Bunchland

Ed Sundukovsky shares stories from Toronto’s West End

Coming home from work is easily the best part of my entire day. At not a second past five, I’ve already got my apron and whites off and I’m out the door with key and coat in hand. I jump into the whip and back out onto a one way street, hitting the gas and peeling out a bit. I might have looked cool, except that I’m driving a minivan. I’m in a hurry because Kris is waiting for me on the corner outside of her work. I can’t wait to see her either.

I fight my way across Wellesley, inching along while the seconds tick by. Cyclists zip by on their fixed gear bikes, laughing while they pass me easily. “Fools!” they exclaim at the cars while they fly ahead. Naturally, I hit every red light on my way, but I can make her out waiting for me off in the distance. When I pull up to her, I’m always surprised at how great she still looks after an eight hour day. She gets in and we get going.  Read more...

Ed Sundukovsky wife Kristina takes over this week

It’s Sunday night and I’m enjoying a little piece of quiet (because the kids are finally asleep). Despite the peaceful atmosphere, I’m finding it hard to concentrate on relaxin because I still have so many things to do before I finally drop into bed tonight, completely exhausted and so not ready for Monday morning. The school year is accelerating and there’s always something to do, some chore that awaits my attention. Thinking over the weekend that just passed, I realized that Sophia already missed the first swimming lesson that I worked so hard to secure the spot for (yes, I was one of those crazy parents on the computer frantically clicking refresh at 7 in the morning on the first day of registration for Parks and Rec classes), but I quickly dismiss the guilt before it sets in too deeply.  Read more...

Ed Sundukovsky shares stories from Toronto’s West End

Kids throw tantrums, it’s a fact. How you deal with said tantrums is as varied as anything that has to do with raising kids. Rearing children is a process that can be fruitful and enlightening or exhausting and brain-numbing. Kids don’t come with an owner’s manual, but they should. What do you do when your kids start acting a fool in public or at home? How do you deal with them? Is negotiating with them a safe tactic or does it set a dangerous precedent? I don’t know, I’m hoping you’ll have some insight that I don’t.

My oldest daughter, Sophia, is a very reasonable child. She is calm and quiet and rarely makes a fuss about anything, but if she does get set off, watch out. She becomes inconsolable; no less than two hours of whimpering and off-and-on crying. Lillian, alternatively is an M-80 child. Because of her age, I’m guessing, she is quick to anger and even quicker to offer a peacemaking hug or song as the case often is.  Read more...

Ed Sundukovsky shares stories from Toronto’s West End

Kris and I recently had our wedding anniversary. After a couple of years of marriage and two kids later, our relationship has morphed into something that resembles a… well, lets just say that on the road of life, we are driving a minivan. Literally.

Our children are our life. Having them has influenced so many aspects of our life, that compromise is par for the course. It’s been challenging for us but in every case we find a way to come out on top and wiser for the experience. Together, she and I have become some kind of super-elite parenting unit. If Obama needed his kids “taken care of,” we’d be the Seal Team 6 he calls in.  Read more...

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...

Ed Sundukovsky shares stories from Toronto’s West End

So, I’m supposed to write some sort of intro to describe myself and my family and life herein. Right. I’ll tell you this much: I’ve learned to sleep with one eye open in case of flying little knees in the groin. Also, I’ve learned that with enough practice you can virtually block out any sound with the aid of a down pillow. A synthetic fill won’t filter out the piercing screams like feathers will.

Seriously though, I’d like to think that I’m a devoted father to Sophia, 5 and Lillian, 2. These two nerds keep my wife Kristina and I in constant stitches, from their compulsive sing-song nature to their ever increasing demands of being fed and changed. To be fair that only describes Lillian. That kid loves a meal and thrashing to the heaviest of metal. Sophia, on the other hand, is our little lady, all proper and prim. Except for when she’s doing her favorite hobby, which is making fart noises at totally inappropriate times. She also minors in asking super embarrassing questions in the line at the grocery store, like, “Why where you wrestling Mommy without pants on this morning?”  Read more...