Category: Family Life

Horse Therapy for Kids with Disabilities

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Horse Therapy for KidsI love horses. I do. I rode for years with a friend when I was growing up. She was a natural trainer when we were kids and has a successful training business today.

When my husband and I relocated to Arizona, I remember telling him one of my goals was to get back in the saddle. I missed it and was determined to start riding again.

Our new town has an equestrian culture and I stumbled across a horseback riding class for special needs kids. I put my riding aspirations on hold and enrolled our daughter who has disabilities. I was nervous the first session, but it was amazing to see her light up. Continue reading →

Sensory Processing Issues and The Morning Routine

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Sensory Processing DisorderSequence, lace and bows make little girl clothes cute and adorable. For the little girls with sensory processing issues, cute and adorable becomes a nightmare. It’s scratchy. It burns. It irritates.

Sensory processing issues was a new term we learned when our daughter’s conditions were finally diagnosed. Her conditions include a lengthy list with sensory processing issues plus developmental delays and intellectual disability.

Sensory processing refers to the way the brain receives messages from the senses and turns them into the appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Continue reading →

30 Days of Teal for Ovarian Cancer Awareness

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What's the Story Behind Be Positive Mom?September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and September 1 marks the start to 30 days of teal. The month will include gatherings, celebrations and fundraisers across the nation. It’s a reminder to educate ourselves and be diligent with our health. Ovarian Cancer whispers during the early stages so it’s important to listen to the subtle signs.

My sister was diagnosed when she was in her early thirties. She fought the battle for over two years and passed away when she was just thirty-four. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month marks the a time to educate others and is a reminder the anniversary of her passing is October 4. It’s the season of remembrance and gratitude for the short time we had together. She always said if her story could help another woman detect this disease earlier than she found hers, then her fight was worth it. Continue reading →

5 Ways Stay-at-Home Dads Are Changing the World

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Stay-home Dads RockWhen we lived in Silicon Valley, we did what a lot of what Silicon Valley parents do. We had the double income, two mortgages and two car payments. We also had two kids with two childcare bills. The American Dream, right?

We struggled. We were miserable and knew it wasn’t for us anymore. It was hard to let go because we were both born and raised in San Jose, before the term “Silicon Valley” became so popular. We wanted something different from the norm and California was too expensive to raise our kids on our terms. It took us a few years to decide to relocate. We relocated to Arizona before we had kids and then moved back to the Bay Area. After we had kids, we realized we couldn’t make it work there and the costs were a constant struggle. Continue reading →

What Intellectual Disability Means to Me

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Baby GirlI couldn’t stop staring at two words on my computer screen: Intellectual Disability. After 5 years of doctor appointments, tests and more tests, we had several conditions finally diagnosed for our daughter.

Our journey included two neurologists, two geneticists, pediatricians and development delay specialists that spanned two states. It’d been a long road to diagnosis and after talking with other special needs parents, I learned that’s kind of the norm. It can take several years to diagnose a child who has disabilities. It’s like a puzzle and every appointment or phone call provides a piece of hope you’ll find an answer or in our case answers. Continue reading →

7 Tips for Relocating with Kids

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Relocating with KidsHow many times have you moved? Since my hubs and I were married in 2000, we moved over ten times. Back and forth to Arizona plus several moves around the Bay Area. All without kids. We are in the middle of relocating to a new state. By the time this blog post is published,  we will be on the last leg of our move to Arizona. It’s been a long road.

We agonized over this move. Should we? Shouldn’t we? Will the kids be OK? Will it set them back going to a new school?  The list of questions went on and on. Taking the plunge to relocate is a commitment. It will kick-start a massive coordination effort in order to get you there. Add a six and three year old into the mix and massive turns into mammoth. Continue reading →

Giving Thanks with New and Past Traditions

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Every year we see post after post about giving thanks during November.  I love reading what people are grateful for and learning about the traditions they share with family & friends. Years back my family had a large party with a traditional Thanksgiving feast every year. Turkey, fixings, candy, dessert and so much fun.

When I was a kid, my sisters and I received a chocolate turkey wrapped in bright foil from See’s Candies. Funny thing is my mom works there now. So my son and daughter get a turkey every year. An old tradition that has continued. Continue reading →