Teach Kids To Fight Germs #SDMFluFighters

Not long ago, I wrote an article for Parents Canada magazine all about teaching young kids not to spread germs. I interviewed a doctor - more specifically a pediatric infectious disease specialist - who said, "The number one way to reduce bacterial germs in any environment is to vaccinate your kids. Not only are they safe from those particular illnesses, but they also have less risk of developing infections from antibioticresistant superbugs."

So, assuming that your kids have been vaccinated (you all went to Shoppers Drug Mart for the flu shot this season, right?), here are some other ways to teach kids about germ-fighting. (I am writing this post at the end of a day when 12 of my 29 students were absent...so these are definitely concepts I'm sharing in the classroom as well!)

Whether we like it or not, kids quickly absorb information that comes to them through screens, and this great Germ Smart - Wash Your Hands video really engaged my students - and they were able to answer questions about it after. 






Picture books are a fantastic way to reinforce important concepts with little ones. A home daycare provider I know recommends Germs Are Not For Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick, and I also love Sid the Science Kid - The Trouble With Germs. 

For older kids interested in more advanced information, Achoo! The Most Interesting Book You'll Ever Read About Germs by Trudee Romanek really delves into the topic.

You can use songs to make germ-fighting more fun, for example by teaching kids to sing the ABCs once or the Happy Birthday song twice while they wash their hands (20 seconds is the recommended time frame), and if you want to take an extra step, you can buy a special gel that glows under UV light, showing kids what spots they missed after handwashing (usually under the fingernails and between the fingers).

The main points to stress with your children, aside from handwashing:

• Cough and sneeze into the elbow
• Use tissues (kids usually need explicit instruction on how to wipe or blow their noses)
• Keep hands away from the face

I enlisted Iylie, one of my incredible kindergarten artists, to create a piece of artwork to go with the topic of germs and handwashing - can you believe what she came up with? She presented it to the class, noting that it was abstract, with germs in the corner and a triangular sink in the middle. (I know, wow, right?)

I'd like to end with another great quote from the pediatric infectious disease specialist, who shared some words of wisdom for the antibacterial-obsessed parents out there:

"Stressing ourselves out by trying to decontaminate our environment is an exercise in futility.” She suggests being reasonable in terms of cleaning surfaces with soap and water, but not obsessing over it.

I wish you and your children good health throughout this flu season and beyond!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Loblaws Click and Collect: My Starring Video Role

This Mom Loves has moved! 

For updated content (plus all the posts found here) on our fresh new site, visit www.thismomloves.ca

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Click & Collect for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

We've all been there: lying awake at night, thinking about the next day's to-do list, and wondering how to get everything done. Some people like to count sheep to fall asleep, I like to count all of the things that could be taken off my list if only I had a personal assistant (grocery shopping, for example)...but who can afford that?

Then, one year ago, Loblaws actually made my dream come true with the launch of their Loblaws Click and Collect program at my local store. What a treat to order my groceries online from the comfort of my own home, and have a trained personal shopper do the work for me. All I have to do is drive into the specially marked parking spot, phone in to the store and have the groceries brought right out to my vehicle.

"Ah, but what's the cost for this dream-come-true service?", you may be wondering. The cost to shop Loblaws groceries online  is...wait for it...drumroll please...either $3 or $5, depending on the day and time of your pickup. Really, that's it. The cost for the items is the exact same as in-store, and you can even link up your PC Plus account to earn points as well.

Even if I pick up my groceries at a peak weekend hour, it is still totally worth $5, not only for the time saved, but also because I'm sure that I cut 5 bucks off my order by not taking children into the store...and let's be honest, adults make impulse purchases too!

We are all so busy (my readers know that I'm a teacher, freelance writer and TV guest), with lists of errands that can be pages long, and Loblaws has really helped to ease that burden. It seemed like every weekend we'd vow to get groceries on Friday, and then it wouldn't happen. Saturday for sure, we would say, and then Saturday would fill up with kids' activities and yard work. Definitely Sunday then, after we prepped for the next school day...which usually meant a stressful last-minute run to the store so we had something to put in Monday's lunches!

Now, I order online, often while at my treadmill desk, or sometimes even sitting on the couch crashing at the end of a work day. Then only minutes are required to drive into the Loblaws parking lot and do the pick up. (I've trained the girls to do the unloading and putting away of groceries, so that's a time-saver too. I highly recommend you get your kids started on household chores as early as possible!)

