planning Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

How to Handle FASD and Running

Paula — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:58:20 +0000

From the moment my youngest child started moving, they were a runner. The kid ran everywhere. in fact, we used to joke that this child ran before they walked, which was pretty accurate and slightly comical, until they started running away. For them, FASD, Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and running went hand in hand. What is Elopement? Elopement is basically when kids with some neurological conditions leave or run away from wherever they currently are. That can be school, home, the mall, the park or any other spot. For some reason their fight or flight reaction is activated and flight kicks in and they run away. That’s basically synonymous with FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder). Fasd and runners or FASD and running are a common combination. The flight sense is heightened and any perceived threat could activate it. Now, couple that with a complete lack of impulse control and it made for lot of terrifying moments as a parent. FYI, you will also find this same behaviour sometimes in seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. My youngest went through this stage for years in elementary school. Our FASD and Running Experience Once they left school entirely for a couple of hours. I had been out with my Mom helping her buy a few things at the local Sears Outlet store. My mom had Alzheimer’s disease in the last few years of her life and that meant she needed some support in the community as well. Luckily I was available to help her. Not so luckily that day though, I had to race my Mom back to her retirement home while I sped over to the school to ask school administration why they had not had a closer eye on my child. Running away is not an uncommon scenario for kids with neurological differences. Thankfully, this has actually stopped. To this day I’m not sure why or how it stopped. But it did. This behaviour started when my youngest child was little actually and then it stopped for years because they were always supervised act school and at home. Medication for ADHD and impulse control helped too. Then this began again around 12 years old. It lasted until about 15. Does it Ever Stop? Now my youth with FASD is a young adult. Around 15 years old the running away stopped. Why? Well,I think three things worked here for us: anger therapy. I finally found a therapist who talked to them weekly and we started with a youth group for kids with FASD ( huge impact for my teen with FASD). Recently my kiddo said knowing that a friend, who I will call Tammy (not her real name) also gets it and understands FASD is everything. “We are best friends. Nobody else gets it.” Our Old Routine Before that though, we followed them every time. It was dead exhausting. Once I called police and they were amazing here. They sent two female police officers who calmed everyone down and I think it actually shocked the heck out of my kiddo. They were kind and said to my 15 year old at that time “you simply can’t do this. It’s not safe for anyone.” I don’t think the words mattered so much as the shock that I’d called the police. Anyways, I’m so sorry. If you have a runner, that experience is hellish. If you are in this situation then I hope that you find help soon. Here’s what we did to help cope with the FASD and running. The Elopement Plan FASD and Runners go hand in hand often due to the lack of impulse control and also the anger, the inability to regulate emotions and control situations. Knowing what to do before it happens goes a long way towards managing the situation. Good Luck and reach out if you have any questions.

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The Flight Before Christmas – Everything You Need To Know Now

