FEB/MAR 2021
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 33 Years
Kid-friendly Favourites in Tofino
Special Needs Issue
20 Things
Parents of kids with special needs should hear
From Stylist to Fashion Police
What to do when kids decide what to wear
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Features 10
18
Special Needs Families & the Pandemic
Kid-friendly Favourites in Tofino
Six struggles special needs families face during the pandemic.
From beachcombing and surfing to sea kayaking and whale watching—and everything in between.
YVONNE BLOMER
14
28
20 Things Parents of Kids with Special Needs Should Hear
The Saving ‘Grace’ of the Redo
Bring a parent is hard. Being a parent to a child with extra needs is extra hard. Here’s how to help.
When tomorrow can’t come soon enough. KELLY MCQUILLAN
DR. DARLA CLAYTON
In Every Issue 5
24
Fast Forward
Kids’ Reads
SUE FAST
CHRISTINE VAN STARKENBURG
26
What’s for Dinner EMILLIE PARRISH
28
Businesses You Need to Know
6
30
Family Calendar
32
Nature Notes KALENE LILLICO
34
Happy Families, Healthy Families
Need to Know
20
ARELI HERMANSON
SARAH SEITZ
Preschool & Child Care Directory
36
Moms’ POV
22
38
Dadspeak
Cut It Out!
BUD RIDOUT
ALLISON REES
On the Cover Alexander R (4), Ayana B (1) & Sophia R (8) Photo by Katrina Rain IG: @katrinarainphotography FB: @KatrinaRainPhotography
FEB/MAR 2021
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 33 Years
Kid-friendly Favourites in Tofino
Special Needs Issue
20 Things
Parents of kids with special needs should hear
From Stylist to Fashion Police
What to do when kids decide what to wear
4 Island Parent Magazine
Jim Schneider Publisher publisher@islandparent.ca Sue Fast Editor editor@islandparent.ca Kristine Wickheim Account Manager kristine@islandparent.ca RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager raeleigh@islandparent.ca Island Parent Magazine, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a bimonthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on resources and businesses for Vancouver Island families. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. No material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Island Parent is distributed free in selected areas. Annual mail subscriptions (7 issues) are available for $21 (GST included). Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement 40051398. ISSN 0838-5505.
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FA STF O RWA R D
The Superhero Parents of Kids with Special Needs M ost parents have felt the kind of exhaustion that won’t go away with a little “self-care”—a manicure, hot bath or massage—or a good night’s sleep or two. But if you’re a parent of a child with special needs, that exhaustion can be relentless. “When parenting a child with special needs, there are no vacation days of off-switches,” writes Jenn Jones at Scary Mommy. “Raising my child, who has half-a-dozen diagnoses, requires constant attention, awareness, energy, flexibility, dedication, and patience.” As children with special needs get older, their needs evolve, and their parents must evolve, too. “When I climb into bed at night, I both thank God that I get to be my child’s mother, but I also recognize the epic depletion.” While there’s “freedom in speaking your parental truth,” says Jones, doing so comes with a cost: judgement and inappropriate responses—even if those responses are well-intended. What you need is… While taking a vacation or even a catnap might sound like reasonable solutions, they are often impossibilities for parents of kids with special needs. First there’s the challenge of finding childcare. “If I’m not caring for my child, who will be?” asks Jones. “I’m pretty sure it won’t be the person who flippantly tells me to just chill out with a fruity drink, poolside, in a tropical location a few thousand miles from home.”
Not only do parents of kids with special needs have to work “every moment of every single day” for their children, she says, but they also have to fight stereotypes and combat judgements. “Why don’t we just discipline our kids more or better? Have we tried essential oils, supplements, chiropractic care, prescription medications, therapy, a special diet? Perhaps we just need to put out more positive vibes into the universe or pray harder, asking God to heal our children?” Jones says if parents of kids with special needs could “just whisper a prayer, rub a little oil on our kid’s wrist, or avoid sugary foods forever, resulting in our child being healed, we would do it in a heartbeat.” But that’s not how special needs works. “And frankly, defending our parenting to all the know-it-alls out there is only further exhausting us,” she adds. “We don’t need advice, pity, or criticism. We just need support.” To that end, this issue features Yvonne Blomer’s “Special Needs Families & the Pandemic,” outlining six of the struggles that special needs families have faced since the start of the pandemic. Also featured is Dr. Darla Clayton’s “20 Things Parents of Special Needs Should Hear.” “I need a lot more ‘go, Mama’ cheers,” says Jones, “and a lot less of the outside-looking-in criticism.” Here’s to helping each other out and being part of the cheering section.
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February/March 2021 5
N E E DTO KN OW
I Read Canadian I Read Canadian Day, on February 17, is a national celebration of Canadian books for young people. The goal of I Read Canadian Day is for children nationwide to read a Canadian book for 15 minutes on February 17. On Saturday, February 13, events will be held at bookstores all across Canada with creators taking part in readings and signings. The social media campaign, #IReadCanadian, is on I Read Canadian’s Twitter and Instagram accounts. Register your class, library or home to participate today at the official website. Key activities will take place February 13 to February 21, with February 17 as the official I Read Canadian Day. On that day at 9am, a series of videos called I Write Canadian will premiere on the CCBC’s YouTube channel, Bibliovideo. Presentations from an amazing roster of authors and illustrators will be featured to celebrate I Read Canadian. Visit ireadcanadian.com.
Have a Heart Day February 14 is Have a Heart Day, a child and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are. Even if we can’t gather as we usually do, we can still celebrate the spirit of Have a Heart Day and stand up for love and fairness. Here are some ideas from First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (FNCFCS), fncaringsociety.com/havea-heart, are some ideas:
Spread the word and post photos of your Have a Heart Day letter, cookies, or however you choose to celebrate on social media. Use the hashtag #HaveaHeartDay and/or #JourneeAyezUnCoeur. Complete a Snow Bears Activity or make some Have a heart Day cookies with your class, group, or family. Find Spirit Bear’s Bearcipe cards in the resources on the FNCFCS website. Host an online Valentine’s Day party to raise awareness in your school or community. Reconciliation is all of us. Read this information sheet for ways you can help make a difference. For more ideas, recipes, posters and activities, visit fncaringsociety.com/have-a-heart.
Campbell River Photo Collection Itching to get your camera out? Then this collection is for you. See some of the most photogenic locations and experiences across Campbell River for you to explore and document. This curated collection will leave you with a camera full of precious memories from scenic lookouts to public art to beautifullyplated food. Rediscover the Campbell River we love and how to do it safely. Explore with confidence and claim your rewards. Download the app at crivercollection.com/#. 6 Island Parent Magazine
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February/March 2021 7
Keeping Kids Cozy
The Meaning of Home Over the past year, our homes have transformed into offices, schools and, for the lucky few, places of refuge. This year more than ever, Habitat for Humanity Victoria wants to know, what does home mean to you? The annual Meaning of Home writing contest that encourages students in grades 4, 5 and 6 to share what home means to them through a poem or short essay is back and open for submissions at meaningofhome.ca. The contest runs from January 4 to February 19, and awards more than $180,000 in grants through grand prize winners from each grade, along with nine runners-up. Last year, Nathan Papps of Glenlyon Norfolk School in Victoria won a $30,000 grant which went towards Habitat Victoria’s active build project in North Saanich. His poem, “Where the Heart Lives,” tells us how a family transforms a house in to a home. Visit habitat.ca.
Hillside Centre is accepting new or gently worn winter coats for children and teens in need. The Drop-Off bin is located across from Guest Services. Thank you for your support. Coat collection ends March 30. Hillside Centre is also raising revenue for Coats for Kids. When you colour and return the colouring sheet, available at Guest Services, Hillside Mall will donate a $1 to Coats for Kids (Max. $1,000). hillsidecentre.com/coats-for-kids-2
Have a Whale of a Time Throughout the coastal towns of Tofino and Ucluelet and around the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, it’s an all-out celebration of life on the coast. It’s about grey whales and marine life education, inspirational talks and interpretive walks, children’s fun for the small and culinary events for the tall, First Nations cultural workshops and more. Come and experience a coastal tradition. Planning is underway for the 2021 Pacific Rim Whale Festival that will work within the COVID-19 directives laid down by BC Health. Tentative dates are March 15–21. For updates on events, visit pacificrimwhalefestival.com.
8 Island Parent Magazine
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5 Family Day Field Trips The following Vancouver Island attractions are all open for business and make for a fun Family Day Field Trip: 1. North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. Visit the Eco-Centre, Museum of Nature and the Treatment Centre and Nursery, among other highlights. Open daily from 9am-4:30pm. Masks required when indoors, except for children under two years old. niwra.org 2. Royal BC Museum. Take part in RBCM’s Family Day Webinar: Animal Portraits for Kids on Feb 15 from 11-11:30am and learn about the diversity of creatures, big and small, that live in diverse family structures. To register, visit royalbcmuseum. bc.ca. 3. Mt. Washington. Try the “plan ahead, buy online, wear a mask, be kind” option that allows skiers and tubers to buy tickets before they arrive. Tackle the slopes or the tube park, all while staying apart and outdoors. mountwashington.ca. 4. Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is “o-fishally” open 10am–4:30pm. Download scavenger hunt and activity sheets and explore the Centre and Salish Sea. salishseacentre.org 5. Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Centre. Explore the museum’s natural history galleries and delve into the elasmosaur discovery, how ammonites got their shape and name, and mysteries of the rat fish, among other things. Visit courtenaymuseum.ca.
