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”
Tag Archives: Parenting
Being Everest
Pretending to be a Siberian husky to my 8-year-old is something I never thought I’d treasure. Any parent to a young child will likely be familiar with Paw Patrol, a cartoon about six dogs saving the day at Adventure Bay. T has outgrown this show, but one character has stuck with him: Everest, a SiberianContinue reading “Being Everest”
The Magical Yet
I didn’t get my driver’s license until my 30s and after failing the final road test twice. When I finally got it, it was a good reminder that some things that may seem out of reach at first may not always stay that way. As a parent of a child with FASD, I often thinkContinue reading “The Magical Yet”
Fighting Spirit
Body, mind, spirit. They are all connected and nourishing them means a stronger you. Self care is as essential as oxygen to daily life as a parent of a child with FASD. Last fall and the first few weeks of the new year drained my batteries and emptied my reserves. I did not have theContinue reading “Fighting Spirit”
Sorry
The best way to apologize is through changed behaviour. I reflected on this nugget of wisdom after last week’s session of SNAP. The hubby, T and I are halfway through the SNAP program and it’s been great so far. We’re learning behaviour intervention and co-regulation strategies and while it’s never perfect, we’re applying them withContinue reading “Sorry”
The Spaces in Between
When we randomly came upon a photo of my late sister last weekend, T started to cry. It caught me by surprise, because while he’s expressed sadness about her death, this was the first time he’s cried. It was a reminder that grief is a process and that while so much has happened in theContinue reading “The Spaces in Between”
Still Young and Not As Restless
I celebrated another lap around the sun the same week an iconic soap opera celebrated its 50th. More so than ever, I’m most thankful for my family, friends, health, and the opportunities to do things and be with those I love. While I am lowkey about my birthday, I appreciate when people remember to sendContinue reading “Still Young and Not As Restless”
Anahera: the Hidden Angels
While waiting for our flight home, an older man with a cross necklace sat in front of us. The airport was packed and very noisy and T was overstimulated and stimming (digging hands) and eating his Pringle chips messily. We told T to stop eating and save the rest for the flight and was metContinue reading “Anahera: the Hidden Angels”
Swimming with Dolphins
One chatty mammal met another chatty mammal during a delightful afternoon in the water. The excursion van picked us up late afternoon and took us for a short drive through downtown Cancun and dropped us off at the marina. We put on lifejackets and were escorted down the dock to where the dolphins were. TContinue reading “Swimming with Dolphins”
Above the Clouds
We’re spending March Break with T in Cancun and the wait has been so worth it. The past few months have been very challenging and knowing this family trip to Mexico was in the distance gave us the motivation to hang on. The hubby and I are part of a support group for caregivers ofContinue reading “Above the Clouds”
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”
Together We Are More
I recently thought about a bedtime story called “The Bundle of Sticks” that Pa used to tell me. As this Aesop’s Fable goes, an old man gathers his 20 dysfunctional sons as he nears his death. He gives them each a stick and asks them to break it – and they each do so withContinue reading “Together We Are More”
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”
Chosen Family
Holidays provide time for rest and reflection. Family Day is a special holiday, because it comes after Valentines and the anniversary of finalizing T’s adoption in court. When T was a toddler, we loved reading Todd Parr’s Family Book, which spoke about families in all forms – nuclear, single parent or multi-generational households, same sexContinue reading “Chosen Family”
Stand Under My Umbrella
Six years ago today, also a Wednesday, T, the hubby and I became a forever family. In many ways, it feels like a lifetime ago when our adoption was finalized in court – and in other ways, I think with awe, “Has it been only six years?!” So many moments have happened since – joyousContinue reading “Stand Under My Umbrella”
Sweet Dreams
Time flies. It’s hard to believe but our little guy turned lucky number 8 last weekend. T had been counting down excitedly for weeks. But his birthday week got off to a rough start. Last Monday, T woke up around midnight and threw up. A lot. Then woke up every hour after to throw upContinue reading “Sweet Dreams”
Family Traditions
Time spent and memories made with our loved ones are what really count in the end. When my sister learned her chemotherapy was not working, it was sad watching her come to terms with her time left. She said the saddest thing was not getting to spend more time with family and friends. Shortly afterContinue reading “Family Traditions”
All That Matters
Our family’s recent and first experience with COVID reminded me what’s truly important in life. Yes, the dreaded COVID finally hit our family and I was a single parent for nearly two weeks. Shortly after my sister’s funeral during the holidays, our family was longing for respite. No more bad news, please. A few daysContinue reading “All That Matters”
The Wedding
We took our 7-year-old to his first wedding this past weekend. Well, at least the first wedding he’ll remember. He attended his first and only wedding in 2016, a friend’s destination wedding, when he was 1. As with all social events, we had some initial apprehension of how T will be. But we believe it’sContinue reading “The Wedding”
Sharing Our Son’s FASD Diagnosis with Him
There are crucial conversations in life that stick out vividly long after they’ve happened. Coming out when I was 14; telling my parents I was moving out; our wedding vows; the adoption worker telling us we were matched with T. Over the Christmas break, I had two more: one that was planned and another thatContinue reading “Sharing Our Son’s FASD Diagnosis with Him”