While my kids are older now (ten and eight) and thankfully past needing to be buckled and unbuckled into carseats by mommy, I can't even imagine what a convenience this would be for parents of younger children. No need to wake the baby to take him or her into the store! (Payment is so easy too, as we keep a credit card on file.)

We've gotten to know the Click and Collect employees, and now it feels like they're friends that we see on a weekly basis. I love how I can leave a little note online (e.g., "Green bananas please", or "Didn't see our usual floor cleaner on the website; could you check the store for me?") and the shoppers always happily oblige. You can even indicate what your preference is if an item is out of stock - I always ask them to choose the most similar item in a different brand.

Other than the cost, the biggest question that friends and family ask me is about the quality of the food, especially produce and meat. I can swear that we have always (after dozens and dozens of Click and Collect experiences) been happy with the quality of the food: fresh produce and meat that's well before it's best-before date.

I highly recommend you try out Loblaws online grocery shopping for yourself.

I am such a fan of the service that when I was approached to be part of a testimonial video, I jumped at the chance (and there are very few brands I would want to go out on a limb for like that). You may remember that I dropped some hints about a special project going on in my home back in the summer (with a makeup artist required!), and my girls even got to be part of it as well. (With all the lights, cameras and crew, "It looks like Hollywood in our house!" Eva observed.)

The video is now online; please check it out for yourself below and let me know what you think, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the program!

Kate's Favourite Things - February 2017

January was a busy month around here but I have four great titles to recommend today!

What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time, in my favourite suspense/thriller genre. A missing boy, a frantic mother and a multitude of suspects. Excellent read.

The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillan

Because once I discover a great writer, I have to read another one of her books! I had no idea who the murderer really was in this multiple-perspectives novel. Random point: I noted with interest that the British author used the word "posh" twice in a less than flattering context, making me question whether or not I chose to identify with the right Spice Girl in my childhood. In my defense, she seems to have done well for herself. (And I am not spicy, sporty, scary or a baby so my options were limited.)

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Responsible for a tragedy, Shelby Richmond's life is changed forever. This is the story of how she (eventually) tries to get it back. While I won't tell you which character is being referred to in the following quote, I will tell you that it made me close my book and have a little cry - as a daughter and as a mother - before resuming my read:

"She doesn't have a mother anymore. There's no one to whom she's the most important person in the world."

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

This autobiography of a neurosurgeon's battle with lung cancer was on almost every must-read list last year and I finally got around to it. I wasn't disappointed.

(Please note that I am a Chapters Indigo Affiliate and receive a small fee for sales made through links on my site.)

Do You Tell Your Daughter She's Beautiful?

I have to say I disagree with all those experts in magazines and on talk shows who say we shouldn't tell our girls they're beautiful, or those moms who warn, "Don't tell my daughter she's pretty!"

A very important word for me, particularly after my switch to the kindergarten program this year, is balance. Yes to play-based learning, and yes to exploring letters and sounds. Yes to student interest, and yes to teacher professional judgment. Don't swing too far in one direction.

In this context, that means yes to telling girls that the inside is what counts, that their efforts and achievements in all other facets of life matter more than their looks, and yes to telling them that they're beautiful.

You know what? I think I'm beautiful. I mean it still takes me 20 tries and a great filter to get a selfie that I'm willing to post publicly, but in the way that it matters, I'm content with my appearance.

By superficial standards I'm pretty average looking, and was so as a child as well (with a significant dip from 1991-1994 but we don't need to talk about that). Based on magazine standards, I have tall, thin and white going for me (and there have been a couple of short-lived bonus-points blonde periods) but there are a lot of my physical features that wouldn't make the cover of a magazine. If print magazines really still existed. (And no, I'm not going to tell you what I think those subpar features are!)

So why do I believe I'm beautiful? Because my parents always told me I was. They gave me compliments about specific features (looking back, I think they both made a conscious effort not to mention weight, mine or theirs, as I grew up), as well as general comments about how pretty I was. (One of my mom's best friends always called me "pretty Katie" and I still have a soft spot for her.) They didn't even blink an eye at horribly mismatched outfits or ridiculous hairstyles (though my dad has always made it clear that my natural hair colour is best). I knew that they thought I looked just right. (Mom even thought I looked good with a tight, brushed out perm...which is why it was my hairstyle of choice for many pivotal years. Wait, am I thanking her for this?)

