Mom on the Street – Leaside, February 8, 2013, 3:35pm
Suzanne Sharples is a stay-at-home mom extraordinaire, raising three free-range children 1970s-style, with lots of freedom and good old-fashioned activities. Suzanne is mom to 12 year-old Emmy, 10 year-old Malcolm, 4 year-old Nolan and wife to Kevin. We were excited to connect with her for our latest Mom on the Street feature.
Her Neighbourhood
TorontoMomNow.com met Suzanne for our Mom on the Street interview on the school run at Bessborough Elementary School, in the heart of family-friendly and hip Leaside. The neighbourhood has an English village feel with loads of leafy, winding streets surrounding a strip of Bayview Avenue that is lined with restaurants and charming little shops and bakeries.
“Leaside offers the perfect balance of culture, convenience, and that small town feeling. The schools are great and the neighbourhood is safe. I love that our neighbours all know and support each other. I also love that we can do a big outing like the ROM or the AGO and be home by noon to hike in Sunnybrook Park.”
Her Favourite Activities with Kids
Since Suzanne’s kids encompass a wide age range, Suzanne tries to find things to do that everyone can enjoy.
“Mostly, we like to take advantage of what our ‘hood has to offer. A great tip is to check local coffee shop boards for upcoming events like fairs and corn roasts.”
“On nice days, we love hiking in Serena Gundy Park and watching the horses play in Sunnybrook Park, followed by gelato at The Mad Italian or Hollywood Gelato. On rainy days, we’ll go to Mastermind Toys and Mabel’s Fables on Mount Pleasant for great toys and children’s books, then hit McSorley’s on Bayview for lunch where the kids can play video games and pool. Family bowling at the Thorncliffe Bowlerama is also a great local activity.”
Her Favourite Places to Go without Kids
“We love to go out to see movies at the Mount Pleasant Theatre, one of the great rep movie theatres in Toronto. Afterwards, we’ll head down the street to have a drink at The Longest Yard, a great neighbourhood pub that is fun with or without the kids.”
Her Leaside Hidden Gem
“The Leaside Curling Club at The Leaside Memorial Community Gardens has a great kids’ program for a reasonable price and the best part is, I get to watch them curl while I am curled up in a leather club chair by the fire!”
Thanks, Suzanne, for taking the time to chat with us and share your perspective as a Mom on the Street!
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