parents Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

7 Father’s Day Gifts That Don’t Cost a Penny

Paula — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:17:21 +0000

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 enjoy watching their kids do funny things. Put on a small stand up act for Dad that includes jokes, skits, and music if you wish. Even a small 15 minute show made just for Dad will have him in tears. Laughs shared together don’t cost a penny and they create lasting memories. 2. Give him the gift of genuine time. How often do you spend quality time with Dad? Take some time on Father’s Day to sit and talk with Dad. Eliminate any distractions such as electronics, and just use this time to bond with him and listen to him. Genuine time together without distractions is so important and valuable. You will never regret that. 3. Give him the gift of relaxation. Does Dad love a good nap? After your Father’s Day meal, give Dad an hour to himself. Let him take a quick snooze, or just enjoy a little quiet time to himself. Remember this time is all about Dad, so let him choose how he wishes to spend it. 4. The gift of appreciation. Show Dad how much you appreciate him by telling him! You can either put your feelings into words and tell him, or write them in a letter. Either way, just hearing how much he is loved and appreciated will make him feel quite special. 5. Give him the gift of love. How does Dad show his love? Through cards? Lunch box notes? Silly jokes? Think about all the ways Dad shows his love and return it. Leave him a lunch note, give him a high five, or do one of the many other things he is known for. 6. Give him the gift of music. If Dad loves music, let him pick the radio music that day. Or, you can find a free local concert to enjoy with him. Get out old Cd’s or records and let Dad share his favorite music choices. Remember, today is all about him! 7. Give him the gift of peace. Today is not the day to argue with siblings or have disagreements. Be conscious about making the day a peaceful one that is full of laughter. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and let today be just about Dad. Gifts like this don’t cost a penny. Gifts that Don’t Cost a Penny Sometimes are the Most Memorable See how many great ways there are to celebrate Dad for less? It really doesn’t matter what your budget is, as some of the best ways to show Dad your love are free. Consider these 7 Father’s Day gifts that don’t cost a penny and see how easy they can be. Dad is sure to feel loved and appreciated.

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Stupid Tears and Being a Special Needs Parent

