Fickle Feline

Like many people, I was shocked when I learned that Daryl Hannah had been diagnosed with autism as a child. It was hard for me to believe that this gorgeous, successful actress had kept this se...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/09/an-unlikely-autism-advocate-actress.html

Every year as September rolls around, parents of children with autism get anxious about how their child will handle the transition back into school. Will you have a teacher who is willing to ...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/09/clever-carter-way-to-introduce-your.html

Karla Begley is a woman with multiple sclerosis who has a 13-year-old son named Maxwell who has autism. She often brings Maxwell to her mother's house in Newcastle, Ontario for sleepovers because...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/08/an-open-letter-to-one-pissed-off-mother.html

As moms we’ve all encountered this — that feeling like we might explode if we don’t get away from our children . At least, I’m assuming that’s the case (please tell me I’m not alon...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/08/a-night-of-music-and-magic-at-torontos.html

This past week, news of two young children dying in their Winnipeg home and the subsequent disappearance of their mother, Lisa Gibson , left many wondering what terrible thing had happened t...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/08/what-women-need-to-know-about-lisa.html

Remember back in the day – before you had kids – when you could go away for a week or two, and all you had to worry about was finding someone to water your plants and feed your cat? Those...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/08/the-art-of-24-hour-vacation.html

Moms are good at a lot of things, but making time for themselves isn’t typically one of them. Think about it -- when is the last time you prioritized yourself over your family? Is carving o...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/06/the-importance-of-making-time-for.html

As part of the Special Needs Parenting Panel on iVillage Canada, I was asked to join Ijeoma Ross and Lisa Thornbury to discuss the challenges and joys of raising a child with special needs. Fro...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/06/ivillage-canada-special-needs-parenting_17.html

This week I am participating on a Special Needs Parenting panel on iVillage Canada. Parenting and pregnancy author Ann Douglas is heading up the panel, along with blogger Lisa Thornbury, journa...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/06/ivillage-canada-special-needs-parenting.html

Max and Chester were featured in a wonderful short film about dogs helping people living with Autism featuring National Service Dogs and our family with NSD Chester our "healing balm". These dogs...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/04/talent-hounds-segment-of-max-and-chester.html

My son Max was officially diagnosed with Autism on December 2, 2008. He was 2.5 years old. Press fast forward to April 2, 2013 and he is turning seven in just a few weeks. The intense sadness o...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/04/what-world-autism-awareness-day-means.html

I hate winter. Really, I look forward to a time in my life when I can up and leave Canada from December to March. This particular winter has been a doozy, with me getting a nasty chest infection,...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2013/03/in-other-news-i-despise-winter.html

Chester, an autism service dog from National Service Dogs  (NSD), joined our family on October 26th. We applied to NSD for an autism service dog two years ago . While the wait list was leng...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/11/an-autism-service-dog-for-max.html

Max Carefoot, 6, sits attentively at a pint-sized table, his hands gently resting on his knees. On cue, he vocalizes a series of words, carefully chosen to perfect his enunciation skills. ...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/11/asd-treatment-financial-drain-on.html

Little Max Carefoot was just a tot when his mom Katrina and dad Scott suspected their son’s development was lagging compared to that of his peers. The blond-haired boy with beautiful doe ey...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/11/trying-to-piece-together-autism-puzzle.html

If home improvement is your passion, then there is a good chance that Hilary Farr is one of your favourite Canadian design experts. Farr, the “love it” portion of W Network’s Love It Or...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/10/hilary-farr-from-love-it-or-list-it-on.html

We’ve all been tempted to try quick fix diets that promise big weight loss results in a short period of time. I’ve tried the Wild Rose detox, Sugar Busters diet, and South Beach diet. Add...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/09/how-to-lose-15-pounds-and-16-inches-in.html

This summer Max spent mornings with his junior respite worker, Matt. As part of working with Max, Matt wrote a weekly blog about his experience. HERE IS MATT'S TAKE ON HOW WEEK 6 WENT: W...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/09/helping-your-child-with-autism-make.html

As Max's Official Taxi Service Provider (MOTSP for short), I spend more time than most parents in Max's classroom. Every day at 12:30pm, I pick Max up to take him to therapy. The kids are usu...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/09/autism-in-classroom-questions-from-maxs.html

Max started grade one yesterday. I'm certain I was at least as stressed out about it as he was. Well, maybe I was more stressed out beforehand and he was more stressed out on the actual day. ...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/09/autism-in-classroom-maxs-first-day-of.html

How is it already the middle of August? We've had an awesome summer so far and Matt and Max have really been through a lot together - including Max being sick and out of sorts and treating Ma...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/08/helping-your-child-with-autism-make_13.html

We have completed the BeachBody Ultimate Reset ! It wasn't always easy, but we did it and wow do we ever have awesome results to prove how hard we worked! I LOST 16 POUNDS AND 15 INCHES TOTAL ...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/08/beachbody-ultimate-reset-final-results.html

We just completed week 2 of our Beachbody Ultimate Reset ! So far I am down 12 pounds and I am really noticing the changes in my body. Tracy is down 5 pounds and looking awesome. I didn't mind t...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/08/beachbody-ultimate-reset-week-2-results.html

This past week was a tough one. Max was sick with a wicked summer cold. His behaviour went sideways and he tested all of us with his whining, squealing and shrieking. I was fairly certain Matt ...

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/08/helping-your-child-with-autism-make.html

http://www.ficklefeline.ca/2012/07/sunday-at-park.html