Proof that we are Parents

28 Feb

Datenight on Dragons’ Den

Mark your calendars for March 15th at 8:00pm because Datenight Babysitting will be on Dragons’ Den on CBC!

It was a bit of a process — in March 2017, Datenight Babysitting auditioned just to get the chance to pitch on Dragons’ Den. After passing the audition, we were scheduled to do the actual pitch in April 2017 — but just because a company pitches, it doesn’t mean the pitch will make it to air – so we had to wait. The Dragons’ Den season began in September and the team at Datenight Babysitting hoped to hear from CBC. Finally, we got word that we made it to air on March 15th!

We can’t say too much about how it went – you’ll have to tune in with us and see for yourself! They definitely asked us some hard questions so we are excited to see how it airs!

In the spirit of celebration, we are offering new users a month free with the code DRAGONSDEN. It’s easy to register and we are sure you’ll love our babysitters!

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.

03 Jan

Interview with a Mamapreneur: Meet Tijana Daly of Daly Dose of Health

Get to know the superwomen in your community in our new series, Interview with a Mamapreneur. We’ll be featuring local entrepreneurs & moms to find out how they run a successful business—and household. This month, meet Tijana…

Tell us about your business.

My business is called Daly Dose of Health. I’m a personal trainer specializing in pre and postnatal exercise. My passion is helping mamas look and feel their best, but more importantly, helping them gain the knowledge needed to exercise safely as a postpartum woman. I emphasize building a proper foundation of strength, empowering all women to feel strong!

Tell us about your family.

I have a 17-month-old son who keeps me on my toes. My husband and I are both personal trainers. It’s really cool having a partner in the same industry because we can understand each other on that level. A household with two entrepreneurs and a toddler definitely gets crazy!

What led you to become a mamapreneur?

Having been a personal trainer for a few years, I decided to branch out on my own after my son was born. Since becoming a mom, I saw the unique needs and challenges we have when it comes to forms of self care, such as exercise. There was definitely a need in the industry to address issues such as pelvic floor dysfunction and diastasis for all these moms that just want to “get their body back.” After learning more about these common issues through a course called Bellies Inc, I made it my mission to share my knowledge to help my fellow ‘fit mamas’ out.

What are your strategies for running a business and a household at the same time?

Being a mamapreneur can be tough. When I factor in my own training, going to school part time, keeping the place neat, cooking… I’m not sure how I’m still standing! I have come to realize maybe there is no such thing as a “perfect balance.” Many working moms surely have a bit of mommy guilt in common when it comes to prioritizing work. My best strategy is to let go of the guilt by scheduling time for work AND for time with my little one. I typically get the bulk of my work stuff done when he’s napping or asleep for the night, so when I’m with him, I don’t answer my work emails or phone.

What do you do to de-stress?

I truly enjoy cooking and making healthy recipes when I’m feeling stressed. That’s my therapy! And definitely getting a massage and a mani/pedi.

What are your biggest challenges when it comes to finding time for yourself?

My biggest challenge in finding time is definitely tearing myself away from work. There is always something more to do in terms of business development. I stay up way past my bedtime many nights!

What qualities do you look for in a babysitter or caregiver?

Besides excellent references, I am a big believer in “vibes.” If I feel like the babysitter is truly awesome and wants to spend time with my kid, they’re a keeper. And when you know, you know.

How often did you and your partner go on “dates” before kids?

My husband and I used to love going out a lot! Our lifestyle has changed so much. We were definitely going out a couple times a week pre-baby.

How often do the two of you get out now?

Oh man, nowadays if we have a night to ourselves, we are much more likely to enjoy it having a good night’s sleep! But in terms of actually going out, it’s probably every couple of months.

What are your top 3 favourite date nights? (Note: they don’t have to be evening dates.)
1. Trampolining at Sky Zone.
2. Having dinner out and maybe some drinks.
3. Going to an Escape Room

About Tijana Daly

Tijana is a Postpartum Personal Trainer working out of Toronto’s west end as well as online. When she’s not training clients or lifting at the gym, she enjoys making fun new recipes and spending time with her husband and son.