Just to be clear, they were also appropriately critical (you know what I mean, mom!) and kept me in my place in many ways. It was not a house of constant, empty praise, and I loved earning my parents' approval (I just used the past tense there as if somehow implying that has ended) for a huge range of reasons, somehow realizing that even though they consistently told me how beautiful I was, it mattered less than anything else.

Perhaps because I was blessed in other ways: academic success, involvement in drama and public speaking, an exceptional talent for athletics (ha ha; just put that in to see if anyone I went to school with - or, let's be honest, anyone who's ever met me - is reading), I didn't think looks were the be-all-and-end-all of life. That didn't mean I didn't want to look good.

I tell my girls (currently ten and eight) all the right things we are told to say these days, especially to instill a growth mindset, praising effort over fixed qualities (you studied so hard vs. you're so smart), and in our home school work and music are high priorities, and we greatly value our daughters' independence, creativity and compassion. That said, I'm not ashamed to admit that I also tell them regularly how beautiful they are. Olivia with her big eyes and what I call her Angelina Jolie lips, Eva with her kissable cheeks and infectious smile. (I'm not excessive; I don't compliment their clear skin or small waists - as adult women we know now what the years and hormones can do to some features.)

When discussing the accomplishments and talents of other women (and men) with my children, I'm also quick to point out a beautiful feature of someone who is black, Asian, red-haired, short, media-defined-plus-sized or in any other way different from my girls as well, to make sure that their definition of beauty remains as broad as possible.

While I often rolled my eyes as a child and threw out an accusing "You have to say that, you're my parents!" I needed and wanted them to tell me I was beautiful, and as with many aspects of parenting, I am following their lead.

I don't imagine that in our lifetimes first world humans will decide that outward appearance doesn't matter. I do, however, think we are in the middle of a movement - and can propel forward that movement - which redefines what outward beauty is. And it's not that it doesn't matter, it's just that everyone has it.

I promise if I teach your daughter, I will help shine light on the gifts she has, encourage her interests, and make her see the value of her efforts, both academic and social, to make her a better person and open up her world. But I warn you, I will also be telling her how beautiful she is on the inside...and the outside.

Gianna Martello: The Dance Moms Interview

If you're one of the millions of viewers who enjoys Lifetime's hit series Dance Moms, you're already familiar with world-renowned choreographer Gianna Martello - she's also an Instagram sensation, with over a million followers!

Dance Moms follows the training and careers of children in dance and show business under the tutelage of Abby Lee Miller. Martello has appeared on the show since Season 1, assisting Miller to choreograph the performances of the show’s stars such as Maddie Ziegler, Mackenzie Ziegler and Kendall Vertes. Season 7 is currently airing on Lifetime.

Martello has been choreographing routines for the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC) since she was 16 years old. She has been a part of the faculty at the ALDC for 11 years, and has been a guest instructor and judge around the world on competition circuits. Her award-winning routines have earned her regional and national titles, as well as overall awards and choreography awards.

While my daughters are more focused on the singing and acting aspects of their triple threat status, they do love to dance - though you don't see a lot of Irish stepdancing on Dance Moms!

I was thrilled to have a a chance to toss a few questions at Gianna on behalf of dance moms (and dads everywhere!

Why do you think dance lessons are so valuable for young kids?

I think dance teaches you more than just steps and routines. Dance teaches you how to listen and take direction. It teaches you how to work hard at something that may not come easy to you. Dance helps with your posture, it teaches you balance and coordination of your arms and legs. Every young kid needs all of those things!

What advice would you give parents who have children involved in competitive dance?

It can be really good for some kids and not for others. I was a competitive dancer all my life. I was not always first overall, and sometimes for parents and kids who are really competitive, that’s not good enough. My parents knew I loved it so much that they let me continue through until I graduated but if it gets too serious it may not be healthy for every family. (It's also really expensive!)

Do you have any specific tips for parents of boys who are passionate about dance? Is it more difficult for them to pursue, or do you think both sexes are welcomed in the field now?

