Girls with pucks!

There is a hot news story brewing in my backyard. A local girl's hockey team is threatening gender discrimination, when it comes to the amount of ice time they receive from local arenas. You can read the full story here, because I'm not about to get into the logistics of the claim.  I do, however, have an opinion on the topic. I will tread very lightly on this one because I have good friends who are true blue hockey families, as well as sis-in-law who plays hockey regularly. She's not in my backyard, but I'm sure she would dive right into this story. 

As you know, Y and Z both play hockey. Y plays in the local house league and Z is in the hockey school, which is run out of our local arena. They both play once a week. Y plays one game a week, no practice. There is no ice time for house league players to get a practice. As you can probably imagine, you can't get better at hockey if you're only playing once a week.  We supplement Y's ice time by taking him to open skate at the arena when we can. We would love him to be able to play twice a week. It would be great for his skills, but also for building some team spirit. You barely get to know the other players on your team when you're only together once a week.  There is currently a proposal in place to build a second ice pad on land adjacent to our arena. The money is in place and logistically it's ready to go. So what's the hold up? The City of Toronto is the hold up. The same City of Toronto who will now try to squeeze out current ice time holders so that there can be more time for the girls. You get where I'm going right? Let's cut through the red tape and get the ice pad built so that there is more ice to play on. This makes sense to me.

I also know for a fact that my gf's son's who play for the "local" team (at the AA level), rarely (if ever) plays on their home ice. The local arena is shared by figure skating groups as well as hockey teams. Also figure into the equation that at the nine year old level, there are AAA, AA, A as well as a Select teams. That's a lot of teams to find ice time for...and that's just nine year old boys!   I think you could probably (and I maybe cutting my own throat here, I appologise) cut out Select teams for six and seven year olds. I'm sorry, but do you really, really  need to put a six year old on the ice twice to three times a week...really?  I understand the need to start kids early, but in a city where ice is at a premium, maybe we could re-think when kids begin playing competitive hockey? Don't get me wrong, I understand that starting kids early (at anything) is good, but is it necessary? The Daddy played competitive at a teeny tiny age, but he wasn't living in Toronto. And to be truthful with you, I hope my Z will play Select next year (B team...we're keeping our expectations low) but it won't kill us, or him, if he doesn't make the team. Maybe some of the men's teams need to step aside and make room for the ladies.  I'm mean seriously big  boys...if you want to play hockey for fun at 30+, then you can certainly afford to pay the premium for ice time at areas that would require you to drive a little further. It won't hurt you!

For our family, hockey is important. My son's aren't stars and there is certainly no NHL in their future, but we do want them to play and hopefully, eventually love it. As with many sports, hockey is expensive and exclusive. I think you need to accept that before your child gets involved. For many families it involves hours of driving, car-pooling and life that revolves around the sport. It is also a fact that historically, hockey is a boys sport, and it may take a long time for girls to gain equality...or at least equal ice time.

For the record, when I was looking for images to post and entered "girls hockey" in Google images and my stock photography web-site, most pics were of girls playing field hockey. What does that tell you?

Stripes!

Sorry I've been out of the loop for the last coupla days. With Y feeling much better and going back to school, I really needed to get out of the house, enjoy the sunshine, and of course check out what I've been missing the stores. I promised you Preloved and I will bring it, but for the morning I've decided to gush over the Gap. I know!! Who gushes over the Gap anymore? Well after a visit there yesterday, I am. And I'm especially mushy over the gorgeous assortment of stripes they are offering for fall and winter. Now I know not everyone can wear, or likes to wear, horizontal stripes, but these are so yummy you might just change your mind and give them a try.  I secretly (well, not so secretly) covet Neighbour K's stripped hoodie tee, made from what looks like the softest cotton in the entire world. She looks fab in it especially when she pairs it with her green cozy vest. So cute!

So, here are my top piX from the Gap. And remember, the Gap is affordable, we're not talking cashmere here!

Look at how totally cute this supersoft rugby strip tee is! It's available in four colour-ways and is on sale right now. I think they are two for $30. Not a bad price for you to look fab.

