Download - Island Child Magazine, Issue: Winter 2010/11

2 / Island Child Magazine / www.islandchildmag.com / winter 2010 -- 11

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Mom-Made on Vancouver Island

resources for pregnancy & parenting

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Divorcing,with children

Mortgages for Mommies keeping debt

in checkBringing sexyBack!

Winter 2010 - 11 Volume 6 Issue 24...brought to you by a proud mommy

of an Island Child...

Winter 2010 - 11 Volume 6 Issue 24

Ella & Lisa

islandresources for pregnancy & parenting

Feature StoriesPg 3 Baby Molly Needs our HelpPg 4 Innie or Outie?Pg 5 Toddlers and ImaginationPg 6 Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3 ...Pg 8 Relationship Rules for FacebookPg 10 Bringing Sexy BackPg 12 Divorcing, With KidsPg 13 Family Photography in the LightPg 14 New Year ChallengePg 16 Home Ownership for Mommies Pg 17 Bratty Brothers Make Unbelievable UnclesPg 19 The Complaint Department

In Every IssuePg 7 Today’s Must HavesPg 9 What’s New in BusinessPg 9 Mortgages for MommiesPg 11 FitnessPg 15 Spotlight on BusinessPg 21 Resource Directory

on the cover

Lila, 6 monthsPhoto by Mary Jane Howland

EDITORLisa Reda

DESIGNLisa Reda

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYMary Jane Howland Photographywww.maryjanescamera.ca

WEBMASTERAlisha BakerInnnersight Multimediawww.innersight.ca

GRAPHICSLindsey-Lea MercerIdentity Graphic Services250-732-5505

Michael LahayGecko Green Living Ltd.250-537-1151

CONTRIBUTORSSarah Binab, Ann Douglas, Aly Fedokowski, Janine Fernandes-Hyden, Alison Gunn, Alisa Harrison, Sandra Sander, Roxanne Weech, Erica Wells, Jennifer Wolf

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Distribution is from Victoria to Comox Valley with a mid-island centre. Subscriptions available, 4 issues per year for $10 delivered to your door.

Advertising InquiriesT: 250.597.3552E: [email protected]: www.islandchildmag.com

Material appearing herein may not be reproduced in print or electronically without written permission of the publisher, and without proper credit. Editorial opinions and viewpoints may not necessarily refl ect those of the publisher.


COMING SOONCowichan Maternity Clinic at the Cowichan District Hospital

Opening in February 2011, the Cowichan Maternity Clinic will provide comprehensive care during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and up to six weeks post partum. Nine family physicians will staff this clinic, which will be adjacent to the Maternity ward. Referrals to the clinic can be made by your family physician.

Check back in the Spring issue to read all about the launch of this new clinic, which is much needed in the Cowichan Valley!

Baby Molly Needs our HelpCancer, at four weeks old?

When this story fi rst broke on December 26th, like every parent out there, the story touched my heart. Cancer at

four weeks old. How is this possible? How does this happen? Why does this happen? These are questions posed to me as my 6-year-old daughter watched the news story with me. Questions that I don’t have answers to tell her. What can we do? That was the only question I had an answer to. We can help them.

To recap this story, a young Victoria family received the devastating news on Christmas Eve that their previously healthy four-week old baby had leukemia. Molly was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells that was rapidly fi lling her body. Molly and her parents, Rebekah and David, were immediately fl own to BC Childrens Hospital in Vancouver. Once there, doctors began to work on little Molly, and tested her bone marrow and spinal fl uid to fi nd out more about the type of leukemia that was growing. She needed multiple IVs to carry medicine and fl uids. Because Molly’s baby hands and arms are so tiny, doctors needed to perform emergency surgery to insert a tube directly into her chest for the IVs. Before the surgery, David and Rebekah held their tiny infant and said their goodbyes; the staff had told them how serious this was, and they knew they may never hold her little hands again.

Molly stabilized after surgery and the doctors started her on steroids, the fi rst stage of a long and painful chemotherapy regime designed to try to eradicate the leukemia that fi lled Molly’s body.

Molly is one of the youngest leukemia patients in BC Childrens Hospital’s history. Cure rates for leukemia have made huge advances in the past 20 years, however, Molly’s leukemia has the genetic markers of a much more diffi cult leukemia to treat. This, along with her very young age, makes this an uphill battle.

When Molly’s doctor met with David and Rebekah on Boxing Day, he told them that Molly will need to stay at Childrens for at least six months, and probably longer. Since Molly has four siblings under the age of seven, David and Rebekah have been told their family size will make it diffi cult to stay at Ronald McDonald House or other family support facilities. Rebekah is a stay-at-home mom and David is the sole fi nancial provider for his family. The fi nancial and emotional burden this family faces is unimaginable. Molly and her parents need your help. The costs will be staggering.

The family will have to set up a residence in Vancouver for the coming months, and pay for the many trips back and forth to the mainland. It is unlikely that David will be able to work, as the four children still need full time childcare outside of the hospital where David or Rebekah need to stay with Molly.

We live in an amazing community with tremendous love and support for families facing adversity, tragedy and illness. As a young parent myself, I can only imagine the heartache and fear that David and Rebekah are feeling. If every Island Child reader donates $1.00 to this family, we would collectively raise over $10,000. Dave and Rebekah have decided to donate any money not required to cover the family’s expenses relating to Molly’s treatment to the Children’s Hospital Foundation to help other children like Molly.

Please Donate:

Mail or drop off a cheque (made to Molly Campbell Trust) to Canadian Western Bank, 1201 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2E6 or visit Molly’s website at www.molly-campbell.com and doante directly through a PayPal link.

Please, for just a moment, compare your Christmas with the one baby Molly and her family have had, and give a gift to those truly in need.

Island Child Magazine / www.islandchildmag.com / winter 2010 -- 11 / 3

Innie or Outie?: Janine Fernandes-Hyden

I need to ask a personal question that may require a bit of navel-gazing. Are you an innie or an outie? Here’s

a fascinating statistic: 75% of the people in the world are outies, which of course means that 25% are innies. These figures blow me away, I’m not sure why, because outies tend to stick out ...

Belly buttons? No. I’m talking about introverts and extroverts and how as parents, an understanding of this dimension of temperament can help us to better companion our children through life. The biggest misconception when it comes to introversion-extroversion is that it has to do with how social you are. In reality however, an extroverted person can be reserved in social situations while the most social person that you can think of might in fact be an introvert.

The main difference between introverts and extroverts is how they restore their energy source. A book entitled “The Introvert Advantage” by Marti Olsen Laney provides an effective analogy. Think of an introvert as a rechargeable battery - they renew themselves by resting and turning into their internal world of reflection. An extrovert on the other hand is like a solar panel - they become charged up by their external environment and refresh themselves by socializing, talking to people and engaging in activities.

How can you tell whether your child is an introvert or an extrovert? Laney suggests the following cues:

If your child is primarily introverted they will probably:* Watch and listen before joining an activity* Enjoy alone time in their room* Have a strong sense of personal space* Be private and may need to be asked what they are feeling or thinking* Speak after thinking things through

If your child is primarily extroverted they will probably:* Be energized by interactions and activities* Often volunteer what they are thinking of feeling

* Prefer time with others rather than time alone* Want to tell you about all their experiences and ideas immediately covering lots of topics* Think out loud.Now that you know, what can you do? If you have an introverted child:* Teach them how to recharge their battery* Build private time into their routine* Be a mindful mediator - if you are in a social situation and find that your child’s eyes are glazing over or that they are becoming grouchy, entice them off to a more peaceful place.* Honour their need for reflection

If you have an extroverted child:* Make sure they have people with whom they can talk, including relationships outside of the family* Talk about personal space* Let them think out loud* Strike a balance between keeping them active while helping them to schedule the quiet and unstructured time that we all need in order to nurture our creative sides

Knowing whether your child is an introvert or extrovert is not meant to be a label, more a tool to better understand your child’s needs and behaviours in order to respond in a more conscious and child-centered manner. So go ahead, “nurture those natures”._________________________________________________

Janine Fernandes-Hayden is an educator and Salt Spring Island Mom of three children, aged 1, 3 and 5.

