I feel worn down from this self isolation marathon and on some days, it is hard to remember the many positives. What I find so difficult is this unsustainable balance to work and take care and school our T. Two very different full time jobs compressed into time allowed for one. The level of anxiety,Continue reading ““Papa, you’re my hero.” – Heartfilling Moments In Isolation”
Tag Archives: special needs
The Magical 5th Cow
I don’t think I would’ve been a good math teacher. Third try at a simple addition question: Me: “How many cows are in this box?” T: “2” Me: “And in this box?” T: “2” Me: “How many cows are there together?” T: “5.” Me: “Where is that 5th cow?! Show me!” On a chippier note,Continue reading “The Magical 5th Cow”
Self Care in a Pandemic for the Special Needs Parents
The one thing I often half joke about is that T can have a full blown meltdown without consequences, while us adults have to be more dignified about our emotions. Well, midway through this week, I had a grown up meltdown. My bottled up stress of the pressure to keep up T’s schooling, my work,Continue reading “Self Care in a Pandemic for the Special Needs Parents”
Discussing Feelings and Building Empathy
“You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.” – John Steinbeck For all the anxiety and exhaustion our little T often causes us, one consistent strength we can always count on is his caring nature. Last summer, during an after dinner outing to the playground, an older boy, who must’ve been nineContinue reading “Discussing Feelings and Building Empathy”
Focusing on Wellbeing and Family Time During Self Isolation
“In times of test, family is best.” – Burmese Proverb Three weeks & several meltdowns later, we’re finding our groove with this stay/work/school at home 24/7 without killing each other thing. We’re accepting things are not business as usual & letting go of the pressure to keep things as such. As scary & uncertain asContinue reading “Focusing on Wellbeing and Family Time During Self Isolation”
“Go for it. Step on all the puddles!”
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” – Heraclitus It’s been two weeks since we’ve started our self isolation, when everything came to a standstill. I am thankful my family is safe and healthy and that we’ve only been lightly inconvenienced.Continue reading ““Go for it. Step on all the puddles!””
Our Fixer Upper Renovation – One Year Later
“There’s no place like home.” – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz A year ago this week, our family made the leap and moved into our house. The hubby and I had previously lived in a small townhouse for over 10 years. T spent three wonderful years in that condo with us, but it was evidentContinue reading “Our Fixer Upper Renovation – One Year Later”
My 5 Year Old‘s Surprising Connection to the Real Life Dennis the Menace
“Mischief just seems to follow wherever Dennis appears, but it is the product of good intentions, misdirected helpfulness, good-hearted generosity…” – Hank Ketcham Sixty nine years ago today, Dennis the Menace made his comic book debut and soon became a worldwide success. At its peak, the comic strip ran in over 1,000 newspapers, 50 countriesContinue reading “My 5 Year Old‘s Surprising Connection to the Real Life Dennis the Menace”
“I Love You, Alexa!” – Technology & the Child with Special Needs
“It’s not a faith in technology. It’s faith in people.” – Steve Jobs I was washing dishes one morning when I overheard T talking with our smart home assistant device, Alexa. T: “Alexa… I love you.” Alexa: “That’s nice of you to say.” T: *Repeats over and over again* “Alexa…” Alexa: “Sorry, I’m having troubleContinue reading ““I Love You, Alexa!” – Technology & the Child with Special Needs”
The Healing Therapy of Pets for Children
“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber When we lived in our former home, T and I would enjoy early Saturday morning walks in the park. At around 9, a group of regulars would gather with their dogs and T would never be shy or afraid about goingContinue reading “The Healing Therapy of Pets for Children”
Watching Our Little One Learn About Friendship
“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” – Winnie the Pooh On a recent Friday evening, my hubby and I were watching T play at our local McDonald’s PlaySpace; it’s our weekly weekend ritual. T ran around in his usual excited way, making loud dinosaur roars. After aContinue reading “Watching Our Little One Learn About Friendship”
Focusing on Potential and a Growth Mindset
“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” – Andy Rooney At the last parent-teacher interview at the Montessori, the last year before T got booted out, I went into the conversation expecting how it would transpire and I was right. The teacher toldContinue reading “Focusing on Potential and a Growth Mindset”
Love You Forever
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud… It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians, 13:4-7 Among the many wonderful books we’ve been gifted by family and friends for T’s personal library are those written by Canadian author Robert Munsch. HeContinue reading “Love You Forever”
It’s Ok To Not Be Ok: Grief, Acceptance & Self Care for the Special Needs Parent
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.” – Charles Schulz After the first two weeks that T arrived into our home at 15 months old, I told my hubby, “This is a piece of cake.” By the third week, I told my hubby I wanted to give him back. Parenting,Continue reading “It’s Ok To Not Be Ok: Grief, Acceptance & Self Care for the Special Needs Parent”
Why Early Intervention Matters for Children with Special Needs and How to Advocate for It
“I believe, I believe, I believe in you.” – Kylie Minogue When we first received T’s prognosis of at-risk FASD, one of the things I obsessed over was how many blocks he could stack, because it was a question asked during his assessment. We practiced every day as if his life depended on creating aContinue reading “Why Early Intervention Matters for Children with Special Needs and How to Advocate for It”
Grammy and “Dad Dad” to the Rescue
“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” – Mother Teresa On the first Saturday afternoon of January, my hubby, T and I were huddled in the family room. I saw the car pull up and I loudly announced, “Grammy and Dad Dad are here.” Our little one charged excitedlyContinue reading “Grammy and “Dad Dad” to the Rescue”
Building Forts and Burning Our Hyperactive Boy’s Endless Energy
“If you build it, he will come.” – Shoeless Joe Jackson On the first morning of the new decade, our four-year-old entered our room bright and early. I pretended to play dead and hoped he’d go to the hubby. No luck. “Papa, I want you to play in the fort with me,” he said. IContinue reading “Building Forts and Burning Our Hyperactive Boy’s Endless Energy”
Finding Resilience In Adversity & Gratitude
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle I spent the last morning of this decade building a fort with T and then playing Snakes and Ladders, a Christmas gift from his grandparents, inside our tiny hideout, slightly hunched over. My back was goingContinue reading “Finding Resilience In Adversity & Gratitude”
Rethinking My Love-Hate Relationship with the Term “Special Needs”
“It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees.” – George Eliot T received a pair of skates for Christmas from my Aunt. We took him for his first skate yesterday. As expected with first timers, he struggled. After two slow laps, he was fed up. OurContinue reading “Rethinking My Love-Hate Relationship with the Term “Special Needs””
Ho Ho Hold the Meltdown: Focusing on the Merry in Christmas
“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not join their chaos.” – L.R. Knost I look forward to Christmas every year, because it is a time to rest, to reflect on the past year, and to catch up with family and friends. But Christmas and the holidaysContinue reading “Ho Ho Hold the Meltdown: Focusing on the Merry in Christmas”
My Life With T 