About Daly Dose of Health

Daly Dose of Health is a female-focused personal training business that provides women with the tools and knowledge to gain strength, improve body composition, and feel great about their body’s capabilities.

Special offer for Datenight members: Email Tijana with “50% off” in the subject line to receive 50% off your first month of online coaching.

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.

11 Dec

Interview with a Mamapreneur: Meet Kathleen O’Hagan of AllergyBites

Get to know the superwomen in your community in our new series, Interview with a Mamapreneur. We’ll be featuring local entrepreneurs & moms to find out how they run a successful business—and household. This month, meet Kathleen…

1. Tell us about your business.

AllergyBites was born soon after my son was. I had always adored discovering new restaurants and eating at old favourites, and while pregnant, I liked to imagine that my baby boy would grow up to be just as adventurous with his eating habits as his mama. That is, until he was diagnosed with multiple food allergies (peanuts, tree nuts, egg, sesame, soy* and sunflower). After doing a Google search to find “allergy-friendly restaurants in Toronto” (and being gravely disappointed), I made it my mission to seek out and review eating spots in the city that could accommodate people with food allergies and share my findings with other families like mine. The idea has since evolved to include allergy-friendly products and services, accommodating spaces, and more.

*We recently challenged soy at Sick Kids and have crossed it off our list. Woo hoo!

2. Tell us about your family.

I’m the mom to a talkative toddler who ran before he walked. (Seriously.) My husband and I spend our days chasing after him while being entertained by his glorious communication skills. Fun fact: We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary just this fall, which if you do the math, you’ll realize our little guy ‘walked’ down the aisle with us. I didn’t get to wear my wedding dress to my own wedding because we found out I was pregnant after I had already said yes to the guy… and the dress.)

3. What led you to become a mamapreneur?

After my son’s diagnosis, life became quite challenging. I couldn’t imagine going back to work full-time while navigating life as an “allergy mom.” When my request to go back part-time was denied, I decided not to go back at all and dove into the AllergyBites project full force.

4. What are your strategies for running a business and a household at the same time?

I still don’t have this figured out 100%. It can be quite challenging when you suddenly have two demanding babies—your actual baby & your business—because everything feels like a priority.

A big one is asking for help. Even though I wasn’t going into a physical office, my husband and I decided to “splurge” on daycare since there was no way I would ever get any work done while home with a little one.

I really love the idea of a space, like Working Ensemble, that provides parents with childcare while they get some work done onsite. Unfortunately, it’s not a simple task to accommodate children with multiple allergies, so we haven’t been able to make use of this great little spot. With my help, the owner of Working Ensemble is working on implementing an allergy policy, and I look forward to the day when I can possibly take advantage of their wonderful services.

5. What do you do to de-stress?

I recently wrote a piece on self-care and how, as an allergy mom, I’m really tired of feeling guilty about not having any time for it. The truth is, I get very little time for me… and I’m okay with that for now. I know that this stage of my child’s life won’t last forever, and if that means I need to forego prioritizing myself for a bit, I can handle that for a while.

Taking a shower or doing groceries by myself are two easy ways to get some ‘me time’ in, which seems to helps me de-stress.

My husband and I also like to enjoy a cup of tea and a sweet treat once the baby is asleep in the evenings. It’s our daily indulgence, and we get a bit of time to catch up after yet another whirlwind of a day.

6. What are your biggest challenges when it comes to finding time for yourself?

My little guy is almost 2, and he has not slept through the night since the 4-month sleep regression hit—that’s a long time! He is by definition a “high-needs” baby at nighttime, which can make it very difficult to get time to ourselves. We don’t have the freedom to do things like watch TV or read a book in the evenings, and we often wake up feeling less than rested.

(This too shall pass… This too shall pass… LOL.)

7. What qualities do you look for in a babysitter or caregiver?

Because it’s so tough to put our little guy to bed, we haven’t actually left him with anyone in the evenings other than my parents. We’re crossing our fingers that we can start making use of Datenight’s “allergy aware” sitters (and go on more dates!!) in the New Year. He’ll be 2 then, so we keep telling ourselves things may get a little easier in 2018. 😉

In terms of our daytime caregiver, we searched for someone who would not leave our child to cry if he were having difficulty falling asleep at naptime. And, of course, we needed to know the person caring for our son on a daily basis knew about allergies and would be able to handle an emergency should he experience an anaphylactic reaction in their care. We were extremely lucky to find a warm, loving caregiver who happens to have multiple allergies of her own. So she definitely gets it.