She hosts a radio show on Salt Spring called the ‘ BeansTalk’. It can be heard on local airwaves at CFSI 107.9 FM or

anywhere online at www.cfsi-fm.com.


Do you make or provide cloth diapers? Are you a photographer with a special interest in bellies and babies?

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Toddlers and Imagination: Carmen Scott

I was in Toys R Us® recently and found my way to the very popular ‘Pink Aisle’. Now I like Barbie just as much

as the next person, we were actually born in the same year. However, this got me thinking about what you can do with a Barbie. You can dress her, you can pose her, you can place her in her house or her car and you can have her play with other toys. This seems to me quite a limited way to encourage imagination.

A great way to encourage imagination is by using everyday items and playing out everyday situations. This allows your toddler to create their own private world, by including their day to day experiences from watching you shop, cook and interact with the world.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:Save your junk mail, old envelopes and stamps for toddlers to play post office.

Set up a grocery store in your living room. Have a dry good section, produce section, dairy section etc. It’s never too early to talk about the five food groups. Get them to take turns being the shop keeper and the customer.

Use play money and some reusable cloth bags – imagination, counting and social responsibility. Now that’s what I call learning through play.

You can make an indoor sandbox by filling a large plastic container with puffed wheat, rice, lentils or beans. This is a great place to use their toy trucks and cars, and items such as measuring spoons and cups on a day that you can’t get outside. Recycle that clear plastic shower curtain and make it into a play mat. Simply lay it out, take a sharpie and create a customized map of countries, roads and buildings, real or imaginary. Your children can use their plastic farm animals and cars. Perhaps they’ll go on a family vacation or road trip to a far off kingdom.

You can use pizza and restaurant menus to set up a restaurant in your house. Have the kids set the table, take your order and serve the food. Raisins, graham wafer crackers and apple juice were always on my daughter’s menu.

Setting up an animal hospital can be fun! This time of year most ‘stuffies’ seem to get the flu. Have your toddler take temperatures, splint a broken leg or dispense medicine.

Don’t forget to include picture books. These are great for changing the story each time you ‘read’ them. Have your toddler make up a story or take turns telling what happens on each page.

Remember, expensive toys are not required to stimulate your child’s imagination; everyday items can be part of the world of magic that toddlers create for themselves.

For more ideas, please check out this great website, www.familyeducation.com._________________________________________________

Carmen Scott is a wife and mother to a pre-teen daughter. She has a Bachelors degree in psychology and is the Founder

of two community service websites, ChildsPlay101.com & GreyPlay101.com. Carmen can be seen weekly on CHEK News

- Island30 “PG Parental Guidance”.


Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3 ...

An amazing new product for nursing moms recently hit the shelves in a local Victoria maternity and baby shop. Milkscreen Breastmilk Alcohol Detection Strips bring peace of mind to nursing moms and allow them to test their breastmilk for

the presence of alcohol. Previously, there were generalized answers to how long it took for alcohol to leave your system. Now nursing moms can indugle in a glass of wine or beer and safely know when they can feed their baby. Milkscreen is a quick and easy at-home test designed to determine whether alcohol is present in your bloodstream prior to nursing your baby. Every woman metabolizes alcohol differently depending on weight, food intake, and the type of alcohol consumed. With a couple of drops of breast milk on a test strip, after only two minutes you will receive a clear positive or negative reading. If alcohol is present, the strip changes color to alert you of a positive result. These results quickly inform you if it is safe to breastfeed or if an alternative food like pre-stored expressed milk should be offered.

Although there is no definitive research to dictate ‘safe’, research does tell us that the negative effects of alcohol begin to appear when an infant consumes milk containing alcohol at 30mg/dl (0.03%) and higher. The Milkscreen test is set to show when breast milk alcohol concentrations are above 20 mg/dl (0.02%).

A recent episode of Khloe and Kourtenay Take Miami showed celebrity Mom Kourtenay Kardashian using Milkscreen to test her breastmilk after a fun night out. Milkscreen has been approved for sale in Canada by the Canadian Health Ministry. Sold exclusively at Bellies in Bloom Maternity in Victoria, Milkscreen are available in packs of 8 or 20 individual test strips and retail for $14.99 and $24.99 respectively. They also have free single samples available, one per person available in store only.


...a sampling of some of the many fantastic new products and services in our marketplace these days...

Today’s Must Haves:

Ooh la la sew pretty - ApronsInspired by her love of fashion and dress up when she was little, Crofton mom Angela

Franke-Cook has created quite a stylish little business for herself with Ooh La La Sew Pretty aprons. What little girl doesn’t love to bake with Mamma? Always so much more fun when you are stylin’ in your Frilly Nilly Mom and Me aprons. Angela is a stay at home mom and takes custom orders for her aprons. With hundreds of colors and patterns to choose from, you’ll be sure to find the style for you! She also makes custom BBQ aprons for Dad! From kids to adults, plain to patterned, bibbed to ruffled, Angela has made these sew pretty!

Visit her blog at oohlalasewpretty.blogspot.com for ordering info.


Parade Organics - Clothing for babies and toddlersEVERYONE LOVES A PARADE

Vancouver-based Parade Organics’ high quality clothing is luxuriously soft and comforting.

With modern, earth inspired colours and fun characters, Parade is a creative and inspiring organic clothing company for babies and toddlers with a line of signature print Kimonos, Knotted caps, Baseball Tees, Baby Play Suits and many more items! Parade

uses only pesticide and chemical free 100% SKAL certified organically grown cotton and sustainable materials. All of Parade’s products are made with the finest organic cotton in sweatshop free environments through fair trade.

Parade products are available from our friends at Gecko Green Living on Salt Spring

ONS Gear - Mitt-OnsMITT-ONS™ are innovative Thinsulate waterproof mittens with a fleece sleeve to

the elbow which stops snow from getting in, keeping little hands warm and dry! Gone are the days of cold and wet little wrists and hands, these patent-pending MITT-

ONS™ have been designed to stay on! Invented by a husband and wife team, with two young boys, in Ottawa, MITT-ONS solve the age-old problem of snow sneaking in between coat cuff and mitt.

Available online at www.onsgear.com for $24.95

Little Bambino - Bambino ZipA practical and convenient must have for every

parent. The Bambino Zip reinvents the conventional hoodie by eliminating stuck heads and neck poking zippers. The Bambino Zip’s practical back zipper makes it easy for parents to put on, but tough for toddlers to take off! Made from 70% bamboo and 30% cotton, there are two designs are available, the blue dragon and the taupe chinese lantern, and come in sizes 6 mos and 1 yr.

Order online at www.littlebambino.ca for $49.95

Welcome to the generation of social media! These days you are now faced with all sorts of questions like, ‘Is my

relationship even legit if it’s not listed on Facebook?’ Allow me to walk you through the Do’s and Dont’s of relationships and social media.

Relationship Rule #1:Don’t define your relationship online unless you are stable and committed. If your relationship is hot and cold, or you break up and make up every other week - don’t list your relationship status online! You’ll avoid all of the drama and humiliation of breaking up on the Internet.

Relationship Rule #2: If you are breaking up, do not change your status online until you have had a face-to-face discussion about ending the relationship. It’s just not classy. To take this a step further, you should really give your ex a heads up that you’re changing your status. Rather than making it ‘single’ right away, maybe the two of you can both take down your status for a while. After a few weeks or months have passed, and everyone basically knows you have split, then it’s appropriate to go back to ‘single’.

Relationship Rules for Facebook:Ali Fedotowski

Relationship Rule #3: If you find yourself checking your ex’s profile daily then you should probably de-friend him. Especially if you are in another relationship. If you are 100 per cent honest with yourself and truly believe that you no longer have romantic feelings for your ex, then I see no problem in being friends online. Ladies, deep in your gut you know whether or not you should be friends with your ex on Facebook - plain and simple.

Relationship Rule #4: It’s OK to share major relationship news online only AFTER you’ve picked up the phone and called your loved ones. There is nothing worse than finding out that your best friend is engaged from her latest status update. Pick up the phone and call your loved ones and give them the news before you go uploading photos of your new sparkly ring.

