FamilyLife - April 2020 by Lawrence Ambrocio

Plant-based Meals

Tips & Tricks for photos

Know about face masks

FamilyLife Welcome Home

April 2020

April Contents

ADVICE

ORGANIZE

FOOD

9 Simple Tips and Tricks for Organizing Photos

33 How to display statement pieces and wall art in your home

65 Basic Meals in a Minute

15 Little Things 19 Raising Independent Kids 25 Three Questions: A Realist Mom’s Reality Check 29 “No” Means “No”

9 IN EVERY ISSUE 6 Editor's Letter

FEATURES

76 Last Look

51 Everything You Need To Know About Non-Medical Face Masks

ON THE COVER Photography by Virginia MacDonald

57 Moms Are Leaving The Workforce To Care For Their Kids—And It's Not Okay

Family Life ‐ April 2020

FamilyLife EDITOR IN-CHIEF Pamela Hayford EXECUTIVE EDITOR Suzanne Moutis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Paddon EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa TEST KITCHEN FOOD DIRECTOR Soo Kim SENIOR FOOD ASSOCIATE Stina Diös CONTRIBUTING FOOD SPECIALISTS Donna Borooah, Cara Tegler ART DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Lena Diaz ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Sarah Big Canoe CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR Leanne Gilbert PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Genevieve Pizzale EDITORIAL SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR Megan Howard FEATURES EDITOR Mary Levitski COPY EDITORS Debbie Madsen Villamere, Stephanie Zolis EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Marianne Davidson, Sarah Dziedzic HOME & GARDEN HOME & STYLE DIRECTOR Ann Marie Favot DESIGN EDITOR Morgan Lindsay NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGERS, TORONTO David Lawrence, John McDowell, Nicole Rosen, Roberta Thomson NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGER, MONTREAL Ingrid Barfod NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER, VANCOUVER Renee Wong BRAND OPERATIONS MANAGER Terry Smith

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Family Life ‐ April 2020

Editor's Letter

Planning for Easter I remember the moment I fell in love with the piano. A teenage girl from Germany was staying with my family as part of the Rotary Club’s student exchange program. She played piano, but my family didn’t have one. I remember one day being in a music store with her. I don’t remember if it was at the mall and we just happened upon it or if it was a purposeful move on my parents’ part, but there we were in a big store full of pianos — uprights, baby grands, shiny glossy curves and cool ivory keys. Tina sat down at one. She tinkered a bit. And then her fingers flew. “House of the Rising Sun” bellowed from the piano’s open soundboard. I was in awe. My parents ended up buying a used piano, so that Tina could keep up her practice. My brother and I got lessons. I took private lessons into high school, and piano led to six or so years playing in the school band, first in middle school, then the high school marching and concert bands. Playing music helped me make friends, helped soothe my stressed-out soul and simply gave me joy. I didn’t go on to be a famous rock star or an accomplished opera singer, but music filled me. It’s still a part of me. Every time I edit a story, I hear its rhythm in my head, and sometimes out loud as I whisper the words into my cupped hand. Music makes me a better writer and editor. Those lessons when I was a kid still ring true with me as an adult.

Pamela Hayford Editor In-Chief

April 2020 - Family Life

Advice

Simple Tips and Tricks for Organizing Photos By STEPHANIE LOUX

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Advice Are you behind on organizing your family’s photos? You’re in good company! With the rise in technology and the ease and accessibility of cameras on our smartphones, the sheer number of photos is overwhelming. So how do you come up for air in the sea of photos? Luckily, we do have some ideas and resources for you. First, start with today, really. Take a look at your photos just from today and delete ones that don’t make the cut. Make this a habit while you’re relaxing in the evenings, so you only keep your best photos to organize. Depending on your time, patience and volume of pictures, continue deleting any photos you don’t wish to keep. Then if you have Amazon Prime, you can back them up using their photo app on your phone. Then a never-ending project for me is to catch up on years past by going back and weeding out my photo folders on my computer. If you have non-digital photos you’d like to digitize and be able to organize too, check out a service like LegacyBox.com. Second, decide how and why you would like to organize your photos. Do you have a computer and hard drive you’d like to copy and paste them to? Do you want to organize them in the cloud? Do you want to make prints or print photo books? Or maybe you would just like to organize them better right on your phone. Personally, I am old school and like to put them in folders on my computer and also back them up on an external hard drive. Ideally, I periodically plug my phone into my computer and copy and paste all my photos into folders. As for my folder system, I like to keep it as simple as possible. I create a new folder for each year on my PC and add monthly folders labeled with numbers first so they stay in order, for example “5 May 2020.” That method makes it easy to find certain photos when your kids start to need actual printed photos for school projects. Then I weed through those photos and delete and maybe even edit some. Sometimes I even make subfolders for birthday parties or for photos I want to print out.