Paula — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 12:43:20 +0000

I’ve become a spectacle. The crazy Mom sitting in the grocery store parking lot crying stupid tears in a minivan. You don’t want to know her. She’s pathetic and cliche. But too many times lately she’s me crying in the parking lot at Sobey’s, No Frills or Food Basics. Look away. I am not a Weeper Perhaps you are new here and you don’t know me, but I am not a cryer. In fact crying is something I typically do once or twice a year maybe. Like a thing I allow myself very rarely in controlled situations at home. Nobody needs to see me crying in the parking lot at the grocery store. Or anywhere else for that matter. Truth be told I don’t often understand large emotional outbursts, or the purpose of crying. When Kids Social Lives Spill Over I am a doer. I channel my anger into work or into advocating for my kids, both of whom have IEPs (individual education plans). This year, both of my girls have had some social struggles that break my heart. This school year has been one of changing medications and hoping something works better than the last one. And there’s all the teenage hormones on top of that. It’s never easy, but sometimes you coast blindly, because you are tired or because you just have too many balls in the air. You think it’s all going well and then you get a text, an email, a call from the school. Or maybe from your child and stupid tears well up. At the grocery store, sitting in a meeting, or simply in the middle of the day. Stupid tears. What’s their purpose? Emotional Leakage Upset, disappointed, irritated, angry, frustrated, exhausted. Sometimes, it’s all stupid tears. Literally. The older I get the more emotional leakage I have. Often I wonder if we are all like that, or if it’s just me. Maybe it’s all parents of teens. Did my Mom feel this way? I wish I could ask her. Or maybe it’s all special needs parents. Then I wonder why other parents lied so much about parenting. We coast along with our sleepless, helpless babies in an exhausted state thinking it gets so much better. You sit on a throne of lies My oldest daughter has a meme she often quotes: “You sit on a throne of lies.” That’s this stage right now in a nutshell. Traditional parenting knowledge right now feels like it’s a throne of lies. Once they are able to walk and talk it will be so much easier. When they can feed themselves life will be so much easier. Or once they are in school everything will be so much better. Well, I am calling it. The truth is there’s nothing easy ever about ANY of the steps along the way. Issues are bigger and more urgent and I always feel I am running out of time to fix them, because if X doesn’t get addressed before she’s 18 then how on earth will she ever cope independently at college or university? HOW? It is Not Picture Worthy This current reality is ugly. It’s not Instagram worthy or Facebook Fabulous. It’s a big mess of stupid tears and irritable outbursts and scrambling to plug in more supports, different supports, and doctor’s appointments. And it’s me wondering whether this entire special needs parenting thing has completely kicked both of our butts so hard that both my husband and I will soon need therapy and medication to cope. Never once did I think I would be this irritable. And never once did I think my kids would beg to be homeschooled. Keeper of the Sanity For years I have jokingly dubbed myself keeper of the sanity. Able to find the calm easily in an emergency. Surrounded by anxious people with high maintenance special needs. But right now I am a bit worried about me. The keeper of the sanity is nowhere to be found. She is AWOL. Don’t know why I check my emails or my texts in the grocery store parking lot anymore. Clearly that needs to stop. This year we’ve had good teachers. Decent supports in school. But still the kids struggle, more than I wish they ever had to and that sucks. The month, when they both had big social issues with their friends, was exquisitely heavy at home. One girl was baffled completely why a small group of friends suddenly had no interest in being her friend any more. “I eat alone all the time now,” the kid confided one night. And then my youngest burst into inconsolable tears over a friend situation too. And in fact it was pretty much the same thing. “I eat alone in the resource room.” Their friends are everything when they are teenagers. As big a deal as family is. In fact maybe bigger. So when cracks appear in that facade, outbursts happen. When they cry lately over that stuff I cry too. I am not a cryer but here I am crying stupid tears in the stupid Sobey’s parking lot again. Some days it’s hard to force the day to fit any sort of recognizable or manageable shape when it starts with big sloppy emotion. Switching Gears This week my family had made a clear cut decision about the educational path and high school courses for my younger daughter when someone weighed in a bit late – she’s really struggling with that, they said. That called into question everything yet again. And it potentially invalidated all of the forms I had already filled out, taking hours to document course choices and emergency contact details, photocopying IEPs and report cards and physician reports. More Red Tape and Forms Because I needed more to do and more to stress over and I like to do every application twice. And this morning she’s begging to be homeschooled again. So far we’ve avoided that because I run a business and my cup is full to overflowing every single day. Clearly her anxiety over moving on to high school soon is huge. Oh there are good things that have happened too, but that’s another post. There are days it’s impossible to see sunshine, rainbows and kittens. Days when gratitude and hope are hiding, when you are sitting in your van crying stupid tears wishing life would throw your kids a break.

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Social Media Issues – How Ontario Teachers Navigate the Waters

