Closure on Textergate and the Beginning of Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Autumn. Fall. Autumnal Park. Autumn Trees and Leaves in sun rays. Beautiful Autumn scene
Autumn. There’s an upside to the end up summer, right?

I have a love/hate relationship with September. On one hand, it means a fresh start, but on the other, it means the end of laid-back routines and impromptu deck parties with my neighbours.

This summer was an extra-special summer because M and I really focussed on resting and rebuilding. We often say that we will do this but this is the first time we have actually slowed down, pared down our schedules and stayed home.

Another wonderful part of this summer is also due to you, my readers. Thank you for taking time out of your busy days and stopping by this blog. Thank you for the emails of ideas and encouragement. My goal for this summer was to start a blog and build a community, and slowly that is happening. Thank you for being part of that.

BUT I am a summer loving girl who loves sunshine and does’t gripe about the humidity (regardless of what it does to my hair) so I HATE to see it end.

Pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream cinnamon and decorative pumpkins
Pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream cinnamon and decorative pumpkins (aka gratuitous PSL photo for your viewing pleasure)

Though there is something refreshing about autumn. Pumpkin Spice Lattes and getting back in a routine are both things I look forward to about the fall (ok but really just PSL). Even though I am no longer starting a new grade in school (though I did just sign up for a course today—but more about that in a later post) September always fills me with the hopes and dreams that come with new beginnings.

Summer is officially over and tomorrow we head back to the capital for the start of the fall session.

Just as the universe would have it, one last sentence in the crappiest chapter of my life was written. Today I found out that the charges were dropped against the person who was originally arrested for sending the threatening text messages.

This is actually a good thing.

I never thought the person arrested was actually the person who had sent the creepy messages. My heart broke to see someone who was young, vulnerable and talented be wrongly accused. They can now move on with their life.

I know that we will never have the closure that comes with knowing who sent them. But the peace that comes with knowing that an innocent person has been released from the stigma of a criminal record and isn’t having their life ruined is enough for me.

So let’s raise our Pumpkin Spice Lattes and cheers to new beginnings!

Comment below and tell me what you are looking forward to accomplishing this fall!

admin2 Comments

The Dark Side of Political Wife Life

I am unsure on how to share this experience. I have written and re-written this post many times. But it is really important to me that I tell this story. One of the reasons I started a blog was to give a voice to a role that is often silent (but seemingly smiling). 

I don’t want to get into many details as I believe the case is still ongoing, but I want to tell you about one of my more disturbing Political Wife Life experiences.

Two hands of a thief or a stalker opening closed window shutters at night.

Even before my husband ran for leader, I knew that leadership races were the nastiest level of politics. People think general elections are nasty, but in truth, leadership races present an entirely new level of betrayal and backstabbing.

The opponents are your friends; they came to your wedding. You cried with them when a family member passed away.

Even worse, because they are your friends, they know a lot of intimate details about your life. Details that someone in an opposing political party probably would not know.

As is usual during campaigns, my husband was travelling and had a schedule that kept him away for days/weeks at a time. As a result, I was home alone with a baby and without any family nearby. So I was quite shaken up when I started receiving threatening text messages.

Man with white mask spooky hooded figure silhouette. Black and white.

Continue reading “The Dark Side of Political Wife Life” →

admin3 Comments

My “Big Fat Greek” tip about Children and the Media

In her book “Instant Mom,” actress Nia Vardalos (most well known for creating and starring in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) talks about coming to terms with the media attention her newly adopted daughter was garnering. Her solution? FACE PAINT! Every time they went in public they painted her daughter, Ilaria’s, face like a cat to provide her some anonymity in her newly famous life.

 

AG and I had a chance to try out a cute disguise at our most recent event. Thanks to an attendee for sending it in!

IMG_0559

admin2 Comments

Politics and… Diapers?

“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”
—Mark Twain

 

Help end child poverty with your political t-shirts. Seriously.


 tshirtdiaper

 

Yes, cloth diapers.

We all have our passions. Michelle Obama’s may be healthy living. Mine is cloth diapers.

I was unsure on how to incorporate my passion for cloth diapers into my blog about being a political wife. But as luck would have it, the very first feedback note I received via the blog was a request for a post about being about cloth diapering.

AC

Haute Couture for Political Babies.

This week is also “Diaper Need Awareness Week.” Did you know 1 in 3 families worry about being able to afford diapers?

Continue reading “Politics and… Diapers?” →

admin

Children and the Media

M and I are at our best when we are together. We love having our daughter with us as much as possible and (as of now) she prefers to be with us too. Because of our commitment to doing as much together as a family, and the fact that AG is still young, she attends public events and is often photographed.

Before AG was born we discussed and decided that we would allow pictures of her both on social media and in traditional media.

For me, her public presence felt like an “all or nothing” decision and we didn’t want her to have a blanket over her head (a la baby North West) every time we went to a community event. Although we are careful of what pictures we share via social media, AG and I often join M at events and on the campaign trail. Our family events and adventures are shared on our social media accounts.

no_paparazzi_please_no_photography_poster-rf1c05efe0ab342d2a09438e7cea62446_w2q_8byvr_324

However, I am not an elected member of any government and (surprise!) neither is my child. So I expect a certain amount of privacy.

I was appalled that M’s office received a question about what school “our children” attended.

Continue reading “Children and the Media” →

admin3 Comments