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.-
Love Out Loud with Teleflora for the Holidays
Love out loud. Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate all your loves. Around Thanksgiving we start reflecting in earnest on the year that has gone by and the spirit of gratitude and thankfulness is high. It would be lovely if that was the case all year round but sometimes we need reminders of what we are grateful for. That’s sort of what Teleflora’s #LoveOutLoud campaign is about. Gratitude, thankfulness and love. Love Out Loud is more than the tag line for Teleflora’s #LoveOutLoud campaign. The idea has been around forever, as long as love has existed. Live out Loud and Love Out Loud sort of mean the same thing to me.…
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13 Easy and Fun Christmas Teacher Gifts
Every year I struggle with what to get for the kid’s teachers. Many years I have purchased something that benefits a charity. To me those gifts are impactful and meaningful. I know the kids are always proud to give them too. But this year I thought it would be worth taking a look at some popular, fun, and easy teacher gifts to give this holiday season. This past two years in a row my kids have had amazing teachers. Now I know it’s not necessary to buy every single year, but sometimes it is a nice thing to do. Do you give teacher gifts at Christmas? Here are 13 Easy…
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Five Ways Kids Can Give Back at Christmas
Wondering how to get your kids invested in the true spirit of the season? There are several easy ways kids can give back at Christmas. Here are a few that have worked for us. My girls are sensitive compassionate kids. When others are hurt, it hurts them too. My oldest girl, in particular, my creative Type A, is an empathetic soul. Her report card always contains comments about “a kind, caring girl who always helps others and makes friends with new students. She is first to care for her friends when they are hurt.” Showing You Care is Always Important These are the things I hold close to…
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Giving Back This Holiday Season with Red Cross Canada
“I’d rather have empathy than sympathy,” my younger daughter, 13, out of the blue stated the other day when I was driving her to her therapy riding session. That got me wondering if she knew the difference between the two. So I asked her why she felt that way and what she considered empathy. “Sympathy is just feeling sorry for someone, like pity, for someone else. Empathy is being able to feel their feelings, put yourself in their shoes and do something about it.” There are many challenging moments parenting teens. But there are also times when they say or do something unexpected and you recognize that they might be…
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17 Cute Santa Treats to Make and Share
Oh I know Christmas seems right around the corner, doesn’t it? It somehow sneaks up on all of us every year. But this year I have been sharing some great treats and baked goods that may help you prepare some of the baking at least. As for the gifts, well I will probably share some gift ideas here too. Odds are good there will be shopping. Baking some of these Santa Treats ahead of time might help you stay on top of that one task. 17 Santa Treats 1. Chocolate Santa Pretzels 2. Rice Krispie Treat Bars 3. Santa Claus Candy Sleighs 4. Santa Hat Cupcake 5. Santa Cookies 6.…
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BEST Fidget Toys for Christmas – ZURU Toys
ZURU Toys makes this Christmas more exciting with three great gifts for kids who need to fidget. And maybe for some Work at Home parents too. Fidget toys can be useful tools for kids with unique needs and challenges. For kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and even ADD, without the hyperactivity, these can help them focus. And these fidget toys from Zuru Toys are actually so fun I can’t put them down. As soon as this shipment of ZURU Toys arrived they caught our attention. Yes, I said “Our” attention, because I also wanted to pull them out and play. ZURU Toys for the Creative Mind ZURU Toys is…
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Chamilia Sale – Bracelets Make Perfect Holiday Gifts
Chamilia by Swarovski is a brand I love because it is stylish, lovely and affordable too. This week the bracelets are even more affordable as they are marked down for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Trust me a Chamilia sale is a thing to celebrate. This year Chamilia by Swarovski has a limited edition Black Friday bracelet that’s flying off the shelves in their special Chamilia sale event. Details from the special edition Chamilia sale flyer: Chamilia, a Swarovski Company, invites you to keep peace and optimism in your heart and on your wrist with its 2017 Limited Edition Black Friday Special on the “Peace, Harmony and Tranquility”…
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Turn Selfie Disasters into Selfie Success Stories – #ChurchandDwight AD
You can run but you can’t hide. Holidays are a whirlwind of photographs, events, parties and gift exchanges. Even when you think you aren’t being photographed well, chances are good that some well meaning relative is capturing the moment for Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram. Long gone are the days of hiding embarrassing holiday photos in a drawer. Everybody has a cell phone and everyone has social media too. Whether it’s Instagram, Facebook or everything in between, you can’t hide from an onslaught of holiday photos. So, what’s the secret to selfie success, holiday photobombing or staged group photos? Be prepared. Simple, right? Here are a few things you want to…
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Gift Ideas for Tweens this Christmas
Gift ideas for tweens is the name of the game today. While a lot of other gift guides feature dozens of toys, many of them high priced gaming platforms, I’m taking a different approach. I’m going with two affordable options that make great stocking stuffers or straight up gifts. Why you say? Well, not everyone can afford to buy a Nintendo Switch or iPhone X. And more than that, sometimes it’s the little gift ideas that are really the most fun. Two Gift Ideas for Tweens that Cover All the Bases These two gems are perfect for any tween. They pretty much cover everything. One is super cute with just…
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How Have Catholic Teachers Made an Impact on Our Family?
This post is part of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers #catholicteachers sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors. A few weeks before my daughter was scheduled to start grade nine I started to worry. It’s pretty common to have concerns about a child’s education. But when your child has anxiety disorder and an IEP (individual education plan) with a learning disability, or any other type of unique needs, you worry even more. My Concerns as a Parent What if they weren’t able to meet her needs? What if she fell through the…