8. How often did you and your partner go on “dates” before kids?

A lot. We loved checking out new restaurants and breweries in the city, and made sure to regularly visit old favourites too. I’m pretty sure we ate out more than we ate in.

9. How often do the two of you get out now?

Maybe once every 2 months, when my parents are around to watch the little guy.

10. What are your top 3 favourite date nights?

1. Sipping red wine and eating a selection of delicious foods at a new restaurant.
2. Going to the theatre. (If I can drag my hubby to a musical, even better!)
3. Chatting over craft beer and a snack at a local brewery.

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About Kathleen O’Hagan
Kathleen is a Toronto-based writer, foodie, and most recently, mom. Her professional writing experience includes more than 10 years of content creation in the form of blogs, newsletters, social channels, and even video. As a foodie, Kathleen’s motto is “I’ll eat anything once.” (Don’t believe her? Read about the time she ate a living, breathing fish in Japan.) As a mom, she lovingly practices attachment parenting and does what she can to spread the word about food allergy awareness.

About AllergyBites
AllergyBites is the go-to spot for foodies and families with food allergies. It began as the place to find accommodating restaurants in the city, and has since evolved to include allergy-friendly eats & treats, spaces & places. The recently launched discount card provides members with exclusive discounts on their favourite allergy-friendly brands. Browse participating businesses.

Special offer for Datenight members: Use promo code WeNeedDateNight and get $10 off your AllergyBites discount card. Offer expires Jan 31st, 2018.

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This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.

15 Nov

Holiday Offer: The perfect gift for every parent’s wish list

Dear parents,

If reliable childcare + healthy home cooked meals—both delivered right to your door—sounds like a dream come true, we’ve got some great news!

Datenight Babysitting has teamed up with Farm to Table Meals to create a customized gift card for busy moms and dads like you… just in time for the holidays.

So if you’re tired of all the post-Christmas clutter (More tidying? No, thanks!), why not add an experience to your wish list this year?

Our joint gift card lets you put half towards paying for a trusted, local babysitter and half towards healthy and delicious meal deliveries.

You know what that means? You and your partner can head out on a date and not have to worry about preparing a meal before you go. Or, you can enjoy a low-maintenance home cooked meal as a family, and simply order pizza the next time the sitter is over. 😉

Love this idea? Let Santa (and the grandparents!) know that they can purchase it here so they don’t get you something you’ll only want to re-gift.

Or, if you want to be the favourite friend from now until eternity, why not give this every parent you know The Best Gift Ever this holiday season? From one parent to another – you know that it’s pretty much all any parent wants…

Sincerely,
The moms behind Datenight Babysitting and Farm to Table Meals

P.S. Not only is it the perfect holiday gift, it’s great for baby showers too!

Offer Details

Customized gift cards are available in the following amounts: $100, $150 or $200.
Available for purchase via the Datenight or Farm to Table websites, from now until December 31st, 2017.
Offer expires one year after the date of purchase.
Please make sure the recipient lives within the proper boundaries, listed here.

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.

13 Nov

Interview with a Mamapreneur: Meet Melanie Stevens Sutherland of RPM Physiotherapy

1. Tell us about your business.

RPM Physiotherapy is a boutique physiotherapy, massage therapy and osteopathy clinic in the heart of the Junction. My background is in sport medicine, but the clinic has evolved to not only treat orthopedic conditions but to also specialize in women’s health (more specifically pre and postnatal care) as well as helping clients after motor vehicle accidents. We don’t use a lot of machines. We prefer to be hands on with a strong emphasis on lifestyle change and exercise. Our perfect client is someone who, after using our services, leaves with an enthusiasm for wellness and the tools for a happy and healthy life.