Paula — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 15:06:04 +0000

Need to travel over the holidays? Need the flight before Christmas? Oh sure we all want to travel during the holiday season and go somewhere warm, or even some place familiar filled with family and friends. But do you need to travel during the holidays? If so, then you need some ground rules and also some guidelines and tips on how to go and when to book the flight before Christmas. There are lots of benefits to holiday air travel and a few big drawbacks too. But, if you want to know the ins and outs and the ways to save your sanity while traveling during this busy time of year then you have come to the right place. Best and Worst Times to Go Black Friday is to retail shopping what Thanksgiving Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving Day) is to air travel. It’s literally the busiest travel day of the year for the airline industry. An easy method for making things less stressful is to simply not fly on this day. Unlike the super busy Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the taxing travel times for Christmas are spread out over several days. Lucky for you there are a few tips that can make a Christmas journey by air less nerve-racking. Direct Verses Non Stop Flights Confusion and misunderstanding sometimes arises with the two terms: direct versus non stop flights. Direct, in airline terminology, simply means the passenger does not have to change aircraft on their trip. According to ICAO the flight may actually include up to 3 stops along the way and be considered direct. Not my definition of direct at all but when booking be sure you know the industry standard definitions. Non Stop Non stop is just that. The flight takes off and lands at the destination without a scheduled stop in between. Nonstop flights incur fewer troubles due to their nature, but the passenger usually pays a premium in the ticket price. These flights are like unicorns. If you see one for a great price snag it fast. Airline Hubs To be avoided at all cost if possible; however southern hubs tend to be better than northern ones this time of the year. It is important to understand that even if one hub has fine weather and the departure and destination airports are great, the aircraft may be coming from a hub or airport that is a mess. Checked Or Carry-on Luggage The easiest way to lighten the burden of traveling is to go light. Try not to check luggage but understand that carry-on luggage is restricted. Not only is there much more luggage on flights this time of the year but the increased volume makes lost luggage more likely. Companies exist to help send packages, presents and suitcases. Overnight companies like Federal Express and UPS will deliver luggage quickly. Furthermore, independent forwarders like the Luggage Club, Independent Travelers, Go Nomad and Luggage Free specialize in this service. Luggage Free states on their website that they are a specialty service offering the ability to ship luggage ahead to any destination worldwide. This could be worth it potentially. Give it some thought. It might beat the inconvenience of carrying, checking and claiming bags as well as going through customs. Days of the Week The days of the week do matter when taking a trip. The list below identifies the best travel days during the Xmas holiday with a Thanksgiving caveat of course. What if The Flight Before Christmas is on Christmas Day? * Christmas Day can actually be an excellent day to travel. In fact, it can be the absolute best day! While families are gathered under the tree opening presents, singing carols in church, preparing Christmas dinner, chatting with family and enjoying the spirit of the season, few people are sitting in airplanes, because they mostly have no interest in doing that. But in fact you can get some good deals to travel on Christmas Day. So don’t out rule this day for airline travel. Days of the Week * Tuesday is the second leading day (4th best during Thanksgiving.) It is early in the work-week and few people have time to travel. So consider Tuesday next time you need to fly, especially if it involves holiday flights. * Wednesday, unless Christmas Day falls on a Thursday, is the third best travel day of the week for the same reasons as above. * Saturday comes in fourth. * Monday is a solid fifth. Workers with extended vacation are now beginning to fly. Also those bumped passengers from their Sunday flight are rebooked today. * Thursday travelers taking long weekends fly today; however, the problem is intensified because business travelers start ending their business trips as well. The combination of business and holiday travelers begin to fill up airports and airplanes making Thursday 6th on the list (6th on Thanksgiving Day too.) So Thursdays can be very busy travel days in airports. * Friday, for the same reasons as Thursday, makes this day number 7. Business people traveling home, students finishing classes and workers beginning their vacation all clamour for flights on this day. * Sunday is a HOT mess not only after the holiday but before as well. Similar to Friday it too includes returning travelers – the absolute worst travel day. So don’t travel on a Sunday, when possible. Hours of the Days Convenient travel depends on the hour of the day. External factors can become compounded throughout the day, so often it makes more sense to leave early in the morning when possible. Weather worsens, delays grow longer and cancellations increase as the hours tick by in a business day. Plan for early departure and avoid potential headaches. Up and At Em! * Mornings are best on very bad travel days. Missed and overbooked flights have a ripple effect on passengers as the day progresses. Thursday, Friday and Sunday mornings are much better travel times than Thursday, Friday and Sunday evening. * Afternoon – Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are the best times. After the morning and before the evening business rush hours, the midday flights are easier to grab. Along with Saturday and Christmas Day the airport traffic is lighter, security areas less dense and even restaurants less crowded; making the whole experience brighter. * Evening – The only time traveling at night is a good deal is on Monday, but in most cases a red-eye is better than day flights. Some international flights only go later at night so you may not have a choice. To Recap Then… Basically you need to think strategically when you are opting for holiday airline travel. Book flights that are early in the day and early in the week. Consider booking holiday flights or even family cruises for that matter on December 25th. If your gift is a family trip and your kids are babies, or teens, then why not save money and depart on Christmas Day? So How Will You Book That Trip in the Future? There are always a lot of steps to undertake before you embark on a trip. But, you can save some of the headaches of delays and high charges, maybe even avoid lost luggage if you pay close attention to the timing of your flights and the booking process. Oh, I know there’s not much that’s exciting or say about the booking part. However, for me that investment in planning properly can pay off with a smooth flight or a big cost savings. And that is always appealing.

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Cruise Checklist – 5 Things to do Before The Cruise

