a peek inside the fishbowl

I just finished watching a special advance copy of a documentary called Hyper Parents & Coddled Kids.

This piece is about “helicopter” parents who protect their children from just about everything. But instead of protecting them, they’re essentially screwing them up so badly that the kids end up with anxiety attacks at university, and later need their parents to negotiate pay raises and offer an allowance if they happen to go bankrupt.

But I digress.

This is from the press release – which sums it up quite nicely:

The one-hour documentary “Hyper Parenting & Coddled Kids” examines the intensely competitive hyper parenting phenomenon – and its effects on kids today. From exposing babies in the womb to prenatal education systems and enrolling them in gymnastics before they can walk to negotiating their grown kids’ job contracts and salaries, parents today work hard to make sure their children stay ahead of the pack. But as these kids reach adulthood, will it be to their advantage or will it backfire?

I need to perculate on this issue a bit – it ties into some topics I’ve been mulling over since before we left for holidays. I will write more on this topic as soon as I can pull it together.

I did want to let you know that this documentary is premiering on Thursday February 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBC-TV’s Doc Zone. I will say this, if you’re a parent, you have to watch it.

(As I watched I wondered, how many parents see themselves in this? How many parents will be watching and thinking: holy shit, I am screwing up my kid BIG TIME. At times I felt like I was watching a whole other species of human. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?)

ANYWAY, click here for a sneak preview.

Back tomorrow!

… is eating. Seriously. Valentine’s Day, for me, is not so much about romance. It’s really just another excuse to eat my favourite foods.

When the girls were small, Mark and I weren’t easily able to go out and celebrate Valentine’s Day. First of all, it was nearly impossible to find a sitter. Second, the dinners we wanted to be eating were often more expensive than we can afford. And who wants to cook dinner on Valentine’s? Not me. Not ever.

I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating: order in. And I’m not talking about picking up a quarter chicken dinner at Swiss Chalet. Order in, but do it right. After all, it’s Valentine’s Day (and you deserve it!)

Attention parents-of-young-children-who-can’t-find-babysitters! Order a special freshly prepared dinner from a local caterer. And buy your own bottle of wine. You’ll get an amazing multi-course meal, eat it in the comfort of your own home, and save on sitters and cab fare!

Here’s how it works.

Step one: Check out the menus of a few different places beforehand and decide on your menu. Here are a few of my faves …

Epicuria Fine Food Store and Catering
Here’s their Valentine’s Day dinner menu. As an added bonus, KIDS EAT FREE when two Valentine’s meals are ordered. How awesome is that?

Thyme and Again Creative Catering and Take Home Food Shop
Here’s their menu. We’ve always had great success at Thyme and Again. Love their desserts. (There’s a Tahitian Vanilla Crème Bruleé on the menu this year!)

Red Apron
Here’s their menu (you’ll need to scroll). I haven’t ordered anything from Red Apron before, but I’ve heard good things. (Personally, I’d order the Breast of Chicken stuffed with Walnuts & Caramelized Apple. Be still my beating heart!)

Any others you’d suggest?

Step two: Call in your order.

Please note that each place has a different ordering deadline, and quantities are limited. You’d be smart to place your dinner orders ASAP. You won’t regret it!

Step three: pick up and reheat. All the dinners we’ve ordered in the past have come with simple instructions. All you need to do is heat and serve on pretty plates. And light some candles too. No muss, no fuss… just how I like it.

Afterwards you can loosen your belts and toddle over to the couch for some after dinner smooching, or TV, whatever floats your boat. (You can’t do THAT in a restaurant, now can you?)

Breaking bread with the one you love most… now that’s the way I like to spend Valentine’s Day!

Edited to add:

You know, so much of blogging and social media is about branding and self-promotion– the look-at-me look-at-me. Can we take a minute to talk about others today?  Please help spread the word about this cause. Good karma comes to those who help, even if it’s in a small way. Thank you!

–

I didn’t hear about this until we got back from our holiday. If you live in Ottawa I’m sure you heard about it.

René Faucher, a 40-year-old father of three, was playing a pickup hockey game at the University of Ottawa Sports Complex when he hit a rut and crashed headfirst into the boards. The impact resulted in a serious spinal injury, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

Doctors are seeing signs of improvement – he’s off the respirator and I heard that he’s gaining some feeling in his fingers – but he’s going to be under medical care for a long time.

What makes this story particularly devastating to me is that this is the kind of thing that could happen to anyone. I’m not a hockey player, but I certainly skate, many of us here in Ottawa do. So many of us have been there, lacing up our skates, taking turns around a rink, indoors or out. It’s an undeniable part of our national fabric. This could have been me, or you, or one of our kids.

Faucher and his wife Dianne Douglas have three children under the age of five. He is self-employed and does not have long-term disability insurance.

René’s friends and colleagues are rallying and raising funds for him and his family.

I was thrilled to hear that the Ottawa 67’s are hosting a René Faucher Family Fun Day on February 7th at 2:00pm. (Yay 67’S!) Half of all proceeds from advanced online ticket sales and walk-in traffic purchased in René’s name will be donated to the family. Please use this special link to purchase tickets ahead of time.

Families are encouraged to come out to the game in support of René and his family, watch the game and send them their well wishes.

Event organizers will be sharing pictures and messages with René and all his supporters during the game via Twitter. Whether you’re at the game or not, you can tweet René before, during and after the game by including #getwellrene in your message.

There’ll also be a table set up in the concourse where you can get your photo taken and sign a get-well 67’s flag.

If you can’t make the game you can can donate to the fund online or at Scotiabank.  For more information on how to donate to the family, please visit www.faucherdouglastrustfund.com/ or join the Friends of René Faucher Facebook group.

My family will be at the game on Sunday. I hope yours will be too! If you see us, please stop by and say hello!