Relationship Rule #5:DON’T announce devastating news online. It’s just super awkward. If you’re calling off the wedding or you caught your man cheating, take a deep breath and call your loved ones. These things are best said over the phone, or in person.

And ladies, remember - this is just my opinion, and in the end it’s in your hands. That’s the great thing about social media, how you use it and what you share online is completely up to you.

Originally written for Glamour.com.


Do you cut kids hair? Are you a family friendly restaurant or cafe?

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Steps Ahead Dance offers R.A.D. Ballet and I.S.T.D. Modern and Tap syllabus work in preparation for examinations.

PO Box 101Mill Bay, BC V0R 2P0250.701.0203

Our annual showcase “Performing @ Home”

takes place May 27th and 28th at the T. Gil Bunch Centre

for the Performing Arts, Mill Bay

Mortgages for Mommies: Erica Wells

So many Canadians are taking advantage of low interest rates right now ... and rightfully so. In a historical context,

money is cheap! In fact, borrowing costs are so low right now that many people are forgetting what a normal interest rate schedule looks like. Normalized for peaks and valleys over time, the average cost of borrowing is somewhere between 10 and 12%. That is significantly higher than the current 3 to 5% rates we are enjoying right now. My point is to tread carefully as history WILL repeat itself.

With the above warning in mind, it is still truly a great time to take advantage of some low borrowing costs and use your access to capital to improve your life, just please be pragmatic and objective. Don’t get me wrong ... if the perfect Mexican vacation goes on sale or the new line of Coach purses comes out with a ‘must-have design’, I’m not saying don’t splurge here and there ... we all need some fun stuff in our lives. Use these low rates to consolidate debt, upgrade your home or get into the market for the first time. Just remember that even though money is cheap now, it is still debt and if debt isn’t managed correctly it can come back to bite you when you least expect it and at the worst times. When buying a new home, one of the most important criteria lenders look at in when evaluating mortgage applicants is their credit rating. You do not want to find your dream home and then have a lender deny your application because your debt is too high; it could be emotionally devastating. Your closet may be filled with great Coach purses to match every occasion but, make sure that they are Coach purses that are paid off._________________________________________________

Erica Wells is a mortgage broker and published author. You can visit Erica’s new blog, “Ask Erica – Mortgages Made Easy” at www.superiormortgages.blogspot.com where you will

find fun and interesting financial information for moms. For information on current mortgage rates and products, visit

www.superiormortgages.ca.

Send Erica your leads for new mortgages or renewals and if two of your leads close within 6 months of each other, you will win a free

IPAD! For more information on this give-a-way visit www.superiormortgages.ca/IPAD_Contest.html.

What’s New in BusinessWho’s Coming and Going?

Kool & Child, Nanaimo’s largest toy and educational teaching supply store has moved! Previously located on Wallace Street, you will now found Carolyn Kool and her staff at 2517 Bowen Road, next to the Credit Union. Nothing like starting the new year in some new digs. Be sure and visit the new location! www.koolandchild.com / 250-716-1777 Gigi and Lulu’s Consignment store in Whippletree Junction closed their doors in December. A great group of ladies and some awesome finds but not the best location for traffic. Best of luck on your next ventures!

Izzy & Ollie’z Childrens Consignment in Lake Cowichan also have closed up shop. Gillian and Caitlyn showed the small town at the Lake that young women can be successful in business while balancing motherhood. They did a great job in their shop but have moved to greener pastures. Your store will be missed out there!

Kinderbeez Children Consignment launched the Fairy Dust Boutique! A unique concept to the Island, this new addition is sure to be a hit with young girls. Make your own lip gloss, body lotion, and potion! Have a birthday party there, or scent some bubble bath. There are also goodies for the little men to create. Stocked well with cool gift ideas, I picked up the Tooth Fairy Kit, a very ‘2011’ concept for the ‘tooth fairy’ complete with a bottle of Fairydust, a tooth treasure box, a tooth fairy storybook, silver tooth pouch and of course, instructions and ideas to make a magical event of a child’s lost tooth.


Bringing Sexy Back: Rozanne Weech

A couple months ago when I was still a working mom, it seemed everywhere I turned I was hearing people talk

about a ‘work / life’ balance. Now that I am a stay-at-home mom on my maternity leave, I am more concerned with a ‘mom / hot lady’ balance. I love being at home with the kids, I really do. I mean, I am only three months into this year long mat leave stint but the bloom is still fully on the rose. The kids and I have a blast at play groups, on walks to the park, or cranking some tunes at home and staying in our jammies all day. But, there are some days when I lurk out of bed, stare at my closet and think, ‘what’s the point?’ What point is there to carefully selecting my most adorable outfit if it is only going to get puked on? What point is there to plastering on my make-up if there is no one around to appreciate it?

The point: self-preservation. When I was on my first mat leave, over three years ago, I felt alone and isolated. I baked cookies and ate them all miserably in front of the TV. I rarely felt like I had time to shower, and I never dressed nicely. As a result, I put on weight, had a bad attitude, and barely left the house. Looking back, I probably had some symptoms of post-partum, and I really feel doing some things a bit differently could have made the world of difference.

So this time around, I have a game plan. This time I am taking time for myself, showering and dressing everyday. I almost always put on my face now, and although I may not always have time for the best hair-do, I have invested in some excellent hair bobbles and cute hats so I can at least fake it (and if there is some extra cash at the end of the month, mamma’s getting her hair done!).

I have donated or stored any clothes that ‘used to fit’ and have picked up some flattering, comfy, cute clothes that make me feel good about getting up in the morning. Seems like such silly, easy things but they have given me the confidence to want to go out and do things outside the house. And heck, I look great doing it and isn’t that the point?_________________________________________________

Roxanne Weech is mom to 3-year-old Ava and 3-month-old Jack and lives with her partner in the Cowichan Valley.


The ultimate interactive guide for kids activities in Victoria and beyond.

www.childsplay101.com

FamiliesMakingMusic

Positively Fit: Alisa Harrison

Anyone who has ever belonged to a gym knows that attendance goes through the roof in January, as a result

of a myriad New Year’s resolutions to work off holiday weight gain, start another diet, etc. But we know that diets don’t work and resolutions get broken. By February, the lines for the elliptical trainer get shorter as the gym clears out and only the diehards are left, and it’s not till the first signs of spring - a little sunshine here, a day without a jacket there - that people start flooding in again, now terrified by the prospect of swimsuit season just over the horizon.

It is a vicious and discouraging cycle. At the heart of it is an ubiquitous belief that the best reason to exercise is to look slim. Of course there are health benefits in avoiding being overweight. But there is also much more to life than the number on the scale and it might be that developing new motivation to get moving will yield better results.

So what else can we do? Here are some tips for changing the way you think about exercise, which can help you to stay healthy and fit all year long.

1. View exercise as a reward.Focus on the positive! This is especially important for parents, considering how little time most of us have left for ourselves at the end of each day. When we see exercise as something to do to ‘make up’ for past ‘sins’, it is no surprise that so few of us manage to make it part of our everyday lives. After working, taking care of our kids, and cleaning the house, who in their right mind would then volunteer for punishment?!

2. Avoid judgment.Think you are too out of shape for the gym? Have a history of falling off the exercise wagon that is stopping you from trying again? Notice how you feel right now, accept it for what it is, and move on.

3. Exercise according to the season.The gym is great for some, but others prefer the variety that comes with exercising outdoors. Skiing and snowshoeing are family-friendly, total-body workouts we can enjoy on our beautiful West Coast mountains and hiking trails. Spend an afternoon at the ice rink for a great combination of cardio, core, and strength training. As Spring nears, be on the lookout for outdoor bootcamp classes. These high-energy workouts are a great way to make new friends who may share your fitness goals, learn new exercise techniques, and feel warm outside on still chilly days.