2. Tell us about your family.

I am mom to two amazing little people. Charlotte is our feisty, hilarious 3-year-old, and in March of this year, we welcomed our son William. My husband Brian is probably the most patient and level-headed person I know, which has made balancing being a mom and owning my own business (read: no maternity leave) possible. We both work from home and balance family and work pretty happily.

3. What led you to become a mamapreneur?

I was in what I thought was my dream job when I became pregnant with my daughter. It unfortunately became very clear that being a new mom was going to be difficult in my current job situation. My boss wanted me back to work within six weeks at full capacity with a nanny in tow and scheduled breastfeeding breaks. I recognize that a lot of women do this, but it isn’t how I wanted to start things off with my daughter. I had no idea how I was going to handle motherhood, let alone give my full attention to my job.

I tried to make it work on a modified basis for a bit. My daughter came to the office at 5 days old on Boxing Day to do payroll and attended her first staff meeting when she was only 2 weeks. After 4 months, I was so stressed out—I wasn’t fully healed and couldn’t give my new baby the full attention she needed. During a really ugly cry in the middle of the night, my husband looked at me and said: “Quit. You are not happy. We will work it out.”

I had never been unemployed before, but since I was already on a planned unpaid maternity leave, I had some time to think about what my ideal work situation would look like. I really love my kids, but I also really love what I do. I felt strongly that I shouldn’t have to give up one for the other, and I was pretty sure I didn’t want to take a step backwards in my career. When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I decided to create it for myself. I found an amazing business to partner with, and RPM Physiotherapy was born when my daughter was just 8 months old.

4. What are your strategies for running a business and a household at the same time?

This is still an evolution with a steep learning curve. I am by no means perfect at either, but I think recognizing that has made both a bit easier. I definitely juggle more than I balance.

At work, I took a lot of time to hire an amazing team. They are so competent at what they do and require very little day-to-day intervention from me. I try to keep communication very open and transparent so I know what they need from me and vice versa.

I also took great care to put a lot of systems in place that would take the pressure off of me. For example, our clients can book and manage their accounts online. I hired someone to build us a great website that we update with valuable information for our clients. And I hired a fantastic business coach who fills in the gaps when it comes to my lack of formal business training. Having these systems and supports in place allows me to focus on what are the priorities in my business.

Home isn’t that different. I am very lucky to have a partner who is extremely hands on with our kids and is flexible in his work. We are also fortunate to have a strong support system in our immediate families who are close by and always ready to lend a hand. And we had a part time nanny join our family back in September when my daughter started school.

Essentially, on both fronts I’m learning to ask for help and make my needs in both the business and at home clear so we can all support each other. I’ve come to realize that time is my most valuable asset and I have started outsourcing things that aren’t my strength or aren’t on the top of my priority list.

5. What do you do to de-stress?

Exercise is something I prioritize daily. I make it a goal to move at least 30 minutes every day. It can be an intense High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout with heavy lifting or it can be a leisurely walk with our dog. Either way, allowing my body to move and breathe gives me the stamina and hopefully the patience to handle the rest of my day.

Coffee and wine help a lot too.

6. What are your biggest challenges when it comes to finding time for yourself?

Probably guilt.

I’ve become that obnoxious person who is never without her phone because I’m afraid of letting a client or a team member down if I don’t receive their call or respond to their email right away.

Similarly, I feel bad leaving my kids. I know they are in great hands, but I miss their little faces the minute I walk out the door.

I understand the importance of self-care and time to myself, but I usually spend that time thinking about my babies (kids and work alike). I have a tough time winding down. It is something I am working on.

7. What qualities do you look for in a babysitter or caregiver?

I love the idea of our kids having as much fun as we do when we leave them. I don’t want the act of us leaving to be a negative experience so we try to hype it up as a treat or something fun. Our 3-year-old rules the roost in our house so someone who is up for a dance party while dressed as a Disney princess is always a good fit.

My husband is a little more nervous about leaving the kids. We once went to the movies on a particularly windy night and he made me review hurricane protocol (you’ve heard about all of those hurricanes that hit Toronto, right?) with the sitter before we left. He is much more comfortable with someone who is mature and conscientious around all things safety.

So basically if you can tire our kids out while they have a ton of fun and stay safe at the same time, you are the perfect fit for us. Our favourite sitter does all that and hosts a great pizza party too. She left for university in September and we were devastated.

