News and Culture Five
What we’re reading today:
1. How to take a baby on a plane OR what one mom learned from the internet about how she’d be regarded should she ever dare to bring her baby on a plane.
2. Understanding tantrums: They’re either angry or sad and you want it make it end as soon as possible. Don’t do anything when they’re angry (throwing stuff) and scoop them up in a hug when they’re sad (throwing themselves on the floor).
3. Those pesky babies taking up space in restaurants even though they’re not eating anything! One UK restaurant has started charging parents a head tax for the baby.
4. Mommy drinks because you cry and other drunk mom jokes. (Some Washington DC parents got together “to talk about the consequences of modern parents’ embrace of wine-accompanied playdates”) Read more...
Routine Beatings
Ed Sundukovsky shares stories from Toronto’s West End
When Sophia turned five earlier this year, we threw her a rager at Trinity Bellwoods Community Centre. Every kid that was invited came except her two best friends who were away for the weekend. It was hard on Sophia, but she didn’t let it ruin her party. Kris and the other two girls’ moms decided to have a nice picnic in the park the following week. A simple misunderstanding was the catalyst for a weekly party that has been dubbed “Thirsty Thursdays” (or “Wet Wednesdays” if it’s a long weekend.) Read more...
Blog
Our long weekend Bunch Poll in the National Post.
As the first long weekend with (hopefully) warm weather, Victoria Day unofficially kicks off the Canadian summer. People trek up to cottage country, head to patios and are finally allowed to wear white again. In addition to cottages and fireworks, one of the most dominant images of a long weekend is booze. After all, despite its shifting date, Victoria Day is commonly referred to as the May Two-Four. But does partying end once parenthood comes along? We asked some moms and dads how much drinking, if any, is permissible when there are little ones around:
“Parents like to think their kids don’t notice when they’re drunk but let’s cut the B.S. We all remember seeing our parent’s friends at parties reeking of booze and doing that cross-eyed smile where they seemed way too into our stupid toys and they’d hang out for so long, the other spouse would say “Charles, put down the Spider-man and come back to the table for chrissakes.” We didn’t know they were high on alcohol per se but we knew something was up and it was pretty disturbing. So no, you cannot be wasted around kids. Read more...
