Loulou's views

It’s amazing how quickly children grow and with that, leave one phase behind for another phase. Some phases are easier to go through than others, but of course, parenting is always a challenge, no matter what we’re facing.  The hard part is, while you’re going through a certain phase, you feel like perhaps it will never end—whether it’s night waking with your colicky baby or dealing with the terrible two’s (that—let’s face it—don’t quite go away until your child is… oh, about four?) every phase seems to last long and sometimes, you’re at a loss about what to do.   One phase that was challenging for me as a mom was getting through the bedwetting phase with my youngest son. Even after the age of four, my son would sometimes wet the bed in the middle of the night. Although I kept repeating “This too shall pass”  as we were going through the phase, it didn’t make things that much easier when I was waking up at 3 o’clock in the morning to a sad and wet child. I...

Parenthood. We're in it together. When I was a new mom, I was thankful for my support group: my family, my friends, and my online community. It was comforting knowing that no matter the time of day or night, there was always someone there who would listen to me. It's important that we're not only equipped with a great support system, but also, with the tools and resources we need to help us get through whatever issue we're dealing with on the journey of parenthood. With most things in life, this is something you should keep in mind: This, too, shall pass. Here's an issue that my family experienced a few years ago, and when I reached out to friends, I was surprised to hear that they, too, had experienced this with their children: bedwetting. Yup. It's a common, yet unpleasant, part of life. The truth is, you're not alone if you're going through a bedwetting phase with your child once they are over four years old—it's actually way more common...

Motherhood is a million different emotions exposed every single day. Motherhood is letting your toddler use your dress as a Kleenex, and being okay with the fact that you're walking around in public very stained. Motherhood is reading 10 books at 10:30 p.m. to a three year old who will not fall asleep, no matter what. Motherhood is saving the last bite for your child. Motherhood is trading your awesome French Vanilla ice cream (sigh) for the Superkid flavour. Motherhood is sliding down a metal slide in a too short dress and feeling the burn, just because it makes your child laugh. Motherhood is sleeping only five hours a night for over five years, and not even caring anymore. Motherhood is waking up in a panicked state, remembering the school bake sale the next day. Motherhood, in turn, is baking cupcakes at midnight. Motherhood is sharing a knowing look with your child, and receiving smiles that melt your heart over and over again. Motherhood is grinning and ...

On this cold day in January, three years ago, I was admitted to the hospital to give birth to my second son. Having had the easier labour and delivery ever when I delivered my first child, I was confident things would go just as smoothly the second time around. However, I went into that delivery room much more prepared than the first time—I didn't bring a suitcase filled with novels with me. Not only did I pack more appropriately, I was wiser as a mother, with over two years of experience under my belt. After my son was born my sister brought me fettuccini alfredo from my favourite Italian restaurant. I ate my dinner and watched CNN as my new baby slept soundly beside me. This time around, I wasn't afraid to close my eyes, and I didn't jump with each sound or movement my baby made. I even managed to sleep that night, something I didn't do for 72 hours after my first son was born. I was so much more relaxed. And very blessed, to be the mother of these two little boy...