A mindset shift can be SO POWERFUL, especially during times like this. This is the time to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones!   We will all get through this tough time together and become stronger as a community Love and light always, Sumaira Z    <Originally posted on my Instagram account, please only reshare with credit, thank you> The post Mindset Shift During a Pandemic appeared first on Sumaira Z ..read more

I was SHOCKED when my toddler was potty trained in one day, for it had never taken this short amount of time with my other three children! In fact, with my other children, the whole potty training process was a stressful one and took at least a week. However this time around, I had done things differently and it definitely paid off!    Getting familiar with the toilet   One of the first steps I took towards potty training my child was getting him familiar with the toilet beforehand. When my son was about 2 years old, I started putting him on the toilet just for fun. There was no ..read more

I have four children and they were all potty trained at different ages, ranging from 2 years old to 3.5 years old. The experiences of potty training each child were completely different, but there are a few things I wish I had known before I began potty training them all.    Read to the end to find out what I wish I knew before I started potty training my children and also read below to find out how the journey went with each of my children.   Potty training my first child   I remember potty training my first child when she was two years old, it took about a week and it was ..read more

As I type this, it is -34 degrees celsius, but with the windchill it feels like -44 here in Edmonton, Alberta! Yikes! Needless to say, our province is under an extreme cold warning and we are being told to stay indoors as much as we can.  Now, usually this is the time of year that I would complain about how cold it is outside and how I can’t leave my home; BUT this year, I’m embracing the conditions and even taking advantage of the cold weather! No, that doesn’t mean that I actually like the weather (because I really don’t, especially the brutal cold wind and those icy road conditions- OM ..read more

I remember visiting my daughter’s preschool class a few years ago and being shocked at seeing children using tongs to put fruit into their plates and pouring their own milk from a jug into their cups. I certainly wasn’t allowing my then three and a half year old daughter to do that at home! That day was an eye opener for me, as it made me realize that children are so much more independent than what we think!    After that day, I slowly began to give my daughter more freedom to be independent at home in the kitchen. I have to mention though, there were times where I was feeling scared ..read more

I recently shared a photo on social media of my daughter holding my niece and the response was incredible! Why? Because they were both wearing matching hats that were knitted by my daughter herself. In the caption, I mentioned how I felt nervous when my daughter told me that she wanted to learn how to crochet and knit. I was nervous because I know nothing about this hobby, so I slightly panicked!   I started to learn more about how to knit and crochet, so that I could help my daughter learn as well, but I gave up because it simply was not my thing! My daughter kept going though and eventu ..read more

I became a mother 12 years ago and since then my motherhood days have consisted of so many emotions, hardships, beautiful memories, and tears (of sadness, frustration, and happiness)!   My mental health during pregnancy My body has grown during each pregnancy to accommodate the tiny beings inside of me, my hips grew wider, and my stomach stretched beyond what I ever thought it could. I’m not going to lie and say it was all beautiful because it was not to me at that time- It was scary. Very scary.  Suddenly blowing up like a balloon was not fun at all (hello back pain and swollen fee ..read more

The kids have been back in school for about a month now, and since then I have been trying to figure out a way to make my mornings easier, especially when it comes to putting their school lunches together.  I’m sharing what has been working for our family and all the school lunch tips that I have been using that have helped me with reducing my stress and that save me time in the mornings!  1. Have your breakfast before the kids wake up Wake up early and eat your breakfast in peace. No seriously, if you are not already doing this, then you need to do it! I used to wake up when the ki ..read more

As a mom, I know how my summers can be all about my children, so much so, that it can be easy to forget about myself! I’m usually in the kitchen at least 25 times a day giving the kids snacks, cooking for them and constantly cleaning up after them. Not to mention, so much of my time is spent driving the kids to the library, festivals, or parks, so that I can avoid hearing the words, “I’m bored!!!” as much as I can. I know summers are for kids to have fun, but mama, please don’t forget to give yourself some time too! With that said, here are 5 things I’m doing for my mental health this summer ..read more

  A mindset shift can be SO POWERFUL, especially during times like this. This is the time to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones!   We will all get through this tough time together and become stronger as a community Love and light always, Sumaira Z    <Originally posted on my Instagram account, please only reshare with credit, thank you> The post Mindset Shift During a Pandemic appeared first on Sumaira Z ..read more