Say hello to our T’s adopted children. T has never played much with stuffed animals when he was younger. But at age 6, they join him everywhere. He started taking his kids to the car to sit with him for the drive to and from school (when they were open!), to sleep with him, andContinue reading “Moo Moo and Crab”
Tag Archives: Family
The Power of Having Someone Believe in You
An understanding, accommodating and compassionate teacher is a true blessing. We have been so lucky that T has had amazing supports in his junior and now senior kindergarten years. There are ongoing struggles, especially in the daily hell of virtual learning. But we are taking it a day at a time. Gym class has alwaysContinue reading “The Power of Having Someone Believe in You”
Teaching Kids To Not Fear Failure
Failing can be a good thing. I recently had a coaching conversation with a colleague. The night before, they had delivered a presentation that did not go as rehearsed. They were mortified. But I was impressed with how they owned their “failure” and identified how they would’ve done it differently. Fear of failure is natural.Continue reading “Teaching Kids To Not Fear Failure”
A Bouquet of Dandelions
The beauty of one’s actions lies in their intentions. One often views dandelions as pesky weeds. The hubby spends at least one weekend each Spring digging them up from our yard. But viewed through the eyes of a curious six year old, they offer an often overlooked beauty. Our world has contracted once again thanksContinue reading “A Bouquet of Dandelions”
“Alexa, Pull My Finger!”
Our boy has reached the developmental stage where farts and poop are the best thing ever. As a parent, you always worry about whether your little one is hitting milestones. Well, let me tell you, our T is exceeding expectations with the farts and poop phase, even using technology in innovative ways. Of the millionsContinue reading ““Alexa, Pull My Finger!””
Magical Stop Motion Animation
On this rainy Sunday, T and I played around with creating stop motion animation. It was two Sundays ago that we experimented with creating puppet show videos. I like doing activities that encourage T to build his creativity and digital skills. With April Break camp cancelled this week because of stay at home orders, I’mContinue reading “Magical Stop Motion Animation”
Bedtime Stories We Loved: Volume 2
T’s teacher recently started a Reading Log program; one new book is sent home every day for us to read with him at night. These are simple books with patterned structure (e.g. Here is a box… Here is a bat… Here is a broom) to help T build his sight word vocabulary and learn aboutContinue reading “Bedtime Stories We Loved: Volume 2”
When Kids Feel Sad
The best and worst parts of being a parent is feeling your child’s emotional highs and lows. Little children carry big emotions that they often do not yet have the life experience to process. When T has a super high, excited or proud moment, we all celebrate together. On the flip side, we’re in theContinue reading “When Kids Feel Sad”
The Road Not Taken
We celebrated my 40th birthday this week and I reflected on what’s happened and the what ifs. T and I recently read a picture book adaptation of Robert Frost’s classic poem “The Road Not Taken,” beautifully illustrated by Vivian Mineker. The poem presents the character, out for a walk in the woods, with a forkContinue reading “The Road Not Taken”
(Not) Leaving on a Jet Plane
Facebook kindly reminded me that two years ago, we were on a family vacation. The pandemic put a hold on our family tradition to travel during March Break. March Break has also been deferred this year until April to help curb COVID cases, so T is in school this week. We’re very grateful to beContinue reading “(Not) Leaving on a Jet Plane”
A Change of Scenery
“You’d think we were going to Disneyland,” I thought after T got super excited when I told him we were visiting a different park last Sunday. Like everyone, we’re all feeling so restless about these “Which window am I going to look out of today?” days. So a change of scenery, even if it wasContinue reading “A Change of Scenery”
Reading Award
A thoughtful gesture of recognition brought a wonderful moment of confidence for our T. In addition to his handwriting skills, Team T at school and at home are working hard with him on reading. Reading with T, especially at bedtime, has been a favourite activity since he was a toddler. So many wonderful stories readContinue reading “Reading Award”
Dreaming Of Summer Roadtrips
For our first roadtrip with an 18-months-old T, we naively thought we’d do a 15-hour overnight drive to New Brunswick. After a day at work, we headed off at 8 pm. That was how the hubby and I used to roll. We did the long drive to his parents’ cottage overnight, taking turns, drinking lotsContinue reading “Dreaming Of Summer Roadtrips”
Making Positive Parenting Work For Our Family
One time, after I responded to T’s tantrum in not-the-most dignified way, the hubby asked, “So how’s that positive parenting going?” As I chopped vegetables, I told him to leave the kitchen or I was positively going to stab him. There are countless resources that describe positive parenting in great detail. I like Kars4Kids’ Parenting’sContinue reading “Making Positive Parenting Work For Our Family”
Rainy Saturdays
A rainy day is nature’s way of telling family to slow down and savour each other’s company. We’re lucky T usually doesn’t wake up till 8:30 on weekends. But today, he got up before sunrise. He came into our room with cheerful pep. “Oh my God, it’s so early. Go back to bed!” I said,Continue reading “Rainy Saturdays”
Daddy vs Papa
During a recent nap in our guest room, the hubby came in and flopped himself next to me. The hubby and I were both exhausted but I told him to go find his own hiding spot before T found me and ended my quiet alone time. After that moment, I thought with amusement about howContinue reading “Daddy vs Papa”
F*ck Carrots!
So our kindergartener is done with carrots and said as much during lunch at school! T had a great first week back at school and we hope the momentum continues. But on his first day back, we got a note in his daily log that he dropped the F-bomb after he opened his lunch andContinue reading “F*ck Carrots!”
What Our Explosive Child Teaches Us About Love
After breakfast, I handed T a heart-shaped box of Smarties and asked him to be my Valentine. To me, Valentine’s is about celebrating love in all its forms, including love between family. How fitting then that this year’s Valentine’s is sharing a double billing with Family Day long weekend in Canada. This weekend has soContinue reading “What Our Explosive Child Teaches Us About Love”
How We Barely Survived Our Second Run of Virtual Schooling
T goes back to school next week, bringing to an end our second run of virtual schooling hell. The last six weeks were so incredibly hard, further amplified by other challenges like Ma’s unexpected health issue. Meltdowns, daily battles, frustration with getting T to sit and focus, embarrassing moments of T throwing a fit whileContinue reading “How We Barely Survived Our Second Run of Virtual Schooling”
“I Get Happy When I See…”
Our T turned 6 this past week! I felt like we just celebrated his 5th birthday. Where did the time go?! While it was a quiet lockdown birthday, the hubby and I still found a way to celebrate. When T woke up on his special day, he stepped out to a hallway and staircase decoratedContinue reading ““I Get Happy When I See…””
My Life With T 