I believe I am an average Canadian woman. I am a middle aged woman on a second marriage with two kids from my previous marriage, and three step-children from my current marriage. I have two dogs, a frog, a turtle, and fish. We live in a nice house and are a middle class family.
Not too interesting right? Maybe, but I think there is a lot of us out there. Typically women these days are married more than once. At least that’s what I have run into in my life. Out of these second marriages has brought us blended families. I call us the “Brady Bunch” family.
Life at times can be difficult with these blended families. Step-children don’t necessary want to listen to their step-parents, and definitely don’t like to be scolded by them. I’ve ran into this several times with my step-children, but so has my husband with my children. It can be a battle at times, but we always get through it.
Another difficult problem is my husband and I do not always agree about how we raise our children. I am a protective mom that wants to be involved in what goes on in their life. He is laid back and more carefree. We also don’t always agree on punishment for bad behaviour. Sometimes he’s thinks I am too hard on his kids, and sometimes I think he’s too hard on mine. We however get through it with some kind of compromise, although occasionally it’s after a good argument.
So how many do you think of us is out there? I got curious after starting to write this blog, and stopped and looked on a website called The Canadian Encylopedia. It says that given the high proportion of marriages ending in divorce, a large number of people in their middle years remarry. Although it did say men are more likely to get remarried than women. That did surprise me. In the 1990’s, approximately one-third of Canadians marriages involved at least one partner who was previously married. By the millennium, about 10% of Canadians had been married twice. From these remarriages there are usually children involved. It says by 2001, 12% of Canadian families were step-families that incorporated children from parent’s previous relationships.
So I may or not be technically an average Canadian woman, but I consider myself to be.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Newbie Blogger
Yes I am a new blogger. I just thought it would be a cool thing to try out. I used to write alot, and was told I was pretty decent at it, but that was a long time ago. A life time ago it seems, as marriage, work, and children have been my main priority. Not that it still isn't, but my children are older now, and I have been layed off from my previous job. So now I have time for myself.
When I mentioned this new blogging adventure, to my 13 year old daughter, she laughed. My children think I'm way behind the times. They are right, I am. Technology goes so fast I can't keep up. It doesn't bother me. I just keep up to what I need and enjoy. I don't need all the latest gagets, and technology that out there just because it's available.
The funny thing about computers is that I never got one until 2003. I was scared of the internet. I can't even remember why. I actually had to get my kids to help me use it. They were only age four, and seven at the time. They knew more than I did because of school. It didn't take long for me to figure it out, and I was hooked! I love the internet. I love all the information, ideas, social networking, games and email.
After my ex-husand and I spit up, one of the first purchaces I made was a new computer. I hooked up the computer and internet myself. When ever there seemed to be a problem I always figured it out. Therefore I might be behind the times, but I eventually do try new things. So for this blogging thing just might be ok.
When I mentioned this new blogging adventure, to my 13 year old daughter, she laughed. My children think I'm way behind the times. They are right, I am. Technology goes so fast I can't keep up. It doesn't bother me. I just keep up to what I need and enjoy. I don't need all the latest gagets, and technology that out there just because it's available.
The funny thing about computers is that I never got one until 2003. I was scared of the internet. I can't even remember why. I actually had to get my kids to help me use it. They were only age four, and seven at the time. They knew more than I did because of school. It didn't take long for me to figure it out, and I was hooked! I love the internet. I love all the information, ideas, social networking, games and email.
After my ex-husand and I spit up, one of the first purchaces I made was a new computer. I hooked up the computer and internet myself. When ever there seemed to be a problem I always figured it out. Therefore I might be behind the times, but I eventually do try new things. So for this blogging thing just might be ok.
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Did You Know......?
Did you know.................
50% of all illness is due to poor indoor air quality (Source: 1989 State of Massachusetts Study)
AIR FRESHENERS: interfere with the ability to smell by coating nasal passages with an oily film, or by releasing a nerve deadening agent! Toxins in air fresheners include: Formaldehyde: highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: can cause skin to burn, peel, and sweat. Can cause convulsions, coma, circulatory collapse and even DEATH!
LIQUID DISH-SOAPS: is the leading cause of poisonings in the home for children under the age of 6 (over 2.1 million accidental poisonings per year) (contains formaldehyde and ammonia in most brands) One Million poisonings in Canada each year are due to household cleaner ingestion. Some are fatal. The #1 cause of household poisoning is dish detergent. What kinds of chemicals are in those products? http://www.rense.com/general19/chemical.htm
AUTOMATIC DISHWASHING DETERGENTS: contain dry chlorine that is highly concentrated. #1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.