I think it’s AWESOME for boys to dance. I think some of the best dancers and choreographers are guys. Sometimes it can be difficult for some boys because it’s not the norm. I can remember dancing with boys that got made fun of in school, but when they were in the dance world they were getting double the amount of praise a girl dancer would get. As much as I hate to admit, I still think that boys are getting bullied for their passion for the arts from the outside, but once you get to the dance world they are SO welcomed!

Do you think there are any misconceptions out there about Dance Moms - in terms of the dance competitions, the reality show aspect, etc.?

I think there are a ton of misconceptions about Dance Moms -- I could go on for days! I don't think people realize how hard the cast works. It is NOTHING like regular competition dance. Normally, a dancer would learn and rehearse a solo or group routine for months; we learn and rehearse in about 2 days of filming. They have to compete against kids that have rehearsed so many hours longer and try to beat them. People also don't get that it is a television show so the drama is more explosive than normal, however I did grow up in a group with some crazy dance moms. Also we film SO many hours that you don't see, so when you all think everything is negative and bad, you don't get to see the good stuff, you just see the 5 minutes that were really bad.

Have you learned anything through this experience that would impact you if you have kids in the future who want to get involved in dance?

I obviously want my kid to be a dancer. I come from a long line of dancers. If it’s not what he or she wants then we will try a different route because it’s obviously not for everyone -- but FINGERS CROSSED!

************

Thanks so much for taking the time to share! Take a look at Gianna in action here:

Follow Gianna Martello on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

When to Keep Sick Kids Home - Plus $150 Shoppers Drug Mart Prize Pack Giveaway

"Mommy, I don't feel well..."

We've all been there (despite good hygiene, lots of sleep and vaccinations such as the flu shot), and many of us have struggled with staying home from work or arranging alternate child care for our sick kids. It's not easy! According to a recent Shoppers Drug Mart poll, 30% of adults with children have sent sick or contagious kids to school or daycare...though 86% of parents say they are annoyed when others do this!

When an illness is serious, we know there's no choice, and we move mountains to keep our child home to recover. But sometimes, it's not so cut and dried...are they too sick to go or not?

Often daycares have very clear policies about when kids can and can't be present, but school can be a bit more iffy. As a teacher, my two biggest guidelines are to keep kids home if:

1. They don't feel well enough to be there. If they have a high fever, are sleepy, teary or in pain they won't be in any position to learn.

2. They are contagious (or likely contagious) with something icky (not a medical term). You never want to pass on vomiting, diarrhea, rashes or other diseases like pinkeye. A good way to decide is to ask yourself how you would feel if a classmate came to school and passed the same illness along to your child (and in fact, it's possible they did!)

Sometimes we have to make the decision about whether or not to send under-the-weather kids to optional events like sports, parties and playdates, and those two rules may not be enough to help us decide whether it would be socially acceptable to have our kids attend. For insight, I consulted Lisa Orr, etiquette expert and owner of Orr Etiquette (and a friend I've made as we both make appearances on THE SOCIAL) for some words of wisdom.

Lisa Orr of Orr Etiquette

According to Lisa, "illness etiquette is that you should never bring a cold, flu or disease as a hostess gift, so that means you should not attend if there is any chance you might be contagious.  A quick call to your pediatrician is always an option if you aren’t sure if your child is contagious but a good rule of thumb is if you have a child who is feverish, lethargic or is coughing and sneezing up a storm then it’s better to stay home and play another day."

Then there's the flip side - your child is perfectly healthy, and you want to keep it that way...so when Jenny's mother calls and mentions that her little girl hasn't been feeling well, is it awful to suggest that Jenny keep her germs at home? 

Lisa says, "It is absolutely not rude – and the fact that they have volunteered the information is a great sign because they’re really inviting your input for how to handle the situation. In this case I would say something like, 'I’m so sorry to hear that she’s not well, but thank you so much for letting me know, I really appreciate it. Why don’t we reschedule our playdate,' or, 'It sounds like she’s not up to the party but I’d be happy to drop off her loot bag at school and we can organize another time to get together.' In the end the sick child will get the rest they need, other children won’t get sick and your child can play with their friend when everyone is well again."

To make sure your child stays as healthy as possible when surrounded by other children (and, almost as importantly, doesn't gross other people out) make sure you're teaching and reviewing the basics: using tissues for runny noses, coughing into sleeves, keeping hands off the face, and washing hands regularly.

