 History: Maria I, queen of what Iberian nation for 39 years, died in Brazil following Napoleon’s invasion of her homeland?
3. Music & Movies: What song does Bill Murray’s alarm clock play every morning in Groundhog Day?
Great food, lots of fun and great prizes.
Let me preface this by saying that I’m not an expert on parenting, nor do I have all the answers. I just simply want the world to be a better place. In an effort to do so, I promise you today that I will do my very best to raise respectable young men.
A few months ago, I officially became a #boymom. My three year old was thrilled to learn that he had a new little brother that would be his best buddy for life. My husband was excited to learn that he had another built-in golf partner. And I quickly realized that my life would forever be filled with Matchbox cars, superheroes, and poop jokes. There are so many other fun things about being a #boymom: knowing that you’ll always be the apple of his eye, cheering him on as he learns to play baseball and the mother/son bond that no one can replicate.
With all of those amazing feelings also comes great pressure to make sure I raise someone that I’m proud of in five, 10, or even 25 years. It’s easy to take a step back from parenting these days with technology replacing interaction, and the oversharing of what some people consider “news” from the latest celebrity, whom, by the way, isn’t the best role model, cashing in on their 15 minutes of fame.
I’m here today to take responsibility for the men my sons will become. Without my guidance, how will they learn right from wrong? That laundry should be separated into lights and darks? That women should be paid as much as men because they are qualified and hard-working, too?
My sons will treat others, especially females, with kindness and respect, and they will have compassion. They will understand that the only way to make the generations that follow them better than theirs, is to treat everyone as equals. That no one person is more valued than another. They will say “please” and “thank you,” and attempt to put themselves in others’ shoes when faced with difficult decisions. They will learn that the choices they make will impact their future, and understand that they are not the most important person in the world. They will lead with their kind hearts and look out for those they love most.
My sons will understand how to perform household chores and will not rely on a woman to do it for them. They will learn to clean the dishes and empty the dishwasher. Their beds will be made every morning before school and will know how to properly scrub a toilet. They will learn to appreciate a clean home and work to leave the places they stay better than when they entered. Their cooking skills will be better than basic and will understand there are more delicious things in life than a frozen pizza or macaroni and cheese. They will help clear the table at Thanksgiving before getting back to watching the Lions game, and they will carry this knowledge with them when they’re guests in other people’s homes.
My sons will value family gatherings and understand the importance of spending time with loved ones. They will turn off electronics at dinner and carry on a conversation about how their day was and what they learned at school. Technology will be used to keep up with family and friends that live far away. They’ll understand that sometimes you have to turn down an outing with friends in order to attend a not-so-fun family birthday party knowing that in the end, being surrounded by those you love most is what really matters.
My sons will be charitable. They will recognize that sometimes the best thing you can give to someone is your time. They’ll help those in need and appreciate the things they have. They’ll surround themselves with like-minded people and work to make the world a happier, safer, and more caring place.
While I recognize that some of these promises may get broken from time to time, we will work to see that we rebuild stronger and learn from our mistakes. As a family, we’ll understand that every day may not be great, but we will seek to find something great in every day.
Aubrey, I read this while getting an infusion!  Your folks must be very proud and your hubby even prouder!
In honour of International Women’s Day, YWCA Hamilton celebrated the trailblazers that build our Hamilton and Halton community and publicly unveiled the #WOMENBUILDHAMILTON campaign.
Meet the 2022 Women of Distinction – Courage of Covid award winners.
Dr. Laurel Trainor’s pioneering and ground-breaking research demonstrates the importance of music for children’s development, mental health, and for sustaining vibrant and thriving communities. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, she works with scientists and clinicians on applying music to promote wellness; enhancing hearing aids for music listening; and using music-based interventions to improve outcomes in children with developmental disorders. She is the Founding and current Director of the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind, and the internationally renowned LIVELab research-concert hall, referred to as a national treasure. The LIVELab supports innovative research, musicians and musical performances, training and workshops for many community groups, and exceptional opportunities for McMaster students.
Renata lives all things social justice! With an educational background in Psychology and Biology from Dalhousie University and Social Work from McMaster University, Renata looks to shake the room through her love of building community connections, challenging the status quo, and amplifying the voices of the margins. Renata is experienced in racialized peer support, counseling, and teaching through McMaster University, housing and homelessness support with YWCA Hamilton, and food equity and community network building through her grassroots initiative StreetEatzHamOnt, Renata brings passion and a sharp Black Feminist and Critical Race lens to every table. She is presently situated in the mental health sector within St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Renata is a liberating, empowering, and critical force across the Hamilton community.
Kristine Leadbetter-Gold is Founder of the Women’s Network, TV Producer and Host of “Lead Better with Kristine”, and is the Business Development Manager for Gowling WLG Hamilton. Kristine is passionate about connecting people to things that matter, lifelong learning, and supporting the advancement of women. Known as a rainmaker with an entrepreneurial spirit, Kristine has a keen ability to execute and curate mutually beneficial opportunities. She is an accomplished strategist with 15+ years of experience in reputation management, business development, and community stewardship. Kristine is a speaker, consultant, and published author recognized for her expertise in social capital, leadership, and women’s networks. Kristine has a Masters in Communications Management, was listed as a 2021 Top 40 Under 40 winner, and is a 3x nominee for WXN’s Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women awards.
Sarah Jama is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO). She’s a community organizer from Hamilton with Cerebral Palsy who does work around combating anti-Black racism, policing, and housing insecurity. Through DJNO, she tackles systemic ableism by building up capacity in disabled organizers to challenge structures locally, provincially, and nationally. In her past role as Senior Program Co-ordinator at the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), she ran a Civic Leadership Program to help Black and racialized youth better understand how to work inside and outside institutions to affect structural change. She also led an initiative to form HESN (Hamilton Encampment Support Network) and CareMongering (now called Roots to Justice).
Dr. Zobia Jawed, Ph.D., M.Eng., is a researcher, Faculty lead for Engineering design and policy projects, and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University. She is an expert in water & wastewater systems, climate change, environmental sustainability, and decision-support tools. Zobia is passionate about youth and women’s empowerment by providing them with opportunities in the field of STEM. During the pandemic, she supported many businesses in efforts to pivot and remain profitable during times of crisis. She also advanced research and development in a novel wastewater-based testing approach to assess the spread of COVID-19 at the community level. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Pakistani Business Association, Healthy Youth Network, and Conservation Halton.
Elaine Delsnyder is a Recreation Programmer for the City of Burlington and is the Associate Manager for Burlington Student Theatre. Elaine began her journey with Student Theatre in 1979 as a student herself. She soon became a student leader and a volunteer until 1986 when she joined the team as a part-time staff member and she has been bringing joy and inspiring a love for the performing arts in Halton-area youth ever since. Elaine is also an accredited Montessori educator and founder and co-owner of Clanmore Montessori school in Oakville, investing in developing young minds while championing the Maria Montessori philosophy.
Julie Cole is a recovered lawyer, mom of six and co-founder of Mabel’s Labels. She has helped her company bring their product to a worldwide market, gain media recognition and win countless awards. Cole is a passionate entrepreneur, published author, and sought after speaker. Julie is no stranger to the media, having appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, HLN’s Raising America, Breakfast Television, The Marily