Many children on the autism spectrum have robust and complicated emotions that they simply can’t express to others in typical ways. Sometimes people around these kids don’t get the normal smiles, hugs and eye contact received as part of typical communication. There are a million ways people can show love – a huge spectrum. I spoke with Olympian and mother of four, Silken Laumann about her experience parenting a 21-year-old daughter named Kilee who is on the autism spectrum. In the podcast below, we speak about self-care, parenting, sport, and how technology can not only teach, but help family connections. Technology can help children discover new ways to express themselves.
This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.
It’s back – the dreaded cold and flu season is here, but it doesn’t have to take you down with it. Every year, we do battle with coughs, cold and fever during cold and flu season. Even when we try really hard to stay healthy, we still have to climb under the covers sometimes and admit defeat.
If you’ve caught a bug, here are some things you can do to get back on your feet again as soon as possible and back to living your best life.
I thought learning to sail would be my biggest worry.
At the age of 40, I began a journey to fulfil a dream I’d had since being a little girl. Together with my husband, we enrolled in ‘Basic Cruising’ sailing lessons, and then subsequently completed our ‘Coastal Navigation’ certification with the Canadian Yachting Association. It became something of a competition on the exams, but where I lagged in navigational prowess, I made up for with a natural feel for the wind and comfort with a tiller.
Filled with pride and tenacity, we purchased a boat. Then, I thought owning a boat would be my biggest worry.
This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.
It’s unavoidable – we are all getting older. The good news is we are learning new things and becoming the people we want to be. There is so much change. Perspectives, priorities, likes and dislikes as we gain experience. What else changes is our health and wellness needs change. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be prepared for what your body needs now and what it’s going to need in the future.
Teething pain is something I expected to encounter with my babies, and I felt confident I could provide pain relief and comfort. As a new mom, I was inundated with tips and tricks to help my teething babies. I gave them chew toys, cool washcloths, breastmilk popsicles, and more.
From an early age, we learn that friendships hold such importance. Through play we are taught about sharing. We take turns in games. Friends tell each other secrets and celebrate different events together.
But what happens as we grow older to keep those unique bonds going? Our range of friends extends to all different personalities. How do we talk so that our friends listen and more importantly, how can we determine what we want out of a friendship?
I am newly postpartum, not quite awake, standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, shush-shushing a 4-litre jug of milk and rocking it back and forth, soothingly, the same way I’ve been rocking a screamy baby for what feels like a week straight. Through bleary eyes, I read the headlines jumping out at me from the glossy magazine covers featuring impossibly beautiful women.
“How to Get Your Body Back!” Like I’ve disappeared so far into motherhood that I am no longer here. My body grew a tiny, furious human. It laboured for two days and birthed nine and a half pounds of gumption and tenacity. But now, as my belly is no longer satisfyingly rotund but instead soft and sagging, I have ceased to exist. How to Get Your Body Back. How to Erase the Parts of You We Don’t Want to See. How to Look More Visually Appealing so We’ll Acknowledge Your Existence.
For me, the summer means beach days, biking and heading out on the sailboat. In other ‘cottage country’ areas of Canada, packing and space are never such a problem. You can load up on citronella candles, Bollywood-inspired bedding and paper lanterns to round out the decor. On a sailboat, though, it’s all about the Marie Kondo methodology. No duplication, no clutter, and only the items you truly need.
As a parent coach, I spend a lot of time with moms. More often than not, there is one common thread: She is overwhelmed, exhausted and feels locked into certain patterns with her kids.
Does this sound familiar to you?
It’s a very common story but it doesn’t have to be this way…
Have you ever had this interior monologue?
How can it be Sunday night already? Where did the weekend go? I’m so tired. I’ve got so much to do before I get to bed. Every Sunday night is the same and every Monday morning I feel like I’m starting off on the wrong foot.
Father’s Day is a great reminder of how important our dads are. Even as adults, raising our own kids, they have a place in our lives and taking the time to nurture that bond is crucial as we and our dads age. It can be easy to rely on the relationships we have built over time and go into autopilot with making connections, but there is so much we can learn if we take the time to listen to the insights they’ve gained since we spent so much time sitting on their knees. Taking the time to get to know the man our dads have become is a great way to learn more about ourselves and our own futures. My husband is a great dad and my boys are so lucky to have him. Let’s face it, dads are special.