Paula — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 07:07:20 +0000

Social media issues can be challenging. It’s a field that is in a constant state of flux. Facebook changes its algorithm. Twitter offers a new feed. One network wanes while another jets off into the stratosphere. And just when you think you have it all figured out, suddenly your high schooler comes home talking about some new chat service that nobody over the age of 20 has EVER heard of before. Social media issues can be a real danger to both children and the teachers responsible for their education. Teachers are the people who spend 5 to 6 hours a day with your child. They need to know how to navigate the social media waters, just like the rest of us. When social media issues like bullying happen it spills over into the school environment. Last September we dealt with a serious social media incident here when someone set up a fake Instagram account using my daughter’s name (spelled incorrectly.) It was an upsetting time for everyone. In the hallway, one day during school another teen showed by daughter a fake Instagram account in her name. The fake account called many classmates Fat, Ugly and worse. Thankfully my teary-eyed grade nine daughter knew enough to go that day to a trusted adult in the school. She called me as well. Police were then also called to investigate. Although my daughter’s school did not yet have an Instagram policy one year ago, they handled the whole experience beautifully. The other child eventually confessed and we went through a restorative justice process with the teen. School staff supported us throughout. Social media issues like bullying should not happen, but they do. Fortunately, Ontario teachers are fully equipped with the knowledge of how to deal with social media issues and how to keep them from occurring. Ontario College of Teachers Advises Teachers The Ontario College of Teachers has developed an advisory board to help teachers understand the impact that their own social media accounts can have on their students and their students’ parents. Although the College believes that e-communication and social media can and should play a large part in the relationship between teacher, student, and parent, the College also recognizes that there are inherent pitfalls that should be avoided. The aim of the advisory is to educate teachers, reminding them that as professionals in a highly public field, they are always “on”. Just like doctors, nurses, lawyers, and other public professionals, teachers must adhere to a strict standard, whether it be at school or on their social media accounts. In fact, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that teachers “do not necessarily check their teaching hats at the school yard gate”. The main takeaway from the advisory on social media issues is this: Teachers should conduct themselves on social media as they would conduct themselves in person. Which is something we should all do, really. Ontario College of Teachers – A Complete Resource In addition to providing teachers with an advisory board to help them navigate the waters of social media and social media issues, the Ontario College of Teachers is also an excellent resource for parents, as well. Find a Teacher Page The Ontario College of Teachers Find a Teacher page is a public register providing parents with information on every certified teacher in the Ontario public school system. Each teacher’s record includes: Qualifications Date of initial certification Current status with the Ontario College of Teachers Any applicable disciplinary history The Standard The Ontario College of Teachers The Standard e-newsletter is all about helping parents learn more about teachers. It’s another way that both teachers and parents can be connected on social media issues. The Standard e-newsletter includes: Information on College services to help you learn more about teacher qualifications Information on how the College ensures high standards in education College reports on trends in education Information on changes in education legislation Social Media Issues – Not an Issue for Ontario Teachers Social media issues aren’t an issue for Ontario teachers, or for you, thanks to the Ontario College of Teachers. The College works diligently to ensure teachers are aware of potential social media issues and prepared when a situation crops up. In addition, the College is also committed to keeping parents connected to Ontario’s school system and its teachers. For more information you can also follow the Ontario College of Teachers on their social media accounts. Twitter – @OCT_OEEO Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OntarioTeachers Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/user/OCTvideoOEEO Sign up for their newsletter and stay informed – English: Newsletter for Parents French: Public Newsletter for Parents and Others – in French Thrifty Momma’s Tips worked with The Ontario College of Teachers and Main Street Creative to bring this post to you. It is a sponsored post, and as such I received compensation. My opinion is always truthful.

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Five Must Haves for Sleep Away Camp #giveaways