Exercise needs to be a part of our regular, everyday lives, all year round, and needs to make us feel good. Be as kind to yourself as you are to your loved ones. If you are truly listening to and meeting your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, chances are your body will find its own rhythm and be right where it needs to be._________________________________________________

Alisa Harrison is a mom of two and BCRPA-certified Pre and Postnatal Fitness Specialist. As the owner/operator of

Fit 4 Two Mid Vancouver Island, Alisa teaches classes that make fitness fun! Contact Alisa at [email protected] or visit

www.fit4two.ca/area/duncan-vancouver-island.


Divorcing, with Kids: Jennifer Wolf

Are you prepared to tell your children about your upcoming divorce? You know it will be painful, but

talking with your children about your divorce or separation is also an opportunity to let them know, first and foremost, that you love them, and to demonstrate that, as a family, you are going to meet their needs and answer their questions. You should be absolutely certain that the divorce or separation will actually happen before you tell the kids. Once that has been determined, consider the guidelines below.

1. Confer with your former partner before you tell the kids about the divorce.Put aside the hurt and anger you may be feeling so that you can make decisions together about the details you will need to tell your children. If you don’t have this conversation beforehand, you may end up having it in front of your kids which wouldn’t be fair to them. Consider using the services of a mediator or counselor, or invite someone you both trust to help you work out the details.

2. If at all possible, both parents should be present when telling the kids.This sends an important message to your kids that you are both capable of working together for their benefit.

In addition, you will want to tell all of the children at one time. It is important that each child hear this news directly from mom and dad. If your kids are different ages, plan to share the basic information at the initial gathering, and follow-up with the older children during a separate conversation.

3. Remain calm and avoid blaming.The manner in which you present this news to your kids will affect the degree of their anxiety and whether they anticipate a positive outcome for themselves. If the meeting becomes a screaming match, your kids will be far more unsettled about what is happening. Avoid the tendency to assign blame or say whose ‘fault’ this is. To the extent that you can, try to incorporate the word ‘we’ when you are explaining the decisions that have been made.

4. Provide a general reason for what is happening. It is not important, or even appropriate, that you provide specific details about why you are planning a divorce however your kids will want to know why this is happening.

... continued on page 20


Giving you back the luxury of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in!

Simple maintenance cleaning or Complete deep cleaning, regular and occasional service

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in the South Cowichan Valley - free in-home estimates

eco-friendly cleaning servicesCleanChoice

With yet another local family in the news with a sick baby, the timing for coming

across The Tiny Light Foundation couldn’t be better. This new non-profit organization in Canada, with services on Vancouver Island, was started by Billie Depatie of Alberta and her longtime friend Melissa DePape of BC. Melissa’s daughter Nevaeh, has Down syndrome and needed surgery to repair a hole in her heart when she was six months. The Tiny Light provides free professional photography for children and families that have been faced with a life altering diagnoses. They provide lasting memories through the art of photography.

Tiny Light photographers are hand-picked and have the skills and patience required to work in delicate situations where serious illness or life-altering disabilities are present. Photograhers will travel to your home, to the hospital, or to a school to capture the special moments in the day and life of you and your child.

Family Photography in the Light:non-profit organization helping families with sick children

Each session is free of charge and you are provided with a disk of high resolution edited photos ready for printing for your personal use.Any parent/family with a child within the ages of 0 to 18 who is dealing with a life-altering disease, disability, or any other type of diagnosis is able to utilize the services provided by The Tiny Light.

The Tiny Light Foundation is looking for additional studio space; any space with

photography lighting is what they need. Many children are too sick to venture outside so the more studio locations available, the better able to accomodate the families they will be. If you are a photographer or have access to a studio that you can loan out some time, please contact Melissa.

Please visit www.thetinylight.com for more information, or contact one of the founders, Melissa at 604-792-5141.

watersedgeorganics.com

Eco Lux for Baby,Child & Mom250.947.5362

Water's Edge Organics



You know him as the guy who gave you a speeding ticket, who pulled you over in a routine roadblock, or who

caught you the one time you failed to buckle your seat belt. Some of us may have even called on him during a domestic dispute or robbery of our home. We criticize his every move. When dealing with violence he is either ‘brutal’ or he ‘doesn’t do enough’.

He must be courageous enough to run into situations where everyone else is running out. Everytime one of us calls 911 he has to be prepared to deal with what comes at him ... shootings, car accidents, fights, robberies, drunk drivers ... anything nasty and he’s your guy. He must decide in a split second what to do in the very situation it takes many lawyers and judges months to. He must conduct himself beyond reproach, on the job and off. He must be diplomatic, politically correct, be tough enough to fight a thug to the ground, and gentle enough to deliver the news ‘I am sorry your son/daughter has been killed in a car accident’ at the door in the middle of the night. He does not have the luxury of discretion of call - any time of day or night in any situation that we call, he will put aside his own safety and come. No matter what.

I know him as the man down the street. The guy who has two kids and a rambunctious puppy, and rushes out to the street with the garbage each week - sometimes just in time.

New Year Challenge: Sandra SanderHe is teaching his son to play baseball, and video tapes his daughter’s ballet recitals. He worries about his aging mom, and his younger sister who is in a less than ideal marriage. He has hopes and dreams for his family and is disappointed when his teenagers get into trouble. He loves his wife and children, and often kisses them goodnight when they are already sleeping as he heads out for night shift. He goes to work each day, walking out the door, many times putting himself in harm’s way for the safety of the public at large.

Like you, I read the papers and watch the news. I read the ‘Police Brutality’ headlines which most times are the police doing their job and keeping the public safe. There is no other profession that we can call out, continually scrutinize, criticize, and openly dislike that will still come everytime we call. Ironically, the better he does his job, the more we dislike him. This public shift towards the police being the bad guy puts each and every one of us at risk. We need police. We need our police to feel supported and respected. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt next time we see a sensational headline. Our children need to feel thankful that we have men and women prepared to put their lives on the line for our safety.

This New Year I challenge every Island Child reader to examine their attitude towards police in their community and show support in some way. Really ... it’s the least we can do.

Spotlight on Business

Know of a great business that you would like to see profiled here? Call or email for details! 250.597.3552 or [email protected]

Malia Magoo

Pink & Blue l baby portrait artPink & Blue is a mom-run photography business in the Cowichan Valley.

New mom Rosanne Korteland, offers Maternity, Birth, Newborn, and Baby Portrait sessions. For Maternity sessions, Roseanne prefers to go outdoors and shoot on location, but studio photographs is a possibility as well. For Newborn Photography, Roseanne brings a portable studio to your home so you don’t have to worry about packing baby up for a few hours and heading to a studio. The session is best to take place when baby is between 5 and 10 days old and will last anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours depending on how much time is needed to get baby in a nice deep sleep. Before all portrait sessions, Roseanne will talk in depth with you to best customize the session to your needs and to create an end product you will be thrilled with. Rosanne will create custom wall art for you to display your images for everyone to see. Turn your images into birth announcements, framed enlargements, or gift prints.

Rosanne is the newest photographer with The Tiny Light, a non-profit organization helping families with sick children (see page 13).

Expectant and new parents can contact Rosanne at 250.701.9546 or email her at [email protected]. Examples of her work can be found online at www.pinkandblue.ca. Be sure to “like” the Pink & Blue page on Facebook

to take advantage of the Fan Only Specials (www.facebook.com/pinkandbluebaby)!


Nanaimo Mom of twin girls, Devon MacMillan, opened Malia Magoo in January 2007 and it quickly became downtown Nanaimo’s hip kids clothing store. The Chapel

Street storefront boasts the best in quality clothing, footwear and accessories at affordable prices. Devon is no stranger to the retail front. She has been in retail for 16 years but it wasn’t until she started shopping for nieces and nephews that she decided she wanted to specialize in the kids market. Malia Magoo carries the clothes and accessories that you can’t find anywhere else. Devon hand picks the items she carries in her store to match every child’s personality, body type, and the individual needs of the kids and their parents. Devon’s 2-year-old girls have triggered her passion for over the top, funky fashions for girls so things should get interesting in the store soon! Not to exclude the young men in our lives, 2011 will also bring boys clothing that is different, full of personality, edgy, and not too ‘cute’. Customers are always right when they comment Malia Magoo has the best selection on the Island of the oh-so-popular DC line of clothing and footwear.

