We all probably know at least one family with a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD. Friends I know are determined to find ways to cope on a daily basis and, if possible, with minimal or no meds. This year, HotDocs, The Canadian Documentary Film Festival, includes the world premiere of FREE THE … [Read more...]
Taking Back the Power
Bottom line: dealing with severe anxiety and school refusal (my daughter has been diagnosed with severe Social Anxiety Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder - along with a few other things) is no easy task for either the child suffering from them or the parents. So in order to help me understand … [Read more...]
Big Changes Ahead
Wouldn't it be nice if we could just push pause sometimes...? I am going to spend today soaking up every second of my kids. ONE MORE SLEEP til school. As much as I am looking forward to it I cannot help but think about what a big year this will be for us. So many changes. Eva begins full … [Read more...]
How to Calm the Back to School Jitters
This time of year brings on a certain feeling of sadness and excitement for me. It always has. It's that all of the sudden crisp feeling in the air, that time when the CNE is in full swing, and the final days of sleeping in with no alarm clocks or rushing in the house. I can relate to how my kids … [Read more...]
The Call
Well, it happened on Tuesday. I got the call. You know, the one every camp parent dreads. The one where they tell you that your kid is very anxious and homesick and do you think it would be appropriate to talk with them?Before I launch into anything else here, let me first be clear on two points:My … [Read more...]
Perfect
That's the only way I can describe our weekend. Perfect.From the weather. To the activities. To the company. It was 3 perfect days and I am grateful.In the past, Victoria Day weekend is dreadful for us. Dreadful for Cuyler because of the fireworks that start Friday night and go on until … [Read more...]
here we go again
I've written in the past about Cuyler's issues with weather.Each spring I am always hopeful that this will be the year he overcomes the fear that the rainy weather brings with it. I know it will happen. I just don't know when.I know that it's not quite right now. It's very early in the season … [Read more...]
starving for affection
I see you every day at the gym You are there when I get there and still there when I leave I look at your body and see your dedication and painstakingly hard work I study you. Skin stretching over bone with such precision it is like an anatomy class. Our eyes always meet I don't know how to … [Read more...]
“I don’t wanna go to school…”
So this post is not about the common "school-aroo-stay-home-is" (thanks Mom, for the decidedly wacko label for it!) that I and my sisters occasionally suffered from as kids. This is not the, "gee, I really don't feel like it today so I'll stick the thermometer in my hot oatmeal" shenanigans that all … [Read more...]
Hypomomdriac
"Hmm, it feels kind of weird when I swallow. Kind of like a swollen lymph node or something, but I'm not fighting a cold. I'll just Google it. Crap. I think I have THROAT CANCER."(Cue frantic mental flash-forwards of videotaping myself giving messages to our girls so they can remember me when I'm … [Read more...]