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”
Tag Archives: play
The Golden Spark
A single weed in a field of yellow can be magical. It’s that time in Spring when dandelions create a magical golden carpet on park fields. T and I enjoyed a nice walk on Mothers Day. The sun was shining and it was warm enough for T-shirts, shorts and crocs. “Oh my God, stop takingContinue reading “The Golden Spark”
Forever Young
Dinosaurs go extinct when they lose touch with their inner child. Raising T, a child with endless energy and a disability called FASD, can feel like I’m aging in double time – but it keeps me young. Even when I’m exhausted by T, I am amused by his imagination, as he turns our home intoContinue reading “Forever Young”
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”
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”
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”
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”
Snow Day
Sometimes, life gifts you a sign to slow down. Today was supposed to be T’s return to in-person learning. Our city got walloped with snow, so schools were closed but kids were asked to log in for online learning. My initial reaction was “For fuck’s sake, let kids have a rare proper snow day!” WhenContinue reading “Snow Day”
Cousins
Magical moments in parenting happen when you watch your child connect and click with another. As much as I’m still complaining about not having a quiet break to myself during my time off work, it was nice to have given T time with his grandparents, Aunt and cousin in the East Coast. He was particularlyContinue reading “Cousins”
Castles in the Sand
A day at the beach reminded me that childhood flies by like sand rushing through an hourglass. A colleague once told me, when the hubby and I first adopted T, to enjoy T’s childhood because it will go by quickly. I recently noticed that T has been staying in his bed throughout the night withoutContinue reading “Castles in the Sand”
Beach Day at Home
The best laid plans did not go as planned – and it ended up just fine. Our City got a scorching weekend, our first real taste of summer, with two sunny days in the 30s. I had planned for the family to go to the Bluffs, one of our favourite parts of the City, withContinue reading “Beach Day at Home”
The World Is Larger When You’re A Kid
Never lose your inner child, I thought, as I took T 30 years down memory lane. Last Saturday morning, I took T on a nostalgia visit to my elementary school playground. I was a bit over a year older than T is now when I last played there 31 years ago. It was the firstContinue reading “The World Is Larger When You’re A Kid”
Moo Moo and Crab
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”
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”
Sunday Blast Off To Space!
Pandemic lockdown has restricted travel, but T’s imagination rocketed us to outer space on a quiet Sunday. All I wanted to do on this afternoon was nap – I feel so exhausted – but T’s endless energy needed an outlet and I always feel guilty about plopping him in front of the tablet all day.Continue reading “Sunday Blast Off To Space!”
The Magic of a Child’s Imagination
One of the enjoyable things as a parent is to see a child’s growth. I remember those proud milestones that felt like they would never come: first steps, first words, first time peeing in the potty. Lately, I enjoy seeing T’s play skills and imagination grow. Today, the hubby gave me a blue moon giftContinue reading “The Magic of a Child’s Imagination”
The Little Boy in the Park
An unexpected connection with a seven-year-old boy is teaching T about the highs and lows of friendship. It started two months ago, in warmer weather. At that time, T had developed a bond with two older boys, whom he played with regularly after I picked him up after daycare. Then one day, S started toContinue reading “The Little Boy in the Park”
Enjoying A Last Burst of Summer
We took advantage of an unusually warm weekend and soaked up the sun and outdoors. The weather forecast gave me the will to get through what felt like a long week and it looked even better as the weekend came upon us! Early November is an interesting time as Autumn gives us one last burstContinue reading “Enjoying A Last Burst of Summer”
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”
Happy Meals and Summer Memories
Summer fly, winters walk. T got an extra week of vacation this year but it’s time to head back to school this week. This has been a strange challenging summer. I’m thankful my family stayed safe and got to make the most of it and explored the beauty of Ontario. I know this was aContinue reading “Happy Meals and Summer Memories”
My Life With T 