It’s no secret here to most of you that I have children with mental health diagnoses. One of my biggest concerns at the start of this pandemic was my older girl’s anxiety disorder and my younger girl’s aggression, which is a result of her FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.) Both teens do therapy on a regular basis and the youngest was in crisis for most of 2019. She might have turned a corner on that just recently due to therapy she’s finally been able to access. But jeopardizing any progress also was a concern for me. Keep These Mental Health…
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I read a story this morning about a skier’s wife who committed suicide in 2016. That story reminded me again how fragile mental health is. I know too well how hard it is to secure mental health supports and help for young people who need treatment. In fact, I just wrote a CBC Parents piece about that precise issue and the unbearable weight of being waitlisted. But there has to be something that sometimes gives us the strength and the ability to get through the wait. Right? It’s completely undoable otherwise. What Can You Do to Get Through the Hard…
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This sensory toys post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. Purchases made via qualifying links mean a small commission for me. What do you give to kids who are anxious about a lot of things, whose brains seem to amplify sensations and noises? Good sensory toys can help them function and manage sensory input. My daughter has sensory processing disorder. I have written about that here a few times. Years ago I wrote about our journey to get a sensory processing disorder diagnosis for Today’s Parent magazine. These recommendations are based on what we have found that works.…
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What are your plans and goals this year? Lately, my daughters and some of my friends have been talking about plans for 2020, the year of clarity. 2020 vision equals clarity. Get it? I really like that metaphor for the new year and the new decade. Perhaps, this decade will be one of clarity. One daughter has a goal to drink more water and frankly that’s clearly a goal I am all about. I think that’s a great ongoing goal for me, but I am already doing well there, so it’s not really my resolution. That same daughter, who has…
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How to Prevent Osteoporosis post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. According to the American Orthopaedic Association, more than 30 million Americans have a pronounced risk for developing osteoporosis, or low bone density. So, learning how to prevent osteoporosis should be top of mind for many people. Although women over the age of 65 are more likely to develop osteoporosis, this serious health problem affects men as well, and impacts nearly 10 million adults in the United States. In Canada, those statistics are also high. Two million Canadians are affected by osteoporosis. An estimated 1 in 3…
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Post may contain affiliate links as a service to my readers. I receive a small commission for purchases made via qualifying links. It should come as no surprise to most people who regularly read this, or follow me online, that I struggle to maintain good gut health. I have Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, and talk about that here on the site sometimes too. In fact, I am on a constant quest to maintain, or establish good gut health. That can be an uphill battle often. Frequent exercise, research and self care work in my favour to help me…
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Honeybird weighted blankets offer comfort, relaxation, and anxiety relief that’s clinically proven to work. For a host of reasons, weighted blankets work. Post contains affiliate links and I received product for consideration. Insomnia? Yes, they help. Anxiety? Yes also. Simply need to relax? Yes indeed, also useful. Five Reasons to Choose Honeybird Weighted Blankets For Sensory Issues Both of my daughters have varying degrees of anxiety, which can also cause some issues with sleep. My youngest daughter has used a weighted blanket on and off since she was 4 years old to help with sensory processing disorder. Her weighted blanket…
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You might know grapefruit seed extract as a supplement, but did you also know it can be used for a homemade cleaner, or a fruit and vegetable wash? There are quite a few ways to use grapefruit seed extract that are simple and affordable too. Many commercial cleaners are available that kill bacteria and germs in your home, while sometimes using questionable toxic chemical ingredients. If you, like me, try to limit the chemicals you expose your family to, then you might want to know about these easy ways to use Grapefruit seed extract. Grapefruit seed extract is a supplement…
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Flips flops are a staple in everyone’s summer wardrobe. True story – my kids have been buying these on their own for years. Who can blame them? They are inexpensive and easy to toss on and also cute. Once I wrote about the time my older girl zip lined through Puerto Vallarta rain forest wearing flip flops. Oh so popular during the summer months and when you go on holidays, flip flops are inexpensive and easy to pack. It’s no wonder people love this popular form of footwear. They are easy and flexible and they scream beach vacation. But Are…
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This post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. Any purchases made via qualifying links equal a small commission for me. Is this year the worst in recent memory for allergies? I am waking up stuffed up and my ears get that crazy itch that heads right straight for my throat every morning. When Pollen Counts Are High Not surprising, because the pollen is so heavy in the air right now, I can literally see it every day. There are many times I look outside and it actually kind of looks like snow. But it’s pollen – huge…