April 2020 - Family Life

Photographer and mother of three Terri Demarest says, “I have a folder for each season/year. So ‘fall 2019’ is an example of one folder’s title. In that, I have subfolders if we go on a special vacation (such as one for ‘Arizona’), and then the kids’ yearly photos get a folder (‘Everett 6YO’). The rest of the photos are in the main folder ‘fall 2019.’ I also put videos in a separate folder there too and then all phone pics are in a folder called ‘phone pics,’ which are both still subfolders for the main year/season.” Demarest says a seasonal reminder is helpful to remember to order new prints and back up her photos. Jennifer Schmidt, mother of two, has yet another technique to organize her family’s photos. “Every event is in its own folder within the computer’s photos folder and labeled date first (year, month, day), such as ‘2014.06.13’ plus the name of the event. As you scroll down, the folders become more recent. Then each of my kids has their own separate folder within the main photos folder. Then I take photos that just my daughter, Haddie, is in and put them in subfolders in her folder, even if the photos are from the same thing like a trip to the zoo. The photos of my son, Mason, go in his separate folder, and Haddie's go in hers. Then I have a whole other folder in the ‘photos’ folder for that event that have photos of both of them together. I do split photos up from the same event, which I'm sure would drive some people crazy, but I like my system and I've done it since before the kids were bor,n so it's easy to keep up with. My thought process is, if I ever need pictures of just Mason or just Haddie, it'll be easy to find them!”

Advice

That leads to the discussion of prints and the importance of displaying family photos in your home. An article on DesignAglow.com showcases the importance of displaying family photos. “It lets children learn who they are and where they fit,” says Judy Weiser. a psychologist, art therapist and author based in Vancouver. “They learn their genealogy and the the uniqueness of their own family and its story. When a child sees a family portrait with them included in the photograph they say to themselves, ‘These people have me as part of what they are, that’s why I belong here. This is where I come from.’” But getting behind on actually printing physical copies of photos happens so easily. It’s just another line item on the to-do list, right? But if we would just sit down and take 10 minutes, we would be able to check that box and feel accomplished. Especially if our photos were already organized! Many businesses offer photo printing services with varying levels of quality, price and accessibility, such as CVS, Walgreens, Shutterfly.com and Mpix.com. So get those frames updated with fresh prints and see the delight on your family’s faces when you relive special memories together. Small photo books can be a fun gift for your children in stockings or Easter baskets or just because. They make nice gifts for grandparents and other family members too. Services like Chatbooks.com or subscriptions like GrooveBooks.com help you make small photo books from your phone and mail them right to your door

April 2020 - Family Life

Personally, I made my children a baby book of each one’s first year using Shutterfly and then liked my neighbor’s idea of printing a family yearbook each year. I used Shutterfly for my first few and now am frustratingly years behind. I simply go in chronological order, giving each month a different background color. These books are such treasures to look back on the life you are building and living with your family. Demarest also makes a family yearbook using Artifact Uprising. So keep taking those photos and know that you can have a plan of action to maintain some order with them. Our children’s lives are incredibly well documented, and it really does bring me so much joy to look back on those moments both big and small. The key is to find a way that makes sense to you and that you will be able to maintain. I feel like this ties in with personality types a lot—but that’s an article for another day

Advice

Little Things By WILLIAM R. BARTLETT

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Advice

“Good morning, glory.” Mom sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee before her, fully dressed for the day. Even if it was something as simple as a morning greeting, she found a way to make it better. “Morning, Mom.” I always felt better near her, even if I wasn’t able to articulate it. “Would you like some eggs, or would you prefer pancakes?” My young palate always sought out both extremes, either salt or sweet. This morning, maple syrup won out. “You’d make pancakes just for me?”

She flashed a smile that still warms my heart whenever I think of it. “You’re welcome, sweetie.” Mom never stopped amazing me with her little things. One day, a suggestion from her spurred Dad to make a bookshelf to hang over the head of my bed. Another time, she wanted to go out for a “piece of pie,” after her weekly card game/conversation fest with my grandparents, and I was invited to tag along. The things she did were never big, but she always found ways that showed her love in deeds, rather than words. Of course, moms the world over do the things that come naturally from a mother’s heart, and they do them out of love.

“I haven’t eaten, either.” “Where’s everybody else?” I couldn’t believe my luck. “Terri and Judy are at Katie’s, Dad’s out on an errand, and Bob’s sleeping in. Come on, you can help.” Thirty minutes later, I shoveled the last buttery lump of maple-soaked goodness into my mouth. “Thanks, Mom. That was great.”

April 2020 - Family Life

The other day, Sandi got up with me before the boys woke. I worked in the kitchen while she sat at her computer as Ian came down the stairs. Sandi raised her face and smiled at him. “Good morning, glory.”

Advice

Raising Independent Kids By JANELLE CUMRO-SULTZER

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Advice We can't wrap our kids in bubble wrap and then expect them to be self-sufficient. How do we raise independent children while still allowing our children to be kids? How do we prepare our children for being self-sufficient adults? One of the big goals we parents should have for our children is for them to become as self-sufficient as possible. No matter your child’s current age, you can always find ways to set the groundwork for them to become more independent. First, let’s take a look at toddlers, who, by nature, are our little explorers. We parents have great intentions as we tell our kids no, of course. We worry about their safety, health and wellness. What if instead of saying no, we try to focus on yes? Yes, let’s feed the dog. Yes, let’s pick up our toys. Yes, let’s set the table. At this age, welcome their willingness and do things side by side. Yes, let’s feed the dogs together! Teaching children from a very young age to help with household responsibilities not only gives children responsibility-building tasks, but also helps build a sense of self-worth from the start. Try to focus on the mindset that this is our home, and we all are responsible to take part in making sure we look after it. This builds ownership and independence for everyone in your family. I know it takes more work to teach a toddler to sit and fold washcloths than to just fold them yourself. Teaching independence is hard work! The sooner you start, the easier it will be. As children get older and into middle and high schools, increase their responsibilities. Come at it from two angles. First, focus on what your children love to do. Have kids who love to mess around in the kitchen? Perfect! Teach them to make dinner a few nights a week. Once they are in that routine, add on additional responsibilities related to cooking. Maybe it’s doing the dishes, planning meals or making a grocery list. Are your kids good on the phone as well? Have them do the online grocery ordering since you can always add or delete items before the order is placed. Teach them to reorganize the fridge and the pantry. Teach them all the roles and responsibilities around the one main thing they enjoy. Focusing on what they want to do will set everyone up for success. Of course, kids won’t enjoy every aspect, but really who does? Can you see the pride building in your children as they become better and better with tasks they enjoy?

