We're checking in with some local Macaroni moms who offer their take on summer in the Capital, their best tips, tricks, and hacks and their favourite COVID moments. This week, we chat with Angie Poirier.
Angie is the co-host of MAJIC 100 Morning Show with Stuntman Stu and mom to Ava, 16, Mila, 13 and Nash 4.
Favourite thing about being a mom: So many big and little things! Every day I learn just how completely unique each of their personalities are. Every day is a new adventure with this age gap between my kids and let’s just say most days.. also a rollercoaster! There are so many daily lessons we all learn from each other.. I genuinely just love the people they are and spending time with them doing anything or nothing is fun. The most rewarding job ever.
How are you keeping the kids busy this summer? This summer can be challenging with teenagers.. they miss their friends. We’ve been spending a lot of time up at the cottage we rent every summer. Thankfully when the pandemic hit we pre-booked it for extra weekends. We swim, fish, go tubing.. things all 3 kids enjoy.
Best tip/hack for family fun? We recently made our own chalk paint. You just grate big sticks of sidewalk chalk into containers and add water. Makes nice vibrant colours. They can paint the outdoor chairs, the fence, anything.. cause it washes off! It’s just chalk! Kids love to be creative and this is one way to let them do that… with easy clean up!
Funniest mom fail? How much time do you have?? I’m sure my kids would have their own stories! With parenting I think at least once a day you experience some kind of guilt or fail! Comes with the territory.
Best Ottawa location/activity for summer fun for kids? We’ve been letting the little guy stay up late some nights so the family can chase some sunsets at various trails like Morris Island Conservation Area. My girls love to photograph sunsets and my son loves to run the trails and find nature treasures. You can’t take a bad photo there, it’s beautiful. There is a long causeway you can walk over the water where we spotted turtles, beavers and deer!
Best at-home tip to keep the kids busy? Let them bake. My kids always want to bake and create in the kitchen. Again, it can be challenging to find activities all of them like to do together with their age gap but this is one! We have been making cool things like DIY ice cream in a bag, cake pops, frozen s’mores, all kids of fun new treats. Yes it messes up the kitchen royally, lol, but the clean-up is worth it to see them so happy and creative.
Favourite thing you do to relax? After everyone is in bed… my relax time is really just catching up on shows with my hubby. My little mindless escape. I also love to do some reading before bed. Helps put me to sleep.
Best memory about this COVID experience? Seeing my teenagers more! Having them to myself instead of the usual ‘mom taxi’ driving them to various friends houses and sleepovers. I found they were actually on their phones and social media less.. they started reading more.. wanting to plan family activities.. it’s been lovely. At the beginning of the pandemic I wrote a quote on kitchen chalkboard that said. “We will never have this much time together again”. I’ve lived every day of isolation reminding myself of this and appreciating it.
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