Gwendolyn sees a confidential school report listing her weaknesses. She knows she struggles. Now she has proof. She develops a list of fifty-four things to get under control. Because to go to horse camp, she must behave. And so begins the story of 11-year-old Gwen, who thinks she has only one friend, a half-brother, who her mother doesn't acknowledge, and a brain that cracks. They thought she had ADHD. If you read this book, you may think like me, it might be just be FASD.
Trigger Warning: There are details in this post some may find disturbing and distressing. On Saturday, January 15, 2022, Saturday Night Live aired a skit called Winter Formal. The characters spend 4 minutes and 19 seconds promoting their winter formal shop and making derogatory comments about the son. Close to the end, the mother says … Continue reading SNL skit Winter Formal: Humour or ableist?
There are many reasons why a woman may consume alcohol while pregnant. But FASD is not just a woman or alcohol issue. It is a complex societal issue with many layers. Negative attitudes and perceptions impact women, individuals with FASD and their families. My Wish #8 for FASD is to stamp out stigma, shame and blame.
As all the posts were appearing today, I couldn’t help but reflect on FASD and the continuing stigma and misunderstanding that not only my daughter faces but women caregivers and birth moms. There were posts that said women deserve to be recognized every day. Yes they do. But I also think having different ways to … Continue reading International Women’s Day and FASD
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
On March 29 two significant events in the world of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder occurred in Ontario - but neither received any Provincial acknowledgement. It was the 15th anniversary of Sandy’s Law and the launch of a Provincial FASD website. These coming at the end of a trifecta of other non-FASD announcements. March 29 marked … Continue reading Time to address the Pink Elephant
I wish that would have been the headline recently as Health Canada unveiled an updated Food Guide. But there is reason to be optimistic. The risks of alcohol consumption were outlined. And although Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder was not mentioned, the mere fact that alcohol was, is reason enough to celebrate a small victory. Canada's … Continue reading Canada’s new Food Guide, Alcohol and FASD
After reading a blog post by Helen Simpson about the new Netflix thriller Bird Box (Bird Box We Still Have a Long Way to Go )- which was on my Netflix to watch list - I had to check it out without further delay. She made some valid points about another missed opportunity to promote alcohol … Continue reading Bird Box Blows Over The Alcohol Limit
Day 4 on my Red Shoes Rock journey to bring awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, leading up to International FASD Awareness Day is about what is hidden. I was prompted to think about hidden after discovering the painted piano pictured above. Every time I passed it for about a month, it was covered up … Continue reading Day 4 Red Shoes Rock – Invisible No More
Day 87 of 99 Days to FASDay and we continue to look at a study of key Canadian FASD awareness campaigns - focusing on the images used to raise awareness. The information is from What We Have Learned: Key Canadian FASD Awareness Campaigns Best Start: Ontario's Maternal Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre (Wendy Burgoyne). How … Continue reading Day 87 of 99 Days to FASDay: Images of FASD
our sacred breath 
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