leave personal drama at the door. There are other times<br />
to focus on any problems you may be having. Hygge is about<br />
creating a safe place to relax with your family.<br />
Don’t use iPhones or devices. Turn them off or put them<br />
away. By giving children our full attention, we make the time<br />
afterwards much easier as they are then usually ready to do<br />
something without our interacting.<br />
Do make it a daily/weekly routine. It makes kids feel safe and<br />
they will know that it is associated with something nice and<br />
comfortable.<br />
Do make an effort to create a nice cozy atmosphere. Light<br />
some candles, play a game or bake, for example. Part of the<br />
process is the preparations you do together.<br />
So no matter what you call it—hygge, hibernating or just<br />
plain hanging out at home—here’s to finding comfort and joy<br />
this holiday season with those you love.<br />
Happy Holidays and all the best in <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
Thanks for voting us a Family Favourite Childcare!<br />
Happy Holidays<br />
from the educators at<br />
Lexie’s Little Bears Child Care!<br />
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer<br />
is singing loud for all to hear!” – Elf<br />
lexieslittlebears.ca<br />
Waitlist: 250-590-3603<br />
Programs for Infants/Toddlers/Pre-school Age.<br />
BC Award of Excellence in Childcare & Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 5
NEEDTOKNOW<br />
Kids Write<br />
4 Kids<br />
National youth education charity, Ripple Foundation,<br />
is calling Canadian children and youth in grades four<br />
to eight to put pen to paper and submit their literary<br />
creations to its 11th annual Kids Write 4 Kids contest,<br />
a one-of-a-kind national competition that sees winners<br />
become published authors before high school. Winner(s)<br />
will see their works published in ebook and paperback<br />
editions, with 100% of book sale proceeds benefitting<br />
a charity of their choice. This is a great opportunity<br />
for aspiring young writers to put their work in front of<br />
a panel of accomplished authors, editors and publishers.<br />
Winners announced in Summer <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
ripplefoundation.ca<br />
The Gift of<br />
The Nutcracker<br />
This Victoria family tradition has everything you<br />
expect from a Ballet Victoria production. An original<br />
Christmas tale danced to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score<br />
of The Nutcracker played by the Victoria Symphony.<br />
The production boasts lively dance, hilarious pantomime,<br />
beautiful costumes, magic and as always,<br />
surprises for the whole family. The live music drives<br />
the imaginative choreography for the company<br />
dancers as well as over 30 local young ballet<br />
students. Watch the story come alive and enthral<br />
the whole family with Holiday Cheer. <strong>Dec</strong>ember 28<br />
and 29 at 7:30pm, and <strong>Dec</strong>ember 30 at 2pm.<br />
balletvictoria.ca<br />
6 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Backpack<br />
Project<br />
To help those living on the streets<br />
in the capital region, drop off warm<br />
clothing, sleeping bags, tents and food<br />
at 12 of the region’s municipal halls.<br />
Donation boxes are accessible<br />
Monday to Friday during business<br />
hours until <strong>Dec</strong>ember 23. Participating<br />
municipalities include: Central<br />
Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney,<br />
Langford, Colwood, Victoria, Highlands,<br />
Metchosin, Oak Bay, Esquimalt,<br />
Re/Max in Langford, Saanich, View<br />
Royal and Sooke. Accessible 24/7:<br />
Fairfield Gonzales Community Centre.<br />
For a list of needed items or ways<br />
to donate cash and gift cards, visit<br />
instagram.com/p/<br />
CkmhRwULcfW/?hl=en.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><br />
Catholic<br />
Schools<br />
Keeps<br />
Christ in<br />
Christmas!<br />
Christ centered<br />
communities of<br />
learning…educating<br />
the “whole” child.<br />
St. John Paul II School, Port Alberni<br />
Queen of Angels School, Duncan<br />
St. Joseph’s School, Victoria<br />
St. Patrick’s School, Victoria<br />
St. Andrew’s Regional High School, Victoria<br />
Registrations for <strong>2023</strong>–24 being accepted.<br />
250-727-6893<br />
www.cisdv.bc.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 7
Even the Odds<br />
Staples Canada has partnered with MAP to “Even the Odds,” helping<br />
eliminate inequities in communities across Canada. Household income,<br />
education and experiences of discrimination strongly affect our odds<br />
of staying healthy. Even the Odds will fund research and solutions to<br />
make the future fair for everyone. This year, Staples has created a Pep<br />
Rally “Inspiration Pack,” available in-store now for $7.98. All proceeds<br />
from Inspiration Pack sales will support MAP initiatives.<br />
staples.ca/a/content/even-the-odds<br />
Home Energy<br />
Navigator<br />
Program<br />
The Capital Regional District (CRD) has launched<br />
the Home Energy Navigator program, designed to<br />
streamline home energy upgrades in the region’s<br />
single-family homes. The Home Energy Navigator<br />
Program helps residents undertake low carbon<br />
home energy retrofits and take advantage of government<br />
and utility incentives. Connect with an Energy<br />
Concierge, who is then available throughout<br />
a retrofit to answer questions, provide support and<br />
give local, expert advice and guidance to navigate<br />
the complex world of home energy retrofits.<br />
homeenergynav.ca<br />
Hansel & Gretel<br />
The wicked witch Belladonna Nightshade LOVES<br />
children…but only when they’re cooked! She’s got<br />
her eye on sweet Hansel and Gretel. Can Fairy Willow<br />
Wonder Wand and the good people of PantoLand save<br />
the children before they become her dinner? Hansel<br />
and Gretel by Helen Gard runs select evenings and<br />
matinees from <strong>Dec</strong> 16–31. All tickets $18 available<br />
at nanaimotheatregroup.ca.<br />
8 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
LEGO<br />
Annual<br />
Art Show<br />
“What Goes Around” is<br />
the theme at this year’s<br />
show, featuring artful<br />
creations made by local<br />
youth, students and families.<br />
Presented by the Cowichan<br />
Valley Arts Council<br />
Cowichan Community<br />
Council and Red Balloon<br />
Toyshop, this Christmas<br />
time LEGO show will captivate<br />
young and old imaginations<br />
alike and inspire<br />
attendees to “think outside<br />
the box” when they’re<br />
building their own LEGO<br />
creations.<br />
cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca<br />
Thank you for<br />
voting us your #1<br />
Family Favourite<br />
Toy Store!<br />
I am proud<br />
to continue<br />
my support<br />
of parents,<br />
families and<br />
youth in<br />
Oak Bay-<br />
Gordon Head.<br />
2494 Beacon Avenue<br />
Sidney<br />
www.buddiestoys.ca<br />
MLA Murray Rankin<br />
Oak Bay – Gordon Head<br />
Murray.Rankin.MLA@leg.bc.ca 250-472-8528<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 9
SHOP<br />
Give Presents and Presence<br />
Gift giving is not about the gift. It is an expression of love,<br />
gratitude, appreciation and generosity. Material items are<br />
often the “go to” but we underestimate gifts of presence, calm,<br />
time and energy.<br />
This year, thoughtfully combine gifts of experience with<br />
something to enrich it! Enjoy these seven ideas for all ages:<br />
Owl prowl. When darkness falls early and you can protect<br />
bedtime, go outside! Gift kids the experience of a neighbourhood<br />
walk at dusk. Listen for owls like the more common<br />
Barred and Great Horned species. You don’t need to be an expert.<br />
Enjoy the chance to experience your senses at night. You’ll<br />
probably notice bats and other nocturnal creatures!<br />
Gift item: Reflective vest, armband light, or head lamp. Give<br />
a membership to organizations like the Rocky Point Observatory<br />
and enjoy an event together like owl banding at night.<br />
Throw in a thermos and hot chocolate with marshmallows,<br />
too.<br />
Pebble hunt. Gift a rock hunting experience! A beach day<br />
or two is plenty of time to collect volcanic rock, basalt, chert,<br />
mica schist, quartz and more. You’ll learn to identify rocks and<br />
look at stones, rocks and pebbles in a whole new way.<br />
Gift item: A Field Guide to the Identification of Pebbles by<br />
Eileen Van der Flier Keller, a magnifying glass or pocket scope,<br />
and decorative treasure box. Also consider a Rock and Mineral<br />
Test Kit. The University of Victoria bookstore sells a kit with<br />
basic tools for hands-on rock, mineral and fossil identification.<br />
The kit includes “a streak plate, glass plate, hand lens, dropper<br />
bottle, magnet, nail, penny (from more recent decades) and<br />
a harness scale in a resealable transparent pouch.” Might as<br />
well also throw in a copy of Everybody Need a Rock by Byrd<br />
Baylor.<br />
It takes time to practice generosity but being<br />
generous is the best use of our time. – Thich Nhat Hanh<br />
Tide pooling. We are blessed with countless beaches and tide<br />
pools. Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> is home to many species of sea stars,<br />
crustaceans, mollusks, segmented worms, seaweed and more.<br />
Treat the children in your life to a day of tide pool viewing. A<br />
trip to Botanical Beach guarantees lifelong memories. Always<br />
check the tide table and road conditions first. Do not remove<br />
any critters!<br />
Gift item: Marine Life of British Columbia Field Sheets by<br />
David S. Young.<br />
Sky watch. Light pollution, a side effect of the industrial<br />
revolution, has our cities glowing at night. Plan a late-night<br />
escape to the countryside to watch the stars in your pajamas.<br />
Or book a camping trip and stay up to star gaze.<br />
Gift item: Star finder or star wheel. It’s a multilayered cardboard<br />
disk that lets you dial in the current date and time. Then<br />
you can see a map of the naked-eye sky at that exact moment!<br />
Also, source a few books or field guides to the stars.<br />
Felt together. Needle felting is a great way to be creative<br />
and reduce stress, and anxiety. It’s also a lot of fun to do with<br />
someone you love.<br />
Gift item: Buy pre-made beginner felting kits from a local<br />
fiber store or wool shop. Or, gift a workshop series with in person<br />
instruction.<br />
10 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Dye Ukrainian eggs (pysanky). For the artist in you, those<br />
reclaiming their Ukrainian roots and those seeking to support<br />
Ukraine. This ancient pass time decorates eggs with symbols to<br />
carry meaning and good wishes is both fun and challenging. It’s<br />
a peaceful way to connect with family or friends.<br />
Gift item: Buy a beginner pysanky kit which comes with<br />
dyes, a kistka, beeswax and instructions. Check out options<br />
from UkrainianEggcessories.com and check out books from the<br />
library to learn more.<br />
Carve as a family. Choose your favourite animal to carve<br />
from soapstone. This hands-on activity is rewarding and excellent<br />
to do as a family. It’s a lovely keepsake for time well spent,<br />
together.<br />
Gift: Studiostone Creative kits have everything you need.<br />
They are made in Vancouver and are usually for 8 years old<br />
and up.<br />
Lindsay Coulter is a writer, educator, facilitator,<br />
naturalist, community catalyst, soul activist,<br />
mentor, and dedicated mother of two. She’s the<br />
Director of Communications, Culture and Community<br />
at EPIC Learning Centre, a forest and nature<br />
school in Victoria. Find her @SaneAction on Instagram<br />
and Facebook.<br />
Active.<br />
Creative.<br />
Connected.<br />
Recreation<br />
for all.<br />
Opportunities for kids of all ages:<br />
Learn to Skate<br />
Tot Hockey<br />
Power Skating<br />
Swim Lessons<br />
Lifeguard Training<br />
Piano<br />
Ballet<br />
Dungeons and Dragons<br />
Plus,<br />
opportunities<br />
for adults<br />
of all ages<br />
too!<br />
Babysitter and Home Alone Classes<br />
Pro-D Day and Spring Break Camps<br />
WINTER REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 6:<br />
victoria.ca/recreation 250.361.0732<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 11
MOM’SPOV<br />
Letting Go of<br />
Holiday Expectations<br />
Let’s imagine for a minute: What would it be like if this<br />
holiday season and beyond, into <strong>2023</strong>, we all collectively<br />
let go of expectations—those we have of others<br />
and, especially, of ourselves. Now I don’t mean expectations<br />
of good behaviour and basic responsibility, being kind and<br />
courteous, following safety rules, etc. I mean all the extras:<br />
the unspoken “shoulds” and the blatantly broadcast Instaimpossibilities.<br />
Pressure to over-perform, whether at work, at home or<br />
socially is real, and it can be suffocating. The feeling is especially<br />
profound at this time of year.<br />
Before every holiday season I try to give myself a little<br />
pep talk, reminders that the most important “things” are<br />
not things at all, and that it doesn’t need to be about endless<br />
baking or crafting or shopping.<br />
However, as the season nears, I inevitably feel my anxiety<br />
stirring: “Am I doing enough? Have I put enough thought<br />
