“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”
Category Archives: gratitude
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”
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”
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”
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”
The Season of Connection
If I told you I hate Christmas, you would understand. Christmas 2020: Ma was in the hospital after suffering a stroke. It was the pandemic winter, no vaccines, only one visitor allowed. I visited her daily, stressed out I was going to get her sick or that I was going to get COVID and bringContinue reading “The Season of Connection”
A Moment to Shine
T co-emceed his school’s holiday concert on Thursday evening and did a great job speaking and performing in front of 200 guests. His teacher let us know the week before of this role and we were thrilled for him! She said he was doing a great job and asked us to practice with him. HeContinue reading “A Moment to Shine”
Thriller Night
T enjoyed trick or treating with friends this year. Halloween fell on a Friday and we stayed up later without worry of school or work the next day. T dressed up as a child being abducted by an alien and I chuckled at his grandparents asking who the alien was when we sent them aContinue reading “Thriller Night”
From One Caregiver to Another on FASD Awareness Day
September 9 is recognized annually around the world as FASD Awareness Day and to raise awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. This year, I was honored to be part of Surrey Place’s FASD Day event this recent Sunday. The hubby and T also attended the event and T spent most of the event playing withContinue reading “From One Caregiver to Another on FASD Awareness Day”
Full Moon at the Bay
We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this weekend, halfway through our two-week visit to T’s grandparents in New Brunswick. It was peak full moon – sounds about right 🤣 – and we enjoyed a morning barefoot walk on sandbars during low tide. The breeze, cold salt water, soft sand and gentle waves were soothing. WeContinue reading “Full Moon at the Bay”
Sarang Kitchen: A Restaurant For Minds of All Kinds
Delicious Korean fried chicken with a side of inclusiveness for neurodiverse people and dogs. That was the impressive, yummy and heartwarming experience we enjoyed at Sarang Kitchen, the first social enterprise and restaurant in Toronto that welcomes and employs neurodiverse people, including autistic individuals. I’ve been wanting to visit this place since it opened inContinue reading “Sarang Kitchen: A Restaurant For Minds of All Kinds”
“Every Day is a Blessing”
T snuck up on me while I was reading on the couch and with a mischievous grin, he said earnestly, “Every day is a miracle.” I still chuckle at this exchange and I also see the wisdom, intended or not, in his innocent words. Yesterday morning, I attended the funeral of a family friend andContinue reading ““Every Day is a Blessing””
Exploring the Beauty of Lake Superior Provincial Park
For five years, I’ve thought about this beautiful drive through Lake Superior Provincial Park. This summer, we went back and explored. In 2020, we did an amazing roadtrip to Thunder Bay and I regretted that we only drove through Lake Superior; it was the middle stretch of a 14-hour return drive to Sudbury. 😝 ThisContinue reading “Exploring the Beauty of Lake Superior Provincial Park”
The Hours: Lessons from a Windswept Pine at Killbear
The windswept pine tree on sunset rocks at Killbear Provincial Park is beloved by visitors. Over 100 years old, standing on rocks over 2 billion years old, it has witnessed many untold moments. I’m thankful that we are a part of each others’ passage in time, from the hubby and my first visit before TContinue reading “The Hours: Lessons from a Windswept Pine at Killbear”
When a Child Loses A Pet
Our sweet Lanaya unexpectedly left us this week, the first time T has experienced the loss of a pet. Lanaya was a wonderful part of our family for 10 years and for almost all of T’s life. She came into the hubby and my life on Canada Day 2015, when we adopted her and ourContinue reading “When a Child Loses A Pet”
This Grateful Heart
When chaos disrupts my peace, gratitude helps reframe my focus to face the challenges ahead. On our recent flight home from a wonderful family vacation in Mexico, T had a full-blown meltdown during boarding. The hubby had deleted his favourite game from the phone, which I had advised the hubby against giving to T beforehand.Continue reading “This Grateful Heart”
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”
Another Lap Around the Sun
I celebrated my 44th birthday weekend with my two favourite guys on a rare Saturday night out at a glow-in-the-dark trampoline park. We piggybacked on one of T’s peers’ birthday party. It started at 8:30 when I am usually getting ready for bed. 😂 I enjoyed sitting on a couch watching T have a blast.Continue reading “Another Lap Around the Sun”
My Life With T 