April 2020 - Family Life

Once your kids have gotten into their new routine of doing the things they enjoy, talk with them about what they find super challenging. This, of course, is the harder side to tackle. One example that comes to mind is a lot of children find making phone calls challenging. Today, we often send a text or email and call it good, but learning this skill is important. Help children master the phone by setting up appointments for anything and everything. Maybe they need a haircut, so you might chat with them about checking the household calendar for ideal times for them to go. They might need to practice the conversation with you or even hear you make an appointment on speaker phone a few times first. We all have so many appointments, and teaching your children to set up their own appointments early will help them in the long run. Even most entry level jobs have some sort of phone related tasks, and by starting early the process of making phone calls, you are teaching your children to be that much more independent. Your kids may not need work on phone skills, but the list of life skills adults need is long. Pick something together, then help your youngsters master that step to independence. Most young adults need help learning about managing money, applying for jobs and buying a car or house. The great thing is you do not have to be the expert in all of these areas to help your child learn these skills. What better way for teens to learn about buying a new car than having them there with you when you buy a new car? If you don’t feel knowledgeable about a topic you want to teach your children, find someone who is able to teach you together. What if you are short on time, energy or hands to teach? Have an older sibling instruct a younger one or ask Dad to teach a kiddo. I love a perfectly folded sheet, but you know what I love more? My husband and my son. Who really cares if their folded sheet isn’t as tidy as mine? If my husband is teaching our son to do something, I could care less about perfection!

Advice

In addition to helping your children learn to manage new tasks, it is also important to understand there will be mistakes. As hard as they are to watch, mistakes are really a teaching and learning opportunity for both sides. Your children will learn more about how the mistake is handled than about the actual mistake itself. Give kids some room to try to figure things out first. Then, when needed, help solve the problem instead of just fixing it. Fixing things in the moment for struggling kids is so much easier, but in the long run, so much growth comes from the learning to figure things out. Help your children develop the confidence to take a leap, knowing you will be there with a net if they do fall.

April 2020 - Family Life

No matter your children’s ages it is never too early or too late to start teaching them about responsibilities to help mold them into responsible and independent people. Just start somewhere with something and build from there. Yes, there will be mistakes along the way, but what better way to learn than to learn together as a family!

Advice

Three Questions: A Realist Mom’s Reality Check By WENDY CONNELLY At this particular time in history, we can feel like problems are coming at us from all sides, problems that appear far from being solved. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed out and as though we—and the world around us—are spinning out of control at breakneck speed. Being a mom responsible for raising human beings in these perilous times ups the ante of these scary unknowns and frightening what-ifs. Some of us are born optimists, better able to emotionally weather life’s storms. However, too much optimism can leave us with our heads in the sand, unprepared to confront the serious issues of our time. Others among us lean toward pessimism, riding these bumps in a struggle bus of stress and anxiety, ready for the road to fall out beneath us.

Pessimism has its perks, helping us to prepare for worst-case scenarios, but it severely undermines our mental and physical health. So, what’s the ticket to smoother roads? Realism, the ability to see the world around us as clearly as possible. Not through the rosy spectacles of optimism, not through the bleak shades of pessimism, but rather with the clarity of a realistic outlook that aims to accurately assess and answer three important questions in the midst of our adversity: How long? How wide? How deep?

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Advice

How Long? (Permanence) Permanence asks this question: How long will this situation affect us? In the midst of a crisis, optimists tend to see adversity as short-lived, whereas pessimists can believe the adversity will never end and that Doomsday draws nigh. To pessimists, it’s the end of the world as we know it (and yes, #ITEOTWAWKI is an increasingly popular hashtag). A realist, instead, knows to question the permanence of a situation, avoiding all-or-nothing, never-or-forever thinking.

How wide? (Pervasiveness) Pervasiveness asks this question: How widespread is this situation? Under negative circumstances, optimists will underestimate pervasiveness, whereas pessimists will exaggerate it, determined their entire world is imploding around them from all sides and every angle. The sky is falling, all over the globe, they cluck. Our news cycles and social media only exacerbate this sense of global pervasiveness. A realist pauses to look at facts and asks, “How wide is this, really?”

How deep? (Personalization) Personalization asks this question: How deep is the source of this problem? Not taking situations too personally is important but can also have negative consequences when we need to shoulder responsibility instead of blaming external circumstances or other people for our own flubs. At the other extreme, when we internalize problems too much, we can seize up with shame. Realists take responsibility, as needed, without getting stuck in the ruts of blame and shame.

