The new school year is almost upon us, and for many of us, it may have already begun. It marks the return to reality and for so many of our kids (and ourselves) a wave of emotions begins to arise at the thought of returning. Some of you may be ready to celebrate the return to quieter days, and others may feel sadness at the thought of summer coming to an end. Whether we have ... Read More
The #1 Thing You’re Messing Up During Your Child’s Meltdown
We've all been there. Playing with our kids at home, our child gets triggered and ALL chaos ensues. Navigating a meltdown can be hard. This can be a common occurrence for many parents, but when you're parenting a child with special needs, it can reach a whole new level. I think it is safe to say many of us avoid triggers like the plague. Recently I attended an ... Read More
Understanding our Children with Siblings with Special Needs
Raising a child with special needs can be arduous and unyielding. It can somehow muster the most introverted of parents to take arms for advocacy, change, support, and acceptance while simultaneously throwing the most extroverted on their knees in humility. It is riddled with highs and lows, laughter and tears, and though it can take everything out of you, it somehow finds the ... Read More
An Open Letter from the Mother of a Bully
We all know one. That child at school who calls other kids names. The one that says rude comments. The one that doesn't play fair during games, or tries to control who gets to play with the group. As a parent seeing your child's feelings get hurt, this can be heartbreaking, challenging, and down right infuriating. Hi! I'm the parent of that bully. But instead of saying ... Read More
Why You Should Reward Your Child for Bad Behavior
You're standing in your kitchen washing dishes when suddenly your 10 year old child comes walking in. He asks if he can have an ice cream sandwich. Dinner is in 5 minutes so you calmly let him know not right now, but after dinner. Unfortunately, this tried and true method of delaying the "yes" doesn't work and your child begins to meltdown. I'm not talking your average ... Read More
When Teenager’s Adopt – Part 1
Last post I introduced you to A Teenager's Wedding; a look at our wedding day at the ripe age of 18 and 19 years old. For this post, I actually squeezed myself out of the teenager category (fewf), but my husband sure didn't (I still had my strange collection of stuffed pigs on top of my kitchen cabinets, so I suppose my exit from childhood isn't 100% conclusive)! Our first ... Read More
What Are the Different Types of Adoption?
Many people do not realize just how many types of adoption there really are. Often the various types are confused, mixed-up or unknown. In this post I will discuss the many different types of adoption including: Domestic Adoption, International Adoption, Foster Care Adoption, Direct Placement Adoption and Embryo Adoption. ... Read More
7 Important Things to Know to Start the Adoption Process
Starting the adoption process can be a daunting task. Finding a centralized hub with all of the information is almost impossible. Rules, prices, countries available, and even the process can differ between provinces and countries. In this post I will provide important things to know based on Canadian information, so you can start your adoption process! ... Read More