Can we teach kids about the most wonderful — and most sorrowful — time of the year? It's a season of magic, yes — but also one of grief, gratitude and appreciation for the things we no longer have. Amberly McAteer, The Globe and Mail Dec 24, 2024 3:00 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Parents need to be honest about why Christmas brings us all down sometimes, says a Canadian developmental psychologist. Lew Robertson/Moment/Getty Images Listen to this article 00:06:06 “We don’t have enough time,” I had said to my daughter as she ducked into the gift store on Toronto’s Bloor Street – just to look, of course. I had a million things to do after her ballet class, and Christmas shopping with a four-year-old was not on the list. But then I saw it, and time stopped. The ceramic tree behind the counter was a near replica of the one my grandma owned – hers, one she had made with her bridge ladies decades before I was born. I could hear her calm voice and feel her soft hands guiding me away from the tree’s bright bulbs, each nestled in a pocket of painted snow, and always too hot to touch. I could feel the comfort of sitting on her lap in the wingback chair, admiring her ceramic tree in the front window of the fancy sitting room, off limits to her grandkids any other time of year. The Victorian furniture. The plush floral carpet. If I closed my eyes long enough, I could see her eyes twinkle as we spoke; I could hear her shoulder-shaking laugh. “Mama, why are you crying?” It’s nothing, I told my daughter as she bolted down another aisle. My mind has gone back to that tree, those moments with my grandma, every Christmas. The sadness I feel that she – and so many others – aren’t with us is a rite of passage into December. The missing and the magic mixed into one bittersweet, forlorn feeling that is somehow festive to me. The hurt is not just about personal loss – it’s about injustice, too. The guilt of living in abundance here, and not clinging on to life there, feels more palpable. What right do I have to be overwhelmed about a Christmas holiday, when so many children have been torn from their homes this year, never to return – or worse? How can I sigh at my husband for playing the worst Christmas music – yes, of course the people in Africa know it’s Christmas – when so many loved ones aren’t with us any more, and so many are fighting for basic survival? The melancholy and guilt and nostalgia are all wrapped up together like Christmas lights I’ll never untangle. And though I don’t want my kids to feel unhappy – in fact, I go to great lengths to ensure this is their most wonderful time of year – I do want them to feel some of these less-bright parts of Christmas: gratitude, reflection and, okay, maybe feel a bit sad for others who don’t have as much, instead of simply seeing Christmas as an opportunity to ask for more, more, more. I wish my kid would put down the toy catalogue and understand a deeper meaning of the season; is that too much to ask? “Gratitude is actually the opposite of entitlement, and you can absolutely teach your kids to know there is nuance and sadness at Christmas,” says Dona Matthews, a developmental psychologist in Toronto, and author of Imperfect Parenting – a handbook on creating kids who are, among other things, grateful and understanding of the world around them. She says parents need to be honest about why Christmas brings us all down sometimes, and name our complicated feelings out loud. If, for example, your child sees a person asking for money on the street, Matthews says, “it’s okay to tell them that person doesn’t have what he needs by way of food and shelter. We are so lucky [to] have a warm house and food to eat.” She says we can teach kids about the cruelty and injustice of the world by speaking about our good fortune in contrast with the less fortunate, and then encouraging kids – even at 4 – to try to do something about it: donate to a food bank, give money or gift cards to a person on the street, or take their too-small clothes to a shelter. “They can learn firsthand that they can make the world a better place – that’s the next step in the gratitude project,” Matthews says. Gratitude and reflection – the things I’m needing most for my kids – are also achieved, she says, by saying no and not giving them the most things at Christmas – even when we all want to make merry. “If you want Veruca Salt for a child,” she says, “just give them everything they ask for.” I won’t tell her about my daughter, hands full of knick-knacks in the toy store, begging for a bejewelled reindeer and gingerbread chapstick. I told her to put it all back, though she’s grown up in a world where materialistic overconsumption is the norm, and she understands anything she wants can theoretically arrive at her doorstep the next day. It’s no wonder, then, that she views Christmas as an endless fire hose of stuff, when all of her parents’ holiday packages keep multiplying in our entranceway. And yet, if TikTok is to be believed, “underconsumption core” is actually having a moment: that is, the Gen Z aesthetic trending on the social-media app shows carefully curated young people showing off how they live with less, buy very little and reject messaging from big corporations that you need more stuff. It’s a message millennial parents – and their kids – seemingly haven’t heard. In the U.S., holiday spending has steadily increased every year – with 2024 expected to top US$989 billion , and millennials – specifically, those with young kids – leading the spending charge. According to a Harris poll, Gen Z may be watching those “less is more” videos but their holiday spending is extraordinary: A Gen Z shopper spends an average of US$1,638 – more than double their boomer counterpart. How can anyone expect to sit with the sadness of the season when we are all consuming too much – myself (and my daughter) included? “Mama, can we go home?” A Gen Z trend that is truly making a comeback is colourful, vintage décor – or so the store clerk told me as she wrapped up my purchase, with my impatient daughter pulling at my coat. “I got us something,” I said to my daughter when we got in the door. “I thought you said no more stuff,” she wisely observed, as she climbed into my lap to unwrap our new, old, sad, wonderful tree. Tags: See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More Highlights How to cook a turkey and other holiday cooking tips and recipes Dec 24, 2024 4:00 PM Dismiss Trump taunts, expert says after 'churlish' social media posts about Canada Dec 24, 2024 2:49 PM NORAD's Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids Dec 24, 2024 2:26 PM Featured Flyer

( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rubicon Organics Inc. (TSXV: ROMJ) (OTCQX: ROMJF) (“Rubicon Organics” or the“Company”), a licensed producer focused on cultivating and selling organic certified and premium cannabis, is pleased to announce that on November 28, 2024 it has entered into credit agreements (the“Credit Facilities”) pursuant to which it has borrowed an aggregate of C$10,000,000 from Community Savings Credit Union and another lender (the“Lenders”). Each of the Credit Facilities is for a term of five years, with an amortization period of ten years, and bears interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum. The Credit Facilities are secured by, among others, first ranking security interests in all present and after-acquired personal property of the Company. The first ranking security interests rank pari passu as between the Lenders. The Credit Facilities will be used by the Company to repay in full the US$8,000,000 principal amount secured debenture owed by the Company to Green Island Investments Ltd. (“Green Island”), which matures on December 31, 2024 (the“Green Island Debenture”). Further details of the Green Island Debenture are disclosed in the Company's news releases dated July 8, 2021 and June 16, 2022. "We are pleased to announce the establishment of our new Credit Facilities, which underscores our commitment to strengthening our financial position and supporting our strategic growth initiatives. Our new Credit Facilities enhance our liquidity and provide us with the flexibility to invest in key projects that will drive long-term value for our shareholders. We believe that this strategic move positions us well to navigate the evolving market landscape and capitalize on future opportunities," said Janis Risbin, CFO. Mike Schilling, President and CEO, Community Savings Credit Union:“Community Savings is committed to supporting all our members in the Cannabis industry, large and small. We are delighted to partner with Rubicon on this milestone deal which will support their continued success.” ABOUT RUBICON ORGANICS INC. Rubicon Organics Inc. is the global brand leader in premium organic cannabis products. The Company is vertically integrated through its wholly owned subsidiary Rubicon Holdings Corp, a licensed producer. Rubicon Organics is focused on achieving industry leading profitability through its premium cannabis flower, product innovation and brand portfolio management, including three flagship brands: its super-premium brand Simply BareTM Organic, its premium brand 1964 Supply Co.TM, its cannabis wellness brand WildflowerTM in addition to the Company's mainstream brand Homestead Cannabis SupplyTM. The Company ensures the quality of its supply chain by cultivating, processing, branding and selling organic certified, sustainably produced, super-premium cannabis products from its state-of-the-art glass roofed facility located in Delta, BC, Canada. CONTACT INFORMATION Margaret Brodie CEO Phone: +1 (437) 929-1964 Email: ... The TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, statements regarding Rubicon Organics' goal of achieving industry leading profitability are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as“will” or variations of such word or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information in this press release is based upon certain assumptions that management considers reasonable in the circumstances, including the use of proceeds of the Credit Facilities. Risks and uncertainties associated with the forward-looking information in this press release include, among others, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing federal, provincial, local or other licenses and any inability to obtain all necessary governmental approvals licenses and permits for construction at its facilities in a timely manner; regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including bureaucratic delays or inefficiencies or any other reasons; any other factors or developments which may hinder market growth; Rubicon Organics' limited operating history and lack of historical profits; reliance on management; the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and the need to secure and maintain corporate alliances and partnerships, including with customers and suppliers. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although Rubicon Organics has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. Rubicon Organics assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law. MENAFN02122024004107003653ID1108948908 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Trump's Endorsement of Karrin Taylor Robson for Arizona Governor Sparks GOP Turmoil‘We’re trying to keep Sarah’s spirit alive’, Kimberley Walsh on Girls Aloud’s ‘gut-wrenching’ tour & the band’s future

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California wound up with more money challenging the first Trump administration than it spent, the state Department of Justice said. With state leaders bracing for a new round of legal fights with the president-elect’s administration, the attorney general’s office said it spent nearly $42 million on litigation involving the Trump team from 2017 to 2021. That total included the resources spent defending California laws from federal lawsuits. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Donald Trump that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a plan to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products , a Canadian minister who attended their recent dinner said Monday. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders with the United States. He said on social media last week that he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, attended a dinner with Trump and Trudeau at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on Friday. Trudeau requested the meeting in a bid to avoid the tariffs by convincing Trump that the northern border is nothing like the U.S. southern border with Mexico . “The prime minister of course spoke about the importance of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers from tariffs, but we also discussed with our American friends the negative impact that those tariffs could have on their economy, on affordability in the United States as well,” LeBlanc said in Parliament. If Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods. The Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said last week that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate. Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on the threat. After his dinner with Trump, Trudeau returned home without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. “The idea that we came back empty handed is completely false,” LeBlanc said. “We had a very productive discussion with Mr. Trump and his future Cabinet secretaries. ... The commitment from Mr. Trump to continue to work with us was far from empty handed.” Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, and Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that “the message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood.” Hillman, who sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump, said Canada is not the problem when it comes to drugs and migrants. On Monday, Mexico’s president rejected those comments. “Mexico must be respected, especially by its trading partners,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She said Canada had its own problems with fentanyl consumption and “could only wish they had the cultural riches Mexico has.” Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs at the two countries’ border are vastly different. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security.