And as if this new Mom doesn’t have her hands full enough, she has launched the new MM Boutique, an in-house line of handmade hair accessories, tutus, pettiskirts and tops, babyshoes and much more!

Stay tuned for an online store to be opened for out of town customers to be able to shop Malia Magoo!

Malia Magoo is located at 115 Chapel Street in Nanaimo. You can reach Devon at the store at 250.591.5678.

Home Ownership for Mommies: Sarah Binab

So you have decided that it is time to enter into the housing market. You are tired of paying your landlord’s mortgage

and you have weighed the pros and cons of taking the leap to investing in YOUR future. First time home buying is an exciting and sometimes scary step, but is truly a very rewarding financial and personal commitment.

Your first step is to get pre-qualified by your lender (bank), or mortgage broker. Establish a mortgage amount you are qualified to borrow and that you can realistically manage. Make sure you shop around for the best rates, terms, and options. Keep in mind you will need at least 5% of the purchase price for a down payment ready and available (more is ideally better). You will also need some extra money for your closing costs once you have found the right property that suites your needs.

Once you have been pre-qualified, then it is time to decide on the property type and location, that is right for your family. Will you be looking to purchase a strata property such as a condo, townhouse, or duplex, or will you be looking for a single family dwelling?

Determine the home features that are most important to you, ie number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking, etc. If it is a strata property you are looking to buy, then you will need to look at what the monthly strata fees are and what they pay for, how many parking spaces are included, if there is shared or in-suite laundry, if they allow pets (what kind, how many and weight), if rentals are allowed, and if there are any age restrictions.

It is a good idea to begin looking through your local real estate papers and magazines to get a sense for what is out there and what your price range will afford. Attending open houses is another great way to get started at finding your new home.

The third step is to find a realtor® you can feel comfortable with and trust. Realtors® are highly trained professionals who specialize in both buying and selling real estate. As a buyer, there are no costs to you to use a realtor®. It is the seller who pays the buyer’s agent a co-operating commission. The most common way to find a realtor® is through referrals from friends and family. Another great way is to go out to as many open houses as you can, even if it is not necessarily a home you know you cannot afford. This way you will meet realtors® in their element and get a feel for who they are so you can determine if their energy is compatible with yours.

Searching for the right home can be a quick and easy process for some, but others may find it more challenging. There are many questions and emotions that will arise as you begin your search but know that your agent will be there to assist and advise you every step of the way.

Happy house hunting!________________________________________________

Sarah Binab is a Realtor® with Binab Strasser of Re/Max Alliance. She is mom to Emre, two years, and can be reached at 250-360-1929 if you are looking for market information for your

growing family.


Bratty Brothers Who Become Unbelievable Uncles: Alison Gunn


“Hello Quinn,” a virtual monkey says to my three-year-old daughter. Her grin is as wide as, well, a banana, as

she watches and listens to the rest of the toupee-clad monk’s message.

“I hope you are well. I’m back at work. It’s not fun. Now you will have to play for the both of us. Please send me cake and ice cream when you have the chance.”

“Uncle Andrew needs chocolate cake, right away,” Quinn announces.

Uncles. I should tell her Uncle Andrew once stole my diary and let the boy I was gushing about, in said diary, read every teen-angst filled page. But I don’t. She’d probably side with Uncle Andrew. He did just teach her to rub her hands together and laugh evily when she’s doing something mischievous, like plotting with him at a wedding to steal the uncut cake. And he is Quinn’s motivation to ride her bike. “Next time Uncle Andrew comes I’m going to ride faster than him.” (Insert evil laughter here.)

Golden uncle status. All three of my brothers have it: Andrew, Michael and Gregory.

It was there from the beginning with Uncle Michael. He must have been whispering in her ear as she slept, for the moment Quinn could talk, Uncle Michael was everywhere: piloting planes, trains and spaceships. Now at three, Quinn’s infatuation has simmered to the belief he comes over to play with her, and her alone.

Meanwhile, Uncle Gregory’s efforts to get Quinn to say, “You got it dude,” like Michelle Tanner from Full House fell flat, but a trip to Build-A-Bear and his understanding of unicorns won her affection.

Are these the same bratty brothers who threw a fit and got my No-Boys-Allowed secret club shut down; who rigged my bedroom door with a Super Soaker so it would squirt me in the face; whose sole purpose in life was to live and breathe annoyance into my young world?

Are these the kind of influences I want for my children?

Absolutely.

As much as I feared a chunk of wedding cake would go missing, or that my daughter’s first sentence would be from a TV show, the fact my brothers take the time to form relationships with my girls (both Quinn and her younger sister Scarlett) makes me hold my tongue to their harmless play. (Trust my brothers to find a new way of bugging me: through my children).

Now, I’m not saying they are pardoned for their aforementioned crimes – the diary was a low blow. But I cannot ignore the magic that happens when the uncles are around. Suddenly there are games of chase, hide and scare, and stuffed animals whizz about. Naturally, when they’ve finished riling up the girls, they flee responsibility, and return to their regularly scheduled lives, but what can you do?

The big sister in me thinks the uncles have Peter Pan syndrome: they’ve never grown up. But the mother in me knows uncles are like pixie dust, helping my girls fly. _________________________________________________

Alison Gunn is a writer living in Victoria with her two daughters, Quinn and Scarlett, and her husband Mike.

Do you operate a daycare in your home?Do you manufacture or sell bamboo baby clothes?

Are you a kids consignment store? Do you need help increasing your business?


~ 250.597.3552 ~

The Complaint Department: Ann Douglas

While there’s bound to be at least one woman in your prenatal class who manages to sail through her entire

pregnancy without being troubled by so much as a single ache or pain, such mothers-to-be tend to be the exception rather than the rule. The rest of us mere mortals end up experiencing a smorgasbord ofdifferent complaints along the way. Here’s what you need to know about coping with the ten most common pregnancy-related aches and pains.

1. Morning sickness. Morning sickness is one of the most bothersome pregnancy-related complaints, but also one of the most common: studies have shown that 80% of pregnant women experience it to a certain degree. The best ways to do battle with morning sickness are to keep your blood sugar level relatively stable by eating frequently throughout the day; avoid fluids at mealtimes, since this may add to your nausea; focus on eating stomach-friendly foods; steer clear of strong odors and avoid tight-fitting clothing. If all else fails, try wearing a set of anti-nausea wristbands: some pregnant women swear by them.

2. Fatigue. Fatigue is Mother Nature’s way of reminding you that you need to slow down. After all, your body is busy growing a baby. Your energy level will pick up during the second trimester, but you can expect to feel pretty dragged out until that time. The best way to cope is to give your body whatit needs: plenty of sleep.

3. Breast tenderness. You may find your breasts feel sore and swollen around the time that the pregnancy test comes back positive, particularly if you’re pregnant for the first time. Fortunately, this extreme tenderness tends to ease up relatively quickly. In the meantime, you might want to put your partner on notice that there’s a hands-off policy in effect.

4. Constipation. High levels of progesterone cause the muscles of the intestine to get a little sluggish when you’re pregnant – something that can lead to the misery that is constipation. Fortunately, the problem takes care of itself if you drink plenty of water, consume large quantities of high-fiber foods, and exercise regularly.

5. Hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids occur when pressure from the baby’s head causes the veins around the anus to swell. You can minimize the discomfort by applying an ice pack or prescription ointment to the affected area, keeping the area around your anus clean, not straining when you’re having a bowel movement, and not sitting on hard surfaces or standing for long periods of time, but chances are your hemorrhoids won’t disappear entirely until long after delivery day.

the top 10 pregnancy-related aches and pains and how to manage them

The Complaint Dept... continued from page 19


Older children will recognize that this is a huge life change, and they will weigh that change against the reason you give them. So while you do not want to share details of a personal nature, be prepared to give some type of general explanation.

5. Provide specific details about the changes your kids can expect.Your kids will want to know where and with whom they are going to live, and what in their lives is going to change. You can help your children to be prepared for change by being honest about what you know, and what you do not know.

6. Provide specific details about the parent who is leaving. The more you can tell your kids about where the departing parent will be living, and when they will be seeing him or her, the better. They will need to know, right away, that they will be able to maintain a quality relationship with this parent, even though they won’t be living under the same roof.