and effort into this gift to make up for the fact that it isn’t<br />
expensive? Will there be enough magical moments and core<br />
memory-making for my son?<br />
Will it ever be enough? Will I ever be enough?”<br />
Spending any amount of time-consuming modern media<br />
can certainly trigger and amplify these doubts. I know I’m a<br />
good mom, and my son’s safety, growth and happiness are<br />
my top priorities. I work hard to make sure he thrives and<br />
knows he is loved. My family and friends know I love them<br />
and I am here for them. I am kind and as generous as my<br />
means allow.<br />
But even if I try to look at this objectively, all it takes is<br />
a few minutes on social media seeing what other moms are<br />
doing and I’m chastising myself for not doing more, more,<br />
more!<br />
These are challenging times. Many are cinching financial<br />
belts a little tighter, and the pandemic has also inspired a lot<br />
of us to re-examine where we spend our soul-energy. Do we<br />
grind ourselves to death to do All. The. Things. or do we<br />
give more time to the experiences and people who bring us<br />
joy and recharge our batteries instead of draining them?<br />
And do people we care about need us to turn ourselves<br />
inside-out to produce tangible “proof” that we love them,<br />
just because it is a particular time of year?<br />
Absolutely not.<br />
When I look way, WAY back to when I was my son’s age,<br />
my best memories are not those of how many “must-do”<br />
activities we crammed in over the holidays, or how perfect<br />
the table settings looked at Christmas dinner, or whether the<br />
Elf-on-the-Shelf entertained us sufficiently with its nightly<br />
hi-jinx. No way. I remember my grandpa’s jokes, my family’s<br />
laughter, my mom’s delicious baking (that she made because<br />
she actually loves baking), the comfort of recycled decorations<br />
and familiar rituals and the warmth of being together.<br />
I don’t remember many of the presents I’ve received dur-<br />
12 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
BUSINESSES<br />
YOUNEEDTOKNOW<br />
These local businesses are family-focused and<br />
committed to our community and helping you.<br />
P iano Lessons<br />
for your child or teen<br />
in your home<br />
ing my life, but I definitely remember how people have<br />
been present for me, with me. It’s such a clichéd statement:<br />
“Bring your “presence,” not “presents,” but I think a lot<br />
of us (including me!) need to re-examine this idea, that we<br />
don’t have to show up for people with all the doo-dads,<br />
bells, whistles and trimmings. We just have to really, authentically<br />
show up. And not just for the holidays, but<br />
throughout the year.<br />
For me, this means checking in with people I love and<br />
spending time with them. Not having to have “something<br />
to do,” but just being there, together, doing everyday<br />
things or even nothing at all. This means listening to each<br />
other and helping where we can. This means not making<br />
myself cranky by overburdening myself with extra things<br />
I think I “should” do because everyone else is and instead<br />
soaking up the moments I have with my family and friends<br />
as they are, right now.<br />
My son would likely not remember the hours of planning<br />
and work I could put into craft projects or perfectly<br />
colour-co-ordinated decorations. He would remember that<br />
Mama was busy and stressed out and doing things that he<br />
couldn’t be a part of.<br />
Instead, I believe (and hope) he will remember all the<br />
games I play with him (that he usually beats me at), our<br />
rock-hounding adventures on the beach and hopefully our<br />
nightly stories when he snuggles in and we go on adventures<br />
together within the pages of a favourite book. These<br />
things don’t get as much of a chance to happen when there<br />
is too much doing, doing, doing and stuff, stuff, stuff.<br />
This year I remind myself that going overboard does not<br />
make someone feel more special, or more loved. Connection<br />
does. So we might not have a Pintrest-worthy holiday<br />
display or piles of gifts, or particularly remarkable adventures<br />
to recount, but we will have laughter, and joy, and<br />
lots of love with our special people. And I think that is<br />
absolutely enough.<br />
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music teacher: kellymcquillan.com.<br />
ThisWeeksLunch.com/<br />
How-It-Works<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 13
HEALTH<br />
Take Back Your Health<br />
When your kid is sick, you don’t hesitate to do anything<br />
you can to make them feel better. You also<br />
probably try your best to keep up with all their well<br />
visits at the doctor. But when it comes to yourself, you may<br />
ignore your health and put off needed tests. Or you’re unaware<br />
that some of these tests are even recommended for you. This<br />
can especially be true if you don’t have a family physician—<br />
which unfortunately is the case for roughly 900,000 British<br />
Columbians!<br />
Do not put your health off any longer! There are some important<br />
tests you need to get to stay on top of any health issues—and<br />
you can access them even if you don’t currently have<br />
a family physician. Remember, early detection and prevention<br />
can help save your life!<br />
Cervix<br />
Regular Cervical Screening (typically referred to as a PAP<br />
test) is recommended for anyone who has a cervix. These<br />
screenings should be done every three years starting when you<br />
become sexually active or age 25, whichever comes first, right<br />
up to age 69. If you have a family history or have had previous<br />
issues with your cervix, it’s recommended that you get tested<br />
more frequently.<br />
If you don’t have a family doctor, PAP tests can often be<br />
booked at local walk-in clinics or urgent care centres by phoning<br />
them directly or visiting their websites. Depending on which<br />
community you live in there may also be women’s health clinics<br />
or sexual health centres you can visit for cervical screening.<br />
Breasts<br />
The BC Cancer Agency recommends that anyone with<br />
breasts get a mammogram every two years starting at age 40.<br />
You DO NOT need a doctor’s referral to get a mammogram!<br />
Simply visit the BC Cancer Breast Screening website to find the<br />
screening location near you. Or phone the number listed to find<br />
out when the mobile screening unit will be in your area. If you<br />
have a family history of breast cancer you may wish to speak to<br />
your family doctor, a telehealth doctor or a walk-in clinic doctor<br />
about early screening.<br />
Colon<br />
After age 50 everyone should start having regular FIT tests<br />
(Fecal immunochemical test). These tests can be done quickly<br />
14 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
and easily in your own home with a kit you pick up from a<br />
local laboratory. You will need a doctor’s referral to access a<br />
FIT test kit, and this can be acquired by a telehealth doctor or<br />
walk-in clinic if you don’t have a family doctor.<br />
Lungs<br />
Not everyone needs lung cancer screening. However, if you<br />
are over the age of 55 and are a current smoker or have a 20-<br />
year history of smoking at any time in the past you should be<br />
screened.<br />
If you believe you are eligible for lung cancer screening or<br />
have questions talk to a doctor or call the BC Lung Screening<br />
Program at 1-877-717-5864.<br />
Skin<br />
It’s recommended that everyone self-checks their skin at least<br />
twice a year, starting as young as possible. Make note of any<br />
suspicious moles or spots and take pictures of them to see if<br />
they change over time. Have a loved one help you check your<br />
scalp, back and other areas you can’t see properly.<br />
If you notice a mole has changed or find one that looks suspicious<br />
see a doctor for assessment. Go to your family doctor<br />
or walk-in clinic, if possible. However, a telehealth doctor can<br />
assess your skin from digital pictures you send them, plus they<br />
can refer you to someone in your area if they cannot make a<br />
proper diagnosis online.<br />
There are several skin cancer screening clinics throughout<br />
BC, however, most do charge for the screening unless you have<br />
a history of abnormal moles and/or are referred by a doctor.<br />
Mental Health<br />
If you feel yourself struggling with depression, anxiety and/or<br />
any other mental health issue don’t hesitate to get help. Consult<br />
with your family doctor, a walk-in clinic doctor or a telehealth<br />
doctor to get advice. Or you can visit AnxietyCanada.com or<br />
call either 310-6789 or 811 at any time to access resources.<br />
811<br />
811 is a particularly important number for everyone to remember.<br />
It gives you a 24-hour hotline to a nurse, as well as<br />
access to nutritionists and pharmacists. The staff at 811 can<br />
give medical information and advice, connect you with an online<br />
doctor in urgent situations and provide any other physical<br />
or mental health resources you may need. If you do not have a<br />
regular health care provider, the staff at 811 can help you get<br />
on a waitlist for a physician or nurse practitioner.<br />
Erika Palmer is a writer living in Victoria with<br />
her husband and daughter. She believes most<br />
problems can be solved with a good cup of tea<br />
and a huge piece of chocolate.<br />
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<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 15
HEALTH<br />
Raising Kids with a<br />
Healthy Body Image<br />
At the onset of a new year, we find<br />
ourselves setting intentions and<br />
making goals for the twelve months<br />
to come. Many of us may want to get<br />
“back on track” with fitness or perhaps<br />
even set a weight goal for the new<br />
year. I often think about how the goals<br />
we set as adults, and the surrounding<br />
cyclone of body-centric messaging on<br />
the covers of magazines, on the radio<br />
and online every <strong>Jan</strong>uary affects the<br />
growing minds and perspectives of our<br />
children.<br />
Body image is far from just a “girls”<br />
issue’ or a “women’s issue.” In fact,<br />
in my practice I have seen many boys<br />
and men who have struggled with body<br />
image challenges and low self-esteem<br />
stemming from how they perceive their<br />
appearance. For girls and women, the<br />
issues tend to revolve around striving<br />
for an unattainable “standard” that<br />
usually involves being thin. For boys<br />
and men, it can be more about wanting<br />
to look muscular. Here are some<br />
suggestions I often share in my practice<br />
that you as a parent can take to support<br />
the development of a healthy body<br />
image in your child.<br />
Easy on the appearance-based<br />
praise<br />
As beautiful as we all know our children<br />
are, you don’t want your child to<br />
feel like they’re earning your love by<br />
being “pretty” or “handsome.” Children<br />
who receive a lot of appearancebased<br />
attention from parents can<br />
sometimes mistakenly create the connection<br />
that their looks are connected<br />
with their worth. Your child needs to<br />
feel loved for who they are, for their<br />
internal self, with no strings attached,<br />
ever. Outward appearance takes many<br />
shapes and forms; everyone is unique<br />
and that’s part of what makes the<br />
world interesting. I suggest aiming for<br />
the “five to one rule”: for every time<br />
you give an appearance-based compliment,<br />
for the next five compliments,<br />
focus on inner qualities like: a positive<br />
attitude, diligence, creativity, empathy,<br />
intelligence or compassion.<br />
Stay current and show an interest<br />
in your child’s life<br />
To support healthy development,<br />
parents need to understand what’s<br />
going on in the life of their child, as<br />
well as what’s happening in the world<br />
around them. Think of it as keeping a<br />
barometer on what matters to them.<br />
How are they feeling, acting? Who are<br />
they playing with, what interests them?<br />
And what are their peers interested in?<br />
It might not seem like much, but simply<br />
staying current in the life of your child<br />
sets you up to be there for them in a<br />
meaningful way, like when it comes to<br />
body image.<br />
Establish smart boundaries,<br />
online and offline<br />
Boundaries have a lot to do with<br />
body image. Why? Because body image<br />
has a lot to do with what messages<br />
we’re willing to allow into our minds,<br />
and the power we choose to give those<br />
images we see and the words we hear.<br />
Keep an eye on the apps, games and<br />
social media your child is using, watching<br />
for content or even online friendships<br />
that might be doing more harm<br />
than good. Don’t be afraid to enforce<br />
standards—uninstall an app or game<br />
if you don’t think it’s appropriate, and<br />
take the time to explain your rationale<br />
to your child in a loving, blame-free<br />
way. You can also have conversations<br />
with your child about balance, about<br />
not exclusively liking things, commenting<br />
on things, posting things, that are<br />
appearance-driven.<br />
16 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Learn a new sport or refine<br />
your skills: come join our<br />
rock climbing teams!<br />
Nurture relationships IRL<br />
