Archive - 2010

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A Bittersweet Anniversary and Post Traumatic Stress
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Trail Traffic
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Chicken Shark
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Big Brother
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Something’s Cookin’

A Bittersweet Anniversary and Post Traumatic Stress

  This story was originally published in 2010. Avery continues to do well on her anti-seizure meds and life is good. 🙂 It was an ordinary day. If you consider 40 degrees Celsius in May normal. Avery and I dropped big brother at school and went through our day like any other. It was exactly one year since her first seizure—a severe and nearly fatal episode. I never seen a war, but yet I have Soldiers Heart nonetheless. At least that’s what they used to call it. Today we know it as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD usually develops as a result of a “terribly frightening, highly unsafe or life-threatening experience.” It doesn’t make a difference whose life was threatened – yours or the life of someone you love. People who experience post traumatic stress tend to avoid places, people, or things that remind them of the event. But what happens when you live WITH the person who reminds you of the trauma IN the place where it happened? I tell you what happens; you avoid thinking about that event, ever. If you find yourself feeling any emotions related to said event, you crack a joke, call a friend or[…]

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Trail Traffic

When the morning commuters back out of their drive-ways in my neighbourhood, I can’t help but feel left behind. And when my son comes home from school at the end of a day filled with joyous grade two excitement, I feel a pang.  “That was mummy’s grade,” I remind him regretfully. After years of schooling to prepare for a decade in a career I loved, I’m now a stay-at-home-mom. You’d think I’d be used to this role by now. I’m not. Well, not really. But then, there are days like today. When I can call up my newly retired dad and say, “Hey, whatcha doing? Wanna come over?” We’re two free agents with the entire day ahead of us.  Today was a picture perfect day for a walk in the woods with two of my favourite people (and one happy canine). In the midst of our hike, I took a moment, closed my eyes and turned my face to the sun. It was so quiet. (All the loud people had driven off to work hours before!). The only sound was the leaves rustling in the trees. And farther along the trail, I quite literally stopped to smell the roses (aka[…]

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Chicken Shark

I write hundreds of posts every week.  Unfortunately, about 99 of them are in my head and never make it from there to here. I’m not making excuses (yes I am) but I’ve been busy. And forgetful.  By the time I sit down at the computer at night, the stellar blog posts created in my brain during the day have evaporated.  Sometimes they come back to me, but mostly not (clearly evident by the drivel that is unfolding before you right about now). This week I rebuilt my blog in WordPress, which is a sleeker, more user-friendly blogging format.  All I need to do now is transfer these Blogger posts over and figure out how to redirect this address over there. I guess I’ll have to watch yet another online tutorial. And why exactly am I doing this when I have a million other things on the go? It’s not like it’s urgent or that the format I write in makes a difference.  This past few weeks has been stressful.  So stressful I haven’t been able to write about it all yet.  And when I’m stressed, I need to keep moving.  I’m like a shark.  Just keep swimming, keep on[…]

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Big Brother

I write about Avery often. I can’t help it. She generates a lot of unique questions along this uncharted parenting path. I feel guilty about that, as though the things her big brother does aren’t as special or important.  This isn’t the case at all.  He, is perfect. In every way. He’s smart and thoughtful and kind.  He’s funny and creative and he makes me ridiculously proud and grateful to be a mother. Sometimes, I can’t believe he’s mine. I feel so lucky I could cry.  And sometimes, I do (who am I kidding, lots of times…I’m a sappy, sucky cry baby. I admit it).

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Something’s Cookin’

Life with kids can get messy. I’ve had to curb my neat freak ways and let the blocks (and Lego pieces and dolls and picture books) fall where they may.  My kitchen these days looks like a toy store exploded and honestly, I’m ok with it.  As long as the bulk of it stays off the floor so I don’t trip while carrying a pot a boiling spaghetti water, I’m good. We have a “choice board” posted in the kitchen. This is where Avery’s activities are displayed for the day. This way she knows what to expect. It also helps to build language skills and provides her with choices. There’s rarely a day when she doesn’t select “kitchen play” as one of her free choice activities. Here’s the thing, kids learn by playing. Imaginations come to life in the kitchen and all children benefit from role playing and imitating.  Children, like Avery, who have speech delays benefit even more. We set up a play kitchen IN our kitchen.  It’s fully stocked with plastic dishes, utensils, pots and pans and plastic food of every description. When I’m in the “big” kitchen preparing a meal..what? I do so cook!…Avery is often right[…]

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