April 2020 - Family Life

Advice

“No” Means “No” By SARAH LYONS

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Advice “Can I have a piece of candy?” my daughter asked me one morning, right after breakfast. “No, we aren’t going to have candy right now. It’s too early,” I said. What followed was not my best mom moment. My child began to ask repeatedly for candy. I repeatedly said no, and the scene ended with my daughter trying to climb onto the counter to reach the candy. I took her to her room, where she cried for several minutes and we both ended up tired and frustrated. How can one avoid this scene or at least improve the situation? Getting your child to accept your answer of no and move on can be easier with some time and training.

Give a short explanation Your children will better understand your reason for saying no to them if you give them a reason. Amy Cameron, Olathe mom of three says, “When I tell them no, I usually give them a why. I think they’re more likely to accept my answer when they understand.” Make sure your answer is short and to the point. If your children ask for a new toy, the answer can simply be, “No, we can’t afford to buy a new toy today.” Be careful not to get pulled into back talk or arguments that all their friends have one. Keep your response short. “I said no.” If your child continues to engage, walk away and do not look back.

Be consistent The key to training your child that your answer stands is to remain consistent. Once you have decided to say no, do not change your mind. Giving in after you have said no teaches your children you can be worn down if they are persistent enough. “Consistency is key,” says Janelle Waldron, mom of five. “If I say no, I don’t change my mind. I also try to take my time answering. That way I don’t say no too quickly, and I can make a better decision.”

April 2020 - Family Life

Talk later Talking about your rules and expectations is particularly important to do when your child is calm and you are not in the middle of discussing whether or not your child can have something asked for. After the fact, sit down and let your child know that when you have made a decision, it is final, and you will not change your mind no matter how much pleading and pestering he does. If the begging continues, you will walk away and will not discuss the topic further. This is also a good time to explain why you say no to things. Typical reasons are the activity is not safe, your child isn’t old enough, you cannot afford it, it is not healthy or it goes against your family beliefs or values. These reasons are not debatable. Keep your discussion calm and listen to your child. Let him know you understand why he is upset with your decision but you will not be changing your mind. Give healthy suggestions that can help your child deal with anger in the future. Some ideas could include going to his room to calm down, taking a walk, breathing deeply, or doing something he enjoys, reading, drawing or building with Legos. Keep the discussion positive and if it starts to get heated, walk away. Starting the training process at a young age is easier, but you can start at any stage of parenting. Training can take months or years as your child pushes the limits and tests you for inconsistency. Parenting is always a challenge, but raising a child that understands healthy boundaries and safety is worth it.

Organize How to display statement pieces and wall art in your home This quaint home was overflowing with knick-knacks. Designer Samantha Pynn helped to clear the clutter and display the best collections

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Organize

Paint your room a stunning colour Paint walls, trim and doors all one bright shade (we used turquoise) to make the space feel bigger. The colour now acts as a blank canvas for a family collection of plates mounted on the walls. Get this look: Dining room paint, Hermes Blue, Para Paints. Dining chairs, West Elm. Flooring, area rug, both Carpet One. Lighting, Rejuvenation.

April 2020 - Family Life

Organize

Leave some surfaces completely bare Make a room feel restful and calm by designating windowsills, side tables and mantels tchotchke-free zones. Instead opt for large statement pieces like two-footsquare pillows, a rope-covered side table or a single vase filled with flowers. Get this look: Wall paint, Evening in Paris, Para Paints. Light fixture, Rejuvenation. Hanover sofa, Sunpan Imports. Pillow fabric, Robert Allen Design. Blinds, Blinds To Go. Furniture painting, Toronto Paint Store.

April 2020 - Family Life

Organize

Turn collections into wall art Find a new way to showcase your finds by mounting them on the wall. You'll save money on art and add depth and charm to your decor if you hang prized objects like instruments or hats together. This designer trick also works for maps, black and white photos or line drawings. Get this look: Side table paint, Singapore Coral, Para Paints. Fabrics, Robert Allen Design.

April 2020 - Family Life

Organize

Switch up your display every season Create small artful groupings with nostalgic accessories like a vintage milk bottle and mini broom. A few family photos add personality to an entry table. Keep the arrangement rotating so you have a chance to show off all your favourites. Get this look: Byholma armchair, Ikea. Dresser refinishing, Benjamen Furniture Refinishing, 416-745-2559.

April 2020 - Family Life

Organize

Bold & Beautiful Brighten up with pops of colour on the walls. Paint, Passionfruit Flambé, Hermes Blue, both Para Paints.

GET THE LOOK

Go organic Add texture with this women table made of natural water-hyacinth fibre. It doubles as a stool! Hyacinth Natural drum table, $339, Ethan Allen.

Green queen Welcome an unexpected splash of colour. Cobistyle green ceramic lamp, $230, Canfloyd.

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Organize

Light bright

Best basic Square and simple lines make this sofa a classic.

Add a touch of industrial styling. Glass jar pendants, $99 each, West Elm.

Kivik sofa, $700, Ikea.

Table help Punchy plates work equally well as wall art and on the dining room table. Celeste dinnerware, $7-$14 each, Pier 1.

April 2020 - Family Life

Perfect pattern Chevrons add a modern contrast to a traditional look. Lady Rosedale pillow, 18 x 18 in., $50, Candym.

Art project Adorn your walls with pop-up artwork. Wallflower wall decor, $25, Umbra.

"All countries need to review their strategies now," -Dr. Michael J. Ryan, WHO Informal Advisory Group member.

