I believe the universe conspires to bring people together – and the recent gathering place is a playground. One of my favourite parts of my day is when I pick T up from his after school program. We spend an hour hanging out at the playground. Since July, he’s built friendships with a regular groupContinue reading “Connecting with Special Needs Parents at the Playground”
Category Archives: school
Preparing For A Return to Homeschooling in Lockdown
Creating hands-on learning tools, restocking supplies and reconfiguring our kindergartner’s learning space were things I prepared for a potential return to lockdown homeschooling. I took the past week off work to recharge. While I spent most of it relaxing, I also used the free time for homeschool prep. COVID cases are at a record high.Continue reading “Preparing For A Return to Homeschooling in Lockdown”
Finding Conflict and Resolution at the Playground
On a recent Thursday daycare pickup, I got out of the car and heard yelling between T and a little girl. At first, I thought they were just playing but upon a closer look, I saw the two of them screaming at each other’s face, a parent standing behind the girl and the daycare staffContinue reading “Finding Conflict and Resolution at the Playground”
Playing With the Older Kids
A pair of older kids have formed an unlikely group for T to play with after school. Four weeks ago, our end of day routine became one hour of play at the playground next to his day camp, which is now his after school program. It’s a nice playground and even big enough for meContinue reading “Playing With the Older Kids”
Working with Teachers to Maximize A Special Needs Child’s Success
The first day of senior kindergarten is in the can and we are looking ahead to the new school year with cautious optimism. T got a fresh haircut from the hubby last night, went to bed early, got 10.5 hours sleep and woke up rather pleasant. We are thankful to be starting in a veryContinue reading “Working with Teachers to Maximize A Special Needs Child’s Success”
Wearing Red Shoes to Honour FASD Awareness Day on September 9
T is wearing red shoes to day camp today in honour of FASD Awareness Day. Commemorated annually on September 9, to symbolize the ninth month of pregnancy, this day serves to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, specifically about the plights of drinking during pregnancy and about the struggles of individuals with FASD. WearingContinue reading “Wearing Red Shoes to Honour FASD Awareness Day on September 9”
Summer on ADHD Medication: The Good and The Ugly
Our five-year-old T started medication for ADHD in July. It has yielded positive and challenging results so far. Starting T on medication was a very hard decision. But we made this decision because we knew the potential rewards were worth trying and worst case scenario, we could stop it. We started him in early July.Continue reading “Summer on ADHD Medication: The Good and The Ugly”
Playgrounds Are Back!
One of the hardest moments for me during lockdown was when T broke down in tears after seeing the playground wrapped in caution tape. I still remember the pain and anguish in his voice as he asked me why everything was closed? Thankfully, playgrounds reopened two weeks ago. I’m mindful there is a possibility weContinue reading “Playgrounds Are Back!”
Meeting Mr. Alex
A year after starting at his daycare, I finally met the wonderful staff member who has won T over. I’ve always believed that teachers and educators play an important role in a child’s life and have a big influence on their self concept and their enjoyment of learning and school. For kids with special needsContinue reading “Meeting Mr. Alex”
Every Child Needs and Deserves a Hero
The late Terry Fox took his final steps in his unfinished Marathon of Hope in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We visited the Terry Fox monument on our first day in Thunder Bay on Monday. It honours his memory near the spot where he took his last step. Terry Fox is a famous Canadian athlete whose rightContinue reading “Every Child Needs and Deserves a Hero”
Return to Day Camp!
During yesterday’s day camp pickup, the staff told me that T was talking to them and the kids about Madonna and how he wants our family to move to London to live with her. Being a big Madge fan, moments like this are like a ray of light and remind me like a prayer thatContinue reading “Return to Day Camp!”
Learning and Fun in the Summer
On a scorching Friday morning, T and I went for a hike in our city’s beautiful Botanical Garden. We explored nature, had a picnic of apple juice and Goldfish crackers in the shade of a willow tree, and he saw and learned about cactus plants. Oh, and he spotted a beaver up close too. ThisContinue reading “Learning and Fun in the Summer”
Making the Hard Decision to Medicate Our Child for ADHD
I’ve avoided this for four years. But this week, the hubby and I face an important decision in our 5-year-old’s journey: medication. We adopted our beloved T four years ago – feels like an extra year in there with this pandemic! – and shortly after, he received a prognosis of at-risk fetal alcohol spectrum disorderContinue reading “Making the Hard Decision to Medicate Our Child for ADHD”
Our Budding Little Baker
Learning comes in all forms, as we’ve learned from homeschooling in lockdown. Making a no-bake keylime pie with T reinforced lessons in measurement, chemistry and having fun! The hubby enjoyed the strawberry and rhubarb pie that T and I made last week and asked us to make this no-bake keylime pie recipe from A MillionContinue reading “Our Budding Little Baker”
It’s All About Perspective
For today’s home learning activity, we gave T a magnifying glass and went for a nice walk to look at ants and the beauty of nature up close. T has been learning about ants for school this week. His teacher gave us a series of online books and videos about ants, fictional and factual. OneContinue reading “It’s All About Perspective”
The Magical 5th Cow
I don’t think I would’ve been a good math teacher. Third try at a simple addition question: Me: “How many cows are in this box?” T: “2” Me: “And in this box?” T: “2” Me: “How many cows are there together?” T: “5.” Me: “Where is that 5th cow?! Show me!” On a chippier note,Continue reading “The Magical 5th Cow”
Homeschooling in Quarantine – Finding Our Groove a Month Later
In my prayers the last year, I often asked for T to get the one-on-one school supports he needs to thrive. God, I should’ve been clearer the one-on-one support wasn’t meant to be the hubby and I in a pandemic. Devil is in the details! We‘re now five weeks in and things are mostly wellContinue reading “Homeschooling in Quarantine – Finding Our Groove a Month Later”
Ideas to Keep Our Little One Learning During Social Distancing
“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” – Harvey MacKay I am thankful that T is oblivious to how serious the COVID-19 pandemic is. We’ve let him know there isContinue reading “Ideas to Keep Our Little One Learning During Social Distancing”
“I Love You, Alexa!” – Technology & the Child with Special Needs
“It’s not a faith in technology. It’s faith in people.” – Steve Jobs I was washing dishes one morning when I overheard T talking with our smart home assistant device, Alexa. T: “Alexa… I love you.” Alexa: “That’s nice of you to say.” T: *Repeats over and over again* “Alexa…” Alexa: “Sorry, I’m having troubleContinue reading ““I Love You, Alexa!” – Technology & the Child with Special Needs”
Bedtime Stories Our Son & Us Loved to Read Together
“The more that you read, the more things you’ll know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss On a recent Friday evening, we got home late from McDonald’s PlaySpace. After a long day at work, I was just done. We put T straight to bed and skipped our routineContinue reading “Bedtime Stories Our Son & Us Loved to Read Together”
My Life With T 