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February/March 2021 9
Special Needs Families & the Pandemic “T
he pandemic is taking a brutal toll on children and youth with special needs and their families,” according to a new report by BC’s representative for children and youth. Let’s admit it, it’s been a tough haul these last several months. In one corner, parents protest the opening of schools, in another they are protesting the closing of them. Goodbye hugs, hello masks. I still clearly remember my son’s last day of school before spring break last March. Truth be told, I pulled him a day early. Colwyn has Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and Autism. He’s shy and curious and he licks things. Before the shut down last March, Colwyn wore gloves and a mask. In fact, he’s been wearing both at school since September of 2019 to help curb his licking. All families have struggled to balance work, social life, school and safety. We try to understand why schools have different rules than other workplaces, and what activities to let our kids do while ensuring their safety, along with the trick of fostering emotional development with no peer contact. It has been hard for all of us. But it’s especially hard for families with neurodiverse kids. Here are six of the struggles special needs families are facing during the pandemic. These findings are based on my conversations with parents of kids with special needs including the autism spectrum, ADHD, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and a rare condition called 16p11.2 microdeletion. None of the kids have complex medical needs but are neurodiverse in how they process, learn and live. Families whose children also have complex medical needs are having to be that much more careful, and the stresses on them are that much higher.
1. Change is hard.
Neurodiversity often makes it so hard to adjust to sudden changes that kids move rapidly toward either shutting down or self-harm. With change comes anxiety and with anxiety comes a range of behaviours. Last spring, at the start of the pandemic, we had to increase my son’s anxiety meds and give him extra time to process situations and changes. We also began writing down the plan for the day and doing countdowns, and number of sleeps until something expected would happen. Sometimes, those plans were changed because of Covid safety plans. Two hard losses were not being able to see family and friends, and not being able to visit playgrounds. To see the swings at the park, and the yellow tape around them, and to try to understand that the “big cold everyone has” was keeping him off them.
10 Island Parent Magazine
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One mom I spoke with whose son has ADHD said her son had a “mini breakdown” during each lockdown. “He just slept all the time for the first week…said he was going to sleep until it was over.” After days of yelling and talking and trying to verbally figure out the changes, he would suddenly switch to grudging acceptance, “like snapping your fingers. “It’s like it took a week or two to go through the thought processes that I did in a few seconds—‘Oh shoot! That’s bad. I hate this, but we do this now.’”
2. Zoom (etc) isn’t engaging for neurodiverse kids and they lose their sense of independence.
I’d argue that many typical kids—and adults—find Zoom and other online platforms a bit foreign and strange. For special needs kids, it’s even worse. There is no interaction, and these kids live for hands-on learning. Colwyn’s Education Assistant (EA) did a lot of home Zoom sessions with us, but for Colwyn to respond to her, I needed to be there supporting him. He did and still does piano on Zoom, which is fabulous, but I used to sit outside the classroom. Now I’m helping him play the notes, making sure he listens to the teacher and engages with her. I redirect, encourage, and keep him on track. Often he’s looking at me instead of at his teacher. When they move from playing the piano to singing songs, I’m behind the iPad, dancing, mouthing the words, doing the actions—often with a stuffed Garfield on my head—it’s an aerobic workout. I’m happy to help but I’m also aware that it’s another thing he needs me for. It’s not moving my son toward any sense of independence. Colwyn’s friend, Trinity, has a rare genetic duplication called 16p11.2. Though verbal, she needs time to articulate her thoughts. “By the time it’s Trinity turn to talk on a Zoom meet, she’s almost too frustrated and in tears,” says her mom Carol Geisler. Colwyn will happily do music lessons on Zoom with me helping him, but classroom chats last spring were basically a no go. The key to all of this, too, is that not all families have access to all that essential technology. While it has been great to be able to talk to doctors on the phone or via medical online links, but a big concern for many families is “no one is putting eyes on their kids.” Colwyn needed blood work (as did I) and that was a scary venture into the hospital last April and again in November. He will need to start IslandParent.ca
February/March 2021 11
puberty and because of his PWS will need some help, so we’ve had complicated phone, online and hospital visit appointments all of which have resulted in needing to see his specialist when she’s in town so she can actually see him herself. All our medical professionals have been amazing, my son is utterly awesome, but it sure is imperfect and he has no life-threatening issues.
3. Loss of Community and engagement
Colwyn is mostly with his dad and me when he’s not in school. There is funding for camps and support for families with special needs, but Colwyn is a kid who requires one-toone support, so he has both been turned away from group activities and we have elected to not send him to camps for the past 11 months. Many kids his age can go to soccer practice or other sports and be safe. Colwyn and his peers can’t. Trinity was scheduled to attend Easter Seals Camp last summer, but it was cancelled. “They delivered a box of resources…crafts and recipes and Trinity was looking for the recipes just recently saying, ‘I want to do SOMETHING.’” Geisler and her husband have elected to keep both kids home and homeschool because of Trinity has a history of respiratory illness. Specialists for speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy have moved online, too. Kids who need assessments are delayed even more than usual.
4. Homeschooling is HARD
Trinity’s family is having a really hard time navigating homeschooling and she is one of those kids with special needs who falls through the cracks. “She’s always in the margins, her diagnosis is rare enough that most doctors don’t know what it is.” says her mom. Trinity displays autism traits, but not enough to meet the criteria. “So, we don’t get extra funding or support other than what is offered through her Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at school. Now she’s not in school, we’re on our own.” If Geisler’s son attended school, the risk of him bringing something home led to her keeping both kids home. “Elli is more vocal about how unhappy he is,” she says. “Trinity is more silent, but she spends a lot of time home alone, can’t go anywhere, and there isn’t a lot available, so she’s doing a lot of crafts.” Though most families with neurodiverse kids have probably already shaped their lives around their kids’ needs, the loss of school and outside support adds an immense strain.
5. Inclusion is out the window.
Teens are programmed for socializing, so it makes that at 14 Trinity is really missing her friends. Colwyn is at school every day, but in so small a cohort, he no longer mixes with the typical kids in the school. Inclusion is out the window. Though I’m relieved that his cohort is only six kids plus EAs and a teacher, Colwyn remembers being a part of the larger school and misses those interactions and the classes that he once attended in aca12 Island Parent Magazine
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demic subjects. Silas, a friend of Colwyn’s with PWS in Vancouver, is also in a small, special needs cohort in school. “I think as a special needs parent you are constantly scanning the environment for threats like some robot in a movie, which can feel a bit crazy. Are we worried about his exposure in school? Yes. Special needs kids are not as aware of their bodies in space, and ahem, sometimes personal hygiene,” says Silas’ mom, Heather Beach. “I’m worried about his lack of interaction with anyone else in the school, his inability to find any new peers or feel a part of the school community.” And, like Cowlyn’s school program, the lessons are simplified. “He is not getting exposure to any subjects other than math, science, English, social studies and art. It’s basic. “There are a lot of life skills programs, which Silas is beyond,” she adds. Having a special needs child doesn’t exempt you from all the other things life throws at you. Our family is lucky, but I have Type 1 diabetes and an 81-year-old dad who we haven’t seen since school started in September. Many families have other kids, so do those kids have to miss seeing friends to protect the entire family? Yes. Parents get sick. Carol, Trinity’s mom, had thyroid issues in the fall so had to take some leave from work. It enabled her to homeschool, but also put other stressors on the family. Some families are parented by single moms or single dads who must work from home while being the primary or only caregiver to their neurodiverse child. Our kids don’t work well on their own, for the most part, they need help in doing schoolwork, maybe toileting, eating (or limiting eating) and in engaging with what resources are available. Behaviours flair with the added stress and anxiety, some kids pull pictures off the walls, some kids skin pick to infection, some sleep all day. Teen suicide is on the rise as well. On the positive side, Colwyn struggled early on with all of the changes, but the frustration led to more speech. He’s been a relatively nonverbal kid, but started saying names, and songs titles, and expanding his words from partial to more full pronunciations. Over the last 11 or so months, he has begun to really talk. Mostly about people he wants to see, or places, but he also read a book to a cousin over Zoom. Last spring every time we were in the car he’d say something that to us sounded like “Uncle Phil” His cousin, when she was here, thought he was saying “Agatha” but we finally figured it out—Island View! And so began our frequent walks at Island View Beach. Slowing down between March and June and then throughout the summer meant Colwyn could catch up mentally with things he’d been learning and working on his whole life and begin to talk! For more information and to view the report, Left Out: Children and Youth with Special Needs in the Pandemic, visit rcybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CYSN_Report.pdf IslandParent.ca
Yvonne Blomer is a Victoria writer and the past Poet Laureate of Victoria. Her most recent books are Sugar Ride: Cycling from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur and Refugium: Poems for the Pacific. yvonneblomer.com. February/March 2021 13
20 Things Parents of Kids with Special Needs Should Hear 1. You are not alone.
There may not be anyone else with the same constellation of symptoms as your child but there are people with similar challenges. Find those people. I have never met anyone with all of these same challenges as my kid but I have a strong network within each separate diagnosis. We have made wonderful friends and have found—and I hope provided—a great deal of support within each of these. I just have to pop onto one of my Facebook groups and I’m immediately reminded, I’m not alone.
