About Us

4mothers1blog began as the collective work of four Toronto women who met in a Momoir Project writing class in the fall of 2009. Inspired by each others’ voices and perspectives, the women of 4mothers1blog explore the ins-and-outs of raising boys (ten eleven between the four of them), motherhood, and the joys (and frustrations) of family life in the city. They can be reached at 4mothers1blog@gmail.com.  4 mothers became 3, and we now invite a guest writer to make up our four as we weigh in on parenting issues big and small.

We are:

Carol Chandran was born in Malaysia and raised in Toronto. She is married and is the mother of three boys, 6 and under. She is currently taking a leave of absence from her paid work as a research lawyer in order to tend to her brood.  Drawn in the extreme to natural living, the power of slow, and all things sustainable, Carol manages to incorporate them into her life in the not-so-extreme.  She also finds it strange to write about herself in the third person.

Nathalie Foy is the mother of three boys, an avid reader and an occasional professor of Canadian Literature at the University of Toronto. She and her husband own a house in downtown Toronto, a house in apparently constant need of repair. She has a parallel existence in a perfectly tidy house staffed by happy house elves. Nathalie’s favourite thing about living in Toronto is being able to hear 10 different languages on any trip through the city. Prior to moving to Toronto in 1997, Nathalie lived in Liberia, Nigeria, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, England, Egypt, Ireland and Japan, with a four-year stop in Montreal for university. Hearing languages she does not always understand makes her feel at home.

Nathalie also blogs about books at http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com

Beth-Anne Jones is a mom to three sons (ages 5, 4 and 18 months). Her favourite things are spending time with her boys, including her husband, reading a good book in a hot bath, beautiful stationery, silent car rides and fresh flowers. She is always striving to “have it all”, lead a simpler life, and find her inner zen . . . but manages to come up just short. Imagine that. Beth-Anne’s written work has appeared on the Yummy Mummy Club website.

45 thoughts on “About Us”

  1. Congratulations ladies and good luck with your blog.
    I’m sure you’ll have a ton of fun writing it and we shall all enjoy reading it. (Jeeez, that’s a LOT of little boys – God bless you !!!)

    Auntie Judy
    xox

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  2. I love reading your blog. It brings back a lot of memories. . Take heart ladies my boys are 23 yrs and 25yrs. They do grow up fast and just fine. By the way mine were both bottle fed and they grew up happy and healthy. Enjoy your boys !!!!

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    • I have 2 older boys — 20 and 17, and an adopted 9-year-old daughter from Korea. I always joked that I needed a girl so I could have someone in my house who could tell me if my shoes went with my outfit. The funny thing is that one day I was wearing red sneakers with khaki-green pants (she was 4 I think) and she was very concerned: her question, and I quote, was “You’re not going wear those are you?” When I said “Yes, I think I am.” She pursed her lips, shook her head, and said “I really don’t think you should.” A perfect demonstration of the adage “Be careful what you wish for.” :-)

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  8. Having raised four myself (one of whom is the Peter in Marcelle’s blog) – and survived! – I enjoyed reading your blogs. Eking out a few minutes of alone time while raising children is such a feat – it seemed decades inched by before closing the bathroom was again a viable option…

    One of the many gems gleaned from post-grad studies when the kids were all grown and launched was Bowlby’s concept of the “good enough mother.” A deep heaving sigh of relief rushed through me on learning I didn’t have to be perfect after all – good enough was…good enough.

    Sounds like you are all doing good enough and more!

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  10. I stumbled upon your blog while googling Art Junktion this morning [the Winnipeg one] and I’ve spent the better part of the day reading here. Howling with laughter, tearing up at times, what a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.

    That is a LOT of little boys. As a mother on one, girl, now 20+ and fully fledged from the farm, your blog is a window to a world far, far removed from my own. But with enough touch stones of similarity to remind me of some of the sweet joys that are now gone from my daily routine. [thank gawd!]

    My hat tip to you all.

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  11. Been reading your blog. Found it from the 2012 weblog awards. Hope you can stop by my page, although its not a “fun read”. I strive to have some happiness in my life. Right now its hard to come by.

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  12. Thank you for your blog – you have made me laugh – I hope I can return the favour – mum of 4 in uk blogging about the funny stuff – think you would like Just in Time if you can make it over!

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  14. Beautiful photos! Are these new or had I just never noticed them before? Either way – they are lovely. Nice to get to “know” all of you through your fantastic blog!

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  20. I’m happy to find your blog, thanks to a link sent by DefiningMotherhood. I’m also from Ontario, and mother to two boys, so I think there will be lots for me to read about and relate to! Looking forward to it.

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  21. I found myself nodding and laughing hysterically by turns as I read the ‘iPad’ post and one of the earliest ones on ‘Another Meal’. I know I’ll be whiling away precious moments I should be spending making dinner, or doing laundry, checking out the latest on your blog. Thanks for sharing the madness!

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  22. Heyyy!! it is not easy to put 2 heads together..I know it would not….but yes here you are..the four beautiful faces, the four wonderful mothers..with great ideas and superb friendships..having one blog together.. Wow !! SALUTE to the four of you!!!
    Best wishes and blessings to you pretty mothers!

    ~ a bunch of love
    Super G

    Reply

  23. I admire you all. I have two boys (16 and 8) with two girls (14 and 11) in between. Even though my boys are eight years apart, sometimes the level of testosterone and rowdiness gets crazy. Still, I wish I had at least a couple of more boys (and girls) in the mix. I love all my children, but there is something magical about raising a little boy and watching him become a (almost) man. I look forward to reading more from boy moms!

    Reply

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