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Everything You Need To Know About NonMedical Face Masks Where should you wear them—and what should you look for? By REBECCA GAO

Family Life ‐ April 2020

As provinces reopen as we enter the next stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, is now recommending that Canadians wear non-medical face masks whenever physical distancing isn’t possible (including in stores and on public transit). Dr. Tam also stressed that though masks provide an “added layer of protection,” physical distancing, hand washing and staying home when you’re sick continue to be necessary to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. This new recommendation comes as COVID-19 restrictions are easing up in several provinces and people begin going outside, taking public transit and visiting businesses. But what exactly are non-medical face masks—and how do they protect us against COVID-19? Here is everything you need to know about non-medical masks.

What are non-medical masks—and where can I get them? Non-medical masks are any kind of face coverings that aren’t N95 masks or surgical masks, which should be preserved for frontline workers and healthcare professionals. Non-medical masks made from fabric can be bought from an increasing variety of vendors, from Etsy to Tanya Taylor to Frank and Oak. You can also make your own masks at home

Why should I wear a face mask? When you cough, sneeze or even talk, you secrete respiratory droplets that may go on to infect others. A face mask helps prevent the spread of these droplets —especially as people are sharing spaces again— protecting others from infection. (Still not convinced you need to wear one? Also remember that many individuals who are infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and could be spreading the disease unknowingly.) “It’s not so much that it protects them [the wearer] from getting infections,” says Dr. Anna Banerji, an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. “The masks are there to prevent these droplets from going out and onto their hands or surfaces where other people can touch and get [infected].” Plus, according to Dr. Banerji, there’s an obvious cumulative effect: more people wearing masks means fewer droplets being spread.

April 2020 - Family Life

What should I look for in a non-medical mask? According to Health Canada, a mask should: be breathable, fit securely to the head with ties or ear loops, maintain its shape after washing and drying (so the mask continues to fit snugly), be comfortable and not require frequent adjustment, be made of at least two layers of tightly woven material (such as cotton or linen) and be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping. The best fabrics for non-medical masks are thick and durable natural materials, like cotton. “You want to avoid synthetic or non-natural materials [like Spandex] because this is something that’s going in front of your nose and mouth area and you’re going to be breathing through it,” advises Narveen Jandu, a cellular microbiologist and assistant professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Public Health and Health Systems. It’s imperative that the mask fits snugly over both the nose and mouth, and is comfortable. If you know that certain materials irritate your skin, it’s best to avoid them so that you’re not constantly adjusting your mask when it becomes uncomfortable. “The worst thing you can do is put on a mask and be constantly touching your face,” says Dr. Banerji.

Does my mask need a filter? Because viruses are so small, it’s impossible to completely block all those tiny particles, but the addition of a filter—either extra layers of fabric or a disposable filter—provides more protection. Jandu likens the number of layers to thread count in bedding: “The higher the thread count, the tighter the weave and the tighter the weave, more of the respiratory droplets are being captured.” Filters can be made from paper towels or coffee filters (which work well because they’re breathable and disposable) then inserted in between the fabric layers of a mask. If you’re buying a mask, look for one that comes with a pocket where you can insert a filter—or you can include a pocket in your DIY mask. If you don’t have access to paper towels or coffee filters, you can still capture droplets with a couple layers of fabric. If you’re DIY-ing a mask, folding your material a couple times to create layers will also help it capture more respiratory droplets.

How do I put on, and take off, my mask?

Who shouldn’t wear a mask?

Before putting on your mask, wash your hands. Then, loop the fastenings behind your ears or head and avoid touching the front of the mask so you don’t alter its shape or accidentally touch your face. When taking the mask off, unloop or untie your fastenings and carefully take the mask off from your ears or the back of your head. Again, be careful not to touch your face or the front of the mask to avoid getting any droplets captured by your mask on your hands. Finally, wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds.

Dr. Tam has said that masks may not be suitable for some people with cognitive or intellectual disabilities or people with hearing problems. Wearing a mask may aggravate those on the autism spectrum, and could also trigger asthma attacks. Vanessa Foran, president and CEO of Asthma Canada, told The Canadian Press that people with asthma should experiment with wearing a mask at home before heading outdoors, and also should try to avoid going outdoors with a mask in hot weather.

How do I take care of my face mask? The great thing about fabric masks is that they can be washed just as you’d wash your clothes. Ideally, you should toss your mask into the washing machine and then machine dry them at the end of each day. However, if you don’t have a washer and dryer at home, you can hand wash your mask with soap and water and let it air dry. Jandu suggests having a few masks on hand, one for each day you go out, and washing all of them at the end of the week.

When and where should I wear my mask? “Physical distancing is really the main thing, and masks don’t replace physical distancing,” says Dr. Banerji. You should wear a mask anywhere it’s difficult to physically distance, like at the grocery store or on public transit, to protect yourself and others around you. Masks aren’t necessary if you can keep the recommended six feet or two metres of space between yourself and other people. “When you’re walking or running on the street by yourself and there isn’t anybody around you, especially in the early morning hours, then a face covering is not going to be necessary,” says Jandu. However if you live in a crowded area where it’s hard to physically distance, it wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of caution—New York, for example, has recommended masks for crowded sidewalks.

