I’m sure most of you are familiar with proverbs or sayings like: It takes a village to raise a child, quality time, or spare the rod and spoil the child.
Everywhere we look as caregivers, we receive advice (usually conflicting) about how, exactly, we should connect with our children and raise them. Continue reading Family forms the building blocks of our lives How we are raised influences us as adults and parents
Next time you’re in a lineup or at a coffee shop, look around. What are other people doing? Chances are they’re staring down at a handheld computer of some type, be it a smartphone or tablet. Perhaps they’re even typing furiously on a laptop. Digital devices are ubiquitous.
It’s handy to be able to look up the hours of a store, directions to your destination, or even read a novel on a vacation (without the actual weight of War and Peace interfering with your carry-on allowance). However, with increased access to technology and the almost constant ability to remain connected, are primary relationships being harmed? And is it possible to become addicted to digital devices? Continue reading Considering the impact of digital devices Addiction to technology can impact relationships
Eastwood is a community with a variety of green space. From yards to balconies to raised beds, I saw it all when I explored the neighbourhood.
Some gardens were neat and orderly, while others were riotous collections of colour, shape and size, revealing more the longer I looked. All delighted the eye.
It’s no secret that food costs have increased. For some, that jump has barely registered, but for many of us, it has impacted our budgets noticeably. What has caused food prices to soar? Where does that leave those of us with tight finances? Are there alternatives to purchasing expensive fresh fruits and vegetables?
Part of the reason food costs have risen is because of the high price of oil. Large-scale farms require machinery to mechanically harvest products and the cost of transport has also increased. Climate change is another culprit, with floods, droughts, and storms in various areas destroying harvests. The low Canadian dollar is another, more recent factor. Finally, some governments have banned exports of foods, fearing shortages and ensuing political instability. Such bans mean low supply and correspondingly higher prices.
Continue reading Stretching the food budget Creative ways to grow food, save money and stay healthy
