The Homemade Asian Pear Cough Tea I Make for My Son

When my kids get a cold, they each seem to have their own signature opening act. My daughter always—and I mean always—starts with a runny nose. She sneezes, and that thick yellow stuff comes shooting out of both nostrils. Then we know: she’s got it. My son, on the other hand, always starts with a cough. Cough, cough, cough. Then we know: he’s got it. When He Started Coughing Without a Cold Recently, however, we noticed that my son was coughing quite a bit even when he didn’t seem to have a cold. We wondered whether it could be an … Continue reading The Homemade Asian Pear Cough Tea I Make for My Son

Apple Picking with Kids Near Toronto: What We Bring, Buy, and Spend

Every year, our family goes strawberry picking and apple picking. Strawberry picking usually falls around my husband’s birthday and Father’s Day weekend. For apple picking, we just choose a day sometime in September and go. How Much Do We Buy? … Continue reading Apple Picking with Kids Near Toronto: What We Bring, Buy, and Spend

When My Five-Year-Old Asked About Death: What Finally Comforted Him

My son, B, is a soft-hearted boy. He is stubborn and persistent, but he is also very sensitive. His eyes fill with tears when he listens to certain music or watches an emotional scene in a movie. He doesn’t always cry, but I can tell that he feels things deeply. About seven months ago, we were having brunch as usual. I don’t remember exactly how the conversation got there, but somehow we started talking about how people die. We didn’t say anything like, “What if Mommy dies?” or “What if Daddy dies?” We were simply talking about death in general. … Continue reading When My Five-Year-Old Asked About Death: What Finally Comforted Him

Royal Canadian International Circus 2026 Review With Kids: Cost, Seating Tips, and What to Expect

Quite impulsively—again—we bought tickets to the Royal Canadian International Circus! We just happened to pass by while they were setting up the big tent and discovered that the circus would be in our area for the next several days. A few years ago, I was tempted to buy tickets but never did. This time, we thought our kids were at the perfect ages to enjoy it. How Long Is the Royal Canadian Circus Show? We were told that the show would be approximately two hours. Our performance was actually closer to two and a half hours, including the intermission. The … Continue reading Royal Canadian International Circus 2026 Review With Kids: Cost, Seating Tips, and What to Expect

Penaten Diaper Rash Cream Review: The One Baby Product I Still Keep

* This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through the link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This product has been a lifesaver for my kids’ bums. I started using Penaten Medicated Creamy Diaper Rash Treatment when B was a baby, and I still keep a tube at home today—even though neither of my kids wears diapers anymore. I am not loyal to baby products. Honestly, I’ve never had strong preferences when it comes to most baby products. Baby lotion? Whatever was on … Continue reading Penaten Diaper Rash Cream Review: The One Baby Product I Still Keep

Kids’ Birthday Party Etiquette: Siblings, Gifts, Allergies, and the Loot Bag Problem

Here we go again. We got another birthday party invitation. Isn’t a birthday party fun? Yeeees. Isn’t a birthday party exciting? Yeeeeeees. Isn’t a birthday party expensive? YEEEEEEEEES!! This time, the birthday party is for twins. (Duh duh duh.) Double … Continue reading Kids’ Birthday Party Etiquette: Siblings, Gifts, Allergies, and the Loot Bag Problem

How Much We Spent on a Kids’ Birthday Party in Toronto—and Why We Chose an Indoor Playground

When Do Kids Start Expecting a Big Birthday Party? My friend, who had a boy before I did, once gave me this advice: Put off having a big birthday party for as long as possible. Because once you start, there … Continue reading How Much We Spent on a Kids’ Birthday Party in Toronto—and Why We Chose an Indoor Playground