CHLORINE BLEACH: is a strong corrosive and can burn or irritate skin, eyes and the respiratory system. Can cause vomiting or coma if swallowed! WARNING! Never mix with ammonia as the fumes are very dangerous and can be DEADLY!
AMMONIA: is very volatile and damaging to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract!
FURNITURE POLISH: contains Petroleum Distillates, which are highly flammable and can cause lung and skin cancer!
DRAIN CLEANER: most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane, which are all very caustic. They burn the skin and eyes, and can cause liver and kidney damage.
OVEN CLEANER: contain lye, which is a strong caustic and irritant to skin and eyes. Can cause tissue damage if swallowed.
TOOTHPASTE: can contain a number of harmful ingredients, such as: ammonia, benzyl alcohol/sodium benzoate, colors, ethanol, flavours, fluoride, formaldehyde, mineral oil, plastic (PVP), saccharin. Formaldehyde, mineral oil, PVP, and saccharin are all classified as carcinogens or suspected carcinogen, as is fluoride, which has been banned in many European countries and is the subject of concern with regard to thyroid problems. In fact, as of April 1997, toothpaste is required to carry poison control information on the label as even a small amount can harm or kill a small child.
Occupational Safety & Health analyzed 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products. A personal care product is de-fined as anything we use to clean our bodies, or make ourselves look or smell good.
The results are as follows:
884 are toxic
146 cause tumours
218 cause reproductive complications
314 cause biological mutation
376 cause skin and eye irritations
778 caused acute toxicity
884 are toxic
146 cause tumours
218 cause reproductive complications
314 cause biological mutation
376 cause skin and eye irritations
778 caused acute toxicity
Over the last 20-30 years, as more toxic chemicals have been introduced in greater amounts, the level of toxins stored in adipose tissues (fat cells) of our bodies has risen. Bio-accumulation studies have shown that some toxins store in our bodies for life. Greater and greater amounts are being stored at younger ages. Diseases that used to occur later in life are now appearing at younger ages. Diseases that used to be rare are more frequent. For Example: There has been a 28% increase in childhood cancer since the addition of pesticides into household products. (Source: National Cancer Institute)
In one decade, there has been a 42% increase in asthma (29% for men; 82% for women-the higher rate for women is believed to be due to women's longer exposure times to household chemicals) (Source: Center for Disease Control)
Due to the increase in toxic build-up in our bodies, including the toxic build-up of formaldehyde, dead bodies are not decomposing as fast as they used to. (Source: National Institutes of Health)
There is an increased risk for leukemia in children where parents have used pesticides in the home or garden before the
child's birth (Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute)
Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological
abnormalities. (Source): Consumer Product Safety Commission
In one decade, there has been a 42% increase in asthma (29% for men; 82% for women-the higher rate for women is believed to be due to women's longer exposure times to household chemicals) (Source: Center for Disease Control)
Due to the increase in toxic build-up in our bodies, including the toxic build-up of formaldehyde, dead bodies are not decomposing as fast as they used to. (Source: National Institutes of Health)
There is an increased risk for leukemia in children where parents have used pesticides in the home or garden before the
child's birth (Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute)
Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological
abnormalities. (Source): Consumer Product Safety Commission
In most cases, however, you won't find much information on the label. There are no requirements of manufacturers to actually disclose what is in a product, and there is no regulation or enforcement. All of it falls under proprietary trade secret legislation.
Today, cancer is the leading cause of death for women ages 35-74. In 1901 cancer was considered a rare disease. Statistics show that only 1 out of 8000 people had cancer. TODAY, according to the American Cancer Society, 1 out of every 3 people has cancer. TODAY, 1 out of every 2 people has been touched by cancer. The fear of cancer is on every-one’s mind these days. So many forms of cancer and they all had to start somewhere . . .
Today, cancer is the leading cause of death for women ages 35-74. In 1901 cancer was considered a rare disease. Statistics show that only 1 out of 8000 people had cancer. TODAY, according to the American Cancer Society, 1 out of every 3 people has cancer. TODAY, 1 out of every 2 people has been touched by cancer. The fear of cancer is on every-one’s mind these days. So many forms of cancer and they all had to start somewhere . . .
How Safe is My Family?
This is the question that every parent should be asking themselves.
We have no choice but to breathe the air, eat the food, and drink the water; but we DO have a CHOICE of what we put on our skin and what products we have in our homes.
I know that I personally do not ever want to believe that I caused harm to my family, when I had the choice to change it. I’d love to help ensure a safer home for your family.
For more information on how to make your home a healthier place for you and your family please go to my website and I will call you with the information. I would love to help you have a healthier safer home!
Jennifer McLennan
www.WorkAtHomeMomJen.com