Finally, get vaccinated: no matter where you stand on proper etiquette, flu shots should be part of the plan. You'll get peace of mind that your children likely won't be spreading the flu, or tracking it home from daycare, school or another gathering. Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies across the country are making it easy by offering walk-in flu immunizations administered by a pharmacist - every member of my household is vaccinated.

Now that we've settled that, it's time for a giveaway!

One lucky This Mom Loves winner will receive an awesome Flu Fighters pack from Shoppers Drug Mart valued at $150 containing the following:

• Life Brand Hand Sanitizer

• Cough Drops

• Vaporizing Cold Rub

• Electrolyte Maintenance Powder

• Disinfectant Wipes

• Vaporizer

• PC Chicken noodle soup

• PC Facial tissues

• PC Feeling Soothed Tea

• $100 gift card

All you have to do to enter to win is post a tweet or Facebook update that contains all three of the following:

1. A link to this post (the one you're reading right now!) 

http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2017/01/when-to-keep-sick-kids-home-plus-150.html 

2. A tag for @thismomloves

3. The hashtag #SDMflufighters

For example:

When to keep sick kids home - plus win a $150 prize pack from @thismomloves
http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2017/01/when-to-keep-sick-kids-home-plus-150.html
#SDMflufighters

Feel free to use that exact tweet, but be careful with Facebook: if you copy and paste, you still need to type @thismomloves manually or the tag won't pop up and I won't be notified in order to count your entry!

The giveaway runs until Monday, January 16th at midnight Eastern, after which time the entries will be totalled and a winner will be chosen through random number generation. Good luck...and happy flu-fighting!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart. Opinions are, as always, my own.

My Picks for the Top Books of 2016

I've pored over all of the 2016 editions of Kate's Favourite Things and compiled my edited list of the best books I read last year.

A few notes before we get to it:

• While most of these books were published in 2016, there may be a few published earlier, and I just happened to read them last year.
• I'm no highbrow book critic, I'm a pop culture gal. Keep that in mind.
• This Mom Loves is now an affiliate partner with Chapters Indigo, so if you click on a link and make a purchase, a small portion of the price goes to this blog. If you're buying anything at all from Chapters Indigo, you can also use the link at the bottom of the post to support TML as well. Thanks!

FICTION (heavy on psychological thrillers, but some exceptions*)

The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee*

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce* 

Sushi For Beginners by Marian Keyes*

The Choices We Make by Karma Brown*

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue*

After You by JoJo Moyes*

Still Mine by Amy Stuart

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

The Other Widow by Susan Crawford

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

NONFICTION

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

Where the Light Gets In by Kimberly Williams-Paisley

The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha

*****

Have you read any of these books? Which were your favourites? What am I missing on the list? I'd love to hear from you!

Bushra Mdewaye: The Syrian Refugee Momterview

Syrian refugees: you can't get a media (or social media) fix without hearing about them, but to most of us, the term is general and vague, not accurately representing the masses of individuals that it encompasses.

Today's Momterview may not be with a celebrity, but Bushra Mdewaye's voice is just as important, and I am thrilled to give you the chance to get to know her. 

What was your life like in Syria before the war?

I had work, as a teacher. My husband Salim and I were married in 2009, and he was a production manager of a big company. We had our son Bassal in August of 2010. We had our own home and we were really happy. We lived close to my husband’s parents, we would visit with family there often. 

How did things change when the war started?

The jobs disappeared. My school, where I taught was bombed, so I stayed home. The factory where my husband worked was taken over by terrorists. So, he also stayed home with me. We had a two-year-old child at home, but no money or jobs. No money to buy milk or food for our child. Once we spent our money, then there was nothing and nothing to do. There were no jobs and no life there.

Did you feel you were in danger?

Yes. There were always bombs. So we decided to leave Aleppo and go to Jordan. My sister is married to a Jordanian person, so we decided to go there.

How did you end up in Canada? What were the steps?

In Jordan, it was a difficult life. Everything there is very expensive, and it was illegal for us to work. However, my husband worked as a salesman, under the table for a very low salary. The money he made was not enough to cover rent or the cost of living. While in Jordan, Celina was born in 2015.

