Canada Back to School Tips for Busy Moms

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Summer is almost over. I have mixed emotions – happy and relieved because I will finally have more focus time doing my work without any interruption from my tween; sad because I will miss her for sure.

It was about the same period last year where I was rushing a few final school projects. And I never really thought deeply about my daughter’s school opening this September harder than I am right now. It felt different then because she was schooling online as Toronto was on lockdown. I guess this is normal for me to feel this way because we are new immigrants.

Thoughts and feelings can sometimes be quite unsettling.
I hope I will not feel dramatic when at home alone. And I know the only way to avoid that is to keep my focus on my work and get super productive of my time. Yup, I hate to use the common word busy. Now, people are great at it. I want to use more positive words, like being more creative, resourceful, happier, more conscientious, more spiritual in my ways and approach, more loving, more caring, more focused, more love!

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As the school opening is coming soon, I want to be more prepared and upbeat. Going to school as a new immigrant can be a little daunting and so I want to equip myself with back to school tips before I get too overwhelmed. I want to prepare myself and my tween daughter for what is coming as she turns grade 5. As a mom, we always want the best in everything, especially in looking after our kids. No matter how much work we do at home or in the office, sometimes we question ourselves, am I doing the best for my kid and the whole family? Work is consuming much of our time, and house chores seem to be endless that at times, we trade those sweet quality times with family because we feel the time is always not enough.

READ ALSO:

8 Best After-School Routine for Tweens to be Happier and More Connected

How to Build the Habit of Intentional & Purposeful Living Every Single Day

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And so today, I want to recognize that things can get messy even though I have prepared in advance. For sure, I would still get frustrated at times as I begin to adjust to the new school routine of my tween. I also want to acknowledge that I can win each day with the right attitude and mindset.

Here I want to share the best back to school tips for busy moms like me. Actually, it’s a simple practical guide that’ll hopefully help you easily manage the routine changes in your family as a new immigrant and as your kids start schooling this September in Canada.

Prepare and prepare well!

Back to school tips for busy moms:

  1. For this week which is the last week before the school opening of your kids, you should already have meal plans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ready.
  2. You should already have the school supplies, clothes (or uniform) ready.
  3. You should already have a plan who will be in charge of sending the kids to school and who will fetch them. Otherwise, a school bus should be pre-booked for them.
  4. Arrange school stuff and remove the unnecessary toys and destruction in the room so your kids can focus on their lessons. Of course, applicable only if your kids are going for online classes, make their home classroom conducive.
  5. Talk to your kid(s) and set clear expectations for them during school days and weekends. Assign house chores for your kids to follow.
  6. Have your kid’s body clock adjust to school wake-up time so that next week will be a smooth sailing first week of school.
  7. Remember every day is a work in progress. No matter how pro you are at homemaking and caring for your family, acknowledge that you are imperfectly human. Always remember to be positive in your outlook and approach every day. It’s not only you who is adjusting to the school routine, but all family member is also.
  8. Use your school calendar and planner to engage with your daily goals both at work and at home. It will inspire you to approach each day with happy thoughts understanding you are true to your goals, values, and principles.
  9. Pray. Remember to pray each morning and at night before going to bed. Strengthening your spirituality is like feeding your soul. It will help you to welcome each day with positivity.

Do you have other back to school tips for busy moms that’s not yet on the list? Feel free to comment, I’d love to read them!

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Toronto to Vancouver Roadtrip Route

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This post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Wanderer Mom may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please read full disclosure here. Thank you for your love and support to this blog.

In my previous blog, I shared how we suddenly have to move from Toronto to Vancouver in September 2020. My husband and I only have less than a month to prepare for this long road trip. I for one, was nervous as I’ve never traveled 4800km by car in my whole life! The longest long roadtrip I could recall was back in the Philippines when I traveled from Manila to Baguio and Manila to Isabela. That’s it!

If you asked me, If I would choose to travel a few days on a road, I would definitely say NO! I was scared to travel on the highway, much worse travel for days! But I had no choice. It’s the safest option to travel during Covid (at least that was my husband’s reasoning). And of course, he was able to convince me. So there you go…the next thing I know, we were having the most amazing times of our lives as a family! Thanks to my husband patience and great effort!

If you are planning on a cross-country travel from Toronto to Vancouver, hope you’ll find this route useful. Read my previous blog HERE for some tips on what you need to prepare before the long trip.

Our route from Toronto to Vancouver: Toronto > Sadbury, Ontario > Sault Ste.Marie,ON > Thunder Bay,ON > Winnipeg, Manitoba > Swift Current, Saskatchewan > Banff,Alberta > Vancouver, British Columbia

First Stop: Sudbury, Ontario

This was our first stop and we rested for a while here to have lunch at Orby’s

2nd Stop: Sault Ste Marie, Ontario 

We slept overnight here at the KOA campsite. The best campsite in all the three we had been.

The campsite fee for 2 adults and 1 kid is CAD 60.46 (including taxes). 