7. Reassure the children of your unconditional love.Your children will need lots of reassurance that the divorce is not their fault. Specifically tell them that nothing they did could have caused, nor prevented, what is happening.

8. Be sensitive to how the kids react to this news. What you are telling them may be completely unexpected, and will most assuredly change their lives. Try to be as understanding of no reaction, which is a reaction, as you would be if the children were in tears or extremely angry.

9. Welcome their questions. Most likely, the children will have many questions. To the extent that you can, be honest and clear in your responses. If you do not know the answer to a question, tell them that. Also, realize that this conversation will unfold in many parts. After you have told the children about the divorce or separation, expect to revisit the topic many times as new questions and concerns arise.

10. Give them time to adjust to the news.It will take time for your children to adjust to this news. It is a huge change, and while you may be confident in the hopeful future you envision for them, it will take some time for them to see that future play out. In the meantime, be patient with their needs and make the effort to be a steady presence in their lives._________________________________________________

Jennifer Wolf is a writer with About.com. She has a great column for single parents at www.singleparents.about.com.

Divorcing, with kids... continued from page 12

6. Backache. The overstretching of your abdominal muscles, changes to your posture and the curvature of your spine, and the hormonal changes that cause the ligaments in your back to relax are all to blame. Your best bets for minimizing your discomfort are to avoid activities like running that may be jarring to your spine, exercise caution when you’re bending, lifting, or otherwise changing position, avoid sitting or standing in one position for long periods of time, pay attention to your posture, and tuck a pillow between your knees when you’re sleeping on your side.

7. Heartburn. The hormonal changes of pregnancy are responsible for yet another common complaint: heartburn. Your best bets for battling heartburn are to eat smaller, more frequent meals, avoid spicy or fried foods, coat your stomach with a glass of milk before eating, and skip your bedtime snack. If allelse fails, you might want to ask your doctor to recommend an antacid or medication that’s safe for use during pregnancy.

8. Breathlessness. It’s hardly surprising that you find yourself feeling out of breath each time you climb a flight of stairs: you’re subletting your lungs to your uterus! This is why that bothersome feeling of breathlessness tends to get worse as your pregnancy progresses. There’s not much you can do about this particular complaint but count down the days until you deliver – something that will have you breathing easier for more than one reason.

9. Insomnia. Whether it’s caused by anxiety about the coming birth or the physical discomforts of pregnancy, insomnia is a common complaint during pregnancy. Try exercising regularly, winding down with a mug of warm milk, skipping your late-evening snack, and sleeping with as many pillows as it takes tomake yourself comfortable.

10. Braxton Hicks contractions. Braxton Hicks contractions are the irregular contractions that occur during the last half of pregnancy as your body starts to do some heavy-duty training for the main event (labor!). While they can be very uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, there’s not much you can do about them except practice your labor breathing and remind yourself that pregnancy is a limited-time offer: you won’t be pregnant forever, even though it may sometimes feel that way. ___________________________________________________

Ann Douglas is an award-winning writer and the author of 27 books, including the bestselling The Mother of All Pregnancy

Books, The Mother of All Baby Books, and more. You can find book excerpts, articles, tip sheets, and more

by visiting Ann’s website at www.having-a-baby.com.

The Complaint Dept... continued from page 19


Adoption_____________________________________

Choices Adoption & Counselling Serviceswww.choicesadoption.caT: 888-479-9811Licensed non-profit adoption agency in BC.

Sunrise Family Services Societywww.SunriseAdoption.comT: 888-984-2488Creating the joy of family by adopting.

The Adoption Centrewww.adoption-bc.comT: 800-935-4237

Art Therapy_____________________________________

Liz McKnight, Registered Art TherapistT: 250-713-8857Creative counselling for children and families.

Beauty for Kids_____________________________________

Beaners Fun Cuts for KidsCountry Club Centre39A - 3200 North Island Hwy, NanaimoT: 250-758-2444Where kids can be kids and Moms can take a load off!

Lizzy Lee & MeShelbourne Plaza3655 Shelbourne Street, VictoriaT: 250-590-5568www.lizzyleeandme.com

Birth Announcements_____________________________________

Animal Cracker Announcementswww.animalcrackersonline.comCustom made birth announcements.

Breastfeeding Clinics & Support_____________________________________

VARIOUS COMMUNITIESHappy Tribe ConsultingT: 250-739-3146www.happytribe.caKaryn-grace Clarke is a registered lactation consultant offering in-home and clinic-based consultations for breastfeeding, parenting and relationship issues.

DUNCANPublic Health UnitT: 250-709-3050

La Leche League SupportT: 250-746-1601, ChristyE: [email protected]

NANAIMOLa Leche League SupportT: 250-754-5853, Bridget

Nanaimo Breastfeeding CentreT: 250-755-3388Individual breastfeeding counselling and support.

Breastfeeding Clinics & Support_____________________________________

PARKSVILLEParksville Health UnitT: 250-248-2044

La Leche LeagueT: 250-390-5184, Lesleywww.LLLC.ca

Kathy DuttonCertified Lactation ConsultantT: 250-951-9886

VICTORIALa Leche League SupportT: 250-727-4384

Child Care - Daycares, Preschools, Nannies

_____________________________________

International NanniesT: 800-820-8308Free instant access to 100s of nanny profiles

Supreme Nannies CanadaT: 250-483-5222Your one-stop source for nannies and caregivers across Canada.

CHEMAINUSSt. Joseph’s Early Learning and Child Care CentreT: 250-246-3191W: www.stjosephselem.caWe believe that all children have the right to a healthy spiritual, social, emotional, physical and intellectual environment, that respects and plans for their individual interests and needs.

COWICHAN BAYTreetops DaycareT: 250-748-5716Daycare full and part time, preschool program in the morning, after school care.

DUNCANArcadian Day Care CentreT: 250-748-3922Happy, safe and caring environment. Ages birth to 5. Early Childhood Educators. New infant & toddler centre.

Kidzco Learning CentreT: 250-746-4027Stimulating environment that includes each child’s uniqueness. 30 months to 5 years.

Kingdom Treasures Christian PreschoolT: 250-746-0110

Sunrise Waldorf SchoolT: 250-743-7253Parent & Child, Nursery and K to 8.**See ad page 5

LAKE COWICHANKaatza Child CareT: 250-749-6422

NANAIMOFour Seasons MontessoriHammond Bay Road, NanaimoT: 250-758-8979

resource directory Child Care - Daycares, Preschools, Nannies

_____________________________________

QUALICUMLittle Star Children’s CentreT: 250-752-4554Earth friendly philosophy with an inspired, academic curriculum.

Morning Glory Childcare CentreT: 250-752-6777E: [email protected] and caring Waldorf based programs in a lovely rural setting minutes from Qualicum Beach.

Oceanside Montessori SchoolHoylake Road W, Qualicum Beach T: 250-738-0305Providing your child with a beautiful Montessori environment, both inside and out, so as to generate a curiosity and zest for life! Self-paced learning to build confidence and independence. Ages 3 to 5.

SALTSPRING ISLANDSaltspring Daycare and PreschoolT: 250-537-2114

Tree Frog Daycare T: 250-653-4998

SHAWNIGAN LAKEPrecious Beginnings Early Childcare CentreT: 250-743-4477

VICTORIAGoldstream Co-op PreschoolT: 250-474-3011E: [email protected]/gspsA parent-participation preschool with programs for 3 & 4 year olds.

Miles of SmilesT: 250-298-7374www.milesofsmileschildcare.com Nightingale Preschool and Jr KindergartenT: 250-595-7544www.nightingalepreschool.comTaking children’s learning forward, balanced approach to play and education.

Chiropractic _____________________________________

Discover Chiropractic Family Wellness CntrDr. Erin Anderson16 - 1594 Fairfield Road, VictoriaT: 250-386-9355

Valleyview Family ChiropracticDr. Vanessa White11 - 1400 Cowichan Bay Road, Cobble HillT: 250-743-3775

Counselling_____________________________________

INSITEwww.greatrelationships.caT: 250-751-0111E: [email protected] at Edgewood is a six-day, therapeutic process that integrates mind, body and spirit to help you achieve the life of wholeness and authenticity you seek.

