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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 13 ,2 02 0 | 4 bridal showers | rehearsal dinners weddingsbridal showers | rehearsal dinners weddings For more information contact andre Cuerrier | 905-877-8468 ext 2224 | acuerrier@clublink.ca eagle ridge golF ClUb | rr #4, 11742 TenTh line, georgeTown, on eagleridge.clublink.ca CelebraTing liFe's MoMenTs open year roundendless possibilities Cell: 416-989-7809 Dave LoDuca QUALITY BATHROOM RENOVATIONS C C T I L EE RAM I Gold 2018 Halton Hills Serving Halton Hills & surrounding areas. Find local professionals here every Thursday! For advertising information please call 905-234-1018 or email kkosonic@theifp.ca Professionals Ask the No reasonable parent intentionally neglects their child but with busy lifestyles, I do think that too many parents are somewhat out of touch with their children and do not have open and honest contact with them. They often believe that their child is the "victim" or the "follower". They think their child would never do the crazy things that they are accused of, yet someone's child is the leader! There are all sorts of reasons and research to suggest why kids become bullies and why they are so angry, but I think we are at fault when we believe that it's always "the other" kids. As a counsellor and psychotherapist, I hear a lot of stories not only from parents but also from their children. Parents tell me that they allow their teens to drink under age, and in fact, they buy the alcohol for the child to take to the party so the teen will be accepted and the parents can "limit the amount consumed". Parents also allow their teens to use drugs at home because "I rather they use where I know where they are". Then parents are shocked when their kids get in trouble and are involved in fights, over dose or suffer from alcohol poisoning. Children need guidance and rules. They cannot be left to make their own decisions. No one, whether child or adult, makes good choices when drunk and/or stoned. The teens tell me that the fights are based on adult issues--drugs, sex and money disputes. Please, hold your kids accountable. Learn to not be afraid to say "no". Set high standards and be sure your children clearly know what they are and where you stand. Your child will not run away or stop loving you because you have high expectations. They need you to be their parents; not their friends. A: My teenage son hangs out with the wrong crowd and gets into trouble and then gets blamed for things I know he wouldn't do on his own. He has a good heart. My wife and I both work full time and have busy lives. We trust our son to go to school and we are confident that he will stay away from serious drugs or alcohol. However, he gets accused of being a trouble maker. How do we get him to stop hanging out with these angry bullies that get him into trouble? Q: Zachary Fiddes B.ENG., O.L.S. President Q: A: I'm planning on adding an addition to my house and building a new garage in early spring. Do you work in the winter? Yes! In some cases our job is easier due to fallen leaves and weeds that get in the way during warmer times. While most construction won't start until the spring, there's a lot of work that can be done in the meantime. Site plans, which show the existing conditions and outline the proposed construction, are usually required for new buildings and can sometimes take a few months to be approved by the municipality so it's a good idea to get started now. Also, if you're planning on selling this spring, get your survey updated now before your put your house on the market to avoid any delays. As a licensed Ontario Land Surveyor I will be happy to discuss your project, help you create a timeline, and offer suggestions and recommendations about what you can do to get started. 16 Mountainview Rd. S. Suite 101 Halton Hills ON L7G 4K1 info@fiddesclipsham.com 905-877-2211 While three new retail- ers are set to open in the Georgetown Marketplace this month, the mall still has a number of vacancies. "Consumers are differ- ent shoppers now," Yvonne Bergsma, owner of Bergsma's Paint and Dé- cor, said. "They're willing to shop online." Last year, Bergsma's closed their retail location in the mall and pivoted in- to a home-based business, continuing to offer consul- tations and selling paint and décor products from home. "Brick and mortar BUSINESS BERGSMA'S CLOSES RETAIL SPACE TO ADAPT TO MARKET Bergsma's Paint and Decor founder George Bergsma with daughter Yvonne, the Georgetown store's manager. Melanie Hennessey/Torstar BRYAN MYERS bmyers@metroland.com See - page 5