Time for some mother-daughter bonding at the spa

As your daughter becomes a teenager, you might find that connecting with her is harder to do: harder to find the time, harder to relate.

A visit to Pretty in Pink spa studio in Oakville may be just what the esthetician ordered. Featuring only organic products and a kid-friendly vibe, Pretty in Pink has all the ingredients to bring you and your daughter together. For more on bonding with teens, read my blog.

The spa is the brainchild of Sonia Imerti, who launched the business when her daughter, then age five, was turned away from a spa that Sonia was visiting with a bridal party. “I was stuck,” she says. “I had to keep her with me. I convinced the spa to let her stay but we had to pay adult prices.” Ouch.

Fast-forward three years and Sonia’s spa is bubbling over with gorgeous little soaps and scrubs and all-natural beauty products. But the spa itself boasts a sophistication and style that is not babyish, making it perfect for tweens and teens. And in fact the moms, too. “I started doing just the parties for girls and their moms would say, ‘What about us?’ They wanted to have fun too!”

There are two large spaces for birthday parties or group functions, and one treatment room. At our side-by-side facial, my daughter Gabbie and I enjoyed facials that were customized to our skin type (which it turns out is pretty much the same). Our facialist, Lucy, gave both of us useful information and tips for how to take care of our skin. This kind of professional advice is invaluable for moms whose daughters don’t always listen to them, but who will gladly take someone else’s advice.

Sonia runs monthly events for girls in the area. They are focussed on health and wellness and include snacks and a craft activity. I liked how the atmosphere was comfortable and pretty, but not cloyingly so. Not too girly, as it were, but just enough to make you feel like a girl.