8. How often did you and your partner go on “dates” before kids?

My favourite date before kids was a game of tennis followed by dinner and drinks every Friday night. Mix that in with trying a new restaurant here and there and getting together with friends, and we were probably getting out once or twice a week.

9. How often do the two of you get out now?

It is hard to get out with an 8-month-old. He is pretty tied to me right now, but we have been out a few times without the kids. My in-laws have been kind enough to watch them while we slip out for a quick dinner when we are all up at the cottage, and most recently, they did their first overnight with my parents so we could catch a show at Massey Hall.

I would say, realistically, we are probably getting a date night alone every six weeks right now. We have some fun events planned for the next few months and we are hoping to start getting some more regular date nights in as our little guy gets older.

10. What are your top 3 favourite date nights?

My favourite date is still walking to a great local restaurant for a yummy dinner and a glass of wine with my husband.

A close second would have to be a trip to the VIP movie theatre. If our time is limited, this is a great way to maximize how much we can fit into a shortened date.

My new favourite is a day date. Since we both have flexible schedules, sometimes the stars align and we get to catch up midday over lunch on a patio before we have to get back to work to finish our days.

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About Melanie Stevens Sutherland
Melanie brings 13 years of experience as a sport physiotherapist to her role as Clinic Director at RPM Physiotherapy. As a mom of two, her most recent area of interest is working with pre and postnatal women to manage pain associated with pregnancy by helping restore their core strength.

About RPM Physiotherapy
RPM Physiotherapy is a boutique physiotherapy and massage therapy clinic located inside of RPM Total Fitness, in the heart of the Junction. Our expert team of healthcare providers is committed to helping our clients achieve the healthiest version of themselves by providing excellence in orthopedic, sport, and pre and postnatal healthcare. We employ the most current and effective treatment techniques to help you meet your personal goals.

Special discount for Datenight members: Mention Datenight and receive 10% off massage therapy services or any in-stock retail products. Offer valid until March 31st, 2018. Bookings subject to availability.

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This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.

25 Oct

Guest Post: Why Date Night is an Important Part of Postpartum Mental Health

Today’s guest post was written by Vania Sukola – a Registered Psychotherapist who mainly supports new and expectant parents around issues that relate to perinatal and postpartum topics. Some of the areas that are a focus of her work are helping new parents build a wellness toolkit that can help lessen the impact of postpartum mental health issues as well as helping mothers who have experienced birth trauma.

As the fog of new parenthood begins to lift, we are faced with the new reality of everyday life as parents. It may take longer than we expected (or want to admit) to get a good night’s sleep or a long bubble bath—let alone have a date night… without our babe in tow.

As a parent of 2 young kids myself, I’ve noticed that my once sacred weekly night out with my partner has been sacrificed for nights in, Netflix, and the occasional cuddle. We may be missing out on all the new movie releases and restaurants, but at least we are relaxed and well-rested, and taking some intentional time together. And that’s what really matters.

As social creatures that thrive off of connection and belonging, experiencing some intimate connections with our partners and friends is key to our mental health and resiliency. Brene Brown, a therapist and social scientist, writes in her latest book, Braving the Wilderness, about the importance of feeling a sense of belonging—with ourselves and then with others that help us feel connected, attached and valued. With this in mind, it may give you some comfort to know that having a date night with your partner is actually important—imperative even—for your mental health.

October began with Mental Health Awareness Week, so let that be your excuse to be mindful of the connection that mental health has on our potential to experience postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), like postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression. While the symptoms for PMAD can range, one of the key things to look out for is a lack of motivation or energy to do things socially or intimately. The risk is that this can lead to further isolation, while intentionally seeking out connection with others can alleviate these negative feelings. Of course, it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional if you notice that your mood and energy are even lower than expected or linger on for several days.

If you’re looking to give your mental health a boost, here are 3 helpful strategies to give yourself a break from being a parent for a few hours, get you out that door, and have some adult-friendly fun.

1) Benefit from ancient Buddhist wisdom.