If you have ample time, stay at the campsite for a day to enjoy the facilities. This site is mesmerizing during autumn. The site toilet is super clean and they even have shower rooms and hair dryers.

Girl Enjoying the beautiful Autumn at KOA Sault Ste Maria Campsite
Sault Ste. Marie, KOA Campsite, Ontario

3rd Stop: Thunder Bay, Ontario 

We slept overnight here at the KOA campsite. Opted to stay at the cabin instead of setting up our tent. The toilet here was a little old and not as clean as the KOA Sault Ste Marie and there was no hairdryer. I would book a full cabin with an attached toilet if there was or I would look for other accommodation around the area.

Daily site charge plus additional child daily charge ($5.00) – CAD 135.60 (including taxes)

4th Stop: Winnipeg, Manitoba 

We set up a tent at the KOA campsite. It was drizzling and very cold then. I would find an alternative accommodation for the night that has a heater. 

The campsite fee for 2 adults and 1 kid is CAD 38.85 (including taxes). 

5th Stop: Swift Current, Saskatchewan 

I got lucky and found a small inn that’s affordable and has room facilities much like in a 4-star hotel. I would check out this inn called Widus Inn. We spoke to the owner who assisted us with the check-in. He is very accommodating and friendly. As for the room, it’s nicely decorated, very clean, has a super comfy bed with a complete en-suite toilet and hot shower facilities, hairdryer, and towels. They also offer free coffee and tea. 

Widus Inn (Superior Queen room with two Queen) fee for 2 adults and 1 kid is CAD 75.00.

Toronto to Banff Travel with Family
Banff National Park, Alberta

6th Stop: Banff, Alberta 

We stayed here for two nights at Best Western which is situated in downtown – a great location that’s near to all tourist places, fast foods, and restaurants.  The hotel was recently renovated with a modern look and that’s the reason why I chose to book this hotel. The room rate comes with breakfast. It wasn’t a buffet but the management was thoughtful enough to think of packing the breakfast meals for hotel guests. Tip: Request for a room overlooking the mountains  We would have stayed for another few days if we could. There are just so many beautiful tourist places to explore and 2 days is not enough!

Best Western Hotel, Banff (Queen Room with 2 Queen Beds incl. breakfast for 2 adults and 1 kid (2 nights) is CAD 278.00

7th stop: – Vancouver, British Columbia

This is our final destination. Beautiful British Columbia! We left Banff a little late and it was already dark when we arrived at our destination. Nevertheless, the trip from Banff to BC was one of my favorites. Lots of greeneries, mountains, and lakes! 

Have you experienced traveling cross-country in Canada? What are the funniest and most memorable moment you have? Please share in the comments below. 🙂 Would love to read them.

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Tips on Road Trip from Toronto to Vancouver

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Planning on a long road trip with family should be fun! But during Covid? Many will be terrified. But we did it anyway! Because that was the best option for us. I was living in Toronto as an international student. Last September 2020, my family and I decided to move to British Columbia because of a job offer from an employer. Of course, the decision to move was tough. We felt we were a bit settled already in Toronto and initially refused to entertain the idea. The decision came after we weighed in all our options.

For this long trip, we only had a month to prepare. I was busy cramming for final projects before my graduation while my husband was still working full time. Sadly that time, I did not find a lot of information on cross-country travel, especially during Covid.

And I felt it would be good to share some tips for cross-country travel in Canada from Toronto to Vancouver during Covid. A few co-international students have been asking me how we did it and if there are restrictions. Hopefully, you’ll find this blog handy.

family travel route from toronto to vancouver
Click the image to read more about route map and accommodation from Toronto to Vancouver

So here are six tips if you are going on a roadtrip with your family from Toronto to Vancouver:

  1. Know the travel restrictions and exemption of (all) the provinces you will go to. Our first concern was this because we were going to travel during Covid and most provinces are lockdown. We checked every provinces’ rules and restrictions we will stop by. There are no federal travel requirements when traveling between provinces/territories. However, you need to know the travel restrictions and exemptions for each province you will visit. You can get more detailed information on requirements or restrictions here.
  2. Consider renting a car for cross-country travel. Otherwise, if you are using your car, know the possible scenarios during a long drive. In our case, we opted to rent a car at Alamo Enterprises as they offer the cheapest fee with full travel insurance. Also, traveling 4,800 kilometers would for sure test the car’s durability.
  3. Get yourself covered with travel insurance as well as for your car. We rented a car and opted for full coverage that includes travel insurance for myself, my husband, and my daughter. The insurance package also covers 24-hour emergency assistance in case the car broke down on the road. The car rental company can rescue us and will have a car replacement. So, we did not have to worry we will get stuck in one place or the road with no help.
  4. Reserve your accommodation in advance. Honestly, I was not able to reserve our accommodation early. I would recommend to book at least a week or two (or more) in advance for the trip. What happened was, I booked our campsite reservation one day prior. Luckily, there were plenty of available campsites during that time and understandably due to Covid as well. We opted to sleep overnight in most provinces at Sault Ste. Marie, Thunderbay, and Winnipeg because we were afraid to check-in to a hotel due to Covid. We feel much safer sleeping in our camping tent. The only places we booked a hotel were in Saskatchewan (because I could not find any campsite available on the same day. And at Alberta (because we wanted to rest for two days and enjoy Banff) before heading to our final destination, British Columbia.
  5. Plan your travel route in advance. Don’t just rely on Google Maps. Also, know that some areas have zero networks and so have a separate hard copy of your route and map ready in your car. This is highly important as you don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of the road and nowhere. Also, it is good to know the gas stations ahead of time before your travel. You can probably use some mobile app like GasBuddy that can help you find the cheap gas around the location and track your fuel. Although, we didn’t use an app but have heard of a co-international student using this. 
  6. Ready your travel essentials for long-haul travel. This includes from personal stuff, food, emergency kit to camping gears, and emergency kit. I will share the complete list of camping essentials we brought along in our long road trip from Toronto to Vancouver here once I’m done and you can also download it if you want. 

