35 Things I’ve Learned
As of a few days ago, I’ve been on this earth for thirty-five years. The math is stunning — 12,775 days, 306,600 hours. The logic of the numbers doesn’t disguise the bittersweet. My body is tingling with fear and excitement and loss. There is no way to know what percent of that time was spent doing things I loved, felt obligated to do, or were necessary. Those ticks on the clock matter, and they cannot be re-spent. Perhaps they can be made more meaningful by reflection in hopes of coming to a deeper understanding of their meaning. All those days on earth have given me a little perspective. And when…
Birth Story | Baker Felix
Baker Felix Casavant was born July 24, 2019, at 9:17pm. These were the details that we wanted to know so badly when pregnant. I could not wait to be on the other side of this pregnancy, with that baby on my chest. However, this baby made us wait, and wait, until 41 weeks, and then he sure made up for all the waiting. Going into birth for the second time, I thought I had learned three things: 1) it was going to be a very long process; 2) it was going to be exhausting, and; 3) it is so so worth it once that baby is on your chest. We…
Father’s Day 2020
I’m lucky to have three father figures for my children to look up to. With their tender influence, I have no doubt that my children will grow up to be kind, wise souls. Grandpa G A gentle man with such a big heart. I’m in awe of his modest intelligence. He can take apart a tractor and put it together without a single glance at a manual. A trusting teacher who taught me to love the land we till. He’s loyal and loves without boundaries. He always has a warm hug ready. He craves snuggles from his grandkids, and throws them into the air with his huge farm hands to…
27 Black Activists and Anti-Racism Allies Sharing Knowledge and Power on Instagram
It shouldn’t have taken another death to act as the catalyst for change. No one should have had to see the life be pressed out of George Floyd. We shouldn’t have needed the gut-wrenching 911 call from Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend. We shouldn’t have needed another death, another battle. But we did. People are speaking out and speaking up, learning how to become better allies, and promising to change the way we do business. Social platforms like Instagram have given rise to all voices, including black activists screaming that black lives matter. White people need to be there to listen. If you’re white and you weren’t listening before, now is the…
Birth Story | Hart Wilde
I didn’t appreciate a good birth story until I found out I was pregnant. After that, I became obsessed with them, asking everyone I knew to share theirs. It was weird and potentially inappropriate. Meet someone, find out they are a mother, ask them to share their birth story. I found, though, that most women loved to share. The word mother took on a whole new meaning, one I couldn’t grasp until I held my son. I have a mother, but what could it mean to be a mother? The same was true of birth. I was born, but had never given birth. The anticipation drove me wild. A nine…
Unravelling: What it Means to See Each Other
Day one of quarantine: My husband comes home from his first day of work at a new job to dinner on the table, for us and for the baby. This is unusual, as I make no claim to domesticism and rebel against it to ensure it never pins me down. My hair was done and I had makeup on. What a wife, I am! Even during a global pandemic, you see. Day two of quarantine: Husband comes home to me sobbing. I hate laundry and cooking and cleaning. I can’t believe you can leave me here ALONE! I can’t go out and I need to take care of the baby,…
11 Good Email Habits for Working from Home Productivity
Working from home is the dream that allows your already good email habits thrive. Slip out of bed, grab your coffee, meditate, go for a run, and settle in at your computer for the most productive day you can imagine. It always works like that, right? Right…? Of course it doesn’t. Especially now — maybe you’re parenteaching, or your closet needs decluttering, or your dog expects a hella of a lot more from you now that you’re RIGHT HERE, or you’re now going to tackle healthy food prep at the same time, or, or, or. Whether you’re in the loving or hating wfh cohort, good email habits are likely a…
A Daily Practice to Stay Grounded During COVID-19
Here in Saskatoon we’ve been practicing social distancing for nearly three weeks and it’s unclear when things will return to normal. How are you supposed to stay grounded during these unprecedented times? One moment you can feel hopeful, composed and grateful. The next you can feel anxious, scared and irrational. COVID-19 is real and there is real risk, but you likely know how to behave to significantly mitigate these risks and yet, fear can still creep in. It can be difficult and confusing to stay level, leaving you doubling down on your toilet paper stash, sourcing out an alternate power supply, or filling your bathtub with water—just in case. In…
