Last week was Family Day here in British Columbia. As a new holiday, we are still struggling to figure out what traditions will form around this much welcomed statutory holiday. And that is exactly what I found myself doing on Family Day – struggling. Because of the word ‘holiday’ I felt like I had to … [Read more…]
Today is World Cancer Day; a day of awareness raising, prevention, and celebrating survival. The overarching goal according to WorldCancerDay.org is to reduce premature deaths from cancer, and improve quality of life and cancer survival rates. But as a bereaved parent, I can’t help but also think of the non-survivors. Of the tragedy of losing a child … [Read more…]
For all of you parents familiar with Adam Mansbach’s brilliantly funny book Go the F**k to Sleep, you know how I felt two nights ago when both of my children decided to kick up a fuss at bed time. There is nothing like not one, but two, over-tired yet reluctant children at bed time. The excuses were … [Read more…]
I am an impulsive planner. I have to-do lists of to-do lists. And when the new year roles around I enjoy laying out my goals for the year. For the last six years, I have set goals according to a few key areas such as my personal and professional development, my spirituality and travel. As … [Read more…]
Halloween night came to an end. The kids were over-joyed with candy overload. Awake November 1st, Halloween paraphernalia whisked away to be replaced by christmas lights and carols. The stores overtaken. Kaiya already planning her letters to Santa. How quickly the red and green Christmas wave arrived. But wait, stop my beating heart (I love … [Read more…]
Last Sunday the Compassionate Friends organized their 17th annual Worldwide Candle Lighting. Across the world at 7pm, bereaved parents and their families joined to light candles in memory of their children. According to The Compassionate Friends website it is “now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe…a gift to the bereavement … [Read more…]
This article was featured in the Winter Edition of my newsletter. Sign up above to get the newsletter delivered directly to your email. As December draws near and the holidays loom, instead of the common anticipation and excitement, individuals who are grieving often feel a sense of dread. Common sentiments are, “How will I be … [Read more…]
It was a Friday night, ingredients were at the ready, and Kaiya was given the task of creating the kids pizza. The back story to this event is that Kaiya has become a self-proclaimed artist and is now spending hours a week colouring, painting and doing intricate, self-designed crafts. She placed the olives, she placed … [Read more…]
Eventually you hit a battle rhythm with life, and your grief walks away from centre stage. You feel confident. You feel like the depth of sadness is only fleeting now. You are a mother bereaved, but you are happy. Then out of nowhere, grief gets you. Creeps up from behind and says – hello remember … [Read more…]
Last week I stopped into a cafe to grab a coffee. I must have had an air of desperation, or maybe the clerk saw the blur in my eyes. Instead of the Americano I ordered, he handed me a Red Eye. What is a Red eye you ask? It is espresso with coffee. I suddenly … [Read more…]