When kids are developing relationships<br />
with others, they’re practicing<br />
empathy, they’re paying attention to the<br />
wants and needs of another and they’re<br />
considering community.<br />
There’s no better time to build this<br />
intrinsically-motivated foundation<br />
than during childhood. That’s because<br />
they’re still developing that schema,<br />
the operating system, hardwiring them<br />
to engage with the world in a positive<br />
way. Raising your child to see the<br />
world as a community, and them being<br />
an active participant—a change agent<br />
who is connected and belonging—will<br />
help to instill that sense of purpose<br />
that guards against preoccupation with<br />
superficial things like appearance. Ultimately,<br />
encouraging friendships is a<br />
moderating factor for a healthy self image,<br />
but it also helps reframe the narrative<br />
about “what really matters.”<br />
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Despite the gains made with “body<br />
positive” messaging, and a general<br />
move as a society towards embracing<br />
diversity and celebrating differences, we<br />
still have a long way to go. Supporting<br />
your child’s development while modeling<br />
body-positive behaviour will help<br />
mitigate against negative body image<br />
influences as they progress into their<br />
teens. And what better time to start<br />
than the new year?<br />
Dr. Jillian Roberts is a child psychologist,<br />
UVic professor and mother. She is the author of<br />
Kids, Sex and Screens: Raising Strong, Resilient<br />
Children in the Sexualized Digital<br />
Age and CEO and founder<br />
of MindKey Health mental<br />
health clinics with locations<br />
in Victoria, Sidney and soonto-be<br />
in the Western Communities.<br />
drjillianroberts.com<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 17
WHAT’SFORDINNER<br />
Simplifying Your Traditions<br />
It’s easy to get caught up in the too muchness that comes<br />
with this time of year. Regardless of your personal holiday<br />
traditions, there are gifts for teachers, cards to be mailed,<br />
travel planning, parties and concerts. Once you get caught up<br />
in the whole winter season it can be hard to find that bit of<br />
space to relax.<br />
In the past, my husband and I found our bit of space by<br />
dividing up the children’s concerts (one year we had five concerts<br />
in a span of two weeks). We’ve likewise juggled our party<br />
invitations. And last year we bought absolutely everyone the<br />
same gift (coffee shop gift cards work for teachers and grandparents)!<br />
Here are three recipes that are designed for both comfort and<br />
relaxation. They are simple, healthy and delicious. Perfect for<br />
adding a bit of serenity to the season.<br />
Light & Frothy 5-Minute Eggnog<br />
(Time: 5 minutes)<br />
Whether you love store-bought eggnog or not, this recipe is for you.<br />
While the ingredients and flavours are similar to a carton of eggnog,<br />
this frothy drink is pretty different from the custard-based eggnog you<br />
are probably used to. Best of all, it only takes 5 minutes to prepare! It’s<br />
sure to be a new holiday favourite.<br />
4 eggs (separated into yolks and whites)<br />
1 ⁄3 cup of powdered sugar, to taste<br />
2 cups milk<br />
1 cup whipping cream<br />
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg<br />
1. Separate the eggs, placing the yolks in a large bowl, and the<br />
whites in a container for whipping. (My stand mixer has a bowl, but a<br />
tall sided measuring cup works as well).<br />
2. Beat egg yolks with a whisk until the colour starts to lighten (about<br />
1 minute).<br />
3. Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved.<br />
4. Stir in milk, cream, and nutmeg.<br />
5. Whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Don’t over mix or<br />
the foam will collapse. This is much quicker using an electric eggbeater<br />
or stand mixer. Just make sure your bowl has tall sides or it may splash<br />
as you whip.<br />
6. When the egg whites are a nice thick foam, gently fold them into<br />
the egg yolk mixture. Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve within<br />
3 hours. This recipe uses a lot less sugar than traditional eggnog, so if<br />
it’s not sweet enough, feel free to add a dusting of icing sugar.<br />
7. This recipe contains raw eggs, so it is not recommended for pregnant<br />
women, children under the age of 1 year, or anyone who may be<br />
immunocompromised.<br />
Cheesy Green Pancakes<br />
Vegetable and cheese pancakes for dinner? Yes please! This easy<br />
meal packs all the food groups into a form that kids love. If you think<br />
your kids might balk at the onion and garlic, then feel free to skip it. But<br />
it really adds a lot of flavour to these pancakes.<br />
Pancakes<br />
1 bunch of greens 3 Tbsp of diced onion<br />
(chard, kale or spinach) 1 clove of garlic<br />
3 eggs 1 cup of ricotta or cottage cheese<br />
2 Tbsp oil 1⁄2 cup flour<br />
1 ⁄2 tsp salt<br />
Toppings<br />
Cheddar cheese Sliced tomato<br />
Scrambled eggs Sour cream<br />
Bacon bits Diced green onion<br />
1. Wash and trim the greens, removing the stems. You want about 3<br />
cups of loosely packed greens.<br />
2. Place the greens in a blender with the onion and garlic. Add the<br />
eggs, cheese and oil. Blend until the greens are fully pureed. Add the<br />
flour and salt. Pulse a few more times to fully mix.<br />
3. Warm a frying pan on medium heat.<br />
4. Pour in 1 ⁄4 cup of batter.<br />
5. The pancake is ready to flip when it is bubbling in the middle and<br />
dry around the edges. Flip, then cook the other side for about 1 minute.<br />
6. Serve immediately or keep warm in a 300°F oven until all the pancakes<br />
are ready to serve.<br />
7. We enjoy eating these pancakes like open-faced sandwiches with<br />
cheese, tomato and egg. They’re also delicious with baked potato toppings.<br />
18 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Thank you for<br />
your continued<br />
Love and Support!<br />
Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Time: 30 minutes)<br />
I first encountered this particular red lentil soup when cycling<br />
through northern Turkey. It was the only thing available for dinner at<br />
the local bar/restaurant/cafe that was the only place to eat in the small<br />
town where we were staying. At the time, it felt the most amazing dish I<br />
had ever enjoyed. Likely a healthy dose of hunger was one of the main<br />
ingredients. Regardless, it is still one of my favourite comfort meals.<br />
A simple, one-pot dish that is warmly flavoured (without being too<br />
spicy). The red paprika oil isn’t necessary, but it does add a bit of seasonality<br />
to this otherwise very easy dish.<br />
Soup:<br />
1 ⁄4 cup olive oil 2 large onions<br />
2 large carrots 1 can of tomato paste<br />
1 Tbsp cumin 2 tsp paprika<br />
1 tsp dried mint 1 ⁄2 tsp thyme<br />
1 ⁄2 tsp oregano 1 ⁄2 tsp black pepper<br />
2 cups red lentils 4 cups water<br />
4 cups broth 1 tsp salt, to taste<br />
Red paprika oil:<br />
1 ⁄4 cup olive oil 1 Tbsp paprika (sweet or hot)<br />
1 ⁄2 tsp red pepper flakes<br />
1. Chop the onion and carrots. They don’t need to be finely diced as<br />
the soup is pureed before serving.<br />
2. Saute the vegetables in olive oil until the onions are sweating,<br />
about 3 minutes.<br />
3. Add in the herbs and spices and toss to coat the vegetables. Then<br />
add in the tomato paste, stir and cook for 1 minute.<br />
4. Add in the lentils, water, broth and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce<br />
the heat to medium. Cover the pot halfway with the lid and leave<br />
it to simmer until the lentils have fallen apart, about 15 minutes.<br />
5. Meanwhile, make the paprika oil by mixing the oil, paprika and red<br />
pepper flakes together in a small pot. Warm the oil on medium until you<br />
see the paprika just starting to bubble, immediately remove from the<br />
heat and set aside.<br />
6. When the lentils are cooked, puree the soup with a stick blender<br />
or traditional blender. Taste and add more salt if necessary. The exact<br />
amount will depend on the saltiness of the broth.<br />
7. Serve with a drizzle of paprika oil.<br />
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Emillie Parrish loves having adventures with<br />
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Check out the full calendar at www.crd.bc.ca/parks<br />
Capital Regional District | Regional Parks<br />
@crd_bc | CapitalRegionalDistrict<br />
crdparks@crd.bc.ca | 250.478.3344<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 19
KIDS’READS<br />
The Magic of Make-Believe<br />
Do you regularly hear your child complain about bedtime<br />
and having to go to sleep? Then perhaps it’s time for your<br />
child to think about how the bed feels when it hears that<br />
night after night after night. Time for Bed’s Story by Monica<br />
Arnaldo (Kids Can Press, 2020) gives you just that. A story<br />
by the sticker-covered springboard about how kicking and<br />
the drooling makes it very hard for bed to sleep at night.<br />
And all Bed wants is for its child to think of Bed’s feelings<br />
when it’s bedtime. For ages 4 to 7.<br />
Ray by Marianna Coppo (Tundra, 2020), is all about a<br />
lightbulb named Ray. His life in the closet is pretty boring,<br />
so boring that he often slips into dreamless sleeps. Until one<br />
day something magical happens and Ray’s life is forever<br />
changed. This story is a beautifully illustrated tale about the<br />
wonders of the outdoors and the magical powers of imagination.<br />
For ages 4 to 7.<br />
Once your child’s imagination has been woken up, they<br />
might like some ideas about how to get their ideas out of<br />
their minds and into the world for others to enjoy. If that’s<br />
the case, then Studio: A Place for Art to Start by Emily Arrow<br />
and illustrated by Little Friends of Printmaking could<br />
be a good book for you. This brightly coloured tale follows<br />
some bunnies around as they learn about different kinds of<br />
art and the studios where they’re made as they try to find the<br />
perfect place for them to make their own art. For ages 4 to<br />
7.<br />
Imagine you and your family are home one day and suddenly<br />
the power goes out. You tell the kids not to worry<br />
because it’ll be back on in a moment. But then that moment<br />
stretches and to them it feels like an eternity has passed<br />
and the lights are still out.<br />
How do you pass the time?<br />
In some cultures and families, you’d tell stories. If you<br />
don’t think your imagination is up to the task of coming up<br />
with a tale, I bet your kids could. And if they can’t, here are<br />
a few stories about dreams and imaginings that might spark<br />
your own creativity.<br />
Story Boat by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Rashin<br />
Kheiriyeh (Tundra, 2020) highlights the wonders of a young<br />
refugee child’s imagination as they travel across the water to<br />
find somewhere to belong. Kheiriyeh’s drawings are captivating<br />
as Rashin turns ideas about what “here” means into cozy<br />
cups of tea and ceramic sailboats with apricot blanket sails<br />
that provide warmth and safety through a scary trek. If you<br />
have ever found yourself struggling to explain what a refugee<br />
is without delving deeply into the scary situations they<br />
face, this book is for you. For ages 4 to 7.<br />
20 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
When Emily Was Small by Lauren Soloy (Tundra,2020)<br />
reminds children that even great painters like Emily Carr<br />
were once small. In this tale which is based off of Carr’s<br />
autobiography, Soloy goes into the time before Carr was a<br />
famous painter and focuses on a small part of her childhood<br />
when her vast imaginings sometimes made her feel out of<br />
place, but always opened her up to a magical world right<br />
outside her door. For ages 4 to 7.<br />
While I hope it doesn’t take a power outage (or another<br />
wave of sickness) to get you and your family to sit down<br />
and enjoy a tale or two, I do hope that you are able to spend<br />
some time with your loved ones—maybe even curled up in a<br />
blanket fort that’s transformed into a fairy castle or a friendly<br />
dragon’s den—so you can all enjoy a good book or five.<br />
Christina Van Starkenburg lives in Victoria<br />
with her husband, children and cat. She is the author<br />
of One Tiny Turtle: A Story You Can Colour and many<br />
articles. To read more of her work and learn about her<br />
upcoming books visit christinavanstarkenburg.com.<br />
Facebook: facebook.com/christinavanstarkenburg<br />
and Twitter: @Christina_VanS.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 21
CUTITOUT!<br />
Show a Little Tenderness<br />
If 90 percent of our communication is body language what is<br />
our face saying?<br />
If part of a healthy attachment with our children and<br />
partners is to give support, to soothe them and keep the environment<br />
safe, our non-verbal messages are a part of this. If we<br />
can meet these needs, family members in turn will be able to<br />
listen more fully, care about requests that are being made and<br />
experience a sense of trust.<br />
While the words we use are important, our physical and<br />
emotional cues build the connection. When we listen to our<br />
children and partners, it isn’t enough just to use the “skill” of<br />
repeating back what they have said and take a guess at how<br />