Paula — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 13:20:32 +0000

A cruise checklist like this one is essential to starting your cruise out on the right foot. You look forward to that holiday and you’ve saved for months. Don’t let a lack of preparation ruin it. Before you cruise, you should have all of your ducks in a nice, tidy row to ensure that your time is spent relaxing and having fun and not trying to work out unnecessary kinks in the trip. Successful cruises, like many amazing trips, often are the result of weeks of planning. I mean that’s often a huge part of the fun. Having a cruise checklist can help ensure that your cruise is smooth sailing and fun for all. Cruise Checklist – Tick These off, so YOU’RE not Ticked Off If you’ve ever gone on a cruise, you know it’s so much more than just getting tickets and stepping on the boat. This is top of mind for us right now as we set sail this month. There are several things that have to be done, or that SHOULD be done before you get to the ship. In fact, most of them can be done from your home to ensure that your cruise is all about fun, with zero, or close to zero, headaches. Pay Your Service Fees Ahead of Time If you can, it’s always a good idea to pay any fees, tips, and other extra expenses associated with your plans ahead of time. This saves you SO MUCH TIME. It also saves you a lot of hassle. When you pay for any excursions and extras ahead of time, you can spend more time adventuring and relaxing because you never have to worry about settling any bill while you’re there. Check Excursion Options and Book Ahead of Time And speaking of paying for any extras, including excursions, check those out ahead of time. You can see what excursions and other day options are available for your cruise online. From there, you may be able to book the excursions that appeal to you right from your computer instead of trying to do it while you’re on your cruise. Check In Online ALWAYS! In most cases, you’ll have the option to check in online. Do this. Check in lines can be an absolute pain in the butt, so why not skip the line and the hassle and just check in online? It makes embarking and checking in so much easier, and if you’ve ever taken a cruise, you know that embarking can be one of the most stressful parts of the entire process. Have All Necessary Paperwork and Identification on Hand Speaking of check in hassle, have ALL necessary paperwork and identification on hand. Make sure you have your check in paperwork, ID, and any other necessary items required for board. It is essential that you remember to keep these on each and every family member’s person. If you arrive, and you don’t have the necessary items, chances are you might be looking at a cruise that doesn’t happen. Pack More Than You Think You’ll Need This might seem counter-intuitive to what you normally do, but I like to pack a bit more than I think the family will need. You’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean, so if you run out of shirts, you’re kind of out of luck. Be sure you pack a spare outfit or two, just in case you happen to get dirty on a day trip, have a delay of any sort, or spill wine on that blouse. On our most recent Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean cruise we had a bit of rain at the start of the trip so we needed a light jacket or pants. Luckily I had two pairs of pants with me. Even so, I always run out of dresses for the fancy dinners and formal evenings. Check for dress code prior to boarding and be prepared. [tweetthis]Check dress code prior to boarding and be prepared. Is there a formal night? #cruising[/tweetthis] Cruise Checklist – Because Who Wants a Hassle A cruise, whether it’s a romantic trip or a family cruise, should be all about rest, relaxation, adventure, and hanging out with the family. It shouldn’t be frustrating. For a smoother cruise, follow this cruise checklist, and save yourself a substantial amount of time and headache by doing all you can before you get on the ship. Trust me, you’ll have a much better cruise holiday. Now that you have your list of things to prepare and your cruise checklist check this post out CRUISE Wreckers. Don’t let this happen to you.

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Beach and Pool Checklist Printable

Paula — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 10:45:15 +0000

Heading to the beach this summer? Then you need this Beach and Pool Checklist printable. Stay organized and make the best of your beach time. That’s important when your sunny days are limited. Victoria Day weekend has passed in Canada and Memorial Day in the US just passed and I am giddy! Giddy I tell you. Winter was a fickle season and it basically aged me about ten years so I am looking forward to summer stripping away about 15 years. That’s how it works, right? Right? Of course it does. Give me something to hang onto here would you? Anyways, as you might recall I am a beach-loving pool owning, swimmer, who loves the sunny days in my backyard or at the beach. So are some of you, I am betting. So this summer I will be lounging at the pool and writing by the pool and using my outdoor office. It’s my favourite place to be. I think we are very fortunate to have a pool because it means I don’t have to scramble for the sunscreen or the goggles or the towels. They are pretty much always close at hand as soon as the pool is opened. But, should you come and visit me, there might be a few things you should bring along to make the best of your visit. Same can be said of pretty much any afternoon at the beach. Packing and preparing makes the day go so much smoother. So one of my busy helpers here at Thrifty Mom Media built a gorgeous little Beach and Pool Checklist Printable just for you gals and guys. [tweetthis]Heading to the beach soon? You need this free Beach and Pool Checklist Printable.[/tweetthis] I am a big old fan girl for free printables too. They are the best. They are free and that makes me happy. So the best way to access this one is to click on the PDF highlighted link below and you can effortlessly download and print from your computer. Happy Travels!! FYI here’s an idea for a beach visit in Ontario. Have you ever been to Lion’s Head? [tweetthis]Are you a beach lover or a pool lover? This printable is for you.[/tweetthis] Let’s discuss: Are you a pool lover or a beach lover? beach-pool-checklist-bw-anchor

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Camping With Toddlers 101- Keeping Your Sanity and Keeping Them Safe

