Island Parent Magazine Winter 2023

FAMILY
RESOURCE
DIRECTORY
The Family Resource
Directory is designed
to highlight the caring
community that we are
a part of. This directory
showcases organizations
and businesses that provide
services and support for
families and children.
Navigate is an award-winning
school, recognized nationally and
internationally for our innovative
approach to blended learning.
We’ve implemented the new BC
curriculum and built unique, flexible
learning options for every student.
This allows us to meet a diverse
range of student needs, abilities
and learning styles.
Discover more at
NavigateNIDES.com
Thriving Roots
Wilderness School
Thriving Roots provides hands-on, wilderness
education and counselling services for youth
and adults. Our year-long programs and summer
camps are immersive in nature, fostering
connection to land and community through
earth-based skills, play, music and more.
thrivingroots.org info@thrivingroots.org
PARENTING
Reason to Celebrate
My daughter’s preschool has a sacred
ritual: every day a different kid gets
to be Helper of the Day.
My daughter talks about the Helper
of the Day a lot—who it is, how they
get to ring the bell for circle time, how
they have a special badge to denote their
preschool-royalty status.
One day I pick her up and ask, “Who
was the Helper of the Day today?”
“I was,” she responds.
I stop. Gasp. Crouch down with my
arms open for a hug.
“You were?!”
But instead of giving me a hug, my
four-year-old channels her inner fourteenyear-old
and leaves me kneeling with my Watching my daughter spell her name
Kids’ accomplishments are magical.
arms open, and rolls her eyes.
for the first time. Seeing that sly smile of
It wasn’t the first time.
pride as she stands on her own on the ice
I know. But it’s still exciting.
rink. Being disoriented when she washes
She didn’t want my enthusiasm. Maybe her hands without needing a stool. It’s a
she thought my reaction was overkill. world of firsts, or at least seconds, a time
Maybe she thought my excitement wasn’t of measurable growth, of marveling at
genuine. Or maybe she thought I was underestimating
her by reacting too wildly is vastly different from the last. A time
how each week, then month, then year
to something she had already mastered. of growth charts marked in the kitchen,
Whatever the reason for the eye roll, it of certificates from each two-month long
got me thinking about how much I wish skating program, of preschool graduations.
someone would give me positive reinforcements
for my accomplishments. You In childhood, haircuts are sparkly,
got the kid dressed and out the door? summer camps come with completion
Applause! You made it to work on time? ribbons and each grandparent visit has
Cheers! You made a dinner that wasn’t a ice-cream. Adulthood, on the other hand,
la Kraft? Standing ovation! You decluttered
some old clothes on Varage Sale? Of oh crap, I didn’t realize I had another
is filled with who is going where today?
Woop! You remembered to wake up at meeting now, of playing spot the new
six am for ballet/jazz registration? I am wrinkle, of s@#$ my girls’ night out that
so proud of you!
was planned months in advance just got
My daughter’s gotten pretty good at cancelled, yet again, but I’m actually
her “thank yous,” but I can’t say I ever kinda relieved cause I could really use
feel truly validated for making it through some Netflix and home-made nachos
the daily grind. Part of it is likely that right now.
the day-to-day work of being a parent I vividly remember the first time we left
doesn’t produce accomplishments other the house after my daughter was born.
than keeping your kids alive for another She was five days old and we walked
day. There isn’t the nice bow of closure down to the Italian Bakery where a lovely
that comes with pressing publish on a older woman coo-ed at her in just the
blog post, sighing relief after an important
meeting or even just logging off from that made me feel truly accomplished for
right way and congratulated me in a way
email at the end of the day. Parenting is having brought a beautiful human into
rewarded by hugs, “I like it when we’re the world.
together mommy,” and kissing a passedout
child once they are finally asleep and infant daughter by myself, I couldn’t
I remember the first time I drove my
looking deceivingly angelic. Parents aren’t believe I could do it—it felt like how I
usually on the receiving end of high fives. imagine paragliding to me—that I was
18 Island Parent Magazine
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