Like many others, the horrifying murder of George Floyd weighed on my mind this week. Since we adopted T, I often view and process news and events through the eyes of being his Papa. I often think to myself about how I can protect T from the horrors of the world while he is young,Continue reading “We Can and Must Do Better”
Tag Archives: Family
Magical Colours and Ingredients in Our Garden
T and I made our first strawberry rhubarb pie thanks to the garden lovingly nurtured by the family who lived in our home for over half a century. We are the second family to live in our late 1950s side split. The home is old and we are slowly fixing it up over time butContinue reading “Magical Colours and Ingredients in Our Garden”
Learning About Social Skills and Friendship From His Cats
It took four years and a pandemic but the Cold War between our hyperactive and loud five-year-old son and his skittish fur siblings has thawed. T and our two cats, Kyrie and Lanaya, had a rocky start. We adopted the cats, both at 1 year old, in 2015 and T came into our lives andContinue reading “Learning About Social Skills and Friendship From His Cats”
Saying Thanks For Things I’m Grateful For
T’s teacher gave a wonderful assignment that asked T to watch a video explaining what gratitude is and to create a thank you card for something he was grateful for. The hubby and T worked together to create a simple card (pictured below) and T said he was thankful for the playground, even though itContinue reading “Saying Thanks For Things I’m Grateful For”
Lessons I Learned About Parenting from Ma
They say that children are always watching and learning from their parents. One memory I have of Ma that has made a lasting impression is from when I was a teenager and Ma came home and told us she was unemployed. For context, my parents lived in the Philippines where I was born and spentContinue reading “Lessons I Learned About Parenting from Ma”
To Our Son’s Birth Mom on Mother’s Day – Thank You
Every Mothers Day, T’s teachers create crafts with the kids to take home to their moms. As T has two dads, the hubby and I alternate giving the craft to our moms every year. We know about T’s birth mother and it is a story we are prepared to share with T when he asksContinue reading “To Our Son’s Birth Mom on Mother’s Day – Thank You”
“Papa, you’re my hero.” – Heartfilling Moments In Isolation
I feel worn down from this self isolation marathon and on some days, it is hard to remember the many positives. What I find so difficult is this unsustainable balance to work and take care and school our T. Two very different full time jobs compressed into time allowed for one. The level of anxiety,Continue reading ““Papa, you’re my hero.” – Heartfilling Moments In Isolation”
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”
Self Care in a Pandemic for the Special Needs Parents
The one thing I often half joke about is that T can have a full blown meltdown without consequences, while us adults have to be more dignified about our emotions. Well, midway through this week, I had a grown up meltdown. My bottled up stress of the pressure to keep up T’s schooling, my work,Continue reading “Self Care in a Pandemic for the Special Needs Parents”
Sharing A Little Love, Hope and Cheer on Our Windows
We started drawing art on our windows to share cheer and positive energy with our neighbours. We used washable markers that we ordered from Amazon and got the idea from a neighbour down the street. Our time and energy is admittedly all focused on T and our work, so we don’t get to focus moreContinue reading “Sharing A Little Love, Hope and Cheer on Our Windows”
Homemade Bird Feeders to Help Our Backyard Friends
We’ve reached the point in the pandemic where we’re now coating pine cones in peanut butter. Jokes aside, these home-made bird feeders were a nifty craft idea suggested by T’s teacher and he worked on it with the hubby last night while I got some personal rest time for myself. During last night’s walk, weContinue reading “Homemade Bird Feeders to Help Our Backyard Friends”
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”
Discussing Feelings and Building Empathy
“You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.” – John Steinbeck For all the anxiety and exhaustion our little T often causes us, one consistent strength we can always count on is his caring nature. Last summer, during an after dinner outing to the playground, an older boy, who must’ve been nineContinue reading “Discussing Feelings and Building Empathy”
Easter and the Resiliency of Nature
“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” – Robert Jordan It has been a long week. But we get a reprieve from the insanity of simultaneously working and parenting from home with this four-day Easter long weekend. The big change this week was T’s teachers areContinue reading “Easter and the Resiliency of Nature”
Cooking & Finding Calm in Isolation
“Life itself is the proper binge.” – Julia Child Cooking is something I enjoy. I’m not artful at it, but I like to try to new recipes or to recreate childhood comforts. In the three weeks that we’ve been in isolation, I’ve been cooking more. It brings me calm to be in the kitchen silentlyContinue reading “Cooking & Finding Calm in Isolation”
Focusing on Wellbeing and Family Time During Self Isolation
“In times of test, family is best.” – Burmese Proverb Three weeks & several meltdowns later, we’re finding our groove with this stay/work/school at home 24/7 without killing each other thing. We’re accepting things are not business as usual & letting go of the pressure to keep things as such. As scary & uncertain asContinue reading “Focusing on Wellbeing and Family Time During Self Isolation”
“Go for it. Step on all the puddles!”
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” – Heraclitus It’s been two weeks since we’ve started our self isolation, when everything came to a standstill. I am thankful my family is safe and healthy and that we’ve only been lightly inconvenienced.Continue reading ““Go for it. Step on all the puddles!””
Our Fixer Upper Renovation – One Year Later
“There’s no place like home.” – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz A year ago this week, our family made the leap and moved into our house. The hubby and I had previously lived in a small townhouse for over 10 years. T spent three wonderful years in that condo with us, but it was evidentContinue reading “Our Fixer Upper Renovation – One Year Later”
Supporting My Little One During These Challenging Times
“Even a happy life has a sad day. We fail to provide a context which says it’s okay to cry, it’s okay to be sad.” – Marianne Williamson Against the backdrop of a beautiful warm Spring afternoon, our little T finally broke down in tears for the first time since our self isolation started. TheContinue reading “Supporting My Little One During These Challenging Times”
Celebrating My Birthday in Self Isolation
“There is still no cure for the common birthday.” – John Glenn Today is the first time – and hopefully only time in a hopefully long life to still unfold – that I will celebrate my birthday in self isolation during a global pandemic. Schools are closed but supposed to be officially back in businessContinue reading “Celebrating My Birthday in Self Isolation”
My Life With T 