Meet Steph, Intended Mom
My friends and family know me as someone who wears her heart on her sleeve, will always be there when you need someone to listen, and someone who adores children.
Steph in Amsterdam
I grew up in a pretty tight knit family with a single mom and my sister. When I was living in BC, we often ended up on a 3-way call to keep each other up to date on life. I am very close with my sister and am “Auntie Steppy” to my adorable niece and nephew. I am also very lucky to be an Auntie to a number my friend’s kids who have been there for me through thick and thin. I am so grateful to have a strong support system where my girlfriends and I can talk about anything with each other.
Growing up, it was pretty clear, I was meant to work with children and become a mom. From working as a camp counsellor to operating rides at Wonderland in the Kid’s area (when Scooby Doo’s Haunted Mansion and Bedrock were my rides!), I always knew I loved working with kids. I’m now a child psychologist and Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology. My work is with children who have been maltreated and developed aggression, have complex mental health difficulties, or have features of psychopathy. Relying on Attachment theory, I try to help understand these children and their families and help them build strong and healthy relationships. Hearing a parent come to me and say “oh my goodness, my child actually talked to me and told me what’s going on!” and then seeing how building strong families can change a developmental course for a child or teen is incredibly rewarding. I hope my understanding of child development and attachment helps me build my own healthy relationship with my future child.
Steph competing at Dragon Boat Nationals (Boat 2)
When I’m not working, I’m usually out on the water in the summers. While doing my PhD in BC, I started Dragon Boating and loved it. I finally found a sport I was built for (I am not a runner!). I got good enough to join a competitive team and won many regattas out west and even placed 3rd at Canadian National Dragonboat Championships a month before our wedding! When I couldn’t find a Dragonboat team out in Guelph, I was determined to get back on the water, so I found rowing. After a Learn to Row session last year, I am now out on the water 4 times a week with the recreational crew. While I’m out there, I can shut off my brain and just focus on the 400 things you need to do while rowing. It is a sport that I will continue to grow at in the years to come and provides me with my mental health break while we manage fertility, surrogacy, and other life events.
I will also join Mike for a bike ride around Guelph or up the trails at what we refer to as “Steph speed”. We have even talked about doing the Tour de Guelph family version with our future child! We also love to hike up in Algonquin and have done several of the trails up there, with Beaver Pond being one of our favourites. In the winter, I love to grab my snowshoes and head out to the trails. I often joke that once we have a baby in a carrier strapped to Mike, I will finally be able to keep up!
Oh and if you are wondering about the debate- Smarties are clearly the superior candy coated chocolate.