The Wheel of Life is a great tool that reminds us that we are more than just parents, but also individuals with interests, passions, and hobbies separate from the other roles we play. When I look at this tool, I see areas that have been lacking in my life—maybe it’s that I haven’t taken the time for a hobby, or regular exercise, or to meet up with friends. Whatever it happens to be, you can find worksheets on this ancient Buddhist tool that will help bring balance to your life.

2) Make a date with reflective self-care

I’m a big fan of self-care and wellness activities. I also know how hard it can be to actually practice self-care with small children around, and how guilty we can feel when we take time for ourselves. While having a decadent bath is amazing, and a fresh coat of paint on our nails is luxurious, making time to be playful and laugh with your partner is something that is so much more nurturing. Maybe go on a PaintNite together, or a couples massage. Too intense? What about a double date mini-putting with friends (where you make a deal to not (only) talk about the kids)? Our bodies shift when we are active, and the mind/body connection is a great way to help us stay on top of our mental health needs.

3) Stay connected with your partner

Being a new parent is a life-changing event. It can be stressful, surprise us, and throw us for a loop. While there are some precursors to being more vulnerable to PMAD, sometimes the reality of new parenthood is a stand-alone indicator. Another reality of new parenthood is that conflict between couples both related to parenting issues and not (e.g., financial stress, work-life balance, a shift in lifestyle and priorities) can also lead to new or increased tension in the relationship.

So, when you are discussing bills to pay or what food to order for dinner, also take a moment to pause and reflect with your partner about what you can both do to stay in tune with each other. Take time to align your priorities as a couple, find creative ways to stay connected, and make sure to go out and enjoy a date. It’s win-win after all—for you and your mental health!

As the saying goes, we cannot give from an empty cup. Taking time for ourselves makes us more attentive parents and happier people. So what are you waiting for? Go book that date night! 🙂

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.

18 Oct

Special Offer: Feel like you’re on a ‘first date’ again

When the weekend finally arrives, are you climbing the walls? Why not go rock climbing instead?

If you’re bored of the same old routine, and find yourself wishing you could do something different with your partner, this special offer is for you.

Datenight is excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with Basecamp to offer members (new and old!) the chance to go on what feels like a first date again.

Think about it: your hearts will be beating fast… your adrenaline will be pumping… your palms will be sweaty… you might even have butterflies in your stomach. Need we say more? 😉

If you’re ready to get your climb on, take advantage of one of these great packages deals while they last:

Package 1: Climb All Day – $68

Climbing pros get…

-1 Basecamp day pass
-3 hours of babysitting
-BONUS! 1 month FREE Datenight membership (for new users only)

Package 2: Learn to Climb – $80

Climbing novices get…

-1 Intro to Climbing lesson at Basecamp
-3 hours of babysitting
-BONUS! 1 month FREE Datenight membership (for new users only)

Interested in booking your next hot date? All you need to do is choose the package that best suits your skill level, and buy it here. Once you receive a confirmation via text, you’ll have 365 days to get out there and get sweaty with your partner!

Enjoy!

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA. \

04 Oct

Interview with a Mamapreneur: Meet Nomena Raharinosy of Farm to Table Meals

1. Tell us about your business.

Farm to Table Meals is the solution to those evenings when busy parents are just too busy to cook. Our healthy (and affordable!) alternative to take-out delivers kid-friendly meals (prepared from scratch and made with quality ingredients) right to your door. All meals are fresh (not frozen), and can be stored in the fridge or the freezer.

Our service doesn’t necessarily replace everyday cooking but gives families a break a couple of nights a week. Prepared meals can be particularly helpful during busy times at work, when a family welcomes home a newborn, when a partner/spouse is travelling, during home renovations, when moving into a new home, or on babysitting nights.

2. Tell us about your family.

I was born in Madagascar (where I met my husband during a visit) and grew up in France (where we were later married). We moved to Canada 10 years ago as my husband was transferred to Toronto for his job. I’m mom to a 4-year-old girl named Callie and a 2-year-old boy named Owen.