Counselling_____________________________________

Shore Counselling Societywww.shorecounselling.caT: 250-716-1888E: [email protected] counselling for individuals, couples and families.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder_____________________________________

Nanaimo FASD SocietyT: 250-758-6317E: [email protected] organization providing information sessions and workshopsand community events aimed at sharing education and awareness for the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the mid island region.

Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization T: 250-753-1133Autism and FASD.

Foster Parent Support__________________________________

Foster Parent Support Services SocietyT: 1-888-922-8437, 250-598-1500www.fosterhope.caInformation for those interested in becoming foster parents.

Health and Wellness_____________________________________

Apples to Oranges ConsultingT: 250-516-4234, Loriwww.applestooranges.caDifference through diet for autistic kids

USANA Health Sciences T: 250-709-9086, Tarawww.tarablackstock.usana.comExceptional, science-based nutritional and personal-care products.

Dr. Amy WellsNaturopathic Family Physician1 - 2311 Rosewall Crescent, CourtenayT: 250-871-2600

Home Schooling / Tutoring_____________________________________

Wondertree Homelearners’ NetworkT: 250-754-1227, Suzannewww.wondertree.orgProviding homeschooling registration across BC; supporting self-directed learning.

Academic Advantage TutoringT: 250-483-5496 (Victoria and Western Communities)T: 877-787-5854 (Comox Valley and Campbell River)www.schooliseasy.comHelp your child get a head start! Certified teachers can help your child excel at reading, writing and math in the convenience of your own home.**See ad page 12


House Cleaning & Maintenance_____________________________________

Clean Choice CleanersT: 250-929-8381, TraceyGiving you back the luxury of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in!**See ad page 13

Lush Eco LawnsT: 250-597-0408, JohnE: [email protected] lawn mowing, seasonal organic soil treatments, and environmentally friendly lawn maintenance.**See ad page 8

Lifestyle & Wellness_____________________________________

Renee Lindstrom, GCFPwww.insideawareness.comIntegrating body, emotions and behaviour

Midwives_____________________________________

Midwives Association of BC/College of Midwives will provide a list of midwives in your communityT: 604-736-5976

VARIOUS COMMUNITIESMid-Island MidwiferyT: 250-246-4083, Laurie UntereinerProviding holistic care during the childbearing year. Serving communities from Crofton to Nanaimo. COWICHAN VALLEYCowichan Midwifery GroupT: 250-709-2040

SALTSPRING ISLANDCommunity Midwifery CareT: 250-537-2243Offering experienced care for low-risk local moms. Will consider clients from communities with no Midwives.

VICTORIAAccess MidwiferyT: 250-380-6329Serving Esquimalt, Western Communities & Victoria

Music, Dance & Exercise_____________________________________

Adage StudioT: 250-709-4048www.adagestudio.comClasses for children and adults**See ad page 12

BC Boys ChoirT: 1-888-909-8282www.bcboyschoir.org

Duncan Dynamics GymnasticsT: 250-746-0193www.ddgc.ca**See ad page11

Island Kung FuT: 250-701-0222www.islandkungfu.com

Music for Young ChildrenT: 250-749-3356www.myc.com/teacher/RCrosby

Music, Dance & Exercise_____________________________________

MoonDance Dynamic Arts SchoolT: 250-743-5846www.MoonDanceArts.caWest African Dance & Drumming, Dance from India, Hip Hop & more!

Nanaimo Conservatory of MusicT: 250-754-4611www.ncmusic.caKindermusik, a good beginning never ends.

Peninsula Academy of Music ArtsT: 778-426-1800www.PeninsulaAcademy.caMusic lessons for all ages, all instruments. Accredited teachers, instrument rentals & sales, lots of parking.

Salsa Babies and Salsa TotsT: 604-461-7827www.runnersandbootiesfitness.comDance back into shape with baby as partner!

Steps Ahead DanceT: 250-701-0203www.stepsaheadbc.comQuality dance instruction for children, RAD ballet, ISTD Modern, ISTD Tap**See ad page 8

Vancouver Island Symphonywww.vancouverislandsymphony.comNoteworthy Kids: A free community outreach program sponsored by the Vancouver Island Symphony, Nanaimo.

Victoria Conservatory of MusicT: 250-386-5311www.vcm.bc.caFresh new music programs with musical fun for the very young!**See ad page 10

Victoria Suzuki Piano SchoolT: 250-385-8355www.VSPA.caMontessori-styled music environment for young children.

Online Resources_____________________________________

www.canigettherecipe.comwww.childsplay101.comwww.cowichanvalleykids.comwww.dinnervibe.comwww.kidsinnanaimo.comwww.kidsinvictoria.comwww.MyBabyStuff.cawww.savvymom.cawww.smalltownchicks.comwww.westcoastmoms.ca

Optometry_____________________________________

South Cowichan EyecareChemainus Family EyecareT: 250-743-8899, 250-246-3405www.myeyecare.ca

Salt Spring EyecareDr. Andrea N. Varju, Optometrist158A Fulford-Ganges Rd, Salt Spring IslT: 250-537-4356

Party Planning_____________________________________

A Piece of Cake! Children’s PartiesT: 250-715-0286, Nicolewww.childrensparties.caChildren’s party planning consultant.**See ad page 12

Giggle Box Party RentalsT: 250-882-1865, Kimwww.gigglebox.caSpecializing in children’s party theme rentals.

Goodies GaloreT: 250-510-1522, JohannaGoodie bags - birthdays, holidays, baby showers, incentive for students / children.

Photography_____________________________________

Crystal Clear Photographywww.crystalclearphotography.comT: 250-792-2575, CrystalBabies, boudoir, maternity, weddings and portraits.

Greg Howard Photography www.greghoward.caT: 250-954-4253, Greg & VanessaE: [email protected]

Mary Jane Howland Photographywww.maryjanescamera.caContact: Mary JaneBabies, bellies, family & wedding photography; all photos provided on CD.**See ad page 13**Cover Photographer

Nancy George Photography, NG Designswww.ngdesigns.caT: 250-748-8006, NancyE: [email protected] and creative portrait Photographer serving southern Vancouver Island.

Sheri Jackson Photographywww.sherijacksonphoto.caT: 250-740-5904, SheriArtistic, babies, kids, families, maternity, weddings.

Poison Centre_____________________________________

Your Poison CentreT: 800-567-8911The BC Poison Control Centre provides accurate up to date information about potential hazards and recommends treatment as needed.

Prenatal Classes_____________________________________

Beautiful BirthBirthing From Within classes and Certified Doula Care T: 250-597-2770, Catherine Quagliawww.beautifulbirth.ca

Victoria HypnoBirthingT: 250-888-5995E: victoriahypnobirthing@gmail.comwww.victoriahypnobirthing.comHypnobirthing is based on the belief that severe discomfort does not have to be a natural accompaniment of birthing.

Pre and Postnatal Yoga, Massage and Fitness

_____________________________________

COWICHAN VALLEY T: 250-746-0327, Lilian Bianchiwww.namasteyoga.caPrenatal and Postnatal (moms and babies) yoga classes.

VARIOUS COMMUNITIES Belly LoveT: 250-748-6080, Kris LangPrenatal & Postpartum massage and yoga instruction.

Fit 4 Two Pre and Post Natal Fitnesswww.fit4two.ca

Mambo Moms: Fitness Fun For Baby & MomT: 250-754-7090, Susanwww.MamboMoms.comClasses in Nanaimo, DVD for fitness fun at home or a unique baby shower gift.

Shop ‘n StrollT: 877-479-9429www.runnersandbootiesfitness.comClasses run year round - Mayfair Mall and Woodgrove Centre.