they are feeling. They need to see that we genuinely care and<br />
that we are curious to learn more. If we don’t show them, our<br />
words seem transactional. If I listen to you, then I expect that<br />
you will get over this thing that you are complaining about! Or,<br />
I’m not okay if you are upset, so let’s get this thing fixed.<br />
If you are having a difficult conversation or hearing someone’s<br />
pain, slow down. Show that you care with a soft face, and<br />
relaxed body language. Express and physically show tenderness<br />
and see how much easier things go. Practicing this brings calmness<br />
to everyone.<br />
Children can be hypersensitive to our moods and teens will<br />
see anger where there isn’t any. If our adult relationship is experiencing<br />
a disconnect, we can easily hear what we fear rather<br />
than what is actually being said. Monitor the people you’re<br />
speaking with closely so that you can catch any signs of frustration,<br />
annoyance, hurt feelings or stress. Look at their eyes, face<br />
and body language and listen to their tone of voice. Are they in<br />
distress? Be willing to pause and soothe your loved one. Even<br />
if you think you weren’t yelling or speaking with a tone, don’t<br />
argue. Tend to them, soothe them.<br />
Be prepared to pivot from making a point to being present.<br />
There are many reasons to do this, one being that when someone<br />
feels unsafe or distressed, they can’t hear you anyway. Pay<br />
attention to the process of how you are communicating. If you<br />
have something important to discuss, ask your loved one this;<br />
What can I do to make it more comfortable for you to hear<br />
what I have to say?<br />
Dr. Allison Rees is a parent educator, counsellor<br />
and coach at LIFE Seminars (Living in Families<br />
Effectively), lifeseminars.com.<br />
In-Person &<br />
On-Line Options<br />
STAGES<br />
Performing Arts School<br />
since 1980<br />
Come Dance With Us<br />
• Offering classes for Teens & Pre-Teens in Jazz,<br />
Ballet, Lyrical, Tap. Musical Theatre, Acrobatics &<br />
Hip Hop, in a non-competitive atmosphere.<br />
• Not sure which class to take?<br />
- Try a Drop-In: No hassle, No Obligation.<br />
Daytime Pre-School Classes<br />
for the little angels...<br />
STAGES Performing Arts School<br />
#301 1551 Cedar Hill X Rd<br />
Call 250-384-3267 Email us at: stagesdance@shaw.ca<br />
Or visit our website: www.stagesdance.com<br />
22 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Nature-Based Counselling<br />
With Thriving Roots<br />
BRANDED CONTENT<br />
Humans are naturally designed to belong in nature. We’re<br />
ecological beings who have evolved alongside trees, rivers,<br />
birds, and mountains. So, when we are supported in<br />
connecting to nature in an embodied, mindful, and interactive<br />
way, our nervous system regulates and new brain patterns<br />
form, leading to a deeper sense of ecological connection, belonging<br />
and empowerment. The therapeutic world is beginning<br />
to realize this and embrace the power of nature connection in<br />
healing and development in ways that are very exciting.<br />
It’s for these reasons that Thriving Roots has opened a new<br />
nature-based Counselling Services division in addition to our<br />
Wilderness School. This way, youth and adult clients can work<br />
in more specialized, intimate settings with trained counsellors<br />
who are themselves deeply connected to nature. We use regulating<br />
sensory activities, therapeutic games, mindfulness practices<br />
and reflective questioning to help clients explore their<br />
inner world, while finding comfort, regulation, and resilience<br />
directly from nature. This way, nature itself becomes a source<br />
of healing and strength that clients can draw from in their dayto-day<br />
lives.<br />
While most of our counseling focus is designed to take place<br />
outside in private green spaces or parks, we also provide indoor<br />
and online options depending on preference or weather<br />
conditions. Our clients include youth, teens, adults, couples<br />
and families and our meetup locations are based in Saanich,<br />
Westshore, Sidney, and the Highlands.<br />
Curious about a nature-based counselling approach? Book a<br />
free introductory meet and greet with Vanya Laporte: vanya@<br />
thrivingroots.org or visit our website: thrivingroots.org.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 23
Healthy Families, Happy Families<br />
Child, Youth<br />
& Family<br />
Public Health<br />
South <strong>Island</strong> Health Units<br />
Esquimalt 250-519-5311<br />
Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s 250-539-3099<br />
(toll-free number for office in Saanichton)<br />
Peninsula 250-544-2400<br />
Saanich 250-519-5100<br />
Saltspring <strong>Island</strong> 250-538-4880<br />
Sooke 250-519-3487<br />
Victoria 250-388-2200<br />
West Shore 250-519-3490<br />
Central <strong>Island</strong> Health Units<br />
Duncan 250-709-3050<br />
Ladysmith 250-755-3342<br />
Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878<br />
Nanaimo 250-755-3342<br />
Nanaimo 250-739-5845<br />
Princess Royal<br />
Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242<br />
Port Alberni 250-731-1315<br />
Tofino 250-725-4020<br />
North <strong>Island</strong> Health Units<br />
Campbell River 250-850-2110<br />
Courtenay 250-331-8520<br />
Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289<br />
‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522<br />
Port Hardy 250-902-6071<br />
islandhealth.ca/our-locations/<br />
health-unit-locations<br />
PARENTING<br />
Nobody’s Perfect<br />
And that’s okay<br />
wish I wasn’t so irritable at my kids<br />
I and could be more like how they ask<br />
of me.<br />
The fulfillment is astounding; motherhood<br />
is the purest state of living that I’ve<br />
ever experienced— but loving them is<br />
unconditional and it comes with many<br />
challenges.<br />
I can be patient and mindfully compassionate<br />
to a point— but I can also regretfully<br />
snap at my wits end.<br />
I see a lot of posts going around about<br />
early childhood trauma and how to<br />
speak, act and do better for our children.<br />
I agree that in an ideal world it’s true—<br />
we should continually rephrase, nurture<br />
and encourage *calmly* regardless of<br />
any behaviour.<br />
What I don’t agree with is this implied<br />
accusation that we are damaging our<br />
children if we don’t adhere consistently<br />
to this standard of new-age parenting.<br />
For abrupt frustration when we know<br />
the older ones know better and it feels<br />
like they’re testing us at a cellular level.<br />
I think we should apologize to them<br />
often, and after reflecting, manage those<br />
big feelings with compassion as best we<br />
can when they come up again<br />
I won’t apologize though, for being a<br />
human being in my evolution of parenting—it’s<br />
a damn hard Olympic sport.<br />
I think we need more real-life mothers<br />
sharing how hard this is all actually is<br />
with unapologetic solidarity and a side of<br />
forgot-to-gentle-parent.<br />
We need to agree that we all have different<br />
levels of tolerance on different days<br />
for the exact same behaviour.<br />
We need to know that when we are being<br />
tested, that it’s not a time to feel judgment,<br />
instead a time to feel seen.<br />
I think we must learn in hindsight and<br />
discern teachings from our children; to<br />
Changes with BC Medical Services Plan<br />
premiums mean that families eligible for partial<br />
payment of some medical services and access<br />
to some income-based programs now must<br />
apply for Supplementary Benefits through the<br />
Government of BC. Applications can be done<br />
online and take approximately 15 minutes.<br />
Families who previously qualified for MSP<br />
Premium Assistance should not need to re-apply<br />
if taxes are completed yearly. It is advised to<br />
confirm coverage before proceeding with<br />
treatment to avoid paying out of pocket.<br />
For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/<br />
content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/<br />
bc-residents/benefits/services-covered-bymsp/supplementary-benefits<br />
I think all we can do is try and aim for<br />
our best every day, but I refuse to feel<br />
shame:<br />
For my lack of patience when overstimulated.<br />
For my cyclically-imbalanced mood<br />
swings.<br />
For utilizing screen time for sanity.<br />
For the projection of my own childhood<br />
wounds that I still need time to<br />
heal.<br />
look at challenges as an opportunity to<br />
not repeat history, but also to see our<br />
own instabilities as indicators to find<br />
more support and seek self-care.<br />
We must know that we don’t always<br />
have to do everything right in order to be<br />
a good mom. We are, and we need to put<br />
ourselves first, too.<br />
I hope this message helps normalize<br />
any fear or sadness parents are going<br />
through in transitions, especially when<br />
other younger siblings are involved.<br />
24 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
A Poem for My Eldest<br />
Sometimes I forget how little you are<br />
because of how fast you’ve grown.<br />
Sometimes I “expect” too much<br />
considering everything you’ve shown.<br />
You are my eldest, so big and so brave.<br />
And yet<br />
we’re at a crossroads once more<br />
A reality check when time slowed down<br />
and we couldn’t get you out the door.<br />
School can be daunting and so can<br />
transitions<br />
I see it now loud and clear<br />
You need me like they do,<br />
that nurturing attention<br />
normalizing everything that you fear<br />
So I keep in my glovebox<br />
this weathered old photo<br />
the one they taped up at your cubby<br />
Those days I’d drop you off<br />
you held on so tightly<br />
letting it go was so hard on mommy<br />
Then I felt it all flood back in<br />
with warm tears and tight embrace<br />
my sensitive little boy<br />
who’s still in there<br />
Mum needed this reminder<br />
To slow down and tell you<br />
I’m here, I love you<br />
your heart, we will repair<br />
Hudson’s recent artwork missing us as we<br />
navigate big feelings with school time<br />
transitions and anxieties.<br />
Natasha Mills is a twin mom of three residing on the island now for nearly 30 years. She has found a creative outlet in documenting<br />
the real moments of parenthood—the relatable highs and challenging lows. She has also found a passion in writing her<br />
experience of motherhood and connecting with many like-minded parents in her community and abroad. @mommamillsblog<br />
FRANK JAMESON<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
CENTRE<br />
your destination for active living<br />
Visit us for all your fitness, aquatic, arts & culture needs.<br />
See a complete list of programs and schedules in our Activity Guide at<br />
www.ladysmith.ca/programs<br />
INFO / REGISTRATION 250.245.6424 | ladysmith.ca<br />
follow us / ladysmithPRC subscribe prc@ladysmith.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 25
Family<br />
Favourites<br />
The Family Favourite results are in! Who has the best<br />
products, services and experiences? We asked and<br />
you answered. Developed to recognize quality family<br />
retailers and service providers in our community. Our<br />
readers were invited to vote online at islandparent.ca for<br />
their family favourites in 48 categories. The response was<br />
phenomenal. Thank you to everyone who voted and sent<br />
us such wonderful feedback. We have tallied your votes—<br />
here are your 2022 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Family Favourites!<br />
Favourite<br />
Outing<br />
LIVE SPORTING EVENT<br />
Winner: Victoria Royals<br />
Runners Up: Harbour Cats, Grizzlies<br />
CAMPGROUND<br />
Winner: Goldstream<br />
Runners Up: Gordon Bay, French Beach<br />
PLAYGROUND<br />
Winner: Parksville Community Beach<br />
Runners Up: Beacon Hill, Cadboro Bay Gyro Playground<br />
HIKE<br />
Winner: Mount Douglas<br />
Runners Up: Hole in the Wall, Mystic Beach<br />
BEACH<br />
Winner: Long Beach<br />
Runners Up: Willows, Esquimalt Lagoon<br />
PARK<br />
Winner: Osborne Bay Regional Park Beach<br />
Runners Up: Beacon Hill, Macaulay Point<br />
ATTRACTION<br />
Winner: Malahat Skywalk<br />
Runners Up: BC Aviation Museum, Royal BC Musuem & IMAX<br />
FAMILY GETAWAY<br />
Winner: Crystal Cove Tofino<br />
Runners Up: Mount Washington, Big Splash Waterslides<br />
Favourite Retail<br />
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING<br />
Winner: Once upon a child<br />
Runners Up: Abby Sprouts, Woodland Kids Shawnigan Lake<br />
TWEENS & TEENS CLOTHING<br />
Winner: H&M<br />
Runners Up: American Eagle, Beyond the Usual Chemainus<br />
BABY<br />
Winner: Momease<br />
Runners Up: Sugar Sandwich, TJ’s<br />
TOYS<br />
Winner: Buddies Toys<br />
Runners Up: The Red Balloon Toy Shop, Kaboodles<br />
SHOES<br />
Winner: Baggins<br />
Runners Up: DSW, Beyond the Usual Chemainus<br />
WOMEN’S FASHION<br />
Winner: Smoking Lily<br />
Runners Up: Hudson’s Bay, Aritzia<br />
CONSIGNMENT<br />
Winner: Once upon a child<br />
Runners Up: Kidsville Parksville, Kinderbeez Duncan<br />
GROCERY<br />
Winner: Red Barn Market James Bay<br />
Runners Up: Root Cellar, Market on Millstream<br />
HEALTH & ORGANIC<br />
Winner: Lifestyle Markets<br />
Runners Up: The Vitamin Shop, Market on Millstream<br />
FARMERS MARKET<br />
