Kim Stockwood's blog

There is No Such Thing as Coincidence

Canada Day was my son Sammy's 4th birthday. He was almost not a Sammy, or a Sam, he was almost a Chet. I always tell my friends who are expecting, to wait until they actually see their child's face before they officially name them. Sometimes they just don't look like the name you've picked for them.

Naming our first son was easy. We had picked the name Jack, and he looked just like a Jack.  It was a strong, friendly name and was also the name of the very first Stockwood that came to Newfoundland from England. Perfect.
 
My 2nd child was due on July 7. The minute I heard this, I knew I would do everything in my power to deliver on Canada Day. I would make this happen. People laughed at me, even my husband laughed a little. "Do you actually think that you can will this baby out on command?" Allan was about to go to the Live Earth Concert in Barrie a week before my due date and I told him he better not, because I was going to go into labour on June 30.....Again he chuckled, but  was so scared by  the look of absolute conviction on my face, that he dared not go. I went into labour at 10:00pm on June 30, got to the hospital at 12:00 am July 1, and had my 2nd baby boy at 1:30 am Canada Day.~ We women are powerful creatures!! I had my Canada Day baby. But, when we looked at him he did not look like a Chet. By 3 in the afternoon we still didn't have a name, when a friend called  and said " Do you realize that the very first Mountie was named Sam?" Hmmmmmm.... he sure looked like a Sam, maybe more of a Sammy. Sammy Castell Reid it was.

I Want to be as Cool as Betty White!!!

 

There are some perks about hosting a radio show that are just so fantastic. A couple of days ago, I was fortunate enough to interview Betty White. Yes ­ ­­THE Betty White!!! I knew her  mostly from her days on Golden Girls, as the light-headed, or shall we say naive, Rose from St. Olaf, Minnesota.   She is now in a new movie called "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock and Canadian boy Ryan Reynolds. And I have to say, in a world where youth constantly seems to overshadow the aged, it sure was exhilarating to talk to an 87 year old (yes she's 87 !!!!) and feel rejuvenated. She is one funny lady, like slapping your leg funny. She's also witty, quick, and a good sport. Check her out on Jimmy Fallon just last week playing Beer Pong, http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/06/beer-pong-with-betty-white-and-jimmy-fallon-its-on.html or on any of her numerous recurring appearances on Craig Ferguson, (I especially like her pretending to be a girl guide). Huh-freakin'-larious!!

Kids Really Can't Keep Secrets

 

The other night the kids and I surprised  my husband for his birthday...... kinda. Now, if you have young kids you know its best to never tell them anything about a secret until the very moment you want that secret to be revealed.

My husband thought we were all going to Jack's soccer game but when he came home the kids jumped out and said "Surprise we're all going for dinner Daddy, to your favourite restaurant". On our walk to the restaurant Sammy (my 4 year old with 1000 questions, and a definite sweet tooth) started, "Mommy, where's Daddy's cake? What kind of cake is it? Can I have some cake? Is the cake at home? I love chocolate...Is the cake in the fridge? How many minutes for the cake?Non-stop I kid you not!!To make Sammy stop I  quietly told the kids, that Kevin the very nice gentleman who owns the restaurant, was going to make Daddy a very special birthday cake but not to tell him. Uh-oh.. 

I'm Still Laughing!!

   

Every now and then you get an e-mail that you absolutely have to pass on. This is one of the funniest ever!!!!If you think you're ready to have kids, see if you can pass this test first. Cracked me up, thanks Becky!!!

Mess Test: Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in the wet flower bed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

Toy Test: Obtain a 55-gallon box of LEGOs. (If LEGOs are not available, you may substitute broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen, and whatever you do, do not scream (this could wake your child at night).

Some of My Awesome Things

There was a story in the Star yesterday about  a  Toronto Blogger  who won a Webby  award (Best of the Web) for a  blog he wrote, 1000awesomethings.com. Just reading his list made me feel so good, I thought, hey I'm gonna  do my own list. Making this list made me very happy, you should try it!!!