Below is the summary of the tips for your next long travel from Toronto to Vancouver:

  1. Know the travel restrictions and exemption of (all) the provinces you will go to.
  2. Consider renting a car for cross-country travel so you don’t have to worry when car broke down.
  3. Get yourself covered with travel insurance as well as for your car. 
  4. Reserve your accommodation in advance (at least a week or two in advance)
  5. Plan your travel route in advance (print our free downladable trip from Toronto to Vancouver)
  6. Ready your travel essentials for the long-haul travel

READ ALSO:

Travel route and accommodations we took traveling from Toronto to Vancouver

Top 3 Places for Family Summer Getaway in Vancouver

Have you experienced cross-country traveling in Canada? Let me know other helpful tips in the comment box. Thanks!

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High-Paying Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Canada

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This post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Wanderer Mom may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please read full disclosure here. Thank you for your love and support to this blog.

This is a continuation of my previous blog. Here, I share how you can maximize your time as an international student by obtaining a high-paying part-time job in Canada. If your goal is to have a rewarding job or career (apart from having quick cash), you may hopefully benefit from the tricks (strategy) I used. While I understand that each student has unique situations, I am merely sharing information based on my experience and the experiences shared by co-international students.

When I was hunting for part-time job, I was only aiming for remote work because of certain limitations I have as a tween mom (and due to Covid restrictions). The job sites I frequented then were: Indeed, LinkedIn, Jobs Bank, and WorkBC. I got my job through WorkBC, a provincial job site of the government of British Columbia. 

International student applying for high paying part time jobs in Vancouver and Toronto

Some of the popular sites for remote job for full-time or part-time are:

Canada Job Bank

Indeed

Monster

LinkedIn

Workopolis

There are HR and Outsourcing Companies available as well that help international students land a job. You can get a part-time job that range from service type of job, trade job to high opportunity occupations. If you are eyeing to work in British Columbia, a good job source is WorkBC.

Some organizations accept international students as part-time or full-time employees, and they only accept applicants during specific periods. Make sure to check the company website of your target companies so you won’t miss the opportunity. In addition, many of them also offer internships and apprenticeships like global banks and big I.T. firms. Again, if you can’t find a job opening in the popular job sites, you can directly search their company website.

How Much Can You Earn from Part-time jobs as an International student?

You can earn around $1,000 to probably $3,000 in a month. Of course, this will depend on a few factors like the number of hours you worked and how much your wage is. Some students earn more by taking two part-time jobs. You can do this as long as you don’t exceed the allowable 20 hours per week restriction off-campus. 

Typically, international students in Canada earn the minimum wage. It is also possible to get above the minimum wage or earn the median wage or more. You can earn more than $20 per hour or even more than $30 per hour. I know some people are also earning in this range.

So, in a month you can earn around $1,000 to probably $3,000. This can be achieved and all depends on how well you deliver and communicate your value to your employer during the interview process. My advice is to prepare well and don’t settle for the minimum. I never settle, and so I got to take home more.  

How can you quickly obtain a part-time job in Canada?

That’s probably the next question you have in mind now. 

Aside from the more popular job sites mentioned earlier, below are some of the sources (and tricks) that worked well for many international students:

1. Through referral and/networking

2. Attending job fair and virtual job fair

3. Through joining volunteering activities

4. Joining organizations in your school

5. Posting your most valuable piece of work on LinkedIn and getting noticed

6. Showcasing your digital resume on popular job sites

7. Directly messaging the recruiter or HR in LinkedIn

8. Asking available opportunities in your community center

9. Submitting your resume to your target companies

10. Attending church or religious activities to get to know people 

11. Engage in outdoor sports to meet new people 

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So how can you get a rewarding and high-paying part-time job in Canada?

Apart from seeking through job sites, tailoring your resume to the job qualification and requirements, and following the Canadian resume template, I guess the best advice is to be genuinely interested in people. It’s ok to ask the people you meet if they know of any opportunity. Ask, and you’ll have the answer. Knock, and the door will open to possibilities. Find a career mentor. Be brave.

