Dress Down Day is an annual event held on the first Friday in October to celebrate breast cancer awareness month. The Breast Cancer Society of Canada asks companies, schools, organizations and clubs to participate in this event by asking their employees, clientele, teachers, students and members to each donate $5 to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada to dress down for the day.
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Do you remember my most recent “Dear Sierra” letter? Do you remember the part where I wrote about how she broke my little heart into two?
The other day you said to me: Mommy I don’t like you anymore because you’re always playing with Brookie. It absolutely broke my heart because I try so hard to include both you and Brooke in all that I do. Daddy’s work schedule leaves me as the sole caregiver to you two girls a lot of the time, trying to balance both of your diverse needs. It made me realize that I need to try harder to give you one on one time, and also to include you into the games Brooke and I play.
Well yesterday I followed up on my word to her – I took a vacation day from work and spent the day with her and 11 other preschoolers from her daycare centre to chaperone her class trip to a local apple orchard. We had a BLAST!
It was so much fun! The kids were very, very, very well behaved! I couldn’t believe it! They were far better behaved IMO than the school-aged children on class trips. The school-aged children were running around like wild animals released from their cages, while the preschoolers held our hands and stayed with us. The older kids were throwing apples at each other, chasing each other etc… While our sweet, cute little ones were reluctant to pick the apples, and only ate some after we reassured them that it was ok. I guess they’re still at that tender age were they respect authority. So precious!
So what did we do at the apple farm? First we took a tractor/wagon ride out to the orchard. Then each child got to pick two apples. Most opted to eat one of them and put the other in our basket to take home and share with mommy & daddy. After that we visited the animals at the petting zoo, had a picnic lunch, played at the playground, had a hay fight with their ECE teachers, posed for a class picture amongst the pumpkins then took the bus back. It was so fun – and so nice to spend that time with Sierra. I know it made her feel special because at the end of the day she gave me a great big hug and said “I love you mommy, thanks for being my partner”. My heart melted and I was so happy that I could make her that happy.
Last night Sierra sat still for dinner, was very behaved and even played nicely with Brookie! It was great to see how far a little bit of extra attention can go!
Every once in a while something like this happens that makes me second guess my career choice. Yesterday just happened to be one of them. After having such a great time, part of me wants to pack it all in and be a homecare provider. Yanno, spend all day with my kids and share my love with other children. But alas – I have a great job, close to home with a pension, that I also love, love, love. I just hope that one day I will get over the mommy guilt. In the mean time I’m going to keep on looking for opportunities to shower either one of my girls with attention 
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October is, as you are well aware, breast cancer awareness month. So to increase awareness I’ve gone pink with a new blog layout and design and will be thinking pink ALL month long. Throughout the month of October I’ll be posting lots of info about breast cancer and will be sharing lots of ways for you to support and raise money for breast cancer. I’m also holding pink contests and events!
Pink Event #1:
Blogging for the Cure!
All month long I’ll be donating $0.05 for every comment I receive on my posts to the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society. Come by every day and post a comment on my newest post. However, I have one rule:- I will only count one comment per person per post. That means if you leave 3 comments on one post I’ll only count it as 1 comment. If you comment once on three different posts, then I’ll count that as 3 comments – those three comments will translate to a $.15 donation to the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society!! Please visit me every day this month, leave a comment and help to find a cure for breast cancer!
I’d also like to challenge YOU to blog for the cure as well! For the month of October, why don’t you make a donation for every comment you receive to one of the charities listed below. Write a post about it and start counting comments. If you are participating, then send me an email to: mom on the run blog (no spaces) AT gmail DOT com and I’ll add you to the BLOGROLL.
American Charities:
American Breast Cancer Foundation
American Cancer Society
Susan G. Komen for the cure
Canadian Charities:
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Breast Cancer Society of Canada
Canadian Cancer Society
Pink Giveaway #1
This month I’m giving away a Thingamaboob to one lucky subscriber! What is a thingamaboob you ask?
The Canadian Cancer Society Thingamaboob is a funky yet educational key chain that shows women how important screening is in the early detection of breast cancer.
The Thingamaboob is made of clear, pink beads that show women the different lump sizes that can be detected through a variety of breast-screening methods.
Money raised from the sale of the Thingamaboob will fund important cancer research into preventing and finding a cure for cancer and will help provide support services for people living with cancer.
All you have to do to enter is SUBSCRIBE to Mom On The Run by visiting my subscription page, or by adding my feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MomOnTheRun to your preferred feed reader and leave a comment on my Pink Giveaway #1 post!
Keep your eye on my blog for other contests and events through the month of October, and don’t forget to do your monthly breast self exam!
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All month long I’ll be donating $0.05 for every comment I receive on my posts to the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society. Come by every day and post a comment on my newest post. However, I have one rule:- I will only count one comment per person per post. That means if you leave 3 comments on one post I’ll only count it as 1 comment. If you comment once on three different posts, then I’ll count that as 3 comments – those three comments will translate to a $.15 donation to the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society!! Please visit me every day this month, leave a comment and help to find a cure for breast cancer!
I’d also like to challenge YOU to blog for the cure as well! For the month of October, why don’t you make a donation for every comment you receive to one of the charities listed below. Write a post about it and start counting comments. If you are participating, then send me an email to: mom on the run blog (no spaces) AT gmail DOT com and I’ll add you to the BLOGROLL.