Here are some of my awesome things: A strawberry milkshake from Dairy Queen; Ripple Chips with Helluva Good Dip,  (there's gonna be a lot of food in this list) fresh laundered sheets; when your child falls asleep in your arms;  Sammy mispronouncing words and saying how "exkited, he is" or when he goes to the bathroom, "Mommy I need some Piracy"; vanilla Haagen Dazs, vanilla lattes, a cold pint of Richards white, with the orange of course; sitting on my Mom and Dad's deck in Newfoundland and the sun (as we say in NFLD) is splittin' the rocks; Patsy Cline; guilt free reading;  the smell of Lilacs; Sudoku; Jigsaw puzzles; seeing the Canadian flag after you've been away for a while; my son saying, "You're the best Mommy in The World"; having a friend tell me I can do it, when I really don't think I can; having a nap when it's warm and raining outside; El Sol salsa; the respect of a good man; knowing your parents love you; days when you feel content; the smell of salt water; being able to sing; being born in Newfoundland; the smell of fresh bread and apple pie; the smell of a Christmas tree; when your child first wakes up and smiles slowly  when they see you; picking my parents up at the airport with their grandkids(tonight!!); Being blessed to have the Mom I have, and being able to make her so happy by giving her 2 grandsons!!

"It's Not in the Getting, But in the Giving"

Last night I hugged my kids a little tighter. I played cars with them a little longer. And I was more patient than I normally am after a long day. I told them I loved them every 5 minutes even when they were running and screaming like crazy little men, through our house. And when I put them to bed, I realized how lucky we all were that they were going to bed at home in their own rooms. The normalcy of our lives now seems so extraordinary.

Yesterday was my first time participating in the Sick Kids Radiothon and I can tell you one thing I will never forget from my incredible day at this hospital, is the love, hope and commitment, that oozes from everyone involved with this magnificent place. Their energy and smiles is infectious and humbling. Especially the beaming smiles from the kids. Some of whom have never left the hospital. It really teaches you how to live.

MOM.......Home Alone

Last night I did something I have not done since my kids were born……I spent the entire day and night alone in my house!!! Here is a brief list of what I did and didn’t do during my 8 hours of alone time: I didn’t watch Sponge Bob (not that I don’t think he’s hysterical....I had a ½ hour bath with a glass of wine and wasn’t interrupted 4000 times because one of my kids just punched my other kid (its usually Sammy doing the punching)... I played Erasure, Patsy Cline and Van Morrison so loud that the house shook….. I vacuumed the rug in our den and stared at it in wonder an hour later because it was still clean, wow ..….

Spring Cleaning Obsessed!!!

Every year around this time, I start getting a strange urge. It creeps up the first few weeks of Spring just like a sweet little tulip bud, and keeps growing and growing like an obsession until it screams at me. YOU’VE GOT TO CLEAN OUT THE CLUTTER FROM THE HOUSE!!. So I started investigating places I could donate toys and clothes that my kids have outgrown, and all kinds of things that we just don’t use anymore.

If you’ve been wondering what to do with all your old electronics, soon you’ll be able to drop-off old computers, tvs, faxs, and phones, for recycling, they’ll give you $2 for laptops, $10 for tvs, plus, later this month the city is launching its Electro-Van, which will pick up items from the curb on your street. How cool is that? For a location near you visit dowhatyoucan.ca

A Mothers Joy..... Her Son is Coming Home From Afghanistan

Today I got an e-mail from a listener that made me tear up. It was from a Mom who wanted to share her good news story. This morning, Lynda received a phone call from her son Dominic who has been serving in Afghanistan for the past 7 months, he told her that he had just finished his last convoy and he will be coming home soon. I can only imagine the relief and joy she feels. Lynda is one of the fortunate ones though, not all mothers see their children come home. Some families sacrifice is beyond measure, and we can never say thank you enough to all the men and women who risk their lives every single day, and to those who have lost their lives. So the next time you start getting upset about something trivial that is happening in your life, take a moment and think about how lucky you are, and how every day somewhere in this world, there is a soldier who is not home, and is fighting for peace and freedom, for us.

She Lost Her Job.....and Found True Happiness

In the Toronto Star on the weekend there was an inspiring story of a woman whose worst nightmare came true, she was fired from her big corporate job. It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her. I truly believe things happen the way they are supposed to, but that's a little hard to accept when a) you've been let go from a job or b) you hate the job you have! So how do you find a job that pays the bills and makes you feel fulfilled every day? Andrea Fitzpatrick says it has a lot to do with how you define success and making sure your job is in line with your values. It's a great article that will definitely get you thinking, check out Andrea's story here.