Ultimately, how quickly you can get a part-time job is dependent on how well you plan, your determination, and your effort. Importantly, try your best to obtain a part-time job which will complement or boost your chosen long-term career in Canada.

Are there any other tactics that worked well for you that are not in the above? Let me know in the comments below, and I would gladly add them here so other student moms can benefit from them.

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international student applying for part time job in Canada

Things to Consider Before Applying for Part-Time Jobs in Canada for International Students

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This post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Wanderer Mom may earn a small commission to fund this blog if you click through and make a purchase. Please read full disclosure here. Thanks very much for your support.

You can have the best part-time jobs in Canada as an international student. If you want to know if you are eligible to work off-campus and what documents are required, I recommend checking the rules and regulations in working off campus . It provides everything you need to know.

In this blog, I will share more about the considerations you need to know before applying for part-time jobs. I will also share my best tips to get a rewarding, high-paying part-time job in Canada.

What are some of the part-time jobs available for international students?

There are many available part-time jobs for international students in Canada. You can check my post here for some of the popular job resources. Choosing a part-time job that will work well with your school schedule is always a challenge. Getting used to commuting, work around my program schedule, and overall, just getting the hang of what I needed to do as a full-time student, a wife, and a mom.

I took a part-time job only during the last term of my program. I did not want to stress myself with too many responsibilities in the first few months in Canada. 

My first part-time job in Canada was in an IT firm as a sales associate cum account manager. While in Toronto studying full-time, I was also working part-time for my employer based in Vancouver. Yes, it is possible to work remotely even when your employer’s address is in a different province provided there is no restriction on your study permit.

READ ALSO:

Best Resources of Part-time Jobs for International Students in Canada

CELPIP Tips & Tricks to Get a High Score Even When You’re Super Busy

How to get a rewarding, high- paying part-time job as an international student?

Here I will share some of the steps you can follow. These were the exact actions I took while I was job hunting. As I need to attend to my daughter, I only considered remote jobs available for international students in Toronto and Vancouver.

Seneca international student applying for part-time jobs in Canada

Tips for international students before applying part time jobs in Canada

Here I share the steps you can follow to get a rewarding, high-paying part-time job as an international student in Canada.

These were the actions I took while I was job hunting. As I need to attend to my daughter, I only considered remote part-time jobs available for international students in Toronto and Vancouver.

1.         Decide which province you want to settle down.

Other important factors to consider: the ease of pathway for obtaining your permanent residency in a particular province, the cost of living, the job opportunities available in your chosen career, the company stability, and lastly, the community safety (and this is just my preference).

2.        Decide which industry and career you want to pursue and be in for the long term.

It may as well be your first on the list if not the second. Why did I say this? Based on my experience, I recommended you be very clear about what you want your career life to be. As an international student, you need to be strategic in your plans and approach while given the opportunity to work part-time. And do your best to find a part-time job that will help you or lead you to the career you want to pursue after graduating from your program. 

Most of the time, I hear many international students don’t take this approach, and they end up working part-time in a field they don’t like to earn extra bucks to pay the bills. While I understand some circumstances force you to gain money quickly, you need to look at the bigger picture beyond your life after graduating. The truth is, it’s hard to focus on getting a rewarding career if you are doing other jobs that don’t contribute to your long-term career aspiration.

3.         Plan and plan well.

Once you figure out what career you want and the province you like to settle in. The next important thing is (and this is mostly not given so much emphasis by many students when exactly you need to hunt for jobs. What I mean by this is that your goal is to obtain a job immediately after your graduation. 

As I mentioned earlier, I only applied during the last term when I was already about to graduate. Our professors then told us to hunt for jobs at least six months before graduating. Then, I thought six months way too early to find a job. There must be a logical reason why they recommended the six-month time frame. 

Six months before you graduate, you need to have a firm decision of what kind of job or career you want. You should already know this even before you decide to take the program you chose. You will then have a better sense of the market and industry you want to be in, trends in hiring, the specific requirements they are looking for in a candidate, etc. 

There can be certifications or qualifications you need to do to get a new job in any role and industry. You can arrange in advance and fulfill the qualifications the companies are looking for in a particular position you want to pursue.

international student planning to get a part time job

4.         The next best thing to do is to get yourself organised.

You can do this by having a tracking sheet with important details such as the job positions you are targeting, the source or links where you found them, etc.

5.         Leverage your past work experiences (even though you gained them overseas).

As an international student and a newbie, you probably have some limiting beliefs such as:

– you need to start at an entry-level position because you don’t have Canadian work experience yet 

– you may be thinking you are just a student, and companies may not take your past work experiences and credential overseas seriously. 

Those types of thinking are not very helpful and will only put you in a position you probably will not like in the future. 

Lastly, the best mindset in job hunting is to have that 100% trust and confidence in yourself and what you can offer. Never discount your past work experiences in your home country or outside Canada. Those are valuable experiences that you can offer to the company. During the interview, your job is to highlight that to your prospective employer.

