Adulting (v): to do grown up things and hold responsibilities such as, a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent, a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown ups. -- as defined in UrbanDictionary. com. Does Daylight Saving Time really save us anything? Julia Le Oakville Beaver news reporter 37 | Thursday, November 24, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com I t's like clockwork. Everyday between 6-6:30 a.m., I hear my son's door creak open, followed by an abrupt slam and the pitter patter of tiny feet making their way across the hall before they reach my bedroom door. Sometimes I play dead in hopes he wakes my husband first. More often than not though, I blindly reach for my iPhone on my side table, open my eyes just a crack to check the time and groan. If that little face appears in front of me, I either suck it up and get up, or make an attempt at getting a few more minutes of shut-eye. The latter, sometimes works. I pull him up into my bed, don't engage and I let him stroke (pull) my hair until he falls asleep. Other times, I hear my son say, "Mama, Hayden not sleepy," followed by some "love pats" to the face and flips and jumps over or on top of me. So, when Daylight Saving Time came to an end recently, forgive me if I was less than thrilled. As some friends rejoiced in the fact they would get an "extra hour of sleep" or an extra hour to stay out longer, my husband and I indulged ourselves in a pity party as we anticipated our son waking at 5:30 a.m., instead of his usual 6:30 a.m. You see, for parents, there is no extra hour of fun or sleep. We get nothing. That got me thinking, why do we need Daylight Saving Time anyway? A quick Google search will tell you it was implemented to save energy and make better use of daylight. More than 70 countries worldwide use it to a degree, with beginning and end dates varying from one country to another, according to Timeanddate.com. Personally, I don't see the savings in my energy bill and I certainly don't enjoy the dark drive home from work, picking up my son from his daycare when it's pitch black and then fumbling with my keys to open the door to my home. Studies show there is an increase in vehicle collisions after the time change that occurs twice a year. In fact, just ahead of the time switch, a number of media outlets, as well as police, were warning of a spike in pedestrian collisions as darkness falls an hour earlier for the evening commute home. I'm certainly not alone feeling Daylight Saving Time may be a tad out of date, with a couple in B.C. advocating to end the time change. Citing studies, Bob Dieno and Tara Holmes told a television station recently the time shift can have an unhealthy effect on the body and potentially compromise road and pedestrian safety. Over the past year, they've gathered almost 27,000 signatures in support of abolishing the time change. They've also been pushing the B.C. premier to put Daylight Saving Time to a referendum vote. I see the merits in their argument and hope they make headway in their fight. Perhaps then, Ontario can follow suit and parents of small children can rejoice. -- Julia Le, reporter Oakville Beaver The Oakville and Milton Humane Society (OMHS) wants to help shoppers prepare for the holidays all while benefitting animals in need. Its Online Holiday Auction is now available and will stay live until Dec. 14. "Get comfortable and prepare to place your bids while helping animals in need in your com- Oakville humane society online auction benefits animals in need munity," stated a media release. More than $20,000 in products and services -- valued from $25-$750 -- are on the auction block. There will also be a selection of restaurant, food and drink offerings also up for bid. To participate, visit www.omhs.ca and click Online Holiday Auction. Proceeds generated through the auction will help homeless animals in need of food, shelter, veterinary care, and love, according to OMHS organizers. The OMHS is a registered charitable organization funded by the community with the mission to protect, care, and educate in order to change the lives of homeless, neglected and abused animals today, and change the future of animal welfare through education, tomorrow. For more information, contact OMHS Fund Development at 905-845-1551 or onlineauction@omhs.ca. Exclusive Non-Stop Flights from HAMILTON* Celebrity Cruises Caribbean Vacations Veranda Staterooms from $2,599* It's All Included: Actual plane may differ. 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