This one was too good for me to pass up at $29.99. The navy and grey waffle knit so cute and I love the mix of narrow and wide stripes. The sleeves are long and crawl over my hand just the way I like them, and there are tiny buttons that you can barely make out going diagonally across her left shoulder. Perfect. Great details at a great price!

I pulled this cardi off the Gap website, but don't remember seeing it in the store yesterday, otherwise it would be in my closet right now. I love the length, sitting right at the hip and the double grey is too cute. Another must have, or at least another should have!

Update on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 11:17AM by Mommy X

For the record, it's 30% off on everything at the Gap for until Sunday if you happen to be on their email list and are holding the coupon. Now run...before all the good sizes are gone!!!

Hi ho the dairy-o!

A shopping I will go!  What happens when you keep a Mommy in the house for five days strait without shopping. She goes a bit crazy!

It seems that my little Y is feeling well enough to go to school (for the morning anyway), so I'm off to a little Preloved holiday sale. Cheque book, check! Oh...that's all I need.  Click back later for all the juicy details. 

"It" continues...

Ok, so we've established that I'm the worst mother in the world because I let my sick son go skating when he really wasn't well yet. I mean, he said he was fine and wanted to go.  I must remember that a thirty nine year olds judgement is much better than a nine year olds or The Daddy's judgment for that matter. Not that I'm laying blame of anything. I guess we should have taken the hint when he put himself in the penalty box for a time out eh?  I promise I'll be a better mother next time (after he finishes watching The Simpson's movie). What? One of the girls (my gf, not his) from school delivered a bag of DVD's, and that happened to be one of them. How could I say no? "Well Mommy, if T getsto watch it, then why can't I?) Good question...ok go ahead. Oh right, never trust the nine year old. Have to admit it was nice to see him laugh at the opening sequence when Apu changes the expiry date on the milk. I've never watched The Simpson's, and even I laughed! 

So, that's all for now. I do have a post coming up on Preloved. Check it out! The founder is a Mommy at the boys school and a neighbour, so I'm happy to feature her lovely things. If all goes well with Y today, hopefully I can attend a little private sale she's having tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed!

Have a healty one!

Y has "it"!!!

I was hesitant to write this post until the official words came out of the doctors mouth. Even as we were sitting in the office last evening, I was feeling pretty sure he would say that it's just an ear infection/cold combo. But instead these were the words he spoke after peeking in Y's ears and listening to his nine year old chest: "Mrs X, I feel pretty confident in saying that Y has what's being called the H1N1 virus." Shit...and "I'm afraid that we've missed the 48 hour window to prescribe Tamiflu." Shit again! What kind of mother misses the window?  Oh right, I know...the WORST MOTHER EVER...MOI!!! Really, what was I thinking? He has asthma. Why didn't I hightail to the doctor the second he spiked a fever? Because you don't ever want to believe that your child will get "it". The good news is that as of last night (48hours into it) his chest is clear, and that is very good news. We seem to have made it through the fever part of this flu, but this is a tricky little piggy, and the fever can return at any point through the illness. Now we're onto the coughing portion of the show. This is where kids with asthma can become particularly vulnerable. So what do we do? We wait, and watch, and listen. And that is the frustrating part. Waiting for something, or better yet, nothing to happen. The doctor feels confident that he should be back at school by Monday. Six days of feeling lousy seems to the pattern for kids.  I will apologize in advance to everyone on his hockey team. I will likely haul his swine fluey little butt to the arena for the team photograph tomorrow morning. We can't miss that. When The Daddy was a boy, he played baseball with Mike Weir (the golfer), and guess what game he missed? Right. Team picture day. That team picture is now featured in Mikes book. I'm not taking that chance. What if Y is the famous one and all his team mates have no proof they once played hockey with the famous Y?   I know, I know...WORST. MOTHER. EVER!

Update on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 11:22AM by Mommy X

Just want to send a huge shout out to my gf's who have been so fabulous with their help and offers of help. Don't worry girls, I'm totally not offended that you're standing two feet away when you're at my door!!! 

Update on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 8:24AM by Mommy X

Happy to report that Y is much better and back to driving us nuts again! Just like an eight year old boy should.

Update on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 7:56PM by Mommy X

Foolishly took Y to Family Skate Day, a school event, now he's horizontal again! WORST. PARENTS. EVER. I'm not taking all the blame for this one!