If you have relevant training or experience in the role you are applying for, then convincing them on why they need to hire you will be easier for sure.

“Don’t be afraid to start over again. This time you are not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience.”

Are there any other advice that worked well for you? Let me know in the comments below so that more tween moms can benefit.

READ ALSO:

Best Resources of Part-time Jobs for International Students in Canada

CELPIP Tips & Tricks to Get a High Score Even When You’re Super Busy

Things to Consider Before Applying for Part-Time Jobs in Canada for International Students Read More »

Top 3 Places for Family Summer Getaway in Vancouver

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This post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Wanderer Mom may earn a small commission to fund this blog if you click through and make a purchase. Please read full disclosure here. Thanks very much for your support.

We were so looking forward to spending the summer for the first time in Vancouver. Of course, British Columbia has so many beautiful things to offer, and we don’t want to miss out on all the summer fun. Even though we are busy at work and new in this place, we don’t want to make an excuse not to enjoy our life and explore beautiful places. 

As a newbie in this place, our good friend is Google, and so the top 3 destinations I am sharing here are those with great Google reviews, so you can bet you’ll enjoy these places.

So here you go, the top 3 places you can go in the lower mainland Vancouver for a fun-filled summer with your family and friends are:

Coquitlam River Park

During the summer heatwave, my husband brought us to the Coquitlam River Park. The park provides a long stretch of forest walking trails of 9.8kms. The water is cool and offers soothing relief and tranquility in the summer heat.

We went there around 3 pm, and we nearly lost our way to the river. The walking trail is more spacious compared to the others we’ve been to. A car literally can fit in it. Since it was our first time going to the river, I became a little scared when I saw the sign that says, “Black bears live here..Beware..” Frankly, I’m not quite prepared to have a bear encounter. I could hear my daughter saying loudly, “ But mommy, this is a bear country…!”

Anyway, our first afternoon in the river was full of fun. We soaked ourselves in the cold water. We found a perfect spot for our bags and beach chair. The whole stretch of the river is packed with families talking to each other, teenagers in an inflatable boat, and kids playing in the water. It was a relaxing treat, and we enjoyed it so much that we returned to the river the following day and again on the next day.

Parking information:

There is a small parking lot just by the entrance, and many people park by the roadside.

A man enjoying a ride in an inflatable boat at Coquitlam River, Lower Mainland, Vancouver during the summer heatwave in British Columbia
Coquitlam River

White Pine Beach, Port Moody

White Pine Beach is part of Sasamat lake, located in Belcarra Regional Park, Port Moody, British Columbia. It was our first time here. We didn’t know there’s a beautiful beach near Old Orchard Park where I truly enjoyed the sunset. Our friend invited us over that day, and we just hopped into the car, and off we went. It was nearly 7 pm when we reached the beach. Still, there were several people on the shore and the lake. My husband and daughter enjoyed their time paddling while the sun is slowly setting. It was truly a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Parking Information:

White Pine Beach is a popular beach among Canadians, and while there are lots of parking spaces, you need to secure parking and a picnic spot early on. The parking fee is around $4 for two hours. Go early in the morning before 8 am or late afternoon so you can have a nice spot reserved.

Father and daughter enjoying paddle-boarding at the famous White Pine Beach, Port Moody, Vancouver
White Pine Beach, Port Moody, Vancouver

Alouette Lake

This lake is probably one of the most beautiful lakes we’ve been to here in British Columbia. This lake is about 16 km in length and is part of one of the famous parks, the Golden Ears Provincial Park in Maple Ridge. Our friend invited us over last Sunday, and we were fortunate there were not many people in South Beach. The forecast said it would rain on Sunday but thank God the whole day was cloudy, and it was one of those perfect Sunday at the beach moment where we enjoyed swimming, barbecuing, and just chatting with new friends.

Every place we go to has its beauty and uniqueness. Alouette Lake is a perfect place to unwind, swim, do canoeing, and paddleboarding. Soak in the water, and you would be surprised the water is warm. If you want a relaxing, peaceful afternoon with a mesmerizing mountain backdrop, then Alouette Lake is the place to be.

Parking Information:

Before going there, you must secure a day-use pass one day before your planned date, and it is advisable to book as early as possible as it gets fully booked in the morning. Refer to the BC Parks for further information. You may reserve a free day-use pass here. 

A man enjoying boating in the serene and beautiful mountain backdrop at Alouette River, Golden Ears Provincial Park, British Columbia
Alouette River, Golden Ears Provincial Park, British Columbia

Things we brought:

  • Inflatable boats 
  • Beach chairs
  • BBQ griller
  • Portable mini stove 
  • Towels
  • Swimwear
  • Extra Clothes
  • Picnic mat
  • Beach slippers
  • Bottled Water & other drinks
  • Foods
  • Flashlight
  • First-Aid Kit

Most of the items here were from Walmart. Also, please remember to bring lifejacket (…and coffee or tea) J

Do you have some place in mind you want to share for family getaway? Please share in the comment below. We would love to explore them next time!

