NANA SAYS GET READY FOR MARCH BREAK

Many families go south or away for the break. But there is so much to do in and around the country if one is staying home. Big cities like Toronto, for example, have great venues. Royal Ontario Museum and the downtown core will bring many adventures for the children. The Art Gallery of Ontario has activities. I remember taking my girls there several times. Kleinburg with the McMichael Collection can help your children learn about Canadian art. Of course depending on the weather, the slopes for skiing, snowboarding and tubing/tobogganing bring outdoor fun. Movies are a great standby- get out of the house. But chores and some spring cleaning can include children of all ages. Those lists for new clothes- what fits and what doesn't.
#ROM #ArtGalleryof Ontario #Toronto

NANA SAYS MARCH BREAK IS QUICKLY APPROACHING

With March break quickly approaching, parents have planned or are making last minute plans for their children. A premium time to travel, often necessary as everyone can be off. Vacation days at work are focused around children's breaks from school. Perhaps not a bad thing as many family vacations occur. For a family to be together and enjoying a beach or ski hill makes memories. But all the togetherness can bring stress along with the fun. So planning something everyone will enjoy can be very tricky. Little children are easier to please. Teenagers not so easy. Taking a break from all the electronics in a distant place can be difficult for many. Too many people have been burnt by their roaming charges and heightened cost for minutes used. Getting a prepaid phone for the trip may be the best solution. A gadget with wi-fi potential is best. Many places such as hotels do have that capability offering it as a bonus for the lap top computers. However, disconnecting from the constant texting and checking of a smart phone can teach there is a life to be had. Staycation have many places offering March Break deals. I remember trips to the Art Gallery of Ontario when my children were little and the activities offered were fun. Make sure the staycation does not become a clean the house vacation. Putting in fun times during the day such as breakfast or lunch out breaks up the day. Patience is so necessary- for airports, train stations and highways. With parents and children travelling, it will be busy. The old ideas of having easy to travel activities on hand for all ages is good. For example, I keep a little pocket Sudoku book for travel. Fits nicely in a jacket pocket! So items that are accessible are best. A little waist purse for all with just enough things will work for a plane. No fussing in a carry on bag that must be put up in storage on the plane. Of course the mother/wife needs a bigger bag to keep all those little extras like tissue, gum, pens/pencils, tickets etc. I know I am always the keeper of stuff! Then make sure there is someone to watch your house or property. Like a willing grandparent! I will be spending my week keeping an eye on things for my travelling children. Makes me wish I was going somewhere too. Memories of past trips south! Glad I have lots of pictures. Oh yea lots of pictures! Nothing like group shots everywhere! Catch everyone in fun moments! Enjoy!

NANA SAYS TIME TO PLAN FOR MARCH BREAK

With February coming to a close, parents are scrambling to plan for the upcoming March break. To go away or have a staycation. Can time be taken off work or do other babysitting arrangements need to be made. It is the time of year where the cost of a vacation is at its highest. The beaches in southern locations are filled with people especially vacationing children or even college kids! Are family vacations necessary? You bet. Time together without all the running around of lessons, school, homework and lunches-well you understand- gives a family time to regroup. A third generation of working mothers teaches us that Moms need time to chill without the double duty of home and work. Watching children on a beach is very different than all the other stressed faced daily. Dads need time to enjoy the children differently. Vacations can bring a different kind of stress. Without all the busyness, people do get bored of each other. So some planning for  those moments may be necessary. Time away from I-phones, I-pads, tablets etc. so some real face to face time actually talking and doing may be difficult. Many families can be seen in droves all looking down at the electronic devices in their hands! For stay at home Moms the break is necessary too! Being out of the home in a new environment gives renewed energy to everyone. Major cities have copious amounts of entertainment for those staying home. Movies galore where the matinee can be attended so everyone can be home for dinner. Oh March break-that time of year where the weather is dubious and more needs to be planned. But stopping and enjoying the family life is so necessary. As I have said many times, your children will not be young forever so building those memories with them means being with them. So let me know about your March break plans.

NANA SAYS MARCH BREAK CAN BE FUN

For the lucky ones sitting on a beach with children building sand castles, March Break is a piece of cake. Touring and visiting places can be challenges when away from home. There is always the fatigue factor. The stay home and go to local places is rewarding too. One venture last Sunday with my daughter and granddaughter to the Art Gallery of Ontario was just such a time. There are March break activities arranged in such places that make the trip fun for all. There was also a creative learning center where children and families could go to make the daily craft. Most zoos, museums and tourist places have added fun activities for children. Even the local library invites people to enjoy their March Bread reading program. It is also important to remember it is a Break. Too much activity and programming will take away the opportunity to have some down time and allow the children to learn to use their own time wisely. For older children, household tasks and Spring cleaning in between fun activities can be a goal as well. Going to a movie or just watching one at home with some popcorn or other goodies can be a simple time. Play dates inviting friends over for lunch gives parents some extra time as well as supporting other parents. Sleepovers with grandparents give parents a break too. Spending time with children is the key.

MARCH BREAK-SPRING IS HEADING OUR WAY

March Break occurs at different times in different parts of the country. In our area, it begins next week.The mass exodus from Pearson airport to sunny southern destinations such as Florida and Mexico has already started. Many people still drive to Windsor then cross over in the USA driving along #75, passing through many states to escape the Canadian winter cold. Adolph and I have done that drive a few times when the children were little. A break froms school is important for everyone, except working parents that may need to take time off work or make alternate babysitting arrangements, i.e. the ones that are not vacationing with their children. Why do I talk about a March break? Sometimes the monotony of work&home and home&work wears a person down! Why is it when the days are longer, just being outside for a time after work takes some of the pressure off? Breaks are nice. Change for awhile is good. Doing something different at a slower pace! Like sitting on the beach! Seeing all those travellers featured on the news gave me some pangs of wanting to go somewhere. Alas, perhaps just a jaunt around my snow filled garden looking for the first real sign of Spring- a bulb trying to pop its head up! Not yet! Glad I have pictures from last year to remind me! Are you heading anywhere south? Do you have March Break plans? Are you the backup babysitter?

IN LIKE A LION OUT LIKE A LAMB

Is that wonderful Canadian saying describing March. Welcome to the last month of winter and first week of Spring. Well today it is snowing so came in like a lion. March always has a mix of weather. That's why many people prefer to go south for the children's March Break. I always wonder who coined this phrase- in like a lion out like a lamb or can be in like a lamb and out like a lion! Probably a farmer who wanted to predict when he could begin the Spring cleanup. We know farmers rarely get the credit deserved for their knowledge of things. Of course, unless it is the Farmer's Almanac which is probably a meteorologist writing it now! Weather is a favourite Canadian topic. If you have nothing else to talk about, well we always can talk about the weather. So today's blog is about the weather! I actually do have other things to write and talk about but felt I should be a typical Canadian! So how it the weather where you are today? Lion or Lamb?