April 2020 - Family Life

What about kids and masks? According to Health Canada, children under the age of two shouldn’t wear masks. Young children might not be able to communicate any discomfort or difficulty breathing—and they might not be able to take off their mask themselves. For kids that are old enough to wear a mask, Dr. Banerji advises that parents explain to their children why they need the mask and remind them not to touch their faces. Like adult masks, children’s masks should fit snugly over the nose and mouth. Parents should also be cognizant that masks aren’t fastened with anything sharp (like staples or safety pins) and should make sure that masks are free from anything that children might fidget with (like extra material or decorations).

Moms Are Leaving The Workforce To Care For Their Kids—And It's Not Okay Instead of 'leaning in,' we’re being forced to lean out—and I’m worried about what that means for our careers long-term. By JENIFER GOLDBERG

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit, I’ve been noticing a worrying trend among the women in my social circles: moms who were able to keep their jobs at the start of the shutdown are now dropping out of the workforce. Every time I log on to my neighbourhood Facebook groups, I see more and more posts from panicked women asking for advice on how to tender their resignation or request a leave of absence and apply for CERB (the Canada Emergency Response Benefit). Over Zoom cocktails and group chats, friends and colleagues in hetero relationships lament turning down work in order to focus on childcare while their male partners spend their workdays shut away in basement offices. These are women who, just two months ago, had flourishing careers. Now they’re being forced to make the Sophie’s choice of our time: your job or your kids. I consider myself a fairly informed feminist, but preMarch 2020, I never would have imagined that highly successful women could be rocketed back to 1950s housewife status in a matter of months. Colour me naive. At first, we thought we could muddle through, balancing school assignments and diaper changes with video conferences and deadlines (if we were lucky enough to be able to work from home to begin with). Now, nearly nine weeks into this dystopian nightmare, it’s become abundantly clear that balancing childcare and work isn’t tenable. But who is paying the price for that? Labour data from March was grim: women accounted for 62 per cent of job losses and we lost 50 per cent more work hours than men. Those numbers evened out in April as male-dominated industries started taking a hit. But as schools and child care remain closed for the majority of the country—and with no word on what will happen with camps and daycares over the summer—I’d bet my monthly wine budget we’ll see job losses continue to rise for women. In fact, economists are calling the current financial crisis not a recession but a “she-cession,” meaning women are being hit the hardest. One reason is that women hold the majority of so-called “social” jobs (such as yoga instructors, servers, hairstylists, daycare workers and hotel employees). Another reason: the pandemic-related uptick in domestic labour is landing squarely on our shoulders.

April 2020 - Family Life

Last week, the New York Times published a story with this thumb-stopping headline: “Nearly Half of Men Say They Do Most of the Home Schooling. 3 Percent of Women Agree.” Sure, we all giggled at it. Moms shared the link alongside cry-laughing emojis. But the truth is that women often still do more of the heavy lifting when it comes to childcare and housework, pandemic or not. (Note I said “often,” not “always.” Guys, don’t @ me.) According to Statistics Canada, women spend an average of 3.9 hours per day on the unpaid labour of domestic chores compared to men’s 2.4. That gender gap seems to be widening in isolation now that the support systems we once relied on are no longer available to us. The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the inequalities that have always been there. If overseeing childcare has always fallen to the female parent, guess who will take charge of homeschooling? If a woman earns 87 cents on the dollar compared to her male partner, whose job do you think will take precedence when couples have to choose who quits and who keeps working? These are the questions keeping me up at night. Also filling me with dread is the idea that bosses will start discriminating against women at work. Will ongoing school, camp and daycare closures mean we’ll be deemed undesirable hires once the economy “reopens?” I’m already seeing moms posting on Facebook about managers chastising them for not fully committing to their jobs during the pandemic. One mom with little kids wrote that her boss reprimanded her for not spending eight hours straight at her computer when her male counterparts were able to do so. She was somehow fitting eight hours of work around her kids’ needs and bedtimes, but that still wasn’t enough. Infuriating, right? I count myself extremely lucky to be able to work from home with a flexible schedule during this time. We only have one kid (which makes things both easier and harder). My husband and I have almost nightly conversations about whether we’re equally distributing domestic tasks and time spent caring for our fiveyear-old daughter. Right now, for the most part, we are. But I’m self-employed, while my husband has a steady government job with benefits. That means that I’m more often putting my work on the back-burner. We need to pay the mortgage after all, and his is the job we can rely on.

The truth is, I’m simply working less during the pandemic. I know that is an extremely privileged position—many parents are on the front lines away from their children at this very scary time. And shifting my focus away from my work has also, in some ways, been a good thing. This morning my daughter and I painted rocks from the garden, had a duel with Princess Nella swords and read a chapter in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, all before noon. On a weekday! I’m getting to see her imagination develop in a way I likely would have missed had she been at school. A lot of parents I’ve spoken to are relishing the extra time with their littles and the reduced stress of not having to commute between the workplace and various after-school pick-ups. I’ve also noticed an increasing acceptance of parents’ obligations. In the “before times,” I went to great lengths to keep my kid quiet during conference calls. Now, when she pops into a Zoom with a client, I encourage her to say hello. Hey, if Jimmy Fallon can do his monologue while his daughters climb on his head, I think we can all be cool with the fact that kids are sometimes going to interrupt our work lives—whether we’re working from home or not. I hope some of these positive changes will stick, postpandemic, and serve to make things better for working parents. This forced slowdown is shining a bright light on just how burned out many of us were before, when we were exhausted by the constant juggle of “leaning in.” And if you’re one of the moms who’s grown to love this work-at-home or stay-at-home lifestyle during the shutdown, please know that it isn’t a betrayal of your feminist ideals. Our kids need us right now and enjoying the time we spend with them—if we’re privileged to have it—doesn’t mean that women don’t deserve fulfilling and well-compensated working lives.

