a night of music and magic at toronto's molson canadian amphitheatre.

As moms we’ve all encountered this — that feeling like we might explode if we don’t get away from our children. At least, I’m assuming that’s the case (please tell me I’m not alone in this). After a particularly stressful few weeks with my crew, I was ready for a night out, so getting invited by a friend to join him at a John Mayer concert was just what I needed to relax and recharge.

...Read more on TravelingMom.com

the art of the 24-hour vacation.

Remember back in the day – before you had kids – when you could go away for a week or two, and all you had to worry about was finding someone to water your plants and feed your cat? Those days are a distant memory for parents. Going away without your children for any stretch of time is a challenge. For those of us with a child with special needs, it is nearly impossible. This is where the art of the 24-hour vacation comes in.


...Read more on Travelingmom.com

the importance of making time for yourself.

Moms are good at a lot of things, but making time for themselves isn’t typically one of them. Think about it -- when is the last time you prioritized yourself over your family? Is carving out an afternoon for yourself something you do on a regular basis? It’s easy to get burnt out and not even know it. Add a special needs child to the mix and you are even more at risk for increased stress, depression and exhaustion. Perhaps it’s time to rethink making time for ourselves. After all, when mom isn’t happy, nobody is.

...Read more on TravelingMom.com

memories from childhood: the red suitcase.

It was bright red, the size of an albatross, and it weighed a ton. The surface was ever so slightly bumpy, and it had a few scuffs that bore witness to its escapades. I’m not referring to my Great Grandmother’s prize winning heritage tomato -- I’m talking about the prized Samsonite suitcase that accompanied us on every family trip from before I can remember to when I left for college.

...Read more on Travelingmom.com

flying with a 3-year-old for the first time.

We are all familiar with the feeling of gravity pushing you back into your seat as the plane accelerates, the front wheels lift up off the ground and the nose points skyward. But experiencing this for the first time with my three-year-old daughter reminded me that flying in a plane is not something to be taken for granted. The look of pure glee on her face as we flew higher and higher into the sky is what having kids is all about. These moments when we are transported back to our own childhoods when we too found joy and delight in life's miracles are gifts. Getting to fly! In the sky! It is indeed awesome.

...Read more on TravelingMom.com

bachelorette party in niagara wine country

Need an idea for a bachelorette party? Here’s one that allows everyone to enjoy as much wine as they want, take in the scenery and not worry about driving or directions! Sound to good to be true? Well, I just spent a weekend in Niagara with seven of my girlfriends and we had a blast (and stocked our wine cellars).

...Read more on Travelingmom.com

travel tuesday: hiring a respite worker for your child with autism.

One of the challenges of having a child with Autism, is that there are very few people who we trust to care for him. Outside of our immediate family, there is only one person that we know who can handle our five-year-old son Max, and that is his respite worker Sarah. She is a trained behavior therapist, and has known Max for over a year. In fact, she started out as his therapist and quickly became his favourite person in the universe. When she told us she was leaving the clinic where Max receives his therapy to work at another clinic, we were actually happy. This meant that she could now be his respite worker!

...Read more on TravelingMom.com

travel tuesday: traveling to japan in my heart.



photo credit: bigfoto.com


As we take in the images of the tsunami washing over the coast of Japan, it seems abstract. This could not possibly be the same place that Global TravelingMom visited just a few months ago. The news anchor speaks about the thousands of people who live in the village that has been swept away in mere seconds. Surely, you think, everyone got out in time and reached safety. To imagine anything else is horrifying.

...Read the rest of this post over at TravelingMom.com

travel tuesday: making disney fun for your child with autism.

This February I had the opportunity to visit Disney World for a few days without my kids. Because I view everything through the lens of "how would my 4 year old with Autism cope here?" I asked a lot of questions and made many observations while staying at the park. While my son is probably a few years away from being ready to visit, I learned a lot about how to make Disney a fun experience for families with children with Autism.

...Read the rest of this post over at TravelingMom.com

never let your frog outdress you.

I took this picture last week in Hollywood Studios at Disney World

How it is already March, I have no idea.  It's still freezing cold out and snowing, so my head is still in February.  I'm ready for sandal weather.  I'm ready for gardening.  Most of all, I'm ready for sunlight! 

I've been meaning to post an update on some of the other projects I have on the go right now. 