2. You too deserve to be cared for.
We are placed in a position of caring for others nearly constantly. However, you still need and deserve to be cared for. That entails asking friends or family to bring a meal by every now and then, or going for a pedicure, or a date night, or whatever else you enjoy doing. Whatever makes you feel special and taken care of, take the time to enjoy it, you are worth it.
3. You aren’t perfect—and that’s ok!
No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. We can wallow in our goof-ups or move on! Try to shift your thinking, maybe there was a good reason you missed that appointment, that you were sure was on Tuesday but apparently was on Monday. Maybe your kiddo had a tough day at school and just needed the night off. Who knows? But beating yourself up isn’t going to change the situation, so try to move on.
4. You are a superhero.
You may not leap buildings in a single bound or run faster than a speeding bullet but you are a superhero none the less. Everyday, you manage situations that a regular parent would think are impossible. You stretch tight muscles, remember pills, inject and infuse medicine. You hold hysterical children during horrendous medical procedures. You deal with tantrums and melt downs. And most often manage not to have a tantrum or melt down yourself. You encourage your child to do things doctors told you they would never do but you never gave up hope. You are a therapist, nurse, doctor, friend and confidante. You are no regular parent.
5. Therapy is play.
Having sat in on several therapy sessions, I have been frustrated by what I thought was premature discharge from therapy on more than one occasion. Since then, I have grown, I have learned and I have come to understand. For children, therapy is play and play is therapy. What I mean is that the best therapists find ways to make my son engage in challenging activities that he otherwise would have balked at, by making it a game that 14 Island Parent Magazine
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he wanted to play. We took a page from their book and did the same at home.
6. Play is therapy.
Yes, this is different from number five. After discharge from therapy, we sought extra curricular activities for my son that would offer therapeutic benefits. He played sled hockey, runs on a track team, learned to shoot archery and takes swim lessons. All of this is therapy. He’s learning, having fun and getting stronger. Win, win and win.
7. Make time to enjoy your kids.
We super parents tend to be fairly busy and often over scheduled. However, while everything on your calendar is important, it’s also important to make time to play, laugh, be silly and just enjoy your kids. Read to them, snuggle with them, engage with them with what’s important in their worlds. Make memories outside of hospital walls.
8. You will be obligated to make heart-wrenching decisions.
You will have to make painful decisions that hurt your heart and leave you questioning everything you thought you knew or understood. Know that you are doing your best, remember number three. I am guilty of agonizing over these types of decisions, they can become really overwhelming to me. Talk about your conundrum with others who get it and trust yourself to make the best decision. Make it move on and once it’s made don’t rethink it. Easier said than done, but worth a try.
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SYLVA
15
14. Keep your sense of humour.
Certain things get under my skin, we all have our buzz issues. But if you’re not careful, you can become overly sensitive to so many things that people start to avoid your company. Try to remember that people are not trying to offend or upset you.
15. Celebrate the little things.
Brag about those accomplishments that might seem small to others but are huge for our kids. Our kids develop on their own clock, they learn many skills late and some they never master. A wiggled toe that couldn’t wiggle before, a word, a sentence, a smile, a hug, whatever that milestone may be, share it with those who love you and your child.
16. Don’t let typical parents get you down.
9. You won’t always get it right.
Many of the choices you are forced to make have no right answer, just the lesser of the hard and painful wrong choices. You will do your best but you won’t always get it right no matter how many sleepless nights you spend agonizing over how to handle a situation.
10. Forgive yourself.
Yes, you will screw things up sometimes despite the very best of intentions. No amount of torturing yourself will make you feel better, nor will it help you to make better choices. Remember many of the toughest decisions have no right answer.
11. Being a parent is hard. Being a parent to a child with extra needs is extra hard. It can also be extra rewarding. Make us extra passionate. And will almost always make life extra interesting. With the challenges come the rewards. Sometimes you have to search your heart for the rewards but they are there if you look for them.
12. Parenting a child with extra needs is like a marathon.
I know how hard it is to hear from parents that their child six months younger than yours is walking and yours isn’t. Or dealing with the well meaning stranger who asks why your 2-year-old is scooting around on their butt rather than being up on their feet. Try to remember that these people lack the context that we are constantly embedded in. Explain, teach, be patient, raise awareness among those who just don’t get it. And remember, typical parents deserve the right to brag, too, and their pride at their child’s accomplishments is not meant as a knock to your amazing kiddo.
17. Don’t compare.
This is another challenging one folks, but worth the work. All kids are different, typical, or with extra challenges and they will grow and develop at their own pace. If a developmental milestone isn’t met as you think it should be, certainly talk to your child’s doctor. Comparing, siblings, cousins, kids in the daycare class, or even comparing kids within the same disability type rarely serves to make you feel better. Your child is unique, and will have their own individual strengths and challenges.
18. You don’t have to be “THAT” parent.
You know the one who clearly spent 10 hours creating the amazing snack shaped like an animal with licorice whiskers.
For those folks who are trying to win a marathon, there are no breaks. If you want to stay in the race, you eat, drink and even pee while running. But our marathon will go on for the foreseeable future and beyond. So remember, you don’t need to win, just make it to the end. The guy who comes in last place in the marathon, he took breaks, he stood and drank some water, grabbed a quick bite and used the porta-john for his business, then got back on the road. Give yourself those moments—however brief—that are for yourself. You might even get to pee in peace every now and then.
13. Don’t lose yourself.
Don’t let being the parent of a special needs child create or reshape your identity. We are many things, being the parent to a child with special needs is part of our identity. But it shouldn’t be all of our identity. When you focus all of your life, all of your contacts, all of yourself around your child and their needs, who you are can get lost. Find things in your life you enjoy doing, a glass of wine, a hobby, shopping for yourself. 16 Island Parent Magazine
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The one who sends adorable treat bags for every holiday. The one who finds the coolest gifts for the teachers every year. And whose child is always dressed in the cutest outfits that somehow never get dirty. If that’s the mom you are led to be, more power to you! However, I have found that there are always enough of those moms in my kid’s classes to keep them in cute snacks and treat bags. Since I have bigger fish to fry, I let them have all the glory!
19. Make time for your relationship. Relationships are hard work, period. Parenting is hard work, period. Parenting a child with special needs, is especially hard work, period. For those of you who are married or in a relationship, make time for that relationship away from your children.
20. Trust your instincts.
You know your children best. Doctors, teachers, therapists are all fantastic resources but if you don’t feel like you’re being heard, or your child’s needs are being met, it’s reasonable to get a second opinion. Don’t be afraid to fight for your child and their needs. While the professionals are experts in their areas, you are the expert on your child.
Dr. Darla Clayton, PsyD, The Mobility Resource, writes from the perspective of a mom in the midst of raising a child with special needs and one without. For more information, visit abilities.com/community. IslandParent.ca
February/March 2021 17
Kid-friendly Favourites in Tofino T
ofino is an awesome place to be a kid. There’s just so much fun to be had while exploring in and around Tofino. Check out this list of favourites to do with young explorers on your family vacation. • Take a boat ride to Meares Island and walk through the Big Tree Trail. • Attend a Parks Canada presentation at Green Point Campground Theatre, also in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Check for updates at pc.gc.ca/. • Roast wieners and marshmallows, build sandcastles, fly a kite. All to be done at the beach. • Rent boogie boards and wetsuits to hit the waves, or visit Tofino’s Skatepark (Tuff City Skate Park). • Take the family sea kayaking with a guide. • Head to the Raincoast Education Society, located in The Ecolodge at the Tofino Botanical Gardens, to find fun outdoor education activities. raincoasteducationsociety.org • While at the unconventional Tofino Botanical Gardens, explore the Children’s Garden and art installations that make a statement. westcoastnest.org • Observe Tidal Pools at Chesterman Beach or MacKenzie Beach (low tide required). • Visit the nautical-themed playground at the Village Green, between Second and Third Streets on Campbell Street. IslandParent.ca
• Find great children’s books, many of them written in British Columbia, at local bookstores and gift shops. • Go for a round of miniature golf at the Long Beach Golf Course. • Visit the Tuff City Bike Park, located up Arnet Road by the Community Centre. • Walk down to the Fourth Street Dock to witness a working dock in action with commercial and sport fishing boats, and whale/bear watching vessels. Please be sure to supervise children here. • Put on your raingear and boots and head to the beach, if you’re there at low tide, take a look in the tidal pools for an array of creatures. • Build a sandcastle and decorate it, use mussel shells for shovels. • Take a family bike ride—along the beach or the MUP (multi-use path). • Skip rocks on the inlet. • Go on a Family Fishing Excursion with Ocean Outfitters. • Travelling to Tofino during COVID-19, please review the information at tourismtofino.com.
For more ideas and information about Tofino, visit tourismtofino.com.