Winner: Moss Street Market<br />
Runners Up: Duncan Farmers Market, Esquimalt Farmers Market<br />
BOOKS<br />
Winner: Bolen Books<br />
Runners Up: Russell Books, Fireside Books<br />
PHARMACY<br />
Winner: Heart Pharmacy Shelbourne<br />
Runners Up: Fort Royal, Pure Pharmacy Superior St<br />
PET STORE<br />
Winner: Healthy Spot<br />
Runners Up: Growlies, a pet’s life<br />
PET GROOMING<br />
Winner: Collar & Comb<br />
Runners Up: Petsmart, Pawsitive<br />
GARDEN CENTRE<br />
Winner: Dinter Nursery Duncan<br />
Runners Up: Garden Works, The Artisan’s Garden<br />
BIKE SHOP<br />
Winner: North Park Bike Shop<br />
Runners Up: Westshore Bicycles, Oak Bay Bicycles<br />
CAR DEALERSHIP<br />
Winner: Howie’s Car Corral<br />
Runners Up: Harris Dodge, Galaxy Motors<br />
26 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Favourite Children , s...<br />
PRESCHOOL/CHILDCARE<br />
Winner: Little Phoenix<br />
Runners Up: Lexie’s Little Bears, CEFA<br />
ARTS OR THEATRE PROGRAM<br />
Winner: Stages Dance<br />
Runners Up: Theatre SKAM, Kaleidoscope Theatre<br />
BIRTHDAY PARTY LOCATION<br />
Winner: Flying Squirrel<br />
Runners Up: Lizzy Lee & Me, Victoria Gymnastics<br />
SUMMER CAMP<br />
Winner: Victoria Gymnastics<br />
Runners Up: WEA Westcoast Educational Adventures,<br />
Pearson College<br />
OVERNIGHT CAMP<br />
Winner: Camp Qwanoes<br />
Runners Up: Camp Thunderbird, Camp Pringle<br />
RECREATION CENTRE<br />
Winner: Saanich Commonwealth Place<br />
Runners Up: Oak Bay Recreation Centre,<br />
Frank Jameson Community Centre<br />
EDUCATION SERVICE<br />
Winner: Sylvan Learning Centre<br />
Runners Up: Kumon, Nabvigate NIDES<br />
Favourite<br />
Personal Service<br />
ESTHETIC SALON<br />
Winner: Foxy Box<br />
Runners Up: Willow Stream Spa, Laser Obsession Beauty Spa<br />
OPTOMETRIST<br />
Winner: Eye Etiquette<br />
Runners Up: Vista Eye Care, Cordova Bay Optometry<br />
ORTHODONTICS<br />
Winner: Dr. Vohn Rosang<br />
Runners Up: Dr. Murdoch/Ocean’s Edge, Dr. Kirk Bartlett<br />
HAIR<br />
Winner: Copper & Ash<br />
Runners Up: Design House, Mint Hair Duncan<br />
DAY SPA<br />
Winner: Amatista Spa Bear Mountain<br />
Runners Up: Willow Stream Spa, Sapphire Day Spa<br />
DENTIST<br />
Winner: Saanich Dental<br />
Runners Up: Westshore Dental, Oak Bay Dental Centre<br />
PHYSIOTHERAPIST<br />
Winner: Tall Tree James Bay<br />
Runners Up: Elizabeth de Jong Westman/RISE Health,<br />
Kaitlyn Chernomaz/Startline Physiotherapy Duncan<br />
FINANCIAL PLANNER<br />
Winner: Lianne E Waters/Edward Jones<br />
Runners Up: Mike Kalinka/Investors Group, Bobby Vu Financial Solutions<br />
Favourite<br />
Food Service<br />
FOOD TRUCK<br />
Winner: Deadbeetz<br />
Runners Up: Greek on the Street, Emiliano’s Authentic Port Alberni<br />
ICE CREAM SHOP<br />
Winner: Beacon Drive-In<br />
Runners Up: Coombs Country Market, North 49<br />
HAMBURGERS<br />
Winner: Bin 4<br />
Runners Up: Fat Burger, Big Wheel Burger<br />
PIZZA<br />
Winner: Pizzeria Prima Strada<br />
Runners Up: Romeo’s, 900 Degrees<br />
VEGAN<br />
Winner: Be Love<br />
Runners Up: Copper Branch, Green Cuisine<br />
ETHNIC<br />
Winner: Sizzling Tandoor<br />
Runners Up: Pho Tru, Victoria Sushi<br />
FAMILY DINING<br />
Winner: White Spot<br />
Runners Up: Romeo’s, Beacon Drive-In<br />
FOOD PREP SERVICE<br />
Winner: Local Urban Bites<br />
Runners Up: Balanced Meal Prep, Fresh Prep<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca <strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 27
SHOP<br />
Holiday Gift Guide<br />
Melissa & Doug’s<br />
Geometric Stacker<br />
Match and sort these 21 colourful<br />
wooden pieces, and skill-building is just<br />
part of the fun. Rings, octagons and<br />
rectangles can be slotted onto the three<br />
rods, stacked on top of each other or<br />
lined up to compare shapes, sizes and<br />
colours. This first-concepts set is a manipulatives<br />
all-star!<br />
Hape Pound & Tap Bench<br />
Pounding sends the balls tinkling<br />
over the xylophone. Pull out the keyboard<br />
and the xylophone can be played<br />
solo. Promotes dexterity, hand-eye<br />
coordination and manipulation. It also<br />
introduces logic, matching, spatial<br />
relationships, critical thinking and an<br />
understanding of cause-and-effect. For<br />
ages 12 months +.<br />
Folkmanis Animal Puppets<br />
Imagination is the key to a healthy<br />
childhood, encouraging play and discovery<br />
to develop the skills necessary<br />
in life. Folkmanis has been making<br />
the most innovative and engaging<br />
specialty puppets in the world since<br />
1976, delighting imaginations and<br />
winning nearly every industry, child<br />
development,and kid-tested award—<br />
many repeatedly.<br />
Magna-Tiles<br />
These original 3-D clear magnetic<br />
tiles inspire creative, open-ended play<br />
and are an educational toy for children<br />
of all ages. Engage young minds by fusing<br />
together math, science and creativity<br />
and spark hours of imaginative free<br />
play. Anything kids can dream, they<br />
can create!<br />
Loog Mini Guitar<br />
More sophisticated, but still kidworthy,<br />
a Loog mini guitar will help<br />
develop a lifelong love of—and maybe<br />
talent for—music! The ideal first guitar,<br />
the real-wood Loog mini has perfect<br />
intonation and three-string award-winning<br />
design. Includes flashcards with<br />
chord diagrams and full access to the<br />
Loog guitar app. loogguitars.com<br />
28 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Nat Geo’s Break-Open Geodes<br />
Explore the crystal caves inside these<br />
naturally forming volcanic rocks. Crack<br />
them open and discover the beautiful<br />
minerals inside. Nat Geo selects only<br />
the best geodes collected from multiple<br />
mines around the world so you’re<br />
guaranteed to find fascinating crystals.<br />
Inspire an appreciation and love of nature<br />
with this extraordinary science kit.<br />
canadiantire.ca<br />
Slothside<br />
Rock Climbing Holds<br />
This set includes high-quality polyester<br />
resin bolt on rock climbing holds<br />
with a variety of shapes like jugs,<br />
crimps, pockets, pinch and slopers for<br />
a better climbing experience. Designed<br />
for easy gripping, these holds have a<br />
texture like real rock and are durable<br />
and weather resistant. slothside.com<br />
www.kimberleykufaas.com<br />
Christmas Eve Family Service<br />
Back in-person!<br />
@westcoastlife<br />
<strong>Dec</strong> 24, 4:30 pm<br />
The Shoemaker of<br />
Bethlehem<br />
First Met United Church<br />
Quadra & Balmoral<br />
firstmetvictoria.com<br />
Also on <strong>Dec</strong> 24:<br />
Carols in the Candlelight: 7:30 pm<br />
(Annabelle Stanley, harpist 7 pm)<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 29
Thank you for voting us a<br />
Family Favourite Attraction!<br />
DADSPEAK<br />
The Relentless<br />
Determination<br />
of <strong>Parent</strong>s<br />
See airplanes,<br />
seaplanes, helicopters<br />
and more at the<br />
BC Aviation Museum<br />
Learn about BC’s aviation<br />
history from early bush planes<br />
to bombers and beyond!<br />
Well, it’s that time of year<br />
again, when we—hopefully—<br />
get to put some of the strain<br />
and stress of the year behind us and<br />
have some good food and drink and<br />
time with the family. Although looking<br />
back on 2022, man, not sure just how<br />
I just don’t know how sustainable it<br />
is for a family to live in Victoria right<br />
now. I silently scream when I go to buy<br />
coffee at the store; I mix tears with gasoline<br />
in hopes of saving a few pennies<br />
at the pump. I constantly think that<br />
there are mistakes when I’m purchasing<br />
Winter Hours, Oct 1 to Apr 30:<br />
11am to 3pm, Thurs through Tues<br />
Summer Hours, May 1 to Sept 30:<br />
10am to 4pm, Thurs through Tues<br />
Closed Wednesdays, Christmas,<br />
Boxing and New Year’s Days.<br />
1910 Norseman Road, Sidney<br />
250-655-3300 | bcam.net<br />
much food any of us can afford this go<br />
’round. Inflation at the grocery store<br />
absolutely tore through the wallets<br />
of families living in Victoria and the<br />
region, as has inflation at the pumps,<br />
and, if you’re renting and have had to<br />
move this year, those monthly rental<br />
cheques.<br />
toilet paper. How can toilet paper possibly<br />
cost so much?<br />
But I refuse to let despair sink in, as<br />
I cackle to myself when I drop my oldest<br />
off at school—high school, now!—<br />
trying not to calculate the ludicrous<br />
amount that drive cost me in gas, trying<br />
to just make it through a morning<br />
30 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
without feeling the existential economic<br />
strangle that every single one of you<br />
reading this probably felt this year as<br />
I throw my younger on a bus to get to<br />
his school—middle school now!—because<br />
he still gets on that thing for<br />
free for another glorious year or so. I<br />
mutter to myself, half-convincingly but<br />
somehow simultaneously like threequarters,<br />
totally unconvincingly that it’s<br />
worth it to take out a second mortgage<br />
for a Christmas tree because, hey, it is,<br />
afterall, Christmas.<br />
“Might as well!” I scream at the<br />
clerk at the tree lot, through a totally<br />
unconvincing smile as I throw my credit<br />
card in the air and wander off, stumbling<br />
like an elf in a snowstorm, kids<br />
chasing after me, other moms and dads<br />
walking into walls, muttering about<br />
money, making jokes that just make no<br />
sense, crying, laughing, crying, crying.<br />
Yeah, it’s been one of those years.<br />
I got a hernia a while back and our<br />
medical system is about as mangled as<br />
everything else is, so when I laugh it<br />
kinda, well, moves around, making<br />
me involuntarily grab it, an endless<br />
source of humiliation for all my family<br />
members. It’s okay, I scream into the<br />
air, the specialist will call me at some<br />
point! But they’re not calling! They’re<br />
too overwhelmed! And I gotta stop<br />
screaming because it’s just more pressure<br />
on the ol’ hernia!<br />
So, merry Christmas, as grocery<br />
stores tease us with slaps to the face<br />
disguised as price freezes, and as we<br />
are thankful gas has gone down a teeny<br />
bit so it’s only, like, ten thousand<br />
times more than it was a year ago,<br />
and, let’s face it, we are approaching<br />
the finish line here totally dazed and<br />
battered.<br />
But never defeated.<br />
Honestly, you can’t defeat parents.<br />
We get woken up at unholy hours. We<br />
get screamed at. We literally get excrement<br />
on our hands, like, kinda regularly.<br />
But we just keep going.<br />
And despite our corporate overlords<br />
chasing dollar signs to such a degree<br />
that they’re now destroying society as<br />
we know it, hey, we’ll just keep going,<br />
because we’re parents, that’s what<br />
we do, and, honestly, those corporate<br />
overlords, they have no idea what we’re<br />
capable of.<br />
So, it’s been a tough year, an ugly<br />
year, a brutal year for many families in<br />
Victoria. Let’s see if we can turn that<br />
around. Let me rephrase that: I know<br />
we can turn it around. This year got a<br />
bit tough, a bit dark. But we’ll make it<br />
through to brighter days.<br />
In all seriousness: Merry Christmas.<br />
Happy new year. <strong>2023</strong>: We’ve got this.<br />
Greg Pratt is the father of three<br />
children and a local journalist and<br />
editor. His writing has appeared<br />
in, among other places, Today’s<br />
<strong>Parent</strong>, <strong>Dec</strong>ibel and Douglas. He<br />
is @gregprattwriter on Twitter.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 31
Holiday HAPPENINGS<br />
The Nutcracker<br />
The Cowichan Performing Arts Centre presents<br />
The Nutcracker on Saturday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 3<br />
at noon and 4pm. Experience the magic of The<br />
Nutcracker this holiday season with Royal City<br />
Youth Ballet’s full-length ballet, featuring an extralarge<br />
ensemble cast. Performing to Peter Ilyich<br />
Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music, this traditional<br />
ballet has wonderous sets and extravagant, colourful<br />
costumes. Perfect for young and old alike!<br />
Tickets are $36 for adults, $18 for children and<br />
$90 for families (2 adults, 2 children) and can be<br />
purchased online, by calling 250-746-2722 or by<br />
visiting the Ticket Centre.<br />
cowichanpac.ca<br />
Butchart Gardens’ Magic of Christmas<br />
Bundle up and stroll through Butchart Gardens’<br />
Magic of Christmas and be dazzled by the thousands<br />
of twinkling lights and Christmas displays.<br />
Take in the Twelve Days of Christmas display, sing<br />
along to the sounds of the season with Traditional<br />
Carollers and Festive Brass, then stop in at the<br />
coffee shop to warm up with a hot chocolate and<br />
gingerbread by the fire. The Gardens will be open<br />
3–9pm, with viewing until 10pm.<br />
butchartgardens.com<br />
Gingerbread Showcase<br />
Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s premier fundraiser,<br />
The Gingerbread Showcase presented by Revera<br />
Living, is open for its 14th year in the atrium of the<br />
Parkside Hotel & Spa and will run until <strong>Jan</strong>uary 2,<br />
<strong>2023</strong>. Stop by this local holiday treasure to view<br />
the 100% edible creations made by volunteer<br />
bakers and don't forget to donate to vote for<br />
