T enjoyed trick or treating with friends this year. Halloween fell on a Friday and we stayed up later without worry of school or work the next day. T dressed up as a child being abducted by an alien and I chuckled at his grandparents asking who the alien was when we sent them aContinue reading “Thriller Night”
Tag Archives: kids
Story of My Life
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”
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”
The Power of Yet
T asked the lifeguard if he could try the deep end test. It was his first-ever attempt. Would he make it? I thought about this recent outing at the community pool, as it’s goal-setting time for the school year. This year, I love how T’s teacher included the kids in the process, using the PowerContinue reading “The Power of Yet”
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”
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”
Love Leads the Way
T marched in his first Pride parade and he did amazing! I’m part of my work’s Pride staff group and it was wonderful to march with colleagues, family and friends for the first time since the pandemic. It was important to march, because of increased attacks towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community. It is horrifying to seeContinue reading “Love Leads the Way”
Flowers
On a beautiful Spring Sunday afternoon, T brought flowers for his Auntie. A few weeks prior, the memorial garden staff let me know her memorial plaque had been installed and with it, a vase for flowers. At 8.5 years old, T has experienced a lot of adversity and loss the past year. When I watchedContinue reading “Flowers”
Sprint to the Finish
Friday was Track and Field Day. T crushed and won his races, including the 1500m and 800m. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, the hubby, T and I participated in the final session of the SNAP program, which we participated in to build skills to make better choices and co-regulate with T when moments getContinue reading “Sprint to the Finish”
Meet the Parents
When the hubby and my parents first met each other 20 years ago, it started quite comically. A few seconds into meeting, Ma started talking about the time she and her siblings drove by New Brunswick, where my in laws live, and didn’t think much of it because she didn’t see any flowers. It wasContinue reading “Meet the Parents”
A Series of Suddenlies
Life flashes by in a series of suddenlies. Suddenly, the hubby and I are university students randomly meeting on a dance floor then start to date on March 8, 2003. Suddenly, we’re moving in together then getting married. Suddenly, we have a little boy then navigating the horrors of a pandemic. It’s impossible to captureContinue reading “A Series of Suddenlies”
The Skin We’re In
Being thick skinned takes work, whether it comes to parenting or Air Frying pork belly. When I cook, one of my self care routines, I find parallels with parenting a child with FASD. My cousin gifted us an Air Fryer for Christmas and it’s been amazing to make recipes on my bucket list, most recentlyContinue reading “The Skin We’re In”
In the Arms of an Angel
Our family faced a sudden loss – for T, his first experience with losing someone – over the holidays. My sister passed away last Thursday, a few days after being admitted to the hospital on Christmas Day, after a short and brave battle with cancer. My family and I are still processing and making senseContinue reading “In the Arms of an Angel”
Play Date
A rainy Sunday morning at a McDonald’s Playspace was just what the doctor ordered. One of the biggest changes in T’s school life happened earlier this year when his CYW in SK and half of Grade 1 moved to a different school. We all felt the loss of this wonderful person, especially T, and itContinue reading “Play Date”
Reading and Parenting with Pride
When those in power seek to maintain the status quo, they target access to information. I read with dismay and anger about Republican leaders seeking to ban books that discuss diversity, specifically 2SLGBTQ+ people, and to ban school curricula that discuss critical race theory. Reading is one of T and our favourite activities. In additionContinue reading “Reading and Parenting with Pride”
Kids Keep Us Grounded
T walked in the door with the hubby, who had taken our cat to the vet. We circled him with a congratulatory hug because his teacher had e-mailed us great news. She had a regular check-in with T’s reading. He had been reading at Level 4 – on the Developmental Reading Assessment system – theContinue reading “Kids Keep Us Grounded”
Making Asian Night Market Food at Home
On the menu: Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken. Not on the menu: Silkworm larvae, sheep penis or sea horse. I have this week off work. But T’s daycare closed between Christmas and New Year’s, so the quiet break I was looking forward to didn’t pan out. I had a meltdown when the daycare notified us about thisContinue reading “Making Asian Night Market Food at Home”
Motivation
Fans of long-running reality show Survivor will be familiar with the term “dig deep.” It’s what host Jeff Probst says to motivate contestants to tap into their inner strength to get through a physically-grueling challenge. The last few weeks have been very challenging with T at home and school. We’re not sure if it’s theContinue reading “Motivation”
Cooking Gamjatang, Celebrating Korean Culture
Pork bone soup is one of my comfort foods and I finally took it off my cooking bucket list. Our previous home was located in a Korean community. It was there that I discovered gamjatang at Owl of Minerva. This restaurant is open 24 hours, so before T entered our lives, the hubby and IContinue reading “Cooking Gamjatang, Celebrating Korean Culture”
“Oh my God, is that a coconut?!”
My six year old and I started a new bonding ritual: Friday night grocery runs. After a long week, all I wanted was my weekly 90 minutes of freedom: going to the supermarket. “Oh, can I come?” T asked chirpily. “Oh, fuck no,” I said to myself in my head. But I simply said, “No.”Continue reading ““Oh my God, is that a coconut?!””
My Life With T 