I Got "Carried Away" Last Night

Yup, my gal pals and I went to see the Sex and the City movie last night.  For those of you who've been sleeping under a log for the last several years, Sex and the City was an HBO show based on Candace Bushnell's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name.  It was a huge hit and spawned a world-wide craze of 20/30/40-something females faithfully watching each week.  I don't think my husband will mind me telling you that he, too, became a huge fan.

Well, my SATC-fanatic friends and I bought tickets days in advance and saw the film on opening night (last night) in Toronto.  We weren't disappointed: there was a rollercoaster of emotion going on and I'm still thinking about Big, Carrie, Steve, Miranda and Charlotte 24-hours later.  I won't print any "spoilers" here because that would ruin the fun.  Let's just say that you should expect the racy bits to continue along with some dramatic story lines, tons of fashion, some big laughs and lots of tears.

Let me know your opinion when you and your gal pals (or "man" friend) see this incredibly popular movie!

Dance Party

One of the great things about being a freelance writer and working for ParentsCanada is the ability to attend cool events and chat with interesting (and sometimes famous) people.

A few weeks ago, I met Rebecca Eckler (journalist, blogger, author, mom) at a Bunch event.  We chatted for all of about 5 seconds and it wasn't because she was blowing me off.  Nope.  The Bunch event -- a trendy family dance party and book launch for Eckler -- was a great concept.  By the time I arrived though, (sans kids -- my little guys were having fun at home in the backyard ) the weary parents and their dazed babies were all partied-out after listening to the kid-friendly band and wading through masses of bubbles, fake tattoos, and food. 

I managed to introduce myself to Eckler and later do a real interview with her. I'll be posting the article with quotes from Rebecca on this very blog in the next week or so.  In the interim, we would love to get your questions and comments about Rebecca and her books: Knocked-Up, Wiped! and Toddlers Gone Wild immediately. 

Why? You ask.  The print version of ParentsCanada will be running a story on Rebecca in the fall issue. She'll dish about fans' and critics' thoughts on her books and blogs and what it's like for a former party-girl-about-town to be down-right domestic. 

If you'd like to get your question(s) in AND have the chance to win all three of Eckler's books, click on this page.

You must enter by June 30th to have a chance to win! Good luck.

Superbad

Last night, after an exhausting day, I watched Supernanny.

To be honest, I used to watch the show to get an ego boost regarding my own parenting skills.  The moms and dads featured on that show are so worn-out and whacked-out and the kids are usually beyond mischievous. So, it made any faux pas with my own kids that much more palatable.

However, lately, I've been feeling really sorry for the families on the show.  And, also humbled by them.  It takes a brave soul to admit that you're not succeeding at parenting and that you need help.  And, the help the families receive is not only administered by a stranger (albeit a very experienced and helpful stranger) but it's also broadcast internationally!  That takes guts.

Last night, the episode featured two young parents (in their mid-twenties) with three kids under five-years-old.  This would be a handful for any set of parents but proved even harder for this particular mom and dad who also work full-time.  Jo Frost gave them plenty of straight-ahead advice: "Don't let your 20-month-old roam around an open door leading to a long staircase!" and "Don't spend all day cleaning your house while ignoring your bored children." The parents seemed eager to lap up the advice and training and, by the end of the episode, all five family members all seemed a lot happier.

If only we could all have a Supernanny step in and assist with those vexing parenting issues that we just can't figure out! Do you think Jo comes to Canada?

It's the "everyone and their dog" blog!

Everyone's got a blog, right? While we all know it's the thing to do, as the new online editor at ParentsCanada (you can find out more in the "About" section), I'm aiming to: blog with a purpose. That's right: I want to share cool ideas, parenting and pregnancy tips, expert advice and just plain ol' rants with moms and dads across the country.  But, we also started this blog because we want to hear from you! It's not just marketing-speak either - I really do want to hear what you think about:

• the "greening" of kids
• new-age (or old-school) parenting
• WAHMS
• mommy blogs
• Montessori schooling
• holistic methods for helping to achieve pregnancy
• chick lit and CanLit
• stranger danger...and so much more

Your comments are always welcome.  I've written many magazine and online articles and I read a ton on the web and in print. I've even had a wee blog going for a while but I'm still fairly new to blogging. So, tips and suggestions are appreciated.

There will be a brand spankin' new interview on the site in the next few days and I will be updating this blog on a very regular basis.  However, if you're in the mood for more interactive participation on this site, please visit our ParentTalk Forums at: http://forums.parentscanada.com/

See you tomorrow!