We heard that Canada welcomed Syrians. We went to a church, where we were told that Canadian people wanted to meet some Syrian families. We went for a short interview. And they told us there was only a small chance for us to go to Canada and it would be four years in the future. We were very sad and didn’t know what we would do for four years.

I really don’t know what happened then, but I think it was God’s work. After only four months, we received a call, telling us to go to the embassy for another interview, before travelling to Canada in only a few weeks. We were given four days' notice before our flight to Canada. We were extremely happy!

{Bushra's family was sponsored by St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Douro, Ontario. The family's first Canadian home was within the rectory, the priest's house. While many assume Syrians are all of the Muslim faith, Bushra's family is Catholic. They have since moved to an apartment in Peterborough, as being in the city is more convenient for work, school and errands, and the committee in Douro that originally made arrangements for them still provides a support system.}

What was it like when you first arrived here in Canada?   

Everything was different, different people, culture, food, houses...even floors. We were very happy to come to Canada, but I had a bit of {translates from Arabic to English on her smartphone app} depression for about two months after arriving, it was such a big change. The travel from Jordan to Canada happened very quickly for me. We were so happy to come here, but when we arrived I was a bit depressed. It was very hard.

How old were your kids when you arrived?

Bassal was five and Celina was 11 months when we arrived in Canada. Our son was also a bit sad, it was a hard transition for him as well. He wanted to go back to his friends in Jordan. 

What were the hardest things about being in a new country?

The culture and trying to raise children in a different way. However, I like the way Canadians raise children, better than back home. In Syria, boys are given everything. They are boys, and they will become men! Girls are always the second best. The best is a boy. If the family had a boy they would be very happy, but if they had a girl the father would be sad, as he wants a boy to pass on the name of the family. The language is also difficult. I still cannot speak well. 

{For someone who has been speaking the language for only one year, I would have to say Bushra's English is excellent. Six-year-old Bassal's skills, however are even stronger than his parents'.}

How are things going now that you have been here a year?

I love it! Now I really love Canada! I don't think I could ever go back and live in Syria. Here there are lots of honest people, they don’t lie. Your religion and colour don’t matter. All people are equal. There is no cheating here. 

My husband is working at No Frills, stocking shelves and I am usually home with the kids. Both of us are taking ESL classes. I am hoping to study hairstyling, nails and makeup at Fleming College. I would like to get a job in that field.

Celina is in daycare. My son is attending school {the local Catholic elementary school} and is in Grade 1. He likes school. But he likes to play alone, or he says that. Once when I passed the schoolyard I saw him playing alone. I spoke with the teacher but she says he is doing fine and playing with other children. He did have a best friend for a few weeks, but then he told me they aren’t friends anymore. His friend was boring. {As a teacher and a mom, I assured her this was normal.}

When Canadians hear about Syrian refugees, what do you want them to think?

They need to know more about Syria. Once we went to a church supper, where there were many Canadians and Syrians. A family sponsored a Syrian family, who is still in Lebanon, but they will come, and the man said, “Oh a table! That must be new for you, since you don’t have tables in Syria, right? You eat on the floor.” This is not true! So, some Canadians need a better understanding of where we came from and Syrian culture.

Because my blog is called "This Mom Loves", I'd like to ask you how you would finish the sentence "This mom loves..."? What about fashion and beauty products? I've been told you like shopping, and wearing high heels!

Yes, and I love L'Oréal makeup and beauty products, which we also had in Syria. 

What else do you love?

I like reading and going for walks. Salim likes to watch the soccer games on the weekend so we stay in and I like to cook traditional Syrian meals. I like turkey here, it is done differently in Canada. We had turkey in Syria, but it is made differently here. I love the turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes and the sauce. And cheesecake!

****

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Bushra.

{Note that responses were edited for length, clarity and flow.

Also please note that while a Twitter user gently suggested that I should be using the phrase "human from Syria" instead of "refugee from Syria", most of my interviews are conducted not solely because the interviewee is human, but because she or he has something newsworthy to share, as a TV personality, house-flipper, author, athlete, or in this case, someone who has fled a war-torn country and joined us here in ours. I do not for a moment dispute the humanity of Bushra as an individual, or that of any of her fellow natives of Syria, but acknowledging that every time I refer to her would make for a pretty lengthy headline or tweet.}