Life's Learning Blog

Single Mothers in Canada

Jenna — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:05:26 +0000

Please see note below:
*PLEASE EMAIL DIANE DIRECTLY IF INTERESTED: diane.peters@sympatico.ca

Hello.

I am writing a feature on single motherhood for Chatelaine magazine, examining the evolution of single moms and looking at their impact on society. I’m on the hunt for single moms across Canada to share their experiences. Looking for moms young and not-so-young, divorced, choice moms and those who didn’t plan their families. Love to hear the good and bad, how you think you’ve influenced those
around you, and all issues in between. Chatelaine is national, so I’m really interested in women from across the country, not just Ontario!
If you think you can help and would like to talk–or know moms who might, pass on my contact information. I may not get back to everyone: I just need a handful of moms but I really need a good mix to keep my editors happy!

Thanks so much
Diane Peters
diane.peters@sympatico.ca

Modern Mama Launch Party

Jenna — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:31:22 +0000

I’ll be giving a mini-workshop this Friday, July 11 at the Modern Mama launch party.

Modern Mama is a great service for moms in Edmonton. It offers activities for moms to enjoy with their babies, but these aren’t your typical mom and baby activities! These are outings to the art gallery, spa visits, luncheons with guest speakers, and beauty and fashion advice. Nannies are on-hand to help with the babies so the moms can relax and enjoy themselves.

The launch party for Modern Mama is being held on Friday, July 11 from 11 am to 4:30 pm at the Riverbend Library. Activities include a baby photo shoot, mini workshops, a play area for kids and more.
For more information check out the Modern Mama website or blog

Article in Birth Issues

Jenna — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:34:43 +0000

I wanted to let you know I have an article in the Summer 2008 issue of Birth Issues. The article looks as some of the things I’ve learned through my experiences as a new mom. I’ll add a link when the article is available online, but in the meantime, you can pick up free copies of the magazine at various locations across Alberta.

June Workshop Schedule

Jenna — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:59:51 +0000

I hope you are enjoying our warm weather, but before you head outside in the sun, take a few minutes to register for an Exploring Motherhood workshop.

There are still spaces for Exploring Motherhood workshops in June. If you are interested in attending, now is the time to register. The following workshops are being offered in June:

Saturday, June 7 (10 a.m. to noon) – Who Am I, Now That I’m a Mom?
This workshop explores the changes that come with motherhood. Participants will have the opportunity to explore personal questions about being a mother. There is also time for discussion with other moms. The opportunity to talk with other moms is one of the highlights of this workshop according to participants.

Saturday, June 7 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) – My Maternity Leave is Ending – Now What?
Is your maternity leave ending? Are you unsure whether you want to go back to work? Are you thinking a career change might be what is best for you and your family? This new workshop will explore the different aspects of career decision-making that apply to moms. Individual career advising and assistance with resume preparation and interview practice can be arranged.

I’m creating a workshop schedule for the summer, but if you’d like to arrange a workshop for your moms’ group, please contact me. We can arrange a workshop at a time and location that is convenient for your group.

The cost to attend is $25 per workshop or $40 for two workshops. This means you can attend both workshops for $20 each, or you and a friend can attend the same workshop for $20 each. The workshop space at the ASAC office should be nice and cool if the weather is warm.

If you have any questions, or to register, visit http://www.lifeslearning.ca

Workshops in Red Deer – More details coming soon

Jenna — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:29:32 +0000

I’ve been working on arrangements to offer some workshops in Red Deer. I haven’t got all the details worked out yet, but I’m quite confident I’ll be presenting in Red Deer in the fall. So, if you’re in or around Red Deer, and you have some requests for which workshops you’d like to see, please let me know! Watch here for more details.

Resources for organizing your life!

Jenna — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:04:17 +0000

I’ve been trying to find some web resources to help me with a filing system for all of the paper in my office. I currently have three 2-drawer filing cabinets, three hanging file frames, at least a dozen magazine holder which I use to organize projects, and a label maker. There has got to be a way to use all of these tools to make sure there is a home for every piece of paper that dares cross the threshold of my office. While looking for solutions, I came across a web site that has information on organizing your home, your office, your finances, your recipes, your time, your wedding, and much more. Basically, it has everything you need to know to organize you whole life! The site is Life Organizers. They have a blog and newsletter, plus all the resources on their web site. I’ll update you after I’ve had a chance to read more of their article, but I’m impressed so far.