Paula — Mon, 11 May 2015 22:06:36 +0000

Camping with toddlers is a wonderful way to show them all kinds of new and exciting things. It’s a way for the family to bond over every leaf and bug and critter you come across. It’s also a great way to lose your mind if you don’t come prepared. Camping with Toddlers 101 When camping with toddlers, you have two main concerns: keeping them safe, and keeping your sanity intact. Toddlers can be tons of fun, but they can also be little devils if they aren’t properly occupied and stimulated. Tiny, screaming, red-eyed devils. You know it’s true. So what are we to do? I’m so glad you asked! Keep Them Safe First and foremost is ensuring that your little ones survive the trip. Never ever let your toddlers out of your sight. We all know how much trouble an unattended toddler can get into when we aren’t looking, and that’s just in the house. Now imagine taking your eyes off of your toddler for a minute out in the wilderness. Yikes. Holding hands is a big one as well when camping with toddlers. Toddlers are impulsive and not very coordinated, generally speaking. Holding hands ensures that they don’t dash off to pet the cute creature they see in the distance, and it also ensures that they won’t take a tumble. Teach Them Safety When camping with toddlers, teaching them about safety is another great way to keep them safe. Use every opportunity to teach them the dos and do nots of camping. When little Susie wants to pet the deer, explain to her that it’s wild, and it doesn’t want to be touched. Simple things like that can help keep the tots from getting into dangerous situations. We used a lot of phrases like look don’t touch when our kids were little. Sometimes they even listened. LOL. Keep Your Sanity Keeping the kids safe is almost a no-brainer when camping with toddlers. It’s basically practicing all of the same safeguards we do while we’re in the house. Keeping our sanity is a different matter, though. All it takes is one ultra-bored moment, and tykes are in full-on meltdown. Feed Their Curiosity One of the best ways to occupy the kiddos is by going on a camping treasure hunt. When you’re on your walks with the little ones, keep them engaged by cataloging everything. Ask them to study everything from the bugs on the ground to the rocks to the leaves. Children are naturally curious, so engaging them in a game like this is a great way to keep them interested in the world around them. Fishing is also a great activity to do when camping with toddlers. Think about it. You’ve got everything from “EWW! Worms!” to “You got a fish!” to “I got one, too!”. It’s exciting and engaging, and it’s so much fun to watch the kids’ faces when they catch their very own fish. Here’s my biggest tip of all when you’re camping with toddlers. If all else fails, bring out the coloring books. Of course, we want our camping adventure to be all about getting the kids in touch with the world around them, but their attention spans are only so long. Colouring books are the ultimate toddler soother. Camping with Toddlers is Great Fun You just need to be prepared. It’s not as daunting as it sounds either. Just remember these few things: Practice common sense safety. Keep the kiddos engaged. Last but not least, never leave home without the colouring books. If you do that, your camping trip is sure to be a success. Have you ever camped with toddlers. or children younger than 6? How did you manage?

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Free Printable Weekly Menu Meal Planner

Paula — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:46:41 +0000

Are you a meal planner? Or do you see your phone flashing 5 p.m. and hit the panic button? I am a bit of both. More manic panic meals than well thought out meal plans. So why should I be concerned? Well, I know it makes more sense to plan because it is budget friendly. There are thousands of bloggers talking meal plans. Need proof? Head on over to Facebook any night at about 5 p.m., or browse some blogs on a Monday. Menu Planning Monday is a whole thing. Until recently, I have taken a pass on this whole phenomenon. But I know I can do better. I know I need to do better. Even the Mayo Clinic indicates that meal planning saves you money and helps you to eat healthier. [tweetthis]More manic panic meals than well thought out meal plans? This may help.[/tweetthis] I have turned a new leaf this year with the planning process and I am not sure why, but I am planning out my business so much better than I ever did before. In fact I am planning weeks in advance because I find myself so much better organized and able to cope with some occasional curve balls, like illness and sudden trips or business travel. Plus at Christmas when we took our cruise I was working like a maniac to get things scheduled and ready for sharing in my absence. I’d much rather have post topics worked out and planned so I can take those family trips without weeks of crazy plotting. Plus there’s the whole high blood pressure issue that I have been managing. So meal planning makes more sense when that is an issue as well. Why? Well, because when I forget to plan then occasionally we are stuck eating a higher sodium item that is prepackaged. I run out of time to make anything substantial and health and homemade when that happens so we rely on frozen foods like lasagna, or we visit a take out and grab something there. If you need to tackle fast foods I have a food ledger printable here that might help. I know that’s not great for your heart or high blood pressure. I am getting really good otherwise at cutting out sodium and fat and caffeine, so I think I can conquer the rest of the healthy eating process with meal planning. I am giving some very real thought to this process of meal planning. Are you a meal planner? Or do you wing it? To help you also do some meal planning I have made this meal planner to share with my readers. If you want to use this meal planner you can right click on image above and save to your computer and then print it out, or you can simply download it from PDF link here. meal planner tms

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