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February/March 2021 19
M O M ’ S P OV
From Stylist to Fashion Police What happens when kids decide what to wear
I
like to think that my daughter’s stylish peak occurred sometime between birth and Kindergarten. It’s no coincidence that during this time period I had total control of her clothing. After that, I was fired as her stylist and became the fashion police. When she was a baby, I had fun dressing her up. I bought her cute onesies and baby tights with tutus built-in. I dressed her in mini jean jackets over summer dresses with tiny
20 Island Parent Magazine
leather sandals to match. I drew the line at those large headbands people put on their babies to identify them as girls, but I wasn’t above other fashion trends. In those early years, she was more stylish than me. I was living in sweats with greasy hair due to lack of sleep and abysmal self care. Eventually my daughter started to have opinions about how she was dressed. Initially she objected to certain fabrics. Denim was “too tight” despite how adorable she looked in skinny jeans. She shunned practical, comfortable cotton for the stifling, unbreathable rayon of the dress-up clothes. And while she was rejecting her sophisticated wardrobe—curated by me—her own personal style started to emerge: Tacky Tourist meets Chrissy from Three’s Company. She was drawn to patterns, bold colours, layers and accessories. There was never a time when she looked at herself in the mirror and asked, “Is this too much?” Her personal hygiene also deteriorated. Brushing her fine hair became a painful exercise. One day I said she needed to brush her hair because it looked messy and she replied, “Mom, messy is just me.” Her entire look had gone from polished to hot mess. My stylish best friend has a daughter a year older than mine. I loved getting her hand-medowns knowing that I would be passing this fabulously dressed duo’s wonderful sense of style on to my own daughter. But when my daughter put on the same clothes, they looked all wrong. She layered patterns over patterns over patterns. Her peculiar take on fashion was undeniable. I discussed my bewilderment with friends one day when they pointed out that as the only one purchasing clothes for my daughter, I was her only access to clothing. They suggested I stop taking her shopping and toss out IslandParent.ca
whatever I didn’t like. So I covertly weeded out the neon and bedazzled items from her closet. I bought only basics—no more patterns, faux fur or sequins. It didn’t work. My daughter found a work-around: shopping in the costume play bin and even items from her brother’s closet to accessorize her bland wardrobe. I realized that refining my daughter’s taste was hopeless. I decided to take my friend’s advice and create a clear boundary: kids get creative control over their clothing and parents get to decide what’s appropriate. I silently nodded when my daughter asked if I liked what she was wearing (neon shorts over jeans). But when she asked if I would buy her fishnet stockings, I did a mental scan of my jurisdiction and responded with a hard “no.” This division of control should have made the clothing struggles easier, but it didn’t feel that way. The real issue began to emerge: I had an opinion of what I thought looked best and I wanted her to wear that. My daughter also had an opinion and she wanted to wear that. She was dressing age appropriate, it was just quirky. While I bemoaned my daughter’s style, I also admired her whimsy and confidence. One morning after she assembled yet another puzzling outfit, I watched her admire herself in the mirror. It was the same look I had seen on my step-mother’s face a few years earlier when we were getting ready together in her bathroom. After my step-mom put the final touches on her makeup she stepped back from the mirror and said, “Wow, I am gorgeous.” Time stood still for me in that moment. I was a teenager again, hustling to feel pretty and accepted. Just like my birth mother, I was beautiful but struggled to know my worth. I wished that both my birth mother and I had loved ourselves as boldly and confidently as my step-mother loved herself. Now, as my daughter admired herself in the mirror that morning, I recognized that same confidence. Her style was not polished or trendy, but I could see that her capacity for self-love and self-acceptance was greater than I had ever known. And while being able to properly mix colours and patterns is a valuable skill to learn, the more important lessons were ones that I didn’t need to teach. They were already inside of my daughter: Be yourself. Love who you are. Wear what makes you feel good. Don’t care what other people think. Most days now, when my daughter appears in front of me ready for school and ask how she looks, I ask her what she thinks. She doesn’t need me policing her style. Looking and feeling good for her means using fashion for personal expression and creativity. In that sense, she may be more refined than me.
Sarah Seitz is a working mother, writer and consumer of coffee and books—in that order. She writes about the messy and real parts of parenting and reveals her underbelly in her words. You can read more of Sarah’s writing at sarahseitz.ca. IslandParent.ca
February/March 2021 21
DA D S PE A K
BYTE
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A Goody Two-shoes’ Guide to Keepin’ It Cuss-free
I
can’t trace why, but I’ve never been much of a swearyface. Where many teens or twentysomethings, already educated in expletives, escalated to coffee (or stronger stuff) during the crunch of post-secondary education, that’s when I began swearing.
This comes in especially helpful around youngins and the public (he says, as a media guy, like he’s not also part of “the public”), as soapymouth is my default state. I’ve heard many a horror story of toddlers learning to swear like proverbial
Even then, though, it was more of an unintentional outburst when things got really crazy. These days, I let the odd profanity fly around friends, but mostly keep it cuss-free on the reg.
sailors because they heard it from their parents, and continuing to employ them in their regular vocabulary due to the reaction they get.
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22 Island Parent Magazine
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I’ve also seen many a video of said youthful obscenities, because it’s tough to not get caught on someone’s phone these days. Let’s face it. Kidlets are going to swear, eventually. Be it something they pick up from family, friends, strangers, media, or the internet, it’s gonna happen, especially approaching the ’tween and teen phase. And I’m equal to that. But, for my part (the part of a prude), I’d prefer that my little’s source for foul language not be me. And not from a deluded sense of superiority over others. It’s just that that’s not how I carry myself day-to-day. Plus…it’s been a lifelong amusement to find alternatives to common expletives. If it’ll help, I’ll share some of them with you here. The granddaddy of all cusses, the proverbial F-bomb, is most commonly replaced in my lexicon by the word “frick.” Use it in a sentence, you ask? Why, of course! *ahem* “Good crikey frick!” Other uses include, “frick off,” “what the frick?” and the ever-popular, “frickity frickin’ frick frack.” Depending on how interested your little ones are in Star Wars, a solid alternative might be “Good Babu Frik!” but don’t blame me if you get serious eye rolls for that. My second favourite not-swear is the S-word, most commonly associated with, um, poop. With all thanks to Germany, I exclaim “Scheiße!” (pronounced SHY-zuh) on a regular basis to express frustration. If something is an “S-word show,” it comes out of my mouth as a “gong show.” My parents used to say, “Ah, sugar!” but the cognitive dissonance of hearing the poop word replaced by the sweet word was too much for me to employ in my later years. Even the word “crap” or “crud,” I replace with “crunch,” thanks to Strong Bad from the Homestar Runner internet cartoons of the early aughts. And, because my international inspiration knows no bounds, my Chinese heritage requires by law that I exclaim, “Aiya!” as a form of verbal facepalm. And, while your mileage (kilometerage?) may vary, I’d be fine and dandy with my 11-year-old using any of these interjections in place of their more inappropriate originals. Perhaps I’m overthinking it. Perhaps I’m just an all-around goody two-shoes (legit; I neither drink nor smoke). Perhaps I love words (I seriously considered a career as an etymologist) and love using silly words in place of serious words even more. Thankfully, my overthinking, prudish, easily-amused, wordloving self is much less likely to be posted to the internet for saying “Oh, crunch!” in front of my child.
Webmeister Bud Ridout is the resident geek at Victoria radio stations The Zone @ 91-3 and 100.3 The Q! He’s also an avid photographer, root beer connoisseur, voice actor and Papa. webmeisterBud.com; instagram. com/webmeisterBud. IslandParent.ca
February/March 2021 23
K I DS ’ R E A DS
’Tween Reads
Friendship, belonging and middle school drama
M
iddle school isn’t always the easiest time. People change and friends change with them. For those who feel like they are being left behind, it can be heartbreaking. But these preteen years can also be a time where kids discover the strength within them, just like the characters in the following books. In The Collected Works of Gretchen Oyster by Cary Fagan (Penguin, 2019) Hartley Staples is in his final year of middle school. Things are not going well: his best friend is no longer
Hartley Staples is not the only ’tween to have a friend randomly decide to abandon them. Delsie has to deal with that too in Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Nancy Paulson Books, 2019). The fact that Brandy dumped her for someone who loves to mock her, might not have bothered Delsie so much if her two other friends weren’t spending all of their time getting ready for Annie. Not to mention the fact that being dumped by someone she thought cares for her, only reminds her of someone else who left: her mother.
speaking to him, and more importantly, he can’t concentrate on anything because his older brother ran away. While he’s trying to grapple with everything going on in his life, he spots a handmade postcard signed G.O. Soon, Hartley is spending every chance he gets looking for all of G.O.’s postcards. This book, which is told from both Hartley and G.O.’s perspectives, covers a wide variety of struggles that preteens may face like bullying, losing friends, and life after the loss of a sibling in an honest and relatable way. The Collected Works also shows tweens what they can do to make hard situations better even if they feel broken. For ages 10 to 14.