your favourite. This year’s theme: “Magical.” One<br />
hundred percent of donations to the Gingerbread<br />
Showcase will help Habitat Victoria support affordable<br />
homeownership in Victoria. Can't make<br />
it in person? View and vote for your favourite<br />
creation online at habitatvictoria.com/<br />
gingerbread2022.<br />
Malahat SkyWalk’s Holiday Magic<br />
Take in the sights and sounds of the season with<br />
Malahat SkyWalk’s Holiday Magic and experience<br />
something unique and truly west coast. From <strong>Dec</strong><br />
3 to <strong>Jan</strong> 1, Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>’s newest attraction<br />
introduces Holiday Magic, an exciting line-up of<br />
fun and festive activities for all to enjoy. From<br />
appearances by Santa along with Luke the Sasquatch<br />
Elf, decorations, a 20-foot Christmas tree<br />
to Santa’s Workshop, The Clause Family Bakery<br />
and a cozy outdoor fire, there's no better place<br />
to get into the holiday spirit and enjoy the best of<br />
the season. For more information on Malahat Sky-<br />
Walk, its Holiday Magic events, an annual seasons<br />
pass and more, visit malahatskywalk.com.<br />
Milner Christmas Magic<br />
Make memories with family and friends this<br />
holiday season by experiencing Milner Christmas<br />
Magic’s outdoor stroll through thousands of<br />
twinkling lights and festive window displays. Find<br />
something for everyone on your holiday shopping<br />
list in the Gingerbread Gift Shop, drop off<br />
your letters to Santa in the North Pole Mailbox,<br />
with a wave to Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves!<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember 2–4, 9–11, and 16–21. Entry is by suggested<br />
donation of $5 per adult, $2 per child or<br />
$12 per household. Dress warm and grab your<br />
camera! milnergardens.viu.ca<br />
Need help with the Affordable Child Care Benefit?<br />
Looking for child care? Taking care of children?<br />
Need child care training?<br />
Call your local CCRR for free referrals and resources.<br />
Victoria & Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s: 250-382-7000<br />
Sooke: 250-642-5152 ext 239 West Shore: 250-940-4882<br />
Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231<br />
PacificCare (Ladysmith North): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273<br />
gov.bc.ca/ChildCareResourceReferralCentres<br />
Your community’s best source of<br />
child care information and resources.<br />
Funding for the CCRR is provided by the province of B.C.<br />
32 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
PRESCHOOL&CHILDCAREDIRECTORY<br />
Victoria & Area Peninsula Westshore Cowichan Valley Nanaimo & Area<br />
v Comprehensive programs for<br />
Preschool through Grade 11<br />
v Delivering academic excellence through<br />
music, dance, drama and visual arts<br />
v Outstanding educators,<br />
locations and facilities<br />
Castleview Child Care........... 250-595-5355<br />
Learning Through Play & Discovery.<br />
Licensed non-profit, ECE staff. Since 1958.<br />
Morning or full-time care.<br />
castleviewchildcarecentre.com<br />
www.ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533<br />
Christ Church Cathedral Childcare<br />
& Jr. Kindergarten..................250-383-5132<br />
ECE and specialist teachers provide an<br />
outstanding all day licensed program for<br />
2.5–5 year olds at our Fairfield and<br />
Gordon Head locations.<br />
cathedralschool.ca<br />
OPENING<br />
September<br />
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ENROLL<br />
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Come Learn & Grow with Us!<br />
FULL TIME 3–5 DAYCARE<br />
PART TIME PRESCOOL<br />
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE<br />
Cloverdale Childcare Society<br />
Vic West Site<br />
at Vic West Elementary School<br />
cloverdalechildcare.com<br />
250.995.1766 cloverdale@shawbiz.ca<br />
Pre-School<br />
Junior Kindergarten<br />
PacificChristian.ca<br />
250-479-4532<br />
Educational Excellence to the Glory of God<br />
Ready Set Grow Preschool.....250-472-1530<br />
Join our learning through play preschool located<br />
in Hillcrest Elem. Our caring ECEs offer<br />
an enriched Program for 3-4 hour, 2-5 days a<br />
week and help with kindergarten transition.<br />
heoscmanager@gmail.com<br />
St. Christopher’s Montessori School<br />
Offering an enriched and<br />
nurturing Montessori program<br />
Competitively priced independent<br />
school education<br />
Half day for 3 & 4 year olds<br />
Full day kindergarten<br />
stcmontessori.ca 250-595-3213<br />
Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12<br />
Learn more today! 250-390-2201 AspengroveSchool.ca<br />
NANAIMO’ S JK–12 INTERNATIONAL<br />
BACCALAUREATE WORLD SCHOOL<br />
Nestled on 4 acres of lush west coast forest, our Award<br />
winning, Nature based program will not disappoint!<br />
While firmly embracing the Reggio-Emila (Italy) Philosophy our<br />
dedicated team of educators use the environment as the third<br />
teacher as we encourage your child throughout their day.<br />
Our purpose built facilities have been handmade using the<br />
trees from our forest. Come take a virtual tour on our website!<br />
lexieslittlebears.ca Waitlist: 250-590-3603<br />
BC Award of Excellence in Childcare & Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 33
NATURENOTES<br />
Dragonflies & Damselflies<br />
Have you seen them? Have you really seen them?<br />
You never know what you’re going to fall in love<br />
with next when it comes to the beautiful and sophisticated<br />
ecological world that surrounds us. I have found love in<br />
nature thousands of times, but it is not every day that you fall.<br />
My first fall in nature was enormous, and I am far from recovering:<br />
Fungi. At first they tantalized me, with their delicious<br />
flavours, and then even more as I learned of their extraordinary<br />
roles in ecology and uses in society.<br />
Second, I fell for salmon. My heart climbed seven storeys<br />
while I worked as an interpreter during the annual salmon run.<br />
The fish are easy to admire, but I fell in love with their profound<br />
abilities and perseverance. I fell for every single caudal<br />
peduncle, operculum and enormous jawbone that I saw.<br />
Now? I am curious, wondering if I have found a third love. I<br />
can feel the beginnings of sprouting giddiness and tingling thrill<br />
at the very thought of them. Yes, that’s right, naturally: Insects.<br />
Have you seen them?<br />
As spring sauntered into town and then somehow slipped<br />
into summer and even fell into fall, my love for insects metamorphosed<br />
into something I did not expect. Insects are incredible!<br />
With shields, segments and sheaves, their diversity and<br />
design is astounding—you just have to look! Have you really<br />
seen them?<br />
As part of my educational work with the Swan Lake Nature<br />
Sanctuary, I was taking part in regular net dips in Swan Lake.<br />
During these dips we sweep our nets through the water, gently<br />
brushing plants and collecting invertebrates. Our scoops are deposited<br />
into containers of water in which we can take a closer<br />
look at the creatures of the lake.<br />
I was amazed to find an incredible diversity of insects, many<br />
of which would one day inhabit the terrestrial environment<br />
above the water. I was frequently told “I did not get anything<br />
in my scoop,” by students, only to encourage a deeper scan and<br />
hear sounds of excitement as they found more and more tiny<br />
creatures. Thrilling!<br />
Invertebrates in the lake can be indicative of the lake’s health;<br />
we call them bioindicators. Certain species can only survive in<br />
healthy waters while others are very tolerant of pollutants. As I<br />
was performing my bi-weekly scoop to help monitor the health<br />
of the lake, I could feel myself falling for a third time. Dragonflies<br />
and Damselflies belong to the order Odonata. They are<br />
defined by their slender bodies, two pairs of transparent wings,<br />
large compound eyes…and of course, by their epic speed and<br />
hunting abilities!<br />
Did you know that dragonflies and damselflies begin life<br />
underwater? These insects start as eggs dropped in wet and<br />
muddy areas by their mothers. When they hatch, they assume a<br />
life underwater as Nymphs. In this stage, you might not recognize<br />
them, as they lack their wings and many of their beautiful<br />
colours. They have gills and are effective underwater hunters!<br />
Dragonflies and Damselflies have an astounding and admittedly<br />
odd adaptation for catching prey underwater. Their lower<br />
lip piece, called their labium, can extend up to a third of their<br />
body length, shooting out at extraordinary speeds to quickly<br />
scoop up unassuming prey (small invertebrates or fish)!<br />
I highly recommend looking up a video of these sophisticated<br />
hunters. These nymphs are beautiful and their design is marvelous.<br />
Their perfectly packed segmented body is full of whacky<br />
and wonderful adaptations, including the ability to quickly propel<br />
themselves forward by shooting water out of their behind!<br />
When these insects are mature enough, they prepare to move<br />
into their terrestrial stage of life. Some species can live underwater<br />
for five whole years before they become adults! The<br />
dragonflies and damselflies will crawl out of the water, partially<br />
at first, and allow their respiration system to adapt to breathing<br />
air! They will then climb onto vegetation or rocks and clamp<br />
34 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
on tight. Here they will slowly split and crawl out of their larval<br />
skin and emerge as an adult dragonfly.<br />
The adults must work hard to pump haemolymph into their<br />
wings, causing them to expand and strengthen. With some time<br />
to harden their exoskeleton, they are ready to take flight! Adult<br />
dragonflies can fly up to 54km per hour and move their four<br />
wings individually! This makes them great pilots and impressive<br />
hunters. We can thank them for eating plenty of mosquitoes<br />
and causing us a few less bites in the summer!<br />
While it began for me with dragonflies and damselflies, it<br />
was not long at all before it became insects as a whole. From<br />
the hundreds of bee tongues I’ve seen this summer to the stunning<br />
colour palettes on leaf hoppers, I have been shocked and<br />
delighted. I promptly purchased a beginner macro camera to<br />
see them closer—to be able to look at their armour, their eyes<br />
of many lenses, their ancestral fluff and their comprehensive<br />
hydraulics. I have a lot to learn about insects, but with my<br />
newfound love I can promise you one thing: They are worth a<br />
closer look—have you seen them?<br />
Join us at the Nature Sanctuary for one of our children, family<br />
or adult programs and perhaps you can fall for something<br />
new! To see our calendar, register and learn about programs<br />
visit swanlake.bc.ca.<br />
Madi Haller is a Community Educator at Swan Lake Christmas Hill<br />
Nature Sanctuary. She is passionate about the small intricacies of natural<br />
world that are often overlooked.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 35
PARENTING<br />
The Reality of<br />
Adopting a Pet<br />
Pets can be a lot of fun if your family<br />
is ready for the responsibilities<br />
that come with them. They can help<br />
teach children values and social skills.<br />
Most relationships between people and<br />
pets are positive.<br />
There are some important health<br />
and safety considerations to remember<br />
when bringing a pet into your home.<br />
Both your children and pet will be happier<br />
and healthier if they know and<br />
understand the rules. It’s important to<br />
take the time to prepare and understand<br />
the realities of having a pet.<br />
If you decide to adopt a pet,<br />
make sure it is healthy.<br />
Adopt your pet from someone you<br />
trust. Your veterinarian (vet) will be<br />
able to offer suggestions.<br />
Consider the final adult size of<br />
your pet when deciding which kind to<br />
adopt. Don’t forget that they grow and<br />
might get bigger than you are prepared<br />
to handle.<br />
Make sure your pet sees the vet every<br />
year and has all vaccinations.<br />
Have your cat or dog spayed or neutered.<br />
Get veterinary care when your pet is<br />
sick.<br />
Watch for any contact your pet has<br />
with other animals that might carry<br />
disease.<br />
36 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
FAMILY<br />
RESOURCE<br />
DIRECTORY<br />
When you have a pet in your<br />
home.<br />
Teach your children to treat animals<br />
gently and with respect.<br />
Never leave a young child alone with<br />
an animal. Accidents can happen when<br />
children tease pets or touch them in a<br />
way that makes them uncomfortable.<br />
Involve your child in the care of your<br />
pet. This helps children learn a sense of<br />
responsibility.<br />
Make sure your pet has a quiet and<br />
comfortable place to go.<br />
Don’t allow your pets to sleep with<br />
children.<br />
Don’t allow your pet to roam alone<br />
in a baby’s room.<br />
Don’t allow your pet to lick your<br />
child’s face or any cuts or scratches.<br />
Pets and allergies.<br />
If you have a child with allergies,<br />
think carefully about whether a pet is a<br />
good idea. If their allergies get worse,<br />