The continuing cleaning process…

Jenna — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:53:28 +0000

I’ve been working on cleaning my office for a while, but today I really need to get it done. We’re planning to paint my office on the weekend, so I need to empty out all the extra stuff. We’ve lived here almost two years, and my office has been the catch-all for things without a home. There are still unpacked boxes in here, and I’ve found everything from a shower curtain liner to a hammer to a box of cookies while cleaning. I’m trying to be as thorough as possible now so that I don’t have to more sorting after the painting.

I’m working on filing paper as I find it, and creating new files as necessary. I’m also recycling and shredding paper, but most significantly, I’m trying to be proactive and avoid bringing paper in to the house, and in to my office. For example, at our last visit to the health unit, I turned down their brochures on child development because I know I can get all that information off their web site.

Cleaning and organizing my office is also becoming a lesson in untangling all the different parts of my life. My office needs to have defined spaces for my responsibilities as a student, a researcher, a entrepreneur, a volunteer, and a board member. It also has to accommodate looking after our personal financial records, health care information, and personal papers. That’s places a lot of demand on one person, me, and one space.

Hopefully the process of cleaning, painting, adding appropriate shelving, organizing, and decorating the space to reflect me, will bring both an inner and outer sense of order. My office should be energizing yet relaxing, organized and efficient, and reflective of what matters to me. That way I’ll enjoy working here, and I’ll be more effective in all my responsibilities.

Preview of Baby Books for Busy Moms

Jenna — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:31:20 +0000

For those of you who weren’t able to attend the workshop Baby Books for Busy Moms on the weekend, here’s one suggestion for keeping track of all of the cute, funny, annoying and funny things your little one is doing: create an email account where you can send messages about your child. Instead of finding the baby book, and then finding the right place to note your observation, send a quick email to your child. For example, you could write:

Dear Munchkin, Today you were playing with blocks with your daddy, and he showed a picture of an apple. He said, “apple” and you replied, “a–pull.” You repeated your new word over and over, and it always sounded like it had two syllables. You were so proud of yourself! We were surprised you picked up a new word so quickly. We are always excited to see you learning new things and figuring out how the world works. Love Mommy.

You could also provide the email address to your spouse or partner, and other family members so they could contribute too. You could also send copies of all those baby pictures and messages you send to family members to this address so they would all be saved together. The email program will also automatically date each message, so you’ll know exactly when it was sent. There are probably ways for sharing your messages with friends and family members, too. Post a comment if you have any other suggestions.

After I thought of this idea, I found another blog with a posting about this same idea. The author shares how he uses gmail for this purpose, and he offers some suggestions for saving your messages too.

If you are looking for other ideas about how to record all the important moments in your child’s life, check out the workshop, Baby Books for Busy Moms. This workshop looks at why we feel we need to keep track of our baby’s development, what we really want to record, and how we can fit it into our busy lives, so we don’t miss anything important. This is not a workshop about scrapbooking, and you don’t need to have a baby book to come. It is a workshop that would be of interest to moms and moms-to-be. The activities in the workshop, and the strategies for record keeping, would also be relevant to moms with school age children too. Here’s the workshop schedule. I can also present a workshop to your moms’ group at a time and place that are convenient to you. Please contact me to find out how to arrange an in-home workshop.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Jenna — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:46:38 +0000

I hope everyone has enjoyed their mother’s days. I hope you got whatever you wanted most from your family whether it was an acknowledgment of things you do to support your family members, some time to yourself to be someone other than a mother, time with the people you love, a break from cooking and other chores, a touching card or a gift selected with care. Whatever your wish, I hope you celebrated your role as a mother and the mothers in your life.

Another good reason to declutter….

Jenna — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:00:38 +0000

I believe that if you want something in your life, there has to be space for it. Of course, there has to be physical space for it, but there also has to be space in your schedule and space in your mind and your heart for it. I’m realizing this on a number of levels right now.

For example, I’m working to start a new business: Life’s Learning. I’m creating a physical space for the business in my office by clearing off shelves and a desk. I’m also shredding and recycling paper from projects that are finished so they don’t take time, energy and space away from this new focus. I’m clearing space in my schedule by setting aside time for my business and making decisions about which activities in my life are most important. But, just as importantly, I’m making a space in my heart and my mind by letting go off ideas about myself that aren’t conducive to starting my business, and by opening myself up to new experiences and opportunities. I think the process of clearing a physical space can help me to symbolically clear the space in my life. In the same way that cleaning and organizing my physical space can help to me to clean and organize my thoughts and feelings.