Paula — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 22:30:56 +0000

Are you ready for sleep away camp yet? Are your kids counting the days until the end of school and the start of a week of freedom? I will admit our summer planning is a bit less orderly than previous years. My oldest daughter has taken a job at the end of August and she’s asked to do a sleep away camp that is two weeks long at the start of August. That is a bigger commitment for us, and for her, and I imagine we’ll be packing a fair bit more this year as a result of the two week stay, which also means more stuff that can potentially be lost. Thankfully, we are starting sleep away camp right with a Mabel’s Labels Sleep Away camp package and we have plenty of time to be sure we get everything labeled. That’s what I love about these labels. Nobody is losing anything with Mabel around. I can’t tell you how many water bottles and gloves and hats and clothing items we’ve retrieved after someone misplaced them. I am accustomed to the children’s disorganized nature and the way they drop things and forget them sometimes. We each do regular scouring of the lost and found at school and at all the extracurriculars. So we are big fans of Mabel and we know how well she works. There’s no room for argument when you find a bottle or pair of gloves with that label clearly declaring it your child’s hat. My kids have been doing camp for several years and they both generally enjoy both day camp and sleep away camp. Over the years we have learned a few things about packing. The first year I sent Payton to sleep away camp, for instance, I had no clue that children received mail from home several times a week. So my camper got no letters while everyone else got letters. (You write them in advance and leave them in the office then they deliver them each day. Why did nobody tell me that?) I never made that mistake again. There are a few things that are crucial to sleep away camp. These have made my top five. Five Things You NEED for Sleep Away Camp: A good warm sleeping bag. It gets cold at night sometimes in the cabins or tents. These are important. A pillow from home. This is a comfort object and a necessity and it serves so many purposes really. It’s nice to have that small reminder of home when you are sleeping away from home. Sun screen, bug spray and a hat. Your camper needs to remember to apply sunscreen. It’s a skill for life actually and it’s important to staying healthy. So is bug spray right now especially. I am hearing that ticks are heavier than usual in many areas and precautions should be taken. Water bottle – a Refillable water bottle so they can easily carry it with them when they take hikes or do outdoor activities. My gals go to a camp where they have great cabins BUT they also do a tenting overnighter kind of activity and they need to stay hydrated too. I hope they actually remember to take them with them during this overnight occasions. Mabel’s Labels Camp Combo. Go ahead and slap these labels on everything. They easily go on clothes and hats and water bottles and backpacks and anything you don’t want to lose. Mabel’s Labels Camp Combo consists of: This value-packed collection of UV resistant, waterproof labels and tags was designed especially for everything that goes to sleep away camp! Identify everything from clothes and footwear to toiletries, swim gear, life jackets and more with this summer essential. 10 Personalized Name Stickers: 70mm x 16mm (2-3/4″ x 5/8″) 24 Mini Custom Name Stickers: 38mm x 8mm (1-1/2″ x 5/16″) 50 Tag Mates™ Stick On Clothing Labels: 21mm x 10mm (13/16″ x 3/8″) 8 Custom Shoe Stickers: 33mm (1.3″) 2 Personalized Bag Tags: 57mm x 32mm (2-1/4″ x 1-1/4″) Mabel’s Labels camp combo is $39.95 Canadian and I also have one camp combo to giveaway. Good Luck! Follow the directions below to win. Canada only for this particular giveaway. What will you do with your free time when kids are at camp? Entry-Form

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My Top Six Mother’s Day Gifts From Hallmark #Giveaways

Paula — Wed, 04 May 2016 02:41:12 +0000

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 just one extremely special present. Send her some love, visit her, buy her flowers, take her on a picnic and maybe do all of those things. YOU ONLY GET one mom. (With a few exceptions of course.) Hallmark has all the best Mother’s Day gifts to help you celebrate Mother’s Day together! Here are my Top Six Hallmark Mother’s Day Gifts for 2016. Lights in Bloom Round Ceramic Lantern: I received one of these from Hallmark just this past month and I LOVE IT. It is going to look gorgeous on my deck this summer with a light inside it. These come in three different colours – creme, green and blue and they are so pretty. You can buy one of each at $15.95 special price which is totally affordable. In some stores they might be listed for $19.95. Tea Towels Assortment – My Mom would have loved these pretty tea towels. Especially the Grandma one. Pretty tea towels and sweet little sayings on each priced at $7.95. These are made of cotton. OUR Story Frame Collage – I would so love this myself. It’s a beautiful picture frame collage. Nothing sweeter for Mother’s Day. Special Value $19.95 regular $29.95 Mickey Mouse Journal (see below for a chance to win.) Who doesn’t love a pretty journal? And this would be perfect for the Disney loving Mom!! Any of the Garden Fair items – Whimsical and adorable, from a fairy door to fairy steps and a sign that says fairies live here. These items are available at a range of prices. There are also individual fairies. My favourites are – True Nature Fairy Door ($24.95 ) and Just Believe Fairy House (below) which is a bit more expensive at $38.95 but would look magical and sweet in anyone’s garden, inside or out. Love, Laughter and Hugs Insulated Travel Mug – $12.95 Dishwasher Safe. I’d love to tell you that I am cherishing this one but one of the girls has claimed it already. It is a pretty mug. There are also tea cups and tea pots and cute little picture frames that will be a huge hit with any MOM. This giveaway is open to Canada only. Good luck! Entry-Form I am a Hallmark ambassador and as such I receive special perks. My opinion is all my own.

