Happy Friday!

Congratulations to Kiki and Roseanne who are the winners of my Canadian Living Slow Cooker Collection contest. I hope you both love the book.

For those who didn't win, watch for it in bookstores in October - you'll love it!

Thanks to everyone for your great comments. It's nice to hear there are so many men helping out in the kitchen. (Way to go ladies!)

Talk to you next week. Kathryn

I'm excited to annouce a new contest ... read on!

One of my biggest mum dilemmas is keeping meals healthy, easy and yet not serving the same old thing week after week. Can you relate?

If you haven't used one yet, you must try a slow cooker. You can make amazing one-pot meals, get your kids involved in the prep, and ... the best part ... you don't have to worry about rushing home from work to get stuff in oven. Plus, there's no multi-dish clean up. What's not to love?

Do I sound like a slow cooker pusher? Well, I am. I'm completely sold on the concept. Once you have a slow cooker, all you need is some great recipes. That's where my contest comes in.

I am giving away two copies of  the Canadian Living Slow Cooker Collection worth $22.95.  This book isn't out on shelves until Oct 20th so two lucky winners will get an advance peak.

What do you have to do to win? Tell me how you get your kids and/or guy to help out in the kitchen.

Talk to you soon.

So, it's that time of the year when we sign our kids up for stuff ... pottery lessons, hockey, dance — you name it, there's a lesson and a team for almost everything these days.

Last night we went to register our girls for indoor soccer. Actually we could only register one of them because of their age difference (3 years) and the fact we only have one car. You see, the league holds games for different age groups on the same night and at the same time but at different community centres ... and with just one set of wheels we can't be in two places at once. (Call me a slacker mom but I'm not up to busing it on a Friday night with one of my kids and her soccer gear in tow.)

But I digress ... as usual.

What I really wanted to chat about is that I want to play soccer. I don't just want to be a soccer mom in the stereotypical sense of the term, but really play the game.

I started thinking about it last Saturday. Our family spent most of the day basking in the sunshine on a soccer pitch while Liv took part in her annual end-of-summer tournament. Soccer is just such a great game ... I started to get, well, a tad envious.

Why can't I join a casual league and run boundlessly across a field? I guess I could — even though I haven't played the game since I was, oh, about 15. I just need to find a women's league in my area that isn't serious ... and that will take me. Then I need to find — er, make — time to take myself to practices and games.

I've also been thinking about guitar lessons. That's another thing I haven't done since my teens and I really, really wish I'd kept it up. (Ah, regret will get me no where.)

My trouble is there are so many things that strike my interest, and yet I never seem to make them a priority — except for my book club. But I should.

Here's where you come in ... what kind of activities (not exercise, ladies), leagues and lessons are you pursuing?

How did you decide (a) what to focus on and (b) make time for it?

I need your inspiration, so write to me! Kathryn

What a gorgeous September it's been so far, hasn't it? I am loving this weather — the glorious sunshine and cool nights. I was just commenting to a co-worker that if I didn't have kids, I'd take my holidays this month.

But I do have kids ... otherwise I wouldn't be writing this mum blog ... and telling you about a mum (and dad) dilemma that I'd like your help with. Here goes.

My 10 year-old daughter, Liv, has groovy purple iPod. Well, actually she HAD said ipod. In case you haven't already guessed, my dilemma is to do with the absence of this treasured tech toy.

Liv got the iPod from myself and her dad (my husband, Len) last Christmas as her special gift ... and she adores it. But about two weeks ago, it went missing.

Liv swears she last used it in the car ... or the back deck? ... or the back screened-in porch? It was one of those places, she is certain of that. But now we've searched the car, the backyard, the back deck, the kitchen, the bedroom, the ... well, you get the picture: We've searched the whole darn place and — alas — groovy purple iPod is gone and Liv is sad.

So-o, what's a mum to do?

As you know, iPods are not cheap. And I'm trying to strike the right balance in handling the loss of it because Liv is a good kid and I don't think she was careless with it.

Do we:

(a) Tell her she'll have to wait for Christmas for a new one?

(b) Go 50/50 with her on buying a new one (she has some pocket money saved up)?

(c) Buy a new one for her?

(d) Give her chores to do so she can earn a new one?

Write and tell me how you'd handle the situation. Thanks, Kathryn

Congratulations to Sue and Cheryl who have each won a copy of The World Needs Your Child - How to Raise Children Who Care and Contribute (me to we books, 2009) by Craig and Marc Kielburger and Shelley Page.

