aVERY BRIGHT LIFE

If you divided your parenting life into stages, they might be arranged from the beginning—diagnosis day to adulthood (and possibly independence, or the equivalent based on their abilities). I’m a mom somewhere just north of the middle of these stages. Here are a few things I've learned up to this point that might possibly be helpful.  Links mentioned in this episode: Advice From A Disability...

In this family friendly, g-rated, zero f-bomb episode, Avery's dad (who legit never swears) hops on as co-host! Adrian and Avery talk about one of the things they have both missed most during Covid and they share the daddy daughter bonding activity they do to keep hope alive and well. Um, it's so cute I could just swoon, but I'm already swooning naturally because... vertigo. Quotes from Avery's da...

Today’s topic isn’t the happiest. But, it’s a valuable conversation to have. We're talking about grief. Specifically, how to navigate grief with young children or with kids with intellectual disabilities. See? Not super fun, but necessary.  Here's the post mentioned in this episode: Strategies for Helping Kids Cope With Grief **** This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Tho...

If you've spent any amount of time online, you've either seen or received negative or rude comments. Sadly, this is the world we live in now. But, just because people feel the need to express every opinion, good and bad, it doesn't mean we have to allow other people's "stuff" into our lives. This episode is all about how I try to respond to people in a way that is constructive and hopefully positi...

That title is confusing. Content as in social media fodder, not as in happy and content. Though, if you're using your child as content for your own personal gain, they might not feel content in a few years when they discover what you've been posting about them. Just food for thought. Also, heads up seven up, I'm not perfect. Far from it. As a parent and a disability 'advocate' I mess up with the b...

Do you constantly do things for your kids? Not to be kind and helpful, but more because you just can't help yourself? Do you take over when they struggle with a task? Do you redo things they've already done? If you answered yes to any of these, you too might be an over-parenter. (See Also: Snowplow Parent, Lawnmower Mom). This episode is about why we over parent and why we should try to stop.&nbsp...

We're baaaaack! Today we share a bit about us personally so new listeners can get to know us (and what they're in for). Lisa also shares a few epiphanies she had over the holidays, as well as the contents of her f*cket list (she claims she coined this term and I believe her. LOL!)  There is a content warning for this episode for adult language because... f*cket list.  👓 On The Blog: My...

We're taking a little break. In this very short but sweet episode we explain why. But don't worry, we'll be back with bells on (possibly Christmas bells left behind by Santa's reindeer) on January 6th! We've got a lot more to say.  Have a happy and healthy December everyone!  xo Avery and Lisa  **** This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury. Read more and...

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the in-betweens—somewhere between the typical parents and the adult disability community. This episode is about what it's like to parent in that place. It's also about an Instagram post by @nina_tame that inspired this episode, as well as giving me a nudge to examine my thoughts and actions around privacy and access to not only my child, but also to the details about h...

Gatekeepers are the people between us and the doctors or specialists whose help we desperately need. Guilt is something parents feel, often for no actual reason. And a great idea is something I have every other day, but do absolutely nothing about because ideas are easy. It's the execution that trips me up.  **** This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury. Read more...

This week's episode was going to be something light hearted. But in an effort to keep it real, I did an abrupt about face and changed the topic completely because I’m not feeling particularly light hearted today. I’m actually feeling a little heavy hearted to be honest.  This episode is about how it feels when your intellectually disabled child regresses, cognitively. Not a particularly fun t...

The topic of this episode is vaccines. I’ve talked about this previously, in episode 19, but I thought I’d give it another 'shot' because needles are a 'very pointed' topic right now. Puns totally intended. And yes, I am a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to vaccines. I didn't even realize it until the other day. I'll share the story of the first pandemic I experienced with my children and how I h...

Content Warning: Adult language... I bleeped out the eff words to the best of my ability but this episode is not kid friendly.  Do you swear in front of your children? I do. I mean, I try not to but sh*t happens. As long as my kids know the difference between an expressive expletive and hateful language, I'm okay with it. Words are just words. It's not what we say, as much as how we say it an...