it can be hard to find a new home for<br />
your pet. If you get a new pet and your<br />
child starts to show signs of allergies,<br />
consult your doctor for advice.<br />
Dogs.<br />
Look for a dog with a gentle nature.<br />
Older dogs are a good idea only if<br />
they have been around children.<br />
Puppies can be a lot fun but tend to<br />
have lots of energy. They need a lot of<br />
time and patience for proper training.<br />
Involve all family members in the training<br />
so that the commands used are easy<br />
for both your children and the dog to<br />
remember.<br />
Don’t leave your dog alone in the<br />
house for long periods of time. If you<br />
have to be away for long periods, a<br />
dog might not be the right pet for your<br />
family.<br />
Keep your dog secure in a space that<br />
they can be comfortable in.<br />
Expose your dog to different types of<br />
people and situations.<br />
Dogs need lots of exercise. Encourage<br />
your children to join you on walks<br />
with the dog. Remember to use a leash<br />
when walking your dog.<br />
Cats.<br />
Keep your cat indoors to protect<br />
them from harm or disease.<br />
Keep the litter box clean. Wash<br />
hands thoroughly when done.<br />
If a dog or cat is not the right type<br />
of pet for your home, there are other<br />
choices. Talk to your vet for ideas and<br />
tips on care.<br />
Reptiles, wild or exotic animals.<br />
Reptiles, such as turtles, lizards<br />
and snakes, often carry Salmonella,<br />
a kind of bacteria (germ) that can be<br />
very hard to kill. Always wash your<br />
hands after handling a reptile.<br />
Exotic animals, such as sugar gliders,<br />
hedgehogs or monkeys, are not good<br />
pets for children. They can be dangerous,<br />
or they may need special care that<br />
young children can’t give.<br />
Wild animals should not be kept as<br />
pets.<br />
Ferrets are not a good pet for homes<br />
with young children.<br />
The Canadian Paediatric Society<br />
is the national association of paediatricians,<br />
committed to working together to advance<br />
the health of children and youth by nurturing<br />
excellence in health care, advocacy, education,<br />
research and support of its membership.<br />
caringforkids.cps.ca<br />
The Family Resource<br />
Directory is designed<br />
to highlight the caring<br />
community that we are<br />
a part of. This directory<br />
showcases organizations<br />
and businesses that provide<br />
services and support for<br />
families and children.<br />
Navigate is an award-winning<br />
school, recognized nationally and<br />
internationally for our innovative<br />
approach to blended learning.<br />
We’ve implemented the new BC<br />
curriculum and built unique, flexible<br />
learning options for every student.<br />
This allows us to meet a diverse<br />
range of student needs, abilities<br />
and learning styles.<br />
Discover more at<br />
NavigateNIDES.com<br />
Thriving Roots<br />
Wilderness School<br />
Thriving Roots provides hands-on, wilderness<br />
education and counselling services for youth<br />
and adults. Our year-long programs and summer<br />
camps are immersive in nature, fostering<br />
connection to land and community through<br />
earth-based skills, play, music and more.<br />
thrivingroots.org info@thrivingroots.org<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 37
38 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Vol. V, Ed. V<br />
GRAND<br />
grandmag.ca<br />
Sunday ‘Crafternoon’<br />
Setting Up a Meal Train<br />
Smart <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca Kids & Smart Phones<br />
Connecting<br />
with Teenage<br />
Grandkids<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 39
Technology<br />
Smart Kids & Smart Phones<br />
come to realize (albeit grudgingly) how<br />
valuable cellphones can actually be in<br />
terms of providing quality learning experiences—supervised,<br />
of course.<br />
Years ago, I made the decision to cancel<br />
my landline, so my cellphone is my only<br />
method of contacting someone. Out of necessity,<br />
therefore, I have had to teach my<br />
Susan Gnucci is a local author and a<br />
proud “nonna” to two young grandsons.<br />
She enjoys sharing her experiences as<br />
a grandparent.<br />
My children were probably the last<br />
generation to be raised without<br />
cellphones, so I must admit, I had<br />
absolutely no experience with them as a<br />
parent. In fact, I actually held off buying<br />
one for myself for a long time.<br />
By nature, I tend to resist change,<br />
especially technological change that always<br />
seems so daunting, but eventually,<br />
I did purchase a cellphone when my first<br />
grandchild was born. With his birth, I<br />
felt it was more important than ever to be<br />
able to keep in close touch with my son<br />
and daughter-in-law. Now I can’t imagine<br />
my life without one.<br />
I still have reservations about cellphones,<br />
especially when it comes to<br />
teenagers. As a former teacher, I can<br />
only imagine the issues that arise in the<br />
schools and classrooms with respect to<br />
cellphone usage. When it comes to my<br />
7-year-old grandson, however, I have<br />
grandson how to access the cellphone keypad<br />
in the event of an emergency in which<br />
he would have to call 911. We routinely<br />
practice all the steps involved in calling<br />
for help and I always keep my cellphone in<br />
the same location in my home so he knows<br />
exactly where to find it. This experience<br />
has given him a sense of pride that he<br />
is entrusted with such an important job<br />
and it has led to interesting discussions<br />
between us about the different emergency<br />
services in our community.<br />
My grandson also knows how to access<br />
the text function on my phone in case<br />
40 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
he wants to send his father or mother a<br />
message while he is away from them. We<br />
have had great fun inserting emojis and<br />
gifs into creative messages that convey<br />
his own unique personality so my son<br />
and daughter-in-law know my grandson<br />
is the sender. If they receive a text<br />
that has oodles of cars and truck emojis<br />
tacked on the end, they can be certain it’s<br />
from him!<br />
One of my grandson’s favourite games<br />
is “Ask the phone a question.” Using the<br />
microphone, he will pose a question and<br />
then we will research the suggested results.<br />
Where is the largest volcano? Who<br />
built the pyramids? What is a fire break?<br />
This not only broadens his knowledge<br />
base but also teaches him to think critically<br />
because I often point out the validity<br />
of a source as we look through it.<br />
Amazingly, the camera function on a<br />
smartphone these days is capable of producing<br />
good quality photos and videos.<br />
Like most children, my young grandson<br />
loves to be videotaped—he pretends to be<br />
a weatherman, a firefighter, an explorer<br />
etc. And then, of course, he enjoys watching<br />
the videos we’ve created together. We<br />
have also experimented with the slowmotion<br />
video function to produce some<br />
hilarious results. Or we will film his hot<br />
wheel car jump in slow motion, leading<br />
to modifications of the set up in order to<br />
achieve desired results.<br />
He often asks for my phone to take his<br />
own photos and videos. He might set up<br />
a detailed Lego scene for instance which<br />
he will then videotape and narrate a tour<br />
through. Admittedly, his first few attempts<br />
shot more footage of the wall or<br />
the floor, but he has gradually gotten the<br />
hang of it, understanding how to hold the<br />
phone to get the best results, even zooming<br />
in on details of his subject. I have also<br />
shown him the editing functions for photos,<br />
so we have played with things like<br />
brightness, tint, shadow effects, etc. We<br />
often discuss which effect we like best<br />
and how these effects change the mood or<br />
message of the photo.<br />
So although I still have reservations<br />
about children and cellphones in general,<br />
I have come to recognize their<br />
value when their use is controlled and<br />
supervised. They have taught me to embrace<br />
new technologies rather than fear<br />
them—yes, you can teach an old dog new<br />
tricks!—and to look for positive ways to<br />
share that technology with the next generation<br />
in order to stay connected.<br />
Make sure you are included in the upcoming<br />
Independent School<br />
& Education Guide!<br />
This is the most comprehensive list and resource for families.<br />
Email sales@islandparent.ca to reserve your spot.<br />
flexibility<br />
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<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 41
Eat<br />
Setting Up a Meal Train<br />
Emillie Parrish loves having adventures<br />
with her two busy children. You can find<br />
more of her recipes in her recently released<br />
cookbook Fermenting Made Simple.<br />
fermentingforfoodies.com<br />
A<br />
meal train is when a group of family<br />
members and friends work<br />
together to deliver meals to someone<br />
who is going through a major life<br />
change. While some of these occasions<br />
are happy, like the birth of a new baby,<br />
it is often set up to assist in sad and<br />
stressful periods.<br />
The general idea is to have a calendar<br />
where everyone chooses a date to drop<br />
off a meal. That way the person or family<br />
in need is well fed while they cope<br />
with their transition.<br />
Meal trains can be organized via<br />
group emails or texts. Setting up a<br />
google spreadsheet that can be shared<br />
around is a simple way to organize a<br />
meal train. There are also apps and services<br />
that can be used for coordination,<br />
for example, mealtrain.com and takethemameal.com.<br />
Even if you aren’t up for coordinating<br />
a meal train, it’s always nice to drop off<br />
a healthy meal to someone who could<br />
use a bit of a hand.<br />
Here are a few tips if you’re planning<br />
on dropping off a meal to someone:<br />
• Use containers that you don’t need<br />
to get back.<br />
• Date the food, because they might<br />
not remember when it was dropped off.<br />
• Provide reheating instructions.<br />
• Ask about dietary restrictions in<br />
advance.<br />
Here are three healthy meals that<br />
are perfect for sharing. They are rich,<br />
warm, and filling. Food that will comfort<br />
and nourish. Make a double-batch<br />
so you can enjoy it as well!<br />
Rich Vegetable<br />
Noodle Soup<br />
This noodle soup is a simple and comforting<br />
dish. It’s the sort of soup that<br />
tastes better the next day, making it<br />
perfect for a meal train.<br />
2 Tbsp olive oil<br />
2 onions, chopped<br />
2 large potatoes, cut into bite-sized<br />
cubes<br />
3 leeks, chopped, white and light green<br />
parts<br />
3 large carrots, diced<br />
1 1 ⁄2 Tbsp salt<br />
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper<br />
3 quarts stock<br />
1 can of tomato paste (156 mL)<br />
1 pinch of saffron threads<br />
1 ⁄2 lb. green beans, ends removed and<br />
cut in half<br />
8 ounces soup pasta or spaghetti, broken<br />
in pieces<br />
1 jar of pesto (200g)<br />
1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup<br />
pot, add the onions, and saute over low<br />
heat for 5 minutes.<br />
2. Add the leeks, potatoes, carrots,<br />
salt, and pepper and saute over medium<br />
heat for another 5 minutes.<br />
3. Add the stock, stir in the tomato<br />
paste, and saffron. Bring to a boil, reduce<br />
the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.<br />
4. Add the green beans and pasta and<br />
simmer until the pasta is cooked, about<br />
10 minutes.<br />
5. Serve the soup with a dollop of<br />
pesto in each bowl.<br />
Slow Cooker Kale<br />
& Sausage Stew<br />
This is comfort food at its best! This<br />
sausage stew features a tomato and<br />
mashed potato base that is absolutely<br />
delicious.<br />
1 pound Italian sausage, cut into bitesized<br />
pieces<br />
1 large onion, chopped<br />
1 large-sized can diced tomatoes (28 oz)<br />
2 garlic cloves, finely diced<br />
1 cup of water<br />
3 ⁄4 tsp each salt and pepper, to taste<br />
42 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
2 large-sized mashing potatoes, peeled<br />
1 small bunch of kale, stems discarded<br />
and leaves torn<br />
Mashed Potatoes<br />
1 ⁄2 cup of milk<br />
1 ⁄2 cup of olive oil, plus more for serving<br />
1 ⁄2 tsp each of salt and pepper<br />
1. Mix the sausage, onion, tomatoes,<br />
and garlic in a slow cooker. Pour in the<br />
water and add the salt and pepper. Push<br />
the potatoes into the liquid so they are<br />
mostly covered.<br />
2. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, or 3 to<br />
4 hours on high, until the potatoes are<br />
fork tender.<br />
3. Remove the potatoes from the slow<br />
cooker. Add the kale to the slow cooker.<br />
Stir and allow it to cook while mashing<br />
the potatoes.<br />
4. Mash the potatoes with the milk,<br />
olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir back into<br />
the stew and serve.<br />
Mediterranean<br />
Quinoa Salad<br />
While casseroles, soups, and stews are<br />
the mainstay of meal trains, sometimes<br />
a fresh salad is just the thing. This<br />
quinoa salad is packed with vegetables<br />
and flavour for a bright dish that will<br />
