In 2016 I wrote a blog post called 12 Wishes for FASD and My Daughter. It was a combination of things I wanted in terms of FASD awareness and things I wanted for my daughter. I did update it in 2017 - 12 Wishes A Year Later - but have not been back to look at it through the lens of another 3 years. Over the next 12 days I will update for the 2020 edition. Today we look at friendships.
The maiden and I went on a little road trip last week to pick up some rain gutters someone was giving away. I asked her to come along as I was going to have to the hatch open on the back of the car, with them hanging out, and I just wanted her to hang … Continue reading Connecting with Gutters
It’s strange and wonderful... even magical how the world works. After having a really defeating week last week, Monday arrived and the universe sent me a message to remind me that even in the middle of difficult times, if we remain open, we can find moments of magic to lift our spirits. This week is … Continue reading Our Magical Day
I've been thinking about grief and loss for awhile now. We know many caregivers for individuals with FASD experience grief and loss. We hear others say, "Oh, that's grief and loss!" - but what do we really know about it? Most of the information available on grief and loss is about death. Or in relation … Continue reading FASD: Grief and Loss for Caregivers
I recently saw the graphic below, of a sloth riding on a turtle’s back, saying “too fast”. I was going to share it on my Facebook page, with a short comment about how we may need to slow down in order to accommodate an individual with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Either in what we say, how … Continue reading FASD: Lessons in Processing Speed from the Turtle, Sloth and Snail
According to Merriam-Webster: Definition of self-regulation the act or condition or an instance of regulating oneself or itself: such as; Self Regulation: the bringing of oneself or itself into a state of order, method, or uniformity emotional self-regulation. We know individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often struggle with self-regulation, which can lead to many … Continue reading Self Regulation in FASD and me
I’m tired. No I’m more than tired. I’m exhausted. I’m depleted. No amount of self care (bubble baths, walks, therapy, lunch with friends, reading a book, etc.) is going to “fill my cup” and bring me back to where I need to be. I’m not alone. Many people are. Those who are caring for individuals with … Continue reading What happens when no one cares for the caregiver
Here is a very creative way to not only learn about emotions/coping skills/self regulation, but help identify how and when to use them. A fellow mama and FASD advocate, creator of Team Love - a group for connecting families living with FASD - made this resource after being told about a bus metaphor for emotions. … Continue reading Who is driving your bus?
It seems for those of us in the world of FASD it’s one step forward and five steps back. Just when we are making progress, and word is getting it out that consuming alcohol while pregnant is not advised, someone questions the evidence and gains an audience to keep the debate raging on. The first … Continue reading A Tale of Two Books for Moms To Be
What follows is part of a presentation my daughter and I made to an FASD Caregiver Group; she spoke about Life with FASD and below is my presentation on being an advocate. When I started this journey of being a mom to a child with FASD all I knew was what caused it. I knew … Continue reading FASD: What I’ve learned so far.
