CPO Member Spotlight- All4me

By CanadianParents.com Community

What brought you to CPO? How did you find us?

This brings back memories to November 2003. I was doing online job searches, diligently looking, and bored to tears with it. Since I am easily distracted when I don’t want to do something, I clicked on a link about teenagers and ... the rest is history! I found CPO back when the boards were the old blue and white. I spent much time lurking and reading, getting the lay of the land so to speak, before I took the plunge and created a username and made my first post. An addiction was created.

Any favorite Boards?

General, News & Views, Single Parents, 35+ Parents, Blended Families, The Teen Years, Depression/Anxiety, and Sports & Recreation.... Ok, I have to stop listing! Let's just say I go through so many of them and lurk everywhere; we have a wealth of information here, I have learnt a lot and have helped friends with what I have learned here. Also, I would like to be current when and if I become a grandmother. lol. Did I just say that out loud?

What are your hobbies and interests?

In case some of you haven’t figured it out yet I am addicted to hockey, women’s especially. Also, just sports in general, I play ball and golf. Reading is a favourite pastime along with movies and TV in the winter (I have discovered my PVR and love it).

How many children do you have?

I have 1 daughter, Brittany, who now falls into the young adult category, she and I have had quite the journey from baby to now and I have realized that it will continue for quite awhile yet.

Tell us about your parenting philosophy...

If I had to choose and label it I would fall into the Attachment Parenting style long before it even had a name. One of the most interesting things I encountered during my parenting journey was the preconceived notion that as a single parent it affected my ability to parent…seems that some people think we single moms can’t do it………..especially if you challenge what would have been the norms of parenting at the time. I developed a thick skin and stuck to this mantra for myself: "If this is what is going to work for our family then that is all that matters."

What are you most looking forward to this fall?

This fall is going to be bittersweet; it will be more than likely the last season for Brittany’s hockey career. The many years of memories of all the firsts will now be joined with all of her lasts. So as I eagerly await the start of her season, I am sure that there will be many a tear shed again as I realize this milestone is fast approaching. I will be attending as many games as I can, however, the trips to Connecticut add up ☺.

This also will be her last year of University as an undergrad (were does the time go?) she is talking grad school eekkkkkk!!!! Another huge milestone.

Do you have any final words of advice to share with CPO readers?

Now that I have almost turned this into a tear jerker for myself the idea I would like to share is...  " cherish all of the little things. Our babies grow up way too fast."  I must add… I am enjoying much of the freedom I have now.