How Miley Cyrus Won And Lost All At The Same Time

I saw the news today that Miley Cyrus' new song is number one on the Billboard charts.  Huh.  Am pretty sure that just affirmed for her that her raunchy performance on the recent VMA's was a good thing to do. Let's review....bad behaviour = good outcome.  These are not the lessons I want my kids to learn but there are millions of kids (teens only hopefully) around the world who saw that performance and now see that her career is being rewarded.  Add Miley to the group of young woman who have achieved success based on baring their bodies and pushing the envelope when it comes to sexual behaviour.  I don't even have to list them here - you all know who they are.

Photo credit

So score one for Miley.  At least in her mind anyway.  After I heard about her Billboard success today, I googled her recent video for her new song, "Wrecking Ball".  Uhhhh....whoa.  She is doing provocative moves with a sledgehammer (that famous tongue of hers makes another appearance) and is naked through most of the video.  What the what??  Honestly, I only watched half of it and had to turn it off.  I just shook my head in sadness and honestly, in disgust.  How can she think that this is a good presentation of who she is?

And so the title of this blog post was born.  Technically I guess she won - she's got a number one hit, she's all over social media, I guess she has a lot to celebrate.  But eventually she will see this as a loss.  My fear is that it may be too late.  It will be after people stop talking about her, after the 'yes people' that are surrounding her move on to the next big thing, after she is left with no foundation or safe place to land. Media have already put out stories that she is the 'next meltdown waiting to happen', following in the recent footsteps of Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes.  And the same common question is appearing in the media...where are her parents?  I know she is 20 years old so I guess that questions should be 'where were her parents' in those foundation building years to teach this girl self worth and self confidence?

With reports saying that most kids say they want to be famous when they grow up, Miley Cyrus's success is scary for a parents.  This is who kids will be looking up to for career ambitions?  I hope not. The only silver lining (although not for these Hollywood starlets) is that the rate at which the downward spirals of young stars is occuring is only picking up speed.  And while I feel for their parents, and their families, I hope that everyday youth will begin to see that they fame they think they want is nothing like it really seems.

DIY: How To Make Scribble Cookies For Kids

At the momstown Oakville Sensory event over the weekend, we used Scribble Cookies to do leaf rubbings and they were a hit.  Moms, Dads and kids loved them!  There were so many questions about how to make them, a blog post seemed to be in order.  This recipe comes from Amanda, an Event Coordinator on the momstown Oakville team.

Getting ready to bake the Scribble Cookies

Directions To Make Scribble Cookies

1. Peel paper off old crayons, break into small bits (you can use multi colours but shades of one colour provides the best result).  This is a great way to use up broken crayons and the little pieces at the bottom of the crayon container!
2. Put each colour in a muffin tin double lined with paper liners
3. Bake at 350F degrees until melted (watch closely they don't take long to melt!)
4. Once melted, put directly in the freezer to solidify (keep them in the pan).
5. Once solid, peel liners off and voila, scribble cookies!

Scribble Cookies

For other great DIY home projects, check out our recipes to make your own bubbles, silly putty and cloud dough!

momstown Oakville's Rhyme, Rhythm & Read Program Gets Oakville Babies Giggling!

Who doesn't love to hear babies giggle?  Oakville mom and babies sure do!  momstown Oakville's Rhyme, Rhythm & Read program enjoyed bubbles, games and a giggle filled story time at Little Sprouts Cuts For Kids this month.

Our baby book of the month was called 'Giggle' by Caroline Jayne Church.  Momstown loves our partners at Scholastic Canada who provide us with a copy of our book of the month to give away to one lucky mama. Congratulations to Joanna and Daniel who were our winners this month and get to take home 'Giggle' and push the button to hear the giggles coming from the book over and over again!

momstown Oakville gives away a book each month at both our Rhyme, Rhythm & Read Program as well as our Tales for Tots program.  And coming up this Fall is our Mama's Only book club - a big thanks to Scholastic for providing us with some awesome book choices!  To find out more details, make sure you check out our jam packed events calendar.

Free Prenatal Event For Oakville Moms To Be - October 29, 2013

Momstown Oakville held our first Belly Basics event in June of this year and it was such a success that we knew we had to do another one!  So drum roll please....

Free Belly Basics Prenatal Event

Date:  October 29, 2013

Location:  Ellephysio 

Time:  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

RSVP HERE

This event is free for all women who are expecting a baby whether its your first, second, third baby and mamas expecting multiples are welcome too!  Oddly enough, last time we had three mamas attend that were all expecting twins!

You'll get a chance to chat with community experts about:

• Sleep and your baby
• Pre and post natal exercise
• Your body after baby
• Breastfeeding
• The importance of peer to peer support as a new mom
• Lots more too!  

The feedback we got from mamas who attended our June event was that they walked away with some really great information and felt the event was extremely worthwhile. And of course, there were a few sweet treats and some prizes too!  Space is limited so RSVP here to secure your spot!

