Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

This is a very heart-felt tribute to my awesome mom, Colleen. The world is a whole lot brighter because of her love and her ‘spirited’ and energetic love of living.

I just think the world of her and wish I’ve told her more often. I love her so much.

Bright, always funny, extremely tenacious, and a survivor of a crazy life, she was never one to feel sorry for herself and today, she continues to be that same person.

Colleen Childs with a drink in her hand at a function
My beautiful mom.

I’ve have been blessed with a fantastically wonderful life with my mom and sister and dad and now daughter, husband, brother-in-law, nephew and niece. I really have been blessed with a magically wonderful life and I’m so grateful.

I wanted to share with you who my mom is.

For the majority of us, we have always had our mothers love us, support us, raise us, hug us, kiss us and tuck us in a night. What’s a day without a bedtime story to complete it? That’s what mom’s are for: SAFETY NETS! My mom was all of that and then some including not only bedtime stories but being sung “Christopher Robin” at bed time to make sure we had sweet dreams…Although my mom was raised a little differently as a little girl (without her mom and dad) and as life would have it, by her aunt and uncle and 3 cousins, she still prospered.

Colleen Childs and Russ Childs walking down the aisle together in 1956
Mom and Dad marrying in 1956
Russ Childs sitting in front of a model he built
Russ Childs – an Architect/Designer & Model Builder

She used her gift of a beautiful voice and inherent musical talent to propel her into a life of happiness and awards for singing and piano, and still does to this day. At 18, she connected with my dad, at Kingston Road United Church and at 21 she married the love of her life.

They waited 7 years to have me and enjoy their new found life together and be ready for kids. My sister was born a year and half later after me and the magic of our family began…..My mother’s love of life, her giving ways and and her connection to my sister and me was unique. She was the ‘go-to’ mom for us and all of our friends too. We could tell her anything and knew that it wouldn’t be shared with my dad. She knew that some things just were meant for her ears only. 🙂

Shannon, Colleen and Kelly Childs together in 1972
With Shannon and our mom, Colleen. 1972
Shannon Childs with Kelly Childs as the flower child
With my sister, Shannon and I was a “Flower Child’
Kelly and Shannon Childs in 1966
Kelly and Shannon 1966

She and my dad were very close and the greatest hosts on the planet. Always inseparable, my mom and dad spent most waking moments together be it cottaging, gardening, and an afternoon glass of wine or a gin and tonic on their deck and watch the sun set…and they would have it no other way. Sadly, my dad died suddenly in 1995 and somehow my mom, who was 60 at the time, found the strength and courage to continue to pursue her career in real estate and take charge of her life even further. She never gave up.

Russ Childs with Shannon Childs and Kelly Childs on Myrtle Beach in 1973
My dad with Shannon and me in Myrtle Beach 1973

In spite of not having a typical upbringing with the daily love of her ‘mother’, my mom rose to live an extraordinary life. She is the grandma to go to when in need for her three grandchildren Erinn, Connor and Lizzie and she’s the person that my sister and I can count on any time, whenever we have news to share or a shoulder to lean on.

Shannon Childs with her two children
My sister and my niece and nephew
Erinn Weatherbie with Ken Childs
Erinn and Ken
Pete standing with Ken Childs
Mom’s sons-in-law, Pete and Ken
Kelly Childs, Erinn Weatherbie, and Ken Childs
My family… Erinn and Ken

She always makes me smile.She is a wonderful mother-in-law to her two sons-in-law too. Her strength and tenacity for life is one I’ve tried to model my life by and will be eternally grateful for her showing me the rules of life and to be the best, most authentic person you can be because that is when you are the happiest.

Thank you mom..xoxo for always being there for me. You are by far the best mom I could ask for.

I am so grateful.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the women of the planet. We are all mothers to the spirit of love and wellness and protecting this beautiful planet we call home.

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Kelly is the co-founder and co-owner (with her daughter Erinn) of the ever popular, Kelly's Bake Shoppe, where 1000's flock to on a weekly basis. She lives in Grey County with her two cats Daisy & Tuna. You can find Kelly developing and creating marketing content and building new business ideas with her daughter Erinn. They have the ever popular podcast: Cupcakes and Consciousness on Apple and Spotify. Tune into their latest shows. Kelly & Erinn are now writing their 2nd cookbook that is due to come out in winter 2023.

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