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3 Ways to Meaningfully Connect with your Tween Daughter

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This post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Wanderer Mom may earn a small commission to fund this blog if you click through and make a purchase. Please read full disclosure here. Thanks very much for your support.

Time flies. I wanted to make the most of my time bonding with my daughter. I feel it’s essential to create a meaningful relationship with her early on before she becomes a full-grown teenager. I do not want to find any reason or take the busyness of life to get in the way of knowing my daughter inside and out. Knowing what motivates and inspires her and be able to support her is the most fulfilling part of becoming a mom.

Just like any other relationship building, things here are intentional and require a little bit of planning and effort. It comes naturally though as you do it together consistently. 

Mother and daughter happily bonding together at home

Here are a few things you can start doing to form a good bonding relationship with your daughter:

1. Support And Encourage Her Interests

I notice my daughter feels happier and confident to share more when I show interest in what she’s doing. And so, I try to support and encourage her this way. 

Both my daughter and I like arts and crafts. Ever since she was a little younger, we do arts and crafts together. We would paint the wine bottles and make them decorative art pieces. We would colour and draw together. We would buy lots of glue and food colouring and make different types of slime. 

Now that she’s a tween, her interests change a little bit. She likes to play online games like Minecraft, create animation, and projects in Scratch and Canva. Also, one thing we love doing together is painting. 

You don’t have to do things together every single day unless you have some flexibility around your schedule. You can spend at least an hour or two doing things together such as arts or sports or just plain watching movies. The key here is to do it consistently every week and not do it only when it feels convenient to you.

2. Take the Time to Talk and Listen to Her Thoughts & Feelings

Remember those days when she was just a toddler, she would request for you to read stories for her over and over again? Well, now that she is a tween, she still wants those moments with you but in a way that’s quite mature. 

For us, we do this right after praying together as a family. I would linger a little bit more to talk to my daughter and ask a few things like, “How did you find your day today? What made you say those things earlier? Or I would ask her, “Are you happy today?”. 

Listening builds trust. I am learning each day as well. But one thing I know is that when I talk to my daughter in that quiet moment, the more I understand her feelings and thoughts. I believe tweens have lingering questions they may be shy to ask or talk about (such as changes in their body, opinions, and feelings). As tween moms, we can lead them positively and open up the conversation if we feel it’s the right time to do so. 

3. Journal together and Keep good Memories

Another good bonding with my daughter I find fulfilling and fun is journaling together. On her birthday, I gifted her a book, “Just Us Girls”. In the book, there are questions and prompts for the mom and for the daughter to answer, share thoughts, and feelings. So far, this is the little secret we keep together. My husband is not allowed to peek into this book, and my daughter finds it comforting to know.

We agreed we would journal together every Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday. Those are the days where she could ask me a few things about what I wrote and vice versa. The journal prompts provide some reflections of how she sees life and situations and the same goes for me as her mom. 

After writing in the journal, we look at each other’s answers and talk about them. It has been so far one of our favourite little bonding together as mother and daughter. 

Example of a journal prompt in the book for mom and daughter, 

“Tell me about a time when you put in extra effort and your hard work paid off. How did you feel?”.

“When you do this, it reminds me of myself because…”

mother and daughter happily reading the book "just us girls"

Conclusion

Building a strong connection with your tween daughter is much like any other relationship-building. It requires time, commitment, and consistency. It requires meaningful conversation and a deeper understanding of each other and you can build this by:

  • Supporting and encouraging her interests
  • Taking the time to talk and listen to her thoughts and feelings
  • Journaling together and keeping good memories

I hope those three ways I shared help you better connect with your tween daughter. Let me know in the comments or email me with your stories on how you’re able to build a stronger connection with your tween. I would love to learn more. 

Resources

Create a strong bond with your daughter with this journal.

Easy prompts allow them to share favorites, wishes, pet peeves, much more.

Compare family memories, plan the perfect trip, dream about the future, tell each other a story, plan time together, and record what you did!

End up with a shared chapter in the story of your lives to enjoy again and again!

Start or reinforce a lifelong journaling habit.

Journal is written by a mother-daughter team.

For daughters ages 9 and up, with their moms.

Mothers and daughters: write together, share together, grow together.

It only takes a few words for you and your daughter to connect in a meaningful way. Just Us Girls is a mom journal meant to be shared with your daughter, helping the two of you build a stronger bond through better communication and deeper understanding.

Go far with a year’s worth of journaling prompts that will help each of you relate your thoughts and feelings in a safe, secure space―just for the two of you. This mom journal will form the foundation for a wonderful relationship that will last a lifetime.

3 Ways to Meaningfully Connect with your Tween Daughter Read More »

Summer Schedule for 10 years old

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I created a schedule for my daughter to follow for the whole duration of her summer break (for everybody’s peace of mind 🙂 Her summer school break is from the end of June to the end of August. I realized I have to build a good routine for her to be productive and happy. Also, this will prevent her from just playing computer games and watching TV all day.