To find out more about momstown Oakville, click here.

Cooking With Kids: Mini Apple Pies Recipe

Not only did momstown Oakville get a group of Junior Chefs together last week, but they were Junior Pastry Chefs!  Our theme of the month is apples and so apple pie was a natural choice for our cooking with kids program.  But since momstown's Junior Chef program likes to give kids the chance to participate as much as possible, this mini apple pie recipe was a better fit than just one big pie.  Oakville kids were rolling and cutting out dough, peeling and cutting apples and having a great time.

This recipe was a big hit! Here is what you need to make your own Mini Apple Pies at home.

Ingredients:

3 large granny smith apples
1/2 cup + 1tbsp all purpose flour
1 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
3 tablespoons of chilled butter cut into 18 equal pieces
2 boxes of tender flake puff pastry (found in the freezer section). Make sure you thaw it in the fridge overnight.

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 400F and generously grease a regular size muffin pan with butter.
2. Mix together the cinnamon and flour in a small bowl.
3. Peel and cut apples to into small pieces.
4. Pour the sugar over the apples, then the cinnamon flour mixture. Mix well.
5. Use a rolling pin to roll out the puff pastry and cut 12 circles with a mason jar lid or drinking glass
6. Use fun cookie cutter shapes to cut from the remaining crust, these will top the pies
7. Line the muffin pan with the cut out pastry circles.
8. Fill each muffin tin with a small spoonful of apples.
9. Lay a piece of butter on each pie and cover with the cut out shapes.
10. Bake for 14-16 minutes.

momstown Oakville has monthly Junior Chef events on the weekends and weekdays.  Purchase your membership here for just $45 a year.  This includes not only our Junior Chef program but ALL of our monthly programs, lots to do for little ones from new babies to toddlers, preschoolers and more!  And did we mention you get a 12 month subscription to Today's Parent magazine too?!

momstown Oakville's Fall Mom To Mom Sale

Are your kids outgrowing clothes faster than you can keep up with?  Are you looking for a great deal on gently used children's clothes and toys?  Then come on out to momstown Oakville’s Mom to Mom Sale on Saturday, October 19th, 2013.

With lots of tables filled with fantastic deals, you’re sure to find something that suits you and your budget! And to make shopping even easier – keep checking this blog for updates from our sellers with the items they’ll be offering!

Date:   Saturday, October 19, 2013

Time:  8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Location:  BrightPath Early Learning & Child Care Centre (20 Shepherd Road, Oakville)

ENTRY FEE:

Free for momstown members

$2 or a non perishable food item for non members

Food items collected are for the Oakville Fareshare Food Bank

This is a CASH only event.  No strollers please.

Items for Sale:

-Strollers

-Lots of boots and snowsuits

-Halloween costumes

-Baby Slings & Carriers

-Toddler Boy Ice Skates

-Ikea Mammut red & pink toddler dresser

-Eddie Bauer High Chair

-Booster Seats

-Kids clothing 3 mos - 4T, boy & girl

-Toys, DVDs and books

Visit our Facebook page to see a few pictures of brand name items for sale.

When You Have To Be 'That Mom'

Whether you've already experience this or not, there will come a point in your parenting life when you are going to need to be 'that mom'.  You know, the one people think is over reacting or being too cautious or too assertive.  The one that won't stop fighting for something that may be right for their child even though its not easy for others to understand or easy for others to do.  At some point, every mom is going to have their turn at being 'that mom'.  Food allergies, academic or behaviour challenges, developmental challenges, health challenges...the list is long when it comes to things that moms will become advocates for if it means protecting, helping or improving the lives of their children.

But here is the tricky part.  While your gut may be telling you, screaming at you, that you have every right to speak up, push and demand answers, there will always be some part of you that wonders if you are being too unreasonable, to pushy, or bordering on the status of helicopter parent.  I guess self doubt is just a typical feeling, something that is hard to shut out 100%, but I think its also because during the time when you've got your back up, you can't help but notice that other moms don't have to fight the same fights.  That is a catalyst for self doubt too.  Your gut is never wrong though, and most moms know that, even if sometimes they don't realize it until after a situation has transpired.  Haven't you ever said "I knew I should have..."? 

Next time a friend is telling you about a situation they are dealing with where they have to advocate for their kids, just offer your support.  It doesn't feel good to be 'that mom'.  It doesn't feel good to feel like no one is on the same page when it comes to what is best for your kids or that you aren't being taken seriously.  And as we all go through the prime parenting years (its a lot of years!), every mom will have to face the feeling of being 'that mom' at some point.  All I can say is that you should trust yourself.  Being outside your comfort zone is tough, but you will never regret fighting to make sure your child gets what they need.

This time of year is ripe with advocacy situations as we all settle into new routines, new schools and new teachers.  Go easy on yourself!  There is lots of talk about how the kids are adjusting to the new school year, but that doesn't mean the adjustment isn't just as hard for you.