momstown Winnipeg One Great Year

Have a Happy New Years Winnipeg Moms! Thank you for one great year!

I Don't Know How She Does It

I was recently given the opportunity to review Sarah Jessica Parker's latest movie I Don't Know How She Does It which is out on DVD January 3. When I watched the trailer my first thought was this would be a great movie to watch with my momstown friends. Moms are bound to resonate with one of the characters in the movie.

The moment the movie started, I was laughing. It begins immediately with the 'list'. I don't know a mom that doesn't do this! Fearing the teacher when you're late dropping off your child at a school! Getting snubbed by your daughter when you are not around much! Let's not forget the 'hair cut'! It was all too familiar with a recent business trip to Toronto for our momstown Conference. Except for me I missed the first time my son stood on his own. I could go on and on but I don't want to spoil the movie.

Based on the bestseller by Allison Pearson, I Don't Know How She Does It is about Kate Reddy (Parker), who is a working mom in Boston that is trying to juggle marriage, two children and a high-stress job. The movie finds humour in the stereotypes that stay-at-home-moms and working moms go through. From Allison, Kate's working mother friend, to the scary supermoms at her daughter's school to her workaholic, child-phobic young junior associate Momo, you'll find yourself relating far too often to the characters. We all struggle to be that supermom, perfect wife and exceptional employee. Mama guilt is far to common, as is the comparison to the other mom's around you. How does she do it? Look composed, clean, calm, thin, well rested?

I've heard it often myself. Ester, I don't know how you do it? I won't lie and say it isn't stressful. We make it look like we have it all together yet in reality we are barely making it through the day. I lay awake at night making my 'list'. I type emails while feeding my son his breakfast. I bought my tarts this Christmas instead of making it from scratch. The trick is to put it in a box with a nice ribbon and it looks like I've been up all night baking. I haven't experienced lice yet, but I sometimes forget the last time I've showered!

It took me three times to get through this movie. Not because it was awful, but because I kept getting interrupted from a waking baby. I found irony in this. The first night I attempted to watch it I was wrapping Christmas presents while watching the movie, running to rock a crying baby back to sleep and then continuing on with my work. Then I had to finish setting up toys from Santa so my kids could have a perfect Christmas morning. I finished the night at 2 am, preparing our traditional Wife Saver for Christmas morning brunch.

The movie couldn't have come at a better time for me. This past year has been the most hectic, exhausting yet rewarding year of my life. While I struggle to find balance as a mom, wife and business owner I love my children, love my husband and love my job.

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I can't wait to show this movie at the next Mom Movie Night with the momstown mamas! Check out the trailer:

My Growing Family

Welcome to momstown Winnipeg! I'm excited to start this new venture and bring to Winnipeg a fantastic resource that was truly a life saver for this mama. I'm not only growing my family with a new bundle of joy expected to arrive any day, but I'm growing my family with other moms and their families across Winnipeg!

When my husband was transferred to Toronto for work, I was mixed with emotions. Our daughter was only six months old and we were going to be leaving behind all the family support. But I was excited in some ways because there was so much to see and do in the 'Big City'! When we were looking for a house, we stumbled upon Burlington. It was a beautiful town far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto, was right on the lake, had a small town feeling but with the big city amenities. It was perfect. But I was bored and lonely. I didn't know anyone, and I was at home alone with my daughter while my husband worked long hours. So I Googled 'mom groups' and stumbled upon momstown!

I quickly joined with my two week free trial and tried to make it out to as many events as I could. I was hooked! I met so many wonderful moms and my daughter made so many friends. Our schedule was jam packed and I didn't have to spend a fortune. In the year and a half that I lived in Burlington I met so many wonderful moms, made great connections with other mompreneurs through momstown and learned so much more about motherhood and the challenges that we all go through. Not to mention all the great craft ideas and activities that were introduced to me.

But with baby #2 on the way, and the crazy commute my husband had, we decided it was time to move back home. I was so excited at first. See all my family and friends again! This is great. But the closer moving day came, the sadder I got. I couldn't figure out why at first. This was a decision we both made and I was so sure it was the right decision. But then it hit me. I was sad to leave all these wonderful friends I made. And I was having so much fun there! Winnipeg is a great city but I remember being so bored when I was on maternity leave. I went to a few activities in Winnipeg, but it cost a fortune! None of my friends we're off work, so who was I going to hang out with during the days?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Winnipeg just needed a momstown. A place were neighbourhood moms can connect. I'm doing this not only for my own sanity, but for the hundreds of other moms out there that just want to get out there and meet other moms, and get out of their house with their kiddies without spending a fortune. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, on maternity leave or work full-time, there will be activities throughout the week, during evenings and weekends. Not to mention the message board! Need advice on how to handle going back to work, or where to find daycare? Post it on the board. Want to sell your crib, or need to borrow a play pen for the weekend? Post it on the board! You would be surprised how many moms out there would love to help you out! After all, they've been there too.

These are just some of the great things that you'll see when you join momstown. So stay tuned as I get ready to launch momstown in Winnipeg. Our website is in the works, and I'm busy planning some great events while trying to juggle becoming a mother of two! Check back often as I will announce in the coming months some great projects, and details of our launch party. Hope to see you there!

Looking forward to meeting you!

Your Winnipeg momstown mama!
Ester