3. What led you to become a mamapreneur?

Finding the time to prepare healthy meals for the family after my first mat leave proved to be more challenging than I expected. When life got too busy, my “Plan B” was often highly processed fast food. When I’d search for a quick, healthy, kid-friendly alternative, I found that there were very few choices out there. So it was the challenge of juggling work and home demands, coupled with limited healthy options, that motivated me to start Farm to Table Meals. I wanted to help make life easier for busy moms and dads in Toronto by providing meals they could feel good about feeding their family when they are in a crunch. I also wanted to enjoy a more flexible work schedule, and knew this would be possible if I were my own boss.

4. What are your strategies for running a business and a household at the same time?

I have a babysitter take care of my children for 15 hours each week so that I have dedicated time for my business. I also make sure to bring home a couple of meals from my own company on a weekly basis. And my business partner and I will sometimes have our business meetings at the park while our kids play.

5. What do you do to de-stress?

I play in a tennis league, have occasional spa days, go out for drinks or dinner with friends and try to have regular date nights with my husband. I also binge-watch Netflix shows with a glass of wine and a piece of dark chocolate at the end of the day—especially when I am solo parenting!

6. What are your biggest challenges when it comes to finding time for yourself?

I am so busy during the day that I am often too tired to plan anything. It once took me two months to redeem a spa day that my husband gave me for Mother’s Day. Planning requires so much coordination as I need to make sure any sort of “me time” fits into my work schedule, my kids’ schedule, my husband’s schedule, and sometimes the babysitter’s schedule.

7. What qualities do you look for in a babysitter or caregiver?

Someone who is able to think on their feet, a good communicator, reliable, honest, patient and responsible. They also need to be kind but firm. And fun.

8. How often did you and your partner go on “dates” before kids?

Once or twice a week.

9. How often do the two of you get out now?

Once a month at most.

10. What are your top 3 favourite date nights?

1. Couples’ spa day,
2. A meal at a very kid-unfriendly restaurant
3. Sunset walks along the beach

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About Nomena Raharinosy
Nomena Raharinosy is passionate about travel, food and tennis. She loves to discover new cuisines from around the world and takes much joy out of the ‘slow life,’ like spending hours at a dinner table while sharing a good meal with friends. As a former competitive tennis player, she still enjoys a good hit on the court and loves to watch a great game when she can.

About Farm to Table Meals
Farm To Table Meals provides busy families in Toronto with an affordable and healthy alternative to take-out meals and highly processed fast foods. Their recipes are world-inspired with flavours from France, Italy, Morocco, India, Brazil, Mexico and North America. They aim to use a wide variety of ingredients, herbs, and spices but make sure to prepare them in a way that is enjoyed by young children—even “picky eaters.” Their kid-sized meals make great meals on the go, and are perfect for nights with the babysitter.

Special discount for Datenight members: Use promo code FRIEND2015 to receive 10% off your first order.

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This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.

26 Sep

Guest Post: If I found a babysitter for my kids with multiple food allergies, you can too!

Today’s guest post was written by Pauline Osena – a food allergy advocate and mother of 3 young kids, 2 of which have multiple food allergies. She is the founder of HypeFoodie, a resource to help families live and eat well with food allergies.

Finding a babysitter has always been a point of pain for myself and my husband. We have three children under the age of 6, and two of our kids have multiple anaphylactic food allergies. We’ve only allowed close family members to watch them in the past. And unfortunately, we don’t live close to our parents, so we don’t have the luxury of having trustworthy childcare from grandparents very often.

My youngest is almost 2 years old now, and I’m newly motivated to find a regular babysitter so that we can actually go out on dates again.

Initially, I had no clue how I was going to find a trustworthy babysitter to handle three young children AND manage food allergies. First, I tried the old fashioned way and reached out to friends in my neighbourhood for any referrals or leads, but no one was able to help. Then I considered posting an ad online, and quickly decided that would be a BAD idea.

So I did the next best thing: I started complaining about my babysitter woes to pretty much anyone that would listen. A good friend and fellow allergy-mom shared how she had found amazing babysitters through the Datenight app. I was intrigued and a little skeptical, but I wanted to see if this app could actually provide a solution for my family.

It definitely did. I’ve only been using this service for two weeks, and I already have a roster of qualified babysitters that have agreed to work with me and take care of my three littles.

