I made it home just in time for a special unexpected bedtime routine with T. With thanks to the hubby, I had a rare weeknight out to support colleagues at an event. As I texted the hubby on the subway ride home, he let me know it was a rougher night; T was very disregulatedContinue reading “Story of My Life”
Category Archives: gratitude
Running for Life: “I’m Not a Quitter”
Thanksgiving is quieter and simpler this year. Two years ago, I hosted dinner for Ma and my sister; the latter had just moved in with us after receiving her terminal cancer diagnosis. Last year, Ma was at the Philippines for an extended visit and I don’t remember if we even did anything for Thanksgiving. SoContinue reading “Running for Life: “I’m Not a Quitter””
Cooking for the Soul: The F*ck Off Cholesterol Edition
When my family doctor asked to meet about my bloodwork, I knew I had to start taking cholesterol meds. He let me know last summer that my cholesterol was high and we tried to lower it through changes to nutrition. I’m a fairly healthy person – eat, sleep and exercise mostly well – so I’mContinue reading “Cooking for the Soul: The F*ck Off Cholesterol Edition”
The Stories We Tell
Stories inform, inspire, and illuminate life’s complexities and contradictions. Earlier this week, our team at work participated together in a learning and reflection activity to pay respect to National Truth and Reconciliation Day, which is observed on September 30. We watched a short documentary that featured interviews with survivors of the residential school system. MyContinue reading “The Stories We Tell”
“Up My Butt!”
This is a wholesome and positive post, I promise. Two weeks into the new school year 4, T and our family are settling into more structured days. Some good news, T still has his Child and Youth Worker support for academic subjects. It is very rare for a 4th grader to have this support andContinue reading ““Up My Butt!””
Riding the Rollercoaster of Life
The build up often outlasts the thrill themselves, but boy, are they worth it sometimes. Our annual Labour Day weekend camping plans were thwarted by bad weather and we kept it local and chill instead. We took T to Canada’s Wonderland on Saturday, a beautiful day, our first visit in two years. Going in, weContinue reading “Riding the Rollercoaster of Life”
The Tumbles and Polish of Sea Glass
Picking up treasures on pebbled shores reflected the journey through life’s imperfections. One highlight from our visit to T’s grandparents in New Brunswick was picking sea glass. Wonderopolis describes sea glass as pieces of glass smoothed over time by the tumbling of water, waves, and sand. As glass soak in salt water and get tossed againstContinue reading “The Tumbles and Polish of Sea Glass”
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”
Born This Way
We kicked off T’s summer by marching in Canada’s largest Pride parade and championed freedom to information. I have a leadership role on my work’s Pride employee group and was part of the team that organized our march. For the second year, we chose the theme of intellectual freedom and reused signs from last year,Continue reading “Born This Way”
Goal Posts
Grade 3 is in the history books and we’re kicking summer off with soccer. T has recently developed a love for soccer. Thanks to his CYW, he had his own soccer ball and played soccer at recess with a group of boys. There were bumps along the way, as T gets upset when he doesn’tContinue reading “Goal Posts”
Going Off the Deep End
T loses control of his emotions on a regular basis, but today, it was for the best and proudest reasons. The outdoor city pool opened this weekend and it’s a summer tradition for us to spend time there. It’s a small plain pool but it is special place for us, because it saved our pandemicContinue reading “Going Off the Deep End”
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”
Postcards from the Edge
The first text message simply and sweetly said, “I love you.” I was en route on my early hour-long commute to work and it was a welcomed surprise. On in-office days, I often leave before T is up and when I do see him before I leave, I get sweet long hugs, which energize meContinue reading “Postcards from the Edge”
Keep the Faith
In 2015, the hubby and I finished our South America trip at Rio de Janeiro. It was our last solo trip before T unexpectedly came into our lives. I revisited this special city last night when Madonna completed her Celebration Tour on Copacabana Beach to a record 2 million people. We watched her show inContinue reading “Keep the Faith”
Sinking Ships, Rising Hearts
The heart does go on and on. T’s latest obsession is the Titanic, quite the step up from Paw Patrol! This was likely inspired from YouTube, as he spends lots of time watching videos about the Titanic and other famous shipwrecks. He loves to draw pictures and pretend play with great imagination about the doomedContinue reading “Sinking Ships, Rising Hearts”
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”
“I Believe in the Power of You and I”
We attended T’s wonderful school holiday concert this week and it moved me to tears. The school concert was the first since the pandemic, and T and the kids did such a great job. It brought back wonderful memories of holiday and Spring concerts, pre pandemic, when T was in preschool and kindergarten. I rememberContinue reading ““I Believe in the Power of You and I””
Why Stories Matter
Stories and personal testimony can inform, inspire and be a lifeline to someone. December 1 marks the fourth anniversary of this blog and my first post, introducing T’s prognosis and our family. I started my blog as a way to process my thoughts on the FASD parenting journey and to raise awareness and advocate forContinue reading “Why Stories Matter”
My Life With T 