Category: children

Happy Father’s Day

I knew the moment I met you that you were a good catch but what I didn’t know then was what a great catch you would be until you became a dad. Jacob, Hannah, Rachel and Maggie all hit home runs in the daddy department. You cover all the bases, you cleanup really well, you’re our power hitter, our relief pitcher and even if you strike out sometimes when all 3 bases are loaded you are always on deck to catch any foul balls. You are our lead runner who keeps this family grounded and we hit a grand slam knowing that you are always by our side in a pinch. I love you to the moon and back, forever and a day. Happy Father’s Day Rich.
#yankeestadium #family #blessed #flux #dad #daddy #daddio

Let’s All Show Our Pride

The month of June is better known as “Pride Month” which celebrates the LGBTQ community by raising awareness of sexual diversity and gender variance. Pride month also helps increase self-affirmation, inclusivity, dignity and equal rights in the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender communities. And although we may have come a long way since its inception, the LGBTQ community still lives in very frightening times and many are too afraid to be who they want to be for fear of rejection, judgment, ridicule, violence, prejudices or discrimination.

Due to many of the challenges that the LGBTQ community face it is of little to no surprise that they are among the highest rate of any one community to suffer with Mental Health challenges, more so than the general population. Just imagine yourself as a young child, frightened because you feel “different” from the rest of your peer group or imagine you try to hide your “differences” for fear that you may be rejected, judged, or ridiculed by your peers and family, or imagine longing to be able to connect with other peers who are also “different” but you don’t know how to, or imagine still that those “differences” you have been trying to bury for so long become known within your peer group and suddenly you find yourself the victim of discrimination, prejudices or worse, violence.

These are just some examples of what individuals in the LGBTQ community may struggle with for part or all of their lives which can easily escalate into Depression, Anxiety and Trauma when they begin to lack self-worth and self-acceptance or begin feeling hopeless and alone. The long term effects of internalizing their negative self-talk can also create many additional struggles of both shame and guilt. They may feel shame and guilt for being “different” or for feeling the way they do, or for doing what they do, all of which can lead to further emotional and physical scars.

Many of you reading this right now may have once been that frightened young child, or maybe you are still struggling with the pain and anguish of being “different” in your adult years or maybe you were one of the lucky ones who found support from your friends, family and community right away. Either way it is especially important to recognize and celebrate the “Pride” movement and everything and everyone it stands up for as they take the mental health of their communities very seriously and bring people together in such a meaningful way.

Celebrating Pride month helps us imagine a world where being “different” is okay, where being “different” is acceptable and that we should all embrace our differences in one another because isn’t that what makes the world a much brighter and more colourful place to live just like the Pride flag so boldly represents.

My Favorite Mother’s Day Present

Last year on Mother’s Day I chose me. You may recall how last year the five of us escaped the city for an entire day and night and spent time hiking, picnicking in the park, enjoying some cross border shopping and then finished the day off with dinner together at a restaurant of my choosing (See blog: This Mother’s Day I Choose Me; May 11, 2018). This year the timing (and weather for that matter) won’t allow for a hike or a picnic in the park or some cross border shopping or possibly even dinner all together but today I’m still choosing me even if it means having to do so in shifts as the girls are spending the afternoon with their Buby at a play and the boy has his first Baseball game of the season this evening. But so long as I get a few uninterrupted, quality moments with my babies this Mother’s Day it will all be worthwhile.

Since becoming a Mom, Mother’s Day has never been about presents, except of course the ones that were created with love and sticky fingers but many years ago my kids did buy me a gift that over time has become a very personal collection of everything that is important to me, and tells a story, one that is unique to only me. Can you guess what it was? Okay, fine I will tell you…they bought me a bracelet from Pandora with a charm attached that simply read “MOM”.

Those three letters mean more to me than anything else in this world and those three kids who made me a mom are my reason “why”. They are also the reason why I never take my bracelet off my wrist. I find myself looking at it a lot lately, always touching it, examining it and fidgeting with every charm I have received since then. This bracelet l wear proudly on my wrist is my daily reminder of how much I am loved. I may only have seven charms on my bracelet but each one of them signifies a piece of me and the most beautiful and meaningful parts of my story but no matter what or how many I choose to display upon my wrist I probably don’t need to tell you which one truly means the most.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the beautiful mom’s out there who are blessed with having their own unique and meaningful story to tell.

Turning My Vision Into A Dream

About a year and a half ago I sat down one afternoon to do some writing which had become a pretty regular routine by then. I felt like writing some poetry that day but it wasn’t until after I finished writing when I realized what I had written was something more than just a poem. Instead I had created the first of MANY drafts of what was to become my vision for a children’s book chronicling a journey through the eyes of a young girl trying to understand what depression is when her mom suddenly becomes ill.

As a mom who had been suffering with depression and anxiety for several years already, I had pretty good insight and understanding into the deep impact my illness was having on my kids (and husband too). And even though they were 11, 14 & 15 years old at the time my illness began 5 years ago they were still just as confused and scared as if they were 3, 6 & 7 years old. And so on that day I took the first step toward fulfilling my dream which started by doing some further research.

Upon my further research I was sadly reminded that there are not enough resources or books available to help parents, caregivers, teachers or loved ones support and comfort young children through their emotions of being both confused and scared when someone they love is suffering with depression, an illness they cannot see.

And now after 18 long months, countless hours and way too many late nights working with the most incredible, passionate and patient illustrator my dream is one step closer to coming true as I place that vision in the hands of a publisher. I hope that one day very soon many children will read my words and feel a little less confused and a little less scared knowing that they are not alone.