Congratulations to Lorraine who has won the Finn on the Fly DVD. It's a quirky Canadian family movie that I enjoyed watching with my kids. I hope you like it, too, Lorraine.

Speaking of movies ... I confess that I haven't been to any 'adult' ones this summer. (You know what I'm talking about.)

I was hoping to catch "The Time Traveller's Wife" because I loved the book so much. (I know, the movie is never as good as the book). Has anyone seen it?

It's a sad reality that my summer theatre experience has consisted of ... drum roll please ... Harry Potter, G-Force and Ponyo. All kid flicks. I must say, though, that Ponyo (a Japanese animated movie with an English-speaking voice cast) is very charming and a refreshing departure from much of the kid fare we, mums, are used to.

What movie (kid-oriented or otherwise)  are you dying to see? And what are your all-time favourite family flicks?

Talk to you soon, Kathryn

Summer's almost over, isn't it?

Oh, did I just put a damper on your day? Sorry. (To make it up, I'll let you in on a little secret ... if you really don't want to read my blog you could skip to the end to see the contest.)

Now, back to the discussion at hand ... I know that it doesn't officially become fall until Sept 22 - almost a whole month from now. But the real sign that summer is behind us is the first day of school, and that's less than two weeks away.

Everyone has a different event that signals the end of the summer. Perhaps it's a trip to the mall for back to school supplies, or spying your kid's worn-out, grass-stained sneekers lying in the front hall. (This week, both of my daughter's Crocs fell apart - a sure sign that summer is winding down).

For my family, the realization that summer is leaving us comes with the arrival of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. The Ex, as it's affectionately known, always starts two weeks before school.  Len, the girls and I visited it on Sunday ... taking in the rides (I can't do rollercoasters or anything that spins too much, but I'm a star on the carpet slide!), smells (what is it with kids and candy floss?) and sights (great farm animals; we loved Oscar the long-tailed sheep).

Talk to me ... What signals the end of summer for you? And are you looking forward to what is  the real start of the new year?

CONTEST TIME: I've got a great Canadian family movie,  Finn on the Fly, to give away ... so write to me.

This movie has lots of laughs

There's one thing my kids, ages 7 and 10, just can grasp in the summer ... and that's why I have to work.

"Why? Why?" my 7 year-old asks repeatedly.

Sophie is a smart cookie (not that I am biased or anything) but it just doesn't make sense to her. I secretly wish she ran corporate Canada so her philosophy of  'summer's for staying home and having fun' would rule the workplace.

Couldn't everything  just be put on hold from June 30 to Aug 31 so we could all hit the beach?

I explain to Sophie the concept of household expenses, clothing etc. and the corresponding need to earn money to pay for said things. The feminist side of me is also quick to point out that this mum likes to work.

'Sweetie, I went to school and studied hard to work in a profession I love. And I want you to do the same."

Sophie pauses for a moment and then declares: 'I'm going to be a teacher when I grow up. They are the only adults who have fun in the summer.'

Summer is ripe with mummy guilt.  I talk to so many mum friends who worry if they have their kids in too many camps, in the right ones, feel horrible that they don't have more time to spend with them, and fret over having to work such long hours  before taking a much-deserved vacation with their families.

It's never easy being a working mum. But my take is that it's toughest in the summer when the pressure is on full-force to be relaxed and there for your kids ... at least if they are not teens, yet, and actually want you around!

The answer isn't for all us working mums to quit our jobs. There has to be a better way.

One solution that worked for me this summer was to swap childcare with a neighbour. This week my daughter, Liv, 10, is camping up north with Ally and her daughter, Olivia. (Sophie is with grandma).

Next week when I'm off on holidays, we'll take Ally's daughter away with us.  It's one week that both Ally and I don't have to deal with mummy guilt.

Do you experience mummy guilt in the summer? How do you juggle work and spending time with your kids?

If we all share ideas, we can spend less time stressing and more time having fun with our kids.

Until next time, Kathryn

Let's talk Christmas. Huh? Yup, that's right, Christmas.

All day long for the last few weeks, that's all I've had on my mind.

You see, in the magazine world, editors, art directors and writers toil away on issues long before our readers ever see them. Guess which issue I have been working on lately? Right! December ... and that means the holidays.

The offices of Canadian Living are filled with the scrumptious smells of shortbread and gingerbread wafting out from our fabulous test kitchen, which just happens to be about four feet away from my office door — oh the agony.

And every time I check my email, there's at least one new message from a public relations company offering an invite to come to their 'Christmas in July' or 'Christmas in August' event, at which they preview new products that they hope will make it on your wish list. No wonder, I'm surprised it hasn't started to snow just yet.

One trend I'm noticing this year is the desire to put the 'giving' back in present exchanges and the holidays in general. It seems the recession has given us the chance to pause and think a little bit about what we really want to accomplish when we give a gift.

I know for most of you, the holidays mean hitting the beach and enjoying backyard bbqs. And if you're like me you won't start your shopping until Dec 1.

Still, I want to know ... Has the economy made you think twice about gifts you purchase, and do you think it will do so this Christmas season? If so, tell me how.

Until next time, Kathryn

Thanks for all your replies, telling me what you think about blogging and chatting online about your kids.

The winner (through a random draw) is Dorothy. I'll be mailing out a copy of Canadian Living's Make It Tonight cookbook from the great folks in our test kitchen.

Tomorrow, let's talk about Christmas. Yes, you heard right!

Until next time, Kathryn