Our 11-year old starts middle school tomorrow and I feel both optimism and trepidation. Middle school means increased demands, less breaks and changing social dynamics. For a child with FASD and ADHD like T, I worry about how seemingly small changes will impact him: no recess, managing items in a locker with a combination lock,Continue reading “Closing One Door and Opening Another”
Category Archives: ADHD
Under the Full Moon
Camping at our happy place, Killbear, was made all the more special thanks to magical moonlight. After a three summer hiatus, we returned to camp at our favourite provincial park – the site of many adventures and T’s first camping trip at age 1. What a difference 10 years makes. We recreated the photo above,Continue reading “Under the Full Moon”
Reaping What You Sow
“Papa!” T said excitedly as we headed off to the outdoor pool. “The corn is taller than me now!” During the last month of school, his class went on an excursion to a farm to learn about planting and animals. Each student got four small seed pots they could each continue to care for atContinue reading “Reaping What You Sow”
Good for the Soul: Recalibrating as a Special Needs Caregiver
I’m scaling back my life so that I have more capacity to support my son. With T’s upcoming start in middle school, I used my recent mid-year review at work to reflect deeply on my commitments. I made hard decisions to let go of several things: I like to keep busy and contribute through extraContinue reading “Good for the Soul: Recalibrating as a Special Needs Caregiver”
7 Day Roadtrip to Explore Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula
Seeing wild whales and seals was among the highlights of our visit to beautiful Gaspé Peninsula in the province of Quebec. We kicked off T’s summer in the beginning of July – and his graduation from grade school – with our annual family roadtrip. I planned a visit to Gaspé after scrolling by a randomContinue reading “7 Day Roadtrip to Explore Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula”
Using Tech to Nighttime Potty Train our Neurodiverse Son
I used to joke that surely our son wouldn’t still be wearing nighttime pullups on his wedding night. Well, this summer, it started to feel less like a joke! Like other neurodiverse kids, T has sensory-related challenges; one symptom is delayed toilet training. Now 11, he is ok during the daytime but had frequent accidentsContinue reading “Using Tech to Nighttime Potty Train our Neurodiverse Son”
I See Your True Colours Shining Through
It’s a wrap. 7 years flew by and we have a grade school graduate. Middle school, here we come! As we sat in the gym waiting for T’s Grade 5 graduation ceremony to begin, I thought about how he had spent 2/3 of his life inside this building. A building that became a home awayContinue reading “I See Your True Colours Shining Through”
Love Sensation: There’s Nothing That We Can’t Do
Last month, I had the privilege to participate in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to observe the second reading of Bill 106, an Act to proclaim Developmental Disabilities Awareness Week – proposed by MPP Billy Pang. I’m a proud member of Surrey Place’s Family Advisory Council and the organization was one of several invited byContinue reading “Love Sensation: There’s Nothing That We Can’t Do”
Get Your Child What They Need at an IPRC Meeting
We recently attended an IPRC meeting and took another step in readying T for middle school. IPRC stands for Identification Placement Review Committee and it is made up of at least three school board staff, including a principal and psychologist. The meeting has three functions: Following an IPRC decision, the school is legally required toContinue reading “Get Your Child What They Need at an IPRC Meeting”
Finding the I in Team
I recently had the blessing to travel for work and was away from home for four days. It was my first out of province work trip. The 2013 conference at Buffalo, New York does not count, because I could see Ontario and Canada, across Niagara Falls, from my hotel. 🤣 It was an incredible twoContinue reading “Finding the I in Team”
Our Adoption Journey: 10 Years Later
On April 28, 2016 – seven years after we started our adoption journey – we received the call that we were matched with T. I still remember that unexpected day: the hubby and I got an email from our social worker, who asked if we were free for a call that night. We only heardContinue reading “Our Adoption Journey: 10 Years Later”
Cooking for the Soul: The Sacred Sunday Meal Prep
Sundays are for self care and cooking is my therapy. With headphones and dance music on, I get lost in an uninterrupted hour or two of prep for the week ahead. Caregiving for T, a child with FASD, needs me to stay organized. With work and school during the week then chores and T’s extraContinue reading “Cooking for the Soul: The Sacred Sunday Meal Prep”
When Bloggers Connect
In our 7th year as blogging friends, I met up for lunch last week with Linda from Wandering Canadians. It was our first time meeting in person – we work within the same downtown area – and it was lovely to learn more about her, what got her started on blogging, and her blogging process.Continue reading “When Bloggers Connect”
Finding Grace in the Special Needs Caregiving Journey
We celebrated Easter with chocolate for our son but for me, it’s more and more about finding grace. As I get older, I find the Easter message of forgiveness and reconciliation so compelling, especially as a caregiver of a child with FASD. Underlying this message is the importance to give grace – to others andContinue reading “Finding Grace in the Special Needs Caregiving Journey”
Choose Your Own Adventure
We spent March Break in Mexico, explored an adventure park then celebrated my 45th birthday. For the fourth year, we stayed at the same resort in Cancun. I prefer to try new places, but T loves it there. In February, the resort made national news for an outbreak that made many travellers sick. Coupled withContinue reading “Choose Your Own Adventure”
A Dream for Spring
We’ve had a busy few weeks that culminated in a School Services Team (SST) meeting the past week. The hubby and I both feel that T’s main teachers – he has two, who do half day each – don’t understand how to work with him. It doesn’t help that he lost his CYW support inContinue reading “A Dream for Spring”
8 Running Horses
At the start of this Chinese New Year, I thought about family traditions passed down. As a kid, Pa would get up early on CNY to make fried rice cakes and I’d wake up to its tantalizing aroma. It was a simple sweet treat deep with sentiment and intention. I thought about family dinners –Continue reading “8 Running Horses”
Life as a House
Our T turned 11 earlier this month. How do we have an 11 year old?! At this age, it’s all about Lego – an activity that he and the hubby enjoy doing by themselves and with each other. T has long displayed an aptitude for STEM activities, building and figuring things out with marble runs,Continue reading “Life as a House”
The Doppelgänger
T’s beloved Moo Moo has been with him over half his life. He regulates T and has accompanied us on countless roadtrips and on vacations across Canada and the Caribbean. Years ago, the hubby and I bought an exact replica, in the event we ever lost Moo Moo. He hides in my closet, still wrappedContinue reading “The Doppelgänger”
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt
Focusing on what you can control in challenging situations can lead to positive outcomes. When I was in high school, I loved to play a card game called Big 2. Also called Chinese Poker, it has similar game play as poker; 2 is the highest card, followed by Ace, King, Queen, Jack then 10 toContinue reading “Playing the Cards You’re Dealt”
My Life With T 