Wanting to say and do the right thing, but having zero idea how to help... this is what it can feel like for friends and family on the outside looking in on our disability parenting life. It’s a tricky place to be and it's what we’re talking about today.  Have a listen to my friend Kathy Buckworth's awesome Go To Grandma Podcast HERE . In particular, may I recommend EPISODE 11? Yes, yes it IS...

There's a lot to learn from some TV programs and movies. Documentaries for sure, but there's also insight to be gained from fictional stories. In this case, I'm talking about insight into life with disabilities. This episode is a list and brief (to the best of my blabby ability) description of 10 programs about disability that you simply must to watch.  *This episode is rated "E" because of a...

I hate being cold. And I hate bending. So trying to teach Avery to ice skate was a perfect storm. An ice storm, if you will. This episode is about how activities like swimming, riding a bike and skating are things we usually teach our kids at some point. But, for some of us achieving these skills feels impossible. And we feel guilty about that, so we keep trying. And sometimes we get frustrated an...

Some topics, like the atrocities inflicted upon our indigenous people, are hard enough for most of us to comprehend. But how do you explain residential schools and the horrific treatment of children to our kids whose intellectual and developmental disabilities make experiences like these so hard to grasp?  This episode was published, today, September 30th—Orange Shirt Day and our first Nation...

I'm not a perfect parent and I'm not always positive, but here are five perfectly positive parenting tricks that work for us. These can be applied to kids with disabilities or kids who are simply pushing their parents' buttons. Parenting is hard. We all need strategies that work. Plus, a story/rant about a mom at Walmart who had a tantrum in front of Avery and I. Avery shares her thoughts on that....

You'd think talking would be easy and natural, but it's not. Speech is complex. And it certainly doesn't come easily or naturally to many kids with disabilities. My kiddo included. In this episode we share seven strategies that have proven helpful to us in our efforts to help Avery speak more fluently. There is also a list of our favourite "Avery-isms" thrown in for fun. With her permission of cou...

This episode starts with an apology (from me) and ends with a high school update from Avery. And somewhere in the middle, there's a story about a snot sandwich. So, this one's a winner folks. You don't want to miss it! 🤣 Here's the link to the sweet Instagram post from @angelarepke . *** This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury. Read more and find the transcript for th...

This is an admittedly self-indulgent and possibly dramatic episode. But, everyone I love is leaving me this week!! My husband returned to work after being home for over a year. Avery is leaving for high school. And my son is headed to university tomorrow. And I'm sad. But I'm pretending not to be. So, please enjoy my discomfort. Oh, and there's also the story about how my son upped the dramatic te...

Looking for the positive is a good thing. Until it's not. Some circumstances in life are just profoundly sad. Shaming people into trying to find the positive in tragic situations is not helpful. This episode is about toxic positivity with personal examples geared toward the disability community. It's also about how NOT to be "that" person by doing these things instead.  *** This podcast was r...

Hey! It's Sponge Lisa Tight Pants here. We spongey empath types tend to soak up the vibe around us so when the world is hurting, we hurt too. So, in an effort to avoid dwelling on the dark and heavy feelings, we're trying to highlight some of the bright, fluffy, happy, cute things that are all around us.  Based on the wildly popular and positive TikTok trend where people are listing the littl...

If you like Grey's Anatomy, you'll love this episode. It's the perfect mixture of medicine and drama. LOL! This is our experience with otoplasty or ear correction surgery. As with so many topics around disability, this one also has an element of "why would you do that you ableist parent!?" There are some who say that parents don't have the right to make decisions about altering their child's physi...

I'm in the midst of a nasty bout of insomnia. So whilst I'm lying awake at night, I have pretend conversions with anti-vaxers and anti-maskers and I try to figure them out. I aim to be more empathetic than judgemental. Sometimes I succeed, and other times I scream into my pillow.  These are my thoughts. Scattered as they are.  Bottom line... I want my friends and family to be healthy and...