April 2020 - Family Life

When we look at the long-term, however, my inner pessimist worries that COVID-19 is going to set feminism back decades. As a child of the ’80s and ’90s, I grew up secure in the knowledge that I could have both a family and a job. I worked damn hard to build a career that I love and it’s a big part of my identity. If the pandemic forces me to scale it back or put it on hold, who will I be then? What will my daughter grow up believing is possible for her? If we’re going to get out of the steep economic downturn this virus is leaving in its wake, we have to start talking about how we’re going to support moms— and all women—in getting back to work. That’s inextricably tangled up with child care. Any provincial press conferences about the school year or the reopening of the economy need to address the elephant in the room for many parents: What are we supposed to do with our kids all day? On a micro level, we also need dads to step up at home and push back at work. We need bosses to accommodate all parents as we navigate this uncharted territory. It’s time for a shift in the way families dole out childcare responsibilities, and this pandemic is showing us we’re well overdue.

Food

Plantly-Based Meals

Save a little extra time this week with a ready-made meal plan. Photography by CARMEN CHEUNG

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Basic Meals in a Minute We’ve planned a set of easy meals for next week’s dinner–and they’re all plant-based! Plan ahead with these recipes, plus an optional sweet and salty snack: spicy noodles, hearty soup, an Indian-inspired sheet pan supper and more. Photography by CARMEN CHEUNG

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Cold, Spicy Vegan Peanut Noodles with Smoked Tofu

April 2020 - Family Life

Chickpea Omelette Omurice

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Sheet Pan Aloo Gobi And Chickpeas With Coconut Raita 68

April 2020 - Family Life

Hearty Vegan Minestrone

Family Life ‐ April 2020

Cold, Spicy Vegan Peanut Noodles with Smoked Tofu

April 2020 - Family Life

Food

Cold, Spicy Vegan Peanut Noodles with Smoked Tofu

Chickpea Omelette Omurice

PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS

PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:40 MINS

225 g spaghettini 6 tbsp canola oil, divided 3 tbsp natural peanut butter 3 tbsp rice vinegar 4 tsp tamari, or soy sauce 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp finely grated ginger 2 tsp chili-garlic sauce 1 210-g pkg extra-firm smoked tofu, preferably Sunrise 3 tbsp cornstarch 1 284-g pkg carrot, matchsticks 1 cup frozen edamame, thawed 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, (optional)

1 1/4 cups chickpea flour 1 tbsp nutritional yeast 2 tsp onion powder 1 tsp baking powder 4 tbsp canola oil, divided 4 tsp low-sodium soy sauce, divided 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, such as peas, corn and diced carrot 2 cups day-old cooked white rice 1/3 cup ketchup

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water, following package directions, until al dente, 7 to 8 min. Meanwhile, whisk 3 tbsp oil with peanut butter, vinegar, tamari, honey, ginger and chili-garlic sauce in a large bowl. Set aside 2. Cut tofu into 3/4-in. cubes. Toss with cornstarch in a large bowl until completely coated. Heat a very large non-stick frying pan over medium-high. Add remaining 3 tbsp oil, then tofu. Cook, turning the cubes occasionally, adjusting heat if needed, until crispy and golden-brown all over, 2 to 3 min per side. 3. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water. Add noodles to dressing along with carrots, edamame and tofu. Divide between bowls and garnish with cilantro.

April 2020 - Family Life

1. Whisk chickpea flour with nutritional yeast, and onion and baking powders in a large bowl. Whisk in 3 tbsp oil, 1 tsp soy and 1 1/2 cups water. Set aside. 2. Heat a 10-in. non-stick frying pan over medium-high. Add remaining 1 tbsp oil, then onion and garlic. Cook until onion starts to soften, 2 to 3 min. Add mixed vegetables and rice. Cook until warmed through, 4 to 5 min. Stir in ketchup and remaining 3 tsp soy until combined. Transfer to a large bowl. 3. Wipe pan clean, then return to stovetop over medium. Scoop 1/2 cup chickpea batter into pan, then tilt quickly to cover bottom. Cook until top is puffed and dry to the touch, about 5 min. Slide a spatula underneath all around the omelette and slide onto a plate. Repeat with remaining batter, transferring each omelette to a separate plate. 4. Divide rice mixture onto half of each omelette, then fold the other side over. Drizzle extra ketchup on top, if desired.

