Natalie Corbett
Not one to be stuffed into limits.
Natalie, Mom, pet mom, author, artist.
Natalie is the daughter of John and Sue Corbett. She has combined some of her parents' best qualities. I am a big fan of theirs as well. We were next-door neighbours for at least twenty-five years.
I have known Natalie for at least forty-five years. I have watched her grow into an incredible person, witty, resilient, thoughtful, and creative. Oh, wait, that’s her job to come up with the six words that describe herself. I just had to add mine into the mix.
I have been with her at one of her high points and have stayed in touch through some of the most poignant moments of a low point. Through it all, she has handled the situation with dignity and class.
She has raised, four truly wonderful children, whom I saw after a long stretch, during which I had only heard about their journeys on social media.
Natalie is a pure sports fan and a huge Toronto Blue Jays fan. I am not going to opine on her misplaced allegiance to her hockey team of choice.
Natalie, in many ways, reminds me of our daughter Tara, always willing to share a more appropriate way to view the rules of engagement and to diplomatically correct inappropriate statements or positions.
She is also a loving, caring pet parent to Wilbur, who is more than just a pet. He is an important family member.
Natalie is a very accomplished artist. I will be bugging her to expand her reach. In the meantime, she will also take commissions on custom art.
A gift to us upon finishing the addition to the back of our house. Would you like a unique gift? Why not get Natalie to do a similar one for you?
Natalie is also a very accomplished author of four novels The first one is called “Gameplan” (2013), Aptitude (2015), It Should Have Been a Good Day (2016) and Take These Broken Wings (2017). No Girls Allowed is an empowering story for young girls. All five novels have been well-received and are available at Chapters Halifax
Meet Natalie.
Could you describe yourself in six words?
Not one to be stuffed into limits.
Haaa haahaaahahaaa. (That’s seven, get it?)
My father-in-law called me kind during a speech at my wedding. It surprised me because it seemed like such a simple, small word, yet it carried so much meaning. That’s the one I strive to be most—other important ones: smart, funny, stubborn, resilient, flawed.
Natalie and her “Peeps” Back row, left to right :
AnnaWen, Natalie and Paxten
Front Row, left to right: Elliot and Jack
At some point, you reached a fork in the road. At the time, it didn’t feel like it, but looking back, you realize it was a big moment. One that changed your life. Describe yours.
I can’t think of one that snuck up on me… I’m a super-thinker. I overthink EVERYTHING, so every decision feels like a life-changing cutlery choice. I’ve had the typical pivotal choices - what’s next after school? Time to have a kid? Accept this job or keep looking? But I also struggle to order in a restaurant - can I live with the disappointment if her pasta looks better than the burger I’m considering? I mean, that’s a lot of potential for regret.
Some things never change, some things are new.
What has been your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
I saw this meme, and it struck a chord so proper that I felt it in my chest. Recovering from divorce was hard, but the biggest challenge wasn’t my own recovery. Time didn’t stop to let me turtle in bed until I was ready. There were still hockey practices, basketball games, and music lessons; kids who needed balanced meals, routines, and boundaries. They needed a stable adult and the ability to keep going when foundational plans change. I didn’t overcome it; I worked with it and learned from it, with lots of help from family, friends, and therapy.
“To be a good mother while my heart was breaking was one of the hardest roles I’ve ever had to play.” quote from www.myurbanone.com
Describe an embarrassing moment that is funny now.
In high school, I was headed to a friend’s house with a backpack and a 12-pack box of Tim’s donuts. I had a moment of ambition and decided to rollerblade there instead of walking or driving. I was a solid skater on flat terrain, but I didn’t realize there was a hill on my route, gentle yet long enough for the wheels to pick up a great deal of speed. At the bottom of the hill was a four-way streetlight managing 12 lanes of traffic. I knew I was in trouble early on and had several blocks to try to problem-solve. Ultimately, I went with a grass bailout, an abrupt but relatively soft stop and landing, with the box of donuts and backpack flung wide.
What is one gem you learned on your journey that you would love to share? Alternatively, what hint would you give a younger version of yourself?
The more I experience and learn, the more I realize how little I know, how little there is to be certain about, and how many shades of grey there are in situations that seem black and white. I am learning to ask more questions, consider different perspectives, and question any person or situation that seems inevitable - especially when it’s me!
Wilbur