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5 Handmade Gift Ideas for the Preschool Teacher in Your Life

Paula — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:14:48 +0000

5 Handmade Gift Ideas for the Preschool Teacher in Your Life Preschool teachers do so much to help our children grow and learn. They are the educational force that helps prepare our kids for grade school, high school, and beyond. In the context of my younger daughter’s entire education so far, the preschool teachers might have had the greatest impact. My younger daughter, as some of you know, has some special needs. I talk about that here from time to time. When my daughter was very small she had a lot of trouble with socializing, so all of her helpers, the therapists and doctors and social workers too, stated clearly that she needed to get started early in preschool so that she would grow the skills needed to help her succeed socially in school. In these early years her preschool teachers worked beautifully with the entire team of specialists to help our girl succeed. This was so valuable to her, and to us, that we would have given anything to these teachers for helping her, and sometimes loving her as if she was their own child, or grandchild. From time to time even our little one wanted to show the teachers how much she appreciated their help. So we would make little notes and pictures and things that were simple but heartfelt. As the school year slowly draws to a close, I know many parents and children will be wanting to show some affection and gratitude to these special educators. These handmade gift ideas are a great way to show our preschool teachers how much they mean to us and to our kids. Handmade Gift Ideas the Kids Can Make Handmade gifts are so much more special than a card or a gift basket. These handmade gift ideas tell your child’s teacher that they’re important enough to warrant some actual time taken out of the day. Handmade Cards Nothing is quite as cute as child’s handmade card. From their creative – if sometimes indecipherable – drawings and writings to their color choices to the big hugs that always come when they gift it, a handmade card pulls at the heartstrings like nothing else. Paper Plate Crafts Our kids’ preschool teachers love to remember their students at this adorable age just like we parents do. Why not give them the granddaddy of all homemade gift ideas. The paper plate/hand print combo. Just get yourself some washable paint, a paper plate, and have your little one leave his or her hand prints in center of the paper plate. You can then put a nice saying like “You’re the best teacher. Hands down” on it to add to the cuteness. A Personalized Video In this electronic age, a handmade gift can be more that paper plates or drawn cards. Why not take a video of your child giving the teacher a sweet message and then transfer it to a thumb drive so his or her teacher can have it forever. You can combine the thumb drive video with a card for a one-two gratitude punch! A Finger Paint Masterpiece Finger painting is a big part of preschool, so I think that makes it a winner on the handmade gift ideas front. You could have your child finger paint a masterpiece of his or her teacher’s favorite movie, pet, animal, or any other personal touch you can think of. It’s an instant keepsake that your child’s preschool teacher will treasure forever. Photos from Your Child Recently, children’s cameras have become a big thing. We see them in stores and online all the time now. Why not have your child take their little camera to school and snap pictures of their favorite activity area, friends, and of course, their favorite teacher. You can then put all of those pictures into a nice album for the teacher. It’s always fun and interesting to see the world through a child’s perspective, and it’s a great personalized gift. My Personal Favourite – a Scrapbook I hope you’ve gotten some inspiration from these handmade gift ideas for preschool teachers. Between reinforcing the interpersonal lessons we’re already teaching our children at home and preparing them for the K – 12 years by giving them a strong basic foundation, our preschool teachers deserve to be honored. These homemade gift ideas for our preschool teachers are a great way to do that. Do you have any great homemade gift ideas for preschool teachers? I’d love to hear about them.

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So What is a Timeshare? Mini-series Part 1 #Travel

Paula — Fri, 08 May 2015 02:34:35 +0000

What is a timeshare? Know the Answer Before Investing Timeshares have been around for a long time, and everyone seems to know that they’re used for vacations, but people still often ask the question, “‘What is a timeshare?” If you’re thinking of investing in a timeshare, you need to know the answer to this question before making a decision. What is a Timeshare A timeshare is a property which is owned by multiple people or parties. Typically resort condominium units, timeshares are owned by several parties with each party being entitled to use the property for an allotted period of time. This period varies, but it is generally one week, and in most all cases, it is for the same specific time period every year. A timeshare unit or property can be set up in a few ways including ownership, lease, or right to use. Types of Ownership What is a timeshare? When answering this question, you need to know more than just what it is. You also need to know the types of usage agreements associated with this particular type of real estate. Timeshares can be tricky business, so it pays to know exactly what’s what. Deeded: This is a timeshare agreement in which you own a portion of the property. Typically, the right to use the property is divided into week-long stretches which are sold as a fractional ownership of real property. Owners can use this week anyway they see fit, whether it be using, renting, giving it away, or willing it to family. It is a real ownership of real property. Right to Use: This one is important to remember when asking, “What is a timeshare”, because some people get this confused with a deeded agreement. They are completely different, however. Right to use means exactly that. You are paying for the right to use the timeshare facility for a number of years. You don’t own the property, and at some point, the contract will end. You are essentially renting a block of time. Knowledge is Power What is a timeshare? It’s a confusing thing if you don’t know the answer. A timeshare is a real estate labyrinth, and we only scratched the surface here. Keep an eye out for another article which will cover the pros and cons of timeshare ownership. Do you own a timeshare? Have you ever considered it?