I’m amazed at the wealth of high-quality experience that most of the Datenight babysitters have. It’s so convenient to be able to search through a database and easily find someone you’re interested in meeting! Datenight includes short babysitter bios, hourly rates and credentials such as police check, CPR or first aid certification, ECE designation, and nanny experience right up front.

Once you’ve completed your search, the first step is an interview with the babysitter by phone, Skype video conference, or in person. Screening babysitters to see if they’re a good fit AND to gauge their level of food allergy awareness can be difficult and a little awkward, but certain topics need to be discussed before you allow someone to be responsible for your child and their well-being.

Here are some tips on interviewing babysitters for your child with food allergies:

Quiz them on their food allergy knowledge.

Start your interview by learning a little bit about their experience or knowledge about food allergies. Ask them, straight up: “What do you know about food allergies?” This is a great open-ended question that will help you determine whether they have any pre-judgments or misinformation you need to be concerned about. This might also be an excellent way to educate open-minded caregivers about food allergies. If the interest is there, a great resource to suggest is the free allergy aware course for caregivers.

Discuss how your household manages food allergies.

Be transparent and go into detail about your food allergy situation. Tell the babysitter about all of the allergens your household avoids, explain your household policy on outside food and drinks (if you have one), and your expectations in terms of washing hands upon entering your household.

Talk about what to do in an emergency.

When considering babysitters for children with medical needs, it’s nice to hire someone with First Aid training, but it’s not always necessary. The most important thing to know is that the candidate is willing to act in a medical emergency. Ask the babysitter if they have ever needed to call an ambulance or deal with an emergency in the past. Discuss the role of epinephrine, and find out if they are comfortable administering the EpiPen in the event of an allergic reaction.

It’s a good idea to give a quick refresher on how to properly use an EpiPen at the beginning of every babysitting session. A practice EpiPen allows you to give a quick hands-on demonstration. If you don’t already have one, ask for a free EpiPen trainer from your pharmacist, allergist or order one directly from the website.

Don’t forget that your kids are kids.

It can be easy to focus so much on food allergy management that you forget to ask standard questions that would apply to all children. Make time to ask about what kind of activities the babysitter likes to engage in with the kids and what their disciplinary tactics are.

Trust your instincts.

A babysitter may be the perfect candidate on paper and might respond with all of the perfect answers during your interview, but if a little nagging voice in your head tells you that they will not be a good fit for your family, then don’t hire them. The beauty of Datenight is that the database of qualified babysitters is large, so you can start the interview process with several candidates and look for a babysitter that suits your family.

Once you’ve decided on a sitter, you’ll have 3 other big decisions to make: which night to go out, what kind of restaurant, and what outfit to wear!

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA. Try Datenight Babysitting FREE for a month! Use the code “FREEPROMO” when you register to take advantage of this offer!

20 Sep

CSArt promotion for Datenight Subscribers!

Support local business, add to your art collection, and have FIVE date nights planned out for you!

CSART Ottawa curates 5 local art experiences for subscribers – from painting to music to theatre – giving you original art to enjoy and take home.

Choose from 3 different subscriptions for what suits you best: Single Subscription, Friend Subscription, or Household Subscription. All subscriptions include:

– Tickets to our exclusive art events, featuring fantastic locations around Ottawa and local refreshments

– Original hand-painted cards by Brenda Dunn, painter and illustrator

– Limited-edition framed print by Allan André, painter and illustrator

– Original work by Sally Lee Sheeks, drawing and installation artist

– Tickets to premiere of music-dance collaboration with Jill Zmud (celebrated singer-songwriter), Jesse Stewart (JUNO Award-winning mutli-instrumentalist), Carissa Klopoushak (NACO violinist), and Keir Knight (genre-defying dancer)

– Tickets to original site-specific theatre piece by Cellar Door Project

Use code 5DATENIGHTS at checkout, and then book one of our awesome babysitters for your nights out!

http://csartottawa.ca/subscribe/

Purchase on or before September 30th.

This post was brought to you by Datenight Babysitting — Toronto’s leading mobile app connecting parents with experienced, local babysitters — with thousands of dates booked in the GTA.