While Delsie is struggling to figure out what to do without Brandy, she meets Ronan—the new kid who comes with a reputation for trouble. Since they’re both misfits, the two begin spending more time with each other and as they open up about their struggles they talk about the difference between anger and sadness, abandonment and love. For ages 8 to 12. Clan by Sigmund Brouwer (Tundra, 2020) does not take place in the present. Young Atlatl and the rest of his clan are working hard to survive during the ice age. However, Atlatl who was injured when he was a young child often feels like he’s more of a burden then a help to his clan. Because of his knee he can’t hunt with the rest of the men and his cousin mercilessly mocks him for that. One day when Atlatl is away from camp he encounters an orphaned saber-tooth cub and he brings it home with him. This choice, while accepted by some, ultimately leads to Atlatl’s banishment. However, before he is able to leave, a giant flood wipes out most of his clan. With only the saber-tooth cat beside him, Atlatl decides to go and face the gods so he can try and save what remains of the people who no longer want him. For ages 8 to 12. In Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time by Liz Kessler
Christina Van Starkenburg lives in Victoria with her husband, their two little boys and their cat Phillip. Her first children’s book One Tiny Turtle: A Story You Can Colour was published recently and quickly rose to its spot as a #1 new release on Amazon. 24 Island Parent Magazine
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(Candlewick Press, 2020), Emily, a halfmermaid, is trying to get back into a normal routine. But, now that she’s home, Mandy, her best friend on land, won’t speak to her. In fact, when asked what she did over the school break, Mandy pointedly says she had a lot of fun hanging out with someone else. So when Emily is given a magic wishing stone, she decides to make things right between her and Mandy. But, she learns very quickly that wishes don’t always work out the way one thinks they will. For ages 10 to 14. The final book is Shout Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts by Esta Spalding (Tun-
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Preschool to Grade 11…and beyond. dra, 2019). Ever since the five siblings lost the boat they were living in, Kim— the oldest—has put finding a new one on the top of her to-do list. Unfortunately, finding a place to call home doesn’t solve their problems the way they thought it would. It actually created a whole lot more problems. Problems that threaten to tear these tight-knit siblings apart. If your children loved a Series of Unfortunate Events, they will love this book about the Fitzgerald-Trout siblings. For ages 8 to 12. If we’re all stuck at home again this spring break and your preteens need a bit of a break from reality, these books are some pretty great choices. Some are adventurous. Some are silly. Some have a more literary feel. But they all feature preteens who are relatable, real, and going through some pretty common problems. IslandParent.ca
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W H AT’ SF O R D I N N E R
Naturally Beet-iful
B
eets may seem like an uninspiring vegetable. They are usually found in the grocery store with their tops cut off. It’s a slightly different story when they come from the farmer’s market with the beautiful red and green leaves still attached. However, most of us only think of beets as something you would roast in the oven. Beets have a lot more going for them than that! Here are few reasons beets should be part of your diet: 1. They are beautiful. The naturally red colour turns any dish into a bright pink. Perfect for Valentine’s Day dinner or a food-colouring-free children’s party. 2. They’re full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants 3. Beets are a good source of fibre. 4. They’re heart healthy and help to lower blood pressure. Here are three delicious recipes that all feature beets. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner or just adding a bit more pink to your life. Quick tip: To avoid dying your hands pink, wear kitchen gloves while chopping, peeling or grating the beets.
Baba’s Simple Borscht Prep time 15 minutes; cook time 30 minutes
This is a simple recipe for a creamy and satisfying borscht. Instead of providing the bulk of the flavour, like Polish or Czech borscht, beets are only one of the vegetables in this soup. White beans are not traditional, however, they turn this into a one-pot meal. 1 medium onion 2 carrots 1 beet 1⁄2 small cabbage 1⁄4 cup butter 398 ml can of chopped tomatoes 5 cups water 11⁄2 tsp salt 3 russet potatoes 1⁄4 cup whipping cream 4 sprigs fresh dill or 2 Tbsp dried dill 1 can white beans (optional) 1. Finely chop the onions. Grate the carrots and the beets. Shred the cabbage. 2. Melt the butter in the soup pot over medium heat. Add onions and fry for about 1 minute before adding the carrots, beets and cabbage. Continue to fry until the cabbage is tender. 3. Add the canned tomatoes, water and salt. 4. Peel and halve the potatoes. Add them to the soup pot and boil until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. 5. When the potatoes are cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the soup. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and mash with the whipping cream. 6. Stir the mashed potatoes back into the soup pot, along with the dill. Add the canned white beans if you want to turn the soup into a hearty meal. 7. Heat the soup to warm up the beans, but do not boil. 8. Taste and add more salt if needed. 9. Serve with a slice of crusty bread and some cheddar cheese.
26 Island Parent Magazine
Bright Pink Risotto
Prep time 5 minutes; cook time 30 minutes
Risotto is a super simple one-pot meal that has the mystique of being complicated. Many recipes require continuous stirring, while the liquid is slowly added. This isn’t necessary unless you require perfection. You only need to stir a few times during the cooking process. Beets give this risotto a deep pink colour. I’ve included a small amount of red wine in the recipe to give it a traditional flavour, however, it can easily be replaced by more broth. Also, if you can’t find arborio rice, use any short-grained rice instead. 4 cloves of garlic 3 beets 2 Tbsp olive oil 13⁄4 cup arborio rice 1⁄2 cup of red wine 51⁄2 cups of stock 2 Tbsp butter 1⁄2 tsp salt, to taste 11⁄2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese 1. Dice the garlic. Peel and chop the beet into small cubes. 2. Heat the oil on medium in a large pot. Add the garlic and beets with a pinch of salt. Fry for 2–3 minutes. 3. Add the rice and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the rice is nicely coated in oil. 4. Reduce the heat to low and add in the red wine. Stir to mix well, then add in all of the stock. 5. Cover and cook until the rice is soft and the liquid is absorbed, about 20–30 minutes. Stir 3–4 times during the cooking process to prevent any rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot. 6. When the rice is cooked, remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Taste it and add more salt as needed (it will depend on the saltiness of the stock). 7. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a side salad.
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Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes Prep time 10 minutes; bake time 25 minutes
These red velvet cupcakes get their colour for the addition of beets! Beets add a rich, earthy flavour that perfectly compliments the chocolate. The resulting cupcakes have a texture similar to that of a carrot cake, with the flavour of a traditional chocolate cake. Serve them without frosting for a fun muffin-like snack or use cream cheese frosting for a party fun cake. Wet ingredients: 1 large beet 2 tsp lemon juice 2 large eggs 1⁄2 cup milk 2 Tbsp honey 2 tsp vanilla 1⁄2 cup melted unsalted butter Dry ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1⁄2 cup whole wheat flour 2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 cup white sugar 1⁄2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a muffin tin with liners. 2. Either buy a pre-cooked beet at the grocery store or boil the beet whole. 3. Finely grate the beet and mix with the lemon juice. Set aside. 4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, honey, melted butter, and vanilla. 5. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated, being careful not to over mix. 6. Fold in the beets. 7. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. 8. Bake until golden brown, 22–25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing.
Emillie Parrish writes from Victoria and Saturna Island. She is the author of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle blog BerriesAndBarnacles.com. IslandParent.ca
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February/March 2021 27
The Saving ‘Grace’ of the Redo “T
omorrow is a new day.” My mom has often used these words (memorably uttered by the irrepressible literary heroine, Anne Shirley) to placate and comfort me when things get to be too much. Throughout the gong show of 2020, and still today, I find myself using these very same words as a mantra—sometimes hopeful, sometimes desperate. But lately, as I continue to navigate this new reality of homeschooling, working from home, and pandemic restrictions with an increasingly headstrong 5-year-old and chronically frayed nerves,“tomorrow” often doesn’t feel soon enough. This doesn’t mean that I am wishing the hours away. At least, not usually, although the countdown until bedtime is more exciting some days than others. Rather, in this new pressure-cooker environment it is harder to be responsive and intentional vs reactive and unhinged, and there are many, many times when I wish there were an instant reset
28 Island Parent Magazine
button so that I could handle a situation with more kindness and calm, with less crankiness and exasperation. These are the days when my parenting falls short of my ideal. My voice gets a little louder than I’d like (usually after the kazillionth time of calmly asking for shoes to be donned, toys to be picked up, or the pets to be left alone). Or I overlook the warning signs of an impending meltdown and dig my heels in when I should be softening. Or I catch myself saying “no” as a reflex, shutting down before I listen. Parenting is hard. Parenting under additional stress, and doing it “perfectly,” is impossible. Like many, I struggle with anxiety, which often appears as a nagging, chastising voice telling me I am not enough, that I’m failing, that I’m letting my son down. During his first several years I let that voice lead me along spirals of catastrophic thinking and paralyzing panic. Fortunately, thanks
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to counseling and help from my doctor, I’m now better at recognizing the warning signs and take proactive steps to manage it. I’ve learned that listening to that needling voice does not serve anyone except for Anxiety itself. Of course, our extra-ordinary circumstances (at least at the point of writing this) have not made managing my mental health any easier, and this pandemic doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. I often find myself drawing on the power of wisdom which has been shared in many different ways by others, essentially: you can’t always control your circumstances, but you can control your perspective, which in turn can influence your response. Stress piles up and spills over. It happens to the calmest parents. Anxiety or not, beating ourselves up every time we get testy is not helpful and can lead to more of the same reaction. So, here is what is helping right now: Even though there is no such thing as an actual reset button, I’m getting better at stopping, breathing, and giving myself (and my son) the grace to try a “redo.” This perspective shift is sometimes all it takes to diffuse a heated exchange or get a bad day back onto a positive track. I literally pause and say, “I don’t like how this is making us feel. Let’s try this again.”
