Our little guy is 10! 10, double digits, how is this possible?! It was just yesterday that he was learning to walk, we had just started potty training and I was counting with one hand the number of words he could say. T had his first-ever birthday party on Saturday at Skyzone Trampoline Park. I’veContinue reading “At Age 10, We Threw Our Son his First Birthday Party”
Tag Archives: Resiliency
Window to His Soul
Art is healing, inspiring, a form of self expression and for caregivers, a glimpse inside their children’s thoughts. Before Christmas break, T’s teacher sent home his fall school work, which included his journal. This past week, I started reading his daily journal entries and they are a delight. I remember my very first journal, aContinue reading “Window to His Soul”
Finding A Big Brother Mentor for Our Neurodiverse Son
This is a tale in two parts and one tail. One of our goals for this school year is to help T build positive peer and social relationships. These are often cited as challenges for individuals with FASD for reasons that include dysmaturity, regulation and impulsivity. As kids with FASD get older, research has shownContinue reading “Finding A Big Brother Mentor for Our Neurodiverse Son”
Visiting the Real Life Schitt’s Creek
We kicked off 2025 with a daytrip to the real-life Rosebud Motel from Schitt’s Creek, located in Orangeville, an hour drive from Toronto. The drive was relaxing. The highway and roads were quiet and there was light snow further north. Schitt’s Creek is a beloved Emmy-winning Canadian comedy series that ran from 2015 to 2020.Continue reading “Visiting the Real Life Schitt’s Creek”
You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile
Christmas was full of relaxation and melancholy. We kept plans to a minimum – family dinner on Christmas Eve and dinner with friends tonight – and otherwise, lazy days at home. On Christmas, I opened my eyes at 7 am and T’s head was poking through our door like a ferret. I quickly shut myContinue reading “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile”
Lazy Weekend
I’m on staycaytion the next two weeks and my goal to do nothing got off to a wonderful lazy start. I stayed in PJs all weekend and binged Abbott Elementary – hilarious and highly recommended. I told T he’s going to daycare during the break and he better not screw me over by getting sickContinue reading “Lazy Weekend”
Hide and Seek
We’re wired for connection and time with people can be healing and open our minds. I was delighted to be invited back to The Heart of the Matter podcast to speak with Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson about finding community. Connecting with Wynne and Vicki is always a joy. Our chat reminded me about recentContinue reading “Hide and Seek”
Win as a Team
Watching our 9-year-old T enjoy soccer lessons reminds me of why we work as a team. T is halfway through his first round of lessons and it’s been a fun Sunday morning family routine. The hubby and I signed our soccer fan up for these free lessons offered at a City-run recreation centre to helpContinue reading “Win as a Team”
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”
Running for Life: “I’m Not a Quitter”
Thanksgiving is quieter and simpler this year. Two years ago, I hosted dinner for Ma and my sister; the latter had just moved in with us after receiving her terminal cancer diagnosis. Last year, Ma was at the Philippines for an extended visit and I don’t remember if we even did anything for Thanksgiving. SoContinue reading “Running for Life: “I’m Not a Quitter””
Sports as Social Medicine for Neurodiverse Kids
On the last Sunday morning of September, T woke up excited for his first soccer lesson. T loves soccer and his CYW suggested enrolling him into lessons. Sports is often therapeutic for neurodiverse kids, like T who has FASD and ADHD, to help burn off energy and to regulate their mood. I also see socialContinue reading “Sports as Social Medicine for Neurodiverse Kids”
Cooking for the Soul: The F*ck Off Cholesterol Edition
When my family doctor asked to meet about my bloodwork, I knew I had to start taking cholesterol meds. He let me know last summer that my cholesterol was high and we tried to lower it through changes to nutrition. I’m a fairly healthy person – eat, sleep and exercise mostly well – so I’mContinue reading “Cooking for the Soul: The F*ck Off Cholesterol Edition”
The Stories We Tell
Stories inform, inspire, and illuminate life’s complexities and contradictions. Earlier this week, our team at work participated together in a learning and reflection activity to pay respect to National Truth and Reconciliation Day, which is observed on September 30. We watched a short documentary that featured interviews with survivors of the residential school system. MyContinue reading “The Stories We Tell”
“Up My Butt!”
This is a wholesome and positive post, I promise. Two weeks into the new school year 4, T and our family are settling into more structured days. Some good news, T still has his Child and Youth Worker support for academic subjects. It is very rare for a 4th grader to have this support andContinue reading ““Up My Butt!””
Drumming Heartbeats for FASD Awareness Day
September 9 is International FASD Awareness Day. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder describes the impacts on the brain and body of someone exposed to alcohol in the womb. On Sunday, we participated in a community event at St James Park in downtown Toronto organized by Surrey Place, the wonderful organization that has supported T since heContinue reading “Drumming Heartbeats for FASD Awareness Day”
Riding the Rollercoaster of Life
The build up often outlasts the thrill themselves, but boy, are they worth it sometimes. Our annual Labour Day weekend camping plans were thwarted by bad weather and we kept it local and chill instead. We took T to Canada’s Wonderland on Saturday, a beautiful day, our first visit in two years. Going in, weContinue reading “Riding the Rollercoaster of Life”
Visits to the Hospital
Parents want to protect children from hard realities of life but these moments can provide valuable lessons. T has faced a lot of heartbreak for a 9 year old, including Ma’s death this year and my sister’s death the prior year; the latter lived with us in the last few months of her battle withContinue reading “Visits to the Hospital”
The Tumbles and Polish of Sea Glass
Picking up treasures on pebbled shores reflected the journey through life’s imperfections. One highlight from our visit to T’s grandparents in New Brunswick was picking sea glass. Wonderopolis describes sea glass as pieces of glass smoothed over time by the tumbling of water, waves, and sand. As glass soak in salt water and get tossed againstContinue reading “The Tumbles and Polish of Sea Glass”
Cycling the Legacy Trail and to Johnston Canyon in Banff
A 25 km bike ride in Western Canada provided an unforgettable scenic experience for my family. On the fourth day of our week-long visit to Banff in Alberta, I planned a full-day outing around T’s love for biking; it was just last summer that our 9-year-old took off his training wheels. There are numerous bikeContinue reading “Cycling the Legacy Trail and to Johnston Canyon in Banff”
Born This Way
We kicked off T’s summer by marching in Canada’s largest Pride parade and championed freedom to information. I have a leadership role on my work’s Pride employee group and was part of the team that organized our march. For the second year, we chose the theme of intellectual freedom and reused signs from last year,Continue reading “Born This Way”
My Life With T 