taste good for several days in the fridge.<br />
Tomatoes and cucumbers are both delicious<br />
additions to this salad, however,<br />
they taste best when served right away.<br />
So stick with the carrot and pepper if<br />
you’re giving the dish to someone else.<br />
1 cup of dried quinoa<br />
2 cups of water<br />
Salad dressing<br />
1 ⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar<br />
3 Tbsp olive oil<br />
2 Tbsp lemon juice<br />
1 tsp salt and pepper, to taste<br />
1 clove of minced garlic (optional)<br />
Toppings<br />
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed<br />
1 red pepper, chopped<br />
2 carrots, grated<br />
1 ⁄3 cup chopped fresh parsley<br />
3 diced spring onions<br />
1 ⁄4 cup dried cranberries<br />
1 ⁄2 cup crumbled feta cheese<br />
1. Place the quinoa and water in a<br />
small pot. Bring to a boil and simmer<br />
until the quinoa is cooked but not soft,<br />
about 15 to 20 minutes.<br />
2. Meanwhile, whisk together all the<br />
dressing ingredients in a large bowl.<br />
3. Once the quinoa has finished<br />
cooking, gently toss it in the salad<br />
dressing. Allow it to cool before adding<br />
the toppings. Taste, and adjust the salt<br />
as necessary.<br />
4. After the quinoa has cooled, stir<br />
in the chickpeas, red pepper, carrot,<br />
parsley, and spring onions. Mix well.<br />
5. Top with the cranberries and<br />
crumbled feta and serve.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 43
Grandparenting<br />
Connecting with<br />
Teenage Grandkids<br />
My boys are incredibly blessed to have grandparents who work hard to nurture<br />
a trusting, playful connection with them. Who better to offer advice on<br />
how to connect with teenage grandkids than two grandparents who make<br />
enormous efforts to play an active role in their grandkids’ lives?<br />
My parents live in our city for only two to three months out of the year, which<br />
means they need to consider how to remain present in our lives whether they are<br />
five minutes or five thousand miles away. Experiencing both ends of the spectrum<br />
provides my parents with the added advantage of being able to speak to grandparents<br />
who may be geographically close and can partake in daily activities, and those<br />
who may live further away and wish to remain connected without the privilege of<br />
being physically present.<br />
Make a<br />
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WORDS OF ADVICE FROM MIKE AND LINDA (AKA PAPA AND NANA)...<br />
Know what’s important to your grandkids. We make an effort to be a part of activities<br />
which are important to the boys—school, hobbies, sports, friends. Whenever<br />
possible, we show up to their special events but when that’s not feasible, we call<br />
or FaceTime because we want to hear all about it. Be sure to ask lots of questions<br />
and encourage conversation. Show your interest!<br />
Create opportunities to have fun as a family. If you live in the same city, this may<br />
be a family picnic in the park, a Sunday night barbeque, family movie nights or<br />
game nights. If you live in a different city, invite your grandchildren to stay with<br />
you for a long weekend or an extended period over summer break. (Inviting just<br />
the kids without their parents is an excellent way to foster bonding time.) And,<br />
when they come to visit, plan exciting experiences you can share together.<br />
Encourage projects together. In the past, we have helped our older grandson build<br />
a display wall of skateboards in his bedroom. Last summer, we helped the younger<br />
one fashion his own fishing rod. We ask them to cook with us, and we learn new<br />
skills together such as wakesurfing. They help us around the yard or with household<br />
building projects. When we are working towards a common goal, we share<br />
44 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
failures, successes, and lots of laughter. As grandparents, we<br />
are modelling that we are still learning too. We love to hear<br />
their suggestions and ideas when problems inevitably arise.<br />
We want our grandkids to know we think they are smart and<br />
innovative (and they can learn a lot from us, too).<br />
If you don’t live near your grandchildren, perhaps you can<br />
all take an online course together, watch the same Netflix<br />
show, or help them with their homework over FaceTime.<br />
Let your grandkids know how much you enjoy their company.<br />
We tell our boys they can talk to us about anything—<br />
YouTube, friendships, alcohol, sports, love. We try to be<br />
non-judgmental and create a safe space for them to share.<br />
They can come to us for advice or support even in times when<br />
it’s hard for them to talk with their parents. We appreciate<br />
them as teenagers and love who they are trying to become.<br />
Offer to drive them places. While this seems simple, the best<br />
conversations often happen in the car! It’s also a fantastic opportunity<br />
to get to know their friends, if they come along for<br />
the ride. We often offer to stop for a slice of pizza or a Starbucks,<br />
as this creates more shared time together.<br />
WORDS FROM MY BOYS…<br />
Jackson (aged 16): It’s easy to talk to Nana and Papa because<br />
they take an interest in me. I can talk to Nana about fitness<br />
and Papa loves soccer. Papa is one of my best friends. I talk to<br />
him almost every day. If you don’t share an interest with your<br />
grandkids, you can try to learn a little. Maybe watch a You-<br />
Tube video or watch their favourite TV show. That way you<br />
have something to ask them about.<br />
My grandparents are cool people. They have lots of interesting<br />
friends and they have cool experiences, so I like to ask them<br />
about what’s going on in their lives. They tell great stories and I<br />
like talking to them.<br />
They’re also really fun. They invite me to do cool things with<br />
them, like go on the boat, play soccer-golf or go quadding. I like<br />
hanging out with them.<br />
Chase (aged 13): I know Nana and Papa care about me because<br />
they call regularly. They know my friends’ names and they ask<br />
about them. They know my interests. Nana asks what I’m reading,<br />
and Papa asks about soccer. They’re also fun to be around.<br />
They laugh and smile a lot. I like that.<br />
Connecting with teens isn’t always easy. They can be moody,<br />
unpredictable, and hormonal. The world they live in is very<br />
different from when you were their age, and this may be challenging<br />
to relate to at times. Despite their occasional standoffish-ness,<br />
teens want what everyone else wants: to be seen,<br />
heard and loved. So push through your grandchildren’s prickly<br />
demeanor to show them how much you value and enjoy their<br />
company. When grandparents and teens connect, it brings joy<br />
and vitality to all!<br />
Kelly Cleeve is a best-selling author and an<br />
educator. More importantly, she is the proud<br />
parent of two amazing sons. Visit kellycleeve.<br />
com or follow her on Instagram<br />
@resilient_kel and Facebook – Raising<br />
Resilient Children/Radiant and Resilient.<br />
Where there’s a Will,<br />
there’s a way…<br />
A gift in your Will<br />
is a promise today<br />
of care for tomorrow.<br />
To learn how you can support the future<br />
health of <strong>Island</strong> children, contact<br />
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<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 45
Grandparenting<br />
Sunday Crafternoon<br />
It’s a blustery West Coast afternoon, but<br />
my three oldest grandchildren and I<br />
aren’t worried about the weather. We’re<br />
warm and snug inside, rolling up our<br />
sleeves in preparation for a few hours<br />
of creative adventure. I’ve supplied the<br />
large table and the craft supplies; they’ve<br />
brought the unfettered enthusiasm and<br />
sky-high imaginations of four-, five- and<br />
seven-year-olds.<br />
The rules are simple: be kind, be safe<br />
and have fun! There are no other expectations<br />
for our afternoon together. I don’t<br />
know how long my grandkids will remain<br />
engaged in this activity, and I have<br />
no preconceived ideas about what our<br />
crafting will produce. We are freestyling,<br />
operating without instructions, plans, or<br />
even Pinterest pictures to guide us. Our<br />
craft materials are our only source of<br />
inspiration.<br />
The craft supplies themselves are rudimentary.<br />
We have three pairs of scissors<br />
of various sizes, rolls of scotch and masking<br />
tape, washable markers, crayons<br />
and sheets of coloured paper. But most<br />
important, we have a laundry hamper<br />
overflowing with materials otherwise<br />
destined for the recycling bin: cardboard<br />
boxes and tubes, plastic lids and containers,<br />
cards and flyers and other miscellaneous<br />
paper goods. In other words, a<br />
creative treasure trove!<br />
Seven-year-old Kieran takes the lead.<br />
He wants to make a model replica of<br />
Ladysmith, our mutual hometown. I<br />
suggest that we might not be able to construct<br />
the entire town in one afternoon,<br />
but we can certainly start with our favourite<br />
buildings. Kieran immediately gets<br />
underway on a very impressive version<br />
of Ladysmith’s post office. His younger<br />
sister Dahlia and cousin Rhea are game to<br />
contribute to the town as well, but need<br />
a little help constructing their buildings.<br />
In four-year-old Rhea’s case, a box<br />
turned inside-out makes an excellent<br />
Aggie Hall—with the addition of a sloped<br />
roof of course. Five-year-old Dahlia has<br />
her heart set on making a “baby house,”<br />
which she decorates with a door, a window<br />
and a pipe cleaner balloon.<br />
While Kieran continues work on the<br />
post office, I contribute a few more buildings<br />
for my granddaughters to decorate:<br />
two six-story apartment complexes<br />
(inspired by the size and shape of the<br />
boxes in our stash, rather than any actual<br />
Ladysmith structures) and a very basic<br />
model of our local grocery store. To jazz<br />
up the grocery store, we turn its roof into<br />
a park. Kieran supplies the bench, water<br />
slide and pool.<br />
It’s hard work building a town from<br />
scratch, and after an hour and a half my<br />
three builders let me know they’re ready<br />
for a tea break. Assuming their interest<br />
is waning, I begin to tidy up our surplus<br />
materials. But no—they aren’t quite finished<br />
after all! Fortified by licorice tea<br />
and homemade applesauce, they’re ready<br />
for their second shift. Again, Kieran leads<br />
the way, suggesting a quick trip outside<br />
to hunt for sticks to turn into trees.<br />
The second shift goes as smoothly as<br />
the first. Kieran adds a tree-house platform<br />
to his stick-tree, and then moves<br />
on to building a church complete with<br />
a steeple and pipe cleaner cross. Dahlia<br />
and Rhea turn their attention to colouring<br />
and cutting out decorations for their<br />
original structures.<br />
Finally, the moment we’ve been working<br />
toward arrives. We position our<br />
structures and trees on a larger sheet of<br />
cardboard, and just like that our little<br />
town is complete. Well, almost complete.<br />
“We need people!” says Kieran. He’s<br />
right, of course. Happily, we have a bag<br />
of Lego people nearby, just waiting to<br />
populate our new community.<br />
My twin daughters arrive to collect<br />
their children three hours after they<br />
dropped them off—and find them still<br />
engrossed in their cardboard town. By<br />
any measure, our first “crafternoon”<br />
together has been a success. Since I had<br />
almost as much fun as my grandkids, I<br />
assure them it won’t be our last.<br />
Crafternoon Tips:<br />
If a completely open-ended crafternoon<br />
seems a little daunting, the internet<br />
is full of great ideas to get your creative<br />
wheels turning. That said, with the right<br />
materials at their disposal, your grandchildren<br />
might surprise and delight you<br />
with their own original ideas.<br />
Beyond the basics like scissors, glue,<br />
tape, paint, markers and/or crayons,<br />
some of the best crafting materials are<br />
the ones you rescue from your recycling<br />
bin or wastebasket. Keep a box or two<br />
for potential materials: cardboard boxes<br />
of various sizes, paper tubes, interesting<br />
plastic packaging, greeting cards, scrap<br />
fabric, extra buttons, etc.!<br />
Finally, experience has taught me that<br />
any activity goes better when I check<br />
my expectations and follow my grandchildren’s<br />
lead as much as possible. Set<br />
parameters for the essentials like safety<br />
and healthy behaviour, of course, but<br />
do your best to surrender the rest. You<br />
never know where your grandchildren’s<br />
creativity will take you, but it’s sure to be<br />
interesting!<br />
Rachel Dunstan Muller is a<br />
children’s author, storyteller,<br />
podcaster and grandmother.<br />
You can find her podcasts<br />
Hintertales: Stories from the<br />
Margins of History and Sticks<br />
and Stones and Stories<br />
through her website at<br />
racheldunstanmuller.com.<br />
46 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
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<strong>Dec</strong>ember/<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2023</strong> 47
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