Our youngest daughter started her life with us by crying the entire hour-long drive home.

« Les crises de colère de notre fille ont été sans relâche pendant les six premiers mois d’école. Simplement repenser à tous ces pleurs et hurlements me fait toujours autant chavirer le cœur. » Read the English version of the story here.

« Notre aînée se plaignait à nous qu’elle allait “manquer de temps” parce qu’elle avait été trimballée de foyer d’accueil en foyer d’accueil pendant sept ans et qu’elle avait déjà onze ans en arrivant chez nous. » Read the English version of this story.

« Dès que ma fille a commencé l’école, elle avait besoin de mon attention tous les jours. Toutes les occasions étaient bonnes pour me sauter sur les genoux. » Read the English version of this story.

Our elder daughter laments to us that she is “running out of time,” because she was in-and-out of foster care for seven years and didn’t come home with us until she was eleven.

Every game of tag, every goofy joke—even the arguments about whether he needed to wear his coat—were all small steps to deepening our attachment.

With no EI benefits, I’ll be able to take about three months off at home with my child.

My daughter craved my attention daily, as soon as she started school. She’d jump in my lap at every opportunity.

My children are still struggling to get to know a stranger they now call Mom.

My chosen family makes me feel loved and wanted and for me, that’s all I ask for.
What are some things you ask for from your chosen family?

For FASD awareness month, I wanted to take a moment to share my story, one that many people don’t hear about.

What legends are you making for your children?

As we continue to work and partner towards both a provincial and national Canadian effort that brings increased awareness and understanding of this issue, including the help that families and children need in order to heal from these traumas, it’s important that we (parents, professionals, advocates, first-voice experts) all work together to evolve the language and terms that we’re using.

Think about the trauma that this meeting could have or may have caused my oldest child. Was it necessary? Could it have been done differently?

“You’re at risk for Compassion Fatigue.”… It supressed my full capacity to love and show empathy. Hope of restoring my vibrant inner being faded.

All anyone ever wants is to know they are loved and supported. You would be surprised how far one can go just by knowing they have someone in their corner. In my case, that “someone” would be my whole family.

We continue to believe deeply that the requirement and urgency to act in addressing anti-black racism rests with all of us… and that our collective actions must extend far beyond Black History month.

Before his last offence, he was still asking us if we would take him back when he gets out of the centre. What do you say to your child, who you have always wanted and supported even when he became so unpredictable?

CW… Some may say that is a bit too graphic or an unnecessary detail… but I’m here to share my story.