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Editor’s note: HHTW is . pleased. to present a new — vivacious person and a no- holds-barred vivacious writer. Her topic will be par- enting and the many joys.and frustrations that go with this most iinportant element in our social develoment. By Sharon E. McKay Special to HHT W “Excuse me, why are you writing a parenting column? Aren’t you the one who went ballistic when your four-year- old demanded a ride on that loonie-eating elephant at Loblaws?” “Er, yep. ‘twas me all right. (I have a particular aversion towards gumball machines and mechanical beings that pose, bandit like, at the exit and entrances of stores. This is but one pet peeve that you’ll hear about, ad nause- am, in this column.) Right - back to, gives you the right.” I am a librarian by training and a writer by trade. I would cheerfully turn my hand to in- depth reporting on the roll ball bearings play in our lives “what I come to this column with credentials. Ten years of writ- ing in the trenches. My first book was: Street proofing Gently and Creatively (Royce). Then came The New Child Safety Handbook, (Macmillan) my favorite. A New. Parent’s Sharon McKay Survival Handbook (Macmillan) is a tippy book written when I was pregnant and couldn’t write an entire paragraph without throwing up. Then came The Picky Eater (Harper Collins). (Is this boring? It certainly is from this end.) Anyway, along with my husband, David MacLeod (the portly fellow who doubles for Gentle Ben) we write chil- dren’s non-fiction. Our first collaboration Chalk Around the Block (Somerville House) just nabbed the Parent’s Choice (gold) award in the U.S. Four new books are, as we speak on the pres: Toot, toot. So much for horn blowing. Bottomline - all the books, degrees and research will not turn any of us into “parenting experts” - this includes me. Even those whose children have safely catapulted into adulthood cannot claim “expert” status; Luck plays a tole in all our lives. Those of us who choose to write on this topic do so with our fingers crossed and hearts on our sleeves. I write about safety and yet stood helpless as my four-year-old chal- lenged a dump-truck at the corner of* Bayview and Eglington. My other son is skirting the teenage years. I will soon watch as he pulls the car out of the driveway on Friday night. (Not!) Parenting - the verb - is about doing one’s best, stum- bling about, laughter and try- ing to deal with fear. Fear that our children may be hurt, abused, abducted. Fear they will hook up with the ‘wrong’ crowd, get hurt or hurt. And .in the recession we have our own demons to battle. Fear of losing our jobs, businesses, homes, cars. Gee, this is cheery. Well, the only effective tools I know of staving off ‘The Fear’ are knowledge and laughter. I'll do my best to provide oth. This is a syndicated column - which means I get told off by parents right across the country. Feel free to add your voice. And when you see me dis- membering an elephant, or other mechanical ride at the shopping centre, or standing in the fruit roll-up aisle at the A&P, hands in the air, exas- perated ($3.49 - are you kid- ding!) know that I too am just trying to_get through the day. a GLENDA HUGHES Sales Rep. * about... JOHN HILL Sales Rep. * * basement, finished rec ACTON BARGAIN $135,000!!! This 2 storey home must be sold — fast! 3 bedrooms, plus 4th in patio. Call John Hill*. 93-2-595 VERY SPECIAL manon nills nis Week, Saturday; November 13, 1993 ~ Page:9 Cae DON HEARN Rural Living... but close 104 town! Just $209,000 Call me today! ARTHUR F. JOHNSON & ASSOCIATES LTO., REALTOR Very private wing for mom, at ground level on this beautiful 10 ac. country home located 15 Call today and find out why more and more people consider ~ Don Hearn* their — ~> Peal estate = ~~ agent. Business Residence —~ fo ARTHUR F. JOHNSON & ASSOCIATES LTD., REALTO! Business: 877-51 65 Residence: 877-8402