VICTORIAMothering TouchPrenatal Yoga taught by specialized perinatal yoga teachers. Monday and Thursdays from 5:30-7 Sundays from 2:30-4

Mommy-and-Baby YogaThursdays from 1:15-2:15

Mommy and Toddler YogaMondays from 10:30-11:30

Prenatal FitnessWednesdays from 5:30-6:30

Baby-Bootie Camp - postnatal fintessWednesdays from 10:30-11:30

Retail ~ CONSIGNMENT:Clothing & Accessories

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CUMBERLANDPolka Dot Pants2720 Dunsmuir Avenue, CumberlandVery cool consignment clothing for women and children.

DUNCANIndigo Childrens Consignment131 Station Street, DuncanT: 250-709-2042Toys, clothes, car seats, furniture, maternity

Kinderbeez Children’s Consignment2755 Beverly Street, DuncanT: 250-748-2345** See ad Back Page

LADYSMITHIndigo Childrens Consignment436 First Avenue, LadysmithT: 250-245-2042Melissa & Doug, Robeez, Bumbo, Padraigs

NANAIMOKit n’ Caboodle Quality Childrens Consignment36 - 1925 Bowen Road, NanaimoT: 250-585-KIDS (5437)


Retail ~ CONSIGNMENT:Clothing & Accessories

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PARKSVILLEAnd Tiger ... Two!138 Middleton Avenue, ParksvilleT: 250-954-0051

VICTORIAA to Z Kids801 Goldstream Avenue, VictoriaT: 250-474-7769

Clothesline ClothingRoyal Oak Shopping CentreT: 250-479-0800www.clotheslineclothing.ca

Little Treasures Children’s Consignment1606 Stanley Avenue, VictoriaT: 250-590-4228www.shoplittletreasures.ca

Retail ~ MATERNITY:Clothing & Accessories

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ONLINEHaute MamaT: 866-615-3800www.HauteMama.caTry the new Wardrobe in a Box!**See ad page 18

VICTORIABellies in Bloom Maternity104 - 4489 Viewmont Ave, VictoriaT: 250-479-0803www.belliesinbloommaternity.com**See ad page 6

La Mama Maternity1010 Broad Street, VictoriaT: 250-388-3977www.lamamamaternity.comMaternity wear, nursing wear, diaper bags & more!

Mothering Touch975 Fort Street, VictoriaT: 250-595-4905www.MotheringTouch.caThe place for new & expectant parents.**See ad page 14

Retail ~ ONLINE:Children’s Clothing, Shoes, Toys

& Accessories_____________________________________

Aly Dahl Designswww.alydahl.comHandcrafted bespoken jewelry created from reclaimed pure silver.

Bare Organicswww.bareorganics.caOrganic skin care products for mama and baby, new baby and new parent gift baskets.

Bealoo Kid’s Decorwww.bealoo.etsy.comFun and funky art decor for babies and kids

Booties in a Boxwww.bootiesinabox.comGenuine leather baby booties, 0-2 years.

Continuum Familywww.continuum-family.comYour source for natural parenting essentials

Retail ~ ONLINE:Children’s Clothing, Shoes, Toys

& Accessories_____________________________________

Doodlebabywww.doodlebaby.caAffordable, handmade baby gifts, custom orders welcome.

Dragonfly Distributingwww.tiptoeyjoey.comTip Toey Joey Baby Footwear

Kissed Babywww.kissedbaby.comCanada’s fashionable, comfortable, unpadded baby slings (and more!)

Momo Design Housewww.momodesignhouse.comDurable linen baby slings, silky bamboo bedding, organic cotton onesies. Free shipping offer.

Oma Gosh! Designswww.omagoshdesigns.comCustom products, blankets, superhero capes, storybook pillows and more!

Po Po’s Ponchoswww.popoponchos.comJackets your kids WILL wear!

Saplings Sustainable Kids Decorwww.saplings.caCreating ‘green’ spaces where children play, sleep & dream.

Tot-To-Gowww.tot-to-go.comT: 604-523-9339 E: [email protected] slings, nursing covers and essentials.

Water’s Edge Organicswww.watersedgeorganics.comT: 250-947-5362Eco lux for baby, child and mom.**See ad page 13

YOU Pillowswww.YOUpillows.comA must-have for mom, baby and the whole family!

Retail ~ ONLINE:Products and Services for Mom and Baby

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Cards by Kidswww.cardsbykids.caOne-of-a-kind greeting cards by your favorite artists ... your KIDS!

Craft Caravanwww.craftcaravan.comNew crafts every month, fun mail for kids!

Easy Daysieswww.easydaysies.comMagnetic schedules for kids.

Happy Island Diaper Servicewww.happyislanddiapers.comT: 866-922-7377 or 250-591-7000The ‘BEST’ way to cloth diaper your child.**See ad page 19

Retail ~ STORES:Children’s Clothing, Furniture,

Shoes, Toys & Accessories_____________________________________

COURTENAYfirefly : new beginnings435 5th Street, CourtenayT: 250-703-2848Maternity, baby, kids & now consignment!

DUNCANIndigo Childrens Consignment131 Station Street, DuncanT: 250-709-2042Toys, clothes, car seats, furniture, maternity

Kinderbeez Children’s Consignment2755 Beverly Street, DuncanT: 250-748-2345**See ad Back Page

LADYSMITHIndigo Childrens Consignment436 First Avenue, LadysmithT: 250-245-2042Toys, clothes, car seats, furniture, maternity

NANAIMOKool & Child2517 Bowen Road, NanaimoT: 250-716-1777Educational toys for children.

Malia Magoo115 Chapel Street, NanaimoT: 250-591.5678Hip clothes for kids.

Pumpkin Pie Kids Wearwww.pumpkinpiekids.com411A Fitzwilliam StreetT: 250-754-3933Quality items for baby and older; clothes, toys, shoes, layette.

QUALICUM BEACHHard Candy Baby Boutique12 - 221 Second Ave W, Qualicum BeachT: 250-752-4769Cool kicks and clothes for kids!**See ad page 19

SALT SPRING ISLANDGecko Green Living364 Lower Ganges Rd, Salt Spring Island T: 250-537-1151Organic and eco-friendly clothes, bottles, bibs, and more!**See ad page 16

VICTORIABellies in Bloom Maternity104 - 4489 Viewmont Ave, VictoriaT: 250-479-0803www.belliesinbloommaternity.com**See ad page 6

Clothesline ClothingRoyal Oak Shopping CentreT: 250-479-0800www.clotheslineclothing.ca

Dreamland Kids3194 Douglas Street, VictoriaT: 250-381-5437Furniture, room decor, toys and more!

Scallywags624 Fort Street, VictoriaT: 250-360-2570www.scallywags-island.ca

Retail ~ STORES:Children’s Clothing, Furniture,

Shoes, Toys & Accessories_____________________________________

Sprouts Kids202 - 536 Herald Street, VictoriaT: 250-388-9525www.sproutskid.com

Scrapbooking_____________________________________

Creative Memories Consultantwww.mycmsite.com/dawnportmanT: 250-591-3672, Dawn PortmanE: [email protected] solutions for everyone’s style of celebrating photos and memories.

Single Parents & Step Families_____________________________________

Single Parent Resource Centre of Victoriawww.singleparentvictoria.caT: 250-385-1114E: [email protected]

Sleep Consultants_____________________________________

Cheeky Chopswww.cheekychops.caT: 778-552-0069, Dawnn Whittaker Baby Contentment and Sleep Consultant

Ultrasound 3D_____________________________________

3D Baby Vision, fetal imaging202 - 4489 Viewmont Avenue, VictoriaT: 250-744-2234E: [email protected]


2763 Beverly St, Duncan • 250.748.2325 • [email protected]

STROLLERS • GAMES • TOYS • MATERNITY WEAR & MOREBRAND NAME CLOTHING • ACCESSORIES • FURNITURE

And Many More Exciting and Thoughtful Products for Your Little BeeBRING US THIS AD AND RECEIVE 10% OFF

YOUR NEXT MELISSA AND DOUG PURCHASE

To make way for 2011all 2010 BOBs are on

clearancewhile quantities last!

Wooden Balance BikesRunners

Fairy DustBoutique!

theSophie

Giraffe

OKO TEX certifiedSwedish quality

PVC & Pthalate free

Over 600 different toys to choose from!We boast the Island'slargest selectionof Melissa and Doug