Romania's far-right candidate Calin Georgescu on Saturday urged voters to go to polling stations despite the country's top court having scrapped the presidential elections over alleged irregularities amid claims of Russian interference. The court's shock ruling, coming just before the presidential run-off which had been due Sunday, opens the way for a new electoral process starting from scratch in the EU and NATO member state bordering war-torn Ukraine. The annulment follows a spate of intelligence documents declassified by the presidency this week detailing allegations against Georgescu and Russia, including claims of "massive" social media promotion and cyberattacks. Georgescu -- who unexpectedly topped last month's first round of voting -- called for voters on Sunday "to wait to be welcomed, to wait for democracy to win through their power", said a statement from his team. "Mr. Calin Georgescu believes that voting is an earned right," said the statement. "That is why he believes that Romanians have the right to be in front of the polling stations tomorrow." Georgescu himself would go to a polling station near Bucharest at 0600 GMT, said his team. Earlier Saturday, police raided three houses in Brasov city in central Romania as part of the investigation "in connection with crimes of voter corruption, money laundering, computer forgery". Among the houses searched was that of businessman Bogdan Peschir, a TikTok user who according to the declassified documents allegedly paid $381,000 to those involved in the promotion of Georgescu, Romanian media reported. Peschir has compared his support for Georgescu to the world's richest man Elon Musk's backing of US president-elect Donald Trump. Little-known outsider Georgescu, a 62-year-old former senior civil servant, was favourite to win the second round on Sunday against centrist pro-EU mayor Elena Lasconi, 52, according to several polls. But the constitutional court on Friday unanimously decided to annul the entire electoral process as it was "marred... by multiple irregularities and violations of electoral legislation". President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday that he had discussed with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, and they agreed on the "need to strengthen the security of social media". The European Commission announced earlier this week that it had stepped up monitoring TikTok after Romania's authorities alleged "preferential treatment" of Georgescu on the platform -- a claim the company has denied. Following the court's decision, the United States said it had faith in Romania's institutions and called for a "peaceful democratic process". Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., on X branded the vote's cancellation an "attempt at rigging the outcome" and "denying the will of the people". Georgescu called it "a formalised coup d'etat" and said democracy was "under attack". His team on Saturday declined to comment on the raids, saying they "will not comment or provide answers until we have exact data". Georgescu and another far-right party, the AUR, have said they plan to appeal the decision to stop the voting to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. A past admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Georgescu, an EU and NATO sceptic, in recent days had reframed himself as "ultra pro-Trump," vowing to put Romania "on the world map" and cut aid for neighbouring Ukraine. In an interview with US broadcaster Sky News on Saturday, Georgescu said there were no links between him and Russia. Political scientist Costin Ciobanu told AFP that the annulment has "further polarised Romanian society". With trust in institutions and the ruling class already low, the vote's cancellation poses a "major danger that Romanians will think that it doesn't matter how they vote", Ciobanu added. Elsewhere in the EU, Austria annulled presidential elections in 2016 because of procedural irregularities. In Romania, a new government is expected to set another date for the presidential vote. In last weekend's legislative elections, the ruling Social Democrats came top. But far-right parties made big gains, securing an unprecedented third of the ballots on mounting anger over soaring inflation and fears over Russia's war in Ukraine. In a joint appeal on Wednesday, the Social Democrats and three other pro-EU parties -- together making up an absolute majority in parliament -- signed an agreement to form a coalition, promising "stability". bur-jza/jj

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