This is Life, Based on a True Story
When your kid comes out
It’s a typical weekday evening after work. You’re prepping supper and the news is on in the background. Your teens are doing homework and playing on...
Parents' worst weekend over
To quote one of my friends, “the worst, most-dreaded weekend of the year for parents of teens is finally done.” She was referring to COG –...
Growing up is hard to do
When I was six years old, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. The thought of writing on a chalkboard all day really appealed to me. By the time I was 14, I...
Grads taking over the world
Another year has come to an end – school year that is. For the most part, I’ve always loved the end of the school year. I loved the warmer weather,...
Honest about authenticity
Authenticity is the trendiest buzz word out there these days. Phrases like “I’m living my authentic life” are uttered with regularity over...
Using kids as divorce pawns
Some parents need to grow up and smarten up. I was told about a couple who had separated — badly — and they share custody of their two pre-teen...
KISSing the basics
You know the adage about going back to basics and keeping it simple? There seems to be a lot of this type of chatter going around lately. I often wonder if this...
Let's hear it for Gen Z
Every generation has its “thing.” What they’re known for and how it affects past and future generations. Much has been said and written about...
Burning the divorce papers
In my few years of dating after marriage, I’ve heard my share of stories from the dating trenches, as well as participated in a few of those battles...
Lessons learned on Ikea trip
Relationships are funny – in a “ha-ha” way. I don’t think there’s anything in life that will bring us as much joy while...
Do women bully?
This week’s column is on a subject I’m almost scared to wade into, but I have to ... Have you seen the meme on social media that says something...
Maui's magical moments
I’m starting my mid-life crisis. This, according to someone who is close to me. How long are these things supposed to last? If a mid-life crisis for me is...
A poem about rape
My daughter and three of her classmates recently decided to tackle a controversial topic among their age group. It was their final English assignment for the...
It takes two to (un)tango
I recently went out for an evening with my best friend and two new friends we met through a course we all took. Although we’re new friends and still in...
Lessons I didn't learn
The dawn of a new year has a funny way of making people reflect on their lives over the past year and seeing what lessons can be learned from experiences...
Teach your children well
One of the biggest rewards when raising kids is seeing them develop into young adults with a clear sense of ethics and morals. When our children are young, we...
You don't have to be alone
I used to love Christmas. It was always guaranteed to please. There’d be presents and food, family and friends. Nothing was better or cozier than opening...
The Gratitude Project
When I was a 20-year-old in college, I lived in a downtown Edmonton apartment with a roommate. While I was doing my practicum, I wasn’t able to work...
Waiting for something better
One of my favourite writing topics is relationships. It’s something everyone can relate to and there seems to be no definitive right or wrong advice. What...
Even bullies feel regret
On the heels of my last column about bullying and how it affected me as an adult, I wanted to share with you the other side of the story – that of the...