In the end, it’s about memories and we hang onto photos and things that remind us of loved ones. In a year of losses, our family experienced another loss – Ma moved back to Philippines at the end of July. We knew for over a year this day was coming – it was delayed dueContinue reading “All That We Leave Behind”
Tag Archives: Resiliency
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”
Rain or Shine
When things don’t go as planned, like pneumonia ambushing vacation, I look for the silver lining. We had a nice 10 days visiting T’s grandparents in New Brunswick, despite me being ill for most of it. On our third day, I started to feel nauseous, had shaking chills and developed a fever – which reachedContinue reading “Rain or Shine”
Croup Summer
Nothing like a nasty viral infection for poor T to tell us to slow down our summer. On Thursday, T started to complain of a sore throat. By Friday, the sore throat was unbearable. We did a COVID test and it was negative. T woke up twice at night, crying his throat was hurting. ByContinue reading “Croup Summer”
Wheels in Motion
When summers fly, slow down to soak it all in. During camp pickup on Tuesday, I told T I had a surprise. “We’re biking together tonight, because I got a bike too!” T’s face lit up with a smile and he shared the news with his camp teacher and friends excitedly. The hubby and IContinue reading “Wheels in Motion”
Embracing His Inner Dennis the Menace
Half a year after we shared his FASD diagnosis with T, it has clicked with him. On a recent morning, T wanted to play with one of our two cats, which is often a hit or miss event. T stayed gentle and our cat finally went up to T to smell his hand then letContinue reading “Embracing His Inner Dennis the Menace”
Tubing Down Elora Gorge
Rushing river leads to calm water. As a parent of a neurodiverse child, I wholeheartedly believe this. We celebrated Canada Day, and the start of the second half of the year, by tubing down Elora Gorge. It’s family tradition to kick off summer break with a weekend adventure. This year, we picked Elora, a charmingContinue reading “Tubing Down Elora Gorge”
Padam Padam
Life begins at 40 – and what makes your heart beat with new purpose? Growing up, 40 seemed ancient and yet, I still feel like a kid in a candy store when I view and think about certain things in life. Being a dad keeps my mind young and ages my body in triple time.Continue reading “Padam Padam”
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”
Painting Faces
The unfiltered innocence of a child is to be cherished. Life teaches us from an early age to put on a mask to navigate different scenarios and relationships – familial, friendships, professional, social. It’s not about deception but rather to demonstrate emotional intelligence – including respect, collegiality, trust building. Sometimes, it is a necessity whenContinue reading “Painting Faces”
Hard Goodbyes
One of the hardest lessons in life is learning to say goodbye to good friends. Two weeks ago, a bomb dropped in the middle of T’s day when he learned that his best friend – his one good friend at school – was moving and that his last day would be in two days thatContinue reading “Hard Goodbyes”
Unchained from the Rhythm
By recently plugging away from screentime, we’re finding more ways to connect as a family. It all started a few weeks ago when T, in a disregulated fit, hurled his first F-bomb at the hubby. We grounded him from his tablet for a week; which got extended into two. I remember telling the hubby whatContinue reading “Unchained from the Rhythm”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
My Life With T 