T had his first virtual reality experience, which ended with a meteor destroying Earth. On Saturday evening, we took T to check out VRCade and we tried their popular VR escape room: Space Station Tiberia. For the unfamiliar, here’s a primer: The hubby and I have previously tried VR and escape rooms separately but thisContinue reading “Living in a Virtual World: An Escape Room with a Twist”
Category Archives: Fun
Good Things Are Worth the Wait
2 siblings, 2 generations of cousins, and T’s 1st summer tall enough to go on the biggest of the big roller coasters at Canada’s Wonderland. The hubby’s sister and her daughter, T’s beloved cousin, A, visited us over Labour Day weekend. They were in town from New Brunswick to watch the Dua Lipa concert onContinue reading “Good Things Are Worth the Wait”
Cooking with T: Hong Kong Tomato Beef
Our 10-year-old got a taste of being a cook when he helped me make dinner and filmed it for a reel. Caregivers of neurodiverse children can attest that they can be very selective eaters, due to sensory sensitivities, such as smell or texture. I’ve learned to let go of worrying about what T eats orContinue reading “Cooking with T: Hong Kong Tomato Beef”
On the Edge of Saturday Night with Kylie Minogue
An ice storm couldn’t keep us away from a night 16 years in the waiting with pop queen Kylie Minogue. The Australian icon brought her Tension Tour to North America, with her first stop at Toronto’s Scotiabank Centre on March 29. The weather was miserable; freezing rain and ice storms further north of the city.Continue reading “On the Edge of Saturday Night with Kylie Minogue”
Full STEAM Ahead: Nurturing Creativity and Curiosity in Neurodiverse Kids
It turns out our sweet T has burgeoning skills other than driving me batshit crazy. I say this with love and fondness. 😇 I recently watched the documentary “I’m Tim,” about the rise and tragic loss of EDM artist Avicii, whose upbeat music T and I enjoy. It struck me how supportive his parents wereContinue reading “Full STEAM Ahead: Nurturing Creativity and Curiosity in Neurodiverse Kids”
His First Real Sleepover
A weekend in December gave T his first taste of a beloved childhood tradition. As a parent, I wish for T to enjoy all the common childhood experiences, such as camping, birthdays and sleepovers. He had his first “sleepover” two summers ago at his grandparents’ cottage. He slept in a tent outside with his AuntContinue reading “His First Real Sleepover”
Window to His Soul
Art is healing, inspiring, a form of self expression and for caregivers, a glimpse inside their children’s thoughts. Before Christmas break, T’s teacher sent home his fall school work, which included his journal. This past week, I started reading his daily journal entries and they are a delight. I remember my very first journal, aContinue reading “Window to His Soul”
Finding A Big Brother Mentor for Our Neurodiverse Son
This is a tale in two parts and one tail. One of our goals for this school year is to help T build positive peer and social relationships. These are often cited as challenges for individuals with FASD for reasons that include dysmaturity, regulation and impulsivity. As kids with FASD get older, research has shownContinue reading “Finding A Big Brother Mentor for Our Neurodiverse Son”
Visiting the Real Life Schitt’s Creek
We kicked off 2025 with a daytrip to the real-life Rosebud Motel from Schitt’s Creek, located in Orangeville, an hour drive from Toronto. The drive was relaxing. The highway and roads were quiet and there was light snow further north. Schitt’s Creek is a beloved Emmy-winning Canadian comedy series that ran from 2015 to 2020.Continue reading “Visiting the Real Life Schitt’s Creek”
Miss Americana, Taylor Swift
T and I celebrated the hubby’s birthday with a night out at Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated Eras Tour show in Toronto. We had purchased the tickets, nosebleed seats, last Fall and were lucky to get them at face value. The hubby’s sister visited us for his birthday week and it was nice they got toContinue reading “Miss Americana, Taylor Swift”
Sports as Social Medicine for Neurodiverse Kids
On the last Sunday morning of September, T woke up excited for his first soccer lesson. T loves soccer and his CYW suggested enrolling him into lessons. Sports is often therapeutic for neurodiverse kids, like T who has FASD and ADHD, to help burn off energy and to regulate their mood. I also see socialContinue reading “Sports as Social Medicine for Neurodiverse Kids”
Swimming at Nigadoo Falls: An Off the Beaten Path Oasis in New Brunswick
Often times, the best activities are those known to the locals. At the top of T’s list to do during our annual summer visit to his grandparents in Beresford was to swim at Nigadoo Falls. It’s a beautiful, rocky and fresh water spot tucked in the woods, off the unassuming Rue du Moulin in Nigadoo,Continue reading “Swimming at Nigadoo Falls: An Off the Beaten Path Oasis in New Brunswick”
Wild Blueberries
We’re letting T run wild this summer, taking a more relaxed approach than previous years. Usually by the end of June, I would’ve lined up worksheets and books from his teacher, to work on with T over the summer. I did this to avoid summer learning slide, as I’m mindful of T’s FASD and ADHD.Continue reading “Wild Blueberries”
Hiking Takakkaw Falls and Canoeing Emerald Lake at Yoho National Park
We saved some of the best experiences for last during our family summer trip to Banff, Alberta. I intentionally kept our last day as a blank slate when planning the itinerary. At the advice of a local, we spent the day exploring Yoho National Park, located an hour drive from the town of Banff. OurContinue reading “Hiking Takakkaw Falls and Canoeing Emerald Lake at Yoho National Park”
But Is It Art?
After years of being on the receiving end of mischief, our cat got back at her 9-year-old nemesis. “OH MY GOD!” T screamed Friday morning. It was a PA Day and he stayed home instead of going to daycare, as we were going to a FASD caregiver group meetup at lunch. “What is it?” IContinue reading “But Is It Art?”
The Joy in the Meander
Slow down, take the detours, be open to the unexpected, stay present, soak in the moment. We all end up at a finish line, so what’s the rush? It’s a valuable lesson I’ve learned as T’s parent. Our family recently helped celebrate the 18th birthday of a friend’s son. It seemed like yesterday that heContinue reading “The Joy in the Meander”
Step with the Best Foot Forward
A painful truth about being a parent of a child with FASD is the world often sees them at their worst. A parent shared this, between tears, during a recent weekly virtual FASD caregivers group and I wanted to hug her because I felt her heartache. I then thought about Mothers Day lunch with familyContinue reading “Step with the Best Foot Forward”
Nature is Healing for Neurodiverse Kids
A beautiful sunny t-shirt weather Spring Sunday gave T and I the recharge we needed. After breakfast, we practiced reading two chapters in his latest book then headed to one of our favourite nature spots: Rouge Park. I feel blessed for this urban oasis near our home. I appreciate the government recently adding a boardwalkContinue reading “Nature is Healing for Neurodiverse Kids”
Ray of Light
We took T to his first concert, Madonna’s Celebration Tour, and it provided a needed holiday. Our family had a challenging start to 2024 and this show was a ray of light during gray days. We prepped T for his first concert by looking at photos of the venue and show and speaking about whatContinue reading “Ray of Light”
Smells Like Teen Spirit
A creature is growing in our home that is more horrifying than the supernatural or undead. Saturday morning, I was enjoying coffee in the dining room when I heard the hubby say with alarm, “Oh my God, T, you’re turning.” It was a full moon on Halloween weekend. Did we have a werewolf in ourContinue reading “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
My Life With T 