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I Vote For Special Needs Travel #travel
One of the things I love most about travel is that travel is different things to different people and it is what you need it to be. It is slow, or fast, or multigenerational or empty nest, or foodie, or adventure. It can also be special needs travel. There are as many ways to travel as there are travellers. This month I am joining 30 other travel bloggers to celebrate all kinds of travel. It’s my second year doing this travel blogger series. You can read each of the amazing posts about travel on wordtraveling.com. Special Needs Travel My daughter, 4, boomerangs up and down the stairs to a waterslide…
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My Top Six Mother’s Day Gifts From Hallmark #Giveaways
Mother’s Day is a hard time of year when you are missing your Mom. Three years ago I lost my Mom. I miss her every day and this time of year I miss her so much my heart hurts. We did things together on Mother’s Day most years, but there are many moments now I wish I had hugged her tighter, and called her more frequently, and brought her flowers every time I saw her. That’s why I want to remind you that it’s a special time of year and you need to take time to spend it with your Mom. Buy all the Mother’s Day gifts or give her…
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The History of Mother’s Day
The History of Mother’s Day The history of Mother’s Day is quite long. Most people think it began in the early 1900’s, and while the move towards an official holiday began around the time, the actual history of Mother’s Day dates back much, much further. It’s roots can be traced all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman culture. Ancient History of Mother’s Day The history of Mother’s Day has its beginnings in an ancient annual spring festival of the Greeks which was dedicated to their maternal goddesses. At that time, the day was used to honor Rhea, the wife of Cronus and the mother of many of the…
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Seven Ways to Carve Out Time With Siblings of Special Needs Children
Having a child with special needs impacts family life in many ways. There can be extra financial and emotional stress. A Canadian study called PALS notes clearly that the mother in a family with a child who has a disability most often is required to adjust her work schedule to care for the special needs child. Finances and health are impacted, and so is marriage. But what about the siblings in families with special needs on deck? There are many rewards to parenting children with special needs, but there are also undeniable challenges, emotionally, financially and physically. Where there are other children in the family they benefit from having been exposed to a…
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Building an Inclusive Classroom With Microsoft
Technology has the power to make lives better. The right technology can help us break down barriers, stay in our homes longer, or tackle health challenges head on. In schools, technology has incredible potential to help build ability, to help every child transcend barriers to education and achieve a bright future. Microsoft Canada is working to help every teacher embrace technology and build an inclusive classroom. My daughters are amazing girls with many strengths and a few challenges. They both fall squarely within the 3.2% of Canadian children aged 5 to 14 affected by a limitation related to learning. That statistic comes from the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey by Statistics Canada. We know kids…
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When Hard Doesn’t Break – Special Needs Parents
Maybe your child has curly hair, or is slightly unique in some other tiny way. Small genetic blessings that somehow will turn to a source of pride. Over time. Maybe you think that parenting is hard, but your hard is a moment. Your hard is a glass of wine, some retail therapy, girl’s night out, and then you move on. Your hard breaks. There’s nothing heartbreakingly extraordinary that impacts the way your child moves throughout their Mondays, or Fridays – the way they approach their school day, year to year. Just a kid, potentially a great kid, maybe even an A student, going about their life sometimes trying new and fun things, succeeding,…
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Four Water Parks Near Detroit, Michigan #Travel
My family and I love going to water parks. There’s really nothing like them. Water parks offer fun in the sun, water play, family togetherness, and memories that last a lifetime. You might think you have to travel to Florida or some other sub-tropical U.S. Destination to find a great water park, but I’ve got a list of water parks for you that are actually close to my Ontario, Canada home. These water parks are near Detroit, Michigan. 4 Water Parks Near Detroit, Michigan All of the water parks below are wonderful destinations for family fun, and they’re all within a 4 hour drive of Michigan. Red Oaks Water Park North of…
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Teacher Appreciation Week Free Printables
Did you know that it is Teacher Appreciation Week coming up May 2 – 6? Teachers can and often do make a huge impact on a child’s life. A really dedicated and kind, caring professional can change the course of a child’s future. I believe in rewarding people and other classmates who help my children at school. So, for instance, with certain classmates of my daughter, I make sure to buy Christmas presents, or send an extra snack once in awhile so my daughter can share. When we were KinderCanada ambassadors a couple of years ago I would have her take 2 or 3 of the treats to school to…
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5 Benefits of Multi-Generational Travel #travel
Listen to me closely. If you are in your 30s and 40s and thinking why on earth would I want to take my children’s grandparents along on a trip with us, there are a few things you need to know about multi-generational travel. Both sets of our parents have passed away and I wish more than anything that we had had the time and money to include them on our big annual trips together to see the world. My husband and I both always managed to go to the cottage together with our respective families and that was one sort of multi-generational travel experience that will stick with us forever.…
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Tips to Make Special Needs Travel Simpler
Just like life with our unique kids, special needs travel requires extra planning and some extra thought. Every family should have the chance to travel. In fact, parents of kids with special needs should get a regular break to restore. But family travel with neuro-typical kids can be challenging enough, and there’s so much more to plan for and think about when you travel with special needs on deck. So how on earth are you to figure out a way to make special needs travel work? Well, if you do your homework, the experience can be very rewarding. Make Special Needs Travel Manageable Traveling, like life with special needs children, works best when there’s…