IslandParent.ca
At the root of this grace is my love for my son and my desire to do my best for him. Shaming either of us for a mistake (a raised voice, impatience, etc…) doesn’t serve him, or me. We’re both learning to forgive ourselves (and each other) and do better next time. The redo gives us a chance to do better right away. And when all else fails, “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” – L.M. Montgomery (Note: I strongly encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for help from a medical or mental health professional. There is no shame in it, and you will probably be shocked to realize how many people are dealing with anxiety and depression, especially during these unprecedented times. You are most definitely not alone, and it does get better).
Kelly McQuillan is a writer, musician, teacher and fledgling mother living in Comox, BC. Writer: kellymcquillanwriter.weebly.com; Music Teacher: kellymcquillan.com. February/March 2021 29
FEB/MARFAMILYCALENDAR For more information and calendar updates throughout the month visit IslandParent.ca
FEBRUARY
6 SATURDAY Terrarium Garden for Kids 1:30-3pm, Horticulture Centre of the Pacific Get creative as you learn about the needs of little plants and what better place to grow them than in an upcycled glass container. Bring a glass bowl, vase, jar or other container (up to 20 cm in size) and see what you can create. Children under 7 years must be accompanied by an adult. You provide the glass container and we provide the rest. hcp.ca
10 WEDNESDAY Wandering Words: Outdoor Nuu-chahnulth Language Exploration Virtual Zoom meeting, 3-4:30pm Join Raincoast Education Society to learn about the local language and world view. Explore writing systems and sounds and enjoy a glimpse into
Photo: Sariena Pauli
30 Island Parent Magazine
the significance of the official language of this place, the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ / Tla-o-qui-aht language of Nuu-chah-nulth. raincoasteducation.org
16 TUESDAY – 27 SATURDAY Storywalk at the Museum All day, Sooke Region Museum Join the Vancouver Island Regional Library for an outdoor StoryWalk® at the Sooke Region Museum. Enjoy the fresh air, physical activity and a story. This month’s book: The Darkest Hour by Chris Hadfield & Kate Fillion; illustrations by Eric Fan & Terry Fan in honour of I Read Canadian Day (ireadcanadian.com ) on February 17. virl.bc.ca
17 WEDNESDAY I Read Canadian Day Celebrate I Read Canadian Day on February 17 and support Canadian literature. “Read Canadian” for 15 minutes and share your experience at
your library, in your school, with your families and friends, or on social media. Kids are encouraged to read, or be read to, a Canadian book of their choice. Sign up for free. ireadcanadian.com
Dumbledore’s Army 3:30-4:30pm, online (Port Alberni Branch Library) Join Dumbledore’s Army once a month on Zoom to make some magical crafts and participate in fun activities with fellow Harry Potter fans. Not a member yet? Register: kparker@virl.bc.ca. virl.bc.ca
18 THURSDAY Parent & Tot Meetup 10-10:45, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria A meetup for parents and their children (5 and under) to explore the Art Gallery spaces in a safe way. Enjoy a facilitated visit to the Gallery with your little one. aggv.ca
IslandParent.ca
20 SATURDAY Outdoor Fairy Garden 10-11:30am, Horticulture Centre of the Pacific Using a selection of winter hardy plants, you will create an outdoor fairy garden for your deck, your balcony or garden. Parents are welcome to attend. Limit: 8. 5+ years (under 7 with an adult). hcp.ca
Tea Cup Fairy Garden 1:30-3:30pm, Horticulture Centre of the Pacific Learn how to incorporate tiny plants and elements of design into these little fairy gardens for indoor use. Explore the needs of plants and how to care for them in a miniature setting while providing a magical place for wee garden visitors! Parents are welcome to attend. Limit: 8. 5 years + (under 7 years accompanied by an adult). hcp.ca
27 SATURDAY Bubble Buddies 10am–noon, Nanaimo Museum Explore the museum with an exclusive guide who can answer your history questions one on one, who can show you items not normally on display, or can share behind the scenes stories. Visit alone, or with any other members of your “bubble,” up to 6 people. One group ticket/time slot. nanaimomuseum.ca
ALL MONTH Reaching Out Nanaimo Museum Throughout the pandemic, we’ve been relying on modern technology to stay connected, but throughout history, Canadians have used letter writing to communicate with loved ones. This month, the Nanaimo Museum is encouraging you to go back to the basics. Use the museum’s template to write a letter through Reaching Out, a self-guided virtual program for all ages, to catch up and check in with your family. nanaimomuseum.ca
Hogs n Hearts Nanaimo Museum The Nanaimo Museum has been overrun with groundhogs and hearts to celebrate both Groundhog Day and Valentines’ Day. While you’re visiting the museum during the month of February, keep a sharp eye to spot all 9 groundhogs and 5 hearts hidden around the exhibits. Take a selfie with your favourite. nanaimomuseum.ca
IslandParent.ca
Photo: submitted by Sarah Taylor of her daughter Avery, 5
MARCH
2 TUESDAY – 5 FRIDAY Paper Bag Princess Day Mark your calendars, the annual Paper Bag Princess Day is back on March 6. There’s also Paper Bag Princess Theme Week happening March 2–5, with celebrations across social media and for educators. This year’s theme is Rebuilding the Castle. annickpress.com
12–14, 19–21, 26–28 Weekend Family Vacation Rental Looking for a Spring Break vacation close to home? Camp Pringle is offering weekend family vacation rentals. Enjoy lakefront accommodations, hike or bike the nearby trails, have a campfire and even try archery or rock climbing. Online bookings open February 15; prices start at $120/ weekend. camppringle.com
30 TUESDAY Virtual Baking Club 4-5pm, Vancouver Island Regional Library (online) Do you like to bake? Then join our new Virtual Baking Club! Each month, VIRL will have a theme to inspire you to make different baked goods. Try a new recipe or make one of your favourites and then join the Zoom session at the end of the
month to share the recipe and what you made with everyone else. Register: kparker@virl.bc.ca. virl.bc.ca
ONGOING LEGO Brick Exhibition Sidney Museum The LEGO exhibition continues at Sidney Museum until March 31. Or watch the Museum’s Facebook Live videos featuring different Lego sets that are currently have on display. Join the education programmer to see all of the details, features and hidden treasures that you have to get up close to see. sidneymuseum.ca
Virtual Babytime Tuesdays 10:30–10:45am, Vancouver Island Regional Library, all branches Have a rhyming good time ONLINE as we introduce you and your baby to music, rhymes, bounces, fingerplays and stories. Geared towards babies ages 0–18 months. Join the Storytime Corner Facebook Group for virtual babytime. virl.bc.ca
Virtual Storytime Mondays and Fridays, 10:30-10:45am, Vancouver Island Regional Library, all branches Songs, stories, fingerplay, puppets and more. Preschoolers (and their families) are invited to join the Storytime Corner Facebook Group for virtual storytime. virl.bc.ca February/March 2021 31
N ATU R E N OTES
D
uring your forest wanderings, you have probably stumbled upon a dead tree or two. No, not a log, not simply a rotten stump or remnant of a tree that once inhabited a space, but rather a refuge for a wide range of life: a Wildlife Tree. You may know these natural monoliths by a different name; such as snag, den tree or cavity tree. I prefer the name Wildlife Tree due to the image it evokes of a bustling entity just waiting to be observed. Far be it from a state of mourning; with their death, trees bring forth opportunity for new life. Once a tree has died, many things are able to occur, including the magic of decomposition. Invertebrates, bacteria and fungi break down the tree for energy, and as they do, these nutrients are cycled back into the soil system, allowing for new growth. More often than not, a Wildlife Tree will have fungi springing up all over and within it with fruiting bodies—mushrooms—on display in autumn. The arrival of the decomposers is followed closely by primary cavity nesters looking for a snack and nesting site. These are the creatures that excavate a hole in the dead tree as a nesting site in preparation for raising the next generation. You guessed it; I’m referring to woodpeckers! Here on Vancouver Island we are fortunate to have a multitude
of woodpeckers, ranging from the toy-like Red Breasted sap sucker, to the regal Pileated woodpecker that inspired the most popular woodpecker of all—Woody, of course! Woodpeckers forage for food by clinging to the side of a tree with their specialized feet and drilling their beak so fast, that it is a shock they aren’t dizzy. Depending on the species, they may then extend their extraordinarily long tongue into the larvae filled hole in the tree to collect their reward. The woodpeckers tongue also doubles as protection from brain damage during pecking, as it is so long that is actually wraps around the skull when not in use! Woodpeckers may drill a distinct pattern of holes into the tree to draw out sticky sap which will act as a trap to collect insects for a crunchy buffet later on. In contrast to arboreal woodpeckers, the Northern flicker is often seen on the ground foraging for ants. However, like all woodpeckers, you can still count on the flicker to drum out a distinct beat on the nearest wooden surface to announce its territory or impress a potential mate. Most local woodpeckers are distinct enough to decipher from each other except for our checkered friends; the Hairy woodpecker and the slightly smaller and shorter billed Downy woodpecker. Industrious Downy woodpeckers are able to excavate an en-
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32 Island Parent Magazine
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Photo: Denis-Fourniere
Woodpecker Castle & the Hidden Lives of Trees
tirely new cavity for nesting in about 16 days, and they do this every time they nest. Often, woodpecker parents will line their nesting cavity with wood chips as well as use moss and lichen to conceal the entrance to create the safest home possible. Typically the primary cavity nesters only use the hole they have created for one nesting season, which leaves an inviting, unoccupied home perfect for the next candidate. Secondary cavity nesters of the avian variety range from tiny Saw Whet owls, Chestnut-Backed chickadees, nuthatches, creepers, wrens and Tree swallows to larger kestrels, Wood ducks and even Great Horned owls. The list goes on and on when discussing the birds who take advantage of cavities made by others. Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is lucky enough to host an abundance of Wildlife Trees that provide ample opportunity for exploration. My personal favorite? Woodpecker Castle! Nestled in the field just North East of the lake, this Swan Lake gem can be found if you follow the trail from the Nature House clockwise. Once you emerge from the trees and take in the view of what was previously used as farmland, you will notice a lone dead Douglas fir piercing the landscape. This palace is Woodpecker Castle. While I don’t always see the activity that is constantly happening at Woodpecker Castle, I always love to stop with groups of visitors and take a few minutes to dive into the importance of Wildlife Trees. On Vancouver Island there are several of our fellow mammals, some endangered, that also rely on Wildlife Trees. Many of our Island bat species, such as the darling Little Brown bat and the regal Hoary bat use these Wildlife Trees as roosts. These havens provide a safe place for our local vampire hunters IslandParent.ca
to rest during the day, before they spend parts of the night feasting on pesky blood-sucking mosquitos. The Little Brown bat is recorded to eat up to 1,000 insects per hour so they certainly need uninterrupted sleep during the day! Another charismatic mammal that frequently calls Wildlife Trees their home are mama raccoons with their kits. While her kits are still too small to go on scavenging missions, mama raccoon needs to be sure her babies are kept in a safe place. Where is safer than a warm hovel in a dead tree? During your next nature outing, I encourage you to look closely at what you may have previously regarded as a tree past their prime. Listen and you may be rewarded with the kingfisher like call of the Downy woodpecker, or the drumming of an opinionated Pileated woodpecker. Perhaps you will catch a flash of orange if you are still enough, and you will know you are in the presence of a Northern flicker. Wildlife Trees are full of more life than living trees, but they do require the viewer to look past their misleading exterior to be rewarded. Look closely, and your reward could be great!
