Kim McLeod, Parenting Connections

Being a Medical Mom comes with some extreme amounts of frequent trips to emerg or the hospital with the kiddos!

No one tells you or teaches you how to manage the many service providers you will meet.

You learn by trial and error or exhaustion. This is not right!

Beginning this month Advocacy Foundations Workshops will run and teach you about managing your confidence in the face of hospital visits/frequencies.

Will boost your skill sets so you can avoid some stress and slow down the exhaustion build up.

Will put the link in the bio - grandmak (dot) ca under workshops.
Dates: August 9,16,23,30

Take care of you!!
in my kid

It's going to be August soon... that means September and SCHOOL is just around the corner. It also means that all you moms out there are gearing up to advocate for your kids and the supports they needs in their schools.

I am here to help you with your advocacy skills
I have a great foundations course available to begin in August - that will help you focus on effective communication, strategic skills in advocating and managing the "that mom" struggle.

Have a look t that course on GrandmaK (dot) ca under workshops - of inquire below and I will drop the link to you!

Let's raise the knowledge and skills of moms on the front lines!

You are abundant, beautiful and full of life.
Like the tree, you stretch for the sky and dip to the water
You plant your seeds and shelter them as they grow
You are amazing mom`s
~ ❤ ~

The Invisible Mother
The mother who is sitting bedside at home. Watching over every breath of her medically complex child.
Your range to motion is limited by this position on a chair or the distance of your child’s bedroom to the kitchen. Always mindful that a path stay clear “in case”
I see you holding your breath, waiting for the mad dash to intervene.
I see you managing therapies, measuring medications and charting 24/7.
I see you calling every service and repeating your child’s story, explaining their needs!
I see you exhausted, playing mindless games on the iPad desperate to have a break, to have someone to speak to, to have someone hear YOU!
I see you!
I hear you!
I send you Love & Encouragement today, for every second, minutes, hour ahead
♥️♥️♥️

To all Special needs Families and Medical Moms!

I know you want everything for your kiddos! and it requires a lot of communication with teams and navigating systems!

I want to help lessen the anxiety that can come with this and I want to share tools and tips for effective support of you and your child.

The Advocacy Foundations Workshop will begin April 24
4 weeks - 1.5hr sessions

This course will help you find a solid foundation within yourself to meet these moments with confidence, clear communication and some calming presence.

What we’ll explore is…
Communicating your story: yours own and your child’s
🗣Communication: Building Confidence and effective language
😑Develop Tools for Managing Our Emotions
🎳Understanding & Managing Group Dynamics
📈Designing your story and developing effective delivery

The entire course is designed to help you raise awareness of your child as the awesome person they are and identifying the supports they need

This workshop is delivered over 4 Saturday afternoons 1-3pm
Begins Saturday April 24
Cost of workshop is $80

You can register by email: kim (at) grandma (dot) ca
subject title :Advocacy Foundations

I remember thinking this was going to be one of the best seasons of my life!
Raising a family
Raising kids
Having a career
and then everything changed!

I know as a mom you know about things changing
You had a birth plan that didn't pan out then way you wanted
Your kids behaviors are off the charts for your tolerance
You are ten times more tired than you ever expected
and the list goes on!

Let's take a moment for a deep breath!
Phew life is something

While we don't have any control over most events we always do have the capacity to choose how we meet the moments.

How do you meet the moments?
Are the choices you are making in these moments the ones that leave you satisfied? If not how can I help?

I encourage you to make the best choices you can in the moments and grow from there.
XO
Kim

Unique Parenting
I was thinking today about my journey to becoming a mom... the name, the myths and now the legend that I am LOL

My path to becoming a mom was not traditional in the least!
I had a pregnancy as a teen
I raised a child with my family and later as a weekend parent
I became a foster parent because I thought I could 'give' to the kids.. little did I know it was they who gave so much to me!
Then there was my boy a "short term" contract that last 16.5 years through intense medical care systems to his end of life.
All of it - all of it is NOT what I ever expected parenting to be!
I learn to roll with it, to fight some of it and grow from it all

Let me say, no matter what kind of family structure you are in, your role as mom is not about the structure, it is about the relationship and connection with your kids - quality over quantity!

If I can help you get comfortable in your role as mom, reach out, message me anytime I would love to encourage you in your mom growth.
XO
Kim

Workshop

Advocacy Foundations
Everything you need to address before you begin to publicly address the needs for services and supports for your child and yourself.

Have you ever been called to the meeting, a room filled with Dr's or with a room filled with 'professionals' and you are the only one present to represent your child!? It is overwhelming and there is a lot at stake.

This course will help you find a solid foundation within yourself to meet these moments with confidence, clear communication and hopefully some calming presence.

What we’ll explore is…

Communication & Our Belief Systems:

Communication: & Managing Our Emotional Responses:

Knowing about Learning Styles & Weaving compelling Stories for the groups you meet with

Listening: Learning to listen while managing your natural emotional responses

This workshop is delivered over two afternoons 1-4pm Saturday March 20 & Sunday March 21
Cost of workshop is $30
You can register by email: kim (at) grandma (dot) ca subject title :Advocacy Foundations

*This course is a prerequisite to the Advocacy In Action Course – designing scripts, tools and building knowledge on rights. Scheduled for April 17 & 24

Let's connect!
If you are on Twitter follow me and if you are on Tik Tok stop by for your morning parenting motivation -mcLeod_connect

Be sure to say Hi 🤚

Parenting is a journey!

We want our kids to grow, learn, love and be loving adults.
Sometimes we get so distracted by these goals of achieving that we forget to rest into the moments. The moments right now , the moments that are about the heart journey
XO
Kim

No matter what it is you want your child to learn, they will not embrace it fully if you don't believe it and live it yourself

Today is Monday and Family Day

I dedicate my Mondays to the who are living within healthcare systems and services

To inspire the moms or to educate those that work with them. Usually I tweet these but will be moving my energy here (and Instagram in future)

Here is today Tweet

There are two worlds that collide in healthcare.
1. Is the work culture of the institution & 2. Is the frequent flyers who live out their lives w/in institution

Both groups live through days/years in hallways & develop familiarity w/ the space
1/3

Key differences are that group 2 ( ) is small and mostly overlooked, they do not qualify for access to gym or other on site benefits despite living there for months and years on end ultimately their hours function on 24/7 needs
2/3

Group 1. Function only
on essential services beyond 9-5 in this group.
time & priorities are suspended from accessing the functional services & teams that are part of their life within these walls.

Two worlds separately living in one space
3/3