Below is her weekday schedule. If you have a 10-year old kid, feel free to follow the routine here or tweak some to your liking. Whatever suits best for your child and your work schedule.

download this free Printable summer schedule

In addition to the summer schedule, I also included the resource links of free worksheets that I am using for my child. The site is a super savior to me as it provides free exercises in various subjects such as Reading Comprehension, Math, Grammar, Vocabulary, & Science. And mommies, it is available for grade 1 to grade 5. You can check the free website resources link here I highly recommend it.

If you don’t have a printer at home, I included simple steps for you to delete the last page (which is the answer sheet) so that you can only show the pdf copy with questions. As for my daughter, she writes her answers in a separate notebook.  And I mark them at night or after she has finished answering them.

Steps to delete the last page (which is the answer sheet) in the pdf file:

1. Open the pdf file by right clicking the mouse and selecting the ‘print preview’

2. Click ‘edit’ in the command bar and select ‘delete’

3. Save the new file with a new file name.

For parents looking for a dedicated tutor, there’s also available multilingual tutor service app like Tuex that offers flexible scheduling options. 

For French lessons, I let my daughter watch Youtube videos and tutorials. Since she learned basic French when she was in grade 2, she can still easily picks up the words and phrases. As for her summer camp, I enrolled her in arts class to learn about weaving tapestry and embroidery. It’s a little different from the normal art class like painting and drawing and I am glad she likes it a lot.

Here’s the Youtube link to French lessons. I also bought a mini French book at Amazon. There are tons of books and exercises you can buy at Amazon. But I am a fan of freebies if they are available. 🙂

Later on (perhaps in August), I will get her a tutor so she can practice real conversation in French. I think it’s also an appropriate way to prepare her for French immersion class once we got a placement at her school.

Conclusion

Summer break should be fun and productive for your kids, and it should not cause havoc or anxiety in every family member. So it is important to create a summer routine for your kids so that they don’t waste their time drooling over to the computer screen the whole day. Also, creating a consistent summer routine can help build a good discipline and positive attitude towards learning. 

Do you have some tips that you find are effectively helping your kids this summer? Feel free to share them. Write me an email or leave a comment here. 🙂

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Summer Schedule for 10 years old Read More »

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Top 3 Mindset to Become a Successful Immigrant in Canada

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This post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Wanderer Mom may earn a small commission to fund this blog if you click through and make a purchase. Please read full disclosure here. Thanks very much for your support.

Most blogs would talk about the “why” and the “how” of immigrating from one country to another “greener pasture”, but few people talk about what it really takes for someone or a family to become really successful immigrants (this is only my opinion and based on studying those who have been successful immigrants). In this blog, I will talk more about the mindset every immigrant (whether a family or solo) should have before moving to Canada. 

READ ALSO:

7 Things International Students/New Immigrant Must Do – The First Two Weeks in Canada.

1. Begin with an end in mind.

The first important mindset to become a successful family immigrant is to think ahead of where you want to be (for yourself and your family). Having a clear vision of where you want to be as a family over a short term (one to two years) and over a long term (five to 10 years down the road) is very important.

You can’t fall into a trap of following the “bandwagon” or simply because you know some people or friends who have immigrated and they talked about how life is so much better in Canada than in “so country” because every immigrant has unique situations in life. 

As they say, “don’t see your life in the same way as the life of others you know”. Therefore, it is equally important to have the mindset of “begin with an end in mind.” 

Also, having this kind of mentality will force you to have a goal, a strict, reasonable and achievable plans to pursue and those are important milestones for yourself and your family. 

Lastly, by having a clear image of the “end goal” you want to pursue would prepare you and your family physically, mentally, emotionally and spirituality and in so doing, you have more strength to face the challenges that will come along the way. You won’t easily give up and you won’t easily break down.

2. Be willing to adapt as quickly as possible. 

By the time you’ve decided you want to take action on immigrating, you’ve already done the rigorous research of what it would look like to live in Canada. Things like, monthly expenses, career prospects, and the procedures of how you can obtain the permanent residency and so the next essential mindset that every immigrant should have is the ability to adapt easily to the new environment. 

This is beyond adapting to the cold weather or the harsh winter you will face in Canada. This mindset is more about your ability to take an effort to get to know the new culture in the place you will immigrate to, the willingness to observe and adapt to the ways people do things , say things and have that conscious effort to have a realization why certain “local people” behave that way or “the other way”. 

The old saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” sets a great bearing for anyone who want to be successful immigrants. 

Once you have deeply rooted to the culture, you can then think of ways to contribute and make a positive impact to the community you chose to live. Aim to give back to Canada, aim to give back to the people who have helped you along the way and aim to give back to the people you have left behind in your home country. Actually, you can start doing these things along the way.

3. Be strategic in your action plans.

Being strategic means, you have a goal, an action plan and you are also considering possible scenarios (consequences and outcomes) for each action plans you want to take.