Kalene Lillico is a Program Naturalist at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. She can often be found searching for forest wisdom, and creatures of the many-legged variety, under logs and rocks. February/March 2021  33
H A PPYFA M I LI ES H E A LTH YFA M I LI ES
Healthy Families, Happy Families
Child, Youth & Family Public Health South Island Health Units
Esquimalt Gulf Islands
250-519-5311 250-539-3099
Peninsula Saanich Saltspring Island Sooke Victoria West Shore
250-544-2400 250-519-5100 250-538-4880 250-519-3487 250-388-2200 250-519-3490
(toll-free number for office in Saanichton)
Central Island Health Units
Duncan Ladysmith Lake Cowichan Nanaimo Nanaimo Princess Royal Parksville/Qualicum Port Alberni Tofino
250-709-3050 250-755-3342 250-749-6878 250-755-3342 250-739-5845 250-947-8242 250-731-1315 250-725-4020
North Island Health Units
Campbell River Courtenay Kyuquot Health Ctr ‘Namgis Health Ctr Port Hardy
250-850-2110 250-331-8520 250-332-5289 250-974-5522 250-902-6071
islandhealth.ca/our-locations/ health-unit-locations Changes with BC Medical Services Plan premiums mean that families eligible for partial payment of some medical services and access to some income-based programs now must apply for Supplementary Benefits through the Government of BC. Applications can be done online and take approximately 15 minutes. Families who previously qualified for MSP Premium Assistance should not need to re-apply if taxes are completed yearly. It is advised to confirm coverage before proceeding with treatment to avoid paying out of pocket.
For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/ content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/ bc-residents/benefits/services-covered-bymsp/supplementary-benefits
34 Island Parent Magazine
Fostering Healthy Body Image
B
ody image issues can develop at a young age, impacting a child’s ability to enjoy life and form close relationships. Body image is developed through the messages we hear from others and those we tell ourselves, how we see ourselves in the mirror, messages we receive from the media and social media, and how we feel in our bodies as we move. A healthy body image and positive selfesteem promotes: • Feelings of confidence • Willingness to try new things • Ability to make new friends • Ability to deal with stress • Assertiveness skills and being less vulnerable to bullying
The Social Media Fallout
Constantly accessible images portrayed and shared on social media platforms like Instagram, tik tok, magazines and ezines, and Facebook have a strong impact on how we view ourselves. Unrealistic images can have a negative effect on how you and your children view their lives and their body which can produce feelings of low self-worth or self-esteem. “… negative body image is not just a ‘girls’ problem.’ Children of all genders are vulnerable… the attitudes expressed by adults in your child’s life matter” ~ Kelty Mental Health Every day unrealistic images of the ‘ideal body’ bombard media and social media platforms - be it the pencil thin model or a sculpted ‘Dorito’ with a huge chest and shoulders and washboard abdominal muscles. This look is “achieved” by only 1 per cent of the population and it is usually accomplished with much help from digital, physical and/or cosmetic enhancements. That means the remaining 99 per cent come in various shapes
and sizes. Teaching yourself and your family to be critical of messages in the media promotes skills that help them set realistic expectations for themselves and others.
Strategies That Help Children Feel Good About Themselves
Role modelling healthy behaviours and attitudes is one the most important things you can do to help your child develop a positive body image. In order to do this, it’s important to understand your own attitudes towards food, exercise and your body. Consider these questions: As a parent or caregiver, what are the messages you’re sending? Are you dissatisfied with your shape, size and weight? If so, do you talk about it? Are you always on, or talking about going on, a diet? Do you express guilt when you eat certain foods or make negative comments about what other people eat or look like? Having an awareness of one’s own attitudes can help pivot your responses and guidance related to healthy body image. • Place less emphasis on your child’s appearance and more on their abilities and skills. • Help your child understand that their body will change, especially throughout puberty. • Accept your body and maintain a positive attitude towards food and exercise. • Make time for family meals and enjoy time spent being active together. • Avoid categorizing foods as “good” or “bad”. Labelling foods as “forbidden” only makes that food more desirable. Instead label foods as “every day” or “sometimes” foods. • Listen and respond to your hunger and fullness cues: eat when you are hun-
IslandParent.ca
gry, stop when you are full. Teach your child to do the same. • Remind yourself and your child that healthy eating is flexible. It allows for sometimes eating more than your body needs or occasionally eating foods that might not be considered healthy. Your body will make up for it later. It’s more important to look at the big picture. Ask yourself: Did I and my child make mostly good choices over the course of the week/ month? Do I usually stop eating when I’m full? • Avoid using food as a punishment or a reward as it gives food more importance than nourishing the body. Reward good behaviour with non-food items such as extra playtime, a hug, a smile or any other positive encouragement. • Think and encourage your child to think critically about messages and images they see and hear in the media. When it comes to screen time think quality over quantity. For example, online learning, homework and keeping in touch with family and friends via Zoom, Skype FaceTime can be quality time spent; whereas eight hours of TV/movies, gaming and social media exchanges, may
People with a positive body image recognize and accept that: • Healthy bodies come in different shapes and sizes. • Body size and weight do not predict happiness, success, or health. • People are more than numbers on a scale; every person is a unique individual with admirable talents, skills, and abilities. • Images in the media are unrealistic and are created to sell products. not be. Limit non-essential screen time to less than two hours per day. • Teach your child that it is okay to show emotions such as sadness, anger, and frustration. Being a positive role model for healthy behaviours supports children to become all they can be and more. Trust that your child’s inner confidence and personal power will develop over time. For more information visit: • Kelty Mental Health Raising Kids with a Healthy Body Image: A Guide for Parents of Young Children keltymentalhealth.ca
• MediaSmarts Information that will help you talk to your kids about media images. mediasmarts.ca/ • Unlock Food Article: How to Raise Kids with a Healthy Body Image unlockfood.ca/en/default.aspx Areli Hermanson is a Public Health Dietitian who understands firsthand that when surrounded by food CHILD YOUT H & FAM I LY PUBLIC H EALT H rules, chronic dieters, emotional eaters and food shamers, body image issues can develop at a young age. She is a mom of two very active boys who she hopes grow up body-positive towards themselves and others.
Free program for families with
ANXIOUS
children ages 3–12
Confident Parents: Thriving Kids - Anxiety is a web- and phone-based coaching service helping parents and caregivers learn effective skills and strategies for managing anxiety. It’s available by referral from physicians, teachers, school counsellors, psychologists, clinicians and pediatricians.
