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.-
STEM Camp – Summer Day Camps Building Curiosity
Imagine a camp where you build your own space suit, or monitor weather in space. A camp where your children explore the world around them, ask questions and create experiments. Building curiosity and engaging young people all summer long is the name of the game at STEM Camp. I couldn’t be happier to share Stem Camp with you. STEM Camp is one of my favourite children’s STEM summer day camps. You already know STEM is the future and maybe you wonder how to nurture that interest. Maybe you worry your kids don’t get enough STEM in school. Well, STEM Camp is a great way to address that. These innovative hands-on summer day…
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7 Father’s Day Gifts That Don’t Cost a Penny
Dads are such special people in our lives, so when Father’s Day rolls around we no doubt want to give them the best day ever. If your budget is tight, you might be concerned that a fantastic Father’s Day isn’t possible, but the good news is that even on the smallest of budgets, you can make Dad’s dreams come true! Look below at 7 Father’s Day gifts that don’t cost a penny, and see how simple it can be to give Dad the ultimate Father’s Day he deserves. 7 Father’s Day Gifts That Don’t Cost a Penny 1. Give him the gift of laughter. Dads love to laugh and truly…
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Find Your Strength at Pioneer Camp Ontario
Every January my youngest daughter begins the camp countdown to Pioneer Camp Ontario. That’s six or seven months of anticipation before the eventual August drop-off every summer. In many ways this camp is the gift that keeps giving all year long. Of course there’s the week at camp, or lately the two weeks there and the enjoyment, independence and creativity she gets every single year attending Pioneer Camp Ontario. But long after camp itself, every single year Ainsley comes home inspired, engaged, confident, calm and grounded. How Did We Discover Pioneer Camp Ontario? Just two summers ago my family was invited to a Bloggers’ Weekend Retreat at Pioneer Camp Ontario. We…
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How To Move Teens on to High School when Change is a Huge Issue
Do you have teens with special needs or simply inflexible teens? Do they have trouble adjusting to change? Me too. This September my youngest starts high school. Why is that a big deal? Well, my younger daughter has a host of diagnoses. She has an IEP (individual education plan), technology for accessing the curriculum, FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder), sensory and learning challenges, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) all related to that. Combine all of that with a difficulty adjusting to change. Ainsley has difficulty adjusting to life changes. That is extremely typical for kids and adults with FASD – a prenatal brain injury sustained prior to her birth…
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STEM Camp Brings STEM Education to a Wider Audience
STEM education has become a huge part of public, private, and homeschool curriculum. It is the focus of many toys and games. The world is changing. With more and more career opportunities surrounding STEM and the advancement of technology in general, it’s important for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) to play a larger role in children’s education. In a recent post, I talked about how STEM Camp makes STEM fun for children. A friendly atmosphere combines with experiments that promote critical thinking and hands-on learning making STEM Camp a joy. I couldn’t be happier to share two big ways that STEM Camp is making a difference in the world. By…
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STEM Camp – The Perfect Way for Kids to Spend the Summer
STEM Camp is an amazing way to keep the learning spark lit all summer. Over the years both of my kids have benefited from summer camp. Summer camp is a wonderful way to stay engaged and excited about learning even when school is out. And the social benefits of camp are strong too. Summer camps are a wonderful way for kids to mingle with their peers in a fun, safe environment, and STEM camp adds an extra layer to that experience. So what’s unique about this camp. Well, this is no indoor routine classroom setting. This camp offers a setting that allows kids to have a ton of fun while…
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How to Save on Grad Dresses and Prom Dresses
Is it possible to save money on grad dresses or prom dresses? Absolutely. No need to break the bank just because it’s graduation time or prom time. Hard to believe, but my youngest is graduating grade eight in June. Which as we all know means shopping and potential to ruin the budget. But shopping for prom dresses and grad dresses doesn’t need to break the bank. Here’s how we saved money on grade 8 grad dresses for both of our girls. I’ve been a bargain hunter most of my life. It’s extremely rare for me to pay full price on major purchases. Negotiation is actually something I’m good at. For…
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What Happened One Crazy Weekend with Robot Baby
On Friday I became a grandma. My oldest daughter became a Mom and Ainsley an aunt. Which by default then made my husband a grandpa. Robot Baby Lucas joined our family this weekend. And it was nostalgic, fun, comical and a little bit crazy bringing a pretend baby home. But it was also a whole lot more than that too. The road to toy robot baby Lucas began last year when Payton, then 15, told me she wanted to take a parenting course at school. She was giddy over the prospect of having Robot Baby for a weekend in grade 11. Initially I balked. How does a parenting course prepare you for a…
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Earth Day Every Day with these Great Books
Every year, people around the globe celebrate Earth Day. On this day, people often reflect on the environment, what’s happening to it, and how they can make a difference. It’s also a day all about loving the planet and remembering that it’s home to some of the most amazing creatures and places. All that is wonderful, but I think it would be so much better if we had the planet on our mind all the time. I’d love it if every day were Earth Day. That’s why I’m excited about these two Earth Day books I got for the kids from DK. They’re all about the cool, crazy things in…
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Buying Sheets – What You Need to Know
Buying sheets can be a comforting thing or an exercise in frustration. After all, there’s nothing better than a nice, cozy bed. It makes such a welcoming environment when you lay down, and your bed wraps you up in a restful hug. But not all sheets are created equal. Sheets use varying types and qualities of thread to make them last longer or feel softer. It’s more involved than you might think. So let’s take a look at what you need to know when buying sheets. Buying Sheets is About More than Thread Count Thread count gets a lot of emphasis when people talk about sheets, and it should –…