Sheet Pan Aloo Gobi And Chickpeas With Coconut Raita PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:45 MINS 2 tbsp canola oil 1 tbsp curry powder 2 1/4 tsp garam masala, divided 1/2 tsp salt, divided 1 medium cauliflower, cut into bitesize florets (about 7 1/2 cups) 340 g baby potatoes, quartered 1 540-mL can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 225-g pkg cherry tomatoes 1 cup cultured coconut, such as Silk 1 mini cucumber, coarsely grated 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, divided 1 tsp lime zest 4 vegan garlic naan, such as Suraj (about 350 g, optional) 1 lime, cut into wedges 1. Position racks in top third and centre of oven, then preheat to 450F. Line a baking sheet with foil. 2. Whisk oil with curry powder, 2 tsp garam masala and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl. Season with pepper. Toss cauliflower, potatoes and chickpeas with oil mixture on prepared sheet until coated. Roast in centre of oven, stirring halfway, until tender, about 20 min. Add tomatoes and continue roasting until tomatoes burst, 8 to 10 more min. 3. Coconut raita: Stir cultured coconut with cucumber, 1/4 cup cilantro, lime zest, and remaining 1/4 tsp each garam masala and salt in a medium bowl. 4. Toast naan on another baking sheet in top third of oven until edges are golden, 3 to 4 min. Divide aloo gobi and naan among plates. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro and serve with raita and lime wedges.

Food

Hearty Vegan Minestrone PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:40 MINS 1 tbsp olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 medium carrots, finely diced 1 turnip, finely diced 2 tsp dried oregano leaves 1 tsp dried basil leaves 1 796-mL can diced tomatoes 1 900-mL carton vegetable broth 1 cup tubetti Pasta 2 cups finely chopped kale 1 540-mL can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 demi-baguette, (optional) 1. Heat a large pot over medium. Add oil, then onion, carrots, turnip, oregano and basil. Cook until vegetables soften, 6 to 7 min. 2. Pour in tomatoes, broth and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over high, then reduce heat to medium. Stir in pasta and gently boil, stirring occasionally until vegetables and pasta are tender, 10 to 12 min. 3. Add kale and beans to minestrone and continue cooking until heated through, 2 to 3 more min. 4. Baguette: Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat broiler. Slice baguette into 16 thin slices. Arrange baguette slices in one layer on a baking sheet. Broil baguette until toasted, 1 to 2 min. Serve with minestrone, if desired.

Vegetable Kebabs With Creamy Lemon-Garlic Sauce PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS

April 2020 - Family Life

8 wooden skewers 1 tbsp ground flax meal 1 zucchini, sliced into 1/2-in. thick rounds 1 red bell pepper , cut into 1-in. pieces 1 227-g pkg small button mushrooms 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp olive oil, divided 2 tsp garlic plus seasoning mix, such as Club House 3 tbsp lemon juice, divided 3 garlic cloves, chopped 1/2 tsp salt 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley 6 cups cooked tri-colour quinoa2 cups shredded romaine, (optional) 1 cup pickled turnip, sticks (optional) 1. Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Soak wooden skewers in a baking dish filled with hot water. 2. Stir flax meal with 3 tbsp water in a small bowl. Let stand until thickened, about 10 min. Meanwhile, stir zucchini, bell pepper and mushrooms with 2 tbsp oil, garlic spice blend and 1 tbsp lemon juice in a large bowl. Thread vegetables onto skewers; arrange on a baking sheet. 3. Roast, flipping halfway, until vegetables are fork-tender and lightly charred around edges, 14 to 15 min. 4. Scrape flax mixture into a food processor or blender along with garlic, 2 tbsp lemon juice and salt. Whirl to combine. With motor running, slowly add remaining 3/4 cup oil and whirl until thick. 5. Serve skewers on quinoa. Stir parsley into sauce, then drizzle or dollop on skewers. Top with shredded lettuce and pickled turnips, if desired.

Last Look First it was the Chinese. In January of 2011, the Wall Street Journal excerpted a section of Amy Chua‘s book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother with the headline “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior.” If you missed the ensuing media frenzy around the strict regimes of Asian parents, you probably had your head down changing a newborn. You also missed an opportunity to feel bad about your lackadaisical, liberal Western parenting. Now that the hype has died down, a new superparent has emerged to make us feel like we suck: The French Parent. Oh, it’s not bad enough that The French are thinner than you (think: French Women Don’t Get Fat), that they have benefits (like mother’s helpers and other government support) that make the Canadian system look downright, um, American — no! It’s not enough that they have the best brie and baguettes either (without getting fat, may I remind you), but apparently, they also have the BEST parents. In a Wall Street Journal article entitled “Why French Parents Are Superior,” American-born, Paris-living author, Pamela Druckerman, gives convincingly argues that French children are generally better behaved. She describes the French parent’s goal to raise independent kids who have high levels of selfrestraint. French children wait patiently: for maman to get off the phone, for their next meal and so on. Full disclosure: I love France. But do I want to be compared to a French parent? No, because life à la française is pretty different in general (try 35-hour work-weeks and five weeks of vacation for starters) and we need to cut ourselves some slack as a result. Although there were parts of the article that made me think, “Hmm, she has a point,” and parts that made me think, “Hmm, I think we’re good at that,” there were also parts when I felt like a failure.

Advice

Does "superior" parent labelling give us an inferiority complex? Move over Tiger Mom, the French maman is the new superior parent du jour By NADINE SILVERTHORNE

April 2020 - Family Life

While it’s true that teaching children to wait is a grand skill (one the French view as education, not discipline), do we really need to feel worse about all the negotiating we’re doing on this side of the pond? Are most of us really that bad? That being said, perhaps we shouldn’t be so sensitive. Maybe we should view these articles as something to learn from, rather than a total derision of how we’re raising our kids. Just yesterday, I caught my kids playing quietly on their own as I cooked (good self-control), so a reminder to stand my ground when constantly asked for treats and snacks is welcome.