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It’s almost Back to School Time. Hold Me.

Paula — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:09:00 +0000

shutterstock Is that the sound of my sanity snapping? I think it could be. Here I am ALMOST at the end of August. In denial? Sure. Freaking out? Absolutely. WHERE DID MY SUMMER GO? So here it is, almost back to school time. The most wonderful time of the year. Right? RIGHT?? You know that commercial with the “That Was Easy” theme. Press a button and send them back to school with new supplies and then do a little happy jig that summer is over. Well, I kind of wish they had a version of that for special needs parents. This is my back to school for special needs parents commercial for us. I think it would look like this: THAT WAS Unbelievably hard button MY back to school for special needs parents COMMERCIAL Slow pan in on the “That Was Unbelievably Hard” Button. That’s the button you press just to get the game started. You know the one where your resistant to change inflexible child suddenly has to change all their routines again to go to school. Unbelievably hard is sometimes getting them to buy in that they need to be there. Sometimes it is the transition into the school. Zoom out and hit the next button. No soft focus here. This button is a bigger one that reads: “No Freakin’ Way” on it. You can hit it when you need something for your child and it will blast a negative Blart sound at you. Like a bull horn. Nobody answers the Blart sound. Also it startles you when you hit it. It jars your nerves and sets your hair on end. Keep shopping. Camera moves in on shopping cart. Camera person is pushing the cart along so shooting through the cart giving perspective they are the shopper/consumer/parent. It stops at end of aisle. Zoom up high. Look, there’s the holy grail – the one with three little letters on it: IEP (Individual education plan for those of you not familiar with our special needs alphabet). Why is it so high up on a shelf near the ceiling where you cannot reach it? Jump for it, Mom and Dad. Come on, you can get it. What’s that? You almost hit it, and then they moved it. They hit the IEP quota for the year at 9:02 a.m. and you got there at 9:03. DRAT! Well, there’s always next year. Someone hits the shopping cart with their cart because there is a mad rush over to your area of the store. You extricate your cart and move on. Someone in sound effects department will hit the censor button here to mask all the swearing going on in the corner from which the IEP button has just vanished. There is one more button that reads: “No problem, we love parent feedback.” It is nailed to the floor. It makes no noise, but when you hit it sometimes it responds like a bobble head car toy and Nods. That is all. Nodding. Nodding. It taunts you until you contemplate kicking it. Shopping cart backs up and looks like it’s getting ready to ram into the bobble head. Cue image of the That Was Unbelievably Hard button again. Back to School for special needs parents is not a cutesy TV commercial for parents trying to get their special needs kids what they need in public school. It can be a totally frustrating anxiety inducing experience. Can you relate?

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Infertility Community Reacts to IVF Funding Announcement for Ontario #ivf4ON #onpoli

