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”
Category Archives: love
Family is Forever
Eight years ago today, we got a call from Children’s Aid Society. We were matched with a child! It was a Thursday evening and the hubby and I were shocked, because it had been seven years since we had started the adoption journey. We had given up hope we would be parents. They shared T’sContinue reading “Family is Forever”
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”
Celebration of Life
On Saturday, surrounded by family and friends, near and far, we said goodbye to Ma. It was celebration and catharsis. I am thankful for the last few weeks to reflect and to remember what an inspiring life Ma lived, full of love and accomplishments. Loved ones from afar, including Philippines and Guam, joined the serviceContinue reading “Celebration of Life”
Finding Connections
As social creatures, we yearn for connection and we thrive when we have psychological safety. This was the key takeaway from a virtual talk by FASD expert Nate Sheets I attended during a recent caregivers group get-together. I’ve followed Nate’s work for a while but it was my first time attending a live talk andContinue reading “Finding Connections”
Life is a Gift
Live and love as if it’s your first and last day on Earth. Our caring, curious, funny and not-so-little guy turned 9 this weekend. How is that possible?! The past year brought adventures and hard losses and through it all, he steps forward with his fun-seeking, resilient and endlessly energetic spirit. Our consecutive hard lossesContinue reading “Life is a Gift”
A Thousand Words
Sometimes, a picture sums up life’s depth of emotions better than words ever could. Yesterday, we had lunch with family to celebrate Ma and my aunt’s birthdays. Ma’s absence was noticeable. Afterwards, my uncle, recently returned from the Philippines, gave me Ma’s urn. It was a strange feeling holding it in my hands. The logicalContinue reading “A Thousand Words”
Personal Affection Day
On Friday, T asked to stay home instead of going to daycare for PA Day. “I just need a break,” he said. On Professional Activity (PA) Days, kids get a day off school and teachers focus on professional learning. My first instinct to T’s request was no. The hubby and I had work, remotely atContinue reading “Personal Affection Day”
Fighting Spirit
Grit, resilience and work ethic are wonderful lessons I learned from Ma. I thought about times she demonstrated them during my recent unexpected visit to the Philippines, as she battled for her life. At 15, she left her home in the province to move to the city in Manila to attend university – working tutoringContinue reading “Fighting Spirit”
Far From Home
During the holidays, I unexpectedly flew to the other side of the world to visit my ailing Ma. Ma moved back to the Philippines in July. In early December, her myositis autoimmune disease, which attacks and weakens her leg muscles, resurfaced and a few days before Christmas, she had a fall at home. On ChristmasContinue reading “Far From Home”
The Gift of the Redo
Christmas is a time for forgiveness and it is the kindest gift one could give and receive. When we were having rough patches this fall with T – a part of the FASD parenting life – we met with our developmental pediatrician, who has been supporting T since he was 18 months. In addition toContinue reading “The Gift of the Redo”
No Day But Today
We said goodbye to a lifelong friend this weekend and I am reminded to never hesitate to live, love and laugh. The universe works in wonderful ways, connecting people in seemingly coincidental ways. In Grade 7 English class, I first became friends with Jenny because we randomly sat together in Mrs Piazza’s English class withContinue reading “No Day But Today”
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”
Fried Spam with Rice
Like many immigrant kids, I’ve experienced many “smelly weird” school lunches packed by Pa. But I loved them all and the one I looked forward to most was fried spam on a warm bed of rice. I would inhale the luncheon meat, its greasy goodness soaked up by the rice. This weekend is Pa’s deathContinue reading “Fried Spam with Rice”
Shooting Stars
Night hikes are a camping tradition and when darkness fell, we excitedly set off for the rocks. After our spontaneous sunset swim and jumping off beautiful rocks at Killbear, we roasted marshmallows and made s’mores at our campsite. T was now sugared up on s’mores and a watermelon slush from dinner. He was bouncing offContinue reading “Shooting Stars”
Leap of Faith
We were racing against sunset as we hiked up the rocky hill to get to the cliffs to jump into the bay. It was our first day camping at Killbear and we had just finished dinner. We had decided we would do cliff jumping the following day, but T was insistent, so the hubby andContinue reading “Leap of Faith”
Our Budding Influencer
“Hi guys,” T says sweetly and excitedly to his phone, on video record mode, to his imaginary followers. He goes on to narrate what he’s doing, emulating the online influencers and livestreamers he enjoys watching, like Ethan Gamer. It appears we have a budding influencer. T started doing this at his grandparents’ cottage during ourContinue reading “Our Budding Influencer”
All That We Leave Behind
In the end, it’s about memories and we hang onto photos and things that remind us of loved ones. In a year of losses, our family experienced another loss – Ma moved back to Philippines at the end of July. We knew for over a year this day was coming – it was delayed dueContinue reading “All That We Leave Behind”
Has To Be
How do you best explain the concepts of faith, God, heaven and angels to kids? During bedtime on Monday, T said in a panic that he wanted to live forever and was afraid of dying because “what if angels aren’t real?” Since his Auntie, my sister, passed away after last Christmas, T found great comfortContinue reading “Has To Be”
Rain or Shine
When things don’t go as planned, like pneumonia ambushing vacation, I look for the silver lining. We had a nice 10 days visiting T’s grandparents in New Brunswick, despite me being ill for most of it. On our third day, I started to feel nauseous, had shaking chills and developed a fever – which reachedContinue reading “Rain or Shine”
My Life With T 