Here are 8 parenting pearls of wisdom from this great book that I would like to share with you:

1. Of course your children are gifted: Your challenge and joy is to help them discover their talents.

2. Give the presence of time: Don't rush. Let your child discover her own abilities at her own speed.

3. Make room to explore: Your talents are your talents. Give your kids the freedom to find their own way to shine.

4. Take an interest in their interests: If your child is fascinated with dinosaurs, take him to the library or the natural history museum. No matter the flavour of the month, help him explore.

5. No pain, no pain: Dragging a kid to practice only works for so long. Help him find his groove.

6. Encourage effort, not results: Marks and scores are important to a point. A the end of the day, the real goal is for your child to feel a sense of accomplishment.

7 . Model optimism: Tell your children that you have faith in them and believe they can succeed.

8. Show and share: Encourage kids to share their talents with friends, family and community.

If you have any other tips, please share them. Talk to you soon.

For the most part, the first day back to school went smoothly in our home.

My oldest daughter, Liv, 10, was a bit anxious last night. But she calmed down when we assured her that her grade 5 teacher wouldn't mind that she had forgotten how to do long division and spell the days of the week in French over the summer. She woke up this morning, ready to take on the new year.

Sophie, 7, skipped from our house to the school yard - five minutes away. But she froze and turned ashen when another mom announced that the grade 1/2 teacher had broken her leg last night (what timing!) and there would be a supply teacher for at least a week. Sophie wouldn't let go of my hand until the last child in her class was finally marching in the door and she had no choice but to follow.

Oh, how I hate going to work knowing one of my kids is not happy or stressed.

The good news is that my husband picked the girls up at 3:30 and called me to say they both had a great day. (Sophie loved the supply teacher - her older sister used to call them "surprise" teachers).

The best back-to-school story came to me from a former co-worker who left Canadian Living magazine last week to pursue a degree in environmental studies. Miriam went to orientation day at University of Toronto this afternoon and then and emailed me  to say a lot of students brought their parents ... and it was the parents who were asking all the questions.

Yes, this is university! Talk about not being able to let go.

I hope the first day back to school went well for your family. Write and tell me your stories!

- Kathryn

P.S. Tomorrow I'll announce two winners of book contest.

Happy Friday ... especially because we are headed into the last long weekend before we kiss summer good-bye.

As I promised, I have a new contest ... but first, let me digress ... something that I must admit I'm very good at!

One of my favourite aspects of my job as the life & health editor at Canadian Living magazine is working with a wonderful organization, Free the Children (FTC). Started by two Canadian brothers, Craig and Marc Kielburger, FTC has built schools for hundreds of thousands of kids all over the world and been an advocate for children's rights.

(Check out our annual Me to We awards program with FTC online at www.canadianliving.com)

Why am I telling you about this?

Because the contest involves a new book that the Kielburgers have written called, "The World Needs Your Child - How to Raise Children Who Care and Contribute (me to we books, 2009). It's an inspiring read full of  heart-warming stories and incentive to nurture a sense of compassion and community in kids of all ages.

I'm giving away two copies of The World Needs Your Child.

What do you have to do to win?  Tell me about an act of kindness that you or your kids did recently!

I can't wait to read your replies!

Welcome to September! (I know I'm a few days late.)

Forget Jan. 1st, for me, this month is the official start of the new year. Time to get back into routines, take stock and set some new goals ...

For a while, I've been thinking about the community and volunteer committments I have in my life. Figuring out exactly how I want to "give back" is on my list of 'things to do' this month.

Recently, I have served on my daughters' school council and lent a hand at functions at my local United Church (which does a great job of helping out the homeless and those with addictions). I'm also big on charity walks.

I love getting involved in my community. Despite the time committment in my busy life (doesn't every mum have a 'busy life'?), the work energizes me, fills me with a sense of purpose and, all too often, reminds me that I have a lot to be grateful for.

This fall, now that my girls are getting older (enterings grades two and five), I want to get them more involved in the community and volunteer efforts as well. I think I'll start by taking them to the annual Run for the Cure (for breast cancer).

I'm open to new ideas and suggestions so tell me ...

What kind of volunteer/community efforts are you invovled in? What about your kids?

Talk to you soon and watch out for a new contest that I'll post on Fri. Sept 4th.