• How To Help a Depressed Person in Crisis.

    05/09/2023 - By 

    Today my morning was interrupted by an unexpected visitor. Expecting a package, I answered the door to find one of my daughter’s friends standing there. They said they had gotten off of their school bus and started to walk…..until they ended up at my house. Although it was a long story, and not uncomplicated, it boiled down to this- one of their new school friends was feeling suicidal and threatening to end their life. This was told to my daughter’s friend after they intimated that they are feeling down lately and have contemplated suicide. So now, I have a teen…

  • If Hunter and I ruled the world….

    18/11/2020 - By 

    If Hunter and I ruled the world, the week would look like this: Sunday, Second Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. This week has been hard. Lots of pushback and brutal emotional honesty from Hunter. On top of that, a full day of freak-outs and meltdowns. (Knowing the difference between tantrums and meltdowns has been key in changing my parenting style and being effective at managing his moodsj!) Hunter doesn’t seem to trust me this week and seems to believe I have become brain-dead. Apparently, everything I say is stupid and I don’t know what I’m talking about. We’ve had…

  • School During COVID-19: Not What We Expected

    11/11/2020 - By 

    I was as disappointed as Isabella that she was starting her first year of high school- Grade 7(!)- during COVID-19. We are cautious over paranoid, so it wasn’t fear that was getting to us. And both my daughter and I were aware the precautions existed for good reason (shoutout to Dr. Tam for keeping us informed!). So it wasn’t that. We were disappointed because the restrictions make it difficult to get to know a new school and new classmates. With face masks it’s hard to see each other’s facial expressions and get to know them, fully. It’s surprising how much…

  • 5 Beach Camping Activities for the Whole Family (Printables)

    23/07/2020 - By 

    Enjoy this wonderful guest post to amplify your summertime fun! Suns out, guns out. Summertime is not only the perfect time for dad puns, but also the perfect time for the whole family to enjoy the warm weather as a family. Whether you’re headed to the west coast for a classic trip to California or to the east for a taste of the Cuban-styled Florida beaches, get beachfront property at the fraction of the cost. What’s the catch, you ask? You’ll have to get a little sandy, and pitch a tent on the seaside. Imagine waking up to a family…

  • Getting Your Autistic Child to Drink Enough Water

    14/07/2020 - By 

    Hunter wasn’t drinking enough water. As a result, he wasn’t hydrated and is having trouble going to the bathroom. When I looked up answers, I was shocked to find it is a common problem for autistic children. The reasons vary, but often it’s a sensory thing or a task they don’t consider “important”. (Eating is a thing that Hunter considers unimportant and an “interruption” in his day). There are so many posts on it, that I’m sure a search will bring you some answers, or at least possible reasons why your child is balking at staying hydrated. Hunter is a…