Referrals can be made online at confidentparents.ca IslandParent.ca
February/March 2021 35
PRESCHOOL&CHILDCAREDIRECTORY v Comprehensive programs for Preschool through Grade 11 v Delivering academic excellence through music, dance, drama and visual arts v Outstanding educators, locations and facilities
La Pré-Maternelle Appletree Preschool................250-479-0292 French immersion preschool. Group child care programs. 30 months to school age. Christian centre. prematernelleappletree.com
Photo: @yew.photography (Emily)
www.ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533
Castleview Child Care........... 250-595-5355 Learning Through Play & Discovery. Licensed non-profit, ECE staff. Since 1958. Morning or full-time care. castleviewchildcarecentre.com
Nightingale Preschool & Junior Kindergarten Ltd........ 250-595-7544 We offer education through creativity and play, providing rich learning experiences through a well sourced and stimulating indoor and outdoor environment. Early years reading programme. nightingalepreschool.com. Arts/Drama programme. kidsworks.ca
Christ Church Cathedral Childcare & Jr. Kindergarten..................250-383-5132 ECE and specialist teachers provide an outstanding all day licensed program for 2.5–5 year olds at our Fairfield and Gordon Head locations. cathedralschool.ca
Pre-School
Educational Excellence to the Glory of God
Sir James Douglas Preschool.............................250-389-0500 Fun, creative and educational ECE program for 3-5 year olds to grow and develop life long skills. Come play and learn in our bright and modern centre in Fairfield. sjdoutofschoolclub.com
Cloverdale Child Care............250-995-1766 Come join us in our preschool programs for fun and learning. Classes 9:30 to 1:30, we offer 3 and 4 year old classes and a Mon to Fri multiage preschool class. Flexible schedule available. Located at Quadra and Cloverdale streets. cloverdalechildcare@shawbiz.ca
Ready Set Grow Preschool.....250-472-1530 Join our learning through play preschool located in Hillcrest Elem. Our caring ECEs offer an enriched Program for 3-4 hour, 2-5 days a week and help with kindergarten transition. heoscmanager@gmail.com
Victoria Montessori.............. 250-380-0534 Unique, innovative learning environment combining the best of Montessori and Learning Through Play. Open year round. 30mths–K. victoriamontessori.com
Island Kids Academy Esquimalt..............................250-381-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Enriched Curriculum. Includes Music Classes and Character Development using the Virtues Project. Wait list being taken. Islandkids.ca
St. Margaret’s School Jr. Kindergarten
Child Care
Resource & Referral Funded by the Province of BC
Your community’s best source of child care information and resources. 36 Island Parent Magazine
Junior Kindergarten PacificChristian.ca 250-479-4532
Apply now for our Early Learning (JK and Kindergarten) Programs. Early learning at SMS is a curriculum-based program for 3 and 4 year olds.
St. Margaret’s School 250-479-7171 | admissions@stmarg.ca
722 Johnson St,Victoria,BC
250.415.9974 willowbraeacademy.com email@willowbraechildcare.com
We implement a play-based curriculum where our trained professionals develop and adapt individual programs by observing and listening to your child.
Looking for child care? Need help with the Affordable Child Care Benefit? Taking care of children? Need child care training? Call your local Child Care Resource & Referral for free referrals and resources. Victoria & Gulf Islands: 250-382-7000 or 1-800-750-1868 Sooke: 250-642-5152 West Shore: 250-217-7479 Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231 PacificCare (Ladysmith north): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273
gov.bc.ca/ChildCareResourceReferralCentres IslandParent.ca
Victoria & Area
Peninsula
Westshore
Carrot Seed Preschool...........250-658-2331 Where children can discover, imagine, construct and learn through play. Wondrous natural playground. carrotseedpreschool.com
Duncan & Area
Nanaimo & Area
The first steps in your child’s education Call for more information today: 250.746.3654
Island Montessori House....... 250-592-4411 Inclusive, integrated and nurturing Preschool and Before/After School Care programs. Lovely rural setting with a focus on nature and outdoor environmental activities. islandmontessori.com
Queen Margaret’s School........250-746-4185 Early Childhood Education Program. Co-ed nurturing curriculum to develop the whole child. Healthy snacks and lunch provided. qms.bc.ca.
Sidney Preschool We are a licensed co-operative preschool with a philosophy of learning through play! Four hour program, four days per week, for children ages 2.5-5 years. Celebrating 49 years! sidneypreschoolteacher@gmail.com, sidneypreschool.com
Sunrise Waldorf School Preschool...............................250-743-7253 In a warm environment, this nature and play-based program enlivens and nurtures the growing child. sunrisewaldorfschool.org Photo: Karen Maxwell Eddy Photo: Virginia Spencer Skow
• Licensed programs, for children 3–5 years • Flexible part-time schedules • Supported spaces available • 3 and 4 hour morning classes Encouraging your child’s development and learning through play and exploration
Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12
Learn more today! 250-390-2201 AspengroveSchool.ca N A N A I M O ’ S J K–1 2 I N T E R N AT I O N A L B ACC A L AU R E AT E WO R L D S C H O O L
Fullobeans.ca 250-360-1148 E: fullobeans@snplace.org
Little Star Children’s Centre...........250-752-4554 Little Gems Infant & Toddler Care..250-228-5437 Mother, Daughter owned and operated. Earth friendly preschool education inspired by nature. Infused with fun and creative daily yoga practices! Licensed group care. Enthusiastic ECE instructors. littlestardaycare.ca
Island Kids Academy View Royal........................... 250-727-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Enriched Curriculum. Includes Music Classes and Character Development using the Virtues Project. Wait list being taken. Islandkids.ca
Nestled on 4 acres of lush west coast forest, our Award winning, Nature based program will not disappoint! While firmly embracing the Reggio-Emila (Italy) Philosophy our dedicated team of educators use the environment as the third teacher as we encourage your child throughout their day. Our purpose built facilities have been handmade using the trees from our forest. Come take a virtual tour on our website!
lexieslittlebears.ca
Waitlist: 250-590-3603 Programs for Infants/Toddlers/Pre-school Age. BC Award of Excellence in Childcare & Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.
IslandParent.ca
February/March 2021 37
CUTITOUT!
Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There
A
t times, the most powerful action you can take is to do or say nothing. Take a moment to think about the last unfavourable exchange you’ve had with your partner or children. Now, take the content out and look at the pattern of behaviour. Don’t think about what you were arguing about; how were you arguing? Did a family member criticize you? How did you respond? Did you defend yourself? Emotional systems run in families and are kept going with our participation in unconscious reactions. We don’t see these patterns, but they play out, especially during times of stress. Understanding this and working for personal change within the system creates a powerful shift for you and your family. So how could this look? Imagine your child asks to do something, and you tell them they can’t do it. They criticize you, “You are the worst parent in the world.” If you react, you might say, “How dare you talk to me that way after all the things I do for you!” Therein lies the pattern; criticism and defence. It keeps the system reactions at play. Try this instead, “I know; I’m the worst parent on the planet.” You respond with less seriousness and avoid arguing to defend yourself. If you think that this is letting your child get away with something, you are right. They are left hearing what they said. When you argue, they are left hearing you argue. They don’t have to face their own behaviour. 38 Island Parent Magazine
These hard-wired emotional patterns are typical in all relationships, but strangely, they damage and even destroy relationships. When we go into a defensive position, we move to the fight or flight position. In that defensive state of mind, we don’t care about how the other person feels or consider their needs. Emotional reactivity is like throwing a hot potato between family members. The problems don’t get resolved, but the intensity of emotion pings back and forth. Next time you find yourself in a power struggle or reacting to a criticism, take five seconds to notice what is happening. Seek calmness by taking a breath. Do something different and break the pattern. What would doing something different look like? Shrugging your shoulders? Being less serious? Finding some truth in what the person is saying? Seeing their point of view? Doing nothing but standing there?
Dr. Allison Rees is a parent educator, counsellor and coach at LIFE Seminars (Living in Families Effectively), lifeseminars.com. For LIFE Seminars Parenting Courses on Facebook, visit facebook.com/lifeseminars. IslandParent.ca
Royal BC Museum members receive unlimited access to galleries and feature exhibitions including
OPENS
APR 16 2021
Become a
member today! PURCHASE NOW AT
IslandParent.ca
rbcm.ca/join Exhibition produced by the Royal BC Museum in partnership with Museums Partner
February/March 2021  39
Island Catholic Schools Catholic Education on Vancouver Island is a system rich in tradition and history dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. Island Catholic Schools is a dynamic community of schools having a strong reputation for academic excellence, instilling Catholic values and building community. We are committed to educating the “whole” child in a Christ-centered community of learning.
St. Joseph’s
(Pre-K to Grade 7) 757 W Burnside Rd, Victoria 250-479-1232 www.stjosephschool.ca Email: sjv@cisdv.bc.ca Please contact the school for a private tour.
St. Patrick’s School
(K to Grade 7) 2368 Trent St, Victoria 250-592-6713 www.stpatrickselem.ca Email: sp@cisdv.bc.ca Tours by appointment February 1–5.
St. Andrew’s Regional High School
(Grade 8–12) 880 McKenzie Ave, Victoria 250-479-1414 www.standrewshigh.ca Email: sarhs@cisdv.bc.ca Please visit our website for a Virtual Open House.
Queen of Angels
(Pre-K to Grade 9) 2085 Maple Bay Rd, Duncan 250-746-5919 www.queenofangels.ca Email: qa@cisdv.bc.ca Please visit our website for a Virtual Tour & Kindergarten Information Night.
St. John Paul II
(Pre-K to Grade 7) 4006 8th Ave, Port Alberni 250-723-0637 www.jp2nd.ca Email: jp2@cisdv.bc.ca Please contact the school for a private tour.
Call today for registration information K to 12, Pre-school, Day Care, Out of School Care for September 2021
250-727-6893 or visit cisdv.bc.ca