American Charities:
American Breast Cancer Foundation
American Cancer Society
Susan G. Komen for the cure
Canadian Charities:
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Breast Cancer Society of Canada
Canadian Cancer Society
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This blog is about me – Janice, a wife, mother, employee, runner, softball player, internet addict and a completely obsessed New Kids On The Block fan. My blog title is about my running, as at the time this blog began back in 2004 I was a running mother-to-be, training for a 1/2 marathon. Part way through the pregnancy running became too uncomfortable for me leading me to slowly back off on my running. Now a days “Mom On The Run” is a reflection of how busy life has become caring for 2 completely adorable, yet “spirited” little girls while my hubby travels A LOT for business, though I do still run on occasion.
I’ve been happily married for almost 5 yrs to the most wonderful man I’ve ever met (though I must admit Jonathan Knight comes a close second – and yes I have met him too). Rob and I met during my “Frosh Week” at University – he was an older student, a “peer advisor”. I noted how adorable he was, and I instantly remembered his warm open smile and the twinkle in his eyes when our paths crossed again at the opening of “Interview With The Vampire” movie later that semester (Anne Rice is my favourite writer). Our paths crossed again a few nights later at a pub. My room mate saw the connection between us and invited him back to our place after last call – it was then that we exchanged phone numbers. I called him first, as I didn’t want him to be the one that “got away”. He still melts my heart when he flashes me that grin and understands me in a way no once else ever could.
We have 2 adorable daughters. Our 3 yr old, Sierra, is a feisty little girl with spunk to spare. She was in a rush to join us in this world, born a month early with a quick 5 hour labour with a dramatic delivery. She’s been strong and ready to go ever since. Our 1 yr old Brooke is very, very busy, she’s on the go from sun up to sundown, yet has a nice even temper. Our midwife present at Brooke’s quick delivery said her birth was the calmest birth she’s ever attended. The dramatic personality differences between my girls is a great indicator of how unique and wonderful each one of them are.
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Dear Sierra,
Wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve written to you! Would you believe that you are now 39.5 months old! Time sure flies! You are now a very dynamic little girl. The things you do and say astound Daddy and I each and every day. You know the letters of the alphabet, can even write some of them: J,A, N, I (you can almost spell my name!), you know the months of the year, and many many other things.
Physically you’ve undergone a lot of changes too. You can:
Ride a bike (with training wheels)
Swing on a swing all by yourself
Swim by yourself with water wings
Put on your own socks, shoes, pants and jacket
Use the toilet independently (pull your pants down, wipe, flush, pull pants up, wash hands)
Stay dry through the night
Sleep THROUGH THE NIGHT!
Fall asleep on your own
Communicate your wants and needs without having a complete emotional breakdown leaving daddy and I guessing as to the cause.
Come down stairs in the morning and play independently until Mommy or Daddy wakes up.
You finally have an appetite and eat food! (If you read through my earlier letters you will find that I was always stressed about your lack of interest in food).
In short you’ve transitioned from a baby to a little girl!
You have become so very independent. Unfortunately sometimes I expect you to be too independent and this has left you feeling lonely while I tend to Brookie and her needs. The other day you said to me: Mommy I don’t like you anymore because you’re always playing with Brookie. It absolutely broke my heart because I try so hard to include both you and Brooke in all that I do. Daddy’s work schedule leaves me as the sole caregiver to you two girls a lot of the time, trying to balance both of your diverse needs. It made me realize that I need to try harder to give you one on one time, and also to include you into the games Brooke and I play. It’s been far too easy for me to turn the TV on, as I know you will zone out and be entertained while watching it. Next week I’ve taken the Monday off of work to come along on your Pre-school class trip. We’ll be taking a bus ride to a farm to pick apples. I can’t wait because it’ll be so special to me to spend that time with you and only you. I don’t get that opportunity too much.
What else, what else? OH! You’ve begun taking gymnastics class by yourself – you love it! You are so confident in yourself, and not the least bit shy. When I dropped you off for your first class you ran off happily to join your class. You were not the least bit afraid. I was so proud of you, yet also hurt because you don’t need me the way you once did. You are also taking swimming lessons by yourself – you are now too old for the parent & tot classes and will now be working through your swimming badges starting with Preschool A. This has made Daddy sad as he loved that bonding time with you while swimming and at gymnastics. Before we know it you’ll be diving into the deep end of our pool and screaming “Mommy! Watch this!”. Much as I’ve longed for you to gain that independence, another part of me is feeling a sense of loss. You used to need me so much! Brooke still needs me now, but it reminds me that she won’t always need me too.
This next month we don’t have that much planned. We’ll be going to the Milton Fall Fair on Sunday, your class trip on Monday, Thanks Giving is approaching and so is Halloween (you’ll be able to show your little sister how to Trick Or Treat).
Sierra, Daddy and I are enjoying watching you grow up so very much. We absolutely love the person you are becoming and are so proud of you!
Love,
Mommy
XXXOOO
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This blog is about me – Janice, a wife, mother, employee, runner, softball player, internet addict and a completely obsessed New Kids On The Block fan. My blog title is about my running, as at the time this blog began back in 2004 I was a running mother-to-be, training for a 1/2 marathon. Part way through the pregnancy running became too uncomfortable for me leading me to slowly back off on my running. Now a days “Mom On The Run” is a reflection of how busy life has become caring for 2 completely adorable, yet “spirited” little girls while my hubby travels A LOT for business, though I do still run on occasion.