I'm still writing for TravelingMom.com.  Check out my most recent post:
10 Reasons Why Every Mom Should Vacation Alone

I'm also a contributor for the new site Mommy Niri Cares.  Check out my first post:
Finding the Autism Community Through the Internet

And one more thing...Jennifer and I just launched an Urban Quilting Blog called Sew Sew Def! Check out my latest post over there:
Mill House Inn by Fig Tree Jelly Roll Quilt - A Work In Progress

I have a few other projects in the works that I'll link to once they are up! It's a very exciting times for me!

mental health monday: wish, hope, dream.

My scavenger hunt team "The Dreams" in Hollywood Studios.  We totally won.  By a landslide.

Oh what a little sunshine can do!  I had the pleasure of spending this past weekend in Orlando at Disney World with the TravelingMom.com crew for a retreat thanks to the generous folks at Disney World.  I will be posting more about our adventures on my Autism Traveling Mom blog tomorrow for Travel Tuesday but let me just say holy smokes it was a blast!

The weather was incredible (a treat after leaving Toronto just as a snow storm started).  I felt like my body was saying "thankyouthankyouthankyou" every time I stepped outside and soaked up that vitamin D.  I swear my depression would all but disappear if I lived in a place where it was warm and sunny year round.  On my second day at Disney, we got treated to a scavenger hunt and my team - The Dreams (that's us in the photo above), kicked some major booty.  It was fun exploring Hollywood Studios with my new friends Mary (EastCoast Traveling Mom), Christy (Food Allergies Traveling Mom), Diana (Traveling Grandmom), Holly (Culture Traveling Mom), and Desiree (FamilyFun Traveling Mom).  While I didn't go on any rides (totally not my thing), I enjoyed getting to take a bunch of photos of the park and sharing some laughs with my Traveling Mom crew! 

I must mention my "Disney Ah-Ha" moment, which happened on our first night.  One of our Disney hosts - the lovely and blingalicious Laura Spencer - was speaking about why she loved working at Disney.  She said that the three words that summed up Disney for her were "wish, hope, dream".  As cheesy as it may be, this is also my mantra when it comes to Max, and how I think about his future.  I hope to take him to Disney in a few years, once we are all settled in with his service dog, though I think my next trip will be with Cameron and my mom for a girl's princess trip. 

A BIG thanks to Disney for hosting us! I can't wait to come back!

me and charlie sheen at disney.

Charlie Sheen's hand prints from back in the day at Disney World Hollywood Studios Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Day 3 at Disney World and I have only been to two parks - Hollywood Studios and Epcot Centre (though we are staying at Animal Kingdom). This place is pure happiness and sunshine. I think maybe Charlie Sheen should come back here again to get inspired and clean up his life.  Maybe bring his kids and ex-wives and watch some fireworks, wear some mouse ears.  I have a lot more pictures to post once I get back to Canada.  Not to worry, I have plenty of princess gear for Cameron!!

making time for your other child (the one without autism).

As is often the case, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. This also applies to my family. When you have a child with special needs, you automatically spend the majority of your time managing his needs. My son Max requires a lot of attention.

For my 2 year old daughter Cameron, (who is neurotypical), this has been her reality since the day she was born. She doesn’t know any different, which I suppose is a good thing. It’s also a good thing that she if very outgoing and has the vocabulary of a child twice her age. She is a natural entertainer and she makes us laugh every day. Lately I’d been noticing that she was acting out more...

...read more on traveling mom.com

travel tuesday: everyone loves marineland?

Like most people with Autism, Max likes his routine. Correction – he needs his routine, in fact he clings to it. He seems to have an inner clock that knows when it is time to leave for daycare and when his therapy session should be completed. If you turn left at the lights, it means we are going to the store, if you turn right it means we are going to the park. When you deviate from these norms, it can be very hard for him to manage.

...read the rest of the post and see the awesome video of Max at TravelingMom.com

A Little Night of Respite.

Anyone with young children will tell you that getting a night away takes a bit of planning and of course, a lot of luck. Those of us with children with Autism will tell you it also requires the stars to align, a full moon, and the help of family and friends. Taking a night off for respite is very important for caregivers. For me it is the glue that holds me together when my stress starts to get to me.

Read more at TravelingMom.com

Travel Tuesday.

I don't travel a lot. Not right now, anyway. I hope to travel more often in the near future (with and without my kids). I have recently started writing over at travelingmom.com as Autism TravelingMom. I'll be posting there weekly, writing about my adventures. I'm looking forward to documenting our journey and sharing what works, doesn't work and making recommendations on how to travel successfully with a child with Autism. So, come on over and check out my first couple of posts - my intro and an ode to my Camry.