Why is it important? I am a big believer of “if you don’t write it down, it is just a wishful thinking” – it simply means it doesn’t exist. 

Immigrating to a new country or new place is a huge undertaking. So why not be very serious in your approach. Treat it as though your life depends on it which seriously, your life (and your family’s) really depends on it… and they depend on you too. 

Here I list down an example of strategic table of goals and outcomes if you are seriously considering to immigrate to Canada:

Goal 1: Finish the Post-Graduate Program in Accounting by 2022

Goal 2: Land an Accounting Job with at least median salary by March 2023 (for instance)

Goal 3: Become a Canadian Permanent Resident by mid-year of 2024

Goal 4: Own a house in a nice and friendly neighbourhood by 2026

In the sample table/worksheet below, list down the action plans you need to take to achieve the goals. It is important to write down the consequences for each action. This way you have a clear view of what could happen for each action you will take and will then have a clear perspective of the best outcome that could arise as a result of that action and also the best pathway to take which will then aid you in making a better decision. 

 Action 1Action 2Action 3Action 4Action 5Outcome/Best Pathway to take/Decision
Goal 1      
Goal 2      
Goal 3
Goal 4      

Lastly, I can’t stress it enough here. If you are serious in immigrating to Canada then you owe it to yourself to not just be very cautious of your plans but to approach it in a very strategic way.

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Conclusion:

Immigrating to Canada takes more than preparing the required proof of funds and getting ready for the cold weather. It entails more than rigorous research and constantly updating to the news and reading reviews on immigration forums. It requires one to have the right mindset to become a successful immigrant and those mindset are:

  1. Begin with an end in mind
  2. Willingness to adapt quickly
  3. Be very strategic in achieving your goals

READ ALSO:

7 Things International Students/New Immigrant Must Do – The First Two Weeks in Canada.

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Top 3 Mindset to Become a Successful Immigrant in Canada Read More »

International Student reflecting on what she wrote in her journal

How to build the habit of “intentional and purposeful living” every single day?

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This post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you, Wanderer Mom may earn a small commission to fund this blog if you click through and make a purchase. Please read full disclosure here. Thanks very much for your support.

Things can be so overwhelming specially when starting a new job in a new industry. This is my situation right now. I had promised myself that I would be consistently uploading article for this blog at least every week and so far, I have missed twice. The shortfall made me realise the importance of intentional living and really breathe it every single day which also points the significance of having a “ME time” – to have at least one hour of quiet time for self-reflection and self-care.

Why build the habit of intentional and purposeful living?

Here are the reasons why:

  • One hour of “quiet time” for yourself also means you have time to nourish yourself spiritually. As I am a Christian, this means time for praying. This is more to thank God for all the blessings of yesterday and today. Prayer for renewed strength and guidance for what he willed me to do for the day.
  • The quiet time gives you the opportunity to listen to music or podcast or watch Youtube content that contributes to your personal or professional growth. I normally divide my “watch time” for topics for my personal growth or entertainment and topics that can help me advance in my profession.
  • The quiet time sets you in the mood to really reflect on what is going in your life “right now” – in the moment. This is the time where you have the opportunity to face yourself truthfully. Where are you at the moment? Is your current life situation bringing you real happiness? Is it leading you to where you want to be? Is it serving your goals? Is it serving your purpose? These are important questions that you need to pay attention to not only when the needs arise, or situation calls for it but these are life’s questions that needs attention every single day. Unfortunately, I am one of the many who are guilty of having “excuses” of not having enough time to face those important questions concerning my life.

The challenge is that no one else can remind you every day that you need to pay attention to your “Me Time” unless you have a mentor or a partner that is willing to remind you. The truth is, no one else will be more responsible and accountable for yourself except you. Fortunately, even being chronically bad at it, you can still begin and decide to change.

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3 things you can do to build the habit of “checking on yourself”:

  1. Morning is a great start to do this “ME time” at least this is what I’ve learned from the successful people I am following. But honestly, I fail to do this in the morning. The best I could do right after I wake up in the morning is to pray to God to give thanks. I usually have quieter “me time” at night before going to sleep. 
  2. Check on yourself before even looking at your phone and browse social media by intentionally asking yourself, “What could I do before I go to sleep such that I can make use of my “me time” that best serves me purposefully?” 
  3. Pray. Start by reading a bible passage and reflect on the passage. Ask yourself this, “what does this passage really mean? What is the meaning behind those passage? How can I apply it in my life now?

When building a new habit, you don’t have to force yourself to start taking big steps. Start small and do it consistently.

Conclusion

As a final thought, I realize that it is important for me to lead my everyday life intentionally fulfilling it with joyous moments that leads me closer to God’s will for me. I also realize that I should always strive to fill my life with intentional acts and that I should be patient and ever paying attention to myself, not to be of selfish nature but to be that of a human being who is aiming to be always intentionally good at every areas of my life. I realize that only by paying attention to myself that I get to be more open to giving to the needs of the people around me.

How to build the habit of “intentional and purposeful living” every single day? Read More »