Paula — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 15:34:00 +0000

Ontario’s infertility community reacted with many emotions this week to news that IVF will soon be funded. That’s long awaited for many who took two or three jobs and sometimes used credit cards and second mortgages to be able to pay for health care treatment needed to get the health care treatment prescribed. Last Thursday, Ontario’s Minister of Health and Longterm Care Deb Matthews announced that public funding would be made available for in vitro fertilization. IVF funding is part of the draft budget officially. The funding will take place starting in 2015. An advisory committee or board will be appointed to help roll the program out. There will be $50 million a year and it will service 4000 people. That’s a victory in so many ways for so many people in the infertility community wondering how do I pay for in vitro fertilization. It’s a huge step for those struggling with infertility because the announcement clearly illustrated that the Liberal government of Ontario views infertility as a health condition. [tweetthis]Reactions to the news that IVF will be funded in Ontario (late 2014) #IVF4ON[/tweetthis] For 1 in 6 struggling with infertility this is huge news. Conceivable Dreams has been advocating for this funding for 6 years now. This week they celebrated that victory. There is more work ahead in partnership with the Ontario government. There are many details to figure out and many questions from patients regarding what this new expanded program will look like. But this week infertility advocates and patients in Ontario like Danielle Xavier, who started trying to conceive at 25 and struggled for five years, have hope. Infertility impacts 1 in 6. There are numerous causes of infertility. Sometimes infertility can look like this – Carla has PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome )and had trouble conceiving because of that health condition. But the repercussions to society are greater than that number. Public funding for IVF is a policy that will benefit everyone. Because infertility impacts everyone. Employers, families, grandparents, and the health care system as well. On Thursday morning when the announcement happened I woke up to dozens of infertility patients emailing me and tweeting, many of whom were crying happy tears. Some who were overcome entirely. Many recognized this is their last chance at building family. I wanted to share a few of their reactions here today. Because this is a hopeful group and this announcement has given them hope for a future. I don’t have to tell you how priceless that is. Conceivable Dreams, members of the Ontario infertility community and advocacy group, reacted this week: “IVF coverage means that I can have the family I always dreamed of without going into enormous debt first and It means I can get medical treatment for a condition, that neither myself, nor my husband have control over.” – Melissa Leverre, London, male factor infertility “When your fertility doctor tells you IVF is your only hope…you feel defeated. And when he hands you a list of what IVF is going to cost you, including meds, admin fees, and procedures, you feel hopeless. Public funding will bring us hope again.” – Christine and Terrance Thwaites, Mississauga [tweetthis]When your fertility doctor tells you IVF is your only hope…you feel defeated. And when he hands you a list of what IVF is going to cost you . . .you feel hopeless. #IVF4ON[/tweetthis] “We drove six hours to the fertility clinic and we worked multiple jobs to pay for IVF. We hope nobody else has to go to such extremes to afford a family.” – Kayla and Kevin Roy, Sudbury “Public funding of IVF means relief. When working with a diagnosis that is time sensitive, there is no longer an unnecessary wait while the patient saves up the funds.” – Rebecca Brooks, Kitchener, premature ovarian failure, trying to conceive – 6.5 years “We are still paying off debt from our first attempt at IVF. Public funding means that we don’t have to go into further debt to try again. We don’t have to give up hope of becoming parents.” – Sandra David, Toronto, male factor infertility due to Cancer “Following many failed fertility treatments, with debt and heavy hearts we decided to close that chapter and move onto adoption. Public IVF funding will give many the ability to keep reaching for their dream, to have a family, that without funding might not be possible.” – Michelle Pleiter, Listowel, severe endometriosis “My husband and I recently celebrated the birth of our daughter. This has completely diminished our savings. Public IVF funding gives me hope other families won’t have to go into such debt to have a child.” – Stephanie and Mike Mauro, Peterborough “We tried 12 procedures, including 3 IVFs of our own and have transferred up to 4 embryos at once because we were desperate and couldn’t afford to do them 1 at a time. That was a very scary decision to have to make. Nobody should have to be put in that position.” – Carly Weiner, Toronto, male factor due to Cancer, and unexplained female factor “I feel gratitude every day to be the mother of a boy, now 2, conceived through IVF. However, the process to become parents cost us $28,000 in treatments and four years of heartache. It also saw us making risky health choices in order to save money. With publicly funded IVF, today’s infertile couples won’t have to endure what we did.” – Jocelyn Bell, male and female factor, Dundas Conceivable Dreams is on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ivf4on And, if you need support, or can offer support to someone struggling with infertility, please visit Facebook to join the group Conceivable Dreams – IVF4ON https://www.facebook.com/groups/conceivabledreams/ And there is also a fan page: Conceivable Dreams I am community manager for the group Conceivable Dreams. As such I am compensated. This is a group and a cause I support 100 %. My opinion is my own.

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