Tag Archives: Marineland

30 Days About Me: Day 7 – Photo Happiness

Posted in 30 Days of Me, Daughter, Son by

Day 7- A Photo That Makes You Happy

So many to choose from…my kids are really cute, if I may say… ;)   Here are some that always put a smile on my face.

My kids’ first picture…8 week “blobs” of pure amazing!

 

 

 

 

My kids only hours old in the hospital.

 

 

 

 

Sibling love when the kids were 3 years old, and our first Snow Day of that winter

 

 

 

 

 

The kids and I at their graduation from Senior Kindergarten.

 

 

 

 

 

Great day at Marineland this summer, watching the whales underwater (hence the blue)

 

 

 

 

 

 

One last photo that doesn’t include my kids…my hunny and I at a wedding this past summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I’ve spent hours pouring through photos, I’m all warm and fuzzy with the memories.  Would love to see your favourite photos!  Post them on your blog and link them back here in the Comments section.

 

Autism Makes it Through Marineland

Posted in Autism/Special Needs, Daughter, Son, Things I'm Excited About by

Last week, the kids and I went to Marineland with two other families.  On our way home, I couldn’t have been more proud of both my kids, especially my son.

 

When we arrived, we went over the rules of the day, explaining the rules were because there would be so many people inside:

  • No running off
  • No whining
  • No crying
  • Stand quietly in lines
  • When tell you to do something, you do it.
  • No going to the bathroom without one of the grown ups
  • If you get separated from the grown ups, find a staff person in uniform (and we showed them what the uniforms look like)
  • When we tell you to eat or drink something, you do it (didn’t want them to get dehydrated)
  • Be on your best behaviour
  • And most importantly, HAVE FUN!

 

Thankfully, one of my friends texted to tell me about a program Marineland has for kids with special needs.  Upon arrival, we went to Guest Services and got a bracelet for my son (which he quickly took off, and we had to go back and get another one to put on his ankle).  The bracelet meant we could wait at the exit of each ride and be let in, without having to wait in lines. Phew!

 

We waited while some of our friends went on the Sky Screamer (there was no way I was doing that one!).  What truly amazed me was that my son excitedly waited for 4 other rides; his smiles and screeches of joy were amazing.  Throughout the day, he held my hand, stayed with me, did as I asked, self-regulated each time there was another child crying near us (crying is a trigger for him) so there weren’t any meltdowns.

 

He was fascinated by the beluga whales at Friendship Cove.  He had a tough time sitting through the dolphin show but he made it through.  

 

It was an amazing day.  In fact, at the end of the day, the other kids were a bit cranky, but my son wasn’t.  Actually, I’ll admit that I was the crankiest of all of us…being out in the sun all day takes a lot out of this redhead!

 

“Everyone DOES love Marineland”!

 

 * I was not paid for this post. Just sharing a family outing, and how amazing my son (who has Autism) did with all the over-stimulus during our day out. *