Adoption and Family
Parenting by adoption is bigger, louder, and often harder to start with. From the assessment and waiting process to the adoption probation period, it can seem endless and like it will never happen. Then you get the call and your life changes forever in a miraculous way. But what next? Sure there is often a honeymoon and parenting is a blessing no matter how you get there. It is a new adventure every single day. AND also adoption comes with numerous other ups and downs.
Find Your Supports Early and Stick With Them
Very often there's minimal support for adoptive parents and families after they leave the courthouse finalizing their adoptions. Consider this your supportive honest space where we share what's worked, what doesn't work, and all the challenges in between. Share your stories, learn and grow together.-
What to Do if Your Child Needs Glasses
Though today’s modern digital age has its perks, it’s also posing unprecedented risks to our eyesight. On average, Canadians spend 3.2 hours a day looking at screens. During this time, they blink less, reducing moisture and causing dry eye syndrome. Though this is easily fixed by using artificial tears, taking screen breaks, and blinking more, the impacts of device use are more apparent among kids than adults. Looking at gadgets up close forces the eye to accommodate close-up vision, elongating the eyeballs and causing myopia (nearsightedness). Eyesight Changes Kids usually adjust to eyesight changes and may not tell you about them, so you might not know immediately. However, you can look for…
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Turning 18 – My Latest for CBC Parents
Both of my kids now are technically an age where the world considers them adults. This year, my youngest was just turning 18, when my nephew asked me if both of the kids were adults yet and that gave me pause. I mean first of all what is an adult? At what magical age or stage are we all adults? Happy Birthday! Second of all, I think most of you know that my kids are not neurotypical. They are neurodiverse kids aging during a pandemic and frankly that just hits different. So I wrote a little something about what is turning 18 anymore and what does it mean. This is…
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So Where’ve I Been for the Last Year?
So Where’ve I Been this last year? Two years ago this week we were practically standing at the door ready to roll on our trip to Vermont I was writing here 3-4 times a week, a regular contributor to CBC Parents and Content Coordinator at Neighbours of Sunningdale. But the pandemic upended a lot of that. Travel ground to a standstill two years ago this week and that was that. What is a travel writer without the ability to travel? I pivoted fast to writing about pandemic parenting and that worked for several months. Frankly, that first year just being able to keep paying the mortgage was a big accomplishment.…
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Why I am Celebrating Finishing the Pandemic School Year
Kudos to all the university, college and high school kids who finished this challenging pandemic school year. Here’s why I am celebrating that achievement. Pandemic learning was a huge challenge this year as was school in general. Socially, I feel like we haven’t given our kids enough credit for getting through the volatile and discombobulating pandemic school year they just had. Imagine being a teen or even an elementary child adapting to all of the stress and change that’s been thrown at them this year. If anything, I am surprised so many kept going to the very end of June. What I am Celebrating Last month, my oldest daughter finished…
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Eight Ways to Teach Gratitude and a Gratitude Jar Craft
Gratitude is a funny thing. It’s hard to teach at times, but such an important value to hold close for life. Without gratitude life can ring hollow. For me, gratitude ties in closely with mindfulness. That’s why I like this gratitude jar kids’ craft idea for families. I’ve talked about self esteem before and self esteem crafts that help kids to grow more self esteem, but what about gratitude? How do you build a sense of gratitude from a young age that permeates a lifespan? Eight Ways to Show Gratitude Here are several ways to help build gratitude in kids as they grow. Model Gratitude Talk about the things YOU…
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Getting Kids Inspired to Help with Earth Friendly Cleaning Products
This Earth Friendly Cleaning products post has been sponsored by Earth Brand which means I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful. My kids are inspired to clean again. That’s a rare thing typically, but during the pandemic, cleaning has taken on even greater importance first of all because everyone has been trying to up their sanitation game. Second of all cleaning is actually fulfilling because we have found a fun and effective new lineup of earth friendly cleaning products. Cleaning with Good Conscience Obviously, during this past 15 months, and the many many lock downs here in Ontario, we’ve all had more time…
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Take the 30-Day Sibling Challenge Now!
You’ve heard of drawing challenges and summer lego challenges and even affirmation cards for teens. But now I am sharing a 30-day sibling challenge for kids, and while it is mostly for kids to use, this is a little gift to you too as a parent if it helps to bring peace to your home. Isn’t that part of the goal daily? Celebrating Siblings Is there any relationship that is longer throughout the lifespan than siblings? Not usually. We grow up with them, they are our first playmates and then we learn to rely on them often throughout life. There are times when although we love them, we likely want…
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Time for Mom Camp With Summer Weekly Themed Activities for Kids
So, if this year is anything like last year then we might all be working on creative ways to keep kids busy. Why not set up your own version of day camp? Mom camp with summer weekly themed activities for kids. I mean when kids are little this totally makes sense. Here are a few ideas for summer weekly themed activities. If there are nine weeks of summer, there can be a lot of down days or a lot of “Mom, I’m bored” days. Don’t let that happen. Instead check the attitude and keep them off screens with nine weeks of planned summer weekly themed activities. This is exactly what…
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25 Summer Things For Kids to Do Now
This year we are all about local activities again. If you are also still playing it smart and cautious then you know that you need to get kids motivated to get outdoors and exercise while doing so safely. Don’t sweat it. I have a great list of summer things for kids to do. Refer to it when you are stuck and pin it for later. Right now that might be a bit trickier than usual, but there are many summer activities for kids to do now safely as we wait for the pandemic to subside and vaccines to roll out across the country. Summer Activities for Kids Visit a Splash…
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My Oxygen Mask and Life During a Pandemic
Huddle up real close. I have something to say regarding life this past year. But wait just a moment, my oxygen mask is askew. Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First You know on airplanes before takeoff when the flight attendants give you that safety demonstration? Oh, I know you are supposed to be listening, but honestly a lot of us have zero interest in the safety demo when we just want to get to where we are going. Right? Lately, I have been reflecting on that simple statement – please put your own oxygen mask on before securing others. Hunting for My Oxygen Mask Ever since the second lockdown…
