Columnist Kita Szpak recalls the local destinations she used to take her three boys when they were small We all look forward to returning to our children’s favourite places once restrictions are lifted and visiting people and places will once […]
Kita Szpak
A labour of love
Fifteen years ago, Suzanne Smith’s newly pregnant daughter Shannon lamented that there wasn’t a maternity store in Ottawa that could outfit her in the way she wanted as a professional working woman. Unable to find anything that was suitable […]
From ‘I’ to ‘we’ to ‘all’
Trust yourself on this miraculous journey of motherhood Nothing can totally prepare you for motherhood. No book, no seminar, no friend, no other mother—even your own—can begin to give you a sense of the enormity of being a parent. Yes, […]
The magic of your ‘hood
In these uncertain times, your neighbourhood can be both a comforting constant and a hotbed of adventure My admiration goes out to all of you who are raising children in these challenging times. Schedules undone; school uncertain; playdates online; family […]
Home for the holidays
‘Close to home’ takes on a new meaning during the pandemic, Kita Szpak writes No question about it, the phrase “home for the holidays” has a feel-good vibe: the coming together of family and friends all wrapped up in […]
Listen to yourself
In these unprecedented times, look to your heart for the answers, Kita Szpak writes These are extraordinary times. Never before have all of us been affected by a singular event such as this in our generation. This is a once-in-a-lifetime […]
Education begins at home
Before COVID-19 hit (and everyone started to teach their kids at home) there were these parents. Kita Szpak speaks with four Ottawa families who homeschool their children by choice Families all have their reasons for homeschooling. Although there is […]
To my Dad with love
Columnist Kita Szpak shares a poignant portrait of her beloved father My father had been operated on to remove a cancerous tumour in his hip and was still in hospital recovering. He knew he had to gain weight to stay […]
Have a little faith
Why should parents consider faith-based education for their children? Every parent wants to make the best choices for his or her children. With economic, political, health, and educational structures in flux, parents are seeking the optimal school environment for their […]
Rules don’t apply
Roles are getting mixed up and knocked down – and that’s a good thing A generation ago, families were managed from the top-down – like a traditional corporation with the president/CEO creating and carrying out executive orders with company employees […]