2015 - Page 2 of 10 - Forever In Mom Genes

When Your Kid With Disabilities Is A Star!

Oct 29 2015

My friend Kathy Buckworth invited our daughter to participate in a live-to-air segment she was hosting for a local morning show—CHCH Morning Live. At the risk of sounding like a proud stage mother, Avery (and Kathy!) nailed it. I hesitated when Kathy asked us to take part. The show is LIVE and in accordance to the old adage, “Never work with kids or animals!” I knew this Hallowe’en centred segment could go sideways at the drop of a (witch’s) hat. I also knew my girl would love it. To be in the spotlight and to feel important, if only for 120 seconds… how could I deny her that? Avery is often overlooked for cool experiences on the assumption that kids with differences can’t perform or participate safely or cope with the situation at hand. I get it. I do. However, parents who don’t have the pleasure of parenting a child with developmental disabilities often don’t understand how capable kids can be if only given the chance. KiDS ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THEIR LABELS. They all shine in their own way. It’s just that not everyone can see that, yet. But I digress…. Thank you K.B. for thinking of[…]

Oct 27 2015

Well into fall, the ride has come to a full and complete stop. This weekend our favourite theme park closes its doors, slamming them shut on thrill-seeking fun until next year. No more Tiny Toms or over-priced pizza slices or exhilarating coasters rides until next year. My son and I LOVE thrill rides. It’s something special we share. Every year we ride the rides from opening until dark. My husband doesn’t do rides. My daughter loves them and would happily plummet and spin and hang upside down, though she’s big on courage, she’s little in body. So in the spring, we take her to a family theme park called Centreville where she can experience rides just perfect for her. The only thing I don’t enjoy about some parks is the line-ups. Patience is not one of my virtues. The fast-pass ticket system at Disney is the way to go—for no extra charge you can print a ticket for your favourite ride and avoid lining up. At Wonderland, a park near us just north of Toronto, you have to pay extra for a fast-pass. No thank you. Instead, we attempt to avoid the lines by visiting the park in June when[…]

Oct 21 2015

If you switch around the letters in the word PETS you get PEST. Granted, I’m writing this after getting up with the dog no less than four times last night. In his defence, he had an upset stomach. Treating the cat’s litter box like an all-u-can-eat buffet will do that. By the way, how purrrfect is this t-shirt my daughter is wearing? I saw it and had to buy it. It’s basically our cat wearing glasses with our exact dogs reflected in the lenses. What are the odds? After five cups of coffee I have decided to forgive Roger. This lovable dog has brought so much joy to our family, it’s hard to stay mad at him for long. In fact, as I’m watching him right now curled up at my feet I feel somewhat guilty for going all alpha on him at 4AM. I’m not my best self when I’m sleep deprived. The other robber of sleep this week is our cat. Kevin has been embracing his nocturnal side and waking me up at all hours of the night to ‘suggest’ I feed him or to just lie on my face. We’ve never had a[…]

Oct 14 2015

This girl is a perfect mix of sporty spice and Barbie Girl. She’s equally happy climbing trees and examining bugs or shopping for “bootiful” dresses and experimenting with clip-on earrings and pink nail polish. But lately she’s been decidedly more girly, obsessed with fru-fru frilly and smitten with wedding gowns. (This video snippet is Avery wearing her cousin’s bridesmaid gown…like a boss.) The matrimonial fascination started shortly after my cousin Kelsey announced that she’s getting married. When Avery heard this exciting news she wanted to know who was going to the party and would there be cake and what will her dress look like?! To add to the wedding whimsy we watched a video of my cousin Allison’s wedding. Avery watched intently, admiring the beautiful wedding gown, the flowers, the dancing. She was mesmerized. On the car ride home so told us she would be getting married. “Who are you going to marry?” I asked her. “My brother Bastian,” she answered with absolute certainty. I get why she’d want to marry him—he’s sweet and funny and he makes a mean bowl of mac and cheese. He’s a catch. “You can’t marry your brother,” I told her. “He’s already part of[…]

Sep 18 2015

I listen to music all day while I work and when the right song comes on, it gives me a little burst of creative energy. When I first heard this song, I loved it instantly. Unfortunately I didn’t catch the title and I went out of my mind trying to track down this track. I Googled randomness like, “song with sick bass” and “new songs this week that are really cool.” I even hummed the guitar riff into a Shazam type app. How shocking that the title didn’t pop up immediately. Ha. So I listened faithfully to the radio for two weeks—waiting and listening attentively for my song. I drove my music savvy friend Sarah bonkers by humming what I could remember over the phone. She was like, “Um, I’m pretty sure that even if that song exists, it doesn’t go ANYTHING like that.” Well, in your face Sarah. It does exist. And I stand by my original “humdition.” I nailed it. Give or take a few octaves/notes/basic tune/all of it. The song finally came blasting through my mini-van speakers while I sat waiting for my daughter at school pick-up. I took note of key words in the chorus[…]

Archive - 2015

When Your Kid With Disabilities Is A Star!

I Had No Idea